Patent Publication Number: US-2018037365-A1

Title: Serving plate and a closeable container formed therewith

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/372,026, filed Aug. 8, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a party or picnic plate. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a party or picnic plate formed of a paper or plastic material. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a plate including interlocking members that allow a plurality of identical plates to be stacked so that they will not rotate or slide sideways relative to each other and which, with a second identical plate can be transformed to a portable storage container for left-over food. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Conventional disposable plates cannot be used to transport left-overs unless a length of aluminum foil or plastic wrap is used to cover the food. If such foil or plastic wrap is not available then any food remaining on a plate after a party, picnic, or reception must either be thrown away or transferred into a different separate food container so that it made be saved and transported. This means that unless foil, plastic wrap or separate food storage containers are taken to an event, all left-overs must be thrown out. Furthermore, one of more problematic things about conventional food storage containers is that a user must move his/her food from their plate and into the food storage container. This can be a messy operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to an improved disposable or reusable plate that may be conveniently and safely transformed into a food storage container by using another identical plate and without the use of additional tools or materials such as aluminum foil or plastic wrap. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a plate having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall that extends between the top wall and the bottom wall is disclosed herein. The top wall defines at least one bendable area that includes a bendable wire loop. The bendable area is bent upwardly or downwardly about a fold line relative to the top wall of the plate to lock a pair of plates together. Two identical plates can be engaged with each other to form a food storage container that allows a user to carry left-over food therein. The plate may include one or more interlocking members on the bottom wall. These interlocking members can be used to secure a stack of plates together such that the plates will not rotate or slip sideways relative to each other. The interlocking members may also be used to secure a stack of storage containers made from the plates together so that the storage containers will not rotate or slide laterally relative to each other. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a plate comprising a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area adapted to receive food therein; and at least one bendable area defined by the top wall, wherein the at least one bendable area is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall about a fold line. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a plate comprising a top wall; a bottom wall; a side wall that extends between the top wall and the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area adapted to receive food therein; and at least one interlocking member provided on the bottom wall. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a method comprising steps of providing a first plate comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area; and at least one bendable area is defined in the top wall, where the at least one bendable area is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall about a fold line; providing a second plate comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and side wall of the second plate bound and define a food containing area; and at least one bendable area is defined in the top wall of the second plate, where the at least one bendable area of the second plate is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall of the second plate about a fold line; placing the top wall of the first plate in contact with the top wall of the second plate; folding the at least one bendable area of the first plate upwardly to contact the second plate; folding the at least one bendable area of the second plate downwardly to contact the first plate; and securing the first and second plates together with bendable areas of the first and second plates to form a first storage container. 
     The method may further comprise a step of rotating the first plate relative to the second plate about a vertical axis passing through the bottom wall of the first plate and bottom wall of the second plate; and moving the at one least bendable area of the first plate out of alignment with the at least one bendable area of the second plate. 
     The method may further comprise rotating the first plate rotates until the at least of one bendable area of the first plate is orientated at about 45 relative to the at least on bendable area of the second plate. 
     The step of providing the first plate may include providing a wire loop on the at least one bendable area of the first plate and wherein the method further includes deforming the wire loop when folding the at least one bendable area upwardly. 
     The step of providing the second plate includes providing a wire loop on the at least one bendable area of the second plate and wherein the method further includes deforming the wire loop on the second plate when folding the at least one bendable area downwardly. 
     The step of providing the first plate further comprises providing at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the first plate; and he step of providing the second plate comprises providing at least on interlocking member on the bottom wall of the second plate, wherein the at least one interlocking member on the second plate is complementary to the at least one interlocking member of the first plate. 
     The method may further comprise providing a second storage container identical to the first storage container and stacking the second storage container on a top of the first storage container and interlocking the at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the second plate of the second storage container with the at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the first plate of the first storage container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A sample embodiment of the invention is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a plate having a plurality of interlocking members on its bottom surface; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the plate having a plurality of interlocking members on its bottom surface; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the plate; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the plate 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the plate taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a pair of the plates, wherein a bottom plate faces upwardly and a top plate faces downwardly; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the pair of the plates, wherein the top and bottom plates are in contact each other; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the pair of the plates of  FIG. 7 , wherein the top plate is rotated through 45° with respect to the bottom plate; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the pair of plates of  FIG. 8 , the corners of two plates are bent to interlock together to form a storage container; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of a pair of the storage containers securely stacked on top of each other; 
         FIG. 11  is top perspective view of a plurality of the plates stacked in a nested arrangement; 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a plate without a plurality of grooves and ridges on its bottom surface; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the second embodiment of the plate. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With primary reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of a plate is shown generally at  10 . The plate  10  may be a disposable or reusable plate made from paper, plastic, or any other suitable material. The plate  10  has four edges  11 , four corners  12 , a top wall  13 , a bottom wall  14 , and a side wall  15 . The top wall  13  and the bottom wall  14  are parallel and spaced apart. The side wall  15  extends between the top wall  13  and the bottom wall  14 . The side wall  15  may be concave, curved, or shaped in any other manner. A plurality of interlocking members  16 ,  17  are defined in the bottom wall  14 . The interlocking members  16 ,  17  are discussed in greater detail below. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an upper circular edge  18  of the side wall  15  may be circumferentially integrated with the top wall  13 , and a lower circular edge  19  of the side wall  15  may be circumferentially integrated with the bottom wall  14 . The side wall  15  may be generally oriented at an angle α with respect to a flat surface G so that the plate  10  may have an inversely trapezoidal shape when seen from one side as shown in  FIG. 2 . The radius of curvature of the upper circular edge  18  may be larger than the radius of curvature of the lower circular edge  19 . If this is the case then the plate  10  may be configured in the shape of a bowl when seen from one side (shown in FIG.  2 ). The bottom wall  14  and side wall  15  bound and define a food containing area  20  for holding food or other articles therein. 
     As indicated above, the bottom wall  14  may include at least one interlocking member. The at least one interlocking member may be formed in the material of the bottom wall  14  when plate  10  is fabricated. In other instances, the one or more interlocking members may be applied to one or both of an interior surface and an exterior surface of the bottom wall  14 . As shown in the attached figures a plurality of first interlocking members  16  and second interlocking members  17  may be provided on bottom wall  14 . First interlocking members  16  may be convexly grooved and second interlocking members  17  may be concavely grooved. First and second interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be substantially identical in size and shape and be configured to be complementary to each other. The purpose for the complementary nature of interlocking members  16 ,  17  will be discussed later herein. 
       FIG. 1  shows that each interlocking member  16  forms a depression in the interior surface of the bottom wall  14  and that each interlocking member  17  forms a ridge in the interior surface of the bottom wall.  FIG. 4  shows each of the interlocking members  16  forms a ridge in the exterior surface of the bottom wall  14  and that the interlocking members  17  each form a depression in the exterior surface of the bottom wall  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , each interlocking member  16  includes a first oval-shaped portion  16 A and a second oval-shaped portion  16 B. The first oval-shaped portion  16 A is stepped relative to the second oval-shaped portion  16 B. Additionally, the size of the second oval-shaped portion  16 B is smaller than that of the first oval-shaped portion  16 A so that the interlocking member  16  has an inverse trapezoidal shape when it is seen in cross-section. Similarly, each interlocking member  17  includes a first oval-shaped portion  17 A and a second oval-shaped portion  17 B. The first oval-shaped portion  17 A is stepped relative to the second oval-shaped portion  17 B. The size of the first oval-shaped portion  17 A is smaller than that of the second oval-shaped portion  17 B so that the interlocking member  17  has a trapezoidal shape when it is seen in cross-section. It will be understood that interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be differently shaped; for example, interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be square or rectangular or sinusoidal. 
     The interlocking member  16  is complementary to the interlocking member  17 . Consequently, when one plate  10  is stacked on another plate  10 , the interlocking member  16  on the exterior surface of the bottom wall  14  of the top plate  10  receives the interlocking member  17  provided on the interior surface of the bottom wall  14  of the bottom plate  10  therein. A plurality of plates  10  may thus be nested with each other and the interlocking arrangement between interlocking members  16  and interlocking members  17  keeps the plurality of plates  10  in contact with each other. The interlocking members  16 ,  17  also prevent relative rotation between the plates  10  in the stack and also aids in preventing individual plates from sliding off the nested stack. The later feature will be of greater importance when the plates  10  are of a shallower depth than the bowl-like shape of the plates in the attached figures. 
     The interlocking members  16  and  17  are arranged in an annular ring interiorly of the lower circular edge  19  of the bottom wall  14 . As depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , each interlocking member  16  is located between two interlocking members  17  and vice versa. However, in another configuration, the arrangement of the interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be of any desired pattern. For example, two interlocking members  16  may be consecutively located side by side and two concavely curved interlocking members  17  may be consecutively located side by side. 
     Furthermore, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the interlocking members  16 ,  17  are circumferentially aligned around the lower circular edge  19  of the bottom wall  14 . However, interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be arranged in any desired different configuration other than the annual ring shown in the attached figures. Furthermore, the orientation, size, shape, and number of interlocking members  16 ,  17  may be a different from what is shown when interlocking members  16 ,  17  are provided on a different diameter plate. The number of configuration of interlocking members may be varied depending on the actual size of the plate  10 . 
     The top wall  13  extends radially outwardly from the upper circular edge  18  of the side wall  15  to the edge  11 . The edge  11  may terminate in a flange member  21 , where the flange member  21  extends outwardly and downwardly from top wall  13  so that a terminal edge of the flange member  21  is located a distance below the top wall  13 . This is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the top wall  13  further includes a fold line  22  near each of the corners  12 . The fold lines  22  may be pre-formed in top wall  13 ; may comprise a line of weakness, a line of perforations, a marking or may take any other suitable form that will indicate to a user where to fold regions of the top wall  13 . Each fold line  22  and a portion of two adjacent edges  11  on top wall  13  defines a triangular bending area  24  that incorporates one of the corners  12 . Particularly, the fold lines  22  are press-formed so that areas  24  around the corners  12  can be bent either upwardly or downwardly along the fold lines  22  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , a bottom perspective view of the first embodiment of the plate  10  is shown in detail. A plurality of bendable wire loop members  23  are provided on top wall  13  of the plate  10  in the regions of bendable areas  24 . Each individual loop member  23  may comprise an L-shaped structure such that the apex of the L-shape is seated in the corner  12  and the separate “legs” of the L-shaped wire loop member  23  each extend along a region of one of the edges  11  that intersect at corner  12 . Loop members  23  may be positioned adjacent flange member  21 . 
     The wire  23 C used in loop members  23  may be a flexible steel, a memory alloy, a flexible plastic, or any other suitable material. However, in another instance, the wire loop member  23  may form part of one continuous wire loop that is provided around the entire outer perimeter of the plate  10 . The loop member  23  may be embedded into the material used to form top wall  13  or may be a separate component that is placed in contact with the exterior surface of the top wall  13  and is secured thereto by any suitable means. Although not shown herein, it will be understood that loop members  23  may, alternatively be provided on an interior or upper surface of each bendable area  24  instead of being provided on an exterior or lower surface of each bendable area  24 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the wire loop member  23  may comprise a wire loop cover  23 A, a wire loop base  23 B, a wire  23 C, and an adhesive strip  23 D. Wire  23 C may be laminated between the wire loop cover  23 A and the wire loop base  23 B. The adhesive strip  23 D may be used to attach the wire loop member  23  to the exterior surface of the bendable area  24 . Wire loop member  23  may be attached to the underside or the top side of the bendable area  24 . In another instance, the wire loop member  23  may be embedded in the material that forms bendable area  24  of plate  10 . 
     Plate  10  may be used in the conventional manner to hold a quantity of food in the food containing area thereof, for example. In other instances, however, two substantially plates  10  may be combined with each other to form a storage container  25  as is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The storage container  25  is assembled in the following manner.  FIG. 6  shows a lower plate  10 A which may be placed on a flat surface in such a way that the interlocking members  16 ,  17  engage the flat surface and the food containing area  20   a  facing upwardly. An upper plate  10 B may be positioned directly over lower plate  10 A and be positioned to be facing downwardly so that a top wall  13 A of the lower plate  10 A and a top wall  13 B of the upper plate  10 B are positioned directly opposite each other. The lower plate  10 A and upper plate may be aligned with respect to a vertical axis Y and may be spaced a distance apart and offset parallel to a horizontal axis X. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the upper plate  10 B is moved downwardly (as indicated by the arrows) so that the top wall  13 B is brought into contact with the top wall  13 A. Either before or after the upper plate  10 B is moved downwardly, one of the lower plate  10 A or upper plate  10 B may be rotated about vertical axis Y and through an angle θ. As depicted in  FIG. 8 , either the lower plate  10 A or the upper plate  10 B may be rotated about vertical axis Y through the angle θ. The angle θ is measured from a first transversal axis Z 1  to a second transversal axis Z 2 . The first transversal axis Z 1  passes through the vertical axis Y and an edge  11 A of the lower plate  10 A. Particularly, the first transversal axis Z 1  passes through the vertical axis Y and a central region of the edge  11 A. Similarly, the second transversal axis Z 2  passes through the vertical axis Y and an edge  11 B of the upper plate  10 B. Particularly, the second transversal axis Z 2  passes through vertical axis Y and a central region of the edge  11 B of the upper plate  10 B. Preferably, the edge  11 B of the upper plate  10 B may be rotated around the vertical axis Y through an angle θ so that the edge  11 B of the upper plate  10 B is aligned with a fold line  22 A on the lower plate  10 A. The angle θ may be greater than 0° and less than 90°, but it is preferably 45°. The four bending areas  24 A on lower plate  10 A are offset relative to the four bending areas  24 B on upper plate  10 B. Thus, at least one bending area  24 A on the lower plate  10 A is out of alignment with at least one bending area  24 B of the upper plate  10 B. The offset may be between 0 degrees and 90 degrees but preferably is about 45 degrees. 
     Then, as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , four bending areas  24 A of the lower plate  10 A are bent upwardly as indicated by an arrow U along the fold lines  22 A. Similarly, four bending areas  24 B of the upper plate  10 B are bent inwardly towards the underside of the top wall of the lower plate in the direction of arrow D. The inward bending of bending areas  24 A,  24 B in the directions U and D, causes the associated loop member  23  (not shown) to become deformed, thereby clamping regions of the top walls of the lower and upper plates  10 A,  10 B together. The folded bending areas  24 A,  24 B are pressed inwardly toward the underside of top wall of the opposite plate and thus plates  10 A and  10 B are securely connected together to form a storage container  25  ( FIG. 9 ). The food containing area  20  of each of the plates  10 A,  10 B creates an enclosed space in which to store and carry food. If it is desired to access the food within storage container  25 , the user will grasp the folded bendable areas  24 A,  24 B and will move each bendable area in the opposite direction to release upper plate  10 B from lower plate  10 A. If it is subsequently desired to close storage container  25  once again, the bendable areas  24 A,  24 B are again folded in the directions U and D to lock the plates  10 A,  10 B together once again. If plates  10 A,  10 B are fabricated from paper, when storage container  25  is no longer needed it may be thrown away. If plates  10 A,  10 B are fabricated from plastic and the user so desires, the plates  10 A,  10 B may be washed and reused. In this latter instance the bendable areas  24 A,  24 B may be moved back to the neutral position shown in  FIG. 2  so that the plates  10 A,  10 B may be nested together for storage or transportation purposes. 
     A plurality of storage containers may be stacked one on top of the other. For example,  FIG. 10  shows two storage containers  25 A,  25 B stacked together. The illustrated storage containers  25 A,  25 B each includes interlocking members  16 ,  17  that may be used as guides to interlock the containers together. The interlocking members that project downwardly from the exterior surface of the bottom wall of the upper storage container  25 A are received into the recessed interlocking members provided on the bottom wall that forms the top of the lower storage container  25 B. When a plurality of storage containers  25  are stacked on a top of the other in this manner the interlocking members  16 ,  17  prevent the storage containers  25  from rotating or moving laterally relative to each other. This interlocking arrangement makes for a more stable stack of storage containers that can be carried with less concern that individual containers may slide laterally out of the stack. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 11 , a plurality of the plates  10  may be stacked together in a nested arrangement. Because of the interlocking members  16 ,  17 , the stacked plates  10  can firmly engage each other. This engagement has been previously described herein. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a second embodiment of a plate in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is shown generally at  100 . The plate  100  may be a paper plate or plastic plate that is substantially identical to the plate  10  and includes four edges  110 , four corners  120 , a top wall  130 , a bottom wall  140 , and a curved side wall  150  that extends between the top and bottom walls  130 ,  140 . An upper circular edge  180  of the side wall  150  is circumferentially integrated with the top wall  130  and a lower circular edge  190  of the side wall  150  is circumferentially integrated with the bottom wall  140 . The side wall  150  may be generally oriented at an angle α with respect to a flat surface G so that the plate  100  may have an inverse trapezoidal shape as seen from one side. The radius of curvature of the upper circular edge  180  may be larger than the radius of curvature of the lower circular edge  190 . Consequently, the plate  100  may have a shape of a bowl when seen from a side as in  FIG. 13 . The bottom wall  140  and side wall  150  bound and define a food containing area  200 . Unlike the first embodiment of the plate  10 , the second embodiment of the plate  100  does not include the interlocking members  16 ,  17  on the bottom wall  140 . Instead, interior and exterior surfaces of the bottom wall  14  are substantially flat. 
     The top wall  130  extends radially outwardly from the upper circular edge  180  of the side wall  150  to the edge  110 . A flange member  210  may extend outwardly and downwardly from edge  110  so that a terminal edge of the flange member  210  is located a distance below the top wall  130  of the plate  100 . This is shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the top wall  130  further defines a fold line  220  proximate each of corner  120 . The fold line  220  and a portion of two adjacent edges  110  define a triangular bending area  240 . The fold lines  220  may be press-formed or otherwise provided so that the bending areas  240  may be folded upwardly or downwardly along the fold lines  220  in a similar fashion to the bending areas  24  on plate  10  and as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Two plates  100  may be used in a similar manner to plates  10  to form a storage container. However, because there are no interlocking members  16 ,  17  on plate  100 , there is nothing to stop storage containers formed from plates  100  to slide or rotate relative to each other when stacked. 
     It is readily understood that the plates  10 ,  100  may be made from a paper product, plastic, metal or any suitable bio-degradable eco-friendly material. Furthermore, plates  10 ,  100  may be fabricated in any number of ways including but not limited to using a molding machine or a press machine. 
     While plates  10 ,  100  have been described as being useful for holding food and for being combined to form a food storage container  25  it will be understood that the plate and storage container may be used for any number of other purposes. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration set out herein are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.