U.S. patent application number 09/951594 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for placemat and coaster set.
Invention is credited to Garrett, David John.
Application Number | 20020029995 09/951594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9899340 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020029995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Garrett, David John |
March 14, 2002 |
Placemat and coaster set
Abstract
A placemat (1) and a coaster (2) are provided as a set, each
having a similar decorative effect (4), for example a graphic
design, and the placemat being made in pieces as a jigsaw puzzle
(7). The coaster illustrates the decorative effect to be achieved
on the placemat when the pieces are assembled. There may be the
same or different decorative effects on opposite surfaces of the
placemat and coaster. A package (8) made of plastics material
folded into a box form accommodates the separated pieces (19) of
the placemat (1) and is formed with a location (15) at which the
coaster (2) is held so that it can be seen from the outside of the
package.
Inventors: |
Garrett, David John;
(Stourbridge, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Keith D. Lindenbaum
Foley & Lardner, Firstar Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee
WI
53202-5367
US
|
Family ID: |
9899340 |
Appl. No.: |
09/951594 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/775 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4208 20130101;
A63F 9/10 20130101; A63F 2009/0047 20130101; A47G 23/0306
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/775 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2000 |
GB |
0022403.0 |
Claims
1. A set comprising a placemat and a coaster which have a similar
decorative effect and in which the placemat is made in pieces as a
jigsaw puzzle, the coaster illustrating the decorative effect to be
achieved on the placemat when its pieces are assembled
together.
2. A set according to claim 1 wherein the decorative effect is two
dimensional.
3. A set according to claim 2 wherein the decorative effect is a
graphic design printed on the placemat and coaster.
4. A set according to claim 1 wherein the decorative effect is
three dimensional.
5. A set according to claim 1 wherein the decorative effect is
provided on opposite surfaces of the placemat and coaster.
6. A set according to claim 5 wherein different decorative effects
are provided on the opposite surfaces.
7. A set according to claim 1 wherein the placemat and coaster are
made of a durable, resilient plastics material suitable to be
washed in a dishwasher.
8. A set according to claim 7 wherein the plastics material is
polypropylene.
9. A set according to claim 1 contained in a package.
10. A set according to claim 9 wherein the package is made of a
plastics sheet material folded into a box form.
11. A set according to claim 9 wherein the package provides a
location at which the coaster is held and can be seen from outside
the package.
12. A set according to claim 9 wherein front and rear insert cards
are included inside the package and the pieces of the placemat are
received separated in the package between the front and rear insert
cards.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a placemat and coaster
set.
[0002] Placemats and coasters are intended for use in protecting
surfaces on which food and drink containers are to be placed. They
are made in various forms and various materials. Commonly they are
given an attractive appearance by the addition of a picture,
photograph or other decorative effect on their upper, front,
surfaces, Placemats and coasters are usually provided in sets of
matching designs.
[0003] The present invention is aimed at providing a placemat and
coaster set of added appeal, particularly, though not only, for
children.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided, as a
set, a placemat and coaster which have a similar decorative effect
and in which the placemat is made in pieces as a jigsaw puzzle, the
coaster illustrating the decorative effect to be achieved on the
placemat when its pieces are assembled together.
[0005] The decorative effect in the placemat and coaster may take
various forms, usually two dimensional but even a three dimensional
effect may be possible. A graphic design may be printed on the
placemat and coaster.
[0006] Preferably the placemat and coaster are made from a material
which is readily wiped clean or washed. In a preferred embodiment a
durable, resilient plastics material, for example polypropylene is
used which enables the placemat and coaster to be washed in a
dishwasher if desired.
[0007] The placemat may be cut to form the pieces of the jigsaw
puzzle by any suitable means. Die-cutting is convenient, for
example, in the case of the preferred plastics material.
[0008] The placemat and coaster set may be contained in a package.
The set may be sold in the package and the package may be used to
store the set when not being used. The package may, for example, be
made of a plastics sheet material folded into a box form. The
material of the package may be clear or opaque, coloured or
colourless. The package may provide a location at which the coaster
is held and can be seen from outside the package. Thus the coaster
is displayed at the package and can provide a decorative feature of
the package.
[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0010] FIGS. 1a-b shows schematically a placement and coaster set
in accordance with the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a package for the set,
and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the package.
[0013] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1a and 1b respectfully show
a placemat 1 and a coaster 2 of the placemat and coaster set. The
placemat 1 has a front surface 3 to which a graphics image 4 is
applied. The coaster also has a front surface 5 to which a graphics
image 6, similar to that of the placemat is applied. The graphics
images 4,6 are printed onto the front surfaces of the placemat and
coaster, the inks and dyes used being of a non-toxic formulation.
Various graphics images can be used.
[0014] The placemat and coaster are both made of polypropylene
sheet material. They may be of various sizes and shapes. They are
essentially stiff though with some resilience, and strong and
durable and are able to be washed in a dishwasher.
[0015] The placemat is die-cut into a number of pieces to form a
jigsaw puzzle 7. In this embodiment the placemat and coaster have
graphics images only on their front surfaces. Their underside is
plain. Graphics images may be provided on underside surfaces as
well and the images on the two surfaces may be similar or
different.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a package 8, for the
placemat and coaster set. The package 8 is of a box form comprising
a front wall 9, a rear wall 10 two side walls 11, 12 a base wall 13
and a close flap 14. A location 15 is formed at the front wall 9 to
receive the coaster as shown in FIG. 3, so that the coaster is
displayed at the front of the package. For the purposes of
displaying the package set for sale holes 16 are formed in the rear
wall, front wall and lid 15 of the package that when aligned
provide an engagement by a hook on a display wall. The package is
made from a stiff plastics sheet material which is cut and folded
to the box shape. In this embodiment the plastics sheet material of
the package is clear and as shown in FIG. 3, front and rear insert
cards 17,18 are included inside the package. The separated jigsaw
pieces 19 which make up the placemat are situated between the front
and rear insert cards 17, 18.
* * * * *