U.S. patent application number 09/776295 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-08 for porcelain container with plastic lid.
Invention is credited to Rosenfeld, Richard.
Application Number | 20020104846 09/776295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25106983 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020104846 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosenfeld, Richard |
August 8, 2002 |
Porcelain container with plastic lid
Abstract
A covered vessel comprising a porcelain container with a plastic
lid which is ideal for food storage, presentation and stacking is
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Rosenfeld, Richard; (Basalt,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Marj J. Murphy, Esq.
COOK, ALEX, MCFARRON, MANZO
CUMMINGS & MEHLER, Ltd.
200 West Adams Street, Suite 2850
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
25106983 |
Appl. No.: |
09/776295 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/781 ;
206/508; 220/802 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0217 20130101;
B65D 2543/00518 20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 1/10
20130101; B65D 43/0218 20130101; B65D 2543/00555 20130101; B65D
2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/781 ;
220/802; 206/508 |
International
Class: |
B65D 021/036; B65D
043/08 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A covered vessel comprising: a porcelain container; and a
plastic lid for covering said porcelain container.
2. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said lid has an outside rim and an
inside rim and said container has a top lip, wherein said outside
rim and inside rim of said plastic lid fit around said top lip of
said container.
3. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said lid has an indented middle
portion, surrounded by a raised portion, said indented middle
portion and raised portion being useful for stacking containers
with said lids thereon.
4. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container has a circular lip
at the bottom of the container, said lip being useful for stacking
of said containers.
5. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container is a bowl.
6. The vessel of claim 5 wherein said bowl is a serving bowl.
7. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container is a platter.
8. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container is a plate.
9. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said container is ovenware.
10. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said lid is made of a low density
polyethylene.
11. A covered vessel comprising: a container made of a material
selected from the group consisting of stoneware and earthenware;
and a plastic lid for covering said container.
12. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said lid has an outside rim and
an inside rim and said container has a top lip, wherein said
outside rim and inside rim of said plastic lid fit around said top
lip of said container.
13. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said lid has an indented middle
portion, surrounded by a raised portion, said indented middle
portion and raised portion being useful for stacking containers
with said lids thereon.
14. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said container has a circular
lip at the bottom of the container, said lip being useful for
stacking of said containers.
15. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said container is a bowl.
16. The vessel of claim 15 wherein said bowl is a serving bowl.
17. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said container is a platter.
18. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said container is a plate.
19. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said container is ovenware.
20. The vessel of claim 11 wherein said lid is made of a low
density polyethylene.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to porcelain, stoneware or
earthenware vessels, including storage and serving bowls,
containers, plates, ovenware and platters, with a plastic lid for
covering such bowls, containers, ovenware, plates and platters.
[0002] For years, people have preferred to use porcelain bowls for
mixing and making food products. This is due to the sturdiness,
cleanability and better aesthetics of porcelain bowls.
Unfortunately, no one has been able to come up with a lid for
porcelain bowls. Applicant believes that this is because others
have found it too difficult to make porcelain uniform enough to fit
the uniformity of the plastic lid. Applicant also believes that
others have been discouraged because porcelain tends to bend and
warp and not be exactly uniform in size. Applicant also believes
that others have not conceived of a lid design that would work
satisfactorily on porcelain bowls.
[0003] As a result, prior porcelain bowls have been inappropriate
for food storage because there is no tight fitting lid. While
consumers have attempted to overcome this by putting clear plastic
wrap or tin foil on such bowls, such attempts end up being
disappointing because the wrap or foil is not always air tight,
does not remain air tight or is unsuited for stacking bowls or
putting other items on top of such bowls.
[0004] Accordingly, consumers have been forced to either transfer
the food from the porcelain bowl, used for mixing or stirring, into
another bowl made usually of plastic or metal, or use a plastic or
metal bowl in the first place. Plastic or metal bowls are
undesirable because lack of aesthetic appeal and are not viewed by
many consumers as acceptable serving vessels. Porcelain bowls are
also preferable over vitro ceramic or Corelle.TM. type of bowls
(also known as white glass) because the porcelain bowls have better
aesthetic appeal and are reputed to hold heat better and do not
cool down as quickly.
[0005] The present invention overcomes these prior problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to a covered vessel
comprising a porcelain container with a plastic lid. In alternative
embodiments, the container can made of either earthenware or
stoneware.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, in the present invention, the lid
conforms tightly enough to the porcelain to secure that the food
stored within the container and to keep the food protected from
outside elements such as odors. Hence, the lids make the porcelain
container suitable for food storage, the appropriate time depending
upon the type of food stored within. The lids can then be removed
presenting a bowl, plate or platter which is suitable for table
presentation.
[0008] In a further embodiment, the lids are designed so the foot
or bottom of the container fits into the top of the lid of another
container. In this manner, the containers can be securely stacked
on one another.
[0009] In still a further embodiment, the lids are designed so that
the rim of the container fits in between two rims or lips in the
lid to provide a secure fit for the lid on the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In describing the preferred embodiments, reference is made
to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the vessel of
the present invention with a porcelain container with a plastic lid
thereon;
[0012] FIG. 2a shows a cut away view of the porcelain container of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 2b shows a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a plastic lid of an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a cut-away view of the lid and container of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention is directed to a vessel having a
porcelain container with a plastic lid for covering the container.
While Applicant uses the term "container" herein, the scope of the
present invention includes all types of containers, serving bowls,
other types of bowls, plates, ovenware and platters.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the vessel of the present
invention with a porcelain container 10 with a plastic lid 12
thereon. In an alternative embodiment, the container could be made
of stoneware or earthenware. Preferably, the plastic lid should be
made of a soft plastic which is flexible enough to hug the rim of
container, as explained below. Such a plastic is a low density
polyethylene.
[0019] While lid 12 in FIG. 1 is shown with a raised mid-section,
this is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and it is
contemplated that other structures or designs for lids will also be
within the scope of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2a shows a partial cut away view of porcelain container
10. The left side 14 of FIG. 2 shows the outside of the container.
The right side 16 is a cut-away view of a section of container 10.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 2a includes a lip 18 at the foot or
bottom of container 10. As shown in FIG. 2b, this lip 18 forms a
circle around the bottom of container 10 and enables container 10
to be stacked on lid 12. Lip 18 is merely one embodiment of the
container of the present invention. Other types of bottoms are
contemplated in the scope of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a top view of plastic lid 12. In an embodiment
of the present invention, lid 12 includes a raised section 20,
which slopes down to a middle section 22. This structure offers the
advantage of allowing stacking of the containers with lids thereon.
More specifically, bottom lip 18 of container 10 of the prior
figures fits securely into middle section 22 of lid 12 so that the
containers with lids can be stacked on top of one another.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of plastic lid 12. From the
bottom view, section 20 is the lowest portion of the lid and then
there is a slope upward to middle section 22. FIG. 4 also shows a
dual rim structure 24, 26 of an embodiment of the lid of the
present application. Rims 24, 26 extend around the edge of lid 12.
Preferably, outside rim 24 extends further than inside rim 26. As
shown in more detail in FIG. 5, the edge or rim of container 10
fits within rims 24, 26 to produce a snug and secure fit for
plastic lid 12 on porcelain container 10.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cut-away showing how lid 12 fits on container 10
in an embodiment of the vessel of the present invention 12. More
particularly, outside rim 24 of lid 12 fits over and outside of
edge or rim 28 of container 10, while inside rim 26 of lid 12 fits
inside of edge 28 of container 10. This forms a secure and snug fit
for plastic lid 12 on porcelain container 10.
[0024] The structure of the present invention makes storage of
"left-overs" convenient, as they can be stored in the container in
which they had been served and then re-heated and/or re-served in
the same container. The lid also enables the container to be put
directly into a microwave oven, without having to switch containers
such as if a metal bowl was used.
[0025] This description has been offered for illustrative purposes
only and is not intended to limit the invention of this
application, which is defined in the claims below. For example, the
present invention contemplates different shaped lids, containers
and bowls.
[0026] Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not as
described in detail above, but as set forth in the appended
claims.
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