U.S. patent application number 10/836802 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-03 for resealable divided plate.
Invention is credited to Hesson, John A., Powers, Thomas J., Sinton, Alexander J..
Application Number | 20050242092 10/836802 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35186038 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050242092 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sinton, Alexander J. ; et
al. |
November 3, 2005 |
Resealable divided plate
Abstract
A multi-compartment plate system including upper and lower
plates each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second
compartments, the compartments disposed on an obverse side of the
plates, each plate defining a respective recess extending about the
periphery of its second compartment, and each plate having a raised
rim extending about the periphery of its first compartment, the rim
being contoured to nest within the recess of the second compartment
of the other plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and
rotated with respect to the lower plate, the first and second
compartments of the upper plate engage the opposing second and
first compartments of the lower plate, respectively, to form a
nested covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.
Inventors: |
Sinton, Alexander J.;
(Doylestown, PA) ; Powers, Thomas J.; (Fairless
Hills, PA) ; Hesson, John A.; (Braintree,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON PC
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
35186038 |
Appl. No.: |
10/836802 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/36 20130101; B65D
2543/00027 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00083
20130101; B65D 2543/00351 20130101; B65D 21/0234 20130101; B65D
43/0218 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.21 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multi-compartment plate system comprising: upper and lower
plates each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second
compartments, the compartments disposed on an obverse side of the
plates; each plate defining a respective recess extending about the
periphery of its second compartment; and each plate having a raised
rim extending about the periphery of its first compartment, the rim
being contoured to nest within the recess of the second compartment
of the other plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and
rotated with respect to the lower plate, the first and second
compartments of the upper plate engage the opposing second and
first compartments of the lower plate, respectively, to form a
nested covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.
2. The plate system of claim 1 wherein the recess and the raised
rim each comprise a substantially convex portion adjacent a
substantially concave portion, wherein the concave portion of the
recess of each of the first compartments engages the convex portion
of the rim of each of the second compartments to form a releasable
seal between the upper and lower plates.
3. The plate system of claim 2 wherein the releasable seal is
substantially liquid-tight.
4. The plate system of claim 2 wherein the releasable seal is
substantially air-tight.
5. The plate system of claim 1, wherein the plates further comprise
a third compartment disposed between the first and second
compartments.
6. The plate system of claim 5, further comprising a number of
ventilation holes extending through at least one of the
containers.
7. The plate system of claim 1, further comprising a graspable tab
extending from the outer perimeter of at least one of the plates
for separating the plates.
8. The plate system of claim 1 wherein a reverse side of the plates
is contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates
to facilitate nested stacking.
9. A multi-compartment feeding plate comprising: a first
compartment disposed on an obverse side having a raised rim
extending about the periphery of the first compartment; and a
second compartment disposed on the obverse side having a recess
extending about the periphery of the second compartment; wherein
the recess of the second compartment is sized and configured for
sealing engagement with the raised rim of the first compartment of
an additional multi-compartment feeding plate, comparable to said
multi-compartment feeding plate, to form a covered plate defining
two separate, covered containers.
10. The plate of claim 9 wherein the recess and the raised rim each
comprise a substantially convex portion adjacent a substantially
concave portion, wherein the convex portions and concave portions
of the recess are adapted for engaging the opposing concave and
convex portions of the raised rim of the additional
multi-compartment feeding plate, respectively, to form a
interlocking seal.
11. The plate system of claim 9 wherein a reverse side of the
plates is contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the
plates to facilitate nested stacking.
12. The plate of claim 9, further comprising a third compartment
disposed between the first and second compartments.
13. The plate of claim 12, further comprising a number of
ventilation holes extending through at least one of the
compartments.
14. The plate of claim 9, further comprising a graspable tab
extending from the perimeter of at least one of the plates.
15. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate is formed from a sheet
of thermoplastic material.
16. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate is formed from a
thermoplastic material by a manufacturing method consisting of
injection molding, blow-molding, composite injection molding and
compression molding.
17. The plate of claim 16 wherein the plate is thermoformed by the
application of at least one of vacuum and pressure.
18. The plate of claim 16 wherein the plate thermoplastic material
comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting
of polyesters, polystyrenes, and polypropylenes.
19. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate has a wall thickness of
from about 0.25 millimeters to about 3.0 millimeters.
20. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate has a wall thickness of
from about 0.25 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeters.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to resealable containers for food
storage, and more particularly to plates for storing and serving
food.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Container storage systems are used for the temporary
storage, transport and serving of food. Many such containers
provide only a single compartment and require a separate,
detachable cover for sealing the contents stored inside. Two
different components: a cover and a base container must be
manufactured for each storage system. The cover and corresponding
base container can often become separated and lost and may not
provide for the single stacking or all components.
SUMMARY
[0003] A multi-compartment plate system includes upper and lower
plates, each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second
compartments disposed on an obverse side of the plates, Each plate
defines a respective recess extending about the periphery of its
second compartment, and each plate has a raised rim extending about
the periphery of its first compartment. The rim is contoured to
nest within the recess of the second compartment of the other
plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and rotated with
respect to the lower plate, the first and second compartments of
the upper plate engage the opposing second and first compartments
of the lower plate, respectively, to form a nested covered plate
defining two separate, covered containers.
[0004] In various implementations, the recess and the raised rim of
the plate system can each include a substantially convex portion
adjacent a substantially concave portion. The concave portion of
the recess for each of the first compartments engages the convex
portion of the rim for each of the second compartments to form a
releasable seal between the upper and lower plates. The seal can be
substantially liquid-tight or substantially air-tight in some
examples.
[0005] The plate system can also include additional compartments
such as a third compartment disposed between the first and second
compartments. In some examples, the plate system includes a number
of ventilation holes extending through at least one of the
compartments. A graspable tab can extend from the outer perimeter
of one of both of the plates to separate the plates. In one
example, a reverse side of the plates is contoured to receive and
engage the obverse side of the plates to permit nested stacking of
the plates for compact storage.
[0006] In another aspect, a first multi-compartment feeding plate
includes a first compartment disposed on an obverse side having a
raised rim extending about the periphery of the first compartment
and a second compartment disposed on the obverse side having a
recess extending about the periphery of the second compartment,
where the recess of the second compartment is sized and configured
for sealing engagement with the raised rim of the first compartment
of an additional multi-compartment feeding plate, comparable to the
first multi-compartment feeding plate, to form a covered plate
defining two separate, covered containers.
[0007] In various implementations, the recess and the raised rim
each include a substantially convex portion adjacent a
substantially concave portion. The convex portions and concave
portions of the recess are adapted for engaging the opposing
concave and convex portions of the raised rim of the additional
multi-compartment feeding plate, respectively, to form a
interlocking seal. The reverse side of the plates can be contoured
to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates to facilitate
nested stacking for compact storage as in the above aspect.
[0008] The plate can also include additional compartments, such as
a third compartment disposed between the first and second
compartments. The plate can include a number of ventilation holes
extending through one or both of the compartments. A graspable tab
can extend from the perimeter of one or both of the plates.
[0009] The plate can be formed from a sheet of thermoplastic
material by a manufacturing method such as injection molding,
blow-molding, composite injection molding, compression molding or
any combination of the foregoing. In some examples, the plate is
thermoformed by the application of either vacuum or pressure. The
thermoplastic material forming the plate can include a polymeric
material such as polyesters, polystyrenes, and polypropylenes. In
some examples, the plate has a wall thickness of from about 0.25 to
about 3.0 millimeters.
[0010] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implementation of a
plate.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of two plates, each comparable to the
plate of FIG. 1, connected together to form a covered plate.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the covered plate of FIG.
2
[0014] FIG. 4 is a partial-section view along lines A-A' and B-B'
of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 5A is a section view along line A-A' of FIG. 3.
[0016] FIGS. 5B and 5C are detail views of areas B and C,
respectively, of FIG. 5A.
[0017] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a divided plate 10 with a generally
planar shape includes a first compartment 15 having a raised rim 20
extending about its perimeter and a second compartment 25 having a
recess 30 extending about its perimeter. An intermediate
compartment 35 can be disposed between the first and second
compartments 15, 25. The rim 20 of the first compartment 15 is
configured to engage the recess 30 of the second compartment 25,
such that the plate 10 can be nested together with a second plate
10', comparable to the plate 10, where the second plate 10' is
inverted and rotated 180-degrees with respect to the first plate
10, to form a covered plate 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Plate 10
can formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material with available
manufacturing methods consisting of injection molding,
blow-molding, composite injection molding and compression molding.
Plate 10 can also be thermoformed by the application of at least
one of vacuum and pressure processes. The thermoplastic material
can include polymeric materials such as polyesters, polystyrenes,
and polypropylenes, for example.
[0019] In one implementation, the plates 10, 10' are formed from a
resilient material to permit a pressure-fit along the raised rims
20, 20' and the recesses 30' 30, respectively. One or both of the
plates 10, 10' can be formed from a transparent or translucent
material to provide visual access to the content of the volumes
defined by the compartments without requiring separation of the
plates. Plate 10 can have a wall thickness from about 0.25 to about
3.0 millimeters and in some examples, a wall thickness from about
0.25 to about 1.0 millimeters
[0020] With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and also FIGS. 4
and 5A, the raised rim 20 of compartment 15 of plate 10 joins with
the recess 30' of compartment 25' of identical plate 10' to define
a container 45 having a suitable volume for holding contents. The
recess 30 of compartment 25 of plate 10 joins with the raised rim
20' of compartment 15' of plate 10' to define a container 50 having
a suitable volume for holding contents. The compartment 35 of plate
10 engages the compartment 35' of plate 10' to define a container
55 having a suitable for holding contents. As shown in FIG. 4, one
or both plates 10, 10' can include a tab 60 to assist in the
separating the plates 10, 10' when pressed into sealing engagement
to form the covered plate 40. In one implementation, one or more of
the compartments includes ventilation holes 63 (FIG. 3). The holes
can facilitate the escape of steam when heating the plate contents
in a microwave, for example.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the recess 30 of plate 10
transitions to a base 70 along a shoulder 75. The raised ridge 20
of plate 10 transitions to the base 70 along a shoulder 80. The
shoulder 75 can be disposed in a generally vertical orientation
and, include a substantially convex portion 85 adjacent a
substantially concave portion 90. The shoulder 80 can also be
disposed in a generally vertical orientation and include a
substantially convex portion 95 adjacent a substantially concave
portion 100.
[0022] When the plates 10, 10' are pressed together in sealing
engagement, the convex portion 85 of shoulder 75 engages the
concave portion 100' of shoulder 80' and the concave portion 90 of
shoulder 75 engages the convex portion 95' of shoulder 80' to form
the container 45 between the second compartment 25 of the plate 10
and the first compartment 15' of plate 10'. Similarly, the convex
portion 95 of shoulder 80 engages the concave portion 90 of
shoulder 75' and the concave portion 100 of shoulder 80 engages the
convex portion 85' of shoulder 75' to form the container 50 between
the first compartment 15 of plate 10 and the second compartment 25'
of plate 10'. The releasable seals between the opposing compartment
can be liquid-tight or air-tight depending upon the specific
implementation. The compartments 35 and 35' are joined to form the
container 55 between the plates 10, 10'.
[0023] The plate system can provide a complete multi-compartment
storage system using two substantial comparable plates 10, 10'. The
reverse side of the plate 10' can be contoured to receive and
engage an obverse side of the plate 10 to facilitate nested
stacking for compact storage.
[0024] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the plates 10, 10' can be
formed to include four or more compartments and formed into
generally rectangular or circular shapes. Accordingly, other
embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *