Foodware Set That Includes A Multifunction Cover-Base Assembly

Abstract

A foodware set having a covered configuration and a serving configuration. The foodware set includes a container defining a cavity for receiving a comestible during use. The foodware set further includes a cover-base that functions as a cover for the cavity when the set is in the covered configuration and as a base for supporting the container in a manner that exposes the cavity and comestible when the set is in the serving configuration. In one embodiment, the cover-base includes a plurality of resilient fittings each having an integral latch for holdingly engaging the container and an integral foot for providing the set with slip-resistance when the foodware set is in its serving configuration and the set is resting on a relatively hard, smooth surface.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/026,800, filed on Feb. 7, 2008, and titled "Bakeware System Including A Dual-Function Cover/Serving Base," which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of food apparatus. In particular, the present invention is directed to a foodware set that includes a multifunction cover-serving base assembly.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Normally, bakeware, such as a metal baking pan, does not come with a cover or serving base. Consumers are expected to transfer the goods baked in the bakeware into a different container for storage/transporting or a serving tray for serving. There are some bakeware sets on the market that have specially designed shallow (relative to the depth of the bakeware) polypropylene covers that can be clipped onto the bakeware with living-hinge polypropylene clips. These covers function only to cover the interior of the bakeware and any contents that may be present in the bakeware. There are other bakeware sets on the market that have similar shallow covers that engage the bakeware simply by friction fit. These covers, too, function only to cover the interior and any contents of the bakeware.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a foodware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration. The foodware set includes: a container for receiving a comestible during use, the container having a top opening and at least one catch region located around the top opening; and a cover-base having an open end and a cavity sized to receive substantially all of the container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, the cover-base covering the top opening of the container when the foodware set is in the covered configuration and the cover-base receiving in the cavity substantially all of the container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, the cover-base including: a rim surrounding a substantially defining the open end; and at least one resilient latch located proximate the rim and configured to latchingly engage the at least one catch region when the foodware set is in each of the serving and covering configurations.

[0005] In another implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a bakeware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration. The bakeware set includes a baking pan including: a first cavity having a top opening; and an outwardly turned flange surrounding the top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface; and a cover-base assembly having a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of the baking pan when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration, the cover-base assembly including: at least one shoulder formed in the sidewall, the at least one shoulder engaging the upper surface of the outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in the covered configuration and engaging the lower surface when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration; a rim formed on the sidewall and spaced from the at least one shoulder opposite the top-bottom wall; and a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least the sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage the outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in each of its covered and serving configurations so as to retain the outwardly turned flange in engagement with the at least one shoulder.

[0006] In still another implementation, the present disclosure is directed to a cover-base assembly for use with a container to provide the container with a covered configuration and a serving configuration, the container including a first cavity having a top opening and further including an outwardly turned flange surrounding the top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface. The cover-base assembly includes a cover-base member that includes: a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of the container when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; at least one shoulder formed in the sidewall, the sidewall engaging the upper surface of the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the covered configuration and engaging the lower surface when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; and a rim formed on the sidewall and spaced from the at least one shoulder opposite the top-bottom wall; and a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least the sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in each of their covered and serving configurations so as to retain the outwardly turned flange in engagement with the at least one shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example foodware set that includes a pan and a multi-function cover-base assembly made in accordance with broad concepts disclosed herein;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the example foodware set of FIG. 1 showing the cover-base assembly engaging the pan in its covering position;

[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the example foodware set of FIG. 1 showing the cover-base assembly engaging the pan in its base position;

[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the example foodware set of FIG. 1 in the configuration of FIG. 2;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a reduced perspective view of the cover-base member of FIGS. 1-4 with the multifunction fittings removed to reveal the engagement slots in the cover-base member that receive corresponding respective ones of the multifunction fittings;

[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the multifunction fittings of the cover-base assembly of FIGS. 1-4;

[0014] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cover-base assembly of the example foodware set as taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cover-base assembly of the example foodware set as taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

[0016] FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the example foodware set in the configuration of FIG. 1 as taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the example foodware set in the configuration of FIG. 2 as taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3; and

[0018] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective partial view of the cover-base assembly of the example foodware set showing one of the corners of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present disclosure pertains to a foodware set that includes a multifunction cover-base made largely of a relatively rigid material, but which includes specially designed fittings made of a relatively soft/flexible material. These fittings allow the cover-base to be used, for example, as a lid, or cover, for a pan (such as a bakepan), or other similarly shaped container, and also as a base that can be attached underneath the pan for times when contents of the pan is desired to be accessible, such as during serving. When used underneath the pan, in some embodiments (including the embodiment shown in the drawings herein) the specially designed soft-material fittings also double as feet that inhibit sliding of the base on smooth surfaces and inhibit scratching of the surfaces and the cover-base assembly itself.

[0020] The soft-material fittings are of a special shape to perform the above functions. In the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the fittings are secured to the cover-base via specially shaped openings in the cover-base that are designed to hold these fittings. The material used for the fittings can be an elastomeric material, such as silicone rubber, or one or more other materials, such as one or more other materials having resilient and/or anti-slip qualities similar to silicone rubber. The cover-base itself can be made of, for example, melamine, polycarbonate, ABS plastic, acrylic or a polypropylene with a desired stiffness/rigidity, and combinations thereof.

[0021] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-11 illustrate one example of a foodware set 100 made in accordance with broad concepts presented in this disclosure. FIG. 1, in particular, shows foodware set 100 as including a pan 104 and a cover-base assembly 108 for engaging the pan in both a cover position 200 and a base position 300 as shown, respectively, in FIGS. 2 and 3. As seen in FIG. 1, pan 104 has a bottom wall 112 and a sidewall 116 that together define an interior space 120, or cavity, for holding one or more comestibles (not shown) during use. Sidewall 116 includes an outwardly turned peripheral lip 124 that interacts with cover-base assembly 108 in each of cover and base positions 200, 300 (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively), as further described below. As those skilled in the art will appreciate and as will be further understood by reading this entire disclosure, in alternative embodiments outwardly turned lip 124 may be replaced by one or more other structures that provide catch regions for being holdingly engaged by cover-base assembly 108, such as strategically placed lateral ridges or lips, which may optionally be used in conjunction with one or more corresponding respective depressions formed in the sidewall, among others.

[0022] In this example, pan 104 is a relatively shallow pan having a rectangular shape. However, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a pan (or other similarly shaped body) for use in a set of the present disclosure may be virtually any other shape desired, such as circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. and may have other characteristics. For example, pan 104 may be a muffin or other similar pan having multiple depressions for holding and/or baking muffins and other similar items. Pan 104 may be made of any suitable material such as metal (shown), ceramic, glass and high temperature plastic, and combinations thereof. Of course, pan 104 may be treated with a non-stick or other coating, for example on the surfaces of bottom wall 112 and sidewall 116 facing interior space 120. Pan 104 may be any suitable pan (or similar body), such as a conventional pan having suitable characteristics for being holdingly engaged by cover-base assembly 108 and any newly developed pan having such characteristics.

[0023] Referring still to FIG. 1, in this example cover-base assembly 108 includes a relatively rigid cover-base member 128 and one or more (here, four) relatively soft multifunction resilient fittings 132A-D. A function of each resilient fitting 132A-D is to holdingly engage pan 104 when cover-base assembly 108 is in each of its cover and base positions 200, 300 (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively). In this example, each resilient fitting 132A-D engages outwardly turned lip 124 in a manner that secures pan 104 relatively firmly to cover-base assembly 108. The details of this engagement are described below in more detail. In this example, another function of resilient fittings 132A-D when cover-base assembly 108 is in its base position 300 (FIG. 3) is to provide set 100 with integral feet 304A-D that slightly elevate cover-base member 128 off of a surface 304 (FIG. 3) on which the set is resting. When fittings 132A-D, more particularly feet 304A-D (FIGS. 3 and 4), are made of silicone rubber or other soft material(s), the feet can also provide a slippage inhibiting function, especially if surface 308 is such that lower-friction feet would tend to slide thereon. This is helpful, for example, when set 100 is in a serving configuration with cover-base assembly 108 in base position 300 of FIG. 3, surface 308 is relatively low friction and a user (not shown) is attempting to take a serving of a comestible from pan 104 and is applying horizontal forces to the set, for example, with a serving spoon (not shown). In this case, low-friction feet 304A-D inhibit set 100 from sliding on surface 308 in response to those horizontal forces.

[0024] As mentioned above, a foodware set made in accordance with broad concepts of the present disclosure, such as foodware set 100 of FIGS. 1-11, may include one or more resilient fittings that may be the same as or similar to fittings 132A-D of foodware set 100. FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a situation in which multiple fittings 132A-D are used, in that case to hold each of the four corners of pan 104 in proper relation to cover-base assembly 108 in either its cover or base position 200, 300 (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively). As another example, in which the pan (not shown) is circular in shape and the inserts are provided with feet in a manner similar to feet 304A-D of fittings 132A-D (see, e.g., FIG. 3), the corresponding cover-base assembly (not shown) may be provided with three inserts located, for example, 120.degree. from each adjacent insert around the periphery of the assembly. In this example, a minimum of three inserts is required (assuming no other feet are provided on the cover-base assembly) to provide stability to the assembly when the foodware set is in its base configuration (similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 3).

[0025] If the inserts for a circular pan are not provided with feet, the corresponding foodware set may have fewer than three inserts. For example, in the context of a circular pan and cover-base assembly (not shown), the assembly may include two flexible inserts located, for example, diametrically opposite one another. In another example, a foodware assembly made in accordance with broad concepts of the present disclosure may have a single flexible insert. For example, a square pan and corresponding square cover-base assembly (not shown) may be provided with fixed features on one side of the square and/or at the corners on that side that engage one another so as to hold the pan and cover-base assembly together along that side in both of the cover and base configurations (similar to the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively). Then, the side of the square set opposite the side held by the fixed features can be provided with a flexible insert in the general manner of resilient fittings 132A-D of foodware set 100 of FIGS. 1-11. To use such an embodiment, the fixed features may provide a hinge of sorts, and once the fixed features are engaged with one another, the opposing end of the pan or cover-base assembly can be pivoted so that the flexible insert on the cover-base assembly holdingly engages the pan.

[0026] As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, many configurations of foodware sets are possible using broad concepts of the present disclosure. That said, skilled artisans will also readily understand that the various configurations are within their grasp without the need for undue experimentation such that the appended claims need not be limited in scope whatsoever by the limited number of examples explicitly presented herein.

[0027] Looking now at further details of resilient fittings 132A-D of FIGS. 1-4 in more detail, attention is directed to FIGS. 5-11. FIG. 5 shows cover-base member 128 without inserts 132A-D (see, e.g., FIG. 1) so as to illustrate features of the cover-base member that interact directly with the inserts. Like pan 104 (FIG. 1), cover-base member 128 includes a top-bottom wall 500 (top or bottom depending on whether the cover-base member is in its cover or base position 200, 300 (FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively) and a sidewall 504 having four generally vertical corners 508A-D. In this example, each generally vertical corner 508A-D of cover-base member 128 is provided with a corresponding aperture 512A-D and notch 516A-D for receiving corresponding respective parts of corresponding respective ones of resilient fittings 132A-D (see, e.g., FIG. 1).

[0028] With continuing reference to FIG. 5, and also referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that in this embodiment sidewall 504 at each vertical corner 508A-D (although FIG. 7 corresponds explicitly to only corner 508A, for convenience various components in FIG. 7 are labeled to represent all four corners 508A-D since corners 508B-D are essentially identical to corner 508A) is thickened so that exposed surfaces of each insert 132A-D proximate the inner and outer surfaces of sidewall 504 are flush with those surfaces so as to make the finished cover-base assembly 108 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) with not only a high-quality appearance and attractiveness, but also easy to clean. In this connection, the interior side of sidewall 504 at each corner 508A-D may be considered to have an interior recess 520A-D, and the exterior side of the sidewall at each corner may be considered to have an exterior recess 524A-D, with the corresponding aperture 512A-D extending between these recesses.

[0029] As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, each resilient fitting 132A-D of this example includes an interior portion 600A-D, an exterior portion 604A-D and a neck portion 608A-D extending between the interior and exterior portions. As seen in FIG. 7, each of these portions 600A-D, 604A-D, 608A-D substantially conformally engages, respectively, a corresponding one of interior recess 520A-D, exterior recess 524A-D and aperture 512A-D. In this example, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that each neck portion 608A-D and corresponding exterior portion 604A-D (which acts like the head of a rivet or like fastener) in effect function as an elongate fastener securing the corresponding resilient fitting 132A-D to cover-base member 128. These elongate fasteners can be engaged with cover-base member 128 by forcing exterior portions 604A-D through corresponding respective apertures 512A-D from the interior of the base member and, taking advantage of the high flexibility/resiliency of resilient fittings 132A-D, manipulating the exterior portion and interior portions 600A-D so that they properly fill the corresponding respective ones of exterior and interior recesses 524A-D, 520A-D, respectively.

[0030] The "length" of neck portion 608A-D in a direction extending between interior portion 600A-D and exterior portion 604A-D in a relaxed state, such as the state shown in FIG. 6, may be made slightly less than the thickness, t.sub.aperture, of sidewall 504 at aperture 512A-D so that when each resilient fitting 132A-D is installed into cover-base member 128 at corresponding respective ones of corners 508A-D, the corresponding neck portion remains in tension so as to enhance the engagement of that fitting with the cover-base member. This can provide a relatively very firm engagement of resilient fittings 132A-D with cover-base member 128. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of sidewall 504 at corner 508A (though FIG. 8 is labeled to generalize this figure to all four corners 508A-D for the same reason mentioned above relative to FIG. 7) showing not only the thickening of the sidewall at the corners, but also the configuration of interior recesses 520A-D at a location outside of the region of both apertures 512A-D and exterior recess 524A-D. Again, in this example the thickening of sidewall 504 in concert with the depth of interior recesses 520A-D at corners 508A-D not only increases the aesthetics of cover-base assembly 108, but also makes the assembly easy to clean.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9-11, each resilient fitting 132A-D further includes a flexible latch 612A-D for conformally engaging outwardly turned peripheral lip 124 (FIGS. 9 and 10) of pan 104 so as to holdingly engage the pan with cover-base assembly 108 in both its cover and base positions 200, 300 (FIGS. 2 and 9 & FIGS. 3 and 10, respectively). In this example, each flexible latch 612A-D includes a head 616A-D and a neck 620A-D that joins the head to the rest of the corresponding resilient fitting 132A-D. Each neck 620A-D is configured to define a corresponding groove 1100A-D (FIG. 11) sized and shaped to substantially conformally receive outwardly turned peripheral lip 124. Each neck 620A-D is also configured to flex so as to allow a user to pivot the corresponding head 616A-D in a direction generally away from the interior of cover-base assembly 108 when disengaging and/or engaging pan 104 with the corresponding groove 1100A-D. This pivoting movement is represented by arrows 900, 1000 in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. It is noted that the size/configuration of each groove 1100A-D may be designed so that when outwardly turned peripheral lip 124 of pan 104 is engaged with each groove 1100A-D and each head 616A-D is in its holding position, specifically, either cover holding position 904 of FIG. 9 or base holding position 1004 of FIG. 10, the corresponding neck 620A-D remains slightly flexed so as to apply a continuous holding force to the outwardly turned peripheral lip.

[0032] As best seen in FIG. 11, in this example the thickened portion (see, e.g., FIGS. 7 and 8) of sidewall 504 at each corner 508A-D defines a pair of shoulders 1104A-D, 1108A-D on opposing lateral sides of interior recess 520A-D. When pan 104 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3) is properly engaged with cover-base assembly 108 in each of cover configuration (FIGS. 2 and 9) and base configuration (FIGS. 3 and 10), shoulders 1104A-D, 1108A-D provide firm surfaces on the cover-base assembly for outwardly turned peripheral lip 124 to engage in these configurations. With this arrangement of shoulders 1104A-D, 1108A-D, when cover-base assembly 108 is in its cover position 200 (FIGS. 2 and 9), a seal is effected between the cover-base assembly and pan 104 at locations other than the corners by the close proximity and/or contacting engagement of the lateral margins of outwardly turned peripheral flange 124 with sidewall 504 of cover-base member 128. A similar seal can be effected with cover-base assembly 108 in its base position 300 (FIGS. 3 and 10), as well. It is noted that in other embodiments, the cover-base member may be provided with one or more shoulders (not shown) around substantially the entire interior of the sidewall of the cover-base member such that a suitable seal between the pan and cover-base assembly is effected by the engagement of such shoulder(s) by the upper or lower surface of the outwardly turned peripheral flange. In yet other embodiments, any shoulders provided may be provided intermittently around the interior surface of the sidewall of the cover-base member. In still further embodiments, virtually the entire upper edge of the cover-base member may be configured to engage each of the upper and lower surfaces of an outwardly turned flange of a corresponding pan. In that case, any lateral stability may be provided either by the resilient fittings or rigid structures secured to (including integrally molded with) the cover-base member, or a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other variations not explicitly described above are likewise possible and within the broad scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

[0033] In this example, head 620A-D of each resilient fitting 132A-D is partially located in a corresponding one of notches 516A-D (FIG. 5). This arrangement contributes to allowing head 620A-D of each latch 612A-D to pivot about an axis at a desired location (here, at an axis that generally lies in a plane that contains the curved horizontal centerline of the corresponding groove 1100A-D). It is noted that in alternative embodiments, for example those wherein the lower-upper edge of the cover-base member provides the support/sealing surfaces for engaging the pan, notches (such as notches 516A-D of FIG. 5) need not be provided since the pivot point could be located above (below) the lower-upper edge of the cover-base member.

[0034] Also in the present example, each head 616A-D includes a contoured user-engagement surface 908A-D (FIGS. 9-11) that a user may use to pivot corresponding latch 612A-D to disengage and/or engage pan 104. Specifically, this example has each user-engagement surface 908A-D partially defined by a projecting ridge 912A-D located distally from the interior of cover-base assembly 108. In this embodiment, to pivot each latch 612A-D away from the interior of cover-base assembly 108, a user (not shown) engages the corresponding user-engagement surface 908A-D with, for example, a thumb or finger and pushes or pulls against the user-engagement surface in a direction generally away from the interior of the cover-base assembly. In other embodiments, the head of each latch could be configured so as to have a laterally outwardly projecting (relative to the cover-base assembly) extension that would allow a user to pivot the latch by pushing or pulling on the extension in a more vertical direction. Those skilled in the art will readily understand how to implement this and other modifications that fall within the broad scope of the present disclosure.

[0035] As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, in other embodiments each resilient fitting 132A-D can differ in any of one or more ways from the illustrative example shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1-11. For example, in some alternative embodiments, the corresponding cover-base member may include more than one aperture at each corner. Correspondingly, each resilient fitting may include multiple neck and exterior portions corresponding to the number of apertures at each corner. In other embodiments, each resilient fitting may be present only on the exterior of the cover-base member. In this case, the resilient fitting may be secured to the cover-base member by adhesive bonding, mechanical engagement of one or more portions of the fitting with one or more corresponding recesses in the exterior of the cover-base member that have undercut sides, or a combination thereof. In yet other embodiments, each fitting could be secured only to the interior of cover-base member, for example, in any of the manners just mentioned for the exterior mounting. In this case, there would not be any integral exterior foot. In still further embodiments, in which the cover-base members do not include either interior or exterior recesses but do include one or more apertures, the interior and exterior portions of each fitting may taper toward their peripheral edges so that these edges are relatively very thin and provide a nearly smooth transition between the interior and exterior portions and the immediately surrounding interior and exterior surfaces of the side and/or bottom walls of the cover-base members. Other modifications to resilient fittings that are within the scope of the broad concepts of the present disclosure will likely be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foodware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration, the foodware set comprising: a container for receiving a comestible during use, said container having a top opening and at least one catch region located around said top opening; and a cover-base having an open end and a cavity sized to receive substantially all of said container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base covering said top opening of said container when the foodware set is in the covered configuration and said cover-base receiving in said cavity substantially all of the container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base including: a rim surrounding a substantially defining said open end; and at least one resilient latch located proximate said rim and configured to latchingly engage said at least one catch region when the foodware set is in each of the serving and covering configurations.

2. A foodware set according to claim 1, wherein said cover-base includes a plurality of resilient latches spaced from one another around said rim.

3. A foodware set according to claim 2, wherein said cover-base has a top-bottom wall confronting a horizontal surface when the foodware is in the serving configuration, said exterior base including a plurality of high-friction feet for inhibiting slipping of the foodware set on the horizontal surface when the foodware set is in the serving configuration.

4. A foodware set according to claim 3, wherein ones of said plurality of high-friction feet are integral with corresponding respective ones of said resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings.

5. A foodware set according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body.

6. A foodware set according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of latches is part of a corresponding one of a plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base includes a plurality of apertures, said plurality of resilient fittings being secured to said cover-base via corresponding respective ones of said plurality of apertures.

7. A foodware set according to claim 6, wherein said cover-base has a sidewall and each of said plurality of apertures is a vertically elongated slot formed at least partially in said sidewall, each of said plurality of resilient fittings including an elongated body and an integrally molded elongated fastener for mechanically fastening that one of said plurality of resilient fittings to said cover-base via said vertically elongated slot, said integrally molded elongated fastener including a neck portion and a head portion, said neck portion filling said vertically elongated slot and said head portion being larger than said aperture so as to provide a mechanical connection between that one of said plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base.

8. A foodware set according to claim 7, wherein said sidewall includes a plurality of corners, each said vertically elongated slot located at a corresponding one of said plurality of corners.

9. A foodware set according to claim 8, wherein said sidewall of said cover-base has an exterior and an interior and includes at each of said plurality of corners: a recess on said exterior that receives said head of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said head flush with said exterior; and a recess on said interior that receives said elongated body of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said elongated body flush with said interior.

10. A foodware set according to claim 8, wherein said sidewall of said cover base is thickened substantially only at each of said plurality of corners so as to form a plurality of shoulders for holdingly engaging the pan in concert with said plurality of latches when the foodware set is in each of the covered and serving configurations.

11. A foodware set according to claim 7, wherein said cover-base has a top-bottom wall attached to said sidewall, each said vertically elongated slot extending onto said top-bottom wall, each said head of said integrally molded elongated fastener extending onto said top-bottom wall and configured to provide a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet.

12. A foodware set according to claim 2, wherein said container has an outwardly turned peripheral flange circumscribing said top opening and said plurality of catch regions are corresponding respective portions of said outwardly turned peripheral flange.

13. A foodware set according to claim 12, wherein said outwardly turned peripheral flange has an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said cover-base having a sidewall that includes an interior shoulder adjacent said rim, said shelf engaging said upper surface of said outwardly turned flange of said container when the foodware set is in the cover configuration and said shelf engaging said lower surface of said outwardly turned flange of said container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration.

14. A foodware set according to claim 1, wherein said rim includes a notch receiving a portion of one of said at least one resilient latch.

15. A foodware set according to claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of resilient latches is pivotably mounted in said notch.

16. A bakeware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration, comprising: a baking pan including: a first cavity having a top opening; and an outwardly turned flange surrounding said top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface; and a cover-base assembly having a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of said baking pan when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base assembly including: at least one shoulder formed in said sidewall, said at least one shoulder engaging said upper surface of said outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in the covered configuration and engaging said lower surface when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration; a rim formed on said sidewall and spaced from said at least one shoulder opposite said top-bottom wall; and a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least said sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage said outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in each of its covered and serving configurations so as to retain said outwardly turned flange in engagement with said at least one shoulder.

17. A bakeware set according to claim 16, wherein said top-bottom wall of cover-base assembly has an exterior surface, said cover-base assembly further including a plurality of high-friction feet raised relative to said exterior surface of said top-bottom wall, said plurality of high-friction feet being formed integrally with corresponding respective ones of said plurality of resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings.

18. A bakeware set according to claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body.

19. A bakeware set according to claim 18, wherein said cover-base assembly has an exterior and an interior, each said monolithic elastomeric body including an exterior portion exposed to said exterior of said cover-base assembly, and an interior portion exposed to said interior of said cover-base assembly, said exterior and interior portions connected to one another by a neck portion that extends through said cover-base assembly.

20. A bakeware set according to claim 19, wherein a bottom portion of said exterior portion of said monolithic elastomeric body provides a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet.

21. A bakeware set according to claim 17, wherein each said plurality of resilient latches is integral with said interior portion of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings.

22. A bakeware set according to claim 17, wherein said top opening of said baking pan defines a plurality of first corners and sidewall of said cover-base assembly forms a plurality of second corners with itself that correspond respectively to said plurality of first corners of said baking pan, said plurality of resilient fittings being located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners.

23. A bakeware set according to claim 22, wherein said rim includes a plurality of notches located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners, said plurality of notches receiving corresponding respective portions of ones of said plurality of resilient latches.

24. A bakeware set according to claim 16, wherein said sidewall of said cover-base assembly has a plurality of corners and includes a plurality of shoulders substantially only at said plurality of corners.

25. A bakeware set according to claim 24, wherein said plurality of shoulders are formed by thickened regions of said sidewall.

26. A cover-base assembly for use with a container to provide the container with a covered configuration and a serving configuration, the container including a first cavity having a top opening and further including an outwardly turned flange surrounding the top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, the cover-base assembly comprising: a cover-base member that includes: a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of the container when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; at least one shoulder formed in said sidewall, said sidewall engaging the upper surface of the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the covered configuration and engaging the lower surface when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; and a rim formed on said sidewall and spaced from said at least one shoulder opposite said top-bottom wall; and a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least said sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in each of their covered and serving configurations so as to retain the outwardly turned flange in engagement with said at least one shoulder.

27. A cover-base assembly according to claim 26, wherein said top-bottom wall of said cover-base member has an exterior surface, the cover-base assembly further including a plurality of high-friction feet raised relative to said exterior surface of said top-bottom wall, said plurality of high-friction feet being formed integrally with corresponding respective ones of said plurality of resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings.

28. A cover-base assembly according to claim 27, wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body.

29. A cover-base assembly according to claim 28, wherein the cover-base assembly has an exterior and an interior, each said monolithic elastomeric body including an exterior portion exposed to said exterior of said cover-base assembly, and an interior portion exposed to said interior of said cover-base assembly, said exterior and interior portions connected to one another by a neck portion that extends through said cover-base member.

30. A cover-base assembly according to claim 29, wherein a bottom portion of said exterior portion of said monolithic elastomeric body provides a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet.

31. A cover-base assembly according to claim 27, wherein each said plurality of resilient latches is integral with said interior portion of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings.

32. A cover-base assembly according to claim 27, wherein the top opening of the container defines a plurality of first corners and said sidewall of said cover-base assembly forms a plurality of second corners with itself that correspond respectively to the plurality of first corners of the container, said plurality of resilient fittings being located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners.

33. A cover-base assembly according to claim 32, wherein said rim includes a plurality of notches located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners, said plurality of notches receiving corresponding respective portions of ones of said plurality of resilient latches.

34. A cover-base assembly according to claim 26, wherein each of said plurality of resilient latches is part of a corresponding one of a plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base member includes a plurality of apertures, said plurality of resilient fittings being secured to said cover-base member via corresponding respective ones of said plurality of apertures.

35. A foodware set according to claim 34, wherein each of said plurality of apertures is a vertically elongated slot, each of said plurality of resilient fittings including an elongated body and an integrally molded elongated fastener for mechanically fastening that one of said plurality of resilient fittings to said cover-base member via said vertically elongated slot, said integrally molded elongated fastener including a neck portion and a head portion, said neck portion filling said vertically elongated slot and said head portion being larger than said aperture so as to provide a mechanical connection between that one of said plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base.

36. A cover-base assembly according to claim 35, wherein said sidewall of said cover-base member has a plurality of corners, an exterior and an interior, and includes at each of said plurality of corners: a recess on said exterior that receives said head of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said head flush with said exterior; and a recess on said interior that receives said elongated body of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said elongated body flush with said interior.