U.S. patent application number 13/607082 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for sloped plate with reservoir.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jonathon Wye. Invention is credited to Jonathon Wye.
Application Number | 20140069934 13/607082 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50232196 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140069934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wye; Jonathon |
March 13, 2014 |
SLOPED PLATE WITH RESERVOIR
Abstract
Plates are shown that include a sloped support that supports an
eating surface; a raised border around the eating surface; and a
reservoir foamed as a depression in the eating surface at the
bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an angle of the
sloped support allow fluids to collect in the reservoir.
Inventors: |
Wye; Jonathon; (Washington,
DC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wye; Jonathon |
Washington |
DC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50232196 |
Appl. No.: |
13/607082 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/575 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/575 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/02 20060101
A47G019/02 |
Claims
1. A plate, comprising: a sloped support that supports a circular
eating surface; a raised border around the eating surface; and a
reservoir formed as a depression in the eating surface at the
bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an angle of the
sloped support allow fluids to collect in the reservoir, and
wherein the reservoir occupies a geometrical segment of the
circular eating surface.
2. The plate of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is formed continuous
with the eating surface.
3. The plate of claim 1, wherein the depression extends below a
bottom plane of the eating surface.
4. The plate of claim 1, wherein the sloped support comprises a
hollow cylindrical shell that has a planar cut along the a top
surface to form the angle of the sloped support.
5. The plate of claim 1, wherein the reservoir occupies less than
half of the area of the eating surface.
6. The plate of claim 1, wherein a border between the reservoir and
a remainder of the eating surface is an unobstructed decline.
7. The plate of claim 1, wherein the angle of the sloped support is
about 5 degrees.
8. The plate of claim 1, wherein the raised border comprises a
grippable extension of the eating surface.
9. The plate of claim 1, wherein the raised border forms a sloped
bottom surface of the reservoir.
10. (canceled)
11. A plate, comprising: a sloped support that supports a circular
eating surface; a raised border around the eating surface; and a
reservoir, continuous with the eating surface, formed as a
depression extending below a bottom plane of the eating surface at
the bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an angle of
the sloped support allow fluids to collect in the reservoir,
wherein a border between the reservoir and a remainder of the
eating surface is an unobstructed decline and wherein the reservoir
occupies a geometrical segment of the circular eating surface.
12. The plate of claim 11, wherein the sloped support comprises a
hollow cylindrical shell that has a planar cut along a top surface
to form the angle of the sloped support.
13. The plate of claim 11, wherein the reservoir occupies less than
half of the area of the eating surface.
14. The plate of claim 11, wherein the angle of the sloped support
is about 5 degrees.
15. The plate of claim 11, wherein the raised border comprises a
grippable extension of the eating surface.
16. The plate of claim 11, wherein the raised border forms a sloped
bottom surface of the reservoir.
17. (canceled)
18. A plate, comprising: a sloped support that supports an eating
surface, said sloped support comprising a hollow cylindrical shell
that has a planar cut along the a top surface to form the angle of
the sloped support; a raised border around the eating surface
comprising a grippable extension of the eating surface; and a
reservoir, continuous with the eating surface, formed as a
depression extending below a bottom plane of the eating surface at
the bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an angle of
the sloped support allow fluids to collect in the reservoir,
wherein a border between the reservoir and a remainder of the
eating surface is an unobstructed decline and wherein the raised
border forms a sloped bottom surface of the reservoir.
19. The plate of claim 18, wherein the angle of the sloped support
is about 5 degrees.
20. The plate of claim 18, wherein the reservoir occupies less than
half of the area of the eating surface.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to kitchenware and, more
particularly to a serving and eating plate that includes a
reservoir to collect fluids for dipping.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Pancakes, the consummate American breakfast food, are
limited by the dishware used to eat them. Existing plates have a
flat eating surface that is not conducive to optimal application of
syrups and sauces. In particular, existing plates pool syrups in
the same area as is used to hold the pancakes themselves,
frequently resulting in oversaturation of the pancake material.
[0005] Attempts have been made to address a similar problem in the
field of greasy foods, where it is often desirable to provide
drainage for cooked meats, such that grease and oils are separated
from the food. Particular attention may be given to U.S. Pat. No.
5,176,282 to Rapaz. The '282 patent illustrates a tilted eating
surface having a set of parallel grooves that allow drainage to a
compartment, with the compartment being separated from the eating
surface by a dividing wall.
[0006] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,845 to Rapaz shows a tilted
surface where a drainage compartment is accessible only through a
grate or a hole in a dividing wall. The '845 patent goes to even
greater lengths to separate out the drainage area from the primary
eating surface.
[0007] Neither of these attempts provides an adequate solution for
the consumption of pancakes. In both cases, attempts are made to
separate a drainage area from the eating surface, because the
entire goal of the Rapaz patents is to remove what is essentially a
waste fluid. The Rapaz patents make no provision for users who
might wish to keep the drained fluids easily accessible.
SUMMARY
[0008] A plate is shown that includes a sloped support that
supports an eating surface; a raised border around the eating
surface; and a reservoir formed as a depression in the eating
surface at the bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an
angle of the sloped support allow fluids to collect in the
reservoir.
[0009] A further plate is shown that includes a sloped support that
supports an eating surface; a raised border around the eating
surface; and a reservoir, continuous with the eating surface,
formed as a depression extending below a bottom plane of the eating
surface at the bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an
angle of the sloped support allow fluids to collect in the
reservoir, wherein a border between the reservoir and a remainder
of the eating surface is an unobstructed decline.
[0010] A further plate is shown that includes a sloped support that
supports an eating surface, said sloped support comprising a hollow
cylindrical shell that has a planar cut along the top surface to
faun the angle of the sloped support; a raised border around the
eating surface comprising a grippable extension of the eating
surface; and a reservoir, continuous with the eating surface,
formed as a depression extending below a bottom plane of the eating
surface at the bottom of the slope, such that the depression and an
angle of the sloped support allow fluids to collect in the
reservoir, wherein a border between the reservoir and a remainder
of the eating surface is an unobstructed decline and wherein the
raised border forms a sloped bottom surface of the reservoir.
[0011] These and other features and advantages will become apparent
from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments
thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The disclosure will provide details in the following
description of preferred embodiments with reference to the
following figures wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top-down view of a sloped plate having a
reservoir according to the present principles.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of a sloped plate
having a reservoir according to the present principles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Embodiments of the present principles address the syrup
drainage problem by providing an angled surface with a recessed
reservoir. No barriers are put in place to prevent easy sliding of
pancake between the eating surface and the syrup reservoir,
allowing users to have immediate and effortless access to whatever
syrups and sauces they may desire.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals
represent the same or similar elements and initially to FIG. 1, a
top-down view of a sloped plate 100 with a reservoir 106 is shown.
The plate 100 has an outer radius 102 and an inner radius 104, with
the space between said outer radius 102 and inner radius 104 being
an area 103 designed for gripping. The gripping area 103 may be
flat or may be contoured to provide a superior grip. The gripping
area 103 further provides a bordering area to prevent accidental
spilling. It should be recognized that, although circular plates
are described and shown herein, it is contemplated that any
geometric shape may be used to form plate 100.
[0017] Within the inner radius 104, the plate 100 is divided into
an eating surface 108 and a reservoir 106. It is specifically
contemplated that the division 110 between the eating surface 108
and the reservoir 106 is merely a decline into a depressed area of
the plate, without any barrier to the free flow of fluid and food
between the two surfaces. As will be shown below, the eating
surface 108 is oriented on a decline, with an angle such that
viscous fluids such as syrups will descend into the reservoir 106.
The eating surface 108 may be used to hold, e.g., pancakes 112,
although any appropriate food or other substance may be used
including, without limitation, French toast, sausage, bacon,
biscuits, corn on the cob, French fries, lobster, and French bread.
It is contemplated that the reservoir 106 may be used for any
suitable dipping fluid including, without limitation, maple syrup,
butter, gravy, ketchup, and mustard.
[0018] The material for plate 100 may he any appropriate dishware
substance. In particular, it is contemplated that the plate may be
composed of clay, ceramic, glass, plastics, metal, and wood. It is
specifically contemplated that an earthenware plate 100 will be
microwave and dishwasher safe, while providing sufficient mass that
the plate 100 will not slide while the user manipulates food on the
plate 100.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, a side, cross-sectional view of the
plate 100 is shown. It is contemplated that the plate 100 may be
formed from one unitary piece, or may be formed from a surface part
202 and a support part 204. In the latter case, the support part
204 may be formed as a wedge shape, allowing the flat surface part
202 to rest on the support part 204 at an angle. Reservoir 106 is
shown as containing a fluid 206, where reservoir 106 is created by
the depression between border 110 and gripping area 103 as well as
the slope of the support part 204. The border 110 does not include
any raised lip or wall, allowing fluids placed on eating surface
108 to flow unimpeded into reservoir 106. This allows dipping of
food into the fluid 206, and even direct application of fluids to
the food on the eating surface 108, without oversaturating such
foods.
[0020] The reservoir 106 is not limited to the depth of the surface
part 202. Instead, reservoir 106 may extend below the bottom plane
of the surface part 202 and may occupy some of the volume of the
support part 204. Support part 204 may be a hollow cylinder, cut at
a slope as shown, to make space for reservoir 106.
[0021] In one specific embodiment, it is contemplated that the
plate 100 may have an outer diameter of about 12 inches and an
inner diameter of about 8.75 inches. In this embodiment, it is
contemplated that the surface part 202 may have a thickness of
about 0.25 to 0.3 inches, with a reservoir 106 that takes at most
about 1.75 inches of the inner diameter and is about 0.2 inches
depressed with respect to the eating surface 108. The support part
204 may be a roughly cylindrical shell, having a thickness of about
0.5 inches, with a sloped cut of about 5 degrees. This angle is
steep enough to cause viscous fluids such as syrups to flow into
the reservoir 106, while still maintaining enough friction to keep
food on the eating surface 108.
[0022] Having described preferred embodiments of a sloped plate
with reservoir (which are intended to be illustrative and not
limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be
made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings.
It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the
particular embodiments disclosed which are within the scope of the
invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described
aspects of the invention, with the details and particularity
required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected
by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
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