Temperature Regulating Dinnerware Set

Abstract

An improved temperature regulating dinnerware set is a dinnerware set with each dinnerware piece having a heating element and a control member for controlling the temperature of the top surface of the piece. Each piece is adapted to connect to a power source to control the embedded heating element. An attachable cover is provided for each piece of the dinnerware set to help maintain the temperature.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/322,733, filed Apr. 14, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to the field of temperature controlled dinnerware and more specifically relates to improved temperature regulating dinnerware set.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Tableware is the dishes or dishware used for setting a table, serving food and dining. It includes cutlery, glassware, serving dishes and other useful items for practical as well as decorative purposes. The quality, nature, variety, and number of objects vary according to culture, religion, number of diners, cuisine and occasion. For example, Middle Eastern, Indian or Polynesian food culture and cuisine sometimes limits tableware to serving dishes, using bread or leaves as individual plates. Special occasions are usually reflected in higher quality tableware. For centuries, the table was a place where the family could join together in a common, necessary activity. Meals have always been the centerpiece for socializing and entertainment, and the dinnerware has always provided an opportunity for a family to present its nicest dinnerware for friends and guests.

[0006] In some of the more industrialized countries, dinner has taken a lesser role in the family activities. People are generally much busier and often work different schedules preventing the whole family from sitting and eating together. Often, the best that can be hoped for is that only one or two members will be late to dinner and have to warm up the leftovers. It is now very common for an individual to eat alone, either at work or when getting home because of differing schedules. The types of food an individual must choose for meals must much more closely resemble fast food that can be eaten cold or warmed on the fly because of the perishable nature of most foods. Nutritional values tend to be sacrificed to accommodate schedules because of time constraints and the inconvenience of carrying the needed appliances for food preparation. A solution to this problem is needed.

[0007] Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,984 to Amil J. Ablah; U.S. Publication No. 2014/0165607 to Clayton Alexander; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,076 to Bruno Nadolph. This art is representative of temperature-controlled dinnerware. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

[0008] Ideally, temperature-controlled dinnerware should provide convenience and portability while being able to adjust dinnerware surfaces to desired temperatures, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable improved temperature regulating dinnerware set to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known temperature controlled dinnerware art, the present invention provides a novel improved temperature regulating dinnerware set. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide convenience and portability while being able to adjust dinnerware surfaces to desired temperatures.

[0010] The improved temperature regulating dinnerware set preferably comprises at least one plate, at least one bowl, at least one mug, and at least one saucer plate. Each of the plates, bowls, mugs, and saucer plates comprises a top layer made from a material adapted to transfer heat to items placed thereon, a bottom layer made from a heat resistant material, a heating element attached to and located in between the top layer and the bottom layer, and is adapted to heat the top layer to thereby transfer heat to items placed upon the top layer, a control member located on an edge portion of the top layer and is electrically connected to the heating element and is adapted to allow a user to control the amount of heat generated from the heating element, and a power source adapted to connect with and provide electric power to the heating element.

[0011] The power source includes a USB connector located on the edge portion of the top layer and is adapted to be releasably connected to a USB cord to transfer electrical power to the USB connector. The power source includes a transmitter adapted to send electrical energy remotely to the heating element, and the heating element includes a receiver adapted to receive electrical energy remotely from the transmitter of the power source. The power source includes an energy display member located on the edge portion of the top layer and is adapted to provide a visual display showing the amount of energy within the power source and the energy display member is further adapted to display a percentage of power left within the power source.

[0012] The control member includes a digital thermometer and display such that a user can visually monitor and manually control the temperature of the top layer. The control member includes an increase button adapted to increase power to the heating element and thereby increase the temperature of the top layer, and a decrease button adapted to decrease power to the heating element and thereby decrease the temperature of the top layer. The control member further includes a computer circuit with computer software thereon adapted to allow a person to program temperature and timing settings for each of the plates, the bowls, the mugs, and the saucer plates. The control member further may include an audio alarm member adapted to sound when the power source is full and also when the power source drops to less than 5% full. A sensor member embedded within the top layer is adapted to detect the amount of an item located upon the top surface and send an electronic signal to the computer circuit to be used by the computer software.

[0013] The computer software of the control member further includes instructions to automatically turn off the power source after a predetermined amount of time of inactivity. The top layer is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, iron, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and polytetrafluoroethylene. The bottom layer is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, fiberglass, asbestos, rubber, tungsten, molybdenum, boron nitride, alumina, and silicon carbide. There are a plurality of plates, bowls, mugs, and saucer plates forming the temperature regulating dinnerware set. A plurality of removable lids is adapted to releasably attach to each respective plate, bowl, mug, and saucer plate, and adapted to cover and protect items placed upon each respective top surface.

[0014] The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an improved temperature regulating dinnerware set. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, improved temperature regulating dinnerware set, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an improved temperature regulating dinnerware set according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating an improved temperature regulating dinnerware set according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating improved temperature regulating dinnerware set according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0019] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a temperature controlled dinnerware and more particularly to a improved temperature regulating dinnerware set as used to improve the convenience and portability while being able to adjust dinnerware surfaces to desired temperatures.

[0021] Generally speaking, an improved temperature regulating dinnerware set is a dinnerware set with each dinnerware piece having a heating element and a control member for controlling the temperature of the top surface of the piece. Each piece is adapted to connect to a power source to control the embedded heating element. An attachable cover is provided for each piece of the dinnerware set to help maintain the temperature.

[0022] In greater detail now, referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100 preferably comprises at least one plate 105, at least one bowl 106, at least one mug 107, and at least one saucer plate 108. Each of the plate(s) 105, bowl(s) 106, mug(s) 107, and saucer plate(s) 108 comprises top layer 110 made from a material adapted to transfer heat to items placed thereon, bottom layer 111 made from a heat resistant material, heating element 112 attached to and located in between top layer 110 and bottom layer 111, and is adapted to heat top layer 110 to thereby transfer heat to items placed upon top layer 110, control member 120 located on edge portion 113 of top layer 110 and is electrically connected to heating element 112 and is adapted to allow a user to control the amount of heat generated from heating element 112, and power source 115 adapted to connect with and provide electric power to heating element 112.

[0024] The computer software of control member 120 further includes instructions to automatically turn off power source 115 after a predetermined amount of time of inactivity. Top layer 110 is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, iron, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and polytetrafluoroethylene. The bottom layer is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, fiberglass, asbestos, rubber, tungsten, molybdenum, boron nitride, alumina, and silicon carbide. There are a plurality of plate(s) 105, bowl(s) 106, mug(s) 107, and saucer plate(s) 108 forming the improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100. A plurality of removable lid 170 is adapted to releasably attach to each respective plate(s) 105, bowl(s) 106, mug(s) 107, and saucer plate(s) 108, and adapted to cover and protect items placed upon each respective top surface 114.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view illustrating improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0026] Power source 115 includes USB connector 125 located on edge portion 113 of top layer 110 and is adapted to be releasably connected to USB cord 176 to transfer electrical power to USB connector 125. Power source 115 includes transmitter 130 adapted to send electrical energy remotely to heating element 112, and heating element 112 includes receiver 135 adapted to receive electrical energy remotely from transmitter 130 of power source 115. Power source 115 includes energy display member 155 located on edge portion 113 of top layer 110 and is adapted to provide a visual display showing the amount of energy within power source 115 and energy display member 155 is further adapted to display a percentage of power left within power source 115.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, is a side view illustrating improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0028] Control member 120 includes digital thermometer 140 and display such that a user can visually monitor and manually control the temperature of top layer 110. Control member 120 includes increase button 150 adapted to increase power to heating element 112 and thereby increase the temperature of top layer 110, and decrease button 151 adapted to decrease power to heating element 112 and thereby decrease the temperature of top layer 110. Control member 120 further includes computer circuit 190 with computer software 191 thereon adapted to allow a person to program temperature and timing settings for each of the plate(s) 105, bowl(s) 106, mug(s) 107, and saucer plate(s) 108. Control member 120 further may include audio alarm member 160 adapted to sound when power source 115 is full and also when power source 115 drops to less than 5% full. Sensor member 165 embedded within top layer 110 is adapted to detect the amount of an item located upon top surface 114 and send an electronic signal to computer circuit 190 to be used by computer software 191.

[0029] Improved temperature regulating dinnerware set 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

[0030] Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

[0031] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

1. An improved temperature regulating dinnerware set, comprising: at least one plate; at least one bowl; at least one mug; and at least one saucer plate; wherein each of said at least one plate, at least one bowl, said at least one mug, and said at least one saucer plate comprises: a top layer; wherein said top layer is made from a material adapted to transfer heat to items placed thereon; a bottom layer; wherein said bottom layer is made from a heat resistant material; a heating element; wherein said heating element is attached to and located in between said top layer and said bottom layer, and is adapted to heat said top layer to thereby transfer heat to items placed upon said top layer; a control member; wherein said control member is located on an edge portion of said top layer and is electrically connected to said heating element and is adapted to allow a user to control the amount of heat generated from said heating element; and a power source; wherein said power source is adapted to connect with and provide electric power to said heating element.

2. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said power source includes a USB connector located on said edge portion of said top layer and is adapted to be releasably connected to a USB cord adapted to transfer electrical power to said USB connector.

3. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said power source includes a transmitter adapted to send electrical energy remotely to said heating element; and wherein said heating element includes a receiver adapted to receive electrical energy remotely from said transmitter of said power source.

4. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said control member includes a digital thermometer and display thereon, such that a user can visually monitor and manually control the temperature of said top layer.

5. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said control member includes an increase button adapted to increase power to said heating element and thereby increase the temperature of said top layer, and a decrease button adapted to decrease power to said heating element and thereby decrease the temperature of said top layer.

6. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said power source includes a energy display member located on said edge portion of said top layer and is adapted to provide a visual display showing the amount of energy within said power source.

7. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 6, wherein said energy display member is further adapted to display a percentage of power left within said power source.

8. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 5, wherein said control member further includes a computer circuit with computer software thereon adapted to allow a person to program temperature and timing settings for each of said at least one plate, at least one bowl, said at least one mug, and said at least one saucer plate.

9. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 8, wherein said control member further includes an audio alarm member adapted to sound when said power source is full and when said power source is at less than 5% full.

10. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 8, further comprising a sensor member embedded within said top layer and is adapted to detect the amount of an item located upon said top surface and send an electronic signal to said computer circuit to be used by said computer software.

11. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 8, wherein said computer software of said control member further includes instructions to automatically turn off said power source after a predetermined amount of time of inactivity.

12. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said top layer is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, iron, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, polytetrafluoroethylene.

13. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein said bottom layer is formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of ceramic, fiberglass, asbestos, rubber, tungsten, molybdenum, boron nitride, alumina, and silicon carbide.

14. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of each of said at least one plate, at least one bowl, said at least one mug, and said at least one saucer plate forming said temperature regulating dinnerware set.

15. The temperature regulating dinnerware set of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of removable lids adapted to releasably attach to each respective one of said at least one plate, at least one bowl, said at least one mug, and said at least one saucer plate, and adapted to cover and protect items placed upon each respective said top surface.