Diet serving plate and system

Abstract

A diet serving plate and system for people who are diabetic and people who want to lose weight which has multiple pre-measured compartments with incremental measurement lines is provided along with embossed legends of compartment capacity for ease in portion selection and size. A storage lid is also provided.

Description

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/814,757 (“the '757 application”) filed Jun. 19, 2006. The '757 application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a diet serving plate and system for assisting people in measuring the portion and type of foods to meet their dietetic needs.

Maintaining a healthy diet is an age-old problem that has become particularly acute with the increase in obesity. It is also a serious problem for individuals who suffer with diabetes and other conditions which require rigorous monitoring of diet. Even if the preferred types of food are known, it is difficult to measure portions in order to insure the proper quantities. Foods are usually cooked or prepared in quantity and stored as such. While most people have measuring cups for preparation of food, it is inconvenient to accurately measure serving portions. Hence, it is less likely that people who must adhere to a diet will do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the intent of this invention to address the aforementioned difficulties in maintaining a healthy diet by providing a multi-compartment serving plate and lid wherein each compartment is pre-measured to a specific quantity and provided with incremental measurement lines. It is also intended that there be sufficient compartments to each hold a portion of one of the basic food groups.

It is also intended that the inventive plate help people who are diabetic and people who want to lose weight by assisting them with measuring the portion and type of food to insure the individual maintains a well balanced diet based on his or her dietetic needs.

It is also intended that, in addition to those compartments intended to hold basic food portions, there also be provided smaller compartments pre-measured to teaspoon and tablespoon size or comparable metric volumes.

It is further intended that the serving plate be provided with a lid for safe transportation or storage of the serving plate with food quantities in the compartments and usable as a daily breakfast, lunch or dinner plate. Furthermore it is intended that the serving plate and lid be suitable for use in a microwave oven.

It is also intended that the compartments be curved to allow for ease in eating and cleaning of the serving plate and that the serving plate and lid be manufactured from such material as would allow multiple uses and cleaning.

It is also intended that, in connection with the inventive serving plate there be provided a system of dietary instructions for using the serving plate in connection with the user's specific needs and condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the inventive serving plate.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the inventive serving plate.

FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of the inventive serving plate.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the inventive serving plate.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom perspective view of the inventive serving plate.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the lid.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section in the direction of arrows 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a side elevation of the lid.

FIG. 11 shows a top perspective view of the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A top view of the inventive serving plate 1 is depicted in FIG. 1 with a perspective top view of the serving plate 1 shown in FIG. 5. As depicted in this embodiment, the serving plate 1 has a top flat surface 2 and pre-measured compartments 3, 4, 5 and 6, with relatively smaller pre-measured compartments 7 and 8. Also shown are handles 9.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the pre-measured compartments 3, 4, 5 and 6 are embossed with legends 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively which indicate the full capacity of the pre-measured compartments. In this embodiment compartment 3 is pre-measured to a capacity of 6 ounces as indicated by the legend 10 embossed on bottom panel 19; compartment 4 is pre-measured to a capacity of one cup as indicated by the legend 11 embossed on bottom panel 20; compartment 5 is pre-measured to a capacity of one cup as indicated by the legend 12 embossed on bottom panel 21; and compartment 6 is pre-measured to a capacity of two/thirds cup as indicated by the legend 13 embossed on bottom panel 22. In addition, the pre-measured compartments 3, 4, 5 and 6 are also embossed with incremental measurement lines 14 which allow precise measurement of food portions less than the full capacity of the pre-measured compartments.

In this embodiment, compartments 4 and 5 with a 1 cup pre-measurement are provided with incremental measurement lines 14 of ¾, ⅔, ½, and ¼ cup. Compartment 3 with a 6 ounce pre-measurement is provided with incremental measurement lines 14 of 5, 4 and 3 ounces. Compartment 6 with a ⅔ cup pre-measurement is provided with incremental measurement lines 14 of ½, ⅓ and ¼ cup.

While not necessarily embossed with capacity or incremental measurement lines, the pre-measured compartments 7 and 8 in this embodiment would have the capacity of one teaspoon and one tablespoon respectively. Although depicted with non-metric measurements, the pre-measured compartments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 can be provided in metric units such as liters or milliliters if so desired with embossed capacities to reflect the metric quantities.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1 and shows a cross section of compartments 4 and 5 with their respective flat bottom panels 20 and 21, which together with the bottom panels 19 and 22 of compartments 3 and 6 respectively from the bottom support for the serving plate 1. As can be seen, bottom panels 19, 20, 21 and 22 are flat and lie in the same plane. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the sides of compartments 4 and 5 are curved for ease of use and cleaning. The upper flat surface 2 of the serving plate 1 has an opposite lower side 15. At the edge of the serving plate 1 is an outer rim 18. In this depicted embodiment, the outer rim 18 is circular with a diameter of 10.05 inches.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1 and shows a cross section of compartments 3 and 6 with their respective flat bottom panels 19 and 22, which together with the bottom panels 20 and 21 of compartments 4 and 5 respectively form the bottom support for the serving plate 1. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the sides of compartments 3 and 6 are curved for ease of use and cleaning.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the serving plate 1. In this elevation, the four major compartments 3, 4, 5 and 6 can be seen as well as the smaller compartments 7 and 8 which are fully curved. The outer rim 18 and the top flat surface 2 are also shown as well as one of the handles 9.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the serving plate 1 and FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the bottom of the serving plate 1. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the pre-measured compartments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are clearly seen in reverse along a reverse view of the embossed capacity legends 19, 20, 21 and 22, on their respective bottom panels 19, 20, 21 and 22. The incremental measurement lines 14 on compartments 3, 4, 5, and 6 are also shown as well as the lower side 15, the outer rim 18 and handles 9.

FIG. 7 clearly shows the fully curved shape of compartments 7 and 8 as well as the curved sides of compartments 3, 4, 5, and 6.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the lid 16 with a top surface 17, as well as the outer surface 24 of the lid rim and a lid lip 26. As can be seen, the lid 16 is circular in shape to match the serving plate 1.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the lid 16 taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 on FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, the top surface 17 and the bottom surface 23 of the lid 16 are shown as well as the outer surface 24 and inner surface 25 of the lid rim along with the lid lip 26. In this depicted embodiment, the inner diameter of the inner surface 25 is 10.505 inches and slightly larger than the outer rim 18 of the serving plate 1 in order to insure a snug fit when the lid 16 is placed upon the serving plate 1. Likewise, the depth of the lid 16 should be enough so that when in place on the serving plate 1, the bottom surface 23 is in contact with the top surface 2 of the serving plate 1. In this embodiment the lid 16 has a nominal thickness of 0.100 inches.

A side elevation of the lid 16 is depicted in FIG. 10 with a perspective upper view of the lid 16 depicted in FIG. 11. Both FIGS. 10 and 11 give a depiction of the top surface 17, the outer surface 24 of the lid rim and the lid lip 26.

It is preferred that both the serving plate 1 and lid 16 be clear in color in order that the user can readily see the contents. As depicted, the serving plate 1 and lid 16 would be manufactured from polypropylene or other plastic or thermoplastic material suitable for molding and suitable for microwave use and repeated use.

Claims

1. A serving plate to assist people in measuring the portion and type of foods required for their dietetic needs comprising a plurality of pre-measured food compartments, each intended to hold a serving of a basic food group wherein each of said food compartments is embossed with a legend indicating the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment.

2. A serving plate according to claim 1, having a top flat surface into which are described openings for each of said food compartments with each of said food compartments having sides extending downward from the top flat surface to a food compartment flat bottom surface which flat bottom surfaces collectively serve to support the serving plate and wherein the sides of each of said pre-measured food compartments is embossed with incremental measurement lines indicating a portion of the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment.

3. A serving plate according to claim 2, having in addition to said pre-measured food compartments, at least one additional pre-measured food compartment without an embossed legend or incremental measurement lines.

4. A serving plate according to claim 3 wherein each of said food compartments has curved sides.

5. A serving plate according to claim 4 further comprising a lid to cover the top flat surface and food compartment openings.

6. A serving plate according to claim 5 manufactured from a heat-resistant thermoplastic material.

7. A serving plate according to claim 4 wherein the pre-measured capacities specific to each of said food compartments are either in British or metric units.

8. A serving plate according to claim 1, having a circular top flat surface into which are described circular openings for each of said food compartments having sides extending downward from the circular top flat surface to a food compartment flat bottom surface which bottom surfaces collectively serve to support the serving plate and wherein the sides of each of said pre-measured food compartments is embossed with incremental measurement lines indicating a portion of the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment.

9. A serving plate according to claim 8 wherein at least one circular food compartment has a full capacity of one cup, one circular food compartment has a full capacity of ⅔ cup, and one circular food compartment has a full capacity of 6 ounces.

10. A serving plate according to claim 9 further comprising at least one circular food compartment having a capacity of one teaspoon and at least one circular food compartment having a capacity of one tablespoon.

11. A serving plate according to claim 10 further comprising a circular lid to cover the circular top flat surface and circular food compartment openings.

12. The circular serving plate of claim 11 wherein the circular lid is of clear color.

13. The serving plate of claim 11 wherein the serving plate and lid are manufactured from a heat-resistant thermoplastic material.

14. A system to assist people in measuring the portion and type of foods required for their dietetic needs comprising a serving plate which comprises a plurality of pre-measured food compartments, each intended to hold a serving of a basic food group wherein each of said food compartments is embossed with a legend indicating the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment and each of said pre-measured food compartments is embossed with incremental measurement lines indicating a portion of the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment and dietary instructions for food groups and quantities of said food groups specific to the dietetic needs of the person.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the serving plate further comprises a circular top flat surface into which are described circular openings for each of said food compartments having sides extending downward from the circular top flat surface to a food compartment flat bottom surface which bottom surfaces collectively serve to support the serving plate and wherein the sides of each of said pre-measured food compartments is embossed with incremental measurement lines indicating a portion of the full pre-measured capacity specific to said food compartment and at least one additional pre-measured food compartment without an embossed legend or incremental measurement lines

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the serving plate further comprises at least one circular food compartment having a full capacity of one cup, one circular food compartment having a full capacity of ⅔ cup, and one circular food compartment having a full capacity of 6 ounces and at least one circular food compartment having a capacity of one teaspoon and at least one circular food compartment having a capacity of one tablespoon.