Magnetic Dish Sets

Abstract

Magnetic dish sets are disclosed herein. Magnetic dish sets can include a dish body having a bottom area releasably attachable to a base. Magnetic dish sets can also include a dish having a body with means for releasably attaching a lid both on the top and the bottom of the body. The removable base and lid comprise magnets configured to create a retaining force with a mat having ferromagnetic inserts.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/549,401 entitled Magnetic Dish Sets, and filed Oct. 20, 2011 and is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments herein relate to a portable magnetic dish set that includes dishes that can be microwaved and are useful in preventing small children or people having motor control difficulty from knocking over their dishes while eating.

BACKGROUND

Some prior art attempts at retaining dishes in front of a small child, such as an infant or toddler, focus on the use of a suction cup on the bottom of the dish. However, many children are capable of releasing the suction hold. This unintentional release often leads to large spills due to the large difference in pressure between the air outside and inside of the suction cup. Suction cups are disadvantageous in that they rely on an “all or nothing” force; there is no gradual release or setting, the suction cup is either released or set.

Prior attempts at using magnets with dishware have also been disadvantageous. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,377 to Harper focuses on the use of a high chair having a ferromagnetic core to be used with dishes having magnetic bases. This system is disadvantageous for at least a few reasons. First, the system is not readily portable as it is a high chair. It cannot be placed into a diaper bag or suitcase, for traveling. Additionally, the use of a high chair prevents its use with larger toddlers, or adults having motor control difficulty, such as those suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Another disadvantage of Harper is that the dishes are not configured to be placed in a microwave as they have magnets inside of them.

Another example of magnetic dishware that can be improved upon is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,459 to Hanson. This patent teaches the use of either dishes having ferromagnetic metal or magnets within them, thereby not offering a suitable option for microwaving the dishes. Additionally, the tray may not be suitable for infants who require a high chair, nor toddlers who can readily move the tray and the supported dishes around a table. Also, Hanson's tray cannot be made smaller or collapsible, nor is portable such that it can be placed in a diaper bag.

Accordingly, objects of the present invention include providing a magnetic dish and mat set that can be used by children and adults alike, is portable, has a nonskid mat, and allows for the dishes to be microwavable.

Preferred embodiments relate to a magnetic dish set comprising: A magnetic dish set comprising a dish body lacking magnets or metal and having a top area and bottom area, and defining an upper cavity configured to hold food or beverage; a removable base comprising one or more magnets, and having topside means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body positioned above; and a mat having one or more ferromagnetic inserts configured to create a retaining force with the removable base's one or more magnets, when the removable base is coupled to the bottom area of the dish body that is full of food and/or beverage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed on illustrating the various aspects and features of embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred mat.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred dish with the lid on top.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred dish with the lid on the base.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred invertible combination dish.

FIG. 5 is a perspective photograph showing various dishes and a mat.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a dish with a removable base that does not function as a lid.

FIG. 7 is a perspective underside view of the mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below. It is, however, expressly noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the intention is that modifications that are apparent to the person skilled in the art and equivalents thereof are also included.

Preferred embodiments are directed to dishware sets that include a mat having internal ferromagnetic inserts and accompanying dishware having magnet inserts within their removable lids. While the description below will primarily be directed to this particular embodiment, the ferromagnetic inserts can alternatively be placed in the lids of the dishware and the magnets can be placed within the mat. Thus for all embodiments herein, magnets and ferromagnetic inserts can be interchanged. FIG. 1 shows a preferred mat 10 that can be used with the dishware sets provided herein. The mat 10 includes a plurality of inserts 22, 32, and 42 that are a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, cobalt and their alloys, such as steel. The inserts 22, 32, and 42 are preferably rectangular with rounded corners to prevent puncturing the panel material 20, 30, and 40.

The mat 10 is preferably made of a non-skid material such as silicone, plastic, or rubber, to prevent slippage on a table. Further materials the mat can be made of include fabrics such as nylon and canvas, for example. Additionally, the underside of the mat 10 can include 1 or more suction cups to attach the mat 10 to an underlying surface, such as a table top. A preferred configuration of suction cups is one near each corner of the mat 10 and one central suction cup. FIG. 7 shows the underside of a mat with suction cups 702. If the mat 10 is not entirely made of a non-skid material, it is preferred that the underside is to prevent the mat 10 from sliding while positioned on top of the surface it is placed on. The mat material should not be thick enough that they block the magnetic attraction between the inserts 22, 32, and, 42 and the magnets 106 in the lid 104, when the lid is used as a base (FIG. 3). According to one embodiment, the inserts 22, 32, and 42 are arranged into their desired configuration and a thermosetting material is molded over them and allowed to dry to form the final mat 10.

According to further embodiments, the mat 10 is configured to be folded or rolled up for traveling. FIG. 1 depicts a tri-fold mat 10 having three panels 20, 30, and 40 separated by two hinges 52 and 50, wherein at least one insert 22, 32, and 42 is placed in each panel 20, 30, and 40. According to certain embodiments, the center panel 30 is wider than the two side panels 20 and 40, such that the side panels 20 and 40 both can fold over onto the top of the center panel 30 without overlapping each other. Thus preferred mats have a center panel 30 that is at least as twice as wide as the side panels 20 and 40. As one example, the center panel 30 can be about 7″ wide while the two side panels 20 and 40 can be about 2-3″ wide, such that when folded up, the entire mat is 7″ or less in width. Preferred lengths of the mats 10 can be about 8″ in length or less. Preferred mats 10 in an unrolled or unfolded state are about the size of an 8.5×11″ piece of standard paper, within 2″ in both width and length. Preferred rolled up or folded mats are between 6.5-10.5″ in length and folded up mats can be about 5-9″ in width. Alternatively the panels of the mat can all be equal size, or substantially so, and fold such that the first side panel 20 folds flat on top of the center panel 30 and the second side panel 40 folds flat against the underside of the center panel 30. The hinges 50 and 52 can be made using any suitable means for a hinge including configuring the mat 10 such that there is less material present between the panels 20, 30, and 40, or attaching the panels separately 20, 30, and 40 with flexible material or hinges. Additional embodiments include a hinge free mat that can be rolled up into a cylindrical tube. For this embodiment, the inserts can be thin strips intermittently spaced within the mat to allow rolling. The mat can be made of a thin, material that allows a high degree of flexibility. The mat can also be a single fold mat, having a central hinge dividing two sections.

FIG. 2 depicts a preferred dish 100 comprising a body 102 and a lid 104. As used herein, dishware or dishes can include bowls, plates, cups, and the like, depending on the particular size and shape desired. FIG. 5 depicts a variety of dishes including a cup 300 and a lid 310 which can be substituted for the dish body 102 and lid 104 as described herein. The dish body 102 preferably lacks magnets and metal and is made entirely of a material or materials suitable for heating in a typical microwave. The dish body 102 can include a divider 400 that separates the cavity defined by the body. This can be useful for separating different types of food from each other.

The dish body 102 preferably includes means for allowing releasable attachment of the lid 104 on the top area of the body 102, such as the topside, and the bottom area of the body 102, such as the underside. This allows for the lid 104 to serve both as a traditional lid to allow sealing of the contained food/beverage and as a magnetic base when attached to the bottom of the body 102. As one example, an elevated rim 110 can extend upwards from the top of the body 102 while a lower rim 108 can extend downwards from the bottom of the body 102. The rims 110 and 108 can be inner rims positioned within the inside area defined by the outer periphery of the body 102. Both the upper and lower rims 110 and 108 are configured to releasably snap onto a corresponding groove 120 on the lid 104. The rims 110 and 108 can have a periphery that is concentric to the periphery of the body 102 of the dish 100. Preferred shapes of these peripheries non-exclusively include circles, squares, rectangles, and ovals. The means for releasably attaching the lid 104 to the top and bottom of the body 102 are preferably vertically aligned with one another. For example, the upper rim 110 and the lower rim 108 can be vertically aligned with each other and be the same size. Alternatively the upper and lower rims and can be concentric and have different diameters corresponding to two different sized concentric grooves on the lid. Other means for releasably fastening the lid 104 to the body 102 can include any suitable means known for releasably attaching lids to containers. For example the body 102 can include upper and lower threads that correspond to threads on the lid such that the lid can be screwed to the top and bottom of the body 102. Threads can be on upper and lower rims or positioned on the outside or inside of the body 102. If threads are on the inside of the body 102 there should be corresponding external threads on the lid, likewise if the threads on the outside of the body 102 there should be corresponding internal threads on the lid. Sideward extending upper and lower rims for releasably snapping onto a corresponding side groove on the lid are also readily contemplated.

According to preferred embodiments, the bottom means for releasably fastening the lid are substantially planar and are configured to support the weight of the body 102 filled with food and/or beverage. This particular embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it allows a user to insert the body 102 with food and/or beverage into a microwave and be able to stably, stand the body 102 upright without the use of the lid 104.

Preferred lids 104 include a flat or substantially planar external surface 124, the surface facing away from the internal cavity defined by the body 102. This is advantageous when the lid 104 is used as a base, as shown in FIG. 3 to allow stable support of the attached body 102, such as when used with the ferromagnetic mat 10. Other textured surfaces are readily contemplated for the lid, provided it can support the body 102 along with its contained food when acting as a base. For this embodiment, the lid 104 is removed from the upper means for releasable attachment (e.g. upper rim 110), turned upside down and attached to the bottom means for releasable attachment (e.g., lower rim 108). The lid 104 includes magnets 106, and when used as a base, they form a sufficient attraction with the ferromagnetic inserts 22, 32, and 42 of the mat 10 such that the dish 100 is retained on the mat 10 and can withstand minor inadvertent force such as a human hand brushing against it, and avoid tipping over. Any suitable magnets 106 can be used with the teachings herein, non-exclusively include neodymium magnets. A few large magnets or multiple small magnets can be used, such that the magnets are strong enough and close enough to the external face 124 to maintain a sufficient magnetic hold on the mat 10. Magnets 106 can be inserted into or coupled to the lid 104 using any suitable method. The magnets 106 are preferably non-releasably attached to the lid 104, such that they are not-removable without breaking the lid 104. As one example the lid 104 can be a thermoplastic and molded over the magnets 106. According to alternative embodiments, the magnets 106 can be releasably coupled to the lid 104 such that they can be removed and re-inserted into the lid 104, in an exposed or enclosed configuration. More specifically, releasably coupling the magnets 106 can be done by inserting them into pockets/sheaths within the lid 104 or securing them within lipped recesses within the lid, whether in the external surface 124 or the inner surface. It is preferred under these embodiments that the external surface 124 of the lid remains planar, or substantially so, to ensure sufficient attraction to the mat 10. These embodiments can be advantageous as it can allow for the lids 104 to be microwaved once the magnets 106 are removed, however a user must remember to remove the magnets 106, and may lose them. A user would afterwards re-insert the magnets 106 into the lid 104 to couple to the mat 10 and the dish 100. For embodiments wherein the magnets 106 are releasably coupled to the lid 104 it is preferred to have writing on the lid 104 warning the user to remove the magnets 106 before microwaving. If the magnets are non-releasably coupled to the lid 104 it is preferred to include writing on the lid 104 warning the user not to microwave at all. It is also contemplated to utilize transparent lids that allow a user to see the magnets. Dish sets herein can additionally include the lids described herein in addition to microwavable lids that do not have magnets. These two types of lids can be labeled or otherwise indicated accordingly. According to certain embodiments, it is preferred that the magnets 106 are entirely encased within the lid 104 to allow the lid 104 to be placed in a dishwashing machine without damaging the magnets. According to other embodiments, the magnets can be exposed to enhance the retention force with the ferromagnetic inserts. According to preferred embodiments, the lid 104, absent the magnets, is made of a thermoplastic, rubber, or the same material as the body 102 of the dish 100. The lid 104 can advantageously include an outer lip 107 to help a user to remove the lid 104 from the body 102.

According to non-preferred embodiments, the dish bodies herein can include means for releasably attaching a removable magnetic base, wherein said base is not configured to also be utilized as a lid. The removable base can be releasably attached to the dish bodies the same as the lid 104, when acting as a base, such as by snapping or screwing on to threads on the dish body. The magnets can be inserted or coupled into the base using any suitable means such as having them exposed, for example. Thus, the removable base functions identically to a lid 104 and can include each feature of the embodiments above directed to lids 104, with the exception of not being able to attach to the top area of the dish body 102. FIG. 6 shows a removable base 700 that is not configured to attach to the top of the dish body 102. The removable base can alternatively include suction cups on its upper surface to releasably couple to the lower area of the dish body 102. When a user desires to wash the dish body, a removable base having exposed magnets can be removed.

FIG. 4 depicts an invertible combination dish 200. According to this particular embodiment, two different bodies or containers are separated by a barrier 122. More specifically, a top body 102 is separated from the lower body 103 by the partition 122. The top body 102 and/or the lower body 103 can be a bowl or plate. While the upper and lower cavities 116 and 114 can have the same or similar shapes and volumes, in FIG. 4, the top body 102 defines a deeper cavity 116 preferably used as a bowl, while the lower body 103 defines a shallower cavity 114 preferably used as a plate. This embodiment is very similar to the dish 100 provided in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the exception of the partition 122 and the lower cavity 114 defined by the lower body 103. Accordingly, description directed to the dish 100 above is readily applicable to the invertible combination dish 200 where applicable. Similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower body 103 includes bottom means for releasably attaching to the lid 104. One or more lids 104 can be used with this embodiment. For example, a lid 104 can be placed on the lower means for releasably attachment (e.g., lower rim 108) and another lid 104 can be placed on the upper means for releasable attachment (e.g., upper rim 110) at the same time. This can allow a user to store food in both separated cavities 116 and 114 at the same time. However, it is preferred that the invertible dish 200 can be supported by its lower means for releasable attachment (e.g., lower rim 108) without the use of the lid 104 to allow for stable upright position during microwave heating. The body of the invertible dish 200 (comprising all elements with the exception of the lid 104) preferably lacks magnets and metal and is made entirely of a material or materials suitable for heating in a typical microwave.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms besides and beyond those described herein. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A magnetic dish set comprising:

a dish body lacking magnets or metal and having a top area and bottom area, and defining an upper cavity configured to hold food or beverage;

a removable base comprising one or more magnets, and having topside means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body positioned above; and

a mat having one or more ferromagnetic inserts configured to create a retaining force with the removable base's one or more magnets, when the removable base is coupled to the bottom area of the dish body that is full of food and/or beverage.

2. The magnetic dish set of claim 1, wherein the removable base is also a lid having means for releasably coupling to and covering the top area of the dish body.

3. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the magnets are releasably coupled to the lid.

4. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the magnets are non-releasably coupled to the lid.

5. The magnetic dish set of claim 4, wherein the magnets are molded into the lid and are not exposed, such that the lid can be placed in a dishwasher.

6. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the mat includes one or more hinges that allow the mat to be folded up.

7. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the mat can be rolled up and includes thin bendable ferromagnetic inserts.

8. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the dish body further comprises an inverted lower cavity positioned in the bottom area of the dish body separated from the upper cavity by a barrier and that can be used by inverting the dish body such that the upper cavity is placed upside down.

9. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the dish body is made of materials that are microwave suitable.

10. The magnetic dish set of claim 1, wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the bottom area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into a groove positioned around the removable base.

11. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the lid's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the bottom area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into a groove positioned around the lid, and the lid's means for releasably coupling to the top area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the top area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into the groove positioned around the lid.

12. The magnetic dish set of claim 1, wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise one or more suction cups positioned on the topside of the removable base.

13. The magnetic dish set of claim 1, wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise a first set of threads positioned around the bottom area of the dish body configured to screw into a complementary second set of threads positioned around the removable base.

14. A magnetic dish set comprising:

a dish body lacking magnets or metal and having a top area and bottom area, and defining an upper cavity configured to hold food or beverage;

a removable base comprising one or more ferromagnetic inserts, and having means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body positioned above; and

a mat having one or more magnet inserts configured to create a retaining force with the removable base's one or more ferromagnetic inserts, when the removable base is coupled to the bottom area of the dish body that is full of food and/or beverage.

15. The magnetic dish set of claim 14, wherein the removable base is also a lid that can releasably couple to the top area of the dish body.

16. The magnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the ferromagnetic inserts are molded into the lid and are not exposed, such that the lid can be placed in a dishwasher.

17. The magnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the dish body further comprises an inverted lower cavity positioned in the bottom area of the dish body separated from the upper cavity by a barrier and that can be used by inverting the dish body such that the upper cavity is placed upside down.

18. The magnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the dish body is made of materials that are microwave suitable.

19. The magnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the lid's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the bottom area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into a groove positioned around the lid, and the lid's means for releasably coupling to the top area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the top area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into the groove positioned around the lid.

20. The magnetic dish set of claim 14, wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise one or more suction cups positioned on the topside of the removable base.