Spill Resistant Bowl
A spill resistant bowl is provided having a lip to reduce a likelihood of contents spilling over a rim of the bowl. The bowl may include a base, wall, rim, lip, and optionally one or more handles. The lip may cover an opening at the top of the bowl to reduce a likelihood of spillage.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/931,722 filed on Jun. 28, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to dishware. More specifically, the present invention relates to spill resistant bowls.
BACKGROUNDThe market for spill resistant bowls is quite large. Many variations of bowls have been previously designed. However, the designs of the conventional bowl containers require similar unnecessary and complicated measures to avert the spillage of food. For example, a person may use a bowl to eat cereal with milk. The user may fill the bowl with the cereal and milk and begin to walk with it. The momentum combined with the stop-and-go pattern of footsteps may typically cause the liquid-based contents of the bowl to sway back and forth. The user must quickly counteract this momentum in order to prevent the spillage of food contents over the rim of the bowl. If the user fails to counteract such forces, the result will be cereal and milk spilling to the floor. This example as also applicable to soup or other liquid-based contents. The problem may be especially prevalent with children and invalids.
Conventional bowl container designs lack a bowl that would resist such spillage. Additionally, the conventional bowl designs lack a bowl that may be configured for single serving and is usable by children to carry food with minimum spillage. Oftentimes, children are served food with a liquid in a conventional bowl. As the child walks with one of the conventional bowls, the contents of the bowl is often spilled.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,509, issued to Shepard, attempts to solve some of the deficiencies discussed above, however, due to the incomplete nature of Shepard' s solutions, it fails to solve the above-mentioned spillage problems. Shepard only provides an interior bowl contained within an exterior bowl. The system used in Shepard's patent allows spillage from the interior bowl to fall into the exterior bowl and attempts to prevent liquid contents from spilling to the floor. While the system of Shepard may help reduce the amount of liquid spilling to the floor, it fails to solve the problem of a liquid spilling in the first place. Here, the spilled food is still wasted. Additionally, using Shepard's proposed solution, one must clean two bowls rather than simply cleaning one. Shepard fails to solve the deficiencies by providing a multiple bowl system that requires additional labor and does not reduce the amount of wasted food. Additionally, users of the Shepard bowl will typically continue to struggle with carrying the bowl from one location to another because of the slippery nature the sidewalls of this bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,103, issued to Abernathy, also attempts to solve the problems present in conventional bowls by using a smaller interior bowl located within a larger exterior bowl. Abernathy fails to provide an acceptable solution for the same reasons as Shepard, discussed above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,826, issued to Celaya, attempts to solve the problems present in conventional bowls by providing a food bowl for individual servings that is designed to allow a user to maximize the food that is conserved from each serving. However, Celaya fails to address prevention of excess spillage and only addresses waste due to one's inability to successfully consume the food with appropriate eating utensils. The configuration of Celaya also can increase the momentum that causes spilling of food contents from within the bowl. Moreover, the upper rim of the Celaya bowl is still exposed and thus susceptible to spillage. Additionally, the slippery nature of the sidewalls of this bowl can make carrying of the bowl difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,837 issued to Bollengier, attempts to solve the problems of conventional bowl designs using a design having a single bowl. However, the Bollengier bowl is not user-friendly. Additionally, since the bowl disclosed by Bollengier experiences a fair amount of momentum, the contents held within the bowl are likely to spill. The spillage is due to the upper rim of the Bollengier bowl being exposed, thus allowing some contents to spill over and out of the bowl. Furthermore, Bollengier's proposed solution still does not solve the issue of making it easier for children, invalids, and others to carry the bowl from one location to another. The bowl simply possesses a slick outer shell that most other bowls embody. This construction increases the likelihood that children and other users may drop the bowl and spill the liquid-based contents included by the bowl.
What is needed is a bowl that effectively reduces or prevents spillage of liquid contents. What is needed is a bowl that is easy to handle and move by a user. What is needed is a bowl that is simple to use by children, invalids, and other users with reduced capacity.
SUMMARYThe present invention allows an individual to successfully walk with a bowl of liquid-based food contents without having to worry about spilling the contents of the bowl. Additionally, the bowl may come in a larger size in order to serve as a mixing bowl for contents containing liquids and/or dry goods. The present invention may advantageously provide a spill resistant bowl as a single bowl configuration. In an embodiment, the bowl of the present invention may resemble a standard, commonplace bowl. However, the bowl the present invention includes an annular lip around its top rim, which may smoothly extend over a portion of the bowl just before sloping slightly downward. The bowl may also include one or more handles along the wall of the bowl. The lip may serve as a spill resistant shield in which a liquid, dry good, or combination of liquids and dry goods, such as cold cereal and milk, may rise up the sidewall the bowl and be redirected to the center of the bowl, effectively rejoining the food contents in the bowl. The food contents may be directed by the aforementioned lip. The handles may allow the user to effectively transport the bowl and its contents from one location to another with a low likelihood of spilling any of the food contents included within the bowl.
The present invention advantageously provides a bowl that effectively reduces or prevents spillage of liquid contents. The present invention advantageously provides a bowl that is easy to handle by a user. Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention advantageously, a bowl may be provided that is simple to use by children, invalids, and other users with reduce capacity.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a spill resistant bowl is provided having a base, a wall, a rim, and a lip. The wall may extend upwardly from the base. The wall may be substantially seamless. The rim of the wall may be located at a distal end of the wall from the base. The rim may form a perimeter around an opening to an interior space of the bowl. The lip may be attached to the rim and extend inwardly toward a center of the bowl. The lip may cover at least a portion of the opening. The lip may reduce a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space.
In another aspect, at least part of the lip may extend inwardly and upwardly approximately toward the center of the bowl.
In another aspect, at least part of the lip may extend inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the bowl.
In another aspect, the lip may include a first lip portion adjacent to the rim and a distal second lip portion. The first lip portion may extend from the rim upwardly. The second lip portion may extend from the first lip portion downwardly.
In another aspect, the bowl may further include a handle.
In another aspect, the handle may be approximately planar with the wall, the handle being defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
In another aspect, the handle may extend outwardly from the wall.
In another aspect, the rim may have a rim perimeter that is larger than a base perimeter of the base. The wall may progressively widen from the base to the rim.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a spill resistant bowl is provided with a base, wall, rim, opening, and lip. The base may be defined by a base perimeter. The wall may extend upwardly from the base. The rim may be defined by a rim perimeter, the rim being located at a distal end of the wall from the base. The opening to an interior space of the bowl may be substantially surrounded by the rim. The lip may include a first lip portion attached to the rim and a distal second lip portion. The first lip portion may extend from the rim upwardly. The second lip portion may extend from the first lip portion downwardly. The lip may cover at least a portion of the opening. The lip may reduce a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space.
In another aspect, the bowl may further include a handle.
In another aspect, the handle may be approximately planar with the wall. The handle may be defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
In another aspect, the handle may extend outwardly from the wall.
In another aspect, the rim perimeter is larger than the base perimeter. The wall may progressively widen from the base to the rim.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a spill resistant bowl is provided having a base, wall, rim, lip, and handle. The wall may extend upwardly from the base, the wall being substantially seamless. The rim of the wall may be located at a distal end of the wall from the base, the rim forming a perimeter around an opening to an interior space of the bowl. The lip may be attached to the rim and extending inwardly toward a center of the bowl, the lip covering at least a portion of the opening. The lip may reduce a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space.
In another aspect, at least part of the lip extends inwardly and upwardly approximately toward the center of the bowl.
In another aspect, at least a part of the lip extends inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the bowl.
In another aspect, the lip includes a first lip portion adjacent to the rim and a distal second lip portion. The first lip portion extends from the rim upwardly. The second lip portion extends from the first lip portion downwardly.
In another aspect, the rim has a rim perimeter that is larger than a base perimeter of the base. The wall progressively widens from the base to the rim.
In another aspect, the handle is approximately planar with the wall, the handle being defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
In another aspect, the handle extends outwardly from the wall.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions will control.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed drawings and description set forth herein. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, in light of the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, numerous modifications and variations of the invention may exist that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
The present invention should not be limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. The terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” may be a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means.
All conjunctions used herein are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein.
Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term “including” should be read to mean “including, without limitation,” “including but not limited to,” or the like; the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to”; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and use of terms like “preferably,” “preferred,” “desired,” “desirable,” or “exemplary” and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention.
Those skilled in the art will also understand that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations; however, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).
All numbers expressing dimensions, quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” unless expressly stated otherwise. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained.
The bowl provided by various embodiments of the present invention overcomes the problems and limitations of the attempted solutions in the prior art, some of which being illustrated in
The present invention provides a spill resistant bowl 10 that may serve as a single serving eating bowl, a mixing bowl, or another function, depending on the size and composition of its manufacture. Skilled artisans will appreciate the size may be scaled depending on the intended use of the bowl 10. Similarly, materials used to manufacture the bowl 10 may be selected depending on the desired use or construction of the bowl 10.
Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the bowl may be formed using injection molding, blow molding, or another molding technique that would be apparent to a skilled artisan. If blow molding is used, at least a portion of the interior space may be removed from the bowl formed via the blow molding process. If injection molding is used, the lip may be subsequently bended and/or positioned into the desired location via heat forming.
The bowl 10 may include a base 30. The base 30 may be located near the bottom of the bowl 10. The base 30 may interface with the supporting surface, such as a countertop or table. The base 30 may be a circumferential flat area at the bottom of the bowl 10, without limitation. Flatness of the base 30 may allow the bowl 10 to sit on the supporting surface with minimal rocking or swaying.
The bowl 10 may also include a wall 15. In an embodiment where the bowl 10 is round, the wall 15 may continuously circle the interior space 50 included by the base 30 and the wall 15. In additional embodiments, where the bowl 10 includes multiple sides, a wall 15 may be located at each of the sides, without limitation. A rim 20 may be located at the top of the bowl 10, which may be a distal end of the wall 15 from the base 30. The rim 20 of may include a spill resistant food content redirection lip 25. In one embodiment, the wall may be substantially and/or entirely seamless. The base 30 may be defined by a base perimeter and the rim 20 may be defined by a rim perimeter. In one embodiment, the rim perimeter may be larger than the base perimeter. The wall may progressively widen from the base to the rim. However, skilled artisans will appreciate additional embodiments where the base perimeter and rim perimeter may be substantially the same or have a different configuration.
In one example, illustrated in
The bowl 10 of the present invention may be manufactured in virtually any size and with various materials. For example, the bowl 10 may be manufactured on a smaller scale to serve the needs of a user looking to serve a single serving of food. Here, the bowl 10 may be used to include a food item such as cereal, soup, or other liquid-based foods. Additionally, the bowl 10 may be manufactured on a larger scale. For example, the bowl 10 may be configured with the size facilitating its use as a mixing bowl. The bowl 10 may be constructed using plastic, glass, aluminum, wood, or virtually any other material that may meet the needs of a user of the bowl 10.
The lip 25 may be configured to have a size such that installment does not interfere with the use of the bowl 10, for example, eating from a bowl. Additionally, angling of the lip 25 facilitates cleaning of the bowl 10. The angle of the lip 25, which may be gradual, may provide the user with ample room to clean the bowl 10 as one would normally without having to worry that the food may be stuck within the curved portions and/or undersides of the lip 25 or the location where the lip meets the rim 20 of the wall 15.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the bowl 10 may include one or more handles 60. The following example will be discussed in the context of the bowl 10 having two handles 60 Skilled artisans will appreciate that this example is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, as the bowl may include a greater or lesser number of handles consistent with the scope and spirit of the present invention. In the example wherein the bowl 10 includes two handles 60, each of the handles 60 may be located on complementary sides of each other. The handles 60 may facilitate transportation of the bowl 10 without spilling any of the contents held within the bowl 10. The aforementioned handles 60 may be especially useful to children, who may not be able to balance a round bowl in their hands without dropping it and, in the process, effectively spilling its contents. The handles 60 may also be beneficial to handicapped individuals that may not have the ability to control their movements and, thus, accidentally drop the bowl.
In one example, a handle 60 may protrude outwardly from the wall 15 of the bowl 10. In another example, a handle 60 may substantially encircle the perimeter of the bowl, which may provide a large single handle. In yet another example, the handle 60 may be formed by indenting at least a portion of the wall 15 into the interior space 50 of the bowl 10, creating a recessed portion 70. The recessed portion 70 is illustrated in
In operation, the bowl may be used to hold and transport a food product with minimum spillage. The specific application of the bowl may depend on the size and shape of the bowl. For example, if the bowl is manufactured with the size optimized for a single serving of food, a user may simply pour the desired food contents into the bowl, transport the bowl as necessary, and consume the contents located within the interior space of the bowl. In another example, if the bowl is manufactured with the size optimized for mixing bowl, the user may simply pour the food contents into the bowl, transport the bowl as necessary, and mix the contents held within the interior space of the bowl.
After the bowl has been used, it may be easily cleaned due to its advantageous configuration. Since the bowl may be constructed substantially as a single unit, the effort required to clean the bowl may be reduced as compared with the effort required to clean a bowl having a conventional design.
OTHER EMBODIMENTSIt is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A spill resistant bowl comprising:
- a base;
- a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall being substantially seamless;
- a rim of the wall located at a distal end of the wall from the base, the rim forming a perimeter around an opening to an interior space of the bowl;
- a lip attached to the rim and extending inwardly toward a center of the bowl, the lip covering at least a portion of the opening;
- wherein the lip reduces a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space.
2. The bowl of claim 1, wherein at least part of the lip extends inwardly and upwardly approximately toward the center of the bowl.
3. The bowl of claim 1, wherein at least part of the lip extends inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the bowl.
4. The bowl of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises a first lip portion adjacent to the rim and a distal second lip portion, wherein the first lip portion extends from the rim upwardly, and wherein the second lip portion extends from the first lip portion downwardly.
5. The bowl of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
6. The bowl of claim 5, wherein the handle is approximately planar with the wall, the handle being defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
7. The bowl of claim 5, wherein the handle extends outwardly from the wall.
8. The bowl of claim 1, wherein the rim has a rim perimeter that is larger than a base perimeter of the base, and wherein the wall progressively widens from the base to the rim.
9. A spill resistant bowl comprising:
- a base defined by a base perimeter;
- a wall extending upwardly from the base;
- a rim defined by a rim perimeter, the rim being located at a distal end of the wall from the base;
- an opening to an interior space of the bowl substantially surrounded by the rim;
- a lip comprising a first lip portion attached to the rim and a distal second lip portion, the first lip portion extending from the rim upwardly, and the second lip portion extending from the first lip portion downwardly;
- wherein the lip covers at least a portion of the opening;
- wherein the lip reduces a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space.
10. The bowl of claim 9, further comprising a handle.
11. The bowl of claim 10, wherein the handle is approximately planar with the wall, the handle being defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
12. The bowl of claim 10, wherein the handle extends outwardly from the wall.
13. The bowl of claim 9, wherein the rim perimeter is larger than the base perimeter, and wherein the wall progressively widens from the base to the rim.
14. A spill resistant bowl comprising:
- a base;
- a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall being substantially seamless;
- a rim of the wall located at a distal end of the wall from the base, the rim forming a perimeter around an opening to an interior space of the bowl;
- a lip attached to the rim and extending inwardly toward a center of the bowl, the lip covering at least a portion of the opening;
- a handle;
- wherein the lip reduces a likelihood of spillage of contents held in the interior space;
- wherein the bowl is cleanable.
15. The bowl of claim 14, wherein at least part of the lip extends inwardly and upwardly approximately toward the center of the bowl.
16. The bowl of claim 14, wherein at least a part of the lip extends inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the bowl.
17. The bowl of claim 14, wherein the lip comprises a first lip portion adjacent to the rim and a distal second lip portion, wherein the first lip portion extends from the rim upwardly, and wherein the second lip portion extends from the first lip portion downwardly.
18. The bowl of claim 14, wherein the rim has a rim perimeter that is larger than a base perimeter of the base, and wherein the wall progressively widens from the base to the rim.
19. The bowl of claim 14, wherein the handle is approximately planar with the wall, the handle being defined via a recessed portion of the wall.
20. The bowl of claim 14, wherein the handle extends outwardly from the wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Inventor: Howard Rapp (Armonk, NY)
Application Number: 14/215,319
International Classification: A47G 19/02 (20060101);
