STEADY, NON-FLIP PLATES

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a plate that is resistant to tipping when subjected to wind or other forces. The plates have a center and an edge. The edge can be an inverted v-shaped form having an upwardly sloped surface near the center, and a downwardly sloped surface around the outer circumference of the plate. The center can be domed, to allow for suction with respect to the surface upon which the plate rests.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/433,840, filed on Dec. 14, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to plates or serving dishes that can be placed on a flat surface, and which resist being flipped or tipped by wind or other forces in the surrounding environment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to plates or serving dishes that is have downwardly sloping edges, which provide resistance against being tipped over.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current serving plates, such as the disposable variety used in outdoor parties or events, are thin and thus susceptible to being flipped over easily by wind or other elements. There is a need to address this deficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a tip-resistant plate, comprising a center and an edge surrounding the center. The edge has an upwardly sloping surface adjacent to the center and a downwardly sloping surface adjacent to the upwardly sloping surface, wherein the upwardly sloping surface and downwardly sloping surface are around a circumference of the plate, so that the downwardly sloping surface contacts the surface upon which the plate rests. There can be a notch in the edge, so that a user can lift the plate.

The present disclosure uses the term “plate” for ease of description, but unless otherwise specified, this term should be understood to mean dinner-size plates, smaller salad or dessert plates, or larger serving plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2a is a second top, perspective view of a plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2b is a top, perspective view of stacked plates of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plate of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2a.

FIG. 4 is a third top, perspective view of the plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a fourth top, perspective view of the plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top, perspective view of the plate of the present disclosure, with decorative elements or depressions around an edge thereof.

FIG. 7a is a top view line drawing of the plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7b is a side view line drawing of the plate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7c is a cross-sectional line drawing of the plate of the present disclosure, taken along line C-C of FIG. 8a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to the drawings, plate 10 of the present disclosure is shown. Plate 10 has a center 20 and an edge 30. As shown, edge 30 has an inverted V-shape (see FIG. 3) in cross-section, with an upwardly sloped or surface 32 and a downwardly sloped or surface 34 on the outside of plate 10. Downwardly sloped surface 34 terminates in a flange or flat edge 36 that contacts the surface upon which plate 10 sits. Thus, when plate 10 is on a surface such as a table, wind can pass over edge 36 and surface 34, eliminating or greatly reducing flipping. In conventionally available plates, the edges are lifted off the surface. This allows wind to get under the edge and flip the plate. Plate 10 of the present disclosure substantially mitigates or eliminates this phenomenon. The cross-sectional profile of edge can be V-shaped, U-shaped, rounded or squared off, or flat at the top, as long as there is an upwardly shaped surface 32 on the outer edge of plate 10. Stackability of plates 10 should also be a concern when determining the shape. As used in the present disclosure, the “center” of plate 10 is the area bounded by edge 30.

Edge 30 can have one or more notches 38 around a circumference thereof, cut into surface 32. These notches can provide a hold for a use to pick up plate 10, or separate them when stacked (FIG. 2b). Notches provide this convenient feature, but surprisingly do not adversely affect the resistance of plate 10 to flipping. FIG. 2b also shows how easily multiple plates 10 can be stacked.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, center 20 can have an outer edge 24 that is adjacent to edge 30, and a middle 22. Middle 22 can be slightly raised or domed, so that there is a little space between it and the surface upon which plate 10 rests. The user can press down on center 20 to create a temporary suction between center 20 and the surface.

Plate 10 can be made of several different kinds of material, such as plastic, paper, pulp, bamboo, metal, or other fiber and composite materials, and combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, edge 30 may have decorations, embossments, or depressions 31 around or partially around a circumference thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 7a-7c, plate 10 can have an overall diameter D, height H, notch height h, and thickness t. Dimensional ranges for these values are as follows. The diameter D can be anywhere from four (4) to twelve (12) inches, or any subranges therebetween. As non-limiting examples, the diameter D can be from eight and one-half (8.5) inches to eleven (11) or twelve (12) inches, or any subranges therebetween, as in larger dinner plates, or from four (4) to six (6) inches, or any subranges therebetween, for smaller plates. The height H can be twenty-two (22) millimeters or less. The height H can also be twenty-two (24) millimeters or less.

The thickness t can be from 0.3 millimeters and up, for example to two (2) or three (3) millimeters, or any subranges therebetween. In other embodiments, the thickness t can be from 0.5 millimeters and up, or from 0.8 millimeters and up. Advantageously, plate 10 of the present disclosure has a thickness similar to that of current plates, i.e. approximately 0.3-0.8 millimeters, while still providing the advantages described herein to avoid flipping. Some current manufacturers attempt to overcome the problem of flipping by making the plates very thick, which adds to material cost. In the present disclosure, when thickness t of plate 10 gets too low, below 0.3 millimeters, the structural integrity of the plate can be compromised, and it will have a hard time keeping its shape under the weight of food. When the thickness is too high, for example 3 mm or greater, plate 10 of the present disclosure does not offer any significant advantages over currently available designs. Currently available plates with very high thicknesses can resist tipping.

As previously discussed, dome or center 22 can have a height x, so that center 22 is slightly raised from the surface on which plate 10 rests. Height x can be up to and including six (6) millimeters. In another embodiment, height x is four (4) millimeters or less, or three (3) millimeters or less. If height x is too high, the food placed in plate 10 can run to the sides of the plate.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure.

Claims

1. A tip-resistant plate, comprising:

a center; and

an edge surrounding the center, wherein the edge has an upwardly sloping surface adjacent to the center and a downwardly sloping surface adjacent to the upwardly sloping surface, wherein the upwardly sloping surface and downwardly sloping surface are around a circumference of the plate, so that the downwardly sloping surface contacts a surface upon which the plate rests.

2. The plate of claim 1, wherein the center is dome-shaped, so that there is a space between the center and the surface upon which the plate rests.

3. The plate of claim 1, wherein the dome-shaped center has a height of six millimeters or less.

4. The plate of claim 1, further comprising one or more notches around the circumference of the plate, in the edge.

5. The plate of claim 1, wherein the edge has an inverted v-shape in cross-section.

6. The plate of claim 1, wherein the edge has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of U-shaped, rounded, and square.

7. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate has a diameter between 4 and 12 inches.

8. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate has a thickness of between 0.3 and 3 millimeters.

9. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate has a thickness of between 0.5 and 3 millimeters.

10. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate has a thickness of between 0.8 and 3 millimeters.

11. The plate of claim 1, wherein the downwardly sloping edge has a flat edge projecting therefrom.