Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~)840(}7 ~P- 8219 -M26
SERVING PLA_E SET OR THE LIKE
This invention relates to a serving pl~te set, the
eLements of which are adspted for intereng~gement so
that in st least two assembled forms it also functions
as a cLosured contsiner, one of which further provides
for sepArate compartmental food s~orage section~.
More psrticul~rly, therefore, the serving plate set
functions in a dual capacity whereby the food contained
therein c~n be sppropriately consumed from the contsiner
elements themselves. The plate set construction further
contempl~tes the use of two ~imiLarly shsped ~nd sized
receptacles, each separately sealable by a sealing
member posltioned between them so that the contents of
e~ch receptscle is segreg~ted from the other. The
concept al90 incorporAtes a8 a feature thereof the
~ppropriate ~hsping of the center w~ll area of the
sealing member such that it csn sl~o be used as ~ plate
should it be so deslred to do 90.
Prior art contsiner~ hsve, of course, incorporeted
receptacle *nd closure elements that are constructed in
f~shion to permit their us~ge a8 pl~te members. However,
such designs and constructions have not contemplated the
employment of ~ common seal which could be used to
simultsneously be u~ed between to sesl separate receptsbles,
Accordingly, such do not provide suitable mesns for the
storage of different consum~bles in the sesl and the
receptflcle elements.
The in~tant construction, therefore, sffords the user
a device which is multif~cted in nature and thus will
minimize his need for 8 w riety of different ~erving ~nd
storage dishes, container~ and plates. Similsrly, either
1~)84007
of the receptacle members may be used alone with the sealing
' member until additional storage capacity is required. This
single receptacle usage, of course, minimizes the space
requirements used in such food storage. Likewise, the
receptacles of the set may be employed without the common
seal to produce a container of increased capacity.
Thus, in accordance with the present teaching,
a plate set is provided which comprises a first plate
having a bottom wall and upstanding peripheral walls ter-
minating at an upper edge, a seal plate having a top walland integral downwardly extending peripheral walls ter-
minating at a lower edge, a flange integral with and ex-
tending outwardly from the lower edge, a first rim wall
integral with and extending downwardly from the flange,
and a second rim wall integral with and extending upwardly
from the flange. The upper edge of the first plate
. i8 engaged in a liquid tight seal against the inner face
of the first rim wall with the first plate and seal being
separable from each other and a second plate having a
bottom wall and upstanding peripheral walls terminating at
a second upper edge which edge fits snugly against the
inner face of the second rim wall.
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of a preferred form of the invention
when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one
form of the serving plate set of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention
of Fig. 1 shown in assembled form;
,...
- ~ - 2 -
84007
Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the assembled
serving plate set with a partial cross-sectional showing
taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
of the circled segment 5 of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional area
similar to the circled segment 5 of Fig. 4 except that the
common seal therebetween has been removed.
The serving plate set of this invention generally
indicated in Fig. 1 by reference number 10 includes a
first receptacle or plate 12, a second receptacle or
plate 14, and a common seal member 16 which in assembled
form (Fig~ 2) produce a segmented container having two
separate and distinct storage compartment sections.
- 2a -
1'~840t)7
While each of these elements 12, 14 and 16 are illustrated
as being semi-ovate in shape, it should be understood that
nuch may take any other suitable shape depending upon the
contemplated end usage of the device.
Each of the basic plates or receptacles 12 and 14 are
of a similar structural arrangement and respectively
incorporate bottom walls 18 and 20, and upstanding peri-
pheral sidewalls 22 and 24, which terminate in first and
second upper edges 26 and 28.
Sealing number 16 is formed by a dish shaped central
wall, _,32 and incorporates a peripherally extending
flange 38 which is integral therewith and from which de-
pend a downwardly extending rim 34 and an upstanding
peripheral rim 36. As is apparant in Figs. 4 and 5,
the subject rims 34,36 are slightly offset with respect
to one another, and such relationship produces very
desirable re~ults which are more fully discussed herein-
after. Likewise, note that rims 34,36 incorporate
inside faces 40, 42 which sre slightly slanted and are
adapted to firmly engage against the exterior surfaces
of upper edges 26 and 28 in a liquid seaLing fsshion.
The respective~ serving plates 12 and 14 also vary
slightly in their respective depths and the upper edge
28 of plate 14 is positioned and flared outwardly such
that the teLminus of its outermost extent is of a greater
peripheral extent than that of the serving plate 12.
This produces several desirable effects, especially in
the sealing of each of the respective receptacles by
sealing member 16. Note in particular (Fig. 5) that
each of the serving plates are sealed along the outer
surfaces of their upper edges 26 and 28. Accordingly,
--3--
400~
because the peripheral extents of these upper edges are
of a different magnitude, the mentioned upper edges 26
snd 28 are slightly offset. Accordingly, when sealing
member 16 is in its assembled position, the sealing
pressure applied by each of these respective edges 26,
28 is translated through that sealing member in bending
moment fashion to produce an even better sealing effect
on each of the respective outer surfaces.
Such bending moment forces are, of course, im-
proved because of the extent of the lever arm provided
within flange 38. Accordingly, the pressure applied
between edge 26 and rim 34 tends to produce an upward
movement of flange 38 ~n a pivotal fashion around
point A. This, in turn, tends to move the rim 36
inwardly and into a better msting engagement with the
outer surface of upper edge 28. Likewise, the sealing
pressure developed between upper edge 28 and rim 36
tends to produce a similar action which deflects the
rim 34 into even better sealing engagement with upper
edge 26 of the serving plate 12.
Preferably, the plates or receptacles 12, 14 are
formed from rigid plastic materials such as hi~h
den8ity polyethylene or polypropelene, while the separating
seal member 16 is preferably formed of low density poly-
ethylene materials. These particular ma~erial combinations,
as will be appreciated, improve the sealing effect obtained
between the respective members and further assures that a
liquid tight seal is maintained therebetween.
Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the design
and construction of the instant serving plste set (Fig.6)
enables the user to selectively employ only the plates 12
and 14 in the storage of foodstuffg. This is accomplished
~ 40()7
again by employing the difference in peripheral extents
of upper edges 26 and 28. Accordingly, the upper edge
28 canbe slipped over the upper edge 26 in a fashion
such that the two serving plates will be s~curely engaged
one with respect to the other in a closuring fashion.
Thus, should it be desired not to use the sealing member
16, these two plates alone can be employed to effectively
containerize appropriate foodstuff products. Likewi~e
note that depending upon the quantity of consumables to
be stored, either of the plates 12, 14 may be employed
as the principal receptacle in this interrelated
relationship.
While the preferred form of the invention has been
described and disclosed above, it is to be understood
that such changes and alterations as would occur to
those skilled in the art are to be considered within
the purview of this invention and to fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
