Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SERVING DI SH SET OR ~E LI~:
This invention relates to a multi-use serving dish
set. More specifically, the servin~ dish set includes
a pedestal-like base and two receptacl2s which can be
utilized individually or in combination to serve, store
and transport foodstuffs. The receptacles ar~ of
similar size and shape and each has on~ or more
receiving means which enable the ~ase to be attached
thereto. One of the receptacles includes oppositely
facing receiving means which enable it to function as a
dish or a wide diameter base. Either receptacle can be
used as a ~over for the other receptacle~ Further, the
pedestal-like bas~ can function as a container or
serving, stor2ge and transportation of various
foQdstuffs. In combination with one of the receptacles
the base forms a closured container which ~ay be filled
or heating, cooling or stability purposes.
The prior art discloses serving sets which include
~ieces which may ~e utilized in variou~ ways. For
example, ~he prior art includes container~ display and
serving sets in which a single piece functions as both
a base and ~ cover and as a æerving and storage piece.
The prior art al80 includes various means for fastening
the pieces together.
Thus it is an object of -the present invention to improve
serving dish sets. It is a further object to provide a serving
dish set in which the various components can be utilized
individually or in combination to serve, store and transport
foodstuffs.
In accordance with the present teachings, a serving set
is provided comprising a receptacle having a wall member,
peripheral sidewalls, and oppositely facing receivin~ means
on the wall member, a base which has a central wall and a
transverse divider defining oppositely facing compartments,
the central wall has two end portions at least one of which
has a mating flange connected thereto. The oppositely facing
receiving means is positioned to accept the mating flange so
that the receptacle may be removably attached to the base in
snap-fit relationship to a position wherein the basis is located
over the receptacle and in snap-fit relationship in a second
position wherein the base located under the re-ceptacle, in the
first portion one of the base compartments forms an upwardly
facing open container and the other of the base compartments
cooperating with the wall member form a closed container over
the receptacle, and in the second position, the other base
compartment cooperating with the wall member to form a closed
container under the receptacle.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction
with the draw~ngs wherein:
Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of one form of the serving
dish set;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the serving dish
set shown in Fig. 1;
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ig. 3 is a side elevational view of the serving dish set
shown in Fig. l;
ig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view o the serving
dish set taken along line 1-4 of Fig. 3;
ig. 5 is a top perspective view of another form of the
serving dish set;
ig. 6 is a side elevational view of the serving dish set
shown in Fig. 5;
ig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the serving
dish set taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
ig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken of the
circled segment 8 of Fig. 4;
ig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the circled
segment 9 of Fig. 4;
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Fig. lO is an enlarged cross-sectional ~iew of the
circled segment 10 of Fig~ 4;
Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the
pedestal-like base shown with a cover,
Fig. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
ba~e with a cover on each end.
The serving dish set of this invention generally
shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 by referenc~ numeral lO
includes a first di~h or receptacle 12, a second dish
or receptacle 40 and a pedest~l-like base 80 which can
be assembled in ~arious ways to provide a multi-use
~erving dish, ~torage and transportation container.
The first dish or receptacle 12 includes a wall
member 14 and a sidewall member 16 terminating in an
ed~e 18. The sidewall includes an outwardly extending
rim 20 having a first surface 22 and a second æurface
24. The wall member 14 has ~n inner surface ~6 and an
outer ~urface 28. Extending outwardly $rom outer
surface 28 is a flange 30 which terminates in an edge
31. The flange 30 is circular shaped in plan view hut
it should be understood that other shape~ may be
suitable for certain uses. The flange 30 includes an
outer surface 32 and an iDner ~urface 34. As beæt
shown in Figure~ 4 an~ 10, the inner surface 34 form5
receiYing means includiny a first ~ection 36 and a
~econd æ~ction 38. Relative to the longit~dinal axis of
~he ~l~nge 30 the first and econd sections, 36 and 3~,
slope inwardly towards the center of the dish. The
embodiment shown in Fig. 10 specifically di6closP~ a
first section 36 which slopes inwardly at ~n angle of
8D ~ith respe t to the longitudinal axis of the ~lange
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30 and a second ~ection 38 which ~lopes inwardly at an
angle ~f 7~ with respect to the longi$udinal axis of
the flange 30.
The second di h or receptacle 40 includes a wall
member 42 and a sidewall 44 terminating in an edge 46.
The side wall 44 includes an ~utwardly extending rim 47
having a first surface 48 and a second surface 50. The
outside diameter of the first dish 6idewall 16 is less
than the in~ide diameter of ~he second dish sidewall
44. As best shown in Figure 4 the dishe~ fit together
so that one dish or the other can be used as a cover to
protect the foodstuffs contained therein. In ~his
regard it should be noted that the edge *6 of the
second receptacle 40 fits snugly a~ainst the first
surface 22 of receptacle rim 20.
As best shown in Figures 4 and 9, the wall member
42 of the second rec~ptacle 40 has an inner surface 48
and an outer surface 50. Extending outwardly from the
outer surface 50 is a flange 52. Flange 52 has a first
portion 54 and a second portion 56 ~eparated by a
pastition 5B. The partition 58 is integrally connected
at one end to the wall member 42 and at the other end
to the flange 52. Thus partition 58 and the first
portion 54 of flange 52 for~ a groove which opens
toward ~he inner surface 48 of plate 40. The second
portion 56 of the flange 52 extends outwardly from the
flange first portion 54 and the partition 58
terminating at edge 60.
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In a manner similar to $he ~irst dish flange 30
the first portion 54 of flange 52 has an inner surface
6~. As best shown in Figures 7 and 9 the inner surface
forms receiving means including a first section 64 and
a second section 66. Relativa to the flange 52 the
first and second sections, 64 and 66, slope inwardly
towards the center of the di~h. The second portion 56
o~ flange 52 has an inner sur~ace S8 which forms
receiving means having a third section ~70 a~d a fourth
section 72. Relative to the flange 52, the ~hird and
fourth sections, 70 and 72, slope inwardly towards the
center of the dish also. The embodiment shown in Fig. 9
spe~ifically discloses a flange first section 64 and a
fourth section which slopes inwardly at an angle of 8~
with respect to ~he lon~itudinal axis of the flange 52
and a flan~e second section 66 and ~hird section 72
which slope inwardly at an angle of 7 with respect to
the longitudinal axis of the flange 52. Thus the
second dish 40 has oppositely facing receiving means on
wall member 42.
The pedestal~ e ~ase 80 includes a central wall
82 having two end portions 83, 85. A transversly
extending divider 84 separates the base 80 into two
compartments of differing sizes. The outer periphery of
each end portion ~3, 85 of the base includes a mating
flange 86, 94 having an exterior surface 88, 96 and
terminating in an edge 90 and 98 respectively. ~he
- compartments can be utilized to store and transport
foodstuffs when covered with a closuring means 99
as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
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Preferably ~he dishes or receptacles 12, 40 and
the base B0 are formed fxom rigid plastic materials
~uch as high density polye~hylene or polypropelene. It
should be noted that a cover (not shown) of low density
polyethylene or polypropelene can aldo be used as a
closuring means.
Turning now to Fig. 1-4, one form of the dish set
is shown wherein the base 80 is positioned below the
first receptacle 12. As best shown in Fisures 4 and
10, mating flange 86 is snap fit into the flange 30.
The slope of first section 35 allows the mating flange
86 to initially easily fit into flange 30. The slope
of the second section 38 is matched to the mating
flange 86 such that a snap fit is produced. Thus in
the assembled position the exterior surface of mating
flan~e 86 abuttingly engages the second æection 38 and
the mating flange edge 90 abuttingly engages the outer
surface 28 of serving dish 12. The second dish 40 may
be used as a cover to protect the foodstuffs prior to
serving.
While it is not shown by a separate drawing it
should be clear that the second receptacle 40 may be
used in place of the first receptacle 1~ ~ince ~he
inner surface o~ first portion of flange 52 is
identical to the inner surface of flange 30. It ~hould
be noted that the sidewall 16 is lower than ~idewall 44
so that the first and second receptacles are of
differing capacities. Thus for some uses it may be
more convenient to attach the higher ~idewall larger
capacity receptacle 40 to the base 80 and utilize the
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fir~t receptacle l~ as a cover. It should also be
noted that when the base 80 is attached to either dish
12, 40, as illustrate~ in Fig. 4 a closured compartment
is formed. This container can be used to house hPating
or cooling media to hea~ or cool the ~oodstuffs being
s~rved. Other substances could be placed in the
compart~ent to add weight which would make the base
more ~table.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 disclose the dish set with ~h2
second dish 40 positioned ~elow the base 80 such that a
do~ble-level serving set is forme~. The first dish 12
is positioned on the base 80 as previously discussed.
The mating flange ~4 is press or snap fit into the
groove formed by the partitio3n 58 and the flange 52.
In the assembled position the exterior surface 96 of
flange 94 abuttingly engages the second section 66 of
~lange 52 and flange edge 98 abuttingly engages the
partition 58. In some cases it may be desirable to
have a wide diameter base in order to insure that the
set does not tip while in use. In ~uch a ~ituation it
is possible to position the second dish with the edge
46 facing do~n. The mating flange 94 would engage ~he
~hird section of flange 52 in snap fit relatiollship as
previously discussed in detail.
Yet another form of the ~erving dish set is wi~h
the base 80 positioned in the groove on the inner
surface 48 of th~ second dish, as shown in Fig. 7.
Instead o~` attaching the irst plate 12, the base 80 is
left uncovered. The base thus forms a convenient
serving piece for dip vr the like. ~he divider 84
separates ~he base into ~wo compartments of different
sizes, either of which can be used since the mating
flanges 8fi and 94 are identical.
It should be understood that while a preferred
embodiment of ~he invention has been disclosed,
modifications and alternations may be made by those
~kill~d in the art which would fall wi~hin the limits
of this invention and within the scope of the claims
appended hereto.
