US2544357A - Platter - Google Patents

Description

' FIGURE I March 1951 A. c. SCAVULLO 2,544,357

PLATTER Filed March 29, 1946 FIIGUREB .portions .of uniform size and thickness. in the kitchen or pantry no particular problem is Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Victor K. -S'c'avullo, Frank Scavullo. Charles Scavullo, Marie Scavullo Saegert, and Margaret v Soa'vullo Scott, all of Forest Hills, Y, -nppfiearit Marches, 194e,.ser'ia1 No. 658,273

.My invention relates to tableware and the like. More particularly, it concerns a carving and dis- ,play' platter having both pleasing appearance and new functional utility.

.An object -.of my invention is to produce a c'arving dish, at once of low cost, maximum ease of production and high simplicity, which will display the object .to be carved, such as a roast of meet, a fowl or thelike, in such manner, and with more suitable orientation in three-dimensional planes, that the carver is given maximum latitude in carving, freed of all interference from the rim of the platten Such platter is durable, has long useful life, and is readily susceptible to ornamentation highly pleasing to the eye. p

All these and many other objects and advantages will in part be obvious and in part'pointed out hereinafterdur ing the course of the following description, taken in the light of the accompanying drawings. p

My invention accordingly resides in the several parts, elements, and features of construct-ion, as well as in the combination of each of the same with one or more of the others, the scope of the application of all of which is more fully set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, wherein one embodiment of my invention .is disclosed which I prefer at present, I

Figure 1 is a perspective view o'fmynew carving dish .or platter;

Figure .2 is a bottom plan view thereof; while v Figure 3 comprises a fragmentary perspective view of one of the spikes and the associated retaining ring. I Throughout the several views of the drawings,

like reference characters denote like parts.

As conducive to a more ready and thorough comprehension of my invention, it may be noted that considerable difficulty has been experienced in carving meats, roasts, fowl and the like, while preparing them for consumption in servings or While .DDsed, inasmuch as the carver of merely average skill can grip the object to be carved in the manner most calculated to promote achievement 'otjhe ultimate objective, and this without conutmost deference to the social amenities.

Not alone is 'themaster of the house exposed to unpleasant, unsuitable and unsatisfactory carv as ingJconditions at the household table, but the Same is true of the maitre dhotel at the leading restaurants and hotels, where he presides over the carving either at a serving tray near the guest table, or at a large table within the restaurant proper or in a readily accessible anteroom, arranged for sm'drgasbordor the like, and open to the eyes of his clientele.

In point or fact, the m'aitre "dhotel is somewhat at an advantage over 'the carver at the household table, for where the maitre dhdtel is not only permitted to, but is required to stand, good practice and good "manners dictate that the home carver should remain seated throughout theycarving process. In "both, however, a decided tendency is observed of the unanchored roast or the like to "walk across the platter under the impetus of the carving knife, particularly when the latter is dulled an'd otherwise unsuited for expert workmanship. Carving, made difiicult even were the carver to stand, is rendered doubly nized. Over a period of years effort has been directedtowards alleviation, in some manner and .to some extent, of these besett'ing difficulties. Uniformly, however, for one reason or another, these efforts havebeen'unsuccessful. Many proposals involved constructions too cumbersome {and bulky. Other constructions were costly, comyplicatedaiid delicate, Constructions have been proposed which were functionally reasonable "where impossible from an aesthetic standpoint.

An important object of my invention, therefore, is to avoid in substantial measure the disadvantages of the prior art, and at the same time, top'roduce a unitary, one-piece meat platter 'or the like, which, combining the advantageous 'qualities of eye -appeal and high degree of sturdines's, of low first cost and long life, and at all times ,whilz'e, in use, displays the firmly anchored roast or other object to be carved'in such manner as to make the same most readily available to the "carver, who is enabled readily to complete his carving while seated at the "table, and with but lattice extremity on which the roast or other 3 negligible if any interference from the rim of the carv ng latter.

Referring now more particularly to the practice of my invention, my display or carving platter is of conventional shape or configuration. Oblong, it has a fiat bottom portion l l, comprising by far the largest area of the platter, and an upstanding inclined and curved peripheral rim l2, which in the ordinary carving dish interposes such important difficulties and disadvan tages to. the household carver. be formed of any suitable materi l, such as wood, china, porcelain, glass or the like. Because of the necessity of permanently fastening stakes therein, which are later here to be described, I construct my preferred embodiment out of metals, either precious or common. To illustrate, I find it entirely satisfactory to construct the platter of ornamented and polished stainless .steel notably the 18-8 chromium-nickelgrade.

Not only is this material inert and free from attack by the acids from the object bein carv d,

but as well, since the roast or the like is carried of the platter, little opportunity is provided for injury to the platter surface or contamination of the roast or the like.

In my platter th re are employed a series of metal stakes or spikes l3 centrally of the platter body. These are made fast to the bottom H of the platter ID in any desired manner. For example, they mav be t readed to t e bottom H,

the threaded relationship being sufficiently tight to insure proper seal and to prevent juic s from draining from the platter to the table or the like. Preferably, however, I weld or rivet the stakes 13 to the under side of the platter, as indicated at M, in Figure 2. The stakes l3 are point d at their tips l3a (Figure 3). This provides a spiked object to be carved can be firmly impaled and secured anchored in position against substantially all tendency for sidewise motion.

This platter can at a height above and displaced from the bottom It is desirable to reiterate at this point an im- 1 w nique as perhaps best suited for my purposes.

portant advantage achieved by the use of anchored stakes over the constructions heretofore proposed in the art. The vast majority of the constructions heretofore suggested have comprised auxiliary equipment in the form of linkages, lattice constructions and the like, which were clamped temporarily across the platter while the same was in use. A cumbersome, undesirable appearance resulted, giving to the table more the suggestion of the workship than the festive board which the housekeeper seeks.

- is, the center of the grid coincides with the center of the platter, and its major axis coincides with that of the platter while its minor axis. lies along the minor axis of the platter.

Moreover, as is apparent from a consideration of Figure 1, the stakes l3 are of nicely graduated height. Assuming the right of the platter in Figures 1 and 2 to constitute the rear thereof for purposesof orientation and description,,so that the left-most end of the platter (Figures 1 and 2) constitutes the front of the platter, I dispose the stakes 13 so that a plane defined by the free, spiked or pointed ends of the stakes is inclined at an angle to the horizontal and slopes downwardly from the rear towards the front, having an imaginary intercept with a projection of the 7 plane of the platter near the front thereof. Thus,

the rear stake is of greatest length. The two intermediate stakes, positioned along the minor axis of the platter, and both of the same height, have somewhat lesser length than does the rear stake [3. Similarly, the front stake I3 is of shortest length. When anchored on these stakes, the roast or other object to be carved is inclined to the horizontal in' an elevated manner, in such position that greatest facility is provided the .stakes 13. This band is made fast to the stakes 13 at the same distance below the free or workingtips thereof. Thus, a plane through the band is'parallel to and bears the same angle of inclination to the horizontal as does the plane through the tips of the spikes. The band may be formed of. any suitable material, such as plastic or the like. In the preferred instance, however, and to preferred embodiment, I employ a Welding tech- The band may be made fast on the inner sides of .the' stakes l3, or may be secured to the exterior surfaces thereof. In the preferred embodiment, I make the band fast to the exterior thereof. Again, while the band may be drawn tight between the stakes to conform to the exact geometrical pattern defined by the stakes. I find it much more advantageous to impart a slight bow thereto so that the band assumes the configuration of a continuous curve. Continuous curves are much more pleasing on the eye than are angular extensions having sharp breaks therein.

Thus, substantial aesthetic appeal is provided by such arrangement. Moreover, the bowing lends added rigidity to the band, so that narrower gauge metal can be conveniently employed than is true Where angularities are introduced.

.When the roast or the like is made fast to the tips of the spikes it is automatically positioned squarely in the center of the platte and at an elevation such that the carving knife is continuously maintained above the rim I2 of the platter.

No interference is provided by the latter during any portion of the carving. The inclination to the horizontal insures that the roast-or the like vis always presented at the most advantageous carving angle. The anchoring on the tips of the ,spikes effectively prevents any tendency towards "bodily movement Of the object undergoing carving, under the impetus of the carving knife. No

slippage or other embarrassment is possible. The retaining rim or band effectively contributes against localized tipping or the like of the roast and provides uniform support throughout its circumference, even at points intermediate the spikes l3. The essences from the meat are trapped in the platter and may be retained in a conventional gravy well 16 or the like provided in the floor I! at the front part thereof. This, of course, may be omitted where desired.

While displaying highly meritorious functional qualities, my new construction combines therewith a pleasing simplicity which for this very reason insures that no important distraction is introduced from an aesthetic standpoint. In other terms, my new construction has substantially the same eye appeal as does the unobstructed platter. It even contributes thereto inasmuch as the central object of the dinner, the roast, bird, or other object to be carved, is carried or displayed in a raised position where all eyes are at once attracted thereto. Moreover, the carver, while thus the center of attention, is enabled by my construction skillfully to carry out the carving operation while remaining calmly seated at the head of the table. And the lower portions of the sides of the object to be carved, or even a portion of the bottom, may be reached without requiring adjustment. In this, a substantial advantage is had over carving with the conventional support.

My new platter construction is simple, comparatively inexpensive, sturdy and of long useful life. The platter, because of its simplicity, can be readily cleaned and can be readily maintained in storage. A11 these and many other highly practical advantages attend upon the practice of my invention.

It is apparent from the foregoing that many modifications of my invention will readily occur the spike at one end of the diamond substantially shorter and the spike at the other end of the diamond substantially longer than the two spikes across the diamond, and a bracing band of long oval shape contacting said spikes and made fast thereto at points below the free tips of the spikes, said band determining a plane inclined to the central platter portion for supporting in an inclined position the object to be carved.

3. A carving platter comprising a central stainless steel platter portion, a plurality of upstanding stainless steel spikes disposed centrally thereof in determined geometrical configuration and welded thereto, the lengths of the spikes decreasing from one end of the platter toward the other with the tips of the spikes determining an inclined plane, and a stainless steel bracing and to those skilled in the art, once the broad aspects thereof are disclosed. Moreover, it is obvious that many embodiments will suggest themselves to the skilled worker in the art, all falling within the scope and sphere of my invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is to be considered as purely illustrative, and is not to be taken by Way of limitation.

I claim: I

1. A carving dish comprising a platter, a plurality of upstanding spikes individually made fast thereto, and forming a geometrical configuration coaxial with the platter, the lengths of the spikes decreasing from one end of the platter towards the other, and a bracing and supporting band made fast to these spikes, at the same distances below the free tips thereof, whereby the plane of the band is inclined to the platter.

2. A carvin platter comprising a central platter portion, four upstanding spikes disposed centrally thereof in diamond-shaped formation with end substantially longer than the two spikes across the diamond with the tips of the spikes determining an inclined plane, and a stainless steel bracing band contacting the spikes in an inclined plane substantiall parallel to that formed by the tips of the said four upstanding spikes and welded to the spikes at the points of contact, said spikes and band serving to anchor and support the object to be carved.

. ANGELO C. SCAVULLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,844 Sykes Aug. 17, 1869 152,331 I Cass June 23, 1874 361,742 Bennett Apr. 26, 1887 766,427 Crowell Aug. 2, 1904 880,486 Groif Feb. 25, 1908 1,038,647 Pitt Sept. 17, 1912 1,156,510 Welz Oct. 12, 1915 1,201,061 Lang Oct, 10, 1916 1,205,774 Mitchell Nov. 21, 1916 r 2,052,505 Vetrosky Aug. 25, 1936 2,338,296 Meyer Jan. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 190,416 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1922 236,045 Great Britain July 2, 1925 381,987 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1932 531,308 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1941

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