US3642165A

US3642165A - Stackable table service

Info

Publication number: US3642165A
Application number: US861702A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henning Von Der Osten
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-09-30
Filing date: 1969-09-29
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15
Also published as: DE1949163A1; JPS4917228B1; DK127538B; DE1949163B2; GB1282037A

Abstract

A stackable table service comprising at least two groups of mutually uniform service items, such as plates, each having an integral bottom and rim, the rims of the items of one group fitting over the rims of the items of the other group to allow alternate interlocking stacking.

Description

United States Patent von der Osten 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] STACKABLE TABLE SERVICE [72] Inventor: Henning von der Osten, Margrethevej 9,

2900 Hellerup, Denmark [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 861,702

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 30, 1968 Denmark ..4710/68 [52] US. Cl. ..220/23.83, 220/97 R [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 21/02 [58] Field of Search ..220/97 R, 97 B, 23.83, 23.86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,857 1/ 1966 McCormick ..220/97 B 3,257,024 6/ l 966 Semanchik ..220/23.83

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FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 76,440 1900 Great Britain... ..220/2333 586,919 4/1947 GreatBritain.....

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Lane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems [57] ABSTRACT A stackable table service comprising at least two groups of mutually uniform service items, such as plates, each having an integral bottom and rim, the rims of the items of one group fitting over the rims of the items of the other group to allow alternate interlocking stacking.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUFEB 15 I972 3,642,165

sum [1F 3 W JIWW ATTORNEY STACKABLE TABLE SERVICE This invention relates to a stackable table service. More particularly, this invention relates to a stackable table service in which the items of the service may be stacked or used with either terminal surface turned upwardly.

With the conventional design of table services hitherto used, e.g., plates, sideplates, cups andsaucers, the different types of items making up the service usually are stored and distributed separately, e.g., dinner plates by themselves, soup plates by themselves, cups and saucers, respectively, by themselves. The present inventlon is based upon the realization that this principle entails certain disadvantages which it is possible to avoid by means of a special design and mutual adaptation of the individual service items, whereby it has been made possible to expedite and simplify the storing of the service, the laying of the table, the serving and collecting.

According to the invention, a stackable service comprises two sets of service items, in which the individual items are constituted of a circumferential rim with plane terminal edges and an integral bottom and are adapted to each other in such a way that the rim on the items in the one set is of a lower height than the rim on the items in the other set and has an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the rims of the items of said other set. As will be explained in greater detail in the following, it becomes hereby possible to stack the items alternately in such a way for instance, that the dinner and soup plate forming part of each cover can be taken and placed on the table together and that it becomes possible, prior to the distribution, to serve at least a part of the meal without the courses in question being adversely affected thereby. Due to the design and adaption stated of the items making up the service it is, furthermore, possible to achieve a better utilization of each individual service item by turning the same and using both sides.

It is possible for the stacking to become particularly stable,

by the rims on the items of the first set according to the invention fitting around the rims of the items of the second set with only a small clearance, so that the items may be stored in tall stacks without risking that the stacks overturn or rattle when shaken.

In order to ensure a good grip on the individual service items, a circumferential rib may be disposed on the outside of the rim of the items in the second set according to the invention, preferably with substantially the same external contour and diameter as the rims of the items in the first set or, possibly, a circumferential rib disposed thereupon.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing by means of some embodiment examples, in which FIG. 1 shows partly diagrammatically and partly in section a part of a stack of two sets of plates according to the invention,

FIGS. 2a2h various arrangements of these while in use, and

FIG. 3 shows part of a stack of two sets of cup-shaped service items.

The stack of plates shown in FIG. 1 comprises plates of two different forms, I and 2, respectively, placed alternately in a stack of any desired height. The individual plates each consist of a substantially cylindrical rim 3 and a substantially flat bottom 4 which joins the rim at a mutuall different distance from the plane terminal edges of the plates. The rim of the individual plates in the set designated with 1 is somewhat lower than the rim of the plates in the set designated with 2 and has an internal diameter which is slightly bigger than the external diameter of the rim on the plates of the set 2. On the outside of the rim on the plates in set 2 there is disposed, as shown, a gripping rib 5, the outermost edge of which possesses substantially the same shape and diameteras the rim on the plates in the set I.

It appears from FIG. 1 that the plates stacked in this manner form a stable stack which requires little space, from which the plates can be taken two at a time and can be placed directly on the table when same is being laid. It is, however, also possible to servea course in advance in the soup plate which is formed by the upper side of the plates in the set 2 and to leave the stack of plates stand in this state, at any rate for some time,

since the meal served will remain hot because the surface having access to the air is covered and the air trapped between the plates will act in an insulating manner and will heat the subjacent plate. By this means, it will be possible to expedite and rationalize the preparation and the serving of the first course to a large party or under canteen conditions.

It appears from FIG. 2 that the plates shown can be arranged in many different ways in relation to each other by turning and changing, so that at least four different courses may be served and consumed without the necessity of changing the service. It is thus possible, merely by turning and interchanging the two plates shown to provide one soup plate, one dining plate of the same size, one somewhat larger shallow plate and one flatter plate of the same size without any risk of the table being dirtied and without any need for using separate covering plates.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the items in both sets are designed with a rim of substantial height in relation to the diameter to provide a cup 20 with a gripping flange 5 and a corresponding beaker-shaped saucer 10 with a gripping flange 6. The saucer, as appears from FIG. 3, constitutes a heat-insulating cap around the lowermost part of the cup 20 and thereby acts to maintain the temperature of a drink poured into the cup constant for as long as possible.

It is also possible, within the scope of the invention, to use a much lower, almost plate-shaped saucer instead of the beakershaped saucer shown in FIG. 3.

The stackable service according to the invention may be constructed of any suitable materials such as porcelain, faience, plastic, wood or stainless steel or of combinations of such materials. The individual service items do'not have to be circular in plan view, but may, as known per se, possess any desired shape within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A stackable table service comprising at least a first set and a second set of substantially identical table service items in each of said first set and said second set respectively, wherein at least a portion of said first set is capable of nesting with at least a portion of said second set, each of said items of said first and said second sets comprising:

a circumferential rim having substantially planar upperand lower terminal edge portions so that the item of each of said first and said second sets may be used with either terminal edge portion turned upwardly,

a bottom integral with said rim, the bottom of at least said first set being disposed intermediate the edge portions of the rim to define at least a pair of inner substantially planar terminal surfaces on said rim, said planar surfaces being substantially aligned on opposite sides of said bottom, the rim of each item of the second set defining at least a pair of outer substantially aligned planar surface portions, and

wherein the rim of each item of the first set is of a lesser total height than the height of the rim of each item of the second set, the inner terminal surfaces of the rim of each item of said first set being adapted to nest with a small clearance with either of the outer surface portions of said second set so that said first set and said second set are thus adapted to be stacked with either planar edge portion of either set turned upwardly.

2. The stackable table surface as claimed in claim 1,

wherein each of the items of said second set is provided on the wherein the rim of said plate has a height which is small relative to the diameter thereof. 4. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and said second set projects for different distances from either side of the bottom thereof.

5 The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and said second set is substantially circular in cross section and has a height of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the bottom thereof.

6. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heights of the rims of the items of both sets are approximately the same as the diameter of the items, and the rims of both sets are substantially circular in cross section.

7. The stackable tableservice as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said first and said second sets.

8. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib is located on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair of inner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for a distance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planar terminal edge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as the distance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set and a terminal edge portion thereof.

9. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rib is located on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair of inner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for a distance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planarterminal edge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as the distance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set and a terminal edge portion thereof.

Claims

1. A stackable table service comprising at least a first set and a second set of substantially identical table service items in each of said first set and said second set respectively, wherein at least a portion of said first set is capable of nesting with at least a portion of said second set, each of said items of said first and said second sets comprising: a circumferential rim having substantially planar upper and lower terminal edge portions so that the item of each of said first and said second sets may be used with either terminal edge portion turned upwardly, a bottom integral with said rim, the bottom of at least said first set being disposed intermediate the edge portions of the rim to define at least a pair of inner substantially planar terminal surfaces on said rim, said planar surfaces being substantially aligned on opposite sides of said bottom, the rim of each item of the second set defining at least a pair of outer substantially aligned planar sUrface portions, and wherein the rim of each item of the first set is of a lesser total height than the height of the rim of each item of the second set, the inner terminal surfaces of the rim of each item of said first set being adapted to nest with a small clearance with either of the outer surface portions of said second set so that said first set and said second set are thus adapted to be stacked with either planar edge portion of either set turned upwardly.

2. The stackable table surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the items of said second set is provided on the outer surface of its rim with a rib disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto and having an outer contour corresponding to the outer contour of the circumferential rim of an item of said first set.

3. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item of at least one of said first set and said second set is a plate and wherein said bottom is substantially planar and wherein the rim of said plate has a height which is small relative to the diameter thereof.

4. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and said second set projects for different distances from either side of the bottom thereof.

5. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim of the item of at least one of said first set and said second set is substantially circular in cross section and has a height of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the bottom thereof.

7. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said first and said second sets.

9. The stackable table service as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rib is located on the item of said second set and wherein one of the pair of inner terminal surfaces on the rim of said first set extends for a distance between a surface of said bottom to one of the planar terminal edge portions thereof, said distance being substantially the same as the distance between a surface on the rib of the item of the second set and a terminal edge portion thereof.