US3672538A - Disposable dish means - Google Patents

Disposable dish means Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3672538A
US3672538A US75639A US3672538DA US3672538A US 3672538 A US3672538 A US 3672538A US 75639 A US75639 A US 75639A US 3672538D A US3672538D A US 3672538DA US 3672538 A US3672538 A US 3672538A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rim
dishes
dish
ribs
around
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US75639A
Inventor
Karl Wiedemann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Melitta Inc
Original Assignee
Melitta Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Melitta Inc filed Critical Melitta Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3672538A publication Critical patent/US3672538A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers

Definitions

  • the rim has a plurality of l 58] Fieid 97 C 97 f 229/1 5 spaced upstanding ribs thereon.
  • the dishes are adapted to be 5/1 206/65 stacked together in a pile with the upper surface of the ribs engaging the bottom surface of the rim of the next uppermost [56] Reerences Cited dish so as to space the dishes apart and allow for ease of in- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1935 Booth ..220/97 C dividually removing the dishes from the stack even if the stack of dishes are compressed together.
  • the present invention relates to a disposable dish, and more particularly to a disposable dish which can be stacked together with similar dishes without the dishes becoming stuck together.
  • Disposable dishes generally comprise a thin sheet of a relatively rigid, semi-flexible material, such as a plastic or a rigid paper with or without coating or impregnation of plastic, having a central portion and a rim around the edge of the central portion. At least, a portion of the central portion is depressed below the rim. The amount that the central portion is depressed depends on the type of dish. For example, plates have only a slightly depressed central portion, saucers have slightly greater depressed central portions and bowls have even greater depressed central portions.
  • the rims are either flat or slightly curved so as to be convex on their upper surface.
  • These dishes are generally packaged by stacking of a plurality of the dishes one on top of the other and placing the stack in a container.
  • the container can be a box or merely a wrapping of a sheet of plastic or paper.
  • the stack of the dishes are usually compressed tightly together so that the stack is of minimum thickness to provide a minimum size package.
  • stack of dishes are removed from the container the dishes are so stucktogether that they are often difficult to separate into the individual dishes.
  • a disposable dish having a central portion and a rim around the edge of the central portion.
  • the rim has a plurality of special upstanding ribs. The ribs space the dishes slightly apart when the dishes are stacked together so as to permit ease of separating the dishes.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a dish of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a side plan view of two stacks of the dishes with one stack being compressed
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion of the rim of the dish within the circle 4 of FIG. 2 stacked with similar dishes.
  • the disposable dish of the present invention is generally designated as I0.
  • the dish is shown as being a bowl but could be a plate, saucer or the like.
  • the dish 10 is made of a thin sheet of a flexible, flat relatively rigid material, such as a plastic, heavy paper or paper coated or impregnated with a plastic.
  • the dish 10 includes a central portion 12 having a bottom 14 and an upstanding wall 16 around the bottom 14.
  • a rim 18 extends around and pro- 5 jects outwardly from the upper edge of the wall 16.
  • the rim 18 is slightly curved so as to be convex on its upper surface.
  • a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upstanding ribs 20 are provided on the rim 18.
  • the rim 18 is constructed with a pattern 22 which is embossed in the rim.
  • the ribs 20 are part of the pattern 22 but are larger than the other portion of the pattern so as to stand up higher from the rim.
  • the dish 10 can be provided with any number of the ribs 20, it has been found that three ribs, as shown, are sufficient. Also, it is preferable that the ribs 20 be non-uniformly spaced apart around the rim 18.
  • the ribs 20 engage the undersurface of the rim of the next uppermost dish so as to slightly space the dishes apart as shown in FIG. 4. This prevents the dishes from sticking together and allows for ease of removing individual dishes from the stack.
  • the chances of having the ribs on one dish nest or fit into the ribs on the next dish is greatly minimized.
  • a stack of the dishes 10, such as shown on the lefi hand side of FIG. 3 can be compressed together to provide a stack of lesser thickness as shown in the right hand side of FIG. 3.
  • the ribs 18 will expand to space the dishes 10 apart and permit ease of individually separating the dishes from the stack.
  • a disposable dish which can be stacked with similar dishes but are prevented from sticking together by ribs on the rim of the dishes. This permits the dishes to be easily individually separated from the stack even if the dishes of the stack have been compressed together. Also, the ribs can be hidden by making them a part of a design embossed in the rim.
  • a plurality of disposable dishes each comprising a thin sheet of a relatively rigid semi-flexible material having a central portion, a rim extending around and projecting outwardly from the edge of the central portion including a design embossed around the rim, and a plurality of ribs within said design projecting from the surface of said rim beyond said design and being non-unformally spread around the rim, said dishes when satacked have the ribs around the rim of one dish engaging the rim of the next adjacent dish to space apart the rims of adjacent dishesand permit ease in separating each of the dishes from the stack and allowing compression of said ribs to reduce such spacing of adjacent dishes for packaging said stacked dishes.
  • a dish in accordance with claim 1 in which the ribs project upwardly from the upper surface of the rim.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A disposable dish, such as a plate, saucer or bowl, having a rim around the edge of a central portion. The rim has a plurality of spaced upstanding ribs thereon. The dishes are adapted to be stacked together in a pile with the upper surface of the ribs engaging the bottom surface of the rim of the next uppermost dish so as to space the dishes apart and allow for ease of individually removing the dishes from the stack even if the stack of dishes are compressed together.

Description

United States Patent Wiedemann [4 1 June 27, 1972 s41 DISPOSABLE DISH MEANS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Karl Wiedemann, Cherry Hill, NJ. 641,129 5/1962 Canada ..220/71 [73] Asslgnee: Melitta, lnc., Cherry Hill, NJ. Primary Examiner ceorge E. Lowrancc [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 Attorney-Jacob Trachtman [21] Appl. No.: 75,639 [57] ABSTRACT A disposable dish, such as a plate, saucer or bowl, having a rim 'i "220/ :6 around the edge of a central Portion. The rim has a plurality of l 58] Fieid 97 C 97 f 229/1 5 spaced upstanding ribs thereon. The dishes are adapted to be 5/1 206/65 stacked together in a pile with the upper surface of the ribs engaging the bottom surface of the rim of the next uppermost [56] Reerences Cited dish so as to space the dishes apart and allow for ease of in- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1935 Booth ..220/97 C dividually removing the dishes from the stack even if the stack of dishes are compressed together.
4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEMTEnmmn 3.672.538
' INVENTOR KARL msotnmmv ATTORNEY DISPOSABLE DISI'I MEANS The present invention relates to a disposable dish, and more particularly to a disposable dish which can be stacked together with similar dishes without the dishes becoming stuck together.
Disposable dishes generally comprise a thin sheet of a relatively rigid, semi-flexible material, such as a plastic or a rigid paper with or without coating or impregnation of plastic, having a central portion and a rim around the edge of the central portion. At least, a portion of the central portion is depressed below the rim. The amount that the central portion is depressed depends on the type of dish. For example, plates have only a slightly depressed central portion, saucers have slightly greater depressed central portions and bowls have even greater depressed central portions. The rims are either flat or slightly curved so as to be convex on their upper surface.
These dishes are generally packaged by stacking of a plurality of the dishes one on top of the other and placing the stack in a container. The container can be a box or merely a wrapping of a sheet of plastic or paper. The stack of the dishes are usually compressed tightly together so that the stack is of minimum thickness to provide a minimum size package. However, when stack of dishes are removed from the container the dishes are so stucktogether that they are often difficult to separate into the individual dishes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel disposable dish.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable dish which can be stacked with other similar dishes but can be easily removed from the stack on an individual ba- SIS.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disposable dish which can be stacked with other similar dishes and can be easily individually removed from the stack even after the stack of the dishes are compressed together.
These objects as achieved by a disposable dish having a central portion and a rim around the edge of the central portion. The rim has a plurality of special upstanding ribs. The ribs space the dishes slightly apart when the dishes are stacked together so as to permit ease of separating the dishes.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more aparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a dish of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a side plan view of two stacks of the dishes with one stack being compressed, and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion of the rim of the dish within the circle 4 of FIG. 2 stacked with similar dishes.
Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposable dish of the present invention is generally designated as I0. The dish is shown as being a bowl but could be a plate, saucer or the like. The dish 10 is made of a thin sheet of a flexible, flat relatively rigid material, such as a plastic, heavy paper or paper coated or impregnated with a plastic. The dish 10 includes a central portion 12 having a bottom 14 and an upstanding wall 16 around the bottom 14. A rim 18 extends around and pro- 5 jects outwardly from the upper edge of the wall 16. The rim 18 is slightly curved so as to be convex on its upper surface. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, upstanding ribs 20 are provided on the rim 18. As shown, the rim 18 is constructed with a pattern 22 which is embossed in the rim. The ribs 20 are part of the pattern 22 but are larger than the other portion of the pattern so as to stand up higher from the rim. Although the dish 10 can be provided with any number of the ribs 20, it has been found that three ribs, as shown, are sufficient. Also, it is preferable that the ribs 20 be non-uniformly spaced apart around the rim 18.
When a plurality of the dishes 10 are stacked together, as
shown in FIG. 3, the ribs 20 engage the undersurface of the rim of the next uppermost dish so as to slightly space the dishes apart as shown in FIG. 4. This prevents the dishes from sticking together and allows for ease of removing individual dishes from the stack. By having the ribs 20 non-uniformally spaced apart around the rim 18, the chances of having the ribs on one dish nest or fit into the ribs on the next dish is greatly minimized. For packaging, a stack of the dishes 10, such as shown on the lefi hand side of FIG. 3, can be compressed together to provide a stack of lesser thickness as shown in the right hand side of FIG. 3. However, when the compressive forces are removed, the ribs 18 will expand to space the dishes 10 apart and permit ease of individually separating the dishes from the stack.
Thus, there is provided by the present invention a disposable dish which can be stacked with similar dishes but are prevented from sticking together by ribs on the rim of the dishes. This permits the dishes to be easily individually separated from the stack even if the dishes of the stack have been compressed together. Also, the ribs can be hidden by making them a part of a design embossed in the rim.
What is claimed is:
1. A plurality of disposable dishes, each comprising a thin sheet of a relatively rigid semi-flexible material having a central portion, a rim extending around and projecting outwardly from the edge of the central portion including a design embossed around the rim, and a plurality of ribs within said design projecting from the surface of said rim beyond said design and being non-unformally spread around the rim, said dishes when satacked have the ribs around the rim of one dish engaging the rim of the next adjacent dish to space apart the rims of adjacent dishesand permit ease in separating each of the dishes from the stack and allowing compression of said ribs to reduce such spacing of adjacent dishes for packaging said stacked dishes.
2. A dish in accordance with claim 1 in which the ribs project upwardly from the upper surface of the rim.
3. A dish in accordance with claim 1 in which the central portion includes a bottom and an upstanding wall around the bottom and the rim projects from the top edge of the wall.
4. A dish in accordance with claim 3 in which the rim is slightly curved with its top surface being convex.

Claims (4)

1. A plurality of disposable dishes, each comprising a thin sheet of a relatively rigid semi-flexible material having a central portion, a rim extending around and projecting outwardly from the edge of the central portion including a design embossed around the rim, and a plurality of ribs within said design projecting from the surface of said rim beyond said design and being non-unformally spread around the rim, said dishes when satacked have the ribs around the rim of one dish engaging the rim of the next adjacent dish to space apart the rims of adjacent dishes and permit ease in separating each of the dishes from the stack and allowing compression of said ribs to reduce such spacing of adjacent dishes for packaging said stacked dishes.
2. A dish in accordance with claim 1 in which the ribs project upwardly from the upper surface of the rim.
3. A dish in accordance with claim 1 in which the central portion includes a bottom and an upstanding wall around the bottom and the rim projects from the top edge of the wall.
4. A dish in accordance with claim 3 in which the rim is slightly curved with its top surface being convex.
US75639A 1970-09-25 1970-09-25 Disposable dish means Expired - Lifetime US3672538A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US7563970A 1970-09-25 1970-09-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3672538A true US3672538A (en) 1972-06-27

Family

ID=22127077

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US75639A Expired - Lifetime US3672538A (en) 1970-09-25 1970-09-25 Disposable dish means

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3672538A (en)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3809236A (en) * 1972-07-03 1974-05-07 Sweetheart Plastics Disposable plastic dish
US5265756A (en) * 1993-02-12 1993-11-30 Dolco Packaging Corp. Packaging tray with thick, curvilinear perimeter edges
USD378886S (en) * 1995-04-20 1997-04-22 Sky One, Inc. Dinnerware
USD434604S (en) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-05 Fort James Corporation Flange pattern for a disposable food serving bowl
EP1060997A2 (en) 1999-06-18 2000-12-20 Fort James Corporation Disposable servingware with nesting resistant flange patterns
US6211500B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2001-04-03 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6211501B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2001-04-03 Fort James Corporation Thermoformed polypropylene mineral-filled microwaveable containers having food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6401962B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2002-06-11 Fort James Corporation Disposable food serving bowl
US6440509B1 (en) 1999-07-16 2002-08-27 Fort James Corporation Compartmented disposable plate with asymmetric rib geometry
US6474497B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2002-11-05 Fort James Corporation Smooth profiled food service articles
US6672473B2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2004-01-06 General Mills, Inc. Microwavable food container with reinforcing flange and sidewall
US20040222120A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2004-11-11 Sommer Michael Matthew Disposable plate with handle and method of stacking
EP1721832A1 (en) 2005-05-09 2006-11-15 NV Omniform SA Nestable Trays
US20060278168A1 (en) * 2005-06-10 2006-12-14 Behun William G Pet dish and disposable liner
US20070068956A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2007-03-29 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Disposable plate having improved ergonomics
US20070235514A1 (en) * 2006-01-13 2007-10-11 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Paperboard Container Having Increased Rigidity and Method of Manufacturing Thereof
US7482053B2 (en) 2002-03-22 2009-01-27 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Thermoformed food containers with enhanced rigidity
US20090087939A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Stion Corporation Column structure thin film material using metal oxide bearing semiconductor material for solar cell devices
US8414464B2 (en) 2004-02-20 2013-04-09 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Apparatus for making paperboard pressware with controlled blank feed

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US19422A (en) * 1858-02-23 Improvement in harvesters
CA641129A (en) * 1962-05-15 Victor K. Scavullo Hollow-ware article

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US19422A (en) * 1858-02-23 Improvement in harvesters
CA641129A (en) * 1962-05-15 Victor K. Scavullo Hollow-ware article

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3809236A (en) * 1972-07-03 1974-05-07 Sweetheart Plastics Disposable plastic dish
US5265756A (en) * 1993-02-12 1993-11-30 Dolco Packaging Corp. Packaging tray with thick, curvilinear perimeter edges
USD378886S (en) * 1995-04-20 1997-04-22 Sky One, Inc. Dinnerware
US6700106B2 (en) 1998-03-20 2004-03-02 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6459075B2 (en) 1998-03-20 2002-10-01 Fort James Corporation Thermoformed polypropylene mineral-filled microwaveable containers having food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6211500B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2001-04-03 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6211501B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2001-04-03 Fort James Corporation Thermoformed polypropylene mineral-filled microwaveable containers having food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6670592B2 (en) 1998-03-20 2003-12-30 Fort James Corporation Thermoformed polypropylene mineral-filled microwaveable containers having food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6255636B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2001-07-03 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6420689B1 (en) 1998-03-20 2002-07-16 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
US6403936B2 (en) 1998-03-20 2002-06-11 Fort James Corporation Disposable, microwaveable containers having suitable food contact compatible olfactory properties and process for their manufacture
USD434604S (en) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-05 Fort James Corporation Flange pattern for a disposable food serving bowl
EP1060997A3 (en) * 1999-06-18 2002-02-20 Georgia-Pacific Corporation Disposable servingware with nesting resistant flange patterns
US6241096B1 (en) 1999-06-18 2001-06-05 Fort James Corporation Disposable servingware with nesting resistant flange patterns
EP1060997A2 (en) 1999-06-18 2000-12-20 Fort James Corporation Disposable servingware with nesting resistant flange patterns
US6571980B2 (en) 1999-07-02 2003-06-03 Fort James Corporation Smooth profiled food service articles
US6401962B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2002-06-11 Fort James Corporation Disposable food serving bowl
US6474497B1 (en) 1999-07-02 2002-11-05 Fort James Corporation Smooth profiled food service articles
US6440509B1 (en) 1999-07-16 2002-08-27 Fort James Corporation Compartmented disposable plate with asymmetric rib geometry
US6672473B2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2004-01-06 General Mills, Inc. Microwavable food container with reinforcing flange and sidewall
US7482053B2 (en) 2002-03-22 2009-01-27 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Thermoformed food containers with enhanced rigidity
US20070068956A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2007-03-29 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Disposable plate having improved ergonomics
US7552840B2 (en) * 2002-10-21 2009-06-30 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Disposable plate having improved ergonomics
US20040222120A1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2004-11-11 Sommer Michael Matthew Disposable plate with handle and method of stacking
US7025206B2 (en) * 2003-05-08 2006-04-11 Michael Matthew Sommer Disposable plate with handle and method of stacking
US8414464B2 (en) 2004-02-20 2013-04-09 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Apparatus for making paperboard pressware with controlled blank feed
EP1721832A1 (en) 2005-05-09 2006-11-15 NV Omniform SA Nestable Trays
US20060278168A1 (en) * 2005-06-10 2006-12-14 Behun William G Pet dish and disposable liner
US7204202B2 (en) * 2005-06-10 2007-04-17 Behun William G Pet dish and disposable liner
US20070144447A1 (en) * 2005-06-10 2007-06-28 Gail Dana Pet dish and disposable liner
US7441514B2 (en) * 2005-06-10 2008-10-28 Gail Dana Pet dish and disposable liner
US20070235514A1 (en) * 2006-01-13 2007-10-11 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Paperboard Container Having Increased Rigidity and Method of Manufacturing Thereof
US9555916B2 (en) * 2006-01-13 2017-01-31 Solo Cup Operating Corporation Paperboard container having increased rigidity and method of manufacturing thereof
US20090087939A1 (en) * 2007-09-28 2009-04-02 Stion Corporation Column structure thin film material using metal oxide bearing semiconductor material for solar cell devices

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3672538A (en) Disposable dish means
US3794090A (en) Covered container for serving food
US3085730A (en) Plastic containers
US3305124A (en) Tray assembly
USD922195S1 (en) Child-resistant container
US3326408A (en) Plastic box container
US3563445A (en) Plastic tray structures
US1848066A (en) Molded pulp article
US3128903A (en) crisci
US3076579A (en) Dish liners
EP2409929A1 (en) Egg package
USD914457S1 (en) Container
USD874333S1 (en) Mobile gardening device
USD1011203S1 (en) Lid for packaging container
US4364476A (en) Plastic lid with stacking separation means
US2429063A (en) Packing tray for capsules and the like
US2588727A (en) Disposable dish and base therefor
US3097780A (en) Paper plate
US3276656A (en) Package of resilient material for fragile objects
US3140807A (en) Container
USD873626S1 (en) Pizza storage container
NO125671B (en)
US3191844A (en) Molded egg carton
US3715071A (en) Protective article tray
WO2018145708A1 (en) A thermoformed plastic container