WO2001012030A1

WO2001012030A1 - Plate for eating long pasta

Info

Publication number: WO2001012030A1
Application number: PCT/CH2000/000433
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Carreras; Mehdi Derouazi; Frank Martin
Original assignee: Thomas Carreras; Mehdi Derouazi; Frank Martin
Priority date: 1999-08-18
Filing date: 2000-08-16
Publication date: 2001-02-22
Also published as: EP1250075B1; FR2797576A1; ATE252337T1; DE60006160D1; EP1250075A1; ES2209939T3; DE60006160T2

Abstract

The invention concerns a plate designed for eating long pasta, consisting of a base (10) and a rim (14) and provided with a cavity (16) for coiling therein a mouthful of pasta. The round-shaped cavity (16) with a diameter substantially corresponding to that of a tablespoon, is arranged in the centre of the plate and raised relative to its base. It is arranged at the top of a protuberance (18) having roughly a tubular profile whereof the diameter decreases according to its height and linked to the base (10), whereof it forms an integral part, through a rounded portion (22). The edge of the cavity (16) is at a lower level than that of the periphery of the plate rim (14).

Description

PLATE FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF LONG PASTA

The present invention relates to a plate intended for the consumption of long pasta, such as spaghetti.

The consumption of long pasta is not easy for all. The easy way out, considered by some to be a true sacrilege, is to cut them and then eat them with a spoon.

Those who prefer to adopt a more orthodox behavior use a fork with the help of which they wrap a bite of spaghetti directly on the plate. This technique is not immediately accessible to all, it is common, but relatively unattractive, to perform the winding in a spoon.

In order to facilitate the wrapping of spaghetti around the fork without having to use a spoon, patent FR 2,561,093 proposes a plate provided on its neck, therefore laterally, with a cavity replacing the spoon. The solution is certainly interesting, but it has the drawback, given the eccentricity of the cavity, of making it difficult to stack plates and to leave little choice to the consumer as to where he can collect his pasta. Furthermore, the aesthetics of such a plate is not ideal.

The present invention aims to provide a plate which is also provided with a cavity but which does not suffer from any of the drawbacks mentioned above.

To achieve this object, the plate according to the invention, which consists of a bottom and a rim and includes a cavity used to wrap a bite of pasta therein, is characterized in that this cavity is formed in its center , raised relative to its bottom, disposed at the top of a prominence thereof and has a rounded shape, with a diameter corresponding substantially to that of a tablespoon. The plate according to the invention also has the following characteristics:

- The prominence of the bottom of the plate has, roughly, a tubular profile whose diameter decreases as a function of its height and whose base joins the bottom by a rounded portion; - prominence is an integral part of the background and gives off an empty space beneath it;

- The edge of the cavity is at a level lower than that of the periphery of the edge of the plate;

- the plate is made of a translucent or transparent material. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the single appended figure which is a view in section of the plate.

The figure shows a round and deep plate with a bottom 10 provided with a circular rib 12 which constitutes its base and a rim 14. It can be of any material usually used for making tableware utensils: porcelain, earthenware or synthetic material such as than that known under the brand Arcopa /.

The plate is provided, in its center, with a rounded cavity 16, raised relative to the bottom 10 and advantageously having a diameter of about 40mm, which corresponds substantially to that of a tablespoon. Its depth is typically about 20mm.

The edge of the cavity 16 is at a level lower than that of the periphery of the rim 14. Typically, the plate having a height of 60mm, the edge of the cavity is 40mm from the bottom and therefore 20mm from the periphery of the flange. The cavity 16 forms the apex of a prominence 18 of the bottom 10, forming an integral part thereof and thus freeing up an empty space under it 20. This prominence has, roughly, a tubular profile whose diameter decreases as a function of its height and whose base joins the bottom 10 by a rounded portion 22. It is thus seen that the plate according to the invention, as just described, allows the consumer, thanks to the presence of the cavity 16, not only, because it is raised, to bring there very easily, using a fork, a bite of pasta to roll them up, but also, because of its central position, to extract this bite indifferently from anywhere on the plate. This extraction is, moreover, greatly facilitated by the profile of the protrusion 18 at the top of which is the cavity 16.

In addition, the central position of the cavity 16 and the presence of the empty space 20 under the protrusion 18 not only allow several plates to be stacked without the need to adjust the position, but also to reduce substantially the height of the stack of plates since the upper part of the protrusion 18 of the lower plate finds its place in the empty space 20 of the upper plate. Although the present description has been made with reference to the consumption of long pasta, it is easy to imagine that the plate according to the invention can also be used to serve other dishes, the central cavity then receiving a sauce , an egg, a fruit

It should also be noted that, in the case of a plate made of a translucent or transparent material, the empty central space 20 is the ideal place to house a candle which lights the whole and keeps it warm during the meal.

Claims

1. Plate intended for the consumption of long pasta, consisting of a bottom (10) and a rim (14) and provided with a cavity (16) used to wind up a bite of pasta, characterized in that said cavity is formed in its center, raised relative to its bottom, disposed at the top of a protrusion (18) thereof and has a rounded shape with a diameter corresponding substantially to that of a tablespoon.

2. Plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the prominence (18) has, roughly, a tubular profile whose diameter decreases as a function of its height.

3. Plate according to claim 2, characterized in that the base of the protuberance (18) joins the bottom (10) by a rounded portion (22).

4. Plate according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the prominence (18) is an integral part of the bottom (10) and releases beneath it an empty space (20).

5. Plate according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the edge of the cavity (16) is at a level below that of the periphery of its rim (14).

6. Plate according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of a translucent material.

7. Plate according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of a transparent material.