WO2009149523A1

WO2009149523A1 - Heat dissipating base for tableware and tableware incorporating same

Info

Publication number: WO2009149523A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000759
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Wesley Tyson; Paramjeet Singh; David Matthew Thompson
Original assignee: Sea To Summit Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-11
Filing date: 2009-06-11
Publication date: 2009-12-17

Abstract

A heat dissipating base for tableware (10) comprising a base structure (12) having a plurality of dissipaters (24) attached to a non-operational side (18) thereof, each dissipater (24) having a recess (26) provided therein. The base (10) may be incorporated into a wide range of tableware including plates, cups and bowls.

Description

"HEAT DISSIPATING BASE FOR TABLEWARE AND TABLEWARE

INCORPORATING SAME"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a heat dissipating base for tableware and tableware incorporating same. In the context of this invention, tableware refers to cups, bowls and plates and variations thereof.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application.

Tableware, and in particular tableware designed for camping, is often made with a strong flat base surface to provide the strength necessary to support the items being carried thereon or therein. However, flat base surfaces allow for heat generated by the items being carried thereon or therein to be conveyed to the underside of the base, ie. the area typically used by the camper to hold the tableware in its desired location and orientation. Depending on the ability of the material used to form the base to conduct heat, this can result in a situation where the camper is potentially burned or is no longer able to hold the tableware.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a base that can be used for tableware that alleviates, at least in part, the above problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprising", "consisting of, and the like, are to be construed as non-exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning "including, but not limited to".

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is a heat dissipating base for tableware comprising a base structure having a plurality of dissipaters attached to a non-operational side thereof, each dissipater having a recess provided therein. The recessed portions provide less surface contact area between a user's hand and the base and thereby allow heat to dissipate with less or no harm to the user.

The dissipaters may be arranged in a regular configuration. This is preferable as a regular configuration allows for a greater number of dissipaters to be provided on the basis than an irregular configuration of dissipaters of the same shape does.

The dissipaters need not be made from a single shape or of a single size. This is important as some regular configurations require dissipaters of two differing shapes/sizes. However, regular configurations of dissipaters of uniform shape and size are preferable. For instance, regular configurations of dissipaters of hexagons or rectangles of uniform size and shape are preferable to other configurations.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is a plate incorporating a heat dissipating base according to the first aspect of the invention.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is a bowl incorporating a heat dissipating base according to the first aspect of the invention.

The bowl may include at least one handle. Preferably, at least one of the at least one handles has an aperture with adjacent recessed portion provided therein to facilitate comfortable handling of the bowl by a user's thumb. In its best configuration, this same handle has a deformed tear shape. It is this combination of features which provides the greatest comfort to the user of the bowl as well as allowing the user to manipulate the bowl using either hand with equal ease.

The bowl may have measurement markers inscribed on an interior wall thereof.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is a cup incorporating a heat dissipating base according to the first aspect of the invention.

The cup may include at least one handle. Preferably, at least one of the at least one handles has an aperture with adjacent recessed portion provided therein to facilitate comfortable handling of the cup by a user's thumb. In its best configuration, this same handle has a deformed tear shape.

The cup may have measurement markers inscribed on an interior wall thereof. In variations of the third and fourth aspects of the invention the cup or bowl may have a side wall extending from the base. The side wall may be insulated. Alternatively, the side walls may themselves be covered in side wall dissipaters which may take the form and have the same characteristics as the dissipaters applied to the base as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan bottom of a heat dissipating base as implemented in a bowl in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan top view of the bowl as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan rear of the bowl as shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan front view of the bowl as shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a first plan side view of the bowl as shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a second plan side view of the bowl as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan bottom of a heat dissipating base as implemented in a plate in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a plan top view of the plate as shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a plan rear of the plate as shown in Figure 7. Figure 10 is a plan front view of the plate as shown in Figure 7. Figure 11 is a first plan side view of the plate as shown in Figure 7. Figure 12 is a second plan side view of the plate as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 13 is a plan bottom of a heat dissipating base as implemented in a cup in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a plan top view of the cup as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan rear of the cup as shown in Figure 13. -A- Figure 16 is a plan front view of the cup as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a first plan side view of the cup as shown in Figure 13. Figure 18 is a second plan side view of the cup as shown in Figure 13. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention there is a bowl 10. The bowl 10 has a heat dissipating base 12, side walls 14 and a handle 16.

The heat dissipating base 12 in this embodiment is circular, having a first side 18 and a second side 20. The volumetric holding area of the bowl 10 is substantially defined by the first side 18 and interior side 22 of the side walls 14.

Covering the majority of the surface area of the second side 20 of the heat dissipating base 12 are dissipaters 24. Each dissipater 24 is hexagonal in shape and has a recess 26 provided therein. Each recess 26 is also hexagonal in shape. The dissipaters 24 are arranged in a honeycomb- or waffle-like arrangement as shown in Figure 1.

By providing recesses 26 in each of the dissipaters 24, the overall contact surface between a hand of a user and the base 12 is reduced. This in turn allows the user to feel that the base 12 is cooler in comparison to a bowl having a flat base holding the same items. At the same time, the honeycomb- or waffle-like arrangement of the dissipaters 24 provides additional structural integrity to the bowl 10 as a whole. Thus, a bowl of the present invention can support items of greater weight than an equivalent flat based bowl without flexing. Additionally, the three dimensional honeycomb- or waffle like arrangement of the dissipaters 24 act as a space frame increasing the effective structural depth of the base diaphragm and consequently increasing its stiffness and flexural strength without a significant increase in weight.

The side walls 14 surround the entire circumference of the heat dissipating base 12 and extend in a first direction away from the first side 18 of the base 12. Side wall 22 has measurement markers 28 provided to show the quantity of any fluid item contained therein.

Handle 16 has a deformed tear appearance. Provided in the handle 16 is an aperture 30. A recessed portion 32 is provided adjacent the aperture 30 on one side 34 of the handle 16. This combination of the shape of the handle 16, the recessed portion 32 and the aperture 30 allow a user's thumb to sit comfortably on the side 32 of the handle

16, while the remainder of their hand rests against the second side 20 of the heat dissipating base 12. This combination of features also allows the user to manipulate the bowl 10 with either hand with equal ease and comfort.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, where like numerals reference like parts, there is a bowl 100. The bowl 100 has a heat dissipating base 12, side wall 104 and a handle 16.

The heat dissipating base 12 and handle 16 are identical in construct to the first embodiment of the invention.

Covering the majority of the outward projecting surface area of the side wall 104 are side wall dissipaters 106. Each side wall dissipater 106 is hexagonal in shape and has a recess 108 provided therein. Each recess 108 is also hexagonal in shape. The side wall dissipaters 106 are arranged in a honeycomb- or waffle-like arrangement.

By providing recesses 108 in each of the side wall dissipaters 106, the overall contact surface between a hand of a user and the side wall 104 is reduced. This in turn allows the user to feel that the side wall 104 is cooler in comparison to a bowl having a flat side wall holding the same items. At the same time, the honeycomb- or waffle-like arrangement of the side wall dissipaters 106 provides additional structural integrity to the bowl 10 as a whole.

It should be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the following modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention:

• The handle 16 may be omitted or replaced by one or more handles of differing configuration.

• The measurement markers 28 may be omitted.

• The dissipaters 24 may take other shapes and need not be of a single uniform shape, provided that each shape has a recess 26. For instance, the dissipaters 28 may be rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the dissipaters 24 may be configured such that one dissipater 24 is octagonal in shape and, when arranged in a regular fashion, creates other dissipaters 24 of square shapes. • The dissipaters 24 need not be arranged in a regular configuration.

• While the heat dissipating base 12 has been described with reference to its implementation in a bowl 10, the heat dissipating base can just as easily be incorporated into other tableware, such as cups and plates as shown in Figures 7 through 18.

• For tableware made in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, side walls 14 may be made of, or incorporate, insulating material. For instance, the insulating material may take the form of an insulating foam.

• Dissipaters 24 may have more than one recess provided therein.

• The dissipaters 24 and side wall dissipaters 106 may cover all or the majority of the surface to which they are attached.

It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that one or more of the above modifications and improvements, not being mutually exclusive, may be combined to form yet further embodiments considered within the scope of the present invention. It should also be appreciated that while the invention is particularly useful in respect of tableware for camping purposes, its applications extend to more than this field.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A heat dissipating base for tableware comprising a base structure having a plurality of dissipaters attached to a non-operational side thereof, each dissipater having a recess provided therein.

2. A heat dissipating base for tableware according to claim 1 , where the dissipaters are arranged in a regular configuration.

3. A heat dissipating base for tableware according to claim 1 or claim 2, where the dissipaters are formed in at least one shape.

4. A heat dissipating base for tableware according to claim 3, where each dissipater is of uniform hexagonal shape.

5. A heat dissipating base for tableware according to claim 3, where each dissipater is of uniform rectangular shape.

6. A heat dissipating base for tableware according to claim 3, where each dissipater is either of uniform octagonal shape or of uniform rectangular shape.

7. A heat dissipating base for table ware according to any preceding claim where the dissipaters are integrally formed with the base structure.

8. A plate incorporating a heat dissipating base according to any preceding claim.

9. A bowl incorporating a heat dissipating base according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A bowl according to claim 9, having an insulated side wall.

11. A bowl according to claim 9 having a side wall extending from the base, where an outwardly projecting surface of the side wall also has a plurality of side wall dissipaters attached thereto, each side wall dissipater having a recess provided therein.

12. A bowl according to claim 11 , where the side wall dissipaters are arranged in a regular configuration.

13. A bowl according to claim 11 or claim 12, where the side wall dissipaters are formed in at least one shape.

14. A bowl according to claim 13, where each side wall dissipater is of uniform hexagonal shape.

15.A bowl according to claim 13, where each side wall dissipater is of uniform rectangular shape.

16. A bowl according to claim 13, where each side wall dissipater is either of uniform octagonal shape or of uniform rectangular shape.

17. A bowl according to any one of claims 11 to 16, where the side wall dissipaters are integrally formed with the base structure.

18.A bowl according to any one of claims 9 to 17, further including at least one handle.

19.A bowl according to claim 18, where at least one of the at least one handles has an aperture with adjacent recessed portion provided therein to facilitate comfortable handling of the bowl by a user's thumb.

20. A bowl according to claim 18 or claim 19, where at least one of the at least one handles has a deformed tear shape.

21. A bowl according to any one of claims 9 to 20, where the bowl has measurement markers inscribed on an interior wall thereof.

22. A cup incorporating a heat dissipating base according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

23.A cup according to claim 22, having an insulated side wall.

24.A cup according to claim 22 having a side wall extending from the base, where an outwardly projecting surface of the side wall also has a plurality of side wall dissipaters attached thereto, each side wall dissipater having a recess provided therein.

25.A cup according to claim 24, where the side wall dissipaters are arranged in a regular configuration.

26.A cup according to claim 24 or claim 25, where the side wall dissipaters are formed in at least one shape.

27.A cup according to claim 26, where each side wall dissipater is of uniform hexagonal shape.

28.A cup according to claim 26, where each side wall dissipater is of uniform rectangular shape.

29.A cup according to claim 26, where each side wall dissipater is either of uniform octagonal shape or of uniform rectangular shape.

30. A cup according to any one of claims 24 to 29, where the side wall dissipaters are integrally formed with the base structure.

31.A cup according to any one of claims 22 to 30, further including at least one handle.

32.A cup according to claim 31 , where at least one of the at least one handles has an aperture with adjacent recessed portion provided therein to facilitate comfortable handling of the cup by a user's thumb.

33.A cup according to claim 31 or claim 32, where at least one of the at least one handles has a deformed tear shape.

34.A cup according to any one of claims 24 to 33, where the cup has measurement markers inscribed on an interior wall thereof.

35.A plate substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

36. A bowl substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

37. A cup substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.