Patent Grant
7104030
The present invention generally relates to food or beverage containing devices and, more particularly, to the arrangement and manufacture of compartment plates having themes.
Plates having compartments are used for holding food. Often, a main compartment is designed to hold a main dish whereas the other compartment, or wells, are used to hold sides, condiments, or both. Prior art disposable plates have had various designs or patterns printed thereon, but do not integrate the various compartments into the printed design or pattern.
Additionally, prior art designs or patterns printed on disposable plates focused on a small number of designs. The number of designs per collection in the prior art has been less than the total number of plates packaged together for retail sale. Thus, each retail package of plates includes only a complete collection of designs. The prior art does not address the situation where the number of designs per collection exceeds the total number of plates in a retail package and how to widely disseminate all of the designs in the collection in the market place.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement of plates for receiving food is disclosed. The arrangement of plates comprises a plurality of nestable plates, wherein the plates within the plurality of nestable plates have an animal theme. Each of the plates having an animal theme include a main compartment depicting a primary attribute of an animal corresponding to the animal theme, and at least two independent wells adjacent to the main compartment. Each of the wells are shaped to depict a secondary attribute of the animal corresponding to the animal theme. The plurality of plates include a first plate depicting a first animal and a second plate depicting a second animal that is different from the first animal. The secondary attribute within the wells of said first plate is a first physical feature of the first animal and the secondary attribute within the wells of the second plate is a second physical feature of the second animal. The first physical feature is different from the second physical feature while the wells of the first and second plates are similarly shaped allowing the plurality of plates to be nestable.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of packaging an arrangement of plates is disclosed. The method of packaging an arrangement of plates comprises providing a plurality of plates that have a depiction associated with a common theme, selecting from the plurality of plates to form a first group of plates and a second group of plates, and packaging the first and second group of plates for commercial distribution. The plurality of plates including a number of different depictions, and the second group of plates containing plates with different depictions than the first group of plates.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention a case of plate packages is disclosed. The case of plate packages comprises a plurality of plate packages and a covering structure surrounding said plurality of plate packages. Each of the plate package includes a plurality of nestable plates and a transparent wrapping for enveloping the plurality of nestable plates. The plates within the plurality of nestable plates include different depictions associated with a common theme. Each of the plurality of nestable plates include a top plate that is at least partially visualized through said transparent wrapping. The top plates for the plurality of plate packages include plates with different depictions.
The arrangements of plates having themes, the methods for packaging plates having themes, and the cases of plates having themes according to the above-summarized embodiments of the present invention, as well as those set-forth in the following description, have enjoyed wide-spread commercial success in the retail marketplace due to the variety and collectability of the theme plates in a package. In particular, the Assignee of the present invention has experienced substantially commercial success in the last several months selling plates corresponding to an animal theme under its ZOO PALS trademark. Currently, plates being sold under the ZOO PALS trademark include fifty-one different animal depictions corresponding to a common animal theme, and are commercially available in packages of twenty-four (24) plates, wherein each package of twenty-four plates includes approximately eight (8) different animal depictions. The ZOO PALS™ plates include a main compartment depicting a primary attribute of a particular animal corresponding to the animal theme and two independent wells adjacent to the main compartment, each located and shaped to depict a secondary attribute of that particular animal. Cases containing several independently wrapped ZOO PALS™ plate packages have contributed to the commercial success by providing a substantial variety of animals in the plate packages of each case received by a certain retail customer, including the use of different animals on the top plates of the plate packages which can be visually recognized by consumers.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. Additional features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, figures, and claims set forth below.
a is a perspective view of a plate having condiment wells according to one embodiment of the present invention.
b is a top view of the plate having wells of
c is a bottom view of the plate having wells of
d is a right side view of the plate having wells of
e is a left side view of the plate having wells of
f is a back side view of the plate having wells of
g is a front side view of the plate having wells of
h is a sectional view of the plate having wells of
a is a top view of a plate having wells with an alligator depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
b is a top view of a plate having wells with a frog depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention
c is a top view of a plate having wells with a bumblebee depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
d is a top view of a plate having wells with a fish depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
e is a top view of a plate having wells with a whale depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
f is a top view of a plate having wells with a monkey depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
g is a top view of a plate having wells with a bunny depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
h is a top view of a plate having wells with a turtle depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
i is a top view of a plate having wells with a bird depiction thereon according to one embodiment of the present invention.
a–e are perspective views of plates having wells according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.
a–6c are functional diagrams showing a manufacturing and packaging system for manufacturing and packaging compartment plates having a common theme according to one embodiment of the present invention.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments will be shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Turning to the drawings, and initially to FIGS 1a–g, there is shown a plate 100 having multiple compartments according to one embodiment of the present invention. The plate 100 is constructed of paper, plastic, or other suitable material for holding food. The depicted plate 100 includes a main compartment 102 and two additional compartments, also referred to as wells 104 and 106, disposed along an outer periphery 108 of the main compartment of the plate 100.
The main compartment 102 includes a bottom wall 110 and a side wall 112 that extends around the bottom wall 110 and is generally circular in shape, but it can take on a variety of shapes (e.g., rectangular, hexagonal, square, octagonal, triangular) and sizes according to alternatives of the present invention. As is perhaps seen best in
When the plate 100 is used for containing foods, the main compartment is typically used for holding food such as the main dish and sides and the wells 104, 106 are often used to hold condiments. For example, where the main dish and sides include chicken nuggets and French fried potatoes, the condiment wells 104, 106 may be used to hold barbecue sauce and ketchup. Alternatively, the wells 104, 106 may hold other side dishes such as, for example, potato salad, fruit salad, coleslaw, raisins, cheese cubes, applesauce, or a combination thereof. Of course, there are a myriad of ways in which a user may choose to use the main compartments 100 and the wells 104, 106 beyond the afore-described examples.
Disposed at one end of the circular main compartment 112 are two generally lobular-shaped wells 104, 106 The condiment wells are disposed in close proximity relative to one another in the illustrated embodiments—the midpoints of the two wells 104, 106 are located around the periphery of the main compartment 102 such that an angle between the midpoints of the wells measured from a midpoint of the main compartment is less than about 90°. The condiment wells 106, 106 can, however, be disposed in a variety of positions in an alternative embodiment of the present invention as is later discussed in connection with
Referring to
The dimensions of the various components of the plate 100 will now be described according to one embodiment of the present invention. The bottom wall 110 is generally circular in shape and has a diameter D1 of approximately 5⅞ inch according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the end of the side wall 112 intersecting the bottom wall 110 and the side wall 112 of the main compartment intersect, forming a rounded edge 114 have a radius of curvature R1 of approximately ⅜ inch. The side wall 112 upwardly and outwardly extends from the bottom wall 110 at an angle of approximately 26° relative to the vertical. The side wall 112 curves outward away from the main compartment 102 until it is horizontal, forming a flange 120 around the main compartment 102. The rounded transition 122 between the flange 120 and the side wall 112 has a radius of curvature R2 of about ⅛inch. The diameter D2 of the main compartment 102 between rounded transitions 122 on opposite sides of the main compartment 102 is about 6⅝ inches. The flange 120 has a width W1 of about 7/16 inch, which results in an overall diameter D3 of the main compartment 102 with flanges of approximately 7 15/32 inches. The height H of the plate, measured from the bottom wall 110 to the flange 120, is approximately ⅝ inch.
Referring to
Addressing now the condiment wells 104, 106, each compartment has a length L3 of approximately 2 27/32 inch and a width W2 of about 1¾ inch. The embodiment of a plate having the dimensions as described results in a main compartment having a volume of approximately 10 fluid ounces and condiment wells 104, 106 having a capacity of about 1 fluid ounce each.
Turning now to
The animal depiction on each plate comprises a primary attribute that is depicted in the plate's main compartment 210 and two secondary attributes that are depicted in the wells 212. For example, referring to the plate 201 of
According to various embodiments of the present invention, the wells 104, 106 of the plate 100 are positioned relative to the main compartment 100 to match the depiction on the plates. In the embodiments described above wherein the depiction on the plates is an animal depiction, the wells 104, 106 are positioned relative to the main compartment 102 so as to depict the secondary attribute at a position relative to the primary attribute as those features are commonly seen in the particular animal. Referring to plate 207 of
The animal depictions discussed above represent only a few of the many animal depictions that can be disposed in the main compartment 102 and the wells 104,106 of the plate 100 in various embodiments of the present invention. Other animal depictions include dog, elephant, goldfish, harp seal, koala, lion, mouse, owl, pig, parrot, sheep, owl, tiger, duck, cow, dinosaur, fox, hippo, ladybug, lizard, octopus, panda, bear, rhino, snail, cardinal, eagle, leopard, otter, penguin, raccoon, seagull, walrus, and zebra depictions. Further, each of the above discussed depictions can be used in connection with various colors to create additional themes. For example, with the fish depiction of plate 204, the fish is colored blue to create a blue fish depiction and is colored green to create a green fish depiction. In another example, the normally white or black stripes of a zebra are colored a variety of different colors for a plurality of zebra depictions.
The plates can take on other, non-animal themes according to various alternative embodiments of the present invention, such as sports themes, celebrity themes, etc. In sports themed plates, the main compartment may depict various sporting goods, such as a football or basketball, and the wells may depict some other aspect of the sporting good, such as exaggerated laces for a football or one of the panels being kicked off of the soccer ball. Other sports themes include the logos of various sports leagues, team players, team logos, team mascots, team jerseys, etc. In celebrity themed plates, the main compartment may depict a caricature of a celebrity and the wells may depict a feature of that celebrity, such as big ears or eyes.
Turning now to
Referring to
Referring to
Additional perforations 510 are optionally disposed in the flanges 512 surrounding the main compartment 502 on opposite sides of the main compartment 502. Apertures formed by removal of the sections of the flange 512 circumnavigated by the perforations 510 receive ends of pieces of string for securing the plate 500 (being used as a mask) to a child's face. Alternatively, rubber bands or elastic strips can be used to hold the plate 500 on a child's head. Alternatively still, the plate 500 is fastened to stick such as a dowel rod or flat stick, which can be grasp by a hand and held up to a child's face.
As discussed above, the shape of the plate and location of the wells can take on a variety of forms according to alternative embodiments of the present invention. The shape of the plate and location of the wells can vary for different themes to be depicted on the plates in various alternative embodiments of the present invention. In addition to the alternative themes for depiction on plates mentioned above, the following are additional themes that may be depicted on plates having wells in alternative embodiments of the present invention.
According to various alternative embodiments of the present invention, the following themes are depicted on plates having wells similar to the plate 100 of
In other alternative embodiments of the present invention, the compartment plates take the form of a main compartment that is generally circular in shape and a single triangular-shaped well. An example of themes that are depicted on a plate having such features include various witch faces wherein the circular main compartment depicts a witch's face and the triangular-shaped well depicts the witch's hat. Other themes that can be depicted on this plate include various clown themes, various ice cream cone themes, and various birthday themes which may include animal or human faces depicted in the main compartment and birthday hats depicted in the triangular-shaped well.
Another alternative embodiment includes a generally rectangular three-compartment plate having various state themes, including a state license plate depicted in a main compartment and other state related information (e.g., pictures of the state bird, tree, flower, state capital, state landmarks, etc.) depicted in the wells. Another alternative embodiment includes a generally round plate with scalloped sidewalls and a well in the center with various flower themes depicted on the plate. In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the body of a butterfly is depicted in a generally oblong central compartment and two wing-shaped compartments depict the butterfly's wings. In yet another alternative embodiment, the compartment plate takes the shape of a traditional tombstone (e.g., rectangular with a semi-circular-shaped end) and has various Halloween related-themes depicted therein. Finally, in still other alternative embodiments of the present invention, compartment plates of most any shape can include “truth or dare question” themes, various cartoon themes, zodiac themes, “spelling bee” themes, or foreign language phrase themes. Additionally, trivia or education trivia questions and answers can be printed on each plate wherein the questions and answers correspond to the particular theme depicted on the plate. For example, on a compartment plate having an alligator depicted therein, messages regarding an alligator's diet, to which regions alligators are indigenous, etc. can be printed on a plate according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In still other alternative embodiments, various characters associated with a societal holiday are depicted on plates in holiday themed plates. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are depicted on Christmas themed plates, or Pilgrims and Native Americans are depicted on Thanksgiving themed plates, or various hearts, flowers, cherubs, including Cupid, and Valentine's-day-type messages are depicted on Valentine's Day themed plates. In still other alternative embodiments, various characters or depictions are associated with a seasonal theme such as different colored leafs for autumn, various beach scenes or outdoor themes for summer, snowflake and snowmen themes for winter, flower themes for spring, and so on.
The manufacturing and packaging of the compartment plates, such as the animal-themed compartment plates having animal depictions thereon shown in
It is desirable to have widespread dissemination of different animal depictions in the marketplace. Towards this end, it is preferable for each package to include a variety of different themes. Placing a plurality of different animal plates per package leads to an increased chance of exposure of all the animal depictions to consumers. A competing factor, on the other hand, is that it is difficult and expensive for each package of twenty-four plates to comprise a random sampling of the fifty or more possible animal depictions. Further, various market factors influence the number depictions per package. For example, as mentioned, variety in the marketplace is desirable. However, parents have indicated a preference that the various depictions be repeated twice per package so that children are not competing over a particular animal depiction. There is a balance to be struck between the preference of including a good distribution of plates per package and the cost associated with having no repeat animal plates per package.
Due to various manufacturing and cost constraints, all of the various plates having animal depictions thereon are not necessarily manufactured simultaneously, but can be done by increasing production capacity. Further manufacturing constraints lend to certain theme plates being manufactured together. For example, plates having similar color schemes are printed together on a web of paperboard prior to being formed as plates.
Turning now to
To create the compartment plates having animal designs depicted thereon, a roll of material 602, such as paperboard, is unrolled and a web of paper 604 is fed in the direction of the arrow past a printing system including four printing cylinders 606a, 606b, 606c, and 606d that apply green, pink, yellow, and black, respectively, to the web of paper 604. Each printing cylinder 606 includes a sixteen cell, four by four array, print plate attached to its outer surface. Put another way, each printing cylinder is four cells wide and includes four cells around its circumference. Each cell 608 of the print plate prints one animal depiction on the web of paper 604. The animal depictions do not repeat on a print plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. Because the cells are laid out on the print plate in a 4×4 array, each rotation of the printing cylinder 606 prints a set of sixteen animal depictions.
Referring also to
The web 604 of paperboard having the animal depictions A1–D4 printed thereon is advanced, one row at a time, into the die 620 which includes four tools for forming the plates one for each lane A–D. The die 620 then stamps or presses the web 604 of paperboard into the three-dimensional plates. Press forming plates from a web of paperboard is known in the art and press forming out of paperboard is described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,129,874 and 5,904,643, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Plates A3–D3 are formed and have just exited the die 620, plates A2–D2 are being formed, and plates A1–D1 are next in line to enter the die 620. After being formed, the plates are maintained in their respective columns A, B, C, and D, also referred to as lanes, as the plates A1–D4 are fed into the stacking mechanism 630.
Referring also to
In other alternative embodiments of the present invention, each of the stacks of plates output by the stacking mechanism 630 consist of only six (6) plates per stack and all the lanes A–D are combined to form a stack of twenty-four (24) plates for packaging. A stack in lane A, for example, would include plates A1, A2, A3, A4, A1, and A2 and the subsequent stack in lane A would include plates A3, A4, A1, A2, A3, and A4. Applicants believe that combining two different lanes of stacks of twelve (12) plates to form stacks of twenty-four (24) plates for packaging achieves the desired distribution of many different animal depictions on the plates in the market place in an efficient manner. Further, as is described below, there are other measures to further ensure that many different plates having different animal depictions are distributed in the market place at a given time.
Each stack of plates is conveyed along its respective lane A–D to a packaging center 640. In the packaging center, stacks of twenty-four (24) plates are automatically (via automated manufacturing machinery) or manually formed and shrink-wrapped with clear plastic, allowing for a visualization of the plates contained therein. Prior to packing with transparent plastic at the packaging centers 640, the operator(s) assembling the packaged sacks 642 output packages of twenty-four plates for each possible commination of the twelve plate stacks from the four lanes A–D A&B, A&C, A&D, B&C, B&D, C&D—at near uniform levels to the extent possible with a manual operation. The operators also switch-up which lane's plates are at the top of a stack of twenty-four plates for packing. For example, first an operator may combine lanes B and C so that the stack of twelve plates from lane B is t the top of the stack. And the next time the operator combines lanes B and C, the operator laces the stack of twelve plates from lane C on top of those from lane B. Put another way, the combination of lanes B and C may have plate B1 at the top plate in the stack of twenty-four plates for packaging and the next combination of these lanes has plate C1 on the top. In other embodiments, the operator of the packaging center intentionally rotates which of the animal depictions in the twelve plate stacks from the four lanes are on top of the stack. Thus, any of the four animal depictions per lane A–D may appear at the top of a stack of twenty-four plates to be packaged lending to the appearance of an increased variety in the marketplace because the packages that are placed on a retailer's shelf have varying a animal depiction at the front of a stack of plates in a package. Alternatively still, which row of on the printing cylinders is printed first can be varied. For example, in one manufacturing run the printing cylinders 606 are initially rotated so that plates A3, A4, A1, and A2 are printed in that order. Alternatively still, because the packages of animal themed plates are disposed in cases such that they are standing upright as shown in
Another factor adding to the overall variety of plates within a package 642 is that plates do become damaged during the manufacturing process. For example, plates are damaged are they are conveyed along lanes A–D, printing errors render plates undesirable, plates are torn or otherwise incorrectly processed by the die, or a combination of these events can occur. When a damaged plate A1–D4 is conveyed to the packaging center 640, the operator discards that plate and inserts an undamaged plate. The animal depiction on the inserted plate does not necessarily correspond to the animal depiction on the discarded, damaged plate or even to any of the plates A1–D4 currently being run on the manufacturing system 600. Rather, the inserted plate can be any one of animal depictions in the theme. From the packaging center, the plates are conveyed along a conveyor 644 to a case assembling center (not shown). While plates are damaged during manufacturing, such occurrences do not happen in regular, predictable intervals that the occurrences can be relied on in an of itself for variety.
In various alternative embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of manufacturing systems 600 (e.g., the three manufacturing lines) run in parallel, each outputting packages of twenty-four plates from their respective packaging centers 640 onto respective conveyors 644 to a common case assembling center. In the illustrated example, each manufacturing systems 600 manufactures sixteen plates having sixteen different animal depictions as described above. In embodiments wherein the total collection of animal depictions comprises forty-five depictions, for example, three different manufacturing system 600 are set-up to output sixteen different plates each in parallel. The extra plate print cell 608 on the print plates of the printing cylinders 606 of each system 600 is either left blank or is used to create duplicate plates of more popular animal depictions. For example, 42 animals are produced once and three animals are produced twice for every one rotation of the cylinders (i.e., three animals depictions are printed twice). Each of the three different manufacturing systems 600 in the present example output six different groupings of packaged plates from their packaging centers—combined stacks from lanes A&B, A&C, A&D, B&C, B&D, C&D for each system 600 as discussed above. Because the six different combinations are different from lane to lane, there are a maximum of eighteen different plate packaging combinations produced when three manufacturing systems 600 are implemented. Again, additional variety is implemented by varying which lane's stacks are stack on top in the packaged stack, by the operator's replacement of damaged plates, by the operators intentional rotation of the top plate of a package, or a combination thereof.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each print plate on the printing cylinders is five cells wide and is four cells around resulting in the printing of twenty different animals per rotation of the printing cylinder in five different lanes and a die that is five tools wide for forming the plates. A single stack of twelve plates output from the stacking mechanism is selected from one of the five lanes A–E and combined with another stack of twelve plates from a different one of the five lanes A–E to form a stack of twenty-four (24) plates for packaging. Thus, there are a maximum often (10) different plate combinations per package: combinations of lanes A and B, lanes A and C, lanes A and D, lanes A and E, lanes B and C, lanes B and D, lanes B and E, lanes C and D, lanes C and E, and lanes D and E. One of these combinations results in a maximum of eight (8) different animal plates per package. In other embodiments wherein the die and printing cylinder are five plates wide, for example, there are a maximum of ten different plate stack combinations possible when combining two lanes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an operator of the packaging center manually combines the plate stacks 632a–d from each of the lanes A–D to form the stacks of packaged stack 642 of twenty-four plates.
Referring now to
The operator of the case assembling center selects from the eighteen different packages of themed plates to fill the cases 700. Because there are eighteen different packages to put into a case 700, but only ten spaces in each case, cases formed one after one another do not include the same packages of plates. The operator selects a first group of ten packages to fill a first cases and a second group of packages to fill a second case. For example, where the eighteen different packages are conveyed to the case assembly center in serial fashion, a first case may include package combinations one through ten of eighteen and the second case may include package combinations eleven through eighteen of eighteen and then one through two of eighteen. Thus, many of the cases assembled at the case assembling center are unique from one another. The complete collection of all forty-five animal themes, for example, would be represented in every two cases where each of the eighteen different package combinations are conveyed to the case assembling center in serial fashion. And an identical combination of packages in a case would be repeated every ten cases in that situation. However, further contributing to the uniqueness among cases, the plate packages output by the manufacturing systems 600 are not necessarily distributed to the case assembling center in a uniform fashion. Rather, it is more likely in a somewhat manual operation, as has been described, that packages from each of the manufacturing systems 600 are not uniformly conveyed to the case assembling center. Again, additional variety is implemented by varying which lane's stacks are stacked on top in the packaged stack and by the operator's replacement of damaged plates.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, plates are manufactured using a plurality of different manufacturing systems 600 that feed plates into a single packaging center. Each stacking mechanism 630 of the plurality of manufacturing systems 600 output four lanes A–D of stacked plates—twelve plates per stack. The stacks of twelve plates are conveyed along the respect plurality of lanes A–D to a packaging center where an operator selects plates from two of the lanes to assembly the stacks of twenty-four plates for packing. If there are three different manufacturing system operating, the operator selects from twelve different lanes.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, six different manufacturing systems 600 or manufacturing lines are implemented for producing compartment plates having a common theme from three different print plates, wherein each manufacturing system has its own packing center and wherein pairs of manufacturing systems share a case assembling center. The first pair of manufacturing systems may produce plates from a first and second print plate, the second pair of manufacturing system may produce plates from a first and third print plate, and the third pair of manufacturing systems may produce plates from a second and third print plate. Because each pair of manufacturing systems share a case assembling center, each cases includes plates from a maximum of two different print plates. The cases from each of the three case assembling centers are commingled in one or more pallet assembling areas.
The trays 702 of several cases 700 are stackable for display one top of one another and side-by-side. Due to the varied animal depictions appearing at the front of the each of the cases, enhanced customer recognition of the variety of animal depictions within the animal theme is achieved. In other alternative embodiments of the present invention, one or more cases 700 of packaged themed plates are shipped in a “display shipper” that servers as a stand for displaying the plates in a retail location. Cases 700 are stacked side-by-side and upon each other in the display shipper Additionally, the display shipper may include other similarly themed items such as cups, bowls, utensils, plate-mats, etc. that all bare the common animal theme.
Referring now to
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a unique “prize plate” is included with a package of themed plates. The prize plate is manually or automatically inserted within a stack of plates during the assembling of the themed plates in a stack for packaging. A prize plate having a unique depictions corresponding to the theme that is inserted in a limited number of plate packages. For example, keeping with the animal theme, a prize plate may have a black cat design depicted thereon. The prize plate is a promotional tool making the purchaser of a package of theme plates containing the prize plate eligible for a prize. The prize may include coupons for plates, cash, or novelty items such as a toy having an animal theme depicted thereon. Alternatively, the prize plate may have a code disposed thereon that the customer uses to access a website on the Internet that lists prizes that the customer may choose among.
In addition to the embodiments described above or in the accompanying claims, several embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
A1. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, plates within said plurality of nestable plates having an animal theme, each plate having said animal theme including,
wherein said plurality of plates include a first plate depicting a first animal and
a second plate depicting a second animal that is different from said first animal, said secondary attribute within said wells of said first plate being a first physical feature of said first animal and said secondary attribute within said wells of said second plate being a second physical feature of said second animal, said first physical feature being different from said second physical feature while said wells of said first and second plates are similarly shaped to allow said plurality of plates to be nestable.
A2. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein at least a portion of a periphery of said main compartment is generally circular.
A3. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein said primary attributes of said first plate and said second plate include facial parts.
A4. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A3, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is ears and said secondary attribute of said second plate is feet or claws.
A5. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A3, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is fish fins and said secondary attribute of said second plate is eyes.
A6. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein said first animal and said second animal are selected from the group consisting of fish, sheep, whales, birds, horses, zebras, frogs, turtles, tigers, cats, and dogs.
A7. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein said wells are generally rounded.
A8. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said animal theme.
A9. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A1, wherein said wells extend outwardly from a portion of a periphery of said plate that defines said main compartment.
A10. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, plates within said plurality of nestable plates having an animal theme, each plate having said animal theme including,
wherein said plurality of plates include a first plate depicting a first animal and a second plate depicting a second animal that is different from said first animal, said secondary attribute within said wells of said first plate being a first physical feature of said first animal and said secondary attribute within said wells of said second plate being a second physical feature of said second animal, said first physical feature being different from said second physical feature while said wells of said first and second plates are similarly shaped to allow said plurality of plates to be nestable.
A11. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein at least a portion of a periphery of said main compartment is generally circular and said wells are located around said periphery such that an angle between midpoints in said wells and a midpoint of said main compartment is less than about 90 degrees.
A12. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein said primary attributes of said first plate and said second plate include facial parts.
A13. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A12, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is ears and said secondary attribute of said second plate is feet or claws.
A14. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A12, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is fins and said secondary attribute of said second plate is eyes.
A15. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein said first animal and said second animal are selected from the group consisting of fish, sheep, whales, birds, horses, zebras, frogs, turtles, tigers, cats, and dogs.
A16. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein said wells extend outwardly from a portion of a periphery of said plate that defines said main compartment.
A17. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein said wells have shapes that approximate shapes associated with said secondary features.
A18. The arrangement of alternative embodiment A10, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said animal theme.
A19. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, plates within said plurality of plates having an animal theme, each plate having said animal theme including,
wherein said plurality of plates include a first plate depicting a first animal and a second plate depicting a second animal that is different from said first animal, said secondary attribute within said lobular regions of said first plate being a first physical feature of said first animal and said secondary attribute within said lobular regions of said second plate being a second physical feature of said second animal, said first physical feature being different from said second physical feature while said lobular regions of said first and second plates are similarly shaped.
A20. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein said wells are located at least partially within said lobular regions.
A21. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein said arcuate segment is substantially circular so as to be on a common radius from a central point within said plate.
A22. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein said lobular regions are curvilinear.
A23 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein midpoints of said lobular regions are located less than about 90 degrees from each other as measured from a central point of said main compartment.
A24. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein each of said plates includes a raised rim adjacent to said arcuate segments that defines an inside segment of said lobular regions.
A25. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A24, wherein said wells are located within said lobular regions.
A26. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A25, wherein midpoints of said lobular regions are located less than about 90 degrees from each other as measured from a midpoint of said main compartment.
A27. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein said primary attributes of said first plate and said second plate include facial parts.
A28. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A27, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is ears and said secondary attribute of said second plate is feet or claws.
A29. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A27, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is fins and said secondary attribute of said second plate is eyes.
A30. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein said first animal and said second animal are selected from the group consisting of fish, sheep, whales, birds, horses, zebras, frogs, turtles, tigers, cats, and dogs.
A31. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A19, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said animal theme.
A32. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, plates within said plurality of plates having an animal theme, each plate having said animal theme including,
wherein said plurality of plates include a first plate having a first animal theme associated with a first animal and a second plate having a second animal theme associated with a second animal that is different from said first animal theme, said secondary attribute within said lobular region of said first plate being a first physical feature of said first animal and said secondary attribute within said lobular region of said second plate being a second physical feature of said second animal, said first physical feature being different from said second physical feature while said lobular region of said first and second plates are similarly shaped.
A33 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A32, wherein said primary attributes of said first plate and said second plate include facial parts.
A34. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A33, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is ears and said secondary attribute of said second plate is feet or claws.
A35. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A33, wherein said secondary attribute of said first plate is fins and said secondary attribute of said second plate is eyes.
A36. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A32, wherein said first animal and said second animal are selected from the group consisting of fish, sheep, whales, birds, horses, zebras, frogs, turtles, tigers, cats, and dogs.
A37. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A32, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said animal theme.
A38. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A32, wherein said well is located at least partially within said lobular region.
A39. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, plates within said plurality of nestable plates including different depictions associated with said common theme, each plate including a main compartment having a first portion of said depiction and at least one well adjacent to said main compartment, said well being shaped and located relative to said main compartment to depict a second portion of said depiction, and
a package for containing said plurality of nestable plates of said common theme.
A40. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein each of said plates includes a second well to depict a third portion of said depiction.
A41. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein each plate in said package has a different depiction.
A42. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said common theme is a commonly known societal holiday.
A43. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A42, wherein said holiday is Thanksgiving.
A44. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A43, wherein said different depictions include pilgrim faces, turkeys, and Indians.
A45. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A42, wherein said holiday is Halloween.
A46. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A45, wherein said different depictions include witches, monsters, and pumpkins.
A47 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A42, wherein said holiday is Christmas.
A48. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A47, wherein said different depictions include Santa Claus, reindeer, and Snowman.
A49. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said common theme is a sports theme.
A50. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A49, wherein said sports, theme is a commonly known sports team, said different depictions include players associated with said sports team.
A51. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A49, wherein said sports team is a commonly known sports league, said different depictions including teams within said league.
A52. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said theme is an animal theme, said different depictions including different animals.
A53. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said theme is an insect theme, said different depictions including different insects.
A54 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said theme is a vehicle theme, said different depictions including different vehicles.
A55 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said theme is a bird theme, said different depictions including different birds.
A56. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said common theme.
A57. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said plates further include written information associated with said different depictions.
A58. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said plates have a circular periphery.
A59. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A39, wherein said package is transparent for identifying said common theme.
A60 An arrangement of containers, comprising:
a plurality of nestable containers, containers within said plurality of nestable containers including different depictions associated with said common theme, each container including a main compartment having said depiction; and
a package for containing said plurality of nestable containers.
A61 The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A60, wherein said plates have a circular periphery.
A62. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A60, wherein said plates further include at least one well.
A63. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A60, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said common theme.
A64. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A60, wherein said plurality of plates include a greater number of different depictions than a number of repeats of the same depiction.
A65. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A63, wherein said package is transparent for identifying said common theme.
A66. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plates, each plate within said plurality of nestable plates including a depiction associated with said common theme and a written message associated with said depiction, said plurality of plates including plates having different depictions; and
a package for containing said plurality of nestable plates.
A67. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A66, wherein said written message provides information about said depiction.
A68. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A66, wherein said written message is trivia.
A69. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A66, wherein said written message includes instructions on playing a game.
A70. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A66, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions and associated written messages that correspond to said common theme.
A71. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A66, wherein said package is transparent for identifying said common theme.
A72. An arrangement of plates for receiving food, comprising:
a plurality of nestable plate, plates within said plurality of nestable plates including different depictions associated with said common theme, each plate including a main compartment having said depiction; and
a package for containing said plurality of nestable plates.
A73. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A72, wherein said plates have a circular periphery.
A74. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A72, wherein said plates further include at least one well.
A75. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A72, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said common theme.
A76. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A72, wherein said plurality of plates include a greater number of different depictions than a number of repeats of the same depiction.
A77. The arrangement of plates of alternative embodiment A72, wherein said package is transparent for identifying said common theme.
B1. A method of packaging an arrangement of plates, comprising:
providing a plurality of plates, plates within said plurality of plates having a depiction associated with a common theme, said plurality of plates including a number “n1” of different depictions;
selecting from said plurality of plates to form a first group of plates;
selecting from said plurality of plates to form a second group of plates, said second group of plates containing plates with different depictions than said first group of plates;
packaging said first group of plates for commercial distribution; and
packaging said second group of plates for commercial distribution.
B2. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said first and second groups of plates each include number “n2” of plates, said number “n1” of different depictions being greater than said number “n2” of plates in said first and second groups.
B3. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said first group of plates includes depictions that are not present within said second group of plates.
B4. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said steps of selecting are automated.
B5. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said selecting to form said first group occurs prior to said selecting to form said second group.
B6. The method of alternative embodiment B5, wherein said packaging of said first group occurs prior to said packaging of said second group.
B7. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said first group is defined by several subgroups and said second group is defined by several subgroups, at least one subgroup from said first group having the same constituent plates as one subgroup from said second group.
B8. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, selecting a top plate for said first group and selecting a top plate for said second group, said top plate for said first group having a different depiction than said top plate for said second group.
B9. The method of alternative embodiment B8, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, excluding certain plates of said plurality plates for consideration as said top plate on the basis of a type of depiction thereon.
B10. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with said common theme.
B11. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said steps of selecting include selecting from a plurality of subgroups to create said first and second groups of plates, each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups including a repeating pattern of plates.
B12 The method of alternative embodiment B11, wherein said steps of selecting are automated.
B13. The method of alternative embodiment B11, wherein said steps of selecting are manual.
B14. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein each of said first and second groups of plates includes a greater number of different depictions than a number of repeats of the same depiction.
B15. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said providing includes creating said plurality of plates from a web of paperboard.
B16. The method of alternative embodiment B15, wherein said creating includes printing an array of depictions on said web, and cutting said array of depictions into said plurality of plates.
B17. The method of alternative embodiment B16, wherein said cutting said array of depictions includes press-forming said plurality of plates.
B18. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said providing includes creating plates from at least two webs of paperboard, a first web of paperboard being passed through a printing cylinder system for producing a first series of color combinations, a second web of paperboard being passed through a different printing cylinder system for producing a second series of color combinations that is different from said first series of color combinations, a portion of said different depictions being created only on said first web.
B19. The method of alternative embodiment B18, wherein a second portion of said different depictions being created only on said second web.
B20. The method of alternative embodiment B1, wherein said steps of selecting are at least partially manual.
B21. A method of packaging an arrangement of containers for foods or beverages, comprising:
providing a plurality of containers, containers within said plurality of containers having a depiction associated with said common theme, said plurality of containers including a number of different depictions;
selecting from said plurality of containers to form a first group of containers;
selecting from said plurality of containers to form a second group of containers, said second group of containers containing containers with different depictions than said first group of containers;
packaging said first group of containers for commercial distribution; and
packaging said second group of containers for commercial distribution.
B22. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said containers are plates.
B23. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said containers are cups.
B24. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said containers are bowls.
B25. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said steps of selecting said containers are automated.
B26. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said steps of selecting said containers are at least partially manual.
B27. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein plurality of containers include a number “n1” of different depictions, said number “n1” being greater than a number “n2” of containers in said first group of containers.
B28. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said steps of selecting include selecting from a plurality of subgroups to create said first and second groups of plates, each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups including a repeating pattern of containers.
B29. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, selecting a top container for said first group and selecting a top container for said second group, said top container for said first group having a different depiction than said top container for said second group.
B30. The method of alternative embodiment B29, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, excluding certain plates of said plurality of containers for consideration as said top plate on the basis of a type of depiction thereon.
B31. The method of alternative embodiment B21, wherein said common theme is an animal theme.
B32. A method of packaging an arrangement of plates, comprising:
providing a plurality of plates, plates within said plurality of plates having a different depiction thereon;,
selecting from said plurality of plates to form a first group of plates;
selecting from said plurality of plates to form a second group of plates, said second group of plates having plates in a different order than said first group of plates such that said depictions on said plates are in a different order;
packaging said first group of plates for commercial distribution; and
packaging said second group of plates for commercial distribution.
B33. The method of alternative embodiment B32, wherein each of said plates within said plurality of plates has depictions associated with a common theme.
B34. The method of alternative embodiment B32, wherein said steps of selecting include selecting from a plurality of subgroups to create said first and second groups, each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups including a repeating pattern of containers.
B35. The method of alternative embodiment B32, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, selecting a top container for said first group and selecting a top container for said second group, said top container for said first group having a different depiction than said top container for said second group.
B36. The method of alternative embodiment B35, wherein said steps of selecting are at least partially manual.
B37. The method of alternative embodiment B32, wherein said different depictions all have a common theme.
B38. A method of packaging an arrangement of containers, comprising:
producing a plurality of containers on at least first and second manufacturing lines, said first manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a first series of color combinations, said second manufacturing line including a second print cylinder system capable of providing a second series of color combinations that is different from said first series of color combinations, said first manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said first series of color combinations and said second manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said second series of color combinations, said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line producing containers with depictions associated with a common theme;
accumulating containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line at a common location;
at said common location, selecting containers with said first series of color combinations and containers with said second series of color combinations to form a group of containers; and
packaging said group of containers for commercial distribution.
B39. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said first manufacturing line produces a first plurality of subgroups and said second manufacturing line produces a second plurality of subgroups.
B40. The method of alternative embodiment B39, wherein said step of selecting includes selecting from said first plurality of subgroups and selecting from said second plurality of subgroups.
B41. The method of alternative embodiment B39, wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.
B42. The method of alternative embodiment B39, wherein said first and second plurality of subgroups have the same number of subgroups.
B43. The method of alternative embodiment B42, wherein said same number of subgroups is 3, 4, 5, or 6.
B44. The method of alternative embodiment B43, wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.
B45. The method of alternative embodiment B44, wherein said repeating pattern includes 3, 4, 5, or 6 containers.
B46. The method of alternative embodiment B44, wherein said repeating patterns of containers are in stacks.
B47. The method of alternative embodiment B38, further including selecting containers with said first series of color combinations and containers with said second series of color combinations to form a second group of containers, said second group of containers including containers with different depictions than said first group of containers.
B48. The method of alternative embodiment B47, wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, selecting a top container for said first group of containers and selecting a top container for said second group of containers, said top container for said first group having a different depiction than said top container in said second group.
B49. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein each container of said plurality of containers includes a depiction associated with said common theme
B50. The method of alternative embodiment B38, further including producing a plurality of containers on a third manufacturing line, said third manufacturing line including a print cylinder set capable of providing a third series of color combinations that is different from said first and second series of color combinations, said third manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said third series of color combinations, said third manufacturing line producing containers with depictions associated with said common theme.
B51. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said containers are plates.
B52. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said containers are bowls.
B53. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said containers are cups
B54. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common theme is an animal theme.
B55. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common theme is a commonly known societal holiday.
B56. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common theme is vehicles.
B57. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common theme is a sports theme.
B58. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are stationary.
B59. The method of alternative embodiment B58, wherein said selecting is at least partially manual.
B60. The method of alternative embodiment B38, wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are moving.
B61. The method of alternative embodiment B60, wherein said selecting is automated.
B62. A method of packaging an arrangement of containers, comprising:
producing a plurality of containers on at least first and second manufacturing lines, said first manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a first array of different depictions for a first set of containers within said plurality of containers, said second manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a second array of different depictions for a second set of containers within said plurality of containers, said first array of different depictions including depictions that are different from depictions within said second array of different depictions;
accumulating said plurality of containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line at a common location;
at said common location, selecting containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line to form a group of containers; and
packaging said group of containers for commercial distribution.
B63. The method of alternative embodiment B62, wherein said first manufacturing line produces a first plurality of subgroups and said second manufacturing line produces a second plurality of subgroups and selecting includes selecting from said first plurality of subgroups and selecting from said second plurality of subgroups.
B64 The method of alternative embodiment B63, wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.
B65. The method of alternative embodiment B62, wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are stationary.
B66. The method of alternative embodiment B62, wherein said selecting is automated.
B67. A method of packaging an arrangement of containers, comprising:
providing a plurality of containers, containers within said plurality of containers having a message associated with a common theme, said plurality of containers including different containers with messages;
selecting from said plurality of containers to form a first group of containers;
selecting from said plurality of containers to form a second group of containers, said second group of containers having containers with different messages than said first group of containers,
packaging said first group of containers; and
packaging said second group of containers.
B68. The method of alternative embodiment B67, wherein said common theme is a commonly known societal holiday.
B69. The method of alternative embodiment B68, wherein said commonly known societal holiday is Valentine's day and said messages include messages suggesting romance.
B70. The method of alternative embodiment B67, wherein said messages include entertainment trivia.
B71. The method of alternative embodiment B67, wherein said messages include educational trivia and said containers include depictions associated with said educational trivia.
B72. The method of alternative embodiment B71, wherein said depictions include animals and said educational trivia includes trivia associated with said animals.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/141,202, entitled “Plate Having Condiment Wells,” which was filed on May 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. D468,589, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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