Patent Grant
11612260
The present invention relates generally to the field of a kind of tableware, and, more particularly, to a bowl holder for transporting and serving articles of food on a serving table.
A bowl is a container used to prepare, server, hold or transport food or eatable items contained therein. A holder that holds the bowl is called bowl holder.
In business establishments of serving cooked meals, the meals are often transported and served in hot bowls, as well as consumed from such bowls by customers. Such bowls are typically used in Asian cultures, where dining on extremely (temperature) hot food is common and desired. Protection of personnel and customers from contacting hot surfaces of the bowls and maintaining a meal in a bowl at desired temperatures represent a challenging task.
An arrangement of service dry fruits and/or snacks at platform affixed to the table is not known in the art.
The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above.
The present invention addresses the above discussed and additional problems by providing a modular arrangement for holding bowls.
In one another aspect, the present disclosure provides a modular bowl holder for holding bowls. The modular bowl holder includes at least one top flat plate like structure, a longitudinal supporting base, and a first locking mechanism. The at least one top flat plate like structure includes one or more recesses to hold bowls. The longitudinal supporting base includes a first end portion and a second end portion, opposite to the first end portion. The first end portion includes a tapered orientation. Further, the first locking mechanism is adapted to couple the at least one top flat plate like structure and the longitudinal supporting base along the first end portion such that the at least one top flat plate like structure is taperedly aligned at a predetermined angle. The first locking mechanism may include a first locking member and a second locking member. The first locking member is coupled to the first end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to be aligned taperedly. Further, the second locking member is coupled to a back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member is removably attached to the first locking member to removably and taperedly couple the at least one top flat plate like structure to the longitudinal supporting base.
In one embodiment, the at least one top flat plate like structure comprises the recesses having at least two substantially identical mirror image recesses spaces disposed away from each other by a pre-determined distance. Each of the at least two substantially identical mirror image recesses forming a cutout with a rim, and the cutout complements a shape of the bowls, including a substantially semi-circular shape, and wherein the cutout removably receive the bowl of a pre-determined diameter into an interior space of the cutout.
In one example arrangement, the at least one top flat plate like structure is of a shape comprises one of a butterfly shape structure or of other different shape structures including one or more recesses to accommodate two or more bowls.
In one example arrangement, each of the at least two substantially identical mirror image recesses are disposed away from each other by means of a cantilever arrangement.
In one example arrangement, the pre-determined diameter of the substantially semi-circular cutout is adapted to receive the bowl in such a manner that a rim of the bowl is configured to be supported along the substantially semi-circular cutout.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the longitudinal supporting base locks the at least one top plate like structure using the first locking member and the second locking member of the first locking mechanism, in which: the first locking member comprises top and bottom surfaces, a pair of spaced-prongs, an engaging element, and a pair of engaging slots. The pair of spaced-prongs may extend from the bottom surface to form a channel portion therebetween to engage with the first end portion to couple the first locking member with the longitudinal supporting base. Further, the engaging element may be formed on the top surface, and the pair of engaging slots may be formed along sides of the engaging element extending from the top to bottom surfaces.
Further, in one embodiment, the second locking member may be coupled to the back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member may include a complementary engaging element and a pair of complementary engaging ridges. The complementary engaging element may be detachably and snugly engaged with the engaging element, and the pair of complementary engaging ridges may extend upwardly along sides of the complementary engaging element to detachably and snugly engage with the engaging element.
Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first locking member may include a supporting extension to provide additional support to the at least one top plate like structure is be adjusted, tilted and moveable to the predetermined angles, and the second locking member may include a supporting complementary slot formed between the pair of complementary engaging ridges to accommodate the supporting extension.
In one embodiment, the modular bowl holder may further include a clamping arrangement. The clamping arrangement may be coupled to the second end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to detachably couple the longitudinal supporting base to a platform or a table. In one example, the clamping arrangement includes one-piece C-shaped structure and a tightening screw. The one-piece C-shaped structure may be coupled to the second end portion, and may include a coupling slot configured to be engaged with the platform or to the table. Further, the tightening screw is threadedly coupled to the one-piece C-shaped structure. The tightening screw may be threadedly tightened to adjust a distance of the coupling slot as per thickness of the platform or the table to couple the one-piece C-shaped structure the platform or the table.
In one another embodiment, the modular bowl holder may further include a base member coupled to the second end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to be kept on a platform or a table. The base member may include a groove member to snugly accommodate the second end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to provide support to the modular bowl holder to be kept on the platform or the table.
In yet one another embodiment, the modular bowl holder may further include a base coupling arrangement. The base coupling arrangement may include a base member and a second locking mechanism. In one example arrangement, the second locking mechanism may be similar to the first locking mechanism, wherein the second locking element is removably attached to the first locking element to removably couple the base member to the second end portion.
In one another aspect, the present disclosure provides a modular bowl holder for holding bowls. The modular bowl holder includes at least one top flat plate like structure, a longitudinal supporting base, and a first locking mechanism. The at least one top flat plate like structure includes one or more recesses to hold bowls. The longitudinal supporting base includes a first end portion and a second end portion, opposite to the first end portion. The first end portion includes a tapered orientation. Further, the first locking mechanism is adapted to couple the at least one top flat plate like structure and the longitudinal supporting base along the first end portion such that the at least one top flat plate like structure is taperedly aligned at a predetermined angle. The first locking mechanism may include a first locking member and a second locking member. The first locking member is coupled to the first end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to be aligned taperedly. Further, the second locking member is coupled to a back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member is removably attached to the first locking member to removably and taperedly couple the at least one top flat plate like structure to the longitudinal supporting base.
The first locking member comprises top and bottom surfaces, a pair of spaced-prongs, an engaging element, and a pair of engaging slots. The pair of spaced-prongs may extend from the bottom surface to form a channel portion therebetween to engage with the first end portion to couple the first locking member with the longitudinal supporting base. Further, the engaging element may be formed on the top surface, and the pair of engaging slots may be formed along sides of the engaging element extending from the top to bottom surfaces. Further, the second locking member may be coupled to the back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member may include a complementary engaging element and a pair of complementary engaging ridges. The complementary engaging element may be detachably and snugly engaged with the engaging element, and the pair of complementary engaging ridges may extend upwardly along sides of the complementary engaging element to detachably and snugly engage with the engaging element.
Further, in one embodiment, the first locking member may include a supporting extension to provide additional support to the at least one top plate like structure is be adjusted, tilted and moveable to the predetermined angles, and the second locking member may include a supporting complementary slot formed between the pair of complementary engaging ridges to accommodate the supporting extension.
In yet one another aspect, the present disclosure provides a locking mechanism to couple at least one top flat plate like structure and a longitudinal supporting base of a modular bowl holder. The locking mechanism includes first locking member and a second locking member. The first locking member is coupled to the first end portion of the longitudinal supporting base to be aligned taperedly. Further, the second locking member is coupled to a back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member is removably attached to the first locking member to removably and taperedly couple the at least one top flat plate like structure to the longitudinal supporting base. The first locking member comprises top and bottom surfaces, a pair of spaced-prongs, an engaging element, and a pair of engaging slots. The pair of spaced-prongs may extend from the bottom surface to form a channel portion therebetween to engage with the first end portion to couple the first locking member with the longitudinal supporting base. Further, the engaging element may be formed on the top surface, and the pair of engaging slots may be formed along sides of the engaging element extending from the top to bottom surfaces. Further, the second locking member may be coupled to the back side of the at least one top flat plate like structure. The second locking member may include a complementary engaging element and a pair of complementary engaging ridges. The complementary engaging element may be detachably and snugly engaged with the engaging element, and the pair of complementary engaging ridges may extend upwardly along sides of the complementary engaging element to detachably and snugly engage with the engaging element.
Further, in one embodiment, the first locking member may include a supporting extension to provide additional support to the at least one top plate like structure is be adjusted, tilted and moveable to the predetermined angles, and the second locking member may include a supporting complementary slot formed between the pair of complementary engaging ridges to accommodate the supporting extension.
All objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
The Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention, which these and additional aspects will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the appended drawings.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and wherein:
The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It may be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
As shown in
In one embodiment, as seen in
In one example arrangement, the top flat plate like structure 110 is of a shape comprises one of a butterfly shape structure or of other different shape structures including one or more recesses to accommodate two or more bowls.
In one further example arrangement, as seen in
In one example arrangement, as seen in
Referring now to
Further, as shown in
Furthermore, in one embodiment, as shown in
Moreover, a combination of additional support members 132h and 134d are respectively provided on the first locking member 134 and the second locking member 134 to be engaged with each other to provide additional griping support to coupling of the first locking member 134 and the second locking member 134. In one example arrangement, the additional support member 132h may be a recess, and the additional support member 134d may be a complementary slot that accommodates the recess.
As shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Embodiments as depicted and described in conjunction with
Further, the embodiments as depicted and described in conjunction with
Although the present invention herein has been described with reference to particular preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the invention. Therefore, modifications may be made to these embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120074034 | Bar | Mar 2012 | A1 |
| 20130168275 | Hennessey | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| 20140138507 | Hennessey | May 2014 | A1 |
