Patent Application
20130306648
1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and an apparatus for assisting a user in portion control while eating. In particular, embodiments are directed to a system and an apparatus comprising place-setting components that are used to facilitate serving and eating healthy food portions of a meal.
2. Related Art
Recent studies indicate that a very high percentage of Americans are, or are becoming, overweight and/or obese. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that over 33 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight, and more than 35 percent of adults, beyond those 33 percent of overweight adults, are obese. Thus, in total, over two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. The likelihood of serious health problems and diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, have been known to increase due to complications associated with being overweight and/or obese. Further, obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. In addition to health-related issues, obesity and being overweight have significant economic issues on Americans and the U.S. population as a whole. For example, such weight-related issues are known to cause increases in medical, insurance, employment, and business costs.
A significant cause of Americans being overweight and/or obese is excessive food consumption. Such excessive food consumption is due, in part, to the size of place-setting components, such as plates, utensils, bowls, cups, or the like. For example, it has been found that plates used in the U.S to hold food during meals have increased by at least 51 percent since the turn of the 20th century. Because of such a size increase, Americans are prone to completely fill their plates with large portions of food. As such, Americans are encouraged to consume greater amounts of food, leading them to being overweight and/or obese, which ultimately provides a negative impact on their health, finances, and overall well-being.
Embodiments of the present invention include a system of place-setting components used to facilitate serving and eating healthy portions of food. The place-setting system comprises: a plate with a bottom side and a serving side and a nestable set of two or more serving spoons. The plate includes a rim section and a well section, and one or more serving areas on the serving side of the plate. The serving areas are generally positioned within the well section and each correspond to a portion size for one or more food components of a meal. Each of the serving spoons in the nestable set includes: a bowl-shaped cup, with an upper rim of the cup presenting a closed curve that lies in a reference plane, and a handle with distal and proximal ends. The handle of the serving spoons comprises: a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a first portion of a proximal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a first angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the first angle being between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees; a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a second angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the second angle being between about 15 degrees to about 165 degrees, and further with the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment providing for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position with a serving bowl, with the first position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position with the serving bowl; a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a third angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the third angle being between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees, and further with the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment providing for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position with the serving bowl, with the second position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position with the serving bowl; and a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane. In such an embodiment, volumes of the each of the bowl-shaped cups of each of the serving spoons in the nestable set corresponds to one of the portion sizes associated with the servings areas of the plate.
Embodiments of the present invention include an additional system of place-setting components used to facilitate serving and eating healthy food portions. The place-setting system comprises a nestable set of two or more serving spoons, with each of the serving spoons in the set including: a bowl-shaped cup, with an upper rim of the cup presenting a closed curve that lies in a reference plane and a handle with distal and proximal ends. The handle of the serving spoon comprising: a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a first portion of a proximal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward; a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment, with the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment providing for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position with a serving bowl, with the first position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position with the serving bowl; a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward, with the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment providing for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position with the serving bowl, with the second position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position with the serving bowl; and a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane. The bowl-shaped cup further includes a bottom-facing flat surface on its lower portion, with the bottom facing flat surface and the third segment, the third arcuate connecting segment, and the fourth segment of the handle providing for the serving spoon to be engaged in a third position with a base surface, with the third position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the third position with the base surface.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
Turning to the drawings and as illustrated in
With reference to
In embodiments such as illustrated in
Embodiments of the present invention provide for the surface area of the plate 12, as defined by each of the surface areas of the well section 20, the rim section 22, and the verge section 24, to be precisely formed, so as to visually and psychologically satisfy a user's desires for food, while maintaining a sufficient surface area to contain enough food to physically satisfy nutritional needs of the user. In certain embodiments, the diameter of the plate 12 may be between about 1.3 to about 1.9 times the diameter of the well section 20, about 1.4 times the diameter of the well section, or about 1.6 times the diameter of the well section. For instance, certain embodiments of the present invention may provide for: the diameter of the plate to be between about 8 inches to about 11 inches, the diameter of the well section 20 to be between about 5 inches to about 7.5 inches, and a width of the rim section 22 to be between about 1.3 inches to about 1.75 inches. By maintaining the ratio between the diameter of the plate 12 and the well section 20 between such above-described values, food components of a meal placed within the well section will appear larger and more plentiful to users. As a result, the meal will appear more satisfying, thus encouraging users to place less food components on the plate 12 and to ultimately consume less food. A specific, non-limiting exemplary measurement for the plate 12 may include the diameter of the plate being about 10.625 inches, with the diameter of the well section 20 being about 7 inches and the width of the rim section 22 being about 1.625 inches. An additional specific, non-limiting exemplary measurement for the plate 12 may include the diameter of the plate being about 8.125 inches, with the diameter of the well section 20 being about 5 inches and the width of the rim section 22 being about 1.375 inches. However, it is understood that such specific measurements are provided solely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to be limiting.
As previously stated, embodiments of the present invention provide for the plate 12 to include one or more serving areas on the serving side of the plate. As illustrated by
The surface areas of each of the serving areas are configured to accept a food portion size for one or more food components of a meal. For instance, as illustrated in
Variations in relative positioning of the serving areas of the plate 12 may, in certain embodiments, provide for certain serving areas to be concentric. For example, as shown in
As described, the above-provided specific serving area configuration with five serving areas may be implemented for certain food components of a dinner-type meal. For such a meal, the 1 cup portion size may be used for fruits and vegetables, for instance. The 0.75 cup and/or the 0.5 cup portion size may be used for carbohydrates, such as starches or grains. The 0.25 cup may be used for proteins, such as meats. Finally, the 0.125 cup portion size may be used for various types of sauces, dressings, jams, or the like. However, it is understood that such exemplary descriptions of food components to serving areas is provided for illustration only, and embodiments of the present invention provide for various types of food components to be included within the serving areas as may be necessary to meet various meal, dietary, or nutritional requirements. Further, because each of the serving areas of the plate 12 are associated with portion sizes that correspond to food components that may be placed within the respective serving areas, the serving areas may be used to indicate and hold appropriate portion sizes of specific types of food components that are needed to achieve a complete and healthy meal. As such, a user can be assured that she will serve and consume appropriate portions of each required type of food component to maintain healthy eating habits as directed and required by dietary guidelines. Further, it is understood that each of the serving areas may correspond to other units of measurement, such as ounces, pounds, or the like.
In additional embodiments of the present invention, the plate 12 may include a plurality of color schemes on its serving side. In certain embodiments, the color scheme may include coloring of its well section 20, rim section 22, and/or verge section 24 in cool colors, such as blues, greens, purples, browns, greys, or the like. Specifically, such cool colors may include the following colors included in the Pantone Matching System (PMS™) scale: PMS™ Color 7468C, 312C, 584C, and/or 723C. Certain embodiments may provide for the plate 12 to specifically not include hot colors, such as reds, oranges, or yellows. In particular, the plate 12 that includes cool colors may provide a calming effect on users, which causes the user to eat slower and, thus, less food. Alternatively, hot colors may stimulate the user's senses, thus inducing faster eating and causing more food to be eaten. Further, in certain embodiments, the well section 20 and the rim section 22 may be of different contrasting colors. For instance, the well section 20 may be formed in a cool color, while the rim section 22 is formed in a basic white color. Alternatively, the well section 20 may be formed in the basic white color, while the rim section 22 is formed in a cool color. By maintaining a color contrast between the well section 20 and the rim section 22, food components of a meal placed within the well section will appear larger and more plentiful to users. As a result, the meal will appear more satisfying, thus encouraging users to place less food components on the plate 12 and to ultimately consume less food. In even further embodiments, the well section 20 and/or the rim section 22 may have a color contrast with the verge section 24, so as to provide for additional visual color contrast for the user.
With reference to
In addition, embodiments of the present invention may provide for diameters of each of the upper-rims 48 of serving spoons in the nestable set 14 to correspond with the diameters of the serving areas from the plate 12. For example, in embodiments with a nestable set 14 of four serving spoons and with the plate 12 as illustrated in
Each handle 44 of the serving spoons in the nestable set 14 may include a plurality of connected segments that provide for the serving spoons to engage in a plurality of positions with items such as the base surface, a serving bowl, or other kitchen utensil and/or accessory. In certain embodiments, such as illustrated in
The handle 44 may additionally include a second segment 62 connected to the first segment 56 via a first arcuate connecting segment 64, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment. In certain embodiments, a longitudinal centerline 66 of the second segment 62 forms a second angle 68 with a portion of the reference plane 54 that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the second segment. In certain embodiments, the second angle 68 may be between about 15 degrees to about 165 degrees, between about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees, or about 60 degrees.
The handle 44 may further include a third segment 70 connected to the second segment 62 via a second arcuate connecting segment 72, with the third segment extending generally upward. In certain embodiments, a longitudinal centerline 74 of the third segment 70 forms a third angle 76 with a portion of the reference plane 54 that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the third segment. In certain embodiments, the third angle 76 may be between about 15 degrees to about 165 degrees, between about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees, or about 55 degrees.
Finally, the handle 44 may include a fourth segment 78 connected with the third segment 70 via a third arcuate connecting segment 80. The fourth segment 78 extends generally distally from the third arcuate connecting segment 80 and may be generally parallel with the reference plane 54.
In certain embodiments, the first and second arcuate connecting segments 64,72 each have a radius of curvature that are approximately equal in magnitude. Additionally, the third arcuate connecting segment 80 may have a radius of curvature that is between about 8 to about 12 times the radius of curvature of the first and second arcuate connecting segments 64,72, or about 10 time radius of curvature of the first and second arcuate connecting segments 64,72. However, embodiments of the present invention may provide for the arcuate connecting segments to have different radii of curvatures as required for the serving spoons to engage in a plurality of positions with various items, of which, certain positions and items are described below.
The plurality of segments of the handle 44 provide for the serving spoon to be situated in a plurality of stable positions. For instance, with reference to
In certain embodiments, the handle 44 of each of the serving spoons included in the nestable set 14 may additionally include a hook-shaped segment on its distal end 50. The hook-shaped segment may be used to hang each of the serving spoons from its distal end 50. For instance, the serving spoon may be hung from its distal end 50 on a rim of a serving bowl, on a ledge, a hook, a hanging-nail, or other various objects or surfaces. In certain other embodiments, the hook-shaped segment may be elongated, such that it extends proximally from the distal end 50, under the fourth section 78, and towards the third segment 70. In still even further embodiments, the distal end 50 of the handle 44 of the serving spoons may include an opening, such as a circular hole, that passes through a thickness of the handle. The opening may be used to hang the serving spoons by their distal ends 50 from a hook, hanging-nail, or other item.
Embodiments of the present invention may also provide for the handle 44 of the serving spoons in the nestable set 14 to include a width that remains generally constant as the handle extends from its proximal end 52 to its distal end 50. However, other embodiments may provide for the width of the handle 44 to vary as the handle extends from its proximal end 52 to its distal end 50. In still other embodiments, the handle 44 may include a gap that extends down a center of its width, between its proximal end 52 and its distal end 50. In such embodiments, the handle 44 may be presented in a fork-shape, with two sections, separated by the gap, which extend from the proximal end 52 to the distal end 50. Such an embodiment may provide for similar strength characteristics as the handle 44 with a constant width. However, the fork-shape may provide for less material to be used when forming the handle 44.
The system 10 of place-setting components may additionally include the bowl 16, as illustrated in
The system 10 of place-setting components may further include the cup 18, such as is illustrated in
The nestable spoons 14, the bowl 16, and the cup 18 may each include a plurality of color schemes using the cool colors, as was previously described for the plate 12. As with the plate 12, the cool colors may provide a calming effect on users, such that the users may consume food components more slowly, so as to ultimately consume less food. In additional embodiments, certain portions of the nestable spoons 14, the bowl 16, and the cup 18 may have various components with contrasting colors. For example, in embodiments of the present invention that include the bowl 16 with a rim section, the rim section and an inner portion of the bowl may be of contrasting colors. For instance, the rim section may be formed in a basic white color, while the inner portion of the bowl 16 may be formed in a cool color. By maintaining a color contrast, food components placed within the bowl will appear larger and more plentiful to users. As a result, the food components will appear more satisfying, thus encouraging users to place less food components in the bowl 16 and to ultimately consume less food. Thus, it is understood that various place-setting components of the system 10 may be formed with color contrasting components, such that food components placed within them will appear larger and more plentiful.
As with the plates 12, the fill line indicias for each of the bowl 16 and cup 18 are associated with portion sizes that correspond to a food components that may be placed within the respective component. Thus, the fill line indicias may be used to indicate an appropriate portion of specific types of food components that should be placed within each of the components of the system 10. As such, the serving areas and/or fill line indicias may be used to indicate and hold appropriate portion sizes of specific types of food components that are needed to achieve a complete and healthy meal. As such, a user can be assured that she will serve and consume appropriate portions of each required type of food component to maintain healthy eating habits as directed and required by dietary guidelines. Further, as should be understood, the place-setting components of the system 10 work together in a complimentary fashion, such that users can use various components of the system to serve and consume appropriate portion sizes of food components for various types of entire meals. Thus, during a dinner-type meal for instance, the plate 12 may be used to hold appropriate portion sizes of carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and sauces, while the bowl 16 may be used to hold an appropriate portion size of a soup, salad, or pasta. Concurrently, the cup 18 may be used to hold an appropriate portion size of a drink, such as a juice, tea, soda, or the like. Further, as has previously been described, the nestable set of serving spoons 14 are each configured for serving such appropriate sizes of food components within the plate 12, the bowl 16, and the cup 18. As a result, a user can use the multiple components of the system 10 of place-setting components to serve and consume appropriate portion sizes for each food component of an entire meal.
In certain embodiments and as illustrated in
Although the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.
This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit with regard to all common subject matter of earlier-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/647,209 filed May 15, 2012, and entitled “SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING A USER IN PORTION CONTROL WHILE EATING.” The earlier-filed provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present non-provisional application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61647209 | May 2012 | US |
