Tableware with suction cup structure and Anti-slip base

Abstract

A tableware item (10) such as a bowl (20) comprising a dished body (12) and a base (16) further comprises a suction cup structure (30) attachable to the base (16). The base (16) may comprise anti-slip features. In this manner, the tableware item (10) may be used with a relatively stronger suction cup action for attachment to a table surface, suited for younger children, and may also be used without the suction cup structure (30) while providing an anti-slip function. This provides a more versatile tableware item (10), such as a bowl, plate, cup or the like, usable in different configurations for different scenarios.

Description

[0001] TABLEWARE WITH SUCTION CUP STRUCTURE AND ANTI-SLIP BASE

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to tableware, specifically to tableware for training and weaning small children, although may also be applicable in care and rehabilitation settings, as well as for general outdoor use. More specifically, the invention relates to a bowl or plate comprising an anti-slip base.

[0004] Background

[0005] Tableware for children is commonly designed with ease of handling and cleaning in mind and may be of light-weight, sturdy materials such as plastic. While learning to use cutlery, young children may struggle to keep a plate or bowl in place. The applicant has developed a toddler plate with anti-slip features to reduce the risk of tableware being dropped to the ground.

[0006] Anti-slip features may however fail to prevent lifting of a plate.

[0007] The present invention seeks to ameliorate at least some of the issues outlined above.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tableware item as defined in claim 1. The item comprises a dished body and a base and a suction cup structure attachable to the base.

[0010] The tableware item may be a bowl or plate, comprising a generally dished cup shape suitable for holding food and / or liquids, an underside of item providing a base.

[0011] The item may be of plastic material form as is conventionally used for small children tableware, although may also be of other suitable materials such as melamine, silicone or the like, as well as bioplastics (plastic materials from renewable sources such as corn-based source materials) and materials usually used in tableware items for children. Typically chosen materials are easy to clean using domestic kitchen detergents and appliances, and may be dishwasher safe. However, such properties are not necessarily a requirement of the invention.

[0012] In some embodiments, the suction cup structure is of ring or hoop form.

[0013] Being of ring or hoop form, the structure is open and forms a suction cup together with the base once attached to the bowl. In this manner, the suction cup structure may be attached around the base of the tableware item.

[0014] It will be appreciated that the tableware item may have a generally round, oval or rounded peripheral contour. In that case, the suction cup structure may be of similar round, oval or rounded shape, corresponding to the peripheral contour of the tableware item. However, this is not necessarily the case in all embodiments. The suction cup structure may be of generally round shape comprising engagement structures to attach to a table ware item of different shape, e.g. a triangular shaped bowl.

[0015] In some embodiments, the suction cup structure and the dished body are configured with corresponding engagement structures for anchoring the suction cup structure to the dished body.

[0016] The suction cup structure will be understood to comprise a suction side comprising a flexible lip, and an anchoring side comprising, or providing, the engagement structure for attachment to the dished body. For instance, the suction cup structure may be facing down, in use, whereas the anchoring side may be oriented inward to engage an outer periphery of the bowl.

[0017] In some embodiments, the engagement structures are arranged on a lateral wall of the dished body.

[0018] In some embodiments, the engagement structures are arranged around a perimeter of the dished body.

[0019] As will be appreciated, the peripheral edge of the dished body may be a lower peripheral edge, for instance along the outer wall surface of a bowl, near the base of the dished body. The corresponding engagement structures may be a lip or ledge structure extending along the perimeter of the base and the suction cup structure. For instance, the engagement structure may extend as a lip along an inner perimeter of the suction cup structure. The corresponding engagement structure on the tableware item may be a groove extending along its outer perimeter.

[0020] In some embodiments, the suction cup structure is a unitary body.

[0021] In some embodiments, the base of the dished body is provided with an anti-slip arrangement.

[0022] The underside of the table ware item may be provided with a slip-inhibiting coating and / or structure. As will be appreciated, the anti-slip arrangement may remain exposed when a suction cup structure of hoop form is attached to the body.

[0023] In some embodiments, the anti-slip arrangement comprises protrusions and / or recesses.

[0024] In some embodiments, the anti-slip arrangement comprises ridges and / or grooves, and / or domed shapes and / or dimples.

[0025] In some embodiments, the anti-slip arrangement is of a different material than the dished body.

[0026] The anti-slip arrangement may be a material with higher friction than the remainder of the base and / or dished body. For instance, the anti-slip arrangement may be provided by an insert for providing feet.

[0027] In some embodiments, the anti-slip arrangement is offset from the corresponding engagement structures of the suction cup structure.

[0028] In this manner, it is avoided that features of the anti-slip arrangement interfere with the fit of the suction cup structure on the body. In some embodiments, the anti-slip features are exposed in the base region when the suction cup structure is attached to the body.

[0029] This facilitates visual identification from underneath that the tableware item comprises anti-slip features.

[0030] In some embodiments, the anti-slip features are arranged along a perimeter of the base.

[0031] In this manner, a region of the base in the centre, surrounded by antislip features, may remain free of anti-slip features.

[0032] In some embodiments, the suction cup structure comprises a flexible suction lip that is resiliently deformable from a rest condition to an engaged condition for suction to a surface underneath, the flexible suction lip extending underneath the base in its rest condition.

[0033] In this manner, it can be provided that features of the anti-slip arrangement avoid interfering with the suction action when the tableware item is being attached to a surface underneath.

[0034] In some embodiments, the flexible suction lip can be flipped into a disengaged position, when attached to the dished body, to allow the bowl to be supported by the base of the dished body.

[0035] The disengaged position will be understood to be an in-use upward position, such that the suction cup structure exposes the base of the dished surface, such that the tableware item can be placed with the base contacting a surface underneath, to rest on the base rather than on the suction cup structure. In this manner, a bowl with anti-slip features may be supported on the anti-slip features.

[0036] In some embodiments, the tableware item is constituted by a bowl.

[0037] In some embodiments, the tableware item is constituted by a plate. In some embodiments, the tableware item is constituted by a cup.

[0038] The tableware item may comprise one, two, or more handles, which are understood when provided to extending (in use) laterally outwardly from one, two or more sides of the body.

[0039] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the first aspect of the invention is provided as a kit of parts comprising one or more tableware items according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect, and one or more suction cup structures according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0040] In such a kit of parts, two or more suction cup structures may be of different colour.

[0041] Features described in relation to one or more embodiments may be combined with features of any one or more other embodiments of the invention.

[0042] Description of the Figures

[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which:

[0044] Figure 1 is an isometric illustration of a bowl in assembled form;

[0045] Figure 2 is an isometric illustration separated components of the Figure 1 bowl;

[0046] Figure 3 is a section corresponding to the Figure 1 arrangement;

[0047] Figure 4 is a side elevation of a bowl;

[0048] Figure 5 is an underneath view of the Figure 3 arrangement; and

[0049] Figure 6 is an underneath view of the Figure 4 bowl.

[0050] Description

[0051] Referring to the figures, a bowl assembly 10 constituting a tableware item comprises a bowl 20 with a suction ring 30. The bowl 20 is of generally obround footprint, when viewed from above, comprising a dished body 12 comprising side walls and a top edge 14. In this embodiment, the top edge 14 is of slanted form, lower on one side (typically to the front) than on an opposite side (typically the back) to provide a tilted appearance such that the bowl opening may be facing towards a user. The bowl 20 comprises a base 16. The bowl 20 may be from any suitable material such as plastic, ADP, melamine, bioplastics, or the like. In the base region 16, the bowl 20 comprises a recess 18 extending around the perimeter of the outer side wall and providing an engagement structure.

[0052] The suction ring 30 is of generally oblong form corresponding to the obround footprint of the bowl 20. The suction ring comprises a flexible lip 32 extending around the perimeter. The lip 32 is angled (in use) downward so as to cause it to flex when being depressed against a surface. At its distal edge, the suction ring 30 comprises a tab 34. The inner perimeter of the suction ring 30 is provided with a lip structure 38 comprising an inward-extending ledge. The inward-extending ledge extends along the inner perimeter of the suction ring 30.

[0053] The suction ring 30 may be removably attached to the bowl 20 by engaging the lip structure 38 with the recess 18, both lip structure 38 and recess 18 constituting corresponding engagement structures. In this manner, the inward-extending ledge engages in the recess 18. It will be appreciated that the suction ring 30 may be made from a material comprising an inherent resilient flexibility such that it may be temporarily stretched against its inherent resilience to pull the suction ring 30 around the recess 18. Thereby, the suction ring 30 is connected in a practically airtight manner with the bowl 20, such that the base 16 of the bowl 20 and suction ring 30, when assembled, form a joined structure that is sufficiently airtight to perform as a suction cup and may be attached temporarily, by suction, to a surface underneath, such as a table surface.

[0054] The tension of the inward-facing ledge comprises a lateral component, relative to an axis of the suction ring 30, whereby the suction ring 30 is anchored relatively securely to the bowl 20. The arrangement achieves that occasional pulling of the bowl 20 does not result in the opening of an air path through the anchoring engagement, which would otherwise reduce the suction strength of the suction ring 30. Application of strong pulling force may result in detachment of the bowl 20 from the suction ring 30 while it is attached to a surface underneath. However, for the intended use scenarios, including feeding young children, the anchoring provides a stable connection. The anti-slip features 50 have a higher friction than base 16. For instance, the material of the anti-slip features 50 may have a higher friction than the material of the dished body 12, specifically than the recess 18. The recess may have a relatively smooth surface such as a plastic material surface. In this manner, the recess 18 offers lower resistance to engaging the suction ring 30, which is believed to facilitate an airtight engagement. In this manner, the recess 18 and the anti-slip features 50 may have different material properties, the recess 18 designed for air-tight anchoring of the suction ring 30, the anti-slip features 50 to provide good grip.

[0055] It will be appreciated that, for table surfaces that are sufficiently smooth, the suction action of the suction cup helps to retain the bowl assembly 10 on a surface. The tab 34 extends from the edge of the suction ring 30 and can be pulled to disengage the suction ring 30 from a surface.

[0056] The underside of the base 16 of the bowl 20 is provided with anti-slip features 50 in the form of a rib arrangement arranged near the perimeter of the base 16. A region 52 in the centre of the baseis free of anti-slip features 50, or respectively, surrounded by anti-slip features 50. Distributed in this manner, the anti-slip features 50 provide good stability. Comparing Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that the anti-slip features 50 are visible from underneath while the suction ring 30 is attached (see Figure 5) and when the bowl 20 is not provided with a suction ring (see Figure 6). Depending on the dimensions and flexibility of the lip structure 38, the lip structure 38 may be flexible enough to be flipped upwards. In that case, the anti-slip features 50 may be exposed as base of the bowl 20, allowing the bowl 20 to be supported by the base 16 and the anti-slip features 50.

[0057] Referring to Figure 4, the recess 18 is oriented to extend laterally, in use, above the base 16 such that the anti-slip features 50 are exposed to the underside and can engage and securely stand on a surface without the recess 18 or other lip or ledge structures interfering with a stable position. Furthermore, the anti-slip features are offset from the anchoring arrangement of the inward-extending ledge and the recess 18, thereby reducing a risk of interference that may otherwise affect an airtight anchoring connection. As disclosed herein, the bowl 20 may be configured for use with a suction ring 30 to provide a bowl assembly 10, or alternatively without a suction ring 30 to be used as bowl 20. Without a suction ring 30, the bowl 20 can be placed relatively securely on a table surface due to the integral anti-slip features 50.

[0058] The bowl assembly 10 can therefore be configured for use in different scenarios and, specifically, at different stages of a child’s development. Likewise, the bowl assembly may be configured for different food types. For instance, a suction ring configuration may be useful for liquid foods such as soups, when an accidental spillage would be rather inconvenient. The suction-less configuration may be used for solid foods, when accidental dropping is of less concern. In addition, it has been found that the reconfiguration is particularly useful for use with table cloth material or rough textures such as untreated wood table surfaces. The suction cup configuration may be less effective on rougher surfaces, whereas the anti-slip features provide better grip. The design also allows the same item to be used for a longer time during the development of a child, which is believed to increase the useful lifetime of a product, and reduce waste.

[0059] Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tableware item comprising a dished body and a base, the item comprising a suction cup structure attachable to the base.

2. The tableware item according to claim 1, wherein the suction cup structure is of ring or hoop form.

3. The tableware item according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction cup structure and the dished body are configured with corresponding engagement structures for anchoring the suction cup structure to the dished body.

4. The tableware item according to claim 3, wherein the engagement structures are arranged on a lateral wall of the dished body.

5. The tableware item according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the engagement structures are arranged around a perimeter of the dished body.

6. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction cup structure is a unitary body.

7. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base of the dished body is provided with an anti-slip arrangement.

8. The tableware item according to claim 7, wherein the anti-slip arrangement comprises protrusions and / or recesses.

9. The tableware item according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the anti-slip arrangement comprises ridges and / or grooves, and / or domed shapes and / or dimples.

10. The tableware item according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the anti-slip arrangement is of a different material than the dished body.

11. The tableware item according to any one of claims 7 to 10, when depending from claim 3, wherein the anti-slip arrangement is offset from the corresponding engagement structures of the suction cup structure.

12. The tableware item according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the anti-slip features are exposed in the base region when the suction cup structure is attached to the body.

13. The tableware item according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the anti-slip features are arranged along a perimeter of the base.

14. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction cup structure comprises a flexible suction lip that is resiliently deformable from a rest condition to an engaged condition for suction to a surface underneath, the flexible suction lip extending underneath the base in its rest condition.

15. The tableware item according to claim 14, wherein the flexible suction lip can be flipped into a disengaged position, when attached to the dished body, to allow the bowl to be supported by the base of the dished body.

16. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, constituted by a bowl.

17. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, constituted by a plate.

18. The tableware item according to any one of the preceding claims, constituted by a cup.

19. A kit of parts comprising one or more tableware items according to any one of the preceding claims, and one or more suction cup structures according to any one of the preceding claims.

20. A kit of parts according to claim 19, comprising two or more suction cup structures of different colour.

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