A plate that also serves as a holder for eating utensils

Abstract

The present invention provides a plate 100 that doubles as an eating utensil holder, having a plate portion 200 on one side for placing food and a plate portion 100 on the other side for supporting a spoon 400 and chopsticks 500, with a spoon placement groove 101 and a chopstick placement groove 102 formed therein, and a sauce groove 108 formed underneath, with the plate portion 200 formed integrally on one side thereof, and the plate 100 that doubles as an eating utensil holder is formed with a partition dam 103 that supports the bottom surface 401 of the spoon so that it is raised, and the plate 100 that doubles as an eating utensil holder is formed with the sauce groove 108 that acts as a stable foot 110.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] To provide a plate that also serves as a holder for eating utensils, and in particular, a plate that can hold eating utensils such as spoons and chopsticks without them coming into contact with the table, thereby preventing contamination of the eating utensils and the table, and that has a sauce groove and a plate part formed integrally thereon, making it more convenient, clean, and hygienic to use, and allowing eating utensils to be easily removed by hand when used. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, eating utensils used during meals include spoons, chopsticks, forks, and knives, which are typically placed directly on the table or on a napkin or other surface, resulting in inconvenient and unhygienic use. When used in this manner, the table or napkin on which the utensils are placed may become contaminated or may become contaminated during use, and the utensils are frequently brought to the table or to the mouth. In other words, during the eating process, the actions of picking up and placing the spoon and chopsticks, and then placing the chopsticks on the table or napkin, etc., are repeated. This process can cause discomfort and negatively impact personal hygiene, such as bacterial infection, if the table or napkin becomes contaminated with food and the utensils are reused. Considering that many pathogens are transmitted to the mouth and respiratory tract, this is a serious problem.

[0003] In traditional Korean dining culture, spoons and chopsticks are placed on the dining table or table. After finishing a meal, contaminated residue on the table or table is wiped off with a cloth.

[0004] Residue left on dining tables is difficult to wipe clean unless washed with water.

[0005] In addition, contaminated spoons and chopsticks are repeatedly put in and out of the mouth.

[0006] Furthermore, when eating at a home dining table or at an outside restaurant, side plates are often not used.

[0007] The reality is that people take portions of the shared side dishes and eat them each time.

[0008] If you serve a large portion, place it in a rice bowl or take it out in the original side dish dish.

[0009] In addition, sauce containers (soy sauce, miso, wasabi, etc.) are often shared.

[0010] In other words, they have been used in fairly unhygienic conditions with a high probability of contamination.

[0011] Due to these issues, some people avoid using the cafeteria.

[0012] Research has shown that dining tables (here, we're talking about restaurant tables) have more than twice as many bacteria as cutting boards, and the cloths used to wipe the tables have even more bacteria. For this reason, many people lay napkins down when they go to restaurants and place their spoons and chopsticks on them. However, napkins are not hygienic, as they have been found to contain invisible fluorescent whitening agents that are harmful to the human body.

[0013] Sometimes people wipe the dining table with wet towels or tissues, but this is not a fundamental solution and is therefore inappropriate.

[0014] Spoons and chopsticks placed on the dining table go in and out of the mouth, so hygiene is a top priority and is directly linked to health.

[0015] Unlike Westerners who use spoons, forks, and knives with both hands, Koreans and some Asians alternate between using spoons and chopsticks with one hand, and frequently touch the dining table to adjust the length of the chopsticks, which exposes them directly to bacterial infection. (This invention can prevent various foreign objects and bacteria from adhering to the dining table.)

[0016] Cleaning the dining table after a meal is also considered unsanitary, sometimes by wiping it down with a dirty cloth.

[0017] A cradle for supporting eating utensils has been developed, examples of which are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0018] Patent Document 1 (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0055862, "Chopstick Rest") is a spoon rest that includes a base plate that has a fixing recess formed along one side edge and is placed on a table; a receiving plate that is positioned a predetermined height from the bottom plate and on which one side of a spoon is placed; a first support piece that folds and extends along a first fold line on one side edge of the receiving plate and has a fixing protrusion that hooks into the fixing recess of the bottom plate, thereby maintaining the receiving plate in a protruding state relative to the bottom plate; and a second support piece that folds and extends along a second fold line on the other side edge of the receiving plate and is connected to the bottom plate, thereby maintaining the receiving plate in a protruding state relative to the bottom plate.When the first support piece and the second support piece are not folded along the first and second fold lines, the receiving plate is in close contact with the bottom plate and is folded flat.

[0019] Patent Document 2 (Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0106439, "Placement-type Eating Utensil Receiving Stand") is a receiving stand for placing and supporting eating utensils, which is formed with a spoon-receiving groove shaped like the bottom of a spoon and a chopstick-receiving groove shaped like chopsticks, and a step is formed on the edge of the floor to prevent external foreign objects from entering the receiving groove, and handle support grooves are formed in the frame step at the part corresponding to the spoon and chopstick handles, so that the handle of the spoon placed in the receiving groove supports the eating utensils so that it is raised above the table floor, and magnets are provided in the spoon-receiving groove and chopstick-receiving groove.

[0020] Patent Document 3 (Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2083756 "Spoon Rest") is a spoon rest that includes a body having one or more mounting sections formed on the top surface to mount a spoon and having the mounting section formed inside, a sensing means attached to the mounting section of the body and separately provided below the mounting section to sense whether a spoon is mounted, a control section attached to the mounting section of the body and connected to the sensing means, which receives the sensing signal and processes the meal time, number of times the spoon has been mounted, and the duration of the spoon being mounted, and an output section connected to the control section on one side of the body and outputs the processing results of the control section via a screen and a speaker. The mounting section of the body has a built-in switch separately provided below the mounting section and linked to the control section, which selectively applies a magnetic force to the mounting section. The spoon rest is equipped with an electromagnet that responds to a signal, and the electromagnet is switched on for a set time calculated by the control unit to keep the spoon attached to the stand and limit the use of the spoon. The output unit includes a meal time display unit that counts the time required by the control unit from when a set button on one side is activated to when it is activated again and displays the result, a set number display unit that displays the result of the control unit counting the number of times the sensing means detects the spoon in the stand, and a set time display unit that displays the result of the control unit counting down the time from when the sensing means detects the spoon in the stand for a preset time, thereby enabling the spoon user to recognize the spoon. Various spoon rests have been developed, but the ones described in Patent Documents 1 and 3 support the part of the spoon that comes into contact with the spoon's opening, so that only this part is floating above the table, while the handle is in contact with the table.

[0021] If you pick up the spoon again with the handle touching the table in this way, you will have trouble holding the spoon.

[0022] Furthermore, it is difficult to place eating utensils safely, and it is often the case that placed eating utensils are disturbed by touching them during a meal.

[0023] Patent Document 2 does not use iron as a functional material for the utensils, so magnets cannot be used. Even if they were used, the magnet insertion part would become an obstacle during the manufacturing mold and injection process. This means the manufacturing process is extremely tedious, resulting in increased costs due to manufacturing difficulties, slower mass production speeds, and increased labor costs. The square portion and plate portion on which the spoon and chopsticks are placed are not elevated above the table, allowing the entire tray to sway, and the portion on the plate where the spoon head is placed can become an obstacle when serving food. The groove on the plate where the spoon head is placed is meaningless and can collect food juices from the serving dish and mix with the food served later. The spoon head placement groove is connected to the bottom of the spoon head and is therefore in constant contact with dripping juices, making it unsanitary. Furthermore, there is no sauce groove, so when serving sauce on the plate, it can mix with other food. The square frame can become an obstacle when washing dishes, potentially trapping foreign objects. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0024] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, namely, the bottom of the spoon head and the end of the chopsticks touching the table, causing the table and the utensils to interfere with each other and become contaminated, the unclean process of repeatedly putting the utensils in and out of the mouth, and the inconvenience of continuously using dishware and sauceware together in restaurants and homes, which are unclean and unhygienic.

[0025] Furthermore, the plate portion of the dish-shaped dish is combined with a space for a sauce groove and an utensil holder for placing spoons and chopsticks, etc., to form an integrated unit, supporting the utensils and preventing them from coming into contact with the table. In particular, the groove for catching soup attached to the bottom of the spoon head prevents the utensils and the table from interfering with each other and contaminating each other. The sauce groove and plate portion allow for the sauce and side dishes to be served and consumed, and when chopsticks are touched from time to time to adjust the length during a meal, the plate portion comes into contact with the chopsticks, allowing for a clean and hygienic meal for both the person eating and the person being served. The spoon handle is kept floating away from the table, allowing for stable and easy picking up of the spoon and chopsticks. This aims to provide a plate that doubles as an utensil holder with comprehensive functions that can transform inconvenient and unhygienic experiences and stereotypes of dining culture into a convenient, safe, clean, hygienic and elegant dining culture, thereby resolving the inconveniences of the prior art in a convenient, safe, clean and hygienic manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plate 100 is formed on one side with a plate portion 200 for placing food and on the other side with a spoon 400 and chopsticks 500 placed thereon and supporting them, and the plate portion 200 is formed integrally with the plate. The plate 100 also serves as an eating utensil holder, and is formed with a spoon placement groove 101 and a chopstick placement groove 102, and a sauce groove 108 below them. The plate 100 also serves as an eating utensil holder, and is formed with a partition dam 103 that supports the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head so that it is raised. The plate 100 also serves as an eating utensil holder, and is formed with a sauce groove 108 that serves as a stable foot 110. The spoon placement groove 101 of the plate 100 also serves as an eating utensil holder, and is formed with a partition dam 103 that supports the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head so that it is raised. The plate (100) also serves as an eating utensil holder, further comprising an inclined surface (111) for supporting the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head and a reservoir (104) for storing the sauce; the spoon placement groove of the plate (100) also serves as an eating utensil holder has a partition dam (103) for supporting the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head in a raised position and a reservoir (104) for receiving and storing the sauce that has reached the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head, which are formed symmetrically above and below; the plate (100) also serves as an eating utensil holder has an inner frame (201) of the plate part for placing food and an inner frame (109) of the sauce groove, further comprising an air discharge groove (202) for discharging moisture and air when the plate (100) also serves as an eating utensil holder is stacked on top of the inner frame (109) of the plate part for placing food; and the plate (100) is shaped like a peanut or a Daruma doll.

[0027] In another aspect, the plate (100) also serving as a tray for holding eating utensils is characterized in that the plate (100) also serving as a tray for holding eating utensils includes a partition dam (103) for supporting the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head, a reservoir (104) for receiving and storing soup food connected to the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head in the spoon holding groove (101), and a sauce groove (108) symmetrically formed on one side of the plate part (200).

[0028] In another aspect, the plate 100 also serving as a tray for serving utensils is characterized in that the height 203 of the plate portion 200 and the sauce groove 108 are formed to be the same as the height of the dining table, so that the plate 100 is stable and does not shake during use and storage.

[0029] In another aspect, the plate 100 also serving as a tray for eating utensils is made from at least one of heat-resistant synthetic resin, plastic, heat-resistant glass, ceramics, melamine, stainless steel, wood, and silicone. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] The plate that also serves as a utensil holder of the present invention solves the problems of the unclean process of repeatedly taking the utensils in and out of the mouth when the bottom of the spoon head and the ends of the chopsticks touch the table, causing the table and the utensils to become contaminated with foreign matter due to interference and contact with each other, and the continuous unclean and unhygienic use of the utensils in commercial restaurants and homes where side dish dishes and sauce dishes are shared.

[0031] By integrating the functions of spoons, chopstick rests, individual serving plates, and individual sauce containers on the dining table, it is easy to manage and can improve the clean and hygienic dining culture and quality for both the person and the other person.

[0032] Specifically, the handles of the spoon and chopsticks, which are eating utensils, are supported by an eating utensil holder, keeping them afloat above the table for easy storage. The part where the bottom of the spoon rests has a dam structure, and the part where the inside of the dam and the reservoir are connected has an inclined surface, so that the dam structure can catch any juice that collects on the bottom of the spoon, allowing it to naturally flow into the reservoir and trap and collect the juice, allowing the spoon to be used cleanly without contaminating or interfering with the table.

[0033] The sloped structure connecting the dam and the storage tank has the advantage that foreign objects do not get caught when washing dishes and can be easily wiped off.

[0034] In addition, the sauce groove and the plate part are at the same height from the dining table, giving a sense of stability that does not shake, and when the dishes are stacked upside down after washing, moisture and air escape through the drain groove, making it easy to dry, and they do not stick together, making it easy to take out and use them one by one, and they can be stacked like normal side plates, so they take up little storage space.

[0035] In addition, to make dishwashing easier, all curved parts of the plate, which also serves as a tray for eating utensils, are gently rounded to prevent foreign objects from getting caught in the gaps and there are no sharp parts, so there is no risk of hand injury.

[0036] Furthermore, since it is Western-style and can be used with forks, knives, and spoons, it is expected to be exported to the West.

[0037] As a further benefit, it is suitable as an early and global epidemic prevention item for the public health of those who have experienced the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (The human mouth and respiratory tract are the most vulnerable to all bacterial infections.)

[0038] It also brings about a change in the awareness of hygienic eating and food culture at restaurants (which helps increase sales by providing customers with a sense of hygienic safety and dignity).

[0039] It can also be used as a rice bowl or soup bowl (it can also serve as a simple eating board for infants and children).

[0040] In addition, since it does not touch the dining table, there is no need to lay down a napkin, the dining table will not get dirty with food scraps, and secondary contamination from pests such as flies can be prevented.

[0041] Therefore, the plate that also serves as a tableware holder of the present invention can change the dining culture to be cleaner and more hygienic, and further contribute to the health of the nation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of an example of a plate that also serves as a tray for eating utensils according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example of a plate that also serves as a tray for eating utensils according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of an example of a plate that also serves as a tray for eating utensils according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an example of a tray that also serves as an eating utensil holder according to the present invention, on which eating utensils are placed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of a tray that also serves as an eating utensil holder according to the present invention, on which eating utensils are placed (for both left-handed and right-handed people). [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows another example of a plate that also serves as an eating utensil holder according to the present invention (open type for left-handed and right-handed people). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view (for right-handed people) of another example of a plate that also serves as an eating utensil holder according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0043] While the present invention can be embodied in various modifications, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail in the following description, but it should be understood that this is not to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, and that the present invention encompasses all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0044] In describing the drawings, like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0045] To provide a device for supporting eating utensils (spoon, chopsticks, fork, knife) stably and hygienically to prevent them from being contaminated, and also to support the eating utensils in a state where they are lifted from a dining table, making it easier to pick up the spoon and chopsticks.

[0046] The plate that also serves as an utensil holder according to the present invention is a plate that also serves as an utensil holder for placing and supporting utensils such as spoons, chopsticks, forks, and knives, and has a plate shape as shown in Figures 1 to 7.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the plate 100, which also serves as a tray for eating utensils, of the present invention is divided into a first portion 100a and a second portion 100b. The first portion 100a is designed to hold a relatively large amount of food, such as rice or soup, while the second portion 100b is designed to hold a relatively small amount of food, such as a spoon and sauce. The edge region of the second portion 100b is formed with a spoon-mounting groove 101 shaped like the bottom surface 401 of a spoon head, and a chopstick-mounting groove 102 shaped to correspond to the shape of chopsticks 500. The spoon-mounting groove 101 is located adjacent to the first portion 100a, and the chopstick-mounting groove 102 is located adjacent to the spoon-mounting groove 101, with the spoon-mounting groove 101 located between the chopstick-mounting groove 102 and the first portion 100a. In addition, a dam 103, a vertical partition on which the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head rests, is formed at the edge of the second part 100b to directly receive the soup that has collected on the spoon, and an inclined surface 111 is formed on the inside of the dam to allow the soup that has collected on the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head to flow naturally, and to confine and store the soup in the round-shaped storage tank 104, with a shape that prevents the bottom of the spoon from touching the stored soup. In other words, the storage tank 104 is configured to store a portion of the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head.

[0048] As shown in the figure, the spoon placement groove 101 is formed by connecting a groove corresponding to the head of the spoon 400 where food is placed and the handle extending from the head, and the portion where the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head is placed is formed deeper than the portion where the spoon handle 402 is placed, and the placement grooves 101 of the bottom surface 401 of the spoon head are formed on one side and the other side of the edge of the second part 100b, and these are connected by a groove that accommodates the spoon handle 402 to form a single groove as a whole. In addition, by forming the placement grooves on one side and the other side of the edge of the second part 100b, i.e., on both the top and bottom, it can be used by both left-handed and right-handed people.

[0049] The step (a) formed by the groove for accommodating the spoon handle portion 402 formed in the second portion 100b and the mounting groove 101 can form the boundary region between the first portion 100a and the second portion 100b.

[0050] The chopstick placement groove 102 is a wide and long groove formed to correspond to the shape of chopsticks, and is formed at a position separated from the spoon placement groove 101. The spoon and chopsticks placed in the spoon placement groove 101 and chopstick placement groove 102 formed as described above can be easily taken out because their handles are lifted away from the dining table.

[0051] The chopstick placement grooves 102 are formed as grooves of a predetermined depth on one side and the other side of the edge region of the second part 100b, i.e., the chopstick placement grooves 102 are formed at the upper and lower positions of the edge region of the second part 100b.

[0052] A sauce groove 108 is formed in the central region of the second portion 100b. The upper surface of the second portion 100b, excluding the sauce groove 108, is formed with the spoon placement groove 101, the groove for the spoon handle portion 402, and the chopstick placement groove 102. A second step (b) is formed between the spoon placement groove 101 and the groove for the spoon handle portion 402 and the sauce groove 108, and a third step (c) is formed between the spoon placement groove 101 and the chopstick placement groove 102.

[0053] When chopsticks are placed in the chopstick placement grooves 102 formed on one side and the other side of the edge region of the second portion 100b, the chopsticks are positioned across the sauce groove 108. In other words, the central region of the chopsticks is positioned opposite the sauce groove 108.

[0054] The vertical depth of the placement groove 105 in the spoon handle portion and the placement groove 106 in the chopstick handle portion is such that a recess 107 is formed to prevent the spoon and chopsticks from shifting left and right.

[0055] In addition, the first part 100a, which corresponds to one side of the plate 100 that also serves as a tray for eating utensils of the present invention, is a plate part 200 in which food can be placed, and can be formed integrally with the second part 100b.

[0056] The plate portion 200 functions as a serving plate for serving food.

[0057] In addition, sauce groove 108 below the spoon and chopstick placement groove of plate 100, which also serves as a tray for eating utensils, can be used to place various sauces separately.

[0058] In addition, when stacked on the inner frame 201 of the dish portion where food is placed and the inner frame 109 of the sauce groove, a moisture and air exhaust groove 202 is formed.

[0059] In addition, for stability and no shaking when using or storing the tableware, the height 203 of the plate and sauce groove is the same from the table, and they serve as stable feet 110 from the dining table.

[0060] Furthermore, the present invention also includes the possibility of placing a fork and knife, or even creating a separate space for them.

[0061] The product is a plate 100 that also serves as a tray for eating utensils, which is available in various types: 600 for both left-handed and right-handed people, 700 for left-handed and right-handed people, and 800 for right-handed people.

[0062] In addition, the present invention can be used to create various characters (including animal characters such as bears, rabbits, Daruma dolls, snowmen, peanuts, etc., as well as fun shapes that are friendly to babies and children).

[0063] In addition, the plate 100, which also serves as a serving utensil holder, can be decorated with various designs such as patterns, pictures, and letters to create a promotional impression. (When used in business or commercial settings, advertising stationery and pictures can be placed on the plate to promote the product.)

[0064] Furthermore, the plate 100, which also serves as a holder for eating utensils, can be made from shatter-resistant plastic, synthetic resin, melamine, or glass, which is rigid and heat-resistant.It can also be made from a variety of other materials, including ceramics, stainless steel, wood, stone, and silicon.

[0065] In this invention, when soup is scooped up using a spoon, the soup forms on the bottom of the spoon, and the soup formed on the bottom of the spoon is received by a dam, flows down an inclined surface, and can be stored in a storage tank.

[0066] In addition, the present invention allows dishes that also serve as utensil holders to be easily stored by hanging them upside down after washing them.

[0067] Furthermore, the present invention prevents the spoon and chopsticks from becoming contaminated when the spoon and chopsticks are placed on the dining table.

[0068] The present invention is applicable in the field of dishes.

Claims

1. On one side, a dish portion (200) for placing food is formed, and on the other side, a dish (100) for placing and supporting a spoon (400) and chopsticks (500) is formed, which also serves as a tray for eating utensils. A spoon-receiving groove (101) and a chopstick-receiving groove (102) are formed, and a sauce groove (108) is formed below them. The dish portion (200) is integrally formed on one side. The plate (100) also serving as a tray for serving utensils is formed with a partition wall dam (103) on which the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head is placed so as to float. The plate (100) also serving as a serving utensil holder has a sauce groove (108) formed therein, which serves as a stable foot (110). The spoon-receiving groove (101) of the plate (100) also serving as a tray for serving utensils is further provided with an inclined surface (111) for receiving and discharging the soup that is collected at the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head, and a reservoir (104) for storing the soup. In the spoon-receiving groove of the plate (100) that also serves as a tray for serving as a utensil holder, a partition dam (103) for supporting the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head and a reservoir (104) for receiving and storing the soup that flows to the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head are formed symmetrically in the vertical direction. The plate (100) also serving as a serving utensil holder has an inner frame (201) for placing food on the plate and an inner frame (109) for the sauce groove, and an air discharge groove (202) for discharging moisture and air when stacked on the inner frame (201) for placing food on the plate and the sauce groove. The plate (100) also serving as a tray for eating utensils is characterized in that its shape is a peanut and a daruma doll.

2. 2. The plate (100) also serving as a utensil holder according to claim 1, further comprising a partition dam (103) for supporting the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head, a reservoir (104) for receiving and storing soup food connected to the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head in the spoon placement groove (101), and a sauce groove (108) for receiving and storing soup food connected to the bottom surface (401) of the spoon head.

3. 2. The plate (100) also serving as a serving utensil holder according to claim 1, wherein the height (203) of the plate portion (200) and the sauce groove (108) is formed to be the same as the height from the dining table to ensure stability and prevent shaking during use and storage.

4. The plate (100) also serving as a tray for eating utensils according to claim 1, characterized in that the material for manufacturing the plate (100) also serving as a tray for eating utensils is at least one of heat-resistant synthetic resin, plastic, heat-resistant glass, ceramic material, melamine, stainless steel, wood, and silicone.

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