GB2477175A

GB2477175A - Damage prevention tableware

Info

Publication number: GB2477175A
Application number: GB1019124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rachel Contini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-22
Filing date: 2010-11-12
Publication date: 2011-07-27
Also published as: GB201008678D0; GB201019124D0; GB0920369D0

Abstract

A piece of tableware comprising a main body 1 formed of a first material and a base 2 wherein at least part of the base is formed of a second material 3 that is less likely to damage the surface of a table than the first material. The second material may be plastic, wooden, cork, felt, fabric, foam, leather, suede or rubber. The second material can cover all or part of the base and can be used in a variety of shapes. The second material can be fitted to the base by an adhesive, injection or other moulding, mechanical means or push and/or press fit.

Description

The Cupster

Statement of Invention.

Prior Art.

Presently tableware is manufactured mainly of hard materials such as ceramic, porcelain and china.

Traditional surfaces such as wood and modern surfaces such as glass and laminated surfaces can become damaged by both the heat and the abrasive quality of tableware. The current solutions to this are the same ones that have been around for centuries. Covering the surface with a tablecloth can prevent scratching but can still allow heat damage which can only be prevented by the use of a heat insulating mat beneath the cloth. The most widely used methods at present are coasters or placemats, however these can look untidy, need constant cleaning and are prone to wear and tear which can leave them looking unsightly.

Statement of Invention.

My invention solves this by turning the problem on its head. Rather than insulate the surface, I propose to insulate the base of the tableware. Affixing a heat resistant base to the bottom of an item of tableware will create a shield between the hard base of the tableware and the delicate surface to be protected. The item of tableware would then comprise at least first and second materials, the first being the traditional hard material of which the main body of the tableware and the second being a heat insulating base of heat and/or scratch resistant material. The second material would be permanently affixed to the first material. (Figure 1) Possible heat resistant materials for the base to include: Soft plastics, hard plastics, wood, cork and cork derived products, felt, fabrics, foam, leather (both natural and synthetic) suede (both natural and synthetic) and rubber (both natural and synthetic.) Methods of affixing to include: Adhesive, affixing by mechanical means, injection or other moulding.

The second material can be resiliently deformable.

The second material can be fitted in a variety of shapes covering all or part of the base. (Figure 2) Tableware includes any receptacle upon or within which food or drink can be served. This excludes trophies, ornamental containers and flasks. To include plates, cups, saucers and bowls and/or a tableware set comprising all of these.

The enclosed drawings indicate: Figure 1-An item of tableware (1) comprising a first material (2) and a second material (3) which is fitted at the base.

Figure 2 -Shows examples of how the second material (2) can be fitted to the first material (1) including but not limited to a large single shape (3), a series of smaller shapes (4), a continuous ring (5)ora cross (6)

Claims

Claims.1. A piece of tableware comprising a main body formed of a first material and a base wherein at least part of the base is formed of a second material that is less likely to damage the surface of a table than the first material.
2. It is less likely to scratch and/or is less likely to cause heat damage.
3. Surface is a glass surface.
4. Surface is a wooden or laminate surface.
5. Wooden is wood or wood substitute.
6. First material is crockery.
7. First material is ceramic, china, porcelain and/or other kiln fired materials.
8. Second material is softer than the first.
9. Second material is soft plastics, hard plastics, wood, cork and cork derived products, felt, fabrics, foam, leather (both natural and synthetic), suede (both natural and synthetic), and rubber (both natural and synthetic.)
10. Second material is only part of the base.
11. Second material can cover all or part of the base.
12. Second material can be used in a variety of shapes.
13. Second material can form a ring shape.
14. Second material can form a cross shape.
15. Second material can form a star or flower shape.
16. Second material can form a series of shapes placed intermittently.
17. A method of reducing the risk of damage to a table surface when a piece of tableware is placed upon it the method comprising using a piece of tableware according to any of the claims 1 to 16 as an alternative to standard tableware.
18. A method of making a piece of tableware according to any of claims 1 to 16 comprising obtaining a piece of tableware comprising a first material and fitting or adding a second material to the base.
19. The second material can be fitted by means of adhesive.
20. The second material can be fitted by means of injection or other moulding.
21. The second material can be fitted by mechanical means.
22. The second material can be fitted by means of push and/or press fit.
23. A set of tableware when each piece is a piece of tableware according to any of claims 1 to 16.
24. The second material can be resiliently deformable.
25. The invention substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.