Invertible food container

Abstract

An invertible food container. The food container is reversibly invertible from and between a first plate-like geometry to a second bowl-like geometry. The user may eat from the food container while it is either geometry. In the first geometry, the food container can receive food as a plate. In the second geometry, the food container can receive food as a bowl. The second geometry is useful for holding liquid food or other foods which have a tendency to flow. A plurality of the food containers may be nested and shipped in the first, plate-like geometry to conserve space. At the point of use, the food container may be used in the first geometry or, depending upon the users' preference, be inverted to the second bowl-like geometry.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An invertible food container comprising a first surface, a second surface opposed to said first surface, said food container being oriented concave towards said first surface and convex relative to said second surface, said food container comprising a central region and a periphery circumscribing and being disposed in angular relationship relative to said central region, a circumferentially oriented hinge line between said central region and said periphery, wherein at least one of said periphery and said central region is articulable about said circumferentially oriented hinge line such that said concave and convex orientations of said first and second surfaces, respectively, are transposable, such that said second surface is concave and said first surface is convex.  
     
     
         2 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein said circumferentially oriented hinge line is polygonal.  
     
     
         3 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein said circumferentially oriented hinge line comprises a circle.  
     
     
         4 . The food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of radially oriented hinge lines, each of said radially oriented hinge lines extending from a proximal end intercepting said circumferentially oriented hinge line to a distal end, said distal end being radially outward of said proximal end and disposed in said periphery of said food container.  
     
     
         5 . The food container of  claim 4  having an edge defining the border of said food container, the distals end of said radially oriented hinge lines being disposed at said edge of said food container.  
     
     
         6 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein said food container is circular in shape.  
     
     
         7 . The food container of  claim 1 , wherein said food container is rectangularly-shaped.  
     
     
         8 . A food container having a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto, said food container being invertible between two geometries, a first geometry oriented concave towards said first surface and a second geometry oriented concave toward second surface, said food container having a first volumetric capacity associated with said first geometry, and a second volumetric capacity associated with said second geometry, said second being at least 25% greater than said first volume.  
     
     
         9 . A food container according to  claim 8 , wherein said second volumetric capacity is at least 50% greater than said first volume.  
     
     
         10 . A food container according to  claim 9 , wherein said second volumetric capacity is at least 100% greater than said first volume.  
     
     
         11 . A food container according to  claim 8 , wherein said food container has first depth in said first geometry and a second depth in said second geometry, said second depth being at least 50% greater than said first depth.  
     
     
         12 . A food container according to  claim 11 , wherein said food container has first depth in said first geometry and a second depth in said second geometry, said second depth being at least 75% greater than said first depth.  
     
     
         13 . A method of using an invertible food container, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of identical food containers, each said food container having a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto, each said food container being oriented concave toward said first surface and having a first depth and being convex towards said second surface;    stacking said food containers in face-to-face nesting relationship, wherein said first surface of one food container contacts said second surface of a succeeding food container;    shipping said plurality of food containers in said stacked relationship;    separating at least one food container from said stack; and    inverting said separated food container from said first geometry to a second geometry wherein said food container is oriented concave toward said second surface.    
     
     
         14 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of inverting said food container from said first geometry to said second geometry comprises manually inverting said food container.  
     
     
         15 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 14 , wherein said food container has a central region and a periphery, said periphery circumscribing and being in angular relationship relative to said central region, and further comprising the step of applying a force having a vector component normal to said central region.  
     
     
         16 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of placing said separated food container in face to face relationship with a plurality of food containers having a nested relationship, whereby said first or said second surface of said separated food container contacts said first or said second surface of one of said plurality of said food containers, respectively and is supported thereby; and applying an inverting force to said separated food container, said force being oriented towards said plurality of food containers whereby said separated food container inverts.  
     
     
         17 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 16  wherein said plurality of food containers is placed on a support surface with said convex second surface facing upwardly.  
     
     
         18 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 17  further comprising the step of using a plunger to apply said inverting force.  
     
     
         19 . A method of using an invertible food container, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a food container having a central region and a periphery, said periphery circumscribing and being in angular relationship relative to said central region, said food container further having a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto, said food container being oriented concave toward said first surface and having a first depth and being convex towards said second surface, said food container further comprising a circumferentially oriented hinge line between said central region and said periphery, wherein at least one of said periphery and said central region is articulable about said circumferentially oriented hinge,    said method further comprising the step of applying an inverting force to said central region such that said concave and convex orientations of said first and second surfaces, respectively, are transposed, whereby said first surface becomes convex and said second surface becomes concave.    
     
     
         20 . A method of using an invertible food container according to  claim 19  wherein said food container has a plate like geometry with a first depth and is invertible to a bowl like geometry with a second depth, said second depth being greater than said first depth, and said step of providing said food container comprises providing said food container in said plate like geometry.