Compartment plates having themes and method for manufacturing and packaging the same

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement of plates for receiving food is disclosed. The arrangement of plates comprises a plurality of nestable plates, wherein the plates within the plurality of nestable plates have an animal theme. Each of the plates having an animal theme include a main compartment depicting a primary attribute of an animal corresponding to the animal theme, and at least two independent wells adjacent to the main compartment. Each of the wells are shaped to depict a secondary attribute of the animal corresponding to the animal theme. The plurality of plates include a first plate depicting a first animal and a second plate depicting a second animal that is different from the first animal. The secondary attribute within the wells of said first plate is a first physical feature of the first animal and the secondary attribute within the wells of the second plate is a second physical feature of the second animal. The first physical feature is different from the second physical feature while the wells of the first and second plates are similarly shaped allowing the plurality of plates to be nestable. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of packaging an arrangement of plates is disclosed. The method of packaging an arrangement of plates comprises providing a plurality of plates that have a depiction associated with a common theme, selecting from the plurality of plates to form a first group of plates and a second group of plates, and packaging the first and second group of plates for commercial distribution. The plurality of plates including a number of different depictions, and the second group of plates containing plates with different depictions than the first group of plates. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention a case of plate packages is disclosed. The case of plate packages comprises a plurality of plate packages and a covering structure surrounding said plurality of plate packages. Each of the plate package includes a plurality of nestable plates and a transparent wrapping for enveloping the plurality of nestable plates. The plates within the plurality of nestable plates include different depictions associated with a common theme. Each of the plurality of nestable plates include a top plate that is at least partially visualized through said transparent wrapping. The top plates for the plurality of plate packages include plates with different depictions.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . A method of packaging an arrangement of containers, comprising: 
 producing a plurality of containers on at least first and second manufacturing lines, said first manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a first series of color combinations said second manufacturing line including a second print cylinder system capable of providing a second series of color combinations, that is different from said first series of color combinations, said first manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said first series of color combinations and said second manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said second series of color combinations, said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line producing containers with depictions associated with a common theme;    accumulating containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line at a common location;    at said common location, selecting containers with said first series of color combinations and containers with said second series of color combinations to form a group of containers; and    packaging said group of containers for commercial distribution.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said first manufacturing line produces a first plurality of subgroups and said second manufacturing line produces a second plurality of subgroups.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said step of selecting includes selecting from said first plurality of subgroups and selecting from said second plurality of subgroups.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said first and second plurality of subgroups have the same number of subgroups.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said same number of subgroups is 3, 4, 5, or 6.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said repeating pattern includes 3, 4, 5, or 6 containers.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said repeating patterns of containers are in stacks.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 38 , further including selecting containers with said first series of color combinations and containers with said second series of color combinations to form a second group of containers, said second group of containers including containers with different depictions than said first group of containers.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said steps of selecting include, respectively, selecting a top container for said first group of containers and selecting a top container for said second group of containers, said top container for said first group having a different depiction than said top container in said second group.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein each container of said plurality of containers includes a depiction associated with said common theme.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 38 , further including producing a plurality of containers on a third manufacturing line, said third manufacturing line including a print cylinder set capable of providing a third series of color combinations that is different from said first and second series of color combinations, said third manufacturing line producing containers with depictions using said third series of color combinations, said third manufacturing line producing containers with depictions associated with said common theme.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said containers are plates.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said containers are bowls.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said containers are cups.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common theme is an animal theme.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common theme is a commonly known societal holiday.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common theme is vehicles.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common theme is a sports theme.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are stationary.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said selecting is at least partially manual.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are moving.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein said selecting is automated.  
   
   
       62 . A method of packaging an arrangement of containers, comprising: 
 producing a plurality of containers on at least first and second manufacturing lines, said first manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a first array of different depictions for a first set of containers within said plurality of containers, said second manufacturing line including a print cylinder system capable of providing a second array of different depictions for a second set of containers within said plurality of containers, said first array of different depictions including depictions that are different from depictions within said second array of different depictions;    accumulating said plurality of containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line at a common location;    at said common location, selecting containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line to form a group of containers; and    packaging said group of containers for commercial distribution.    
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said first manufacturing line produces a first plurality of subgroups and said second manufacturing line produces a second plurality of subgroups and selecting includes selecting from said first plurality of subgroups and selecting from said second plurality of subgroups.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein each subgroup within said first and second plurality of subgroups includes a repeating pattern of containers.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said common location is a location where said containers from said first manufacturing line and said second manufacturing line are stationary.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said selecting is automated.  
   
   
       67 - 72 . (canceled)