Foodware Set That Includes A Multifunction Cover-Base Assembly

Abstract

A foodware set having a covered configuration and a serving configuration. The foodware set includes a container defining a cavity for receiving a comestible during use. The foodware set further includes a cover-base that functions as a cover for the cavity when the set is in the covered configuration and as a base for supporting the container in a manner that exposes the cavity and comestible when the set is in the serving configuration. In one embodiment, the cover-base includes a plurality of resilient fittings each having an integral latch for holdingly engaging the container and an integral foot for providing the set with slip-resistance when the foodware set is in its serving configuration and the set is resting on a relatively hard, smooth surface.

1 . A foodware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration, the foodware set comprising:
 a container for receiving a comestible during use, said container having a top opening and at least one catch region located around said top opening; and   a cover-base having an open end and a cavity sized to receive substantially all of said container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base covering said top opening of said container when the foodware set is in the covered configuration and said cover-base receiving in said cavity substantially all of the container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base including:
 a rim surrounding a substantially defining said open end; and 
 at least one resilient latch located proximate said rim and configured to latchingly engage said at least one catch region when the foodware set is in each of the serving and covering configurations. 
   
   
   
       2 . A foodware set according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover-base includes a plurality of resilient latches spaced from one another around said rim. 
   
   
       3 . A foodware set according to  claim 2 , wherein said cover-base has a top-bottom wall confronting a horizontal surface when the foodware is in the serving configuration, said exterior base including a plurality of high-friction feet for inhibiting slipping of the foodware set on the horizontal surface when the foodware set is in the serving configuration. 
   
   
       4 . A foodware set according to  claim 3 , wherein ones of said plurality of high-friction feet are integral with corresponding respective ones of said resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings. 
   
   
       5 . A foodware set according to  claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body. 
   
   
       6 . A foodware set according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of latches is part of a corresponding one of a plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base includes a plurality of apertures, said plurality of resilient fittings being secured to said cover-base via corresponding respective ones of said plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       7 . A foodware set according to  claim 6 , wherein said cover-base has a sidewall and each of said plurality of apertures is a vertically elongated slot formed at least partially in said sidewall, each of said plurality of resilient fittings including an elongated body and an integrally molded elongated fastener for mechanically fastening that one of said plurality of resilient fittings to said cover-base via said vertically elongated slot, said integrally molded elongated fastener including a neck portion and a head portion, said neck portion filling said vertically elongated slot and said head portion being larger than said aperture so as to provide a mechanical connection between that one of said plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base. 
   
   
       8 . A foodware set according to  claim 7 , wherein said sidewall includes a plurality of corners, each said vertically elongated slot located at a corresponding one of said plurality of corners. 
   
   
       9 . A foodware set according to  claim 8 , wherein said sidewall of said cover-base has an exterior and an interior and includes at each of said plurality of corners:
 a recess on said exterior that receives said head of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said head flush with said exterior; and   a recess on said interior that receives said elongated body of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said elongated body flush with said interior.   
   
   
       10 . A foodware set according to  claim 8 , wherein said sidewall of said cover base is thickened substantially only at each of said plurality of corners so as to form a plurality of shoulders for holdingly engaging the pan in concert with said plurality of latches when the foodware set is in each of the covered and serving configurations. 
   
   
       11 . A foodware set according to  claim 7 , wherein said cover-base has a top-bottom wall attached to said sidewall, each said vertically elongated slot extending onto said top-bottom wall, each said head of said integrally molded elongated fastener extending onto said top-bottom wall and configured to provide a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet. 
   
   
       12 . A foodware set according to  claim 2 , wherein said container has an outwardly turned peripheral flange circumscribing said top opening and said plurality of catch regions are corresponding respective portions of said outwardly turned peripheral flange. 
   
   
       13 . A foodware set according to  claim 12 , wherein said outwardly turned peripheral flange has an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said cover-base having a sidewall that includes an interior shoulder adjacent said rim, said shelf engaging said upper surface of said outwardly turned flange of said container when the foodware set is in the cover configuration and said shelf engaging said lower surface of said outwardly turned flange of said container when the foodware set is in the serving configuration. 
   
   
       14 . A foodware set according to  claim 1 , wherein said rim includes a notch receiving a portion of one of said at least one resilient latch. 
   
   
       15 . A foodware set according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said plurality of resilient latches is pivotably mounted in said notch. 
   
   
       16 . A bakeware set having a serving configuration and a covered configuration, comprising:
 a baking pan including:
 a first cavity having a top opening; and 
 an outwardly turned flange surrounding said top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface; and 
   a cover-base assembly having a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of said baking pan when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration, said cover-base assembly including:
 at least one shoulder formed in said sidewall, said at least one shoulder engaging said upper surface of said outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in the covered configuration and engaging said lower surface when the bakeware set is in the serving configuration; 
 a rim formed on said sidewall and spaced from said at least one shoulder opposite said top-bottom wall; and 
 a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least said sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage said outwardly turned flange when the bakeware set is in each of its covered and serving configurations so as to retain said outwardly turned flange in engagement with said at least one shoulder. 
   
   
   
       17 . A bakeware set according to  claim 16 , wherein said top-bottom wall of cover-base assembly has an exterior surface, said cover-base assembly further including a plurality of high-friction feet raised relative to said exterior surface of said top-bottom wall, said plurality of high-friction feet being formed integrally with corresponding respective ones of said plurality of resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings. 
   
   
       18 . A bakeware set according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body. 
   
   
       19 . A bakeware set according to  claim 18 , wherein said cover-base assembly has an exterior and an interior, each said monolithic elastomeric body including an exterior portion exposed to said exterior of said cover-base assembly, and an interior portion exposed to said interior of said cover-base assembly, said exterior and interior portions connected to one another by a neck portion that extends through said cover-base assembly. 
   
   
       20 . A bakeware set according to  claim 19 , wherein a bottom portion of said exterior portion of said monolithic elastomeric body provides a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet. 
   
   
       21 . A bakeware set according to  claim 17 , wherein each said plurality of resilient latches is integral with said interior portion of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings. 
   
   
       22 . A bakeware set according to  claim 17 , wherein said top opening of said baking pan defines a plurality of first corners and sidewall of said cover-base assembly forms a plurality of second corners with itself that correspond respectively to said plurality of first corners of said baking pan, said plurality of resilient fittings being located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners. 
   
   
       23 . A bakeware set according to  claim 22 , wherein said rim includes a plurality of notches located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners, said plurality of notches receiving corresponding respective portions of ones of said plurality of resilient latches. 
   
   
       24 . A bakeware set according to  claim 16 , wherein said sidewall of said cover-base assembly has a plurality of corners and includes a plurality of shoulders substantially only at said plurality of corners. 
   
   
       25 . A bakeware set according to  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of shoulders are formed by thickened regions of said sidewall. 
   
   
       26 . A cover-base assembly for use with a container to provide the container with a covered configuration and a serving configuration, the container including a first cavity having a top opening and further including an outwardly turned flange surrounding the top opening and having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from the upper surface, the cover-base assembly comprising:
 a cover-base member that includes:
 a sidewall and a top-bottom wall together defining a second cavity for receiving substantially all of the container when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; 
 at least one shoulder formed in said sidewall, said sidewall engaging the upper surface of the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the covered configuration and engaging the lower surface when the cover-base assembly and the container are in the serving configuration; and 
 a rim formed on said sidewall and spaced from said at least one shoulder opposite said top-bottom wall; and 
   a plurality of resilient latches secured to at least said sidewall and located and configured to latchingly engage the outwardly turned flange when the cover-base assembly and the container are in each of their covered and serving configurations so as to retain the outwardly turned flange in engagement with said at least one shoulder.   
   
   
       27 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said top-bottom wall of said cover-base member has an exterior surface, the cover-base assembly further including a plurality of high-friction feet raised relative to said exterior surface of said top-bottom wall, said plurality of high-friction feet being formed integrally with corresponding respective ones of said plurality of resilient latches so as to form a plurality of resilient fittings. 
   
   
       28 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein each of said plurality of resilient fittings is a monolithic elastomeric body. 
   
   
       29 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the cover-base assembly has an exterior and an interior, each said monolithic elastomeric body including an exterior portion exposed to said exterior of said cover-base assembly, and an interior portion exposed to said interior of said cover-base assembly, said exterior and interior portions connected to one another by a neck portion that extends through said cover-base member. 
   
   
       30 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein a bottom portion of said exterior portion of said monolithic elastomeric body provides a corresponding one of said plurality of high-friction feet. 
   
   
       31 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein each said plurality of resilient latches is integral with said interior portion of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings. 
   
   
       32 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the top opening of the container defines a plurality of first corners and said sidewall of said cover-base assembly forms a plurality of second corners with itself that correspond respectively to the plurality of first corners of the container, said plurality of resilient fittings being located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners. 
   
   
       33 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein said rim includes a plurality of notches located at corresponding respective ones of said plurality of second corners, said plurality of notches receiving corresponding respective portions of ones of said plurality of resilient latches. 
   
   
       34 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein each of said plurality of resilient latches is part of a corresponding one of a plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base member includes a plurality of apertures, said plurality of resilient fittings being secured to said cover-base member via corresponding respective ones of said plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       35 . A foodware set according to  claim 34 , wherein each of said plurality of apertures is a vertically elongated slot, each of said plurality of resilient fittings including an elongated body and an integrally molded elongated fastener for mechanically fastening that one of said plurality of resilient fittings to said cover-base member via said vertically elongated slot, said integrally molded elongated fastener including a neck portion and a head portion, said neck portion filling said vertically elongated slot and said head portion being larger than said aperture so as to provide a mechanical connection between that one of said plurality of resilient fittings and said cover-base. 
   
   
       36 . A cover-base assembly according to  claim 35 , wherein said sidewall of said cover-base member has a plurality of corners, an exterior and an interior, and includes at each of said plurality of corners:
 a recess on said exterior that receives said head of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said head flush with said exterior; and   a recess on said interior that receives said elongated body of a corresponding respective one of said plurality of resilient fittings so as to make said elongated body flush with said interior.