Tableware for Specialized Persons

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a set of tableware for use by persons with neuro-cognitive impairment, compromised or under developed motor skills, or any persons with difficulties eating foods and imbibing drinks. As described herein, the tableware set includes at least one container and at least one spoon. The container has a smooth sidewall portion, a vertically slanted basin portion to define an asymmetrical cavity enclosed by the container. A flat base is provided on the underside of the container. A spoon is provided to match the curvature of the container along or more axes. To assist disabled persons with using the spoon, the side edges of the spoon matches the vertical curvature of the sidewall container, and the tip of the spoon matches the horizontal curvature. The handle of the spoon is designed along an arc to match the alignment of a closed hand when holding a spoon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tableware set, comprising:
 one or more containers, each of which comprising:   a substantially flat base;   a basin portion disposed over the base; and   a substantially vertical sidewall portion comprising a substantially smooth interior surface, the sidewall portion surrounding a perimeter of the basin portion and extending vertically above the basin portion,   wherein an upper surface of the basin portion is vertically slanted such that a first side of the basin portion has a greater height above the base than a second side of the basin portion, the first side being on an opposite side of the container from the second side.   
     
     
         2 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a tab portion disposed along a section of the sidewall portion, the tab portion extending substantially horizontally from the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         3 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a circular lip portion surrounding a perimeter of the sidewall portion, the circular lip portion extending outwardly from the sidewall portion at an upwards angle. 
     
     
         4 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the container further comprises a plurality of handles attached to the circular rim portion, the plurality of handles extending in a downward facing direction from the circular lip portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tableware set of as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a spoon, wherein the spoon comprises:
 a bowl portion;   a handle extending from a first end of the bowl portion;   a tip disposed along an opposite end of the bowl portion with respect to the handle.   
     
     
         6 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 5 , wherein a curvature of the tip of the spoon substantially matches with a curvature of the basin portion of the container along a vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 5 , wherein a curvature of a side edge of the bowl portion substantially matches with a curvature of the sidewall portion of the container along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the handle extends from the first end of the bowl along a curvature that corresponds to an alignment of a human hand when the spoon is gripped. 
     
     
         9 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion of the container comprises at least one of:
 an exterior surface that is substantially red in color; and   an exterior surface that is substantially yellow in color.   
     
     
         10 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion comprises:
 a first side of the sidewall portion corresponding to the first side of the basin portion; and   a second side of the sidewall portion corresponding to the second side of the basin portion,   wherein the first side of the sidewall portion extends vertically above the basin portion along a substantially straight line,   further wherein the second side of the sidewall portion extends along an arc above the basin portion.   
     
     
         11 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a removable lid configured to be detachably attached to the container along a top surface of the sidewall portion via an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a first helical ridge disposed along an upper portion of the interior surface of the sidewall portion, and wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a second helical ridge disposed along a surface of the attachment mechanism, the second helical ridge being configured to be fastened to the first helical ridge via a turning motion when in direct contact with the first helical ridge. 
     
     
         13 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a latch configured to detachably fasten the removable lid to the container. 
     
     
         14 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the removable lid comprises an aperture comprising a plurality of flaps, the flaps being configured for securing a position of a straw extending through the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a handle, the handle being affixed to the container along at least a section of an exterior surface of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         16 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the handle further comprises a stabilizing portion affixed to the container along a section of the base such that a bottom-facing surface of the stabilizing portion of the handle is parallel to a bottom-facing surface of the base. 
     
     
         17 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 15 , wherein an interior surface of the handle comprises a groove having substantially equivalent width to a width of a human finger. 
     
     
         18 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the sidewall portion comprises at least one anti-slip structure selected from the group consisting of:
 a texture along the exterior surface of the sidewall portion;   a plurality of grooves along the exterior surface of the sidewall portion; and   a plurality of ridges along the exterior surface of the sidewall portion.   
     
     
         19 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a tray, the tray comprising:
 a flat surface;   a plurality of handles on opposite ends of the flat surface; and   a plurality of fastening mechanisms disposed along at least one edge of the flat surface, the fastening mechanisms being operable for detachably fastening a piece of fabric to the tray.   
     
     
         20 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the fastening mechanisms is one of an aperture with a plurality of opposable flaps, a clip, a clasp, a clamp, a ring, and a tie. 
     
     
         21 . The tableware set as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base has a greater width than a perimeter enclosed by the sidewall portion. 
     
     
         22 . A foodstuff container, comprising:
 a substantially flat base;   a basin portion disposed above the base; and   a substantially vertical sidewall portion surrounding a perimeter of the basin portion and extending vertically above the basin portion to define a cavity, the basin portion having a vertical slant such that one side of the basin portion has a greater height above the base than an opposite side of the basin portion, the vertical slant defining a deep region of the cavity and a shallow region of the cavity;   wherein the sidewall portion comprises a substantially smooth interior surface,   wherein the vertical slant is configured such that objects of food placed in the cavity collect towards the deep region of the cavity.   
     
     
         23 . The foodstuff container as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising a spoon, the spoon comprising:
 a bowl portion;   a handle extending from a first end of the bowl portion;   a tip disposed along an opposite end of the bowl portion with respect to the handle,   wherein the handle extends from the first end of the bowl portion along an arc.   
     
     
         24 . A liquid container, comprising:
 a substantially flat base;   a basin portion disposed above the base;   a substantially vertical sidewall portion surrounding the perimeter of the basin portion and extending vertically with respect to the basin portion to define a cavity, the basin portion having a vertical slant such that one side of the basin portion has a greater height above the base than an opposite side of the basin portion, the vertical slant separating a deep region of the cavity and a shallow region of the cavity;   a removable lid configured to be attached to the container along a top surface of the sidewall portion via an attachment mechanism; and   a handle, the handle being affixed to the container along a section of the sidewall portion and having a stabilizing portion affixed to a section of the base extending such that a bottom facing surface of the stabilizing portion is parallel to the base along a bottom facing surface of the base,   wherein the handle comprises a groove having a width roughly equivalent to the width of a human finger.   
     
     
         25 . A food tray, comprising:
 a flat surface;   a plurality of handles on opposite ends of the flat surface; and   a plurality of fastening mechanisms disposed along at least one edge of the flat surface, the plurality of fastening mechanisms being operable to fasten a bib to the tray.   
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a tableware set for assisting disabled person for eating, comprising a step of:
 (a) forming a container by the steps of:   (a.1) providing a substantially vertical sidewall portion above a basin portion to define a cavity; and   (a.2) configuring the basin portion to have a vertical slant such that one side of the basin portion has a greater height above the base than an opposite side of the basin portion, wherein the vertical slant defines a deep region of the cavity and a shallow region of the cavity, such that objects of food placed in the cavity collect towards the deep region of the cavity;   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the step (a) further comprises a step of extending a tab along a section of the sidewall portion to indicate an orientation of the deep region of the cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the step (a) further comprises a step of surrounding a circular lip portion at a perimeter of the sidewall portion, the circular lip portion extending outwardly from the sidewall portion at an upwards angle. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a step of forming a removable lid configured to be detachably attached to the container along a top surface of the sidewall portion via an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a step of forming a handle being affixed to the container along at least a section of an exterior surface of the sidewall portion, wherein a stabilizing portion of the handle is affixed to the container along a section of a base of the container such that a bottom facing surface of the stabilizing portion of the handle is parallel to a bottom facing surface of the base. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein an interior surface of the handle comprises a groove having substantially equivalent width to a width of a human finger. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a step (b) of forming a spoon by the steps of:
 (b.1) extending a first end of a bowl portion from a handle;   (b.2) forming a tip along an opposite end of the bowl portion with respect to the handle; and   (b.3) configuring the bowl portion such that a curvature of a side edge of the bowl portion substantially matches with a curvature of the sidewall portion of the container along a horizontal axis.   
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the step (b.1) further comprises a step of configuring the handle of the spoon in an arc shape. 
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the step (b) further comprises a step of configuring the bowl portion such that a curvature of the tip of the spoon substantially matches with a curvature of the basin portion of the container along a vertical axis. 
     
     
         35 . The method, as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a step of forming a food tray by the steps of:
 configuring the food tray to have a flat surface to support the container;   forming a plurality of handles on opposite ends of the flat surface; and   forming a plurality of fastening mechanisms disposed along at least one edge of the flat surface, the plurality of fastening mechanisms being operable to fasten a bib to the tray.