Nesting Bowl

Abstract

A nesting bowl is described and which, when used in combination with other nesting bowls of a similar design, permits a user to remove a smaller nesting bowl from the internal cavity of a larger nesting bowl by exerting a downwardly directed force on the circumscribing flange of the innermost nesting bowl so as to cause the innermost nesting bowl to assume an elevated, and angulated orientation which allows the innermost nesting bowl to be easily removed, by hand, without contaminating the internal cavity of the smaller nesting bowl.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A nesting bowl, comprising:
 main body which has a top peripheral edge, and an interior facing surface which defines an internal cavity and which further has a given shape and size, and wherein the main body has a circumscribing flange which is made integral with the top, peripheral edge, and which extends laterally outwardly therefrom, and wherein an annular channel having variable dimensions is defined by the interior facing surface, and which is located near the top, peripheral edge thereof, and wherein the main body of the nesting bowl matingly cooperates with a second nesting bowl which has similar features, and which is either of a greater or lesser size than the first mentioned nesting bowl, and wherein the first mentioned nesting bowl, and the second nesting bowl, when disposed in a nested relationship are oriented so that the circumscribing flange of each are oriented in a coplanar orientation, one relative to the other, and wherein an application of a downwardly directed force to the circumscribing flange of a smaller, innermost oriented nesting bowl is effective in moving the circumscribing flange of the innermost oriented and smaller-sized nesting bowl into an elevated, angular orientation relative to an outermost oriented, and larger-sized nesting bowl so as to assist in the removal of the innermost oriented, and smaller-sized nesting bowl from the outermost oriented, and larger-sized nesting bowl.   
     
     
         2 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the main body is generally semi-hemispherical in shape, and the circumscribing flange extends substantially radially, outwardly, with respect to the top peripheral edge thereof, and wherein the circumscribing flange has a predetermined diametral dimension which allows the nesting bowl to be received in a nesting relationship within the internal cavity of another, larger-sized nesting bowl. 
     
     
         3 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 2 , and wherein the annular channel of the larger-sized nesting bowl is dimensioned to matingly, and operably cooperate with the circumscribing flange of the second, smaller-sized, nesting bowl, and which is inwardly oriented relative thereto, and matingly received within the internal cavity of the larger-sized nesting bowl. 
     
     
         4 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 3 , and wherein the annular channel has a substantially uniform depth dimension, and a variable width dimension when measured along a length dimension of the annular channel. 
     
     
         5 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 4 , and wherein the top peripheral edge is circular in shape, and the main body has opposite sides, and wherein the annular channel has a maximum width dimension which is oriented in predetermined locations which are on the opposite sides of the main body, and wherein the annular channel has a minimum width dimension which is oriented in predetermined locations which are on opposite sides of the main body, and which are further oriented at locations which are about 90 degrees offset from the locations which have the maximum width dimension. 
     
     
         6 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 5 , and wherein an inside diametral dimension of the main body of the larger-sized nesting bowl, when measured in the region of the annular channel thereof, is greater than an outside diametral dimension of the circumscribing flange of the smaller-sized nesting bowl, and which is oriented inwardly relative thereto, and which is further matingly received within the internal cavity of the outermost oriented, and larger-sized nesting bowl. 
     
     
         7 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 6 , and wherein, a visibly discernible indicia is oriented on the circumscribing flange of the respective nesting bowls, and is oriented adjacent to the location of the annular channel of the respective nesting bowl, and which has the maximum width dimension, and wherein the downwardly directed force is applied on the circumscribing flange of the smaller-sized, innermost located nesting bowl at a location which is adjacent to the visibly discernible indicia of the immediately outermost and larger-sized nesting bowl, and is effective in rocking the smaller-sized nesting bowl into the angular orientation so as to facilitate the easy removal of the smaller-sized nesting bowl from the internal cavity of the immediately outermost, and larger-sized nesting bowl. 
     
     
         8 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 7 , and wherein the circumscribing flange of the respective nesting bowls have a top, and an opposite, bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the circumscribing flange of the smaller-sized, innermost located nesting bowl, rests in contact with the location of the annular channel of the outermost located and larger-sized nesting bowl, and which has the minimum width dimension, and wherein the downwardly directed force rocks the innermost and smaller-sized nesting bowl about the minimum width location of the annular channel of the outermost oriented and larger-sized nesting bowl. 
     
     
         9 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 8 , and wherein each of the innermost and outermost oriented nesting bowls have an exterior facing surface which defines a bottom surface, and which further supports the respective nesting bowls on an adjacent, supporting surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the innermost and smaller-sized nesting bowl is spaced from the interior facing surface of the outermost, and larger-sized nesting bowl when the respective nesting bowls are nested together, and the respective circumscribing flanges are disposed in a coplanar orientation, one relative to the other. 
     
     
         10 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 9 , and wherein the width dimension of the annular channel gradually diminishes when measured in a direction extending from the location having the greatest width dimension, to the location which has the minimum width dimension. 
     
     
         11 . A nesting bowl, comprising:
 a main body defined by an exterior facing surface, and an opposite, interior facing surface, and wherein the exterior facing surface of the main body defines a base portion which is operable to support the main body of the nesting bowl in a predetermined orientation on an underlying supporting surface, and which further has top, peripheral edge, and wherein the main body further has a circumscribing flange which is disposed in spaced relation relative to the base portion, and which is further disposed in a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the top, peripheral edge, and wherein the interior facing surface of the main body defines an internal cavity having a given volume, and shape, and wherein an annular channel is formed in the interior facing surface of the main body, and is further located in juxtaposed relation relative to the circumscribing flange, and the top peripheral edge, and wherein the annular channel is dimensioned to matingly, and operably cooperate with a circumscribing flange of a second, and smaller nesting bowl, and which is matingly nested within the internal cavity of the main body.   
     
     
         12 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 11 , and wherein the main body of the first mentioned nesting bowl has a substantially circular cross-section, and the exterior facing surface has a generally semi-hemispherical shape, and wherein the circumscribing flange extends substantially radially, outwardly, relative to the main body of the first mentioned nesting bowl, and the top, peripheral edge thereof, and wherein the annular channel has a substantially uniform depth dimension, and a variable width dimension when measured along a length dimension of the annular channel. 
     
     
         13 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 12 , and wherein the top peripheral edge is circular, and the main body has opposite sides, and wherein the annular channel has a maximum width dimension which is oriented in predetermined locations which are on opposite sides of the main body, and wherein the annular channel has a minimum width dimension which is oriented in predetermined locations which are on opposite sides of the main body and which are further oriented at locations which are about 90 degrees offset from the locations having the maximum width dimension. 
     
     
         14 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 13 , and wherein an inside diametral dimension of the main body of the first mentioned nesting bowl, when measured in the region of the annular channel, is greater than an outside diametral dimension of a circumscribing flange of the smaller nesting bowl, and wherein the smaller nesting bowl when received in the internal cavity of the nesting bowl is located in an orientation where the flange of the smaller nesting bowl is located in a coplanar orientation relative to the flange of the first mentioned nesting bowl. 
     
     
         15 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 14 , and wherein a visibly discernible indicia is oriented on the circumscribing flange of the first mentioned nesting bowl, and is oriented adjacent to the location of the annular channel of the first mentioned nesting bowl, and which has the maximum width dimension, and wherein a downwardly directed force applied on the circumscribing flange of the smaller nesting bowl, in a location which is adjacent to the visibly discernible indicia, is effective in rocking the smaller nesting bowl into an orientation where the circumscribing flange of the smaller nesting bowl moves from a coplanar orientation relative to the circumscribing flange of the first mentioned and outwardly oriented nesting bowl, to an elevated, angular orientation, and which permits the easy removal of the smaller nesting bowl from the internal cavity of the first mentioned and outwardly oriented nesting bowl. 
     
     
         16 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 15 , and wherein the smaller nesting bowl has an interior facing surface, and a top peripheral edge, and wherein the circumscribing flange of the smaller nesting bowl extends radially, outwardly relative to the top peripheral edge thereof, and wherein the smaller nesting bowl has an annular channel formed in the interior facing surface, and which is located near the top, peripheral edge, and which further has a substantially uniform depth dimension, and a variable width dimension when measured along a length dimension of the annular channel, and wherein a visibly discernible indicia is oriented on the circumscribing flange of the smaller nesting bowl, and is further located adjacent to the location of the annular channel of the smaller nesting bowl and which has the greatest width dimension. 
     
     
         17 . A nesting bowl as claimed in  claim 16 , and wherein the width dimension of the annular channel gradually diminishes when measured in a direction extending from the location having the greatest width dimension, to the location which has the minimum width dimension.