Foodservice system

Abstract

A foodservice system includes one or more plates and one or more bowls in a stacking arrangement where the bowls can act as lids for the plates, and the plates can act as lids for the bowls. The one or more plates can hold food items on one surface while acting as a lid for a bowl positioned beneath the plate. These bowls and plates of the foodservice system can be arranged on a tray. The tray can be sized to hold various arrangements of plates, bowls, and other items.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A foodservice system comprising:
 (a) at least one bowl comprising a base, a side extending upward from the base, a first engaging member positioned along a top of the side, and a second engaging member connected with the base;   (b) at least one plate comprising a base, a side extending upward from the base, a first engaging member positioned along a top of the side, and a second engaging member connected with the base;   (c) wherein the at least one bowl and the at least one plate are stackable in a stacked configuration; and   (d) wherein the at least one bowl is operable as a lid for the at least one plate, and the at least one plate is operable as lid for the at least one bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the side of the at least one bowl extends upward from the base in an outward fashion such that the first engaging member of the at least one bowl is located further outward from a center point of the base relative to the location of the second engaging member of the at least one bowl relative to the center point of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member of the at least one bowl is engageable with the first engaging member of the at least one plate in the stacked configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The foodservice system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one plate is positioned upside-down relative to the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         5 . The foodservice system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one plate is positioned right-side-up relative to the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         6 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the second engaging member of the at least one bowl is engageable with the second engaging member of the at least one plate in the stacked configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The foodservice system of  claim 6 , wherein the second engaging member of the at least one bowl is positioned closer to a center of the base of the at least one bowl compared to a distance between the second engaging member of the at least one plate and the center of the base of the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         8 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein a center of the at least one bowl and a center of the at least one plate are aligned along an axis in the stacked configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member of the at least one bowl comprises a rounded edge, wherein the rounded edge is thicker than the side. 
     
     
         10 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member of the at least one plate comprises a joined lateral protruding portion and a vertical protruding portion. 
     
     
         11 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the second engaging member of the at least one bowl and the second engaging member of the at least one plate each comprise a rounded protruding shape. 
     
     
         12 . The foodservice system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bowl and the at least one plate are closely-fitted in the stacked configuration where the at least one plate is positioned as a lid for the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         13 . A foodservice system comprising:
 (a) a tray comprising a first surface and a second surface extending around the circumference of the first surface, wherein the first surface is recessed relative to the second surface;   (b) at least one bowl; and   (c) at least one plate;   wherein the at least one bowl and the at least one plate are arrangeable on the tray;   wherein the at least one bowl and the at least one plate are stackable such that the at least one bowl is operable as a lid for the at least one plate, and the at least one plate is operable as lid for the at least one bowl.   
     
     
         14 . The foodservice system of  claim 13 , wherein the tray comprises a pair of rails extending along a select one of the width and the length of the tray. 
     
     
         15 . The foodservice system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of trays, wherein the plurality of trays are stackable in a close-fitting stacked configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A method of arranging a foodservice system comprising at least one bowl and at least one plate, wherein the at least one bowl and the at least one plate each comprise a base, a side extending upward from the base, a first engaging member positioned along a top of the side, and a second engaging member connected with the base, the method comprising stacking the at least one plate with the at least one the bowl such that the first engaging member of the at least one bowl engages the first engaging member of the at least one plate, and wherein the at least one plate is positioned as a lid for the at least one bowl when stacked. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one plate is positioned right-side-up relative to the at least one bowl, and wherein the at least one plate is configured to receive one or more items of food on a top surface of the at least one plate when the at least one plate is positioned as a lid for the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one plate is positioned upside-down relative to the at least one bowl. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising stacking the at least one plate with the at least one bowl such that the second engaging member of the at least one bowl engages the second engaging member of the at least one plate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising arranging the at least one bowl and the at least one plate on a tray.