Serving plate and a closeable container formed therewith

Abstract

A plate having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall extending between the top and bottom walls is disclosed herein. The top wall defines at least one bendable area that includes a wire loop. The bendable area may be bent upwardly or downwardly about a fold line relative to the top wall. Two identical plates can be secured together by the one ore more bendable areas to form a food storage container that a user can use to carry left-over food. The plate includes interlocking members on the bottom wall. The interlocking members are used when plates or storage containers made from the plates are stacked together. The interlocking members prevent the plates or food storage containers from rotating relative to each other or from sliding laterally off the stack.

1 . A plate comprising:
 a top wall;   a bottom wall;   a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area adapted to receive food therein; and   at least one bendable area defined by the top wall, wherein the at least one bendable area is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall about a fold line.   
     
     
         2 . The plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a wire loop provided on the at least one bendable area. 
     
     
         3 . The plate of  claim 2 , wherein the wire loop is embedded in the at least one bendable area. 
     
     
         4 . The plate of  claim 2 , wherein the wire loop is attached to an underside or a top side of the at least one bendable area. 
     
     
         5 . The plate of  claim 2 , wherein the wire loop has an L-shape. 
     
     
         6 . The plate of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one interlocking member provided on the bottom wall. 
     
     
         7 . A plate comprising:
 a top wall;   a bottom wall;   a side wall that extends between the top wall and the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area adapted to receive food therein; and   at least one interlocking member provided on the bottom wall.   
     
     
         8 . The plate of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one interlocking member comprises a first interlocking member and a second interlocking member, and wherein the first interlocking member is provided on an interior surface of the bottom wall and the second interlocking member is provided on an exterior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         9 . The plate of  claim 8 , wherein the first interlocking member is a depression and the second interlocking member is a ridge. 
     
     
         10 . The plate of  claim 8 , wherein the first interlocking is a ridge and the second interlocking member is a depression. 
     
     
         11 . The plate of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one interlocking member forms a depression in an interior surface of the bottom wall and forms a ridge in an exterior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         12 . The plate of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one interlocking member forms a ridge in an interior surface of the bottom wall and forms a depression in an exterior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming storage container, comprising steps of:
 providing a first plate comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and side wall bound and define a food containing area; and at least one bendable area is defined in the top wall, where the at least one bendable area is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall about a fold line;   providing a second plate comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and side wall of the second plate bound and define a food containing area; and at least one bendable area is defined in the top wall of the second plate, where the at least one bendable area of the second plate is selectively bendable upwardly or downwardly relative to the top wall of the second plate about a fold line;   placing the top wall of the first plate in contact with the top wall of the second plate;   folding the at least one bendable area of the first plate upwardly to contact the second plate;   folding the at least one bendable area of the second plate downwardly to contact the first plate; and   securing the first and second plates together with bendable areas of the first and second plates to form a first storage container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of:
 rotating the first plate relative to the second plate about a vertical axis passing through the bottom wall of the first plate and bottom wall of the second plate;   moving the at one least bendable area of the first plate out of alignment with the at least one bendable area of the second plate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising rotating the first plate rotates until the at least of one bendable area of the first plate is orientated at about 45 relative to the at least on bendable area of the second plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing the first plate includes providing a wire loop on the at least one bendable area of the first plate and wherein the method further includes deforming the wire loop when folding the at least one bendable area upwardly. 
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing the second plate includes providing a wire loop on the at least one bendable area of the second plate and wherein the method further includes deforming the wire loop on the second plate when folding the at least one bendable area downwardly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing the first plate further comprises providing at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the first plate; and he step of providing the second plate comprises providing at least on interlocking member on the bottom wall of the second plate, wherein the at least one interlocking member on the second plate is complementary to the at least one interlocking member of the first plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a second storage container identical to the first storage container and stacking the second storage container on a top of the first storage container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising interlocking the at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the second plate of the second storage container with the at least one interlocking member on the bottom wall of the first plate of the first storage container.