Plate, kit and method

Abstract

A plate includes a well portion configured to receive food for serving, a raised lip extending around the well portion, and a rim extending around the raised lip defining an outer edge of the plate. The rim includes at least one channel having a curved cross-sectional profile extending along at least a portion of the outer edge, the at least one channel configured to receive and retain a glow stick device within the rim. Further, a kit including the glow stick and a method for assembling the plate are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate comprising:
 a well portion configured to receive food for serving;   a raised lip extending around the well portion; and   a rim extending around the raised lip defining an outer edge of the plate, wherein the rim includes at least one channel having a curved cross-sectional profile extending along at least a portion of the outer edge, the at least one channel configured to receive and retain a glow stick device within the rim.   
     
     
         2 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the rim is made of a translucent or transparent material. 
     
     
         3 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curved cross-sectional profile includes at least one protrusion configured to move during insertion of the glow stick within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         4 . The plate of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to return to an unmoved state to retain the glow stick device within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         5 . The plate of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one channel includes a plurality of protrusions dispersed axially along a length of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         6 . The plate of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of protrusions includes a plurality of pairs of protrusions, each pair located at a same lengthwise location of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         7 . The plate of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment of the glow stick within the at least one channel is accomplished with a snap fit. 
     
     
         8 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the rim is defined by four outer edges, and wherein the at least one channel includes a separate channel for each of the four outer edges, and wherein each of the separate channels is configured to receive and retain a separate glow stick device. 
     
     
         9 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curved cross-sectional profile of the channel includes a first width located at an opening of the channel and a second width located at a half-depth of the channel, and wherein the first width is smaller than the second width. 
     
     
         10 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is circular in shape and wherein the rim is circular, and wherein the at least one channel is a circular channel extending around the rim. 
     
     
         11 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curved cross-sectional profile includes a first side, a base, and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first side, the base and the second side are each flat. 
     
     
         12 . The plate of  claim 11 , wherein a first curve is located between the first side and the base, and wherein a second curve is located between the second side and the base. 
     
     
         13 . The plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is made of a translucent or transparent polymeric material and formed from a mold. 
     
     
         14 . A plate kit comprising:
 the plate of  claim 1 ; and   the glow stick device.   
     
     
         15 . The plate kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of additional glow stick devices of different colors. 
     
     
         16 . The plate kit of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of additional glow stick devices of the same color. 
     
     
         17 . The plate kit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of plates each configured to receive a number of glow stick devices; and   a plurality of glow stick devices equal or greater than an amount of the plurality of plates times the number of glow sticks each of the plurality of plates is configured to receive.   
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a plate, the method comprising:
 forming a plate from a mold, the plate comprising a body made of a translucent or transparent polymeric material, the plate further comprising:
 a well portion configured to receive food for serving; 
 a raised lip extending around the well portion; and 
 a rim extending around the raised lip defining an outer edge of the plate, wherein the rim includes at least one channel having a curved cross-sectional profile extending along at least a portion of the outer edge, the at least one channel configured to receive and retain a glow stick device within the rim; 
   providing the glow stick device; and   attaching the glow stick device within the at least one channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the curved cross-sectional profile includes at least one protrusion configured to move during insertion of the glow stick within the at least one channel, the method further comprising:
 moving the protrusion during the attaching the glow stick device within the at least one channel; and   returning the protrusion to an unmoved state to retain the glow stick device within the at least one channel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the glow stick device from the at least one channel; and   replacing another glow stick device within the at least one channel after the removing.