Plate and Bowl Insulator Ring and Method of use

Abstract

A ring for providing insulation for a plate or bowl. The ring surrounds a perimeter of the item, and insulates where it surrounds. The ring is formed of silicone which can be stretched to cover the perimeter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable insulating ring for covering a surface of an item of servingwear by extending around a portion of an outer perimeter of the servingwear, the ring formed of a stretchable insulating material extending around in a circle. 
     
     
         2 . The ring as in  claim 1 , wherein the ring is formed of silicone. 
     
     
         3 . The ring as in  claim 2 , wherein the ring is held to the servingwear by elastic action of the silicone ring. 
     
     
         4 . The ring as in  claim 1 , wherein the servingwear is a disc-shaped plate. 
     
     
         5 . The ring as in  claim 4 , wherein the ring is round, and has an inner U-shaped cavity that is sized to fit around an outer edge of the disc-shaped plate and cover and outer portion of an edge perimeter of the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The ring as in  claim 1 , wherein the servingwear is a bowl. 
     
     
         7 . The ring as in  claim 6 , wherein the ring extends in a circle and has two oppositely facing handles which extend in a radial direction relative to the circle. 
     
     
         8 . The ring as in  claim 7 , wherein the ring also includes a support portion which extends from one portion of the ring, to a location under a bottom of the bowl, and to another portion of the ring. 
     
     
         9 . The ring as in  claim 8 , wherein said one portion of the ring is attached to one of the handles, and the another portion of the ring is attached to the other of the handles. 
     
     
         10 . A method of covering an item of servingwear, comprising
 attaching a removable insulating ring around a round outer surface of the servingwear, by stretching the ring around the round outer surface; and   subsequently holding the servingwear by holding a surface of the insulating ring.   
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 10 , wherein the ring is formed of silicone. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the method is held to the servingwear by elastic action caused by the stretching. 
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 10 , wherein the serving wear is a disc-shaped plate. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the ring is round, and has an inner U-shaped cavity that is sized to stretch around an outer edge of the disc-shaped plate and cover an outer portion of an edge perimeter of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 10 , wherein the servingwear is a bowl. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the ring extends in a circle and has two oppositely facing handles which extend in a radial direction relative to the circle. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the ring also includes a support portion which extends from one portion of the ring, to a location under a bottom of the bowl, and to another portion of the ring. 
     
     
         18 . The ring as in  claim 17 , wherein said one portion of the ring is attached to one of the handles, and the another portion of the ring is attached to the other of the handles.