The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2002
Darrell J. Metcalf, Fillmore, CA (US);
Michael Goodrow, Santa Monica, CA (US);
Darrell J. Metcalf, Fillmore, CA (US);
Michael Goodrow, Santa Monica, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A folds-as-you-eat multi-purpose food-serving apparatus ('MPFSA') that is supportable from one end by one hand during eating, and has optional exhibiting means for providing multi-minute close-proximity exposures promoting observer-discernible content and/or user-discernible content, and optionally providing recreational, or display, functionality. The MPFSA is comprised of one or more materials having a pliability which accommodates the bending and unbending of the apparatus a plurality of times in a manner that will not significantly alter the presentation of served food. The MPFSA is also comprised of material(s) having sufficient rigidity to support one or more items of food, having a food-supporting surface which is stiffened by at least one adjacent food-retaining portion which extends upward from an edge thereof, or can be so positioned by a user, to increase the rigidity of, and facilitate the retention of served food on, the apparatus. The food-supporting surface of the apparatus is predisposed to be selectively bent and unbent, by a user, adjacent to an end of a reduced cross-section of at least one food-retaining portion. The food retaining portion(s) has at least one reduced cross-section predisposed to be bent and unbent by a user adjacent to the food-supporting surface reduced cross-section(s). Upper surfaces of the MPFSA provide close proximity viewing as a user is taking, or about to take, a bite out of the served food. MPFSA surfaces are easily viewed by observers proximate to the user, when the user is holding the apparatus or when it is in a resting position.