US2951610A - Serving dishes - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1960 A. E. SMALLEY, JR v 2,951,610

SERVING DISHES Filed April 1. 1957 1 i M Z a 5 ATTORNEE United States Patent SERVING DISHES Alfred E. Smalley, Jr., 3901 Papermill Road, Knoxville, Tenn.

Filed Apr. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 649,878

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-20) This invention relates to improvements in serving dishes, more particularly to the Lazy Susan type.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to package materials for sale, and to remove the same to serving dishes for use. This is particularly true of such articles as nuts, candies and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a serving dish of the Lazy Susan type, which can be used also as a package or container for the materials, so as not to require the separation or removal of the materials therefrom during service.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of serving dishes by providing a cover for a tray forming the dish, which initially would close the top of the dish, and which cover could be removed and form a base therefor during service of the food particles therefrom.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by the provision of a container or tray which may have one or more receptacles therein, and a cover therefor normally fitting over the container or tray, but capable of removal therefrom. These parts may be sealed together during the initial transportation or dispensing of the package, but the cover may be removed during service. The container or tray is provided with a socket in the underside thereof, while the cover has a knob thereon, constructed so as to fit the socket, whereby the container or tray may be superposed over the cover and supported on the knob in a ball and socket joint, permitting of free rotation relative thereto in the manner of a Lazy Susan."

This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the serving dish, with the cover in place on the container;

Fig, 2 is a similar view, with the parts reversed in the form of a Lazy Susan;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tray or container; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross section therethrough.

The invention is shown in an embodiment comprising a tray or container, generally indicated at 1, with a cover 2 thereover, in the normal relation of the parts, as illustrated in Fig. 1. These are shown as relatively shallow, for purpose of illustration, but the shape and size thereof may be varied, as desired.

The tray or container 1 comprises a bottom 3, having a surrounding upstanding wall 4, rising therefrom and terminating in a rim 5. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the container or tray 1 may be divided, if desired, into a plurality of several receptacles by upright partitions 6, which radiate from a central hub portion 7. This hub portion 7 has a socket 8 in the underside thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, which is substantially semi-spherical.

The cover 2 is formed with a knob 9 on the top thereof, substantially spherical and of a size to fit within the socket 8, as shown in Fig, 2, whereby to form a freely rotatable ball and socket joint between the cover and tray when the parts are the relations shown in Fig. 2,

2,951,610, Patented Sept. 6, 1960 The cover 2 is also formed with a surrounding downturned rim 10, which fits over or is telescoped on the rim 5 of the container 1 and may have a friction fit therewith, or be capable of interconnection in suitable manner. l

The tray or container 1 and the cover 2 may be formed of any suitable or desired materials, such as glass, plastic, ceramics, etc. It is preferred that the cover 2 be transparent, so that the contents are visible therethrough. The knob 9 can be formed integral with the cover 2, or secured thereto in any suitable or desired manner.

The entire container, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used for enclosing the contents for storage and shipment, in which event the cover 2 preferably is sealed or secured rigidly on the tray or receptacle 1. A tight friction fit between the rims 5 and 10 may be sufiicient for that purpose, or these may be sealed with a tape or other sealing means during transportation.

When the use of the container is desired, the cover 2 can be removed from the tray 1 and inserted under the bottom thereof, with the knob 9 fitting into the socket 8 on the tray in the manner shown in Fig. 2, thereby forming a base for the tray and providing for a revolving Lazy Susan type of dish, thereby permitting the display and dispensing of the contents of the tray in the usual manner. Thereafter, when desired, the parts may be removed and the cover replaced, to enclose the contents of the tray.

This forms a quick, convenient and attractive means for serving from the same container in which the contents are purchased, without the necessity for transfer from a dispensing package to a separate dish. It may be used for many different types of articles of food and the like, such a nuts, candies, hors doeuvres, etc. If the cover is made of transparent material, the contents may be visible when displayed for sale. Furthermore, the container may be reused as often as desired and filled with any suitable materials.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claim.

I claim:

A convertible package container and revolvable serving dish comprising a shallow tray having a hub portion extending upwardly to the top of said tray and a surrounding wall, spaced radial partitions between said hub portion and surrounding wall, the bottom wall of the tray being flat and substantially equal in circumference to the top of the tray and having a cylindrical socket with a semi-spherical inner end at the top of the hub portion, cover means including an upper spherical knob handle adapted to fit normally over the Wall, said cover means disposed on the under side of said tray with the knob loosely fitting in said socket to revolvably support said tray, the height of the knob being substantially equal to the depth of the socket, said cover means having a flat top surface portion the periphery of which is spaced from the knob handle at a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the socket, said flat surface being opposed and juxtaposed to said fiat tray bottom to substantially stabilize the tray as it revolves, whereby said tray serves as a Lazy Susan type dish.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,509,524 Morrison Sept. 23, 1924 1,599,913 Nicholas Sept. 14, 1926 2,553,880 Stigler May 22, 1951 2,719,413 Panzer Oct. 4, 1955

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