No-flyaway picnic plate

Abstract

A disposable picnic plate having an outer lip which extends downward until it is substantially coplanar with the flat, food-carrying center of the plate. When the plate is placed on a flat surface such as a picnic table, the lip is substantially in contact with the flat surface, reducing the wind's ability to get under the plate and lift or throw it.

1 . A plate comprising: 
 a central surface for holding food;    a perimeter rim which extends upward from the central surface; and    a lip which extends downward from the perimeter rim until the lip is substantially coplanar with the central surface.    
   
   
       2 . The plate of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the lip extends downward below the central surface.    
   
   
       3 . The plate of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one notch in the lip, wherein the notch extends upward to enable a user to more easily pick up the plate.    
   
   
       4 . The plate of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one grip formed in the lip to enable a user to more easily pick up the plate.    
   
   
       5 . The plate of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the plate is manufactured of paper.    
   
   
       6 . The plate of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the plate is manufactured of plastic.    
   
   
       7 . The plate of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the plate is manufactured of foamed plastic.    
   
   
       8 . A disposable plate comprising: 
 a central, substantially planar surface;    a rounded rim which extends upward from the central, substantially planar surface; and    a lip which extends downward form the rounded rim until the lip is substantially coplanar with the central, substantially planar surface;    whereby, when the disposable plate is placed on a flat surface, the lip is substantially in contact with the flat surface, reducing an ability of wind to lift the disposable plate off the flat surface.    
   
   
       9 . The disposable plate of  claim 8  wherein the disposable plate comprises paper.  
   
   
       10 . The disposable plate of  claim 8  wherein the disposable plate comprises plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The disposable plate of  claim 10  wherein the disposable plate comprises foamed plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The disposable plate of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the lip extends beyond the central, substantially planar surface, whereby the lip will be held against the flat surface under tension of the rounded rim when food is placed on the central, substantially planar surface.    
   
   
       13 . The disposable plate of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 at least one notch in the lip, whereby a user may lift the disposable plate away from the flat surface.    
   
   
       14 . The disposable plate of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 at least one grip formed in the rounded rim, whereby a user may lift the disposable plate away from the flat surface.