Multi-use plate

Abstract

Embodiments of a multi-use plate are described herein. The multi-use plate includes a first rim around a perimeter of the multi-use plate that encircles a first basin and a second basin. The multi-use plate further includes a second rim that separates the first basin and the second basin. The first basin includes a first basin floor and a first basin side wall at an obtuse angle to the first basin floor. The second basin includes a second basin floor and a second basin side wall at an obtuse angle to the second basin floor. The first basin extends down from the first rim at a first distance, whereas the second basin extends from the first rim at a second distance greater than the first distance. The multi-use plate further includes one or more support ribs extending from the second basin floor to the second rim towards the first basin floor to increase a moment of inertia.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-use plate comprising:
 a plurality of basins including at least:   a first basin encircled by a first rim and including a first basin side wall that extends a first distance down from the first rim to a first basin floor, wherein the first basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the first basin floor, and   a second basin encircled by a second rim and including a second basin side wall that extends a second distance down from the second rim to a second basin floor, wherein the second basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the second basin floor, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and
 a separating feature that separates the first basin from the second basin, the separating feature including one or more support ribs that increase a moment of inertia of the separating feature. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the basins and the separating feature are formed from a material having one or more material thicknesses between 0.5 to 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the material includes paper. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more legs extending down from the first rim and ending in one or more contact points that are planar with the second basin floor. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the second basin floor and two of the contact points are respectively positioned at vertices of a triangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first basin is 5 to 25 mm below the first rim. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the second basin is 20 to 75 mm below the first rim. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the support ribs have a pyramidal shape. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a perimeter rim that encircles at least a portion of the first basin and at least a portion of the second basin. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-use plate of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more apertures in the perimeter rim, wherein each aperture is sized to allow pass-through of a handle portion of a utensil and to retain a functional end of a utensil above the perimeter rim. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first basin is configured to nest within a first basin of another multi-use plate, and wherein the second basin is configured to nest within a second basin of the other multi-use plate. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first basin is configured to allow a first basin of another multi-use plate to be nested within, and wherein the second basin is configured to allow a second basin of the other multi-use plate to be nested within. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the second basin is configured to fit a standard beverage can in the second basin floor. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the second basin floor is circular in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the support ribs are offset a vertical distance from the first basin floor. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the support ribs are set at an angle from vertical greater than an angle of the second basin side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-use plate of  claim 1 , wherein the support ribs form a support rib lip at the second rim. 
     
     
         18 . A multi-use plate comprising:
 a material having one or more material thicknesses between 0.5 to 2.0 mm, wherein the material is used to form:   a plurality of basins including at least:   a first basin encircled by a first rim and including a first basin side wall that extends down between 5 to 25 mm from the first rim to a first basin floor, wherein the first basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the first basin floor, and   a second basin encircled by a second rim and including a second basin side wall that extends down between 20 to 75 mm from the second rim to a second basin floor, wherein the second basin side wall is set at an obtuse angle from the second basin floor; and
 a separating feature that separates the first basin from the second basin, the separating feature including one or more support ribs. 
   
     
     
         19 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , wherein the material includes paper. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , further comprising a perimeter rim and one or more apertures in the perimeter rim, wherein each aperture is sized to allow pass-through of a handle portion of a utensil and to retain a functional end of a utensil above the perimeter rim. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , wherein the first basin is configured to nest within a first basin of another multi-use plate, and wherein the second basin is configured to nest within a second basin of the other multi-use plate. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , wherein the first basin is configured to allow a first basin of another multi-use plate to be nested within, and wherein the second basin is configured to allow a second basin of the other multi-use plate to be nested within. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , wherein the second basin is configured to fit a standard beverage can in the second basin floor. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-use plate of  claim 18 , wherein the second basin floor is circular in shape.