# US 9,351,595 B2 · System and apparatus for assisting a user in portion control while eating

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- Number: US 9,351,595 B2
- Document ID: US9351595B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/320,243
- Filed: 2014-06-30
- Published: 2014-11-20
- Granted: 2016-05-31
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-14
- Assignees: VisualQs, LLC
- Applicants: VisualQs, LLC
- Inventors: Sheila Kemper Dietrich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9351595B2

## CPC

- A47G 19/06: Plates with integral holders for spoons, glasses, or the like
- A47G 19/02: Plates, dishes or the like
- A47G 19/025: {with means for amusing or giving information to the user}
- A47G 19/2227: {with means for amusing or giving information to the user (A47G23/16 takes precedence)}
- A47G 21/04: Spoons; Pastry servers
- A47G 21/145: {Holders for table utensils attachable to plates, jars or the like (attachable to cooking pots A47J43/287)}
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)

## Abstract

A system of place-setting components used to facilitate serving and eating healthy food portions. The place-setting system comprising: a plate and a nestable set of two or more serving spoons. The plate includes one or more serving areas corresponding to a portion size for one or more food components of a meal. Each of the serving spoons in the nestable set includes a bowl-shaped cup and a handle. The handle of the serving spoons comprising: a first segment, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward; a second segment connected to the first segment, with the second segment extending downward; a third segment connected to the second segment, with the third segment extending generally upward; and a fourth segment connected to the third segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nestable set of two or more serving spoons, wherein each of the serving spoons comprises:
a bowl-shaped cup with an upper rim that presents a closed curve that lies in a reference plane;
a handle with distal and proximal ends, the handle comprising:
a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a first portion of a proximal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a first angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a second angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position,
a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a third angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
wherein the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position,
a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane.

### Claim 2

A nestable set of two or more serving spoons, wherein each of the serving spoons comprises:
a bowl-shaped cup having an upper rim that presents a closed curve that lies in a reference plane;
a handle with distal and proximal ends, the handle comprising:
a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the proximal end of the handle, with a first portion of a proximal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a first angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a second angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position,
a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward and presenting a longitudinal centerline forming a third angle with a portion of the reference plane that lies distally with respect to the longitudinal centerline,
wherein the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position.

### Claim 3

A nestable set of two or more serving spoons, wherein each of the serving spoons comprises:
a bowl-shaped cup having an upper rim that presents a closed curve that lies in a reference plane;
a handle with distal and proximal ends, the handle comprising:
a first segment, generally arcuate in shape, extending distally from the distal end of the handle, with a first portion of a distal-most section of the first segment being generally parallel with the reference plane, and a second portion of a distal-most section of the first segment extending upward,
a second segment connected to the first segment via a first arcuate connecting segment, with the second segment extending downward from the first arcuate connecting segment,
wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the first arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a first position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the first position,
a third segment connected to the second segment via a second arcuate connecting segment, with the third segment extending generally upward,
wherein the second segment, the third segment, and the second arcuate connecting segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a second position such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally downward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to be emptied of any food component while being engaged in the second position,
a fourth segment connected to the third segment via a third arcuate connecting segment, with the fourth segment extending generally distally and being generally parallel with the reference plane,
a bottom-facing flat surface on a lower portion of the bowl-shaped cup,
wherein the bottom facing flat surface, the third segment, the third arcuate connecting segment, and the fourth segment provide for the serving spoon to be engaged in a third position, with the third position being such that the upper rim of the serving spoon faces in a generally upward direction and further such that the bowl-shaped cup is operable to maintain a food component while being engaged in the third position.