Incrementally-sized standard-sized eating-ware system for weight management

• US 10,325,515 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foqus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foqus, Inc.
• Inventors: Highet, Danuta, Cahn, Roberta
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baldori, Joseph B
• Application Number:
  US14/860,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20160117950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 434127, 73426, D73961
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/025 with means for amusing or giving information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

An incrementally-sized Standard-Sized eating-ware system and process comprise a plurality of formulas to establish and assign Standard Sizes to eating-ware. The Standard Sizes are based on a series of incrementally-sized flat surfaces, and the flat surfaces establish the basis for total volumetric capacity equivalents. The total volumetric capacity equivalents comprise volume inside the eating-ware and directly above the eating-ware. The Standard Sizes are used as a guide to control amount and rate of food consumed. The incrementally-sized Standard-sized eating-ware system and process provide a plurality of incrementally-sized Standard-Sized eating-ware components having successively decreasing Standard Sizes appointed to be utilized in a graduated manner over a period of time and deployed during intervals to provide gradual and unnoticeable food adjustment. The system and process enable the user to modify his/her eating habits for effective weight management while minimizing the perception of change and thereby the emotional impact and/or feelings of deprivation. Numerical and letter representations of Standard Size and Calorie Density Mark are used to guide the user in selecting eating-ware components in order to maintain, prevent, increase and/or decrease weight.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selecting a plate with a surface area within a range of 11-13 in² and designating the selected plate as a zero on a whole-number numerical index;

selecting a plate increment between 1/16-inch and 1 inch;

starting at one, designating a whole number (N) in the index to correspond with a plate having a first dimension equal to the plate increment plus a first dimension of a corresponding plate (N−

1);

providing a series of different-sized plates, each successive-sized plate'"'"'s first dimension differing from its series neighbor by the plate increment;

on each of the series of different-sized plates, marking an indicia representing the plate'"'"'s relative position in a hierarchical order of the index;

assigning a value of zero on the whole-number numerical index to a utensil with an ellipsoid circumscribing a food-carrying portion of the utensil, the ellipsoid having equal minor radii of 0.25 inches and a major radius of 0.5 inches;

selecting a positive utensil increment of 0.025 inches or less , the increment being an increment of a minor radius of an ellipsoid with equal minor radii and a major radius equal to 1.5 times the minor radii plus 0.125 inches, the ellipsoid circumscribing a food-carrying portion of a utensil;

providing a series of different-sized eating utensils, each successive-sized utensil differing from its series neighbor by the utensil increment;

starting at one, designating a whole number (N) in the index to correspond with a utensil having a first minor radius equal to the utensil increment plus the minor radius of a corresponding utensil (N−

1); and

on each of the series of different-sized utensils, marking an indicia representing the utensil'"'"'s relative position in the hierarchical order of the index using the same indicia that the plates are marked with.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicia comprise words of different sized chess pieces.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicia comprise shapes of different-sized animals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicia comprise the index values.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the eating utensils is one of a fork and spoon.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a volume of a pre-packaged and/or pre-measured amount of food;

if the volume of the pre-packaged and/or pre-measured amount of food is less than a volume of a largest plate in the series of different-sized plates, the volume of the largest plate being calculated using the largest plate'"'"'s area and a 1 inch height, determining which plate in the series of different-sized plates has a closest-but-larger volume using the plate'"'"'s area and a 1 inch height;

determining the determined plate'"'"'s relative position in the hierarchical order of the index; and

marking packaging of the pre-packaged and/or pre-measured amount of food with an indicia representing the determined plate'"'"'s relative position in the hierarchical order of the index.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the indicia comprise words of different sized chess pieces.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the indicia comprise shapes of different-sized animals.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the indicia comprise the index values.