Incrementally-sized dishware system and method of using same for weight management

• US 10,311,748 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foqus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foqus, Inc.
• Inventors: Highet, Danuta L., Cahn, Roberta E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baldori, Joseph B
• Application Number:
  US14/056,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20140045151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 434127, 73426, D73961
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

An incrementally-sized dishware system and method for weight management gradually modifies food portion consumption behavior to provide healthier eating habits. The incrementally-sized dishware system and method includes a plurality of incrementally-sized plates having successively differentiated plate surface areas. Each of the incrementally-sized plate surface areas is successively different by an increment to modify food portion delivery to a user. When utilizing the incrementally-sized dishware system and method a user selects a starting plate surface area based on a combination of weight management factors, and over time successively shifts to plates having smaller/larger plate surface areas. Interval changes between the dishes of the incrementally-sized dishware system and method adjust the amount of food consumed and rate of weight loss over time. Children using the incrementally-sized dishware system and method learn to recognize an appropriate meal size for their body size and weight, and establish healthy eating habits that carry into adulthood.

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;

designating a whole number (N) in the index to correspond with a plate having a first dimension equal to a first dimension of a corresponding plate (N−

1) plus the plate increment

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

marking the index value corresponding to the respective plates on each of the series of different-sized plates;

selecting a utensil increment, the increment being one of a utensil length increment or a utensil depth increment;

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

assigning a smallest utensil in the series of different-sized eating utensils a value of zero;

marking the smallest utensil with a zero;

marking each successively larger utensil with a successive number of the same index that the plates are marked with.

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

calculating a volume of each plate based on the plate'"'"'s surface area and a 1 inch height;

correlating each plate volume with its corresponding index entry;

correlating each entry on the index to a volume for another type of dishware that is different from a plate; and

marking each dishware in a plurality of incrementally-sized dishware to match the respective dishware volumes with the corresponding index entry.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the dishware is at least one of bowls, templates, place settings, or beverage containers.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising systematically employing the incrementally-sized dishware to adjust meal size.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the series of different-sized plates is flat.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the series of different-sized eating utensils is one of a fork and spoon the plurality of incrementally-sized utensils provides incremental bite sizes.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the numerical index begins at zero.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising marking each of the plurality of different-sized plates with encouraging reinforcement indicia for motivating a user to shift to a successive sized plate.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising systematically employing the plurality of different-sized plates and the table to adjust meal size.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the plate increment to minimize a visual difference between consecutively-sized plates.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the series of different-sized plates is non-flat.

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

assigning a relationship between clothing size and the whole number numerical index; and

embodying the relationship between the whole-number numerical index and clothing size in a table.