CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/977,600, entitled "A System for Regulating Caloric Intake", filed on 17 February 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to methods and systems to assist users eat smaller portions of less healthy foods and larger portions of healthy foods, in order to maintain health and/or lose weight.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Bowls for food have been in existence since the dawn of humanity. The earliest use of mass- produced bowls can be dated back to Ancient Greek pottery which consisted of small bowls, including phiales and pateras, and bowl-shaped cups called kylices. Phiales were used for drinking and included a small dent in the center for the bowl to be held with a finger. Some Mediterranean bowls from the Bronze Age included elaborate decorations and sophisticated designs. For example, the bridge spouted vessel design appeared in Minoan at Phaistos. In the 4th millennium B.C.E Mesopotamia mass- produced beveled rim bowls of standardized sizes. Many Asian cultures continue to use bowls as the main vessel for eating meals. Modern bowls can be made of ceramic, metal, wood, plastic, and other materials. The size of bowls varies from small bowls used to hold a single serving of food to large bowls, such as punch bowls or salad bowls that are often used to hold or store more than one portion of food. There is some overlap between bowls, cups, and plates. Very small bowls, such as the tea bowl, are often called cups, while plates with especially deep wells are often called bowls. As countries have become more wealthy and industrialized over the centuries, their populations now face the new challenges of obesity and some in the kitchenware industry are looking to bowls as a means of helping consumers eat less.

[0004] United States Patent Application US20110281245A1 (Mansour) disclosed a system of bowls with their volumes identified on their outer surface to help users select smaller food portions.

[0005] Chinese Patent No. CN200973571 Y (Chunfang) disclosed a weight loss bowl that contains an elevated bottom to give the illusion of eating more food but does not incorporate other features to further enhance said illusion.

[0006] Chinese Patent No. CN201227087Y (Xiiyueyiin) disclosed a bowl with dividers having one section also elevated to give the illusion of eating more food but in this case, such elevation is perforated and as such leads to wasted sauces and other food.

[0007] There remains a need in the art for a solution which may reduce a user's caloric intake and/or improve a user's diet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a bowl configured to reduce caloric intake and improve a user's diet. When a user eats from a bowl of the present invention, they can consume significantly less food, for example up to approximately 30% less food, than with other bowls of the same diameter and height. This reduction is due primarily to the surface of the bowl’s interior which, in some embodiments, defines a convex hump. Additionally, in some embodiments, the inner surface contains a plurality of small protrusions that may further reduce the volume available for food that can be placed into the bowl. [0009] As a result, users are presented with the illusion that they are eating the same amount of food as a normal bowl of the same size would hold. Due to numerous psychological effects, users believe that they are eating a full bowl of food. The following features may reduce the amount of food eaten by users while maintaining a feeling of fullness: the color of the container (red resulting in a reduction of food intake), the use of a bowl instead of other dinnerware (such as plates), the inclusion of fillers, and the addition of protrusions or bumps to reduce the volume available for food while maintaining the impression of a large bowl. These factors help those wishing to lose weight feel that they are not departing from their original food volume habits and can reduce the feeling of food deprivation, which is believed to be the primary reason dieting fails. In such cases, the users may feel as full as when utilizing a normal bowl of similar size even though they are eating less food and fewer calories.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bowl comprises means to allow users to adjust the volume of food that is placed into the bowl. The user may place many small objects that act as fillers that a user distributes throughout the bowl in order to decrease the volume available for actual food within the bowl. In certain embodiments, such fillers may be hollow or solid and shaped as cubes, spheres, cylinders, sea shells, small fruit, or other shapes. Said fillers may be composed of non-edible food- safe materials such as silicon, plastic, wood, metal, or another similar substance. In certain embodiments, such fillers are of a known volume, which can be subtracted from the total volume of the bowl or one or more divided sections to easily determine the volume of food consumed by the user.

[0011] In some embodiments, the bowl is configured with means to allow a user to transport food in the bowl, such as a re-sealable lid. Said lid may be made of any material known to the art such as bamboo, silicon, plastic, rubber, etc. In one specific embodiment the bowl has a bamboo cover that seals contents inside while traveling. [0012] In some embodiments, the bowl is configured with means to allow users to segregate different foods within the bowl. In some embodiments, a removable divider fits into the bowl to into create two or more compartments. In a preferred embodiment the space between each of the blades of said divider is adjustable so that the user may adjust the amount of space available for each of the different foods they are placing in the bowl each time they use the bowl. Said adjustable divider may function through the use of a hinge or by connecting each of the one or more divider blades to a central rod or pin in one of a plurality of available positions, or by another technique known to the art. In some embodiments each of the blades of the divider may be positioned between the semi-spherical protrusions on the inner surface of the bowl. Said protrusions may temporarily secure or lock the divider blades in place so that they are not easily moved while the bowl is in use. The protrusions are in certain locations and certain sizes to allow numerous positions within which the blades can be placed while still ensuring a secure fit to reduce movement during use. In some embodiments the edge of each blade that faces the sides of the bowl may have small indentations to more closely and securely fit with the bumps. In one exemplary embodiment, a divider comprises three connected divider blades that segregate the bowl into three compartments when the blades are placed into the bowl. In such embodiment, the space between said divider blades can be fully adjusted so that two may be, for example, relatively closer to each other than the third, creating one smaller compartment and two larger compartments or, as a second example, so that the spacing between each divider is equal so that each of the three sections are the same size. In use, each compartment within the bowl may be filled with a different type of food or food from a different food group. As an example, one compartment may be used for starches (rice, pasta, quinoa, etc.); one compartment may be used for vegetables or salad; and one compartment may be used for animal proteins (red meat, chicken, pork, etc.).

Alternatively, as an example, users may replace any one of these food types with pulses (lentils, beans, etc.) instead. As another example, users may place rice or salad in one of the larger sections created by the divider and meat proteins into one of the smaller sections, thereby encouraging healthier portion control. In such cases, the meat protein and starch compartments are smaller than typical, often unhealthy, portions in various countries or cultures, such as the United States. As such, said dividers encourage less consumption of meat protein and starches and more vegetable and pulses consumption. In a further embodiment said removable divider can segregate food into four compartments that can be used for one or more separate foods or food groups.

[0013] In some embodiments, a bowl is configured with means to measure food intake. For example, one or more markings may be clearly visible that allow the user to easily determine the volume of food within the bowl. In a further embodiment where a divider is used, each compartment may contain markings to easily identify and/or measure the volume or amount of food placed in each compartment. In another embodiment, the bowl itself has easily readable markings that can be used to quickly and easily identify the total volume of food being consumed by the user. In another embodiment, a sticker with markings can be affixed to either the underside or top of a lid that can be affixed to the bowl to cover it and secure the food in the bowl. Alternatively said lid will have markings on it to allow the user to easily identify the volume of food placed in each compartment of the bowl or the bowl itself. In some embodiments where the adjustable divider is used, the bowl may have specific markings that encourage users to adjust the divider blades to certain sizes and allow the user to easily measure the volume of food in each compartment when adjusted to those sizes. Such markings would encourage the users to choose certain capacities for each compartment that follow one or more reputable dietary guidelines such as those provided by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

[0014] In some embodiments, the bowl is configured with means to store sauces or salad dressings that can be used on food in the bowl. For example, the bowl may comprise a small, partitioned, covered vessel (referred to herein as a "sauce vessel") that fits into a small compartment under the bowl and in some embodiments is held in place by magnetization. In other embodiments said sauce vessel is held in place by any other means known in the art such as snapping it into place or sliding a cover across to enclose it. For example, if a user is eating a salad in the bowl, they can simply lift up the bowl and retrieve their favorite sauce from the sauce vessel. Once finished, they can affix the lid and stow the sauce vessel back under the bowl. The sauce vessel has at least one, and preferably two or more physically separated compartments. In some embodiments each compartment holds a known volume of sauce, allowing the user to easily measure and track their sauce intake. Such compartments can each hold a different type of sauce such as olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salad dressings, vinaigrette, tahini dressing, Japanese sauces, Thai sauces, etc. In some embodiments, said compartments may be adjustable by the user through a hinge or rod system similar to the compartments within the bowl. In some embodiments, said vessel has five segments and each segment has a volume of 15ml (1 tablespoon). In such embodiment, as an illustrative example, users may easily add olive oil to two segments, lemon juice to one segment, and vinegar to a fourth segment, but only filing half of said segment, and leaving the fifth segment empty. Using such a technique, the user would not need to pre-measure the amounts of each sauce or sauce ingredient. In addition, each of these vessel segments can hold the fillers when not in use. In some embodiments, the lid of the sauce vessel snaps on to the sauce vessel; in another embodiment it threads on to the sauce vessel; in each case the method of attaching the lid ensures a tight seal. In some embodiments, the lid is made of a ferromagnetic material so that, when securely attached to the sauce vessel, it enables the sauce vessel to magnetically attach to the underside of the bowl if the bowl is ferromagnetic. In some embodiments, the lid of the sauce vessel has different segments that match the segments of the sauce vessel and can be individually removed or slid back from each of the corresponding segments of the sauce vessel. This allows for only one of the sauces to be poured out and used at a time.

[0015] In some embodiments, a bowl may be combined with a specialized utensil which is configured to reduce a user's food intake. For example, a larger than normal fork may result in a user eating up to 30-40% less food. In some embodiments, users consume the food from the bowl using an oversized fork. In some embodiments, said fork can be affixed to the lid of the bowl or can be stored within a compartment embedded in the lid of the bowl when not in use.

[0016] In some embodiments of the invention, the bowl is red in color to take advantage of the psychological effect shown in certain case studies that users consume 5% - 10% less food from red bowls than other colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.

[0018] FIG. 1A shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. IB shows an exploded view. FIG 1C shows a comparison of an oversized fork with a conventional fork.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the adjustable divider.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the adjustable divider.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the adjustable divider.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the hinge.

[0024] Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT [0025] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation. Conventional components of the invention are elements that are well-known in the prior art and will not be discussed in detail for this disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 1 A shows a top perspective view of some embodiments of the invention comprised of a bowl 1 having a basin surface relief with a multitude of protrusions 3 and being made of a rigid material such as but not limited to silicon, plastic, ceramic, metal, wood, bamboo and the like. Figure 1 A shows the bowl having a removable, peace symbol-shaped divider 2 also made of a rigid material including but not limited to silicon, plastic, ceramic, metal, wood, bamboo or the like. Said bowl 1 has a resealable lid 4 with a selectively engaging groove on a distal end and being made of a rigid material including but not limited to wood, bamboo, silicon plastic, metal, a combination of two or more materials, and the like. A large, oversized fork 8; sauce vessel 7 with dividers 6 therein and sealable, concave-shaped lid 5 (with engaging threads); as well as hollow, food-shaped fillers 11 (only one such filler is shown, but it is understood that one or more may be used) all being made of a rigid material such as silicon, plastic, metal, ceramic, wood, bamboo or the like. In certain embodiments the invention is made from a material capable of safely being put in various appliances including microwaves and dishwashers.

[0027] FIG IB shows in dotted lines the internal volume of the bowl 1 showing a convex hump created by the false bottom of the bowl. The convex hump may result in greater than about 10%, preferably 20%, and more preferably 30% reduction in volume of the bowl. For example, a bowl 1 may have the outward appearance of having about 1800 cm ³ , but because the negative space created by the false bottom is about 600 cm ³ , the food volume of the bowl will be about 1200 cm ³ , which is a 34% reduction in volume.

[0028] FIG 1C shows an oversized fork compared to a conventional fork. A conventional fork has a typical width of about 25 mm. An oversized utensil is greater than 20%, preferably 30%, and more preferably greater than 40% wider. In one example, the oversized fork illustrated in FIG 1C is 37 mm side, which 50% wider.

[0029] In some embodiments, the sauce vessel releasably engages the bowl by means of physical engagement of tabs, ridges or bars with corresponding physical features on the bowl, or by friction fit.

[0030] In some embodiments, the sauce container lid 5 may be made of a ferrite metal (such as steel etc.) that attracts magnets thereon. FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the invention with bowl 1 having circular-shaped, recessed base 9 configured to receive sauce vessel 7 and lid 5. Said base 9 may have at least two, concave finger recesses 12 and circular-shaped magnet 10 being configured proximately inside said base 9 by means of an adhesive or other method known to the art. The aforementioned magnet 10 having a gauss rating strong enough to hold and retain sauce vessel 7 when full of liquids.

[0031] In some embodiments, the removable divider 3 has fixed blades and when inserted into the bowl is held in position by the protrusions 3. The fixed blades may create 4 compartments, two being larger than the other two. In one example, with a peace-symbol shaped divider shown in Figure 1 A, a large compartments is about twice as large as the smaller compartment.

[0032] Alternatively, FIG. 3 shows a removable adjustable divider 2 that may be included with the invention in one or more embodiments and that may be inserted into said bowl 1 to segregate and measure different types of food that the user may place into the bowl. FIG 4 shows an exploded view of said adjustable divider 2. Each of the one or more divider blades 13 may rotate about a central axis, in some embodiments a pin 15, holding the blades together while allowing rotational movement about said axis. In some embodiments each of the blades 13 may have one or more indentations 14 on the outer edge that faces the bowl to allow a secure fit between the spherical protrusions 3 when placed into the bowl 1 in various positions. FIG. 5 further highlights said indentations 14 and shows the adjustable blades 13 connected to each other through the pin 15 as seen from the side. FIG. 6 shows some embodiments of the hinge operation wherein a portion of the pin 15b fits snugly with the circular blade attachments on the top and bottom and a portion of the pin 15a fits loosely with the two circular blade attachments in the middle. It should be understood that a divider with three blades is only one example of said invention and that a different number of blades 13 would require a slightly modified design and may differ to accommodate additional circular blade to pin attachments.

Exemplary Aspects.

[0033] In view of the described devices, systems, and methods and variations thereof, certain more particularly described aspects of the invention are presented below. These particularly recited aspects should not however be interpreted to have any limiting effect on any different claims containing different or more general teachings described herein, or that the "particular" aspects are somehow limited in some way other than the inherent meanings of the language literally used therein.

[0034] Aspect 1. A bowl comprising a convex hump at a bottom of the bowl which reduces a food volume of the bowl.

[0035] Aspect 2. The bowl of Aspect 1 wherein the convex hump creates negative space resulting in greater than 10%, 20% or 30% reduction in food volume of the bowl. [0036] Aspect 3. The bowl of Aspect 1 or 2 wherein an inner surface of the bowl comprises a plurality of protrusions wherein the plurality of protrusions are arrayed in at least one horizontal row.

[0037] Aspect 4. The bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 3, further comprising a divider for diving an interior volume of the bowl into at least two compartments.

[0038] Aspect 5. The bowl of Aspect 4 wherein the divider comprises two, three or four blades

[0039] Aspect 6. The bowl of Aspect 5 wherein the divider blades are adjustable by being rotatable about a central axis of the bowl.

[0040] Aspect 7. The bowl of Aspect 5 or 6, if dependent on Aspect 3, wherein each blade defines an indentation to accommodate a row of protrusions.

[0041] Aspect 8. The bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 7, wherein the internal surface is colored red or blue.

[0042] Aspect 9. The bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 8, further comprising a sauce vessel which is releasably attached to an exterior of the bowl.

[0043] Aspect 10. The bowl of Aspect 9 wherein the sauce vessel is configured to at least partially fit within the convex hump.

[0044] Aspect 11. The bowl of Aspect 9 or 10, wherein the sauce vessel has two or more physically separated sections.

[0045] Aspect 12. The bowl of one of Aspect 9 to 11, wherein the sauce vessel attaches to said bowl by magnetic means or by physical engagement of tabs, ridges or bars, or by friction fit. [0046] Aspect 13. The bowl of one of Aspect 9 to 12, wherein the sauce vessel further comprises one or more markings for measuring the contents of the sauce vessel.

[0047] Aspect 14. The bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 13, further comprising at least one filler piece, for placing inside the bowl.

[0048] Aspect 15. The bowl of Aspect 14 wherein said filler pieces resemble food.

[0049] Aspect 16. The bowl of Aspect 15 wherein said filler pieces resemble seashells.

[0050] Aspect 17. The bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 16 further comprising one or more markings for visually measuring the contents of the bowl.

[0051] Aspect 18. The bowl of any one Aspect 1 to 17, further comprising a utensil which is at least 20%, 30% or 40% wider than a conventional utensil, to be used with said bowl.

[0052] Aspect 19. The bowl of Aspect 18 wherein the utensil is a fork, which is greater than 30 mm, 33, or 37 mm in width.

[0053] Aspect 19. The bowl of any one preceding Aspect, further comprising a re-sealable lid.

[0054] Aspect 20. A bowl kit, comprising a bowl of any one of Aspect 1 to 8 and at least one of:

(a) a sauce vessel releasably attached to the bowl; (b) a filler piece; and (c) an oversized utensil.

[0055] Aspect 21. A bowl or bowl kit comprising any one or any combination of features or characteristics described herein.

[0056] Interpretation.

[0057] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims appended to this specification are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

[0058] References in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment referred to in other portions of the specification. Further, when a particular aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect or connect such module, aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described. In other words, any module, element or feature may be combined with any other element or feature in different embodiments, unless there is an obvious or inherent incompatibility, or it is specifically excluded.

[0059] It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for the use of exclusive terminology, such as "solely," "only," and the like, in connection with the recitation of claim elements or use of a "negative" limitation. The terms "preferably," "preferred," "prefer," "optionally," "may," and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.

[0060] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and/or" means any one of the items, any combination of the items, or all of the items with which this term is associated. The phrase "one or more" is readily understood by one of skill in the art, particularly when read in context of its usage. [0061] The term "about" can refer to a variation of ± 5%, ± 10%, ± 20%, or ± 25% of the value specified. For example, "about 50" percent can in some embodiments carry a variation from 45 to 55 percent. For integer ranges, the term "about" can include one or two integers greater than and/or less than a recited integer at each end of the range. Unless indicated otherwise herein, the term "about" is intended to include values and ranges proximate to the recited range that are equivalent in terms of the functionality of the composition, or the embodiment.

[0062] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges recited herein also encompass any and all possible sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges thereof, as well as the individual values making up the range, particularly integer values. A recited range includes each specific value, integer, decimal, or identity within the range. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, or tenths. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc.

[0063] As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all language such as "up to", "at least", "greater than", "less than", "more than", "or more", and the like, include the number recited and such terms refer to ranges that can be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges as discussed above. In the same manner, all ratios recited herein also include all sub-ratios falling within the broader ratio.