|
(11) | EP 1 151 703 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Disposable dish holder |
| (57) Disposable-dish holder (1; 10; 100; 101) for holding disposable vessels (D, G), comprising
a substantially flat base (2; 20), apt to support a dish (D), and a plurality of hook
members (3, 30, 300, 303) projecting from the base, each having a engagement surface
(31) apt to cooperate with a rim of the dish to hold the dish itself (Fig. 1B). |
[0002] Disposable vessels like dishes and cups are often used for both indoors and outdoors meal consumption. Such vessels are typically made of plastics and paper, hence they are extremely light-weighted.
[0003] Due to such lightness, the vessels can easily be tipped over or displaced by very low forces. For instance, when these vessels are used outdoors, a mere gust of wind could tip them over, even when containing food.
[0004] This crucial drawback can sometimes be overcome using makeshift means, like, e.g., heavy items put into the vessels in order to avoid a blowing away thereof. Of course, once the vessels have been filled up with foodstuff, the adoption of such makeshift means becomes impracticable, or anyhow very difficult.
[0005] The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a disposable-dish holder allowing to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
[0006] This problem is overcome by a disposable-dish holder for holding disposable vessels, comprising a substantially flat base, apt to support a dish, and a plurality of hook members projecting from said base, each of said hook members having an engagement surface apt to cooperate with a rim of the dish for holding the same.
[0007] The present invention provides several relevant advantages. The main advantage lies in the fact that the holder according to the invention is specifically designed to hold disposable vessels, avoiding a displacement or a tipping over thereof by forces like gusts of wind, accidental knocks and the like.
[0008] Moreover, the hook members of the holder do not interfere with the foodstuff that is put in the vessel itself, as they exclusively cooperate with the rim of the vessel.
[0009] Other advantages, features and operation steps of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:
Figure 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the disposable-dish holder according to the present invention, in a dish insertion configuration;
Figure 1B is a perspective view of the holder of Figure 1A, in a dish holding configuration;
Figure 1C is a perspective view of the holder of Figure 1A, during the removal of a dish;
Figure 1D is a perspective view of the holder of Figure 1A, in a configuration of minimum encumbrance, after the removal of a dish therefrom;
Figure 2 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of the holder of Figure 1A;
Figure 3 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of a second embodiment of the disposable-dish holder according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a partially sectional perspective view of a detail of a third embodiment of the disposable-dish holder according to the invention; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the disposable-dish holder according to the invention.
[0010] With reference to Figure 1A, a first embodiment relates to a disposable-dish holder, globally indicated with 1. In the present context, for disposable dish or vessel a disposable container for alimentary use of any shape whatsoever is to be understood. Such holder 1 comprises a substantially flat base 2, and a plurality of hook members projecting from the base 2, each indicated with 3.
[0011] In the present embodiment, the base 2 is substantially disc-shaped, thus having two plane faces, and precisely a top face 21, apt to support a dish D resting onto it, and a bottom face, not shown in the figures, apt to rest on a support plane.
[0012] Each hook member 3 has an engagement surface 31 apt to cooperate with the rim of the dish D to hold the latter, as it will be detailed in the following with reference to the operation modes of the holder 1.
[0013] In the present embodiment, each hook member 3 is substantially L-shaped. Therefore, in this case the aforementioned engagement surface 31 corresponds, depending upon the type of dish D and upon the dimensions thereof, to portions of the two mutually facing faces of the two arms of the "L".
[0014] In the present embodiment, each engagement surface 31 has, at the free end thereof, a pawl 32 for helping the engagement of the rim of the dish D.
[0015] Furthermore, in this first embodiment, the holder 1 provides three hook members 3, identical among them and evenly spaced along the peripheral contour of the base 2. This number and arrangement of the hook members ensures a firm and balanced holding of the dish D, concomitantly ensuring the minimum interference of the holder 1 with the inner surface of the dish D itself, which surface is apt to receive the foodstuff.
[0017] Preferably, the base 2 as well as the hook members 3 are made of stiff plastics, that can achieve an optimal compromise between weight and strength.
[0018] Moreover, in this embodiment each hook member 3 is movable with respect to the base 2 in order to make the holder 1 assume a plurality of configurations, as it will be further detailed hereinafter with reference to the operation modes of the holder 1.
[0019] In particular, in the present embodiment each hook member 3 is rotatably connected to the base 2. The implementation modes of such rotatable connection are further detailed in Figure 2. Referring to this latter figure, a horizontal pin 41, the longitudinal axis thereof being indicated with 40, is inserted into a base seat 42, formed in two portions within the base 2, and a hook member seat 43, formed into the hook member 3 and located between the two portions of the base seat 42. By virtue of such rctatable connection, the hook member 3 can rotate about the axis 40 of the horizontal pin 41 with respect to the base 2 in order to make the holder 1 assume the aforementioned plurality of configurations.
[0020] At the rotatable connection at issue, the holder 1 can further have springback means associated with the hook members 3, for allowing the latter, in absence of other forces being exerted thereon, to be recalled towards the base 2, thereby making the holder 1 assume a minimum encumbrance configuration.
[0021] In the present embodiment, said springback means comprises a helical torsion spring 44, wound around the horizontal pin 41. Hence, in the aforementioned minimum encumbrance configuration, shown in Figure 1D, the hook members 3 are abutted onto the top face 21 of the base 2.
[0022] Of course, a person skilled in the art will be aware of several modes alternative to the above-described ones for carrying out the rotatable connection between the hook member 3 and the base 2. For instance, the horizontal pin 41 could be made integral with the hook member 3. In that case, the spring 44 could be wound around said pin within a portion of the base seat 42, or two helical springs 44 could be provided, one for each of the two portions composing said base seat 42.
[0023] Moreover, according to a further, simplified variant, the rotatable connection at issue could merely be provided by the intrinsic elasticity of the material the hook members 3 and the base 2 are made of. In this case, therefore, the hook members 3 and the base 2 could be made integral therebetween.
[0024] The operation modes of the holder 1 will hereinafter be detailed with reference to Figures 1A-1D.
[0025] In Figure 1A, the holder 1 is shown in a configuration of insertion of the dish D. In this configuration, the hook members 3 are rotated about the axis 40 of the horizontal pin 41, in opposition to the springback force of the spring 44, so as to move the engagement surfaces 31 away from the base 2. Therefore, in this configuration the dish D can be inserted between the hook members 3 and rested onto the top face 21 of the base 2 (Figure 1B).
[0026] Once the dish D has been rested onto the base 2, the hook members 3 are released. Thus, the springback force of the spring 44 make such members rotate until the engagement surfaces 31 thereof abut the rim of the dish D (Figure 1B). The entity of such rotation will be suited to the shape and dimensions of the dish D. In this way, the holder 1 assumes a holding configuration of the dish D, in which the engagement surfaces 31 cooperate with the rim of the dish D to hold the dish D itself, and the latter is firmly held between the base 2 and the hook members 3.
[0027] The holding of the dish D is made firmer by the action of the pawls 32 onto the rim of the dish D itself.
[0028] It will be appreciated that the disc shape of the base 2 can be adapted to receive any kind of disposable dish, usually having a rounded contour when observed in a plan view, like the above-disclosed base 2. Of course, anyway, according to further variants the base 2 could also have a plan shape other than rounded, like, e.g., squared, rectangular, oval.
[0029] Moreover, the base 2 could be ring- rather than disc-shaped, thus exposing a bottom portion of the dish D inserted between the hook members 3 of the holder 1. However, the disc shape provides several relevant advantages. Firstly, the base 2 can rest onto the hand of a user more steadily with respect to the bottom of the dish D, it being typically stiffer than the latter. Further, a solid base 2 avoids that the user gets burned due to hot foodstuffs contained into the dish D, as it may happen when the latter is hand-held.
[0030] Referring now to Figure 1C, when the dish D is to be removed, the hook members 3 are again rotated to move away the engagement surfaces 31 from the base 2 and from the dish D resting thereon, slightly forcing the hook members 3 to disengage the rim of the dish D.
[0031] Upon removal of the dish D, the hook members 3 are released again, and the springback force of the spring 44 rotates them until they abut the top face 21 of the base 2, in a flatwise position. Thus, the holder 1 assumes the aforementioned configuration of minimum encumbrance, in which it can effectively be put away (Figure 1D).
[0032] In this configuration, several dish-holders according to the invention can be put away together, stacked one onto the other.
[0033] A simplified variant of the holder does not comprise springback means. In fact, each hook member 3 could remain in a certain engagment or disengagement position of the dish D by providing a mechanical interference between the pin 41 and the seat thereof, generating a friction requiring a manual forcing for rotating the hook members 3.
[0034] Further variants of the above-described holder can provide further means for blocking the hook members in a certain number of different positions, each corresponding to one of the aforementioned configurations of the holder 1 or to differently shaped dishes. Such locking means could be, e.g., bayonet mechanisms equipped with a return spring.
[0035] Figures 3, 4 and 5 relate to a second, third and fourth embodiment of the disposable-dish holder according to the invention, respectively. Therein, components analogous to those already described with reference to Figures 1A-1D and 2 are indicated with the same reference number, and of course a further description thereof will be omitted.
[0036] Referring to Figure 3, a disposable-dish holder according to the invention, globally indicated with 10, comprises an L-shaped hook member 30 formed in two portions. A first bottom portion 301 is integral with the base 2 and substantially orthogonal thereto. A second top portion 302 is rotatably connected to the first portion 301 and it has an engagement surface 31 in all analogous to the one already described with reference to the first embodiment.
[0037] Said rotatable connection between the first and the second portion 301 and 302 of the hook member 30 is implemented by an inner vertical pin 410, the longitudinal axis thereof being indicated with 400. Therefore, the second portion 302 is rotatable about the axis 400 of the vertical pin 410 with respect to the first portion 301, thereby making the holder 10 assume a dish insertion configuration and a dish holding configuration. In particular, in the dish insertion configuration the second portion 302 is rotated outwardly with respect to the base 2, whereas in the dish holding configuration the former is rotated towards the inside of the base 2 to hold the dish according to the modes already described with reference to the first embodiment.
[0038] Of course, in this case as well springback means arranged at the vertical pin 410 could be provided.
[0039] Referring to Figure 4, a disposable-dish holder according to the invention, globally indicated with 100, provides a plurality of hook members, each indicated with 300 and having an engagement surface 31 apt to cooperate with the rim of a dish for holding it.
[0040] In the present embodiment, such hook members 300 are fixed with respect to a base 2, and in particular integral therewith. Therefore, the dish will be slightly strained at the insertion thereof within the holder 100, in order to allow the engagement surfaces 31 to abut the rim of the dish itself.
[0041] In this embodiment, the dimensions of the hook members 300 could be optimised to hold, e.g., a soup plate, typically having an height of about 3 cm, or for concomitantly holding a shallow plate and a soup plate stacked thereon.
[0042] Moreover, in this embodiment, a cup support, globally indicated with 5, is associated with at least one of the aforesaid plurality of hook members 300.
[0043] Such cup support 5 comprises a ring member 51, apt to receive a cup G, connected to the hook member 300 by a connection bar 52 projecting from the hook member 300 itself.
[0044] Preferably, the bar 52 is rotatably connected to the hook member 300. Such rotatable connection is implemented by a support pin 53, the longitudinal axis thereof being indicated with 50. Such support pin 53 is integral with the cup support 5 and apt to be inserted within a support seat 54 formed onto the upper part of the hook member 300. By virtue of such rotatable connection, the support 5 can rotate about the axis 50 of the support pin 53, in order to make the holder 100 assume a minimum encumbrance configuration, in which the cup support is rotated towards the inside of the base 2 to put away the holder 100. It has to be pointed out that the connection between the cup support 5 and the hook member 300 could also be reversible, so that the cup support 5 is easily removed prior to putting the holder 100 away.
[0045] Referring to Figure 5, a disposable-dish holder according to the invention, globally indicated with 101, provides a substantially Y-shaped base 20. Hence, such base 20 consists of three arms extending onto a plane, each indicated with 201, that in the present embodiment are arranged according to a substantially constant angle one with respect to the other. An inner slider 6 slides within each arm 201 of the base, thus each arm 201 and the related slider 6 implement a simple telescopic mechanism. Furthermore, a hook member 303 is associated with each slider. In particular, each slider 6 has, at the longitudinal end thereof external to the respective arm 201, a hook member 303 integral therewith.
[0046] Hence, in this case the sliding of the sliders 6 within the arms 201 of the base 20 makes the holder 101 capable of assuming said dish insertion and dish holding configurations. In particular, in order to insert a dish between the base 20 and the hook members 303, the sliders 6 should be slided towards the outside of the base 20, «lengthening» the «Y» branches. Then, an opposite motion will be performed for bringing the engagement surfaces 31 of the hook members 303 to abut the rim of the dish.
[0047] In this case, the sliding of the sliders 6 into the base 20 allows to adjust the holder 101 to dishes of different width.
[0048] Of course, springback means, like, e.g., helical springs, are provided in this fourth embodiment as well, for recalling the sliders 6 towards the inside of the base 20, thereby making the holder 101 assume a dish holding configuration or a minimum encumbrance configuration. In the present embodiment, such latter configuration provides that the sliders 6 are inserted within the arms 201, so that the hook members 303 abut the edges of the arms themselves.
[0049] Furthermore, according to variants to this embodiment, a different number of arms 201 and of respective sliders 6 could of course be provided.
[0050] According to another variant, the hook members of the holder according to the invention could be telescopic themselves, in order to fit dishes of different height.
[0051] Moreover, according to a further variant, a substantially disc-shaped base, apt to support the bottom of the dish, could be provided, from which base arms, telescopic or not, provided with fixed and/or movable hooks, depart, according to what has hereto been described with reference to the above-disclosed embodiments.
[0052] It will now be appreciated that the present invention provides a portable holder, of low cost and of easy manufacture.
[0053] The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that further embodiments could be obtained by combining the components of the different embodiments described up to now, and in particular the different types of hook members and bases hereto disclosed. For instance, a disposable-dish holder according to the invention could have a substantially Y-shaped base, and a hook member onto which a cup support is applied. Moreover, always having an Y-shaped base, some or all of the hook members could be fixed or rotatable with respect to the base of the holder, rather than slidable thereto. Further, a same hclder could concomitantly have fixed and movable hook members.
1. A disposable-dish holder (1; 10; 100; 101) for holding disposable vessels (D, G),
comprising
a substantially flat base (2; 20), apt to support a dish (D), and
a plurality of hook members (3, 30, 300, 303) projecting from said base, each of said hook members having an engagement surface (31) apt to cooperate with a rim of the dish for holding the same.
2. The holder (1; 10; 100) according to claim 1, wherein said base (2) is substantially
disc-shaped.
3. The holder (101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said base (20) comprises arms
(201) extending over a plane.
4. The holder (1; 10; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least
one hook member (3, 30, 303) of said plurality is movable with respect to said base
(2, 20) for making said device assume a dish insertion configuration, wherein the
engagement surface (31) of said hook member is moved away from said base for allowing
the insertion of the dish (D) resting onto said base, and a second dish holding configuration,
wherein the engagement surfaces of said plurality of hook members engage the rim of
the dish.
5. The holder (101) according to claims 3 and 4, comprising at least one slider (6),
sliding into a respective arm (201), having a hook member (303) associated with it.
6. The holder (1; 10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said at least one hook member
(3, 30) is rotatably connected to said base (2).
7. The holder (10) according to claim 6, wherein said hook member (30) comprises a first
portion (301), integral with said base (2), and a second portion (302), rotatably
connected to said first portion, having said engagement surface (31).
8. The holder (1; 10; 101) according to any one of the claims 4 to 7, comprising springback
means (44), associated with said at least one hook member (3, 30, 303) to recall it
towards said base (2; 20).
9. The holder (1) according to claims 6 or 7 and to claim 8, wherein said rotatable connection
of said hook member (3, 30) to said base (2) comprises a pin (41; 410) and said springback
means comprises a helical torsion spring (44) wound around said pin.
10. The holder (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a cup support
(5) associated with a hook member (300) of said plurality.
11. The holder (100) according to claim 10, wherein said cup support (5) comprises a ring
member (51), apt to receive a cup (G), projecting from said hook member (300).
12. The holder (100) according to claim 11, wherein said ring member (51) is rotatably
connected to said hook member (300) by means of a support pin (53) and of a respective
support seat (54), apt to receive said pin, formed in said hook member.
13. The holder (100) according to any one of the claims 10 to 12, wherein the connection
between said cup support (5) and said hook member (300) is reversible.
14. The holder (1; 10; 100; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising
three hook members (3, 30, 300, 303) evenly spaced along the peripheral contour of
said base (2; 20).
15. The holder (1; 10; 100; 101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
at least one hook member (3, 30, 300, 303) of said plurality has an engagement surface
(31) comprising, at a free end thereof, a pawl (32).