U.S. patent application number 11/547295 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for plate, glass and cutlery-holding unit.
Invention is credited to Piacenza Giuseppe.
Application Number | 20080308509 11/547295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34959264 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080308509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giuseppe; Piacenza |
December 18, 2008 |
Plate, Glass and Cutlery-Holding Unit
Abstract
A plate, glass and cutlery-holding unit (10, 10') I suitable for
housing plates and/or saucers (11), glasses (12) and cutlery (13)
comprises at least two portions (20,30, 30', 30'') hinged together
so that the unit can take up a closed position in which it is
intended to house just cutlery, and an open position in which the
unit can house plates, saucers, glasses and cutlery.
Inventors: |
Giuseppe; Piacenza; (Lodi,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEDMAN & COSTIGAN P.C.
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
34959264 |
Appl. No.: |
11/547295 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/12576 |
371 Date: |
October 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.3 ;
211/195; 211/41.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 19/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/41.3 ;
211/41.2; 211/195 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/08 20060101
A47G019/08; A47B 43/00 20060101 A47B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 8, 2004 |
IT |
MI2004A 000693 |
Claims
1. Plate, glass and cutlery-holding unit (10, 10') suitable for
housing plates and/or saucers (11), glasses (12) and cutlery (13)
comprises at least two portions (20, 30, 30', 30'') hinged together
so that the unit can take up a closed position in which it is
intended to house just cutlery, and an open position in which the
unit can house plates, saucers, glasses and cutlery.
2. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 1, characterised in that said
unit comprises a cutlery-holding portion (20) and two fold-away
portions (30, 30', 30'') that carry out the plate-holding,
glass-holding and/or saucer-holding function.
3. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 2, characterised in that said
cutlery-holding portion comprises a base (21) and a slot-type seat
(22) that can be fitted onto said base (21) to house the
cutlery.
4. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 3, characterised in that said
slot-type seat (22) is in the form of a tubular element (23) with a
squashed profile suitable for forming the walls of the
cutlery-holder and equipped with end closing edges (24) that extend
beyond the transversal width of the tubular element (23).
5. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 4, characterised in that said
base (21) is shaped so as to have a perimetric engagement edge (26)
cooperating with a bottom (27) arranged inside of it to receive the
tubular element (23) closing it at the base through the bottom
(27).
6. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 2, characterised in that said
base (21) carries hinged, through a hinge (28) arranged along one
or both sides, at least one, but preferably two, fold-away elements
(30) having plate-holding and/or saucer-holding and glass-holding
function.
7. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 2, characterised in that the
fold-away elements (30, 30', 30'') are equipped with parallel
sectors (25) extending from the inner walls and suitable for
constituting engagement seats for the plates and saucers or
supports for the glasses.
8. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 2, characterised in that the
unit (10') is foreseen equipped with two fold-away elements (30,
30'') hinged together in series and with the first of the two
elements (30') proximal, hinged to the base of the
cutlery-holder.
9. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 8, characterised in that the
second fold-away element (30''), distal with respect to the
cutlery-holder, is configured to be closed on the proximal
fold-away element (30') hinged to the cutlery-holder, to then close
both against the cutlery-holder obtaining the closing of the unit
(10').
10. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 9, characterised in that the
wall of the cutlery-holder facing towards the fold-away elements is
foreseen equipped with sectors (25) suitable for cooperating with
the corresponding sectors (25) extending from the proximal
fold-away element (30') to house the plates.
11. Unit (10, 10') according to claim 10, characterised in that the
end edges (24) extend just from the side facing towards the
fold-away elements (30', 30'') to receive them in closing.
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to a plate, glass and
cutlery-holding unit.
[0002] Different types of crockery-holders with or without annexed
cutlery-holders equipped with compartments suitable for allowing
the plates and glasses to be dried by dripping and exposure to the
air are known.
[0003] In general, according to the prior art such devices comprise
a basket equipped with shaped compartments for housing crockery
and/or a basket suitable for receiving cutlery, possibly a tray is
arranged under such baskets to collect the drip water.
[0004] The aforementioned devices according to the prior art are
somewhat rigid in size since they have a frame with a fixed profile
for example with substantially the same dimensions in plan as those
of the collection tray.
[0005] When the dry crockery and cutlery are put back in the
cupboards and in the kitchen drawers or else when there are not
many pieces to be dried, the excessive bulk of such devices
according to the prior art represents a drawback.
[0006] The general purpose of the present invention is therefore
that of providing a plate, glass and cutlery-holding unit that is
compact and multifunctional suitable for avoiding the problems of
excessive bulk both during use and when not in use.
[0007] Another purpose of the present invention is that of
overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art outlined above in an
extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly functional
manner.
[0008] In view of the aforementioned purposes, according to the
present invention, it has been thought of to make a plate, glass
and cutlery-holding unit having the characteristics outlined in the
attached claims.
[0009] The structural and functional characteristics of the present
invention and its advantages compared to the prior art shall become
even clearer from an examination of the following description,
referring to the attached drawings, which show a support bracket
realised according to the innovative principles of the invention
itself.
[0010] In the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the unit in open position
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1 in closed
position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the unit of FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top front exploded view of the unit of FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a top side exploded view of the unit of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the unit of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the unit in open position
according to a different embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 7 in
partially closed position;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 7 in closed
position.
[0020] With reference to the figures, a plate, glass and
cutlery-holding unit 10, 10' suitable for housing plates and/or
saucers 11, glasses 12 and cutlery 13 comprises at least two
portions hinged together so that the unit can take up a closed
position in which it is intended to house just cutlery and an open
position in which the unit can house plates, saucers, glasses and
cutlery.
[0021] Preferably, the unit comprises a cutlery-holding portion 20
and two fold-away portions 30 that carry out the plate-holding,
glass-holding and/or saucer-holding function.
[0022] According to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated
in FIGS. 1 to 6, the cutlery-holding portion comprises a base 21
and a slot-type seat 22 that can be engaged on said base 21 to
house the cutlery.
[0023] The slot-type seat 22 is in the form of a tubular element 23
with a squashed profile suitable for forming the walls of the
cutlery-holder and equipped with end closing edges 24 that extend
beyond the transversal width of the tubular element.
[0024] Such a configuration of the slot-type seat, as well as
allowing the engagement of the slot-type seat 22 inside the
correspondingly shaped base 21, allows the fold-away elements 30 to
be received in the position with the unit closed giving the group
unit itself compactness and low bulk.
[0025] The base 21 is shaped so as to have a perimetric engagement
edge 26 cooperating with a bottom 27 arranged inside of it to
receive the tubular element 23 closing it at the base through the
bottom 27.
[0026] The base 21 carries hinged, through a hinge 28 arranged
along one or both sides, at least one, but preferably two,
fold-away elements 30 having plate-holding and/or saucer-holding
and glass-holding function.
[0027] Advantageously, the unit 10 is made from plastic material
due to its qualities of lightness and strength and the slot-type
seat 22 can be removed for practicality and for hygiene reasons,
nevertheless it is alternatively covered by the purposes of the
present invention to make the cutlery-holding portion in a single
piece.
[0028] The fold-away elements 30 are equipped with parallel sectors
25 extending from the inner walls and suitable for constituting
engagement seats for the plates and saucers or supports for the
glasses.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 a different embodiment of the
invention is illustrated in which the unit 10' is foreseen equipped
with two fold-away elements 30', 30'' hinged to each other in
series, and with the first of the two elements 30' that is proximal
hinged to the base of the cutlery-holder.
[0030] According to such an embodiment the cutlery-holder is thus
arranged at the side with respect to the unit 10'.
[0031] The second fold-away element 30'', distal with respect to
the cutlery-holder, is configured to be closed upon the proximal
fold-away element 30' hinged to the cutlery-holder, to then both
close against the cutlery-holder obtaining the closing of the unit
10'.
[0032] In such an embodiment, the wall of the cutlery-holder facing
towards the fold-away elements is foreseen equipped with sectors 25
suitable for cooperating with the corresponding sectors 25
extending from the proximal fold-away element 30' to house the
plates. In such an embodiment the end edges 24 extend just from the
side facing towards the fold-away elements 30', 30'' to receive
them in closing.
[0033] Suitable elastic engagement means are foreseen to prevent
the accidental opening of the unit.
[0034] As is also clear from the figures, the unit 10, 10'
according to the invention allows multi-functional use as regards
the reduction in bulk being able to operate just as a
cutlery-holder or as a crockery-holder and cutlery-holder according
to requirements.
[0035] From that which has been described above, with reference to
the figures, it is clear how a plate, saucer, glass and
cutlery-holding unit according to the invention is particularly
useful and advantageous. The purpose mentioned in the preamble of
the description is thus achieved.
[0036] Of course, the shapes that can be taken up by the unit
according to the invention can be different from those shown only
as a non-limiting example in the drawings. The scope of protection
of the invention is therefore defined by the attached claims.
* * * * *