WO1992000031A1

WO1992000031A1 - Holder for tea bags, rice bags or the like

Info

Publication number: WO1992000031A1
Application number: PCT/DK1991/000180
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Folkmar
Original assignee: Jan Folkmar
Priority date: 1990-07-02
Filing date: 1991-06-28
Publication date: 1992-01-09
Also published as: DE4020984A1; AU8181291A

Abstract

A holder, especially for tea bags, rice bags or the like, comprises a rod-shaped member (1) and a clamping device (5), the latter being placed on the lower end of the former and comprising a first clamping member (5a) shaped on the rod-shaped member (1) and a second clamping member (5b) pivotably connected (16) to the rod-shaped member, said first and second clamping members being capable of being brought into engagement with each other. The clamping device (5) may be used for holding e.g. a tea bag (not shown), such as when immersed in hot water in a tea pot (not shown).

Description

HOLDER FOR TEA BAGS, RICE BAGS OR THE LIKE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a holder according to the preamble of claim 1.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a holder, especially for tea bags, rice bags or the like, with which the bag may be held securely in a vessel and/or liquid.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by means of the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

Further embodiments of the holder are set forth in the sub-claims.

According to a preferred embodiment, the holder consists of a rod-shaped, preferably flat member, carrying at least one, preferably a number of hook sections and on its lower end being provided with a clamping device serving to secure a bag or the like. The clamping device serves either to clamp the bag to be held or, after engagement of the clamping members, to define a pocket adapted to receive at least a part of the object to be held.

The holder according to the present invention is constructed in such a manner, that paper bags, plastic bags or the like may be inserted between the components of the clamping device, after which these components may be brought together. On the other hand it is also possible to insert e.g. annular objects into the pocket defined by the clamping device, after which the clamping members are brought into mutual engagement and the annular object is supported by the clamping device.

According to a further embodiment of the holder, the part carrying at least one hook section is provided with mutually spaced recesses or film hinges, enabling the total length of the holder to be reduced.

According to a yet further embodiment, the holder is on one side provided with a stiffening profile member or a stiffening rib, causing the bending of the holder in the direction of the stiffening element to be limited and, in the case of a bending, the production of an elastic counter-force, so that in one direction, the holder can only be bent up to a certain degree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the .following detailed specification, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a holder in front elevation,

Figure 2 shows the holder of Figure 1 in side elevation,

Figure 3 shows the holder of Figures 1 and 2 in rear elevation, Figure 4a is a partial view of a modified embodiment of the holder,

Figure 4b in perspective and partly in section shows the holder according to Figure 4a,

Figure 5 shows a preferred use of the holder according to Figure 1, and

Figure 6 and 7 show further possible arrangements of the clamping device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a holder will now be described with reference to Figures 1-3.

As shown in the front elevational view in Figure 1, the holder consists of a rod-shaped member 1, preferably having a substantially flat shape and on one of its sides having at least one hook section 2, preferably several hook sections 2, 3 and 4. The hook sections 2, 3 and 4 are directed downwards towards a clamping device 5 in such a manner, that the open sides of the hook sections 2, 3 and 4 face downwards, and that the member 1 may be pushed downwards onto the edge of a vessel, such as a jug, pot or the like.

The clamping device 5 consists of a first clamping jaw 5a and a second clamping jaw 5b. The first clamping jaw 5a is shaped out of the rod-shaped member 1 or, preferably, an integral part of this rod-shaped member 1, while the second clamping jaw 5b is connected to the rod-shaped member 1, preferably hinged to the latter. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the first clamping jaw 5a constitutes an extension of the rod-shaped member 1 and comprises clamping lips 6 and 8, preferably protruding at right angles, said clamping lips being mutually spaced in the vertical direction, cf. Figure 2, and extend mainly parallel to each other, being engageable with suitable clamping lips 10 and 12 on the second clamping jaw 5b. The clamping lips 10 and 12 are provided on an arm 14, preferably protruding therefrom at right angles, and are mutually spaced at a distance, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is preferably smaller than the distance between the clamping lips 6 and 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the clamping lips 10 and 12 are channeled or fluted on their outwardly facing surfaces, while the clamping lips 6 and 8 are channeled, fluted or in some other manner wave-shaped on their inwardly facing surfaces. As may be seen, the distance between the clamping lips 6 and 8 may be chosen smaller and that between the clamping 10 and 12 larger, i.e. clamped-in to the position shown in Figure 2.

The arm 14 belonging to the second clamping jaw 5b is preferably hingedly connected to an arm 18 by means of a film hinge 16, said arm 16 preferably protruding at right angles from the member 1. Obviously, any other pivot or hinge connection may be used instead of the film hinge 16 in order to connect the arm 14 to the arm 18. In the position shown in Figure 2, the arm 14 extends substantially parallel to the member 1.

The arm 14 with the clamping lips 10 and 12 is pivot- able relative to the arm 18 about an axis through the film hinge 16, and may thus be pivoted anti-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 2 in order to free the clamping lips 6 and 8. In this state, an object, e.g. a bag of paper, plastic film or the like may be placed on the clamping lips 6 and 8, after which the arm 14 is pivoted back to the position shown in Figure 2 whilst clamping the parts of the bag securely between the clamping lips 6, 8 and 10, 12. Due to the channeled or fluted shape of the clamping lips 6, 8, 10 and 12 on the surfaces facing towards each other, the clamping lips are securely locked to each other and the inserted bag is held securely.

According to a further development of the holder, the ends of the two clamping lips 8 and 12 are provided with snap teeth 20 and 22, which in the state shown in Figure 2 engage each other and prevent an uninten¬ tional opening or pivoting in the anti-clockwise direction in Figure 2 of the arm 14 about the pivot¬ ing axis in the film hinge 16.

The member 1 may be provided with one or a number of hook sections 2, 3 and 4 in the manner explained above. If a number of such hook sections 2, 3 and 4 are provided, recesses 24 and 26 are formed in the member 1 at least at a small distance above the hook sections 3 and 4, said recesses possibly causing the formation of film hinges and in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 also causing the member 1 to be divided in to three segments 27, 28 and 29 in such a manner, that these three segments 27, 28 and 29 may be made to take up mutually inclined positions. For this reason, the recesses or film hinges 24 and 26 contribute to a certain flexibility of the strip-shaped member 1 and simplify the use of the holder, including a possible shortening of the rod-shaped member 1, e.g. by twisting-off or cutting-off the upper segment 27 or the two upper segments 27 and 28. If needed, further such recesses 26a and 35a may be provided, e.g. also below the hook section 4.

It will be obvious that the hook sections 2, 3 and 4 do not necessarily have to be placed only on one side of the member 1 as shown in Figure 2, but may also be placed on alternate sides or on the side of the member 1 facing away from the clamping device.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the holder, a stiffening rib 32 is provided on the side of the member 1 in Figure 2 facing away from the hook sections 2, 3 and 4, said stiffening rib 32 being divided by notches 34 and 35, cf. Figure 3. The notches 34 and 35 are placed at the same level as the recesses or film hinges 24 and 25. The notches 34 and 35 are relatively narrow and make it possible to bend the member 1 in the direction of the arrows A and B, cf. Figure 2, to a certain degree, viz. until e.g. the mutually adjacent outer edges 32a and 32b of the stiffening rib 32 abut against each other. In contrast to this, with use of the stiffening rib 32, the holder shown in Figure 2 may be moved almost unlimited in a direction opposite that of the arrows A and B.

The stiffening rib 32 extends approximately along the middle of the rear side of the holder rod or the member 1, as may be seen from Figure 1, and in the region of the clamping device 5 it causes a stabiliza¬ tion at least of the clamping jaw 5a.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the hook sections 2, 3 and 4 are placed on the same side of the member 1 as the clamping jaw 5b. The clamping jaw 5b defines a chamber or pocket 33, which is delimited between the arm 18 and the clamping lip 6, and in the state shown in Figure 2 closed by the arm 14. In this chamber 33, an e.g. annular member may be inserted, and in the state of the clamping device shown in Figure 2 said member may be held by the arm 18 and the clamping lip 6 on the one side and the arm 14 on the other side, while the remainder of the annular element having been inserted in the chamber 33 extends laterally and below the clamping lips 8, 10 and 12 and is positionally secured to the segment 29. When the holder is placed in a position for use, the annular member (not shown) will rest substantially above the clamping lip 6, and may thus be held in a predetermined distance from a content in the latter.

The holder described with reference to Figures 1-3 is preferably made from synthetic material, advantageous¬ ly polypropylene or polyethylene. If the flexibility described with reference to the recesses 24 and 26 and the notches 34 and 35 is not desired, the stiffening rib 32 and/or the recesses 24 and 26 may be omitted. In order to enhance the unilateral flexibility, the holder described with reference to Figure 2 may also be provided with an additional recess below the hook section 4 corresponding to the recess 26 and a notch corresponding to the notch 35, the latter recesses and notches preferably being provided at the same level, such as explained with reference to the recess 26 and the notch 35.

In the embodiment described above, the width of the arm 14 is the same as that of the member 1, but the arm 14 may possibly also have a smaller width, with a correspondingly smaller width of the arm 18 and the 8

clamping lips 6 and 8.

A modified embodiment of the holder according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 4a and 4b. Figures 4a and 4b show a lower part of the holder, this part being altered relative to the embodiments of Figures 1-3 in that the clamping device 5 consists of an extension 42 with an opening 40 and a clamping jaw 45, the latter as explained in connection with Figure 2 being hinged to an arm 18, and may be placed in the opening 40 in the extension 42. On its free end 48, the clamping jaw 45 is provided with a protrusion 50 or the like being directed upwards, cf. Figure 4b, or downwards. This protrusion 50 may also be symmetrically shaped. The protrusion 50 may be disengaged from the extension 42 by pressing on the free end 48 in the direction of the arrow C, so that said free end 48 on the clamping jaw 45 will be pushed out of the opening 40. The jaw or clamping arm 45 is approximately L-shaped and has a smaller width than the member 1.

Figure 5 shows a preferred use of the holder described with reference to Figures 1-3. In a pot, e.g. a tea pot, a holder is as shown in the right-hand part of Figure 5 inserted in such a manner, that it is curved according to the arrows A and B, so that a clamping effect of the holder inside the pot is achieved through the securing described due to the mutually abutting edges 32a and 32b on the stiffening rib. In the left-hand side of the pot, a holder according to Figures 1-3, in which the member 1 extends substan¬ tially in a straight line, is inserted.

Futher embodiments of the clamping device 15 are described below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Both Figure 6 and Figure 7 show a part of the holder comprising the clamping device 5 without renewed description of the member 1, which as explained above may have recesses 24, 26 and 26a as well as a stiffening rib 32, the latter possibly being interrupted by notches 35.

Figures 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b show in a highly diagramma- tical manner how the clamping jaws 5a and 5b may co¬ operate in highly differing ways. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6a, the clamping jaw 5b protrudes from the member 1 and comprises a part 51, preferably protruding at right angles from the member 1, and continuing in a part 52, preferably extending down¬ wards at right angles from the part 51. The part 52 continues through to 90° towards the member 1 in a further part 53 carrying a snap tooth 54 facing downwardly against the second clamping jaw 5a. The second clamping jaw 5a protrudes from the member 1 in the form of an arm, preferably extending parallel to the part 51, and on its end having a snap lip 55 engaging the snap tooth 54. By bending the clamping jaw 5a in Figure 6a downwards, a gap may be opened between the snap tooth 54 and the snap lip 55 for inserting the element or bag to be held. In the embo¬ diment of Figure 6a, the snap tooth 54 is placed above the snap lip 55; obviously, the clamping jaws 5a and 5b may also be shaped in such a manner, cf. Figure 6b, that the part 52 extends downwards beyond the level of the snap lip 55, continuing in the part 53 carrying an upwardly facing snap tooth 54 engaging the downwardly facing snap lip 55 on the clamping jaw 5a. When this clamping device is to be opened, the part 53 or the clamping jaw 5b is actuated, the part 53 having to be 10

moved downwardly in order to open a gap between the snap tooth 54 and the snap lip 55. In accordance with a further modified embodiment, shown in broken lines in Figure 6a, the part 52 may extend from the part 51 at a shorter distance than shown in full lines in Figure 6a, carrying the snap tooth 54 directly, the part 53 being omitted.

Instead of having the snap tooth 54 and the snap lip 55, the ends of the clamping jaw 5a and the part 53 respectively may be suitably curved and interengaged, so that the same function as in the embodiments of Figures 6a and 6b is achieved.

In the embodiments according to Figures 7a and 7b, a clamping jaw exhibits a pincer-like profile, while the other clamping jaw carries a snap element capable of being inserted into and arrested by the pincer-like profiled part. In Figure 7a the clamping jaw 5a carries the pincer-like element consisting of two lips 61 and 62, the ends of which are bent towards each other, cooperating with a snap element 63 capable of being arrested by these lips. The lips 61 and 62 are shaped directly on the member 1, preferably protruding at right angles. The clamping jaw 5b consists of a part 65, preferably shaped as a lip protruding at right angles from the member 1 and continuing in a part 66, preferably at right angles to the part 65 and ending in a part 67, the latter preferably extending at right angles to the part 66 and being directed towards member 1, carrying the snap element 63 on its end. In the embodiment according to Figure 7b, the arrangement is the opposite of that in Figure 7a, i.e. in such a manner, that the clamping jaw 5a carries the snap element 63, while the clamping jaw 5b with the part 65 and the part 66 carries the pincer-like units

61 and 62 on the end of the part 66, the lips 61 and

62 being directed towards the member 1 and having their ends bent towards each other. Thus, in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in Figure 7a, the ends of the lips 61 and 62 provide elastic snap means for receiving the snap element 63 .

It should be noted that the length of the parts 51-53, cf. Figures 6a and 6b, and 65, 66, 61 and 62, cf. Figures 7a and 7b, may be varied as desired and solely has to be adapted to the use in each case.

12

LIST OF PARTS

Claims

14CLAIMS :

1. Holder, especially for tea bags, rice bags or the like, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a) a rod-like member (1), and b) a clamping device (5) placed on the lower end of the rod-shaped member (1) and comprising bl) a first clamping member (5a) shaped on the rod-shaped member (1), and b2) a second clamping member (5b) pivotably connected to the rod-shaped member (1), said first and second clamping members (5a, 5b) being capable of mutual engagement.

2. Holder according to claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d by having a flat shape and at least one recess (24, 26) or the like extending transverse to its axis.

3. Holder according to claim 1 or 2, c h a- r a c t e r i z e d in that the rod-shaped member (1) carries a stiffening profile member or a stiffening rib (32) on its surface facing away from the hook section (2, 3, 4).

4. Holder according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e¬ r i z e d in that the stiffening profile member or the stiffening rib (32) is provided with at least one notch (34, 35).

5. Holder according to at least one of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second clamping member (5) consists of an arm (14), on which are formed approximately perpendicu¬ larly protruding clamping lips (10, 12), the latter being adapted to be brought into abutment with corresponding clamping lips (6, 8) of the first clamping member.

6. Holder according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e¬ r i z e d in that the arm (14) of the second clamping member (5) is pivotably connected to an anchoring arm (18).

7. Holder according to at least one of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an opening (40) is formed in the first clamping member (5a), through which opening a protrusion (50) of the second clamping member may be made to extend.

8. Holder according to at least one of the pre- vious claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the member (1) exhibits at least one hook section (2, 3, 4), the opening of which faces the clamping device (5).

9. Holder according to at least one of the pre- vious claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each clamping member (5a, 5b) carries a snap tooth or snap lip (54, 55) in engagement with each other.

10. Holder according to at least one of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one of the clamping members (5a, 5b) exhibits a pincer-shaped profile member, in which a snap element of the other clamping member may be inserted and be arrasted.

11. Holder according to at least one of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that 16

the ends of the clamping members (5a, 5b) are flexible.