WO2016008569A1

WO2016008569A1 - Food supporting device

Info

Publication number: WO2016008569A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/001346
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco IACONO; Matteo INVERNICI; Marco Monti
Original assignee: J.E.A.R. S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-07-16
Filing date: 2015-07-03
Publication date: 2016-01-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food supporting device (1), comprising a tray part (2) intended to support foods, in turn comprising an upper face (21), a lower face (22), a first side end (25) and a second side end (26) at the side opposite to the first one, wherein, at the lower face (22) there is provided a supporting stirrup (23) for engaging the forearm of a user. The device (1) further comprising a gripping part (3) comprising a beverage-holding seat (31) distinct from the tray part (2) and removably connectable to the tray part (2) by first and second connection means (24', 24", 34") mutually connectable and arranged on said tray part (2) and on said gripping part (3) respectively, there being provided at least two first connection means (24',24") at the first side end (25) and at the second side end (26) of the tray part (3), such to allow the gripping part (3) to be connected at the first (25) or second (26) side end of the tray part (2), wherein the connection means (24', 24") of the tray part (2) are arranged, in the plan view, in a asymmetric manner with respect to a barycentric axis of the tray part (3) in a plan view.

Description

FOOD SUPPORTING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of food supporting devices, such as trays and the like.

The term "food supporting device" here means both the devices intended to directly hold foods, and those intended to support dishes (or containers) that in turn hold foods.

PRIOR ART

Several types of devices intended to carry out the primary function of supporting foods in order to allow them to be carried are known in the art.

Usually such objects are in the form of solid plates (such as for example trays) on which it is possible sometimes to put the dish that in turn holds the food or - as an alternative - they have suitable cavities where it is possible to directly hold the foods. Among the devices known in the art, for example it is possible to find a device, such as described in the International patent application WO2007088403A1, whose shape has been suitably studied for holding foods by means of a recess with a given depth, thus allowing foods to be carried. This device contemporaneously allows also a glass to be housed, thus solving the clear difficulty in carrying with one hand the tray and with the other hand the glass thus not having the possibility of eating the contents of the tray.

A second device among the known devices, described in the international patent application WO2007001047 allows the tray to be carried by putting it on the forearm and by keeping it stable by means of suitable slots that allow the fingers to pass through; it is possible to hold a glass or a bottle containing a beverage with the hand at the end of the arm on which the tray is placed.

A further device known in the art is described in the US patent US 5,697,512; in practice it combines the two solutions described above while adding the practicality of making the tray and the glass-holding recess as a single assembly.

Although generally such known devices are all useful they have the drawback of bringing foods too much near to the user body, with the risk of getting dirty if the device loses stability and tilts; it has to be noted, by the way, that with respect to the engaging axis of the forearm of a user, the known devices are on the whole symmetric (in a plan view) such to be used indifferently by right-handed or left- handed users.

A further drawback of such devices is the fact that - due to their overall shape - they cannot be easily inserted in the dishwasher for being washed and sanitized in a practical and quick manner, unless having a dishwasher with racks therein suitably made for receiving such devices.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

Particularly it is the object of the present invention to provide a food supporting device usable indifferently by right-handed or left-handed users and that contemporaneously puts foods in a region as far away as possible from the body, thus reducing the possibility of getting dirty in case of food falling down or in case the tray loses stability.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that - if it is of the reusable type- is able to be automatically washed with the standard dishwashers on the market, without providing them with special arrangements.

These and further objects of the present invention are achieved by a device of the type mentioned above embodying the characteristics of the annexed claims, which are an integral part of the present description.

The general idea at the base of the present invention provides to make the device such that it comprises two distinct parts, a tray part and a gripping part, which are removably connectable with each other at a connection area asymmetric with respect to a barycentric axis of the tray portion in the plan view, at a first or a second end of the tray part itself.

In more details, once defining a first axis that:

- lies on the plane coinciding with the upper face of the tray part and that

- passes by the barycenter of the geometrical shape (in a plan view) of the tray part, it results that the barycentric axis of symmetry of the geometrical shape (plan view) of the gripping part does not coincide with such first axis. Such particular arrangement has a synergy of advantages: especially a comfortable use both for right-handed users and left-handed users is allowed while allowing foods supported (directly or by means of containers) by the device itself to be kept in a remote position.

Depending on the preferences of the user he/she can fit the gripping part at one or the other end and can use the device of the invention such that foods are in a position far away from the body, reducing the risk of getting dirty.

In case of spillage, the most prominent and wide part of the main body is the outer one and this avoids or reduces any likelihood of dirtying the user.

The fact that the connection between the gripping part and the tray part is removable has a synergy of advantages: on one hand it avoids arranging different devices for right-handed users and for left-handed users, on the other hand once the device is used, it allows the gripping part and the tray part to be disconnected, employing the standard dishwashers on the market for washing them, without providing racks or arrangements specifically intended for the purpose.

Still an advantage, synergic with the positioning advantage, is related to the fact that the beverage-holding seat is obtained in the gripping part: typically beverages have an overall weight equal to or higher than that of foods; by holding with the hand the device in the area where the beverage-holding seat is arranged the user is able to better handle the device, guaranteeing its stability even if foods are placed in a asymmetrical manner.

Still another advantage resulting from the device of the invention is about the fact that it has the possibility of being used on both the sides without losing the practicality of a single assembly and of the characteristic asymmetric shape and of firmly gripping the assembly by means of a suitable friction enhancing means (or "grip") on the gripping part.

Further advantageous characteristics are the subject matter of the annexed claims, which are an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below with reference to non-limiting examples, provided by way of example and not as a limitation in the annexed drawings. These drawings show different aspects and embodiments of the invention and, where appropriate, reference numerals showing like structures, components, materials and/or elements in different figures are denoted by like reference numerals.

In the annexed figures:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first version of a device according to the invention in a first configuration of use;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of the previous figure in a second configuration of use;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of the previous figures in an assembling step; Figure 4 is a front view on a first side of the device of the previous figures;

Figure 5 is a front view on a second side of the device of the previous figures;

Figures 6 and 7 are plan views of the device of the previous figures grasped by a user;

Figures 8 and 9 are phantom views of a part of the device of the previous figures in the condition of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, some preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described here below in details.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific embodiment disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention of the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative forms and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of "for example", "etc", "or" indicate non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise defined.

The use of "including" means "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise defined.

Terms as "vertical" and "horizontal", "upper" and "lower" (with no other indications) have to be read with reference to the operating conditions and with reference to the standard terminology in use in common speech, where "vertical" means a direction substantially parallel to that of the vector of the force of gravity "g" and horizontal means a direction perpendicular thereto.

The figures 1 to 5 show a first version of a food supporting device according to the invention, generally denoted by the reference 1.

It comprises a tray part 2 intended to support foods, both directly (namely receiving them into flares or cavities intended for the purpose) and indirectly, namely acting as a support for dishes or - more generally - for food containers.

The tray part 2 in turn comprises an upper face 21 and a lower face 22, with reference to a condition of use of the device 1.

Moreover in the tray part 2 there are two opposite side ends: a first side end 25 and a second side end 26.

At the lower face 22 there is provided a support stirrup 23 for engaging the forearm of a user.

In the embodiment in question such stirrup is divided into two parts that form a kind of inverted U wherein the forearm of a user is placed.

It has to be noted now that it may be possible to equally provide a solution with a stirrup not divided into two parts, but as a single piece and possibly also with non identical shapes, but similar shapes.

When the user desires to use the device 1 on the whole he/ she puts it firmly on the stirrup 23, on his/her forearm.

The tray part 2 comprises, in this embodiment, cavities 27, 28 which are open at the upper face 21 and which are intended to hold food or foodstuffs.

It is specified that in some basic embodiments, there is provided only one cavity 27 arranged on one side of the area where the user forearm is placed.

Still, in other embodiments, the cavities 27, 28 are completely omitted: this is the case when the device 1 acts as a real holding tray, on which plates and dishes are placed.

Still in another embodiment the tray part is not monolithic, but on the contrary it is divided into at least two parts: a kind of frame or skeleton provided with at least one seat and one or more containers that form the cavities 27,28 that are housed into the seat/ seats.

Thus, advantageously, the containers may be disposable, while the frame part may be sanitized and used several times. As it is noted, in the shown example, the stirrup 23 develops in a substantially central area (meaning an area not at the border) of the tray part 2 there being provided first 27 and second 28 cavities at the opposite sides of the central area intended to receive the food.

It has to be noted how the first cavities 27 have a volume smaller than the second cavity 28, that in this example is a single one but it can also be divided or it can have several chambers.

In the embodiment described now the part is made of plastic for food use, in a single monolithic piece, made by molding.

In order to guarantee stability and transportability of the device 1, it comprises also a gripping part 3.

Such gripping part comprises a beverage-holding seat 31 separated from the tray part 2 and removably connectable thereto, at the first 25 or second 26 end thereof, such as shown by way of example in figs.l and 2.

Such removable connection occurs by means of first and second connection means 24', 24", 34 mutually connectable, that define, for example the male and the female of a mechanical form-fit or they comprise the North and South of magnetic connections; a connection of the "slide" type is particularly useful wherein a part is a rail and the other part slidably engages therein, exactly as a "slide".

Advantageously the type of connection is removable or reversible: thus it is possible to assemble the device 1 when it is necessary and to disassemble it for making it easier to wash it: as regards this matter it has to be noted that, on the whole, the tray part 2 can be easily housed in the dish-holder rack area of a dishwasher (due to its overall similarity with a real dish) and the gripping part 3 can be housed in the area of the dishwasher intended to receive the glasses (for similar reasons).

Advantageous connections are the snap-type ones (so called "snap-fittings") for example with tongues and grooves; no further reference is made thereto since generally it is within the knowledge of the person skilled in the art once knowing the invention.

As it noted from the figures, the first and second connection means 24', 24", 34 are arranged on the tray part 2 and on the gripping part 3 respectively. For the versatility of the device 1 it is important to provide at least two first connection means 24', 24" one placed at the first side end 25 and the other one placed at the second side end 26.

Obviously the two first connection means 24', 24" are identical to each other, such to allow the second means 34 to be connected with one or the other one.

Thus it is possible to allow the gripping part 3 to be connected alternatively at the first 25 or second 26 side end of the tray part 2: therefore the user can decide where connecting the gripping part 3 depending on his/her preferences and in the light of his/her asymmetry, such that the widest cavities are more far away from the body, such as schematically shown in figs. 6 and 7.

The connection means 24', 24" are arranged, in the plan view, in a asymmetric manner with respect to a barycentric axis of the tray part 3 in the plan view: therefore they are closer to one border to the tray part with respect to the opposite border. Advantageously if the connection is achieved by the interaction of a male and a female part, preferably the male is provided to be on the beverage-holder and the female on the main tray body, such to avoid an undesired encumbrance for the user. Particularly by observing fig.l it has to be noted that, once defining a first axis AA that:

- lies on the plane coinciding with the upper face of the tray part and that

- passes by the barycenter of the geometrical shape (in a plan view) of the tray part, it results that the barycentric axis of symmetry BB of the geometrical shape (plan view) of the gripping part does not coincide with such first axis AA.

This asymmetry causes, when in use, the tray part 2 to project more from one side than from the other side (especially the greater projection is the one at the side of the tray part housing the cavities 27 with a higher volume) with respect to the stirrup 23 (and therefore to the user arm).

This allows the user to place all (or at least most of) the food or foodstuffs at the cavities 27 with a higher volume that, by being fitted at one end 25 or at the other end 26 of the gripping part 3, can be placed in a position far away from the user body, regardless of which arm he/she wants to engage in the stirrup 23.

To this end it has to be noted that the technical choice of making the object as asymmetric in order to solve a technical drawback, would make it impossible to use the device (if a single piece) on both the arms therefore apparently preventing it from being used by left-handed people (or right-handed people, depending on the cases) unless producing a tray suitably designed with the opposite asymmetry.

The beverage-holding seat 31 is configured as a substantially cylindrical seat that can be closed like a glass at the bottom (as in the shown embodiment) or open, at the bottom and/ or at the sides depending on preferences.

It is particularly useful when a glass or a bottle is desired to be housed therein, such that the user can support both food and beverages with one arm, and he/ she can eat with the other arm.

Thus the advantages described above are achieved.

In order to further help the user during handling and in order to leave at least one hand completely free for eating, there is optionally provided a cutlery-holding compartment 29 that is open at the upper face 21 of the tray part 2.

In one alternative not shown the cutlery-holding compartment comprises a vertical case arranged side by side with the beverage-holding seat 31, substantially with a shape similar to the latter, but with smaller dimensions.

As an alternative or in combination the cutlery-holding compartment 29 may hold a napkin.

As regards the material usable for making the device 1, generally it may be a plastic material, reusable, of the type intended for the contact with food.

In a variant paperboard is used: in this case the cavities 27, 28 are formed into plastic containers that can be fitted into the tray part 3, which will be provided with suitable housings or seats.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the seat 31 is defined by discontinuous walls, for example provided with through slots or the like.

Thus the user, by the fingers, can grip the container housed in the seat 31 and hold it for example if it is a bottle and he/she wants to remove the cap.

It has to be noted that by means of such arrangement it is possible to contemporaneously hold the device in position on the arm and to accomplish the operation just described above without the risk of making the device and/ or bottle falling down.

This solution contemporaneously allows the contents of the beverage-holder to be gripped more firmly: for example if the beverage-holder holds a bottle, by means of such semi-rigid solution it would be possible to firmly grip it in order to easily open and close it.

In an alternative embodiment, with reference to figs.8 and 9, the walls of the food- holder are partially opened and comprise one or more bending tabs 38 that allow the contents to be gripped more firmly and to be in turn grasped by the user hand.

Still in another variant at least the cavities 27, 28 are provided with individual covers for keeping the food therein hot; in another variant on the contrary there is provided a single cover for all the cavities 27, 28.

Thus the objects listed above are achieved.

Obviously several variants are possible with respect to what described up to now, all equivalent to what described up to now and claimed below.

Claims

1. Food supporting device (1), comprising a tray part (2) intended to support foods, in turn comprising

an upper face (21)

a lower face (22)

a first side end (25) and a second side end (26) at the side opposite to the first one

wherein at the lower face (22) there is provided a supporting stirrup (23) for engaging the forearm of a user

characterized in that

the device (1) further comprises a gripping part (3) comprising a beverage- holding seat (31) distinct from the tray part (2) and removably connectable to the tray part (2) by first and second connection means (24', 24", 34") mutually connectable and arranged on said tray part (2) and on said gripping part (3) respecitvely, there being provided at least two first connection means (24',24") at the first side end (25) and at the second side end (26) of the tray part (3), such to allow the gripping part (3) to be connected at the first (25) or second (26) side end of the tray part (2),

wherein the connection means (24', 24") of the tray part (2) are arranged, in the plan view, in a asymmetric manner with respect to a barycentric axis of the tray part (3) in plan view.

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein once defining a first axis that:

- lies on the plane coinciding with the upper face of the tray part and that

- passes by the barycenter of the geometrical shape (in a plan view) of the tray part,

the barycentric axis of symmetry of the geometrical shape (plan view) of the gripping part does not coincide with such first axis.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tray part (2) comprises a cavity (27) for housing foods, open at the upper face (21) of the tray part (2).

4. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting stirrup (23) for the engagement of a forearm of a user develops in a substantially central area of said tray part (2) there being provided at the opposite sides of the central area first cavities (27) and second cavities (28) intended to house foods.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first cavities (27) have a volume smaller than the second cavities (28).

6. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second connection means (24', 24", 34) are selected among the group of: mechanical form-fit connections, magnetic connections.

7. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a cutlery-holding compartment (29) preferably arranged substantially aligned with the supporting stirrup (23) engaging a forearm of a user.

8. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tray part (2) is monolithic, made of plastic for food use.

9. Device (1) according to one or more of the claims 3 to 7, wherein the tray part (2) comprises seats for housing containers intended to define said cavities

(27,28).

10. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the beverage-holding seat (31) of the gripping part (3) is defined by walls provided with through slots such to allow a beverage container housed therein to be gripped by the fingers.