EP0443951A1 - Non-slip device for the contacting surfaces of two objects placed one upon the other - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises interacting elements consisting of cavities (5) and fingers (8) appearing, indiscriminately, hollowed out in one of the said two surfaces (3, 4) and projecting on the other surface, the elements of the underlying surface (3) being more numerous than the interacting elements of the overlying surface (4) which are at least three in number and these elements of the underlying surface (3) being distributed in a consistent manner so that they can all be selected in order to interact with the fingers, each cavity (5) also having a free section (d1) which is much greater than that (d2) of each finger (8) so that the placing of the object (2) located above can be performed at virtually any location and according to any orientation over the object located below. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a non-slip device fitted to the surfaces in contact with two objects placed one on the other.

More particularly, this device is applicable to objects used by the staff of transport companies and in particular airlines to provide the catering service.

For example, the device can equip each tray and the service components (cup, glass, plate, etc.) capable of being placed on it, knowing that the trays and components are generally made of molded plastic and must after each service be perfectly cleaned in washing machines.

Generally, the non-slip device consists of a self-adhesive coating placed on the tray and / or under the components. This known device allows the tray to be tilted, which is inevitable during service, without the risk that the plate, glass or cup will slip and overturn their contents or fall. However, such a known coating has the major drawback of being difficult to clean in the machine, of losing in use its new appearance and of coming off, of tearing at the edges, its aging too rapid then requiring putting the objects that he is scrapping. Besides, it is not even a question of waiting for this aging to take place, because it is unacceptable for a quality service that the objects lose their noble appearance and it follows that these objects are discarded after a number of relatively low rotations and that the cost of this material which in fact could last longer constitutes too large a part in the cost price of a meal.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a particularly effective non-slip device since it allows the tray to be tilted sharply while holding the objects it supports in place, this device being perfectly washable and its longevity being that of said tray and objects.

Furthermore, it aims to ensure that the cost of the device is negligible in the context of mass exploitation.

For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, the device comprises cooperating elements constituted by cells and fingers appearing indifferently hollow in one of said two surfaces and projecting on the other surface, the elements of the surface under being more numerous than the cooperating elements of the overlying surface which are at least two in number and these elements of the underlying surface being distributed in a coherent manner so as to be all selectable for cooperating with the fingers, each cell having in addition, a free section much larger than that of each finger so that the installation of the object situated above can be carried out practically at any location in any orientation on the object situated below.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cells are located in the underlying surface and distributed in a regular network, while the fingers of at least two protrude below the overlying surface, the distance of these fingers in the direction or directions of the network being a multiple of the step or steps of the cells.

According to another embodiment, the fingers protrude from the underlying surface and are distributed in a regular network, while the cells are located in bosses protruding below the overlying surface, the greatest distance from the edge of each boss on the side wall of its socket being less than the minimum pitch of the fingers.

In these two embodiments, it is advantageous that the objects are made of molded plastic, the cells and the fingers having come from molding.

The two directions of the network can be perpendicular to each other and in particular, the meshes can be square.

The cells can be circular and their side wall is connected to the bottom by a rounding to improve washing. The depth of these cells is substantially equal to 0.7 mm.

The fingers can be cylindrical with a straight end.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

Embodiments of the object of the invention are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 est une vue en plan d'un plateau et d'un récipient posés l'un sur l'autre et faisant application d'une première forme de réalisation du dispositif antidérapant conforme à l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues partielles analogues à la figure 1, illustrant des variantes de réalisation du plateau,
• la figure 4 est une élévation-coupe prise suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1,
• les figures 5 à 9 sont des coupes partielles agrandies du détail désigné par la flèche F sur la figure 4, mettant en évidence divers modes d'exécution des éléments coopérants,
• la figure 10 est une vue analogue à la figure 4 montrant une deuxième forme de réalisation du dispositif,
• la figure 11 est une vue analogue à la figure 7 mais se rapportant à la deuxième forme de réalisation selon la figure 10.

On this drawing :

• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tray and of a container placed one on the other and applying a first embodiment of the non-slip device according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial views similar to FIG. 1, illustrating alternative embodiments of the plate,
• FIG. 4 is an elevation-section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1,
• FIGS. 5 to 9 are enlarged partial sections of the detail designated by the arrow F in FIG. 4, showing various embodiments of the cooperating elements,
• FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment of the device,
• FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but relating to the second embodiment according to FIG. 10.

The objects to which the non-slip device of the invention applies can be any and made of any material (wood, metal, stoneware, ceramic, glass ...) according to the most appropriate techniques (stamping, machining, molding ...).

In the example chosen without limitation and illustrated by the drawing, the objects are a tray 1 supporting a container 2, which are in contact. Their interface includes an underlying surface 3 belonging to the tray 1 and a surface overlying belonging to container 2.

These objects 1 and 2 are made of molded plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadienne styrene), PC (polycarbonate), PS (polystyrene), PSC (crystal polystyrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), SAN (acrylonitrile styrene).

The device shown, whether it is the first embodiment (Figures 1 and 4) or the second (Figure 10), equips surfaces 3 and 4 and in the example chosen where objects 1 and 2 are in molded plastic, the cooperating elements of this device form an integral part of said objects by coming from molding with them to appear on their said surfaces 3 and 4.

According to the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the plate 1 defines in the underlying surface 3 of the cells 5 having in plan a circular shape and distributed in a regular network. In the example shown in Figure 1, the network is established in two perpendicular directions 6 and 7, and the meshes are square. In other words, the cells 5 form alignments parallel to these two directions and the pitch of said cells in one direction is the same as in the other direction.

In this first embodiment, the bottom of the container 2 has four fingers 8 projecting from the overlying surface 4 and located in the corners. The fingers advantageously have a cylindrical shape. Their distances D1 and D2 are multiple of the pitch "p" of the cells 5.

As is clearer from the embodiment according to Figure 5, each cell 5 has a much larger section than that of each finger 8. In other words, in this example, the diameter d1 of each cell 5 is greater than the diameter d2 of each finger 8. Consequently and as shown in FIG. 1, the fingers 8 penetrate with a very large clearance in the selected cells 5. This clearance makes it possible to place the container 2 on the tray 1, not only in the position shown in solid lines according to which the edges of its rectangular base are parallel to directions 6 and 7 of the cells 5, but also in the oblique position shown diagrammatically in phantom in which said edges of the base are oblique with respect to said directions. In this oblique position, in fact, the biased distance of the selected cells 5 is different from the distance of the cooperating fingers and this difference is compensated for by the aforementioned clearance. The container 2 can therefore be placed in practically any orientation and also at any location.

The embodiment according to Figure 5 further shows that the maintenance of the container 2 on the tray 1 when tilting it, results, not essentially from the nesting of the fingers 8 in the cells 5 selected since a significant clearance favorable to dislocation is provided, but the abutment of these fingers against the side wall 9 of said selected cells and the weight of the loaded cup, weight whose component perpendicular to said inclined wall increases the support.

In this embodiment according to Figure 5, the side wall 9 of each cell 5 is substantially perpendicular to the underlying surface 3 and connected thereto by a sharp edge 10. This edge obviously favors the attachment of the fingers .

The side wall 9 of each cell 5 is connected to the bottom 11 thereof by a rounded 12 opposing the retention of the meal products which may have fallen on the tray. Therefore, this tray 1 thus dimpled and the container can they be very easily and perfectly washed.

Furthermore, according to this first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 4) and according to this first embodiment (FIG. 5), the height "h" of each finger 8 is less than the depth "f" of each cell 5. Under these conditions, the surfaces 3 and 4 are in contact and the fingers 8 do not touch the bottoms 11 of the cells 5 selected. Furthermore, if the difference "f-h" is at most equal to the radius of the round 12, fingers 8 can bear against the side wall 9 of said cells.

The depth "f" of the cells is between 0.3 and 1.2 mm and advantageously equal to 0.7 mm. The tip 13 of the fingers can be straight (Figure 5) or rounded (Figure 7).

Of course, this first embodiment is in no way limiting as to the means used.

• le réseau des alvéoles 5 doit être régulier, mais les mailles aux noeuds desquelles les alvéoles sont situés peuvent être conformées différemment que carrées. En effet, elles peuvent être rectangulaires, triangulaires, polygonales etc... toutes identiques entre elles ou de formes différentes imbriquées les unes dans les autres.
• de même, les alvéoles peuvent être conformés différemment que les alvéoles circulaires 5 (figure 1). En effet, ils peuvent être carrés comme représentés sur la figure 2, ou triangulaires comme représentés sur la figure 3 ; ils peuvent aussi être rectangulaires et allongés tantôt dans une direction, tantôt dans la direction perpendiculaire, polygonaux etc...; ils peuvent aussi être de formes mélangées suivant une règle appropriée.
• les alvéoles 5 doivent être faciles à nettoyer ; dès lors, la paroi latérale 9 et l'arrondi de fond 12 (figure 5) peuvent être remplacés par un arrondi unique 14 (figure 6) débouchant sur la face sous-jacente 3 ou bien prolongés par un arrondi de surface 15 (figure 7) ; il est possible également de raccorder directement entre eux les arrondis 12 et 15 (figures 8 et 9).
• les surfaces 3 et 4 ne sont pas nécessairement en contact ; il peut être avantageux de les écarter faiblement l'une de l'autre (figure 8) ; la hauteur "h" des doigts 8 est alors supérieure à la profondeur "f" des alvéoles 5 et lesdits doigts reposent sur le fond 11 des alvéoles sélectionés ; dans ce cas, les doigts 8 doivent être relativement nombreux.
• les doigts 8 au lieu d'être cylindriques peuvent être coniques, prismatiques, pyramidaux, hémisphériques ou autres. Avantageusement, ils peuvent être profilés en correspondance avec les génératrices des alvéoles pour améliorer le contact, comme représenté en 16 sur la figure 9.
• il n'est pas impératif que chaque alvéole ne coopère qu'avec un seul doigt ; en effet, il est possible d'agrandir les alvéoles et de les conformer pour que la paroi latérale de chacun puisse coopérer en appui avec au moins deux doigts.

In particular :

• the network of cells 5 must be regular, but the meshes at the nodes of which the cells are located can be shaped differently than square. Indeed, they can be rectangular, triangular, polygonal etc ... all identical to each other or of different shapes nested one inside the other.
• similarly, the cells can be shaped differently than the circular cells 5 (Figure 1). Indeed, they can be square as shown in Figure 2, or triangular as shown in Figure 3; they can also be rectangular and elongated sometimes in one direction, sometimes in the perpendicular direction, polygonal etc ...; they can also be of mixed forms according to an appropriate rule.
• the cells 5 must be easy to clean; therefore, the side wall 9 and the bottom round 12 (Figure 5) can be replaced by a single round 14 (Figure 6) opening onto the underlying face 3 or extended by a rounded surface 15 (Figure 7 ); it is also possible to connect the rounds 12 and 15 directly to each other (Figures 8 and 9).
• surfaces 3 and 4 are not necessarily in contact; it may be advantageous to spread them slightly apart from each other (Figure 8); the height "h" of the fingers 8 is then greater than the depth "f" of the cells 5 and said fingers rest on the bottom 11 of the selected cells; in this case, the fingers 8 must be relatively numerous.
• instead of being cylindrical, the fingers 8 can be conical, prismatic, pyramidal, hemispherical or the like. Advantageously, they can be profiled in correspondence with the generatrices of the cells to improve contact, as shown at 16 in Figure 9.
• it is not imperative that each cell only cooperates with one finger; in fact, it is possible to enlarge the cells and to conform them so that the side wall of each can cooperate in support with at least two fingers.

According to the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the situation of the cells 5 and the fingers 8 is reversed.

The fingers 8 are then molded with the plate 1 projecting from the underlying face 3 and are distributed along the network 6, 7 of the first embodiment (Figure 1). The cells 5 are housed in recesses in bosses 17 molded with the container 2, projecting from the overlying surface 4. The height of the bosses 17 is greater than those of the fingers 8 so that these bosses bear against the surface under - adjacent 3 and that these fingers do not reach the overlying surface 4. Of course, the greatest distance "1" from the side wall 9 of a cell 5, at the edge of the corresponding boss 17 must be less than the pitch "p "fingers, for the sole purpose that the annular bosses can be inserted into the free spaces 18 existing between said fingers.

It is clear that the variants described in the above for the first embodiment can be applied to this second embodiment.

Claims (15)

"Non-slip" device fitted to the surfaces in contact with two objects placed one on the other, such as a tray and at least one of the components of a service (plate, cup, glass ...),
characterized in that it comprises cooperating elements constituted by cells (5) and fingers (8) appearing indistinctly hollow in one of said two surfaces (3, 4), and projecting from the other surface, the elements of the underlying surface (3) being more numerous than the cooperating elements of the underlying surface (4) which are at least two in number and these elements of the underlying surface (3) being distributed by coherently so as to be all selectable for cooperating with the fingers, each cell (5) having, in addition, a free section (d1) much larger than that (d2) of each finger (8) so that the laying of the 'object (2) located above can be performed virtually anywhere in any orientation on the object below. Anti-slip device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the cells (5) are located in the underlying surface (3) and distributed in a regular network, while the fingers (8), at least two in number, protrude beneath the overlying surface ( 4), the distance (D1, D2) of these fingers in the direction or directions (6, 7) of the network being a multiple of the step or steps (p) of the cells. Anti-slip device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the fingers (8) protrude from the underlying surface (3) and are distributed in a regular network (6, 7), while the cells (5) are located in protruding bosses (17) under the overlying surface (4), the greatest distance (1) from the edge of each boss to the side wall (9) of its socket being less than the minimum pitch (p) of the fingers. Anti-slip device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the objects (1, 2) are in molded plastic, the cells (5) and the fingers (8) having come from molding. Anti-slip device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two directions (6, 7) of the network are perpendicular to each other, the meshes being in particular square. Anti-slip device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cells (5) are circular (Figure 1) or square (Figure 2) or triangular (Figure 3). Non-slip device according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the side wall (9) of each cell (5) is connected to the bottom (11) by a rounded portion (12) making it possible to improve washing. Non-slip device according to claim 7,
characterized in that the side wall (9) of each cell (5) is substantially perpendicular to the free surface and connected to the latter by a sharp edge (10). Non-slip device according to claim 7,
characterized in that the side wall (9) of each cell (5) is substantially perpendicular to the free surface and connected to the latter by a rounding (15). Non-slip device according to claim 7,
characterized in that the side wall (9) of each cell (5) consists of a bottom round (12) and a surface round (15) connecting to each other (Figure 8). Anti-slip device according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the depth (p) of the cells (5) is between 0.3 and 1.2 mm and advantageously equal to 0.7 mm. Anti-slip device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fingers (8) are cylindrical with a straight end (13) (Figures 5, 6, 8) or with a rounded end (13) (Figures 7, 11 ). Anti-slip device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fingers (8) are profiles in correspondence with the generatrices of the cells (5) (16 in FIG. 9). Non-slip device according to any one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the height (h) of each finger (8) is less than the depth (p) of each socket (5) so that the underlying surface (3) and the overlying surface (4) are in contact. Non-slip device according to any one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the height (h) of each finger (8) is greater than the depth (p) of each cell (5) so that the fingers rest on the bottom (11) of the corresponding cells (5) and that the overlying surface (4) is spaced from the underlying surface (3) (FIG. 8).

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