FR2937234A1 - Supporting column for e.g. soup bowl in restaurant, has central support whose stepped elements are modulable, where cradles are fixed on stepped elements using interlocking legs for forming central support - Google Patents

Abstract

The column has a central support whose stepped elements (1) are modulable. Cradles (2) are fixed on the stepped elements using interlocking legs (3) for forming the central support. The cradles are provided at both ends with support runners (4) acting on a bottom of containers. A movable upper button-pusher (5) is adjusted by a central screw (6) that exerts counterforce on an edge of the container to maintain the container in horizontal direction. The button-pusher is terminated with a gripping handle (8).

Description

-1-

The present invention relates to a column for supporting plates or other containers such as dishes, bowls, glasses, or ramekins, prepared in advance, for a table service in hot or cold connection, and intended for use in professional kitchen or household use.

In our previous patent application N ° 0706368000 of 10/09/07, with preliminary research report of June 24th, 2008, we presented an isothermal box and its plate-holder column to carry plates by hand allowing their storage in two columns, this set with a reduced lever that reduces the difficulty of carrying, all with a complete solution of hot-link table service, or cold.

The present application relates to improvements made to the central support column containers.

There are commonly found on the market two major types of devices for supporting plates: 1 - The carriage for carrying plates filled, it is known from EP 0 432 813 Al, a plate carrier consisting of a column to four faces resting on a cart with wheels; but this type of trolley has the disadvantage of not being portable by hand, In addition, the storage of the plates on its four sides, because of a central square column, does not allow individual handling by the servers with a minimum lever arm;

2 - The plate basket stainless steel wire, as described in FR2 859 088, but this type of plate holder has the disadvantage of being bulky, which prevents it from washing in the dishwasher; more fixed baskets do not adapt to different forms of containers that can be served at the table, such as glasses. Finally, the number of locations is fixed.

Our versatile plate support column overcomes all these disadvantages and has the advantage of simultaneously accepting all types of containers such as plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and ramekins, by simple interchangeability removable support arms , while having a large number of locations, adjustable in an even number up to 12.

This utensil is implemented as follows: the containers to be served at the table are arranged on the plate holder, consisting of a stable central support, having a plurality of stacked stages (1) and providing sufficient space between them to prevent the contents of the plates trimmed do not touch the plate above, this central support is designed to commonly receive two to twelve containers; each stage (1) constituting after assembly the central support, receives two removable cradles (2) hung symmetrically to the stage (1) by means of three fixing lugs (3). The arms are equipped at their ends with a pair of pads (4) which support the bottom of the containers on two dormant contact points; said containers are locked in rotation at their upper flange by an opposing contact point consisting of an adjustable pusher (5), actuated by means of a central screw (6) which exerts a holding force and thus ensures horizontality of the containers, in particular the plates garnished with sauce whatever the height of their rim (flat or hollow plate); the succession of central screws (6) secured to each other during the assembly of the column, is operated by an upper wheel (7) which acts simultaneously on all the pushers (5), and allows to adapt the variable height to hollow of all plates, when they are identical; a handle (8) can carry the whole.

According to a first feature, the versatile support column plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers has the ability to accommodate at least two and more commonly up to twelve containers (or more if the total mass allows), by simply stacking the modular floors;

According to a second characteristic, the versatile support column plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers has the ability to simultaneously accommodate several different container shapes, simply by the action of the establishment of different interchangeable arms, which can be individually compounded by simple attachment to the central column; 2937234 -3-

According to a third characteristic, the versatile support column for plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers makes it possible to present the containers aligned or offset by the rotational capacity of each modular stage, which improves access to the dishes. supported and constitutes a particularly aesthetic centerpiece presentation;

According to a fourth characteristic, the polyvalent support column for plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers has the ability to be entirely removable and to be composed of small elements made of synthetic resin which can be changed to dishwasher at 80 ° C, which guarantees the hygiene essential to any kitchen utensil,

According to a fifth characteristic, the multi-purpose column for supporting plates, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers can be used to present other objects, such as glasses, advertising documents, postcards, as soon as the support arm would be adapted to receive them.

Thus designed, this service utensil object of the present invention has the advantages of being: light to empty, easy to handle by a server, washable, adaptable to all container dimensions by the simple exchange of arms, and to be able to respect the maintenance of the temperature required in hot connection, thanks to its associated isothermal box.

The characteristic features of the embodiment will appear more clearly in the description below, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an assembled plate rack, consisting of four stages (1) stacked symmetrical. This configuration offers eight locations composed of cradles (2) hung on the floors by means of three fixing lugs (3), cradles on which the bottom of the plates held by two sleeping keys provided with pads (4), and a push button adjustable antagonist (5), moved by a central screw (6), actuated in rotation by a wheel (7), and terminated by a handle (8); 2937234 -4-

- Figure 2 shows an isolated stage of the central support (1), on which there are notches fixing removable cradles (3);

Figure 3 shows a removable cradle (3) provided with two arms which support the plates by the bottom, via a pair of end keys provided with holes for receiving pads.

Figure 4 shows the column equipped with glass holders (9). According to a variant not illustrated, the device is adapted to receive plates, dishes, glasses, bowls or ramekins or any other food containers or not, of round, square, half-moon or parallelepiped shape, symmetrical or not, when they are arranged in the same configuration, using a range resting at two points on the lower cradle, and a range resting at least one point on the upper mobile double key.

According to the embodiment shown, all the parts of the plate carrier are made by thermosetting plastic injection molding, completely removable and suitable for hot washing in the dishwasher. According to the present embodiment, the invention covers all the uses of the plate service, made in hot connection for: - catering use with table service hot prepared plates, for catering at the table service and gardens parties; use of a display for presenting plates on a buffet, - use of distribution of soup bowls, ice cream cups; - use of recovery of the used dishes, with a view to his return to diving; and for serving glasses and bottles.

According to another embodiment not illustrated, the plate holder can serve as a table display, in this case the plate trays are offset by a quarter of a turn, by a simple rotation, so as to form a spiral display . 5 10 15 20 25

Claims (5)

Claims 1) - Support column for plates or other containers for table service, characterized by a modular column provided with versatile cradles having the ability to accommodate at least two and commonly up to twelve containers obtained by simply stacking modular floors and capable of supporting in combination dishes, dishes, glasses, bowls and other containers; 2) support column of plates and other containers for table service, according to claim 1), characterized by the ability to simultaneously accommodate several different container shapes, by the simple action of the establishment of different interchangeable arms which can be individually compounded by simple attachment to the central column; 3) support column plates and other containers for table service, according to claim 1), characterized by the ability to rotate each modular floor, which allows to present the aligned or staggered containers, improve the access to supported dishes and serve as a centerpiece; 4) support column plates and other containers for table service, according to claim 1), characterized in that the versatile support column has the ability to be completely removable and be composed of elements of small dimensions suitable for washing in the dishwasher at 80 ° C; 5) support column plates and other containers for table service, according to claim 1), characterized in that it can be used to present other objects, such as glasses, advertising materials, postcards, since the support arm has a shape adapted to receive them.