GB2412082A

GB2412082A - Dishware carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2412082A
Application number: GB0505732A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Ivor Read
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-20
Filing date: 2005-03-21
Publication date: 2005-09-21
Also published as: GB0505732D0; GB0406332D0

Abstract

A carrier 1 for carrying an item of hot dishware such as a plate or bowl 18 comprises a handle 3 , an upper support member 17 and a lower support member 9 , each secured to the handle 3 in a fixed position. The upper support member 17 comprises an elongate member, a first part 17a of which extends generally upwardly from the handle away from the lower support member, and a second part 17b of which then extends relatively downwardly from the upwardly extending part. In use, the periphery of the item of dishware 18 is located between the lower and upper support members, with the rim 19 of the dishware 18 engaged with the upper support member substantially at the intersection between the first and second extending parts of the upper support member, and the engagement between the dishware and the lower support member being displaced from the rim. The lower support member may also comprise an elongate member, and preferably comprises two elongate members (7,9, fig.1).

Description

24 1 2082

A DISHWARE CARRIER

The present invention relates to a dishware carrier and particularly but not exclusively relates to a carrier for carrying hot dishware from, for example, a kitchen, to a serving area or table.

It can be a problem to safely carry a hot piece of dishware from one place to another. Traditionally oven gloves have been used but these are bulky and do not provide very good grip on the piece of dishware in question. They can also be relatively unsightly in a restaurant environment.

It has been proposed to provide a dishware carrier comprising a handle provided with a toothed formation to engage an upturned rim of a piece of dishware. However such a device does not work safely on dishware not having an upturned rim, and in fact the toothed portion can scratch, chip, or otherwise damage the piece of dishware.

It has also been proposed to provide a locking mechanism on a dishware carrier for locking onto part of a piece of dishware but such a mechanism adds undesirable complexity and expense to the carrier and also is not hygienic because food particles adhere to the moving parts of the mechanism. This can be particularly undesirable if the carrier is used in restaurants.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a dishware carrier for carrying an item of hot dishware and comprising a handle, and at least an upper support member and a lower support member each secured to the handle so as to be fixed relative to one another and to the handle, the upper support member comprising an elongate member, a first part of which extends generally upwardly from the handle, away from the lower support member, the handle being viewed as extending generally horizontally, and a second part of which then extends relatively downwardly from the upwardly extending part, the arrangement being such that, in use of the carrier, the periphery of the item of dishware can be located between the lower support member and the upper support member, with the rim of the dishware engaged with the upper support member substantially at the intersection between the first and second extending parts of the upper support member, and the engagement between the dishware and the lower support member is displaced from the rim.

By dishware we include any type or size or shape of plate, bowl, serving dish, platter, tray or any other receptacle used to serve, present or contain food, and made of any material including, but not limited to, china and earthenware.

Preferably the upper elongate member is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle, when the carrying device is viewed in plan.

Preferably the upper support member has another part that extends relatively upwardly from the relatively downwardly extending part.

Preferably the lower support member also comprises an elongate member.

Preferably at least part of the lower support member extends generally upwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle, when the carrying device is viewed from the side.

Preferably the part or parts of the upper support member that extend upwardly are substantially parallel with the upwardly extending part of the lower support member.

Preferably the lower support member comprises two lower elongate members.

Preferably the lower elongate members are each bent so as to extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle when the carrier is viewed in plan.

Preferably the handle is formed from tubular material. Preferably the upper and lower support members are also formed from tubular material.

Preferably the lower support members and the handle are formed from the same piece of material so as to be integral with one another.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of carrying an item of hot dishware by holding the dishware item with a dishware carrier in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, with the periphery of the item of dishware being located between the lower support member and the upper support member, and with the rim of the item engaged with the upper support member substantially at the intersection between the first and second extending parts of the upper support member.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a carrier in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the carrier of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the carrier of Figures 1 and 2 in use.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a carrier I comprises an elongate handle 3 formed from a single piece of tubular material so as to comprise two parallel arms 4, 5 linked by a bent end 6. The tubular material could be, for example a stainless steel rod although any other suitably strong and corrosion resistant material can alternatively be used.

Each arm 4, 5 terminates, distal from the bent end 6, in a respective elongate member comprising a respective prong 7, 9. Each prong 7, 9 is bent outwardly from the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3 so that the ends of each prong 7, 9 are outwardly spaced from the handle 3 when the carrier I is viewed in plan as shown in Figure 1. Each prong 7, 9 is also bent upwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle 3 so that the distal end of each prong 7, 9 is spaced above the handle 3 when the carrier 1 is viewed from the side as shown in Figure 2.

The distal end of each prong 7, 9 is provided with a respective gripping sleeve 11, 13 formed from a natural or synthetic rubber based material although any other suitable high friction, heat resistant material could alternatively be used. Each sleeve 11, 13 may be ribbed or textured to enhance the gripping properties of the sleeve 11, 13.

A cross bar 15 extends between each arm 4, 5 of the handle 3 at a position distal from the curved end 6 of the handle 3. This maintains the arms 4, 5 a predetermined space apart.

A third elongate member comprising a single prong 17 extends from the cross bar 15 mid way between the two arms 4, 5 so as to be aligned with the longitudinal axis 10 when viewed in plan. The third prong 17 extends generally upwardly from the longitudinal axis 10 of the handle 3 when the carrier I is viewed from the side. The third prong 17 comprises a first part 17a that extends relatively steeply up from the cross bar 15, a second part 17b that extends downwardly relative to the first part 17a, and a third part 17c that extends upwardly relative to the second part 17b so as to be substantially parallel with the first and second lower prongs 7, 9. The third prong 17 is thus waved when viewed from the side.

Referring to Figure 3, in use, a user picks up the carrier 1 using the handle 3. The prongs 7, 9, 17 are then slid over the periphery of a piece of dishware such as a plate 18 by moving the distal ends of the prongs 7, 9, 17 radially towards the centre of the plate 18, the upper prong 17 sliding above the periphery of the plate 18, the lower prongs 7, 9 sliding below the periphery of the plate 18.

By inclining the handle 3 downwardly relative to the plate 18 the outer margin of the plate 18 is brought into contact with the intersection 19 between the first and second parts 17a, 17b of the upper prong 17. The distal end of the lower prongs 7, 9 are brought into contact with the underside of the plate 18 at a position displaced from the rim of the plate 18. If the handle 3 is then picked up, the rim of the plate 18 is clamped between the intersection 19 of the first and second parts 17a, 17b of the upper prong 17, and the distal ends of the lower prongs 7, 9 by gravity acting on the plate 18. This clamping effect is enhanced by the gripping sleeves 11, 13 on the lower prongs. The user can then carry the plate 18 to a desired location using the handle 3 of the carrier I without touching the plate itself.

The carrier 1 is thus ideal for use with hot plates as may be found in a domestic or commercial kitchen so as to safely carry the hot plate to a dining table in a domestic house or a restaurant.

It will be appreciated that the clamping force is generated by the relatively inclined first and second parts 17a, 17b of the upper prong 17 and the lower prongs 7, 9 and thus the carrier 1 can be used to lift an entirely planar piece of dishware - there is no need for the piece of dishware to have an upturned rim or lip of any kind. Likewise, however, the carrier 1 can still be used to carry a piece of dishware having such an upturned rim or lip.

The carrier I can of course be used to carry any object having a periphery that will fit in the gap between the upper and lower prongs 17, 7, 9. Different sizes of carrier 1 can be used to accommodate different sizes of object. The lack of any moving parts reduces complexity and expense of manufacturing the carrier 1 and improves hygiene by reducing the areas where food or dirt particles can become trapped.

The upper and lower tubular prongs 17, 7, 9 can be replaced by any suitable shaped elongate elements such as, for example, a strip or rod of oblong or any other transverse cross section.

There could, in an alternative embodiment, be two upper prongs and only one lower prong, or a single upper prong and a single lower prong for carrying smaller objects.

Claims

1. A dishware carrier for carrying an item of hot dishware and comprising a handle, and at least an upper support member and a lower support member each secured to the handle so as to be fixed relative to one another and to the handle, the upper support member comprising an elongate member, a first part of which extends generally upwardly from the handle, away from the lower support member, the handle being viewed as extending generally horizontally, and a second part of which then extends relatively downwardly from the upwardly extending part, the arrangement being such that, in use of the carrier, the periphery of the item of dishware can be located between the lower support member and the upper support member, with the rim of the dishware engaged with the upper support member substantially at the intersection between the first and second extending parts of the upper support member, and the engagement between the dishware and the lower support member is displaced from the rim.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 in which the upper elongate member is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle, when the carrying device is viewed in plan.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the upper support member has another part that extends relatively upwardly from the relatively downwardly extending part.

4. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the lower support member comprises an elongate member.

5. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which at least part of the lower support member extends generally upwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle, when the carrying device is viewed from the side.

6. A carrier according to claim 5 in which the part or parts of the upper support member that extend upwardly are substantially parallel with the upwardly extending part of the lower support member.

7. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the lower support member comprises two lower elongate members.

8. A carrier according to claim 7 in which the lower elongate members are each bent so as to extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the handle when the carrier is viewed in plan.

9. A carrier according to any preceding claim in which the handle is formed from tubular material.

10. A carrier according to any preceding claim in which the lower support member and the handle are formed from the same piece of material so as to be integral with one another.

11. A method of carrying an item of hot dishware by holding the dishware item with a dishware carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, with the periphery of the item of dishware being located between the lower support member and the upper support member, and with the rim of the item engaged with the upper support member substantially at the intersection between the first and second extending parts of the upper support member.

12. A dishware carrier for carrying an item of hot dishware substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.