US2620928A - Plateholder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1952 J. BROOKS 2,620,928

PLATEHOLDER Filed Feb. 9, 195 0 2 sums-4mm 1 I I? as LIP 3' 37 Jilc/c BBao/(S I INVENTOR. 14 f r [EH 6 I BY rv a AW IeA Q J. BROOKS PLATEHOLDER Dec. 9, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1950 Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for holding dishes and plates on a shelf or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a supporting device for a plurality of dishes and plates, which device is of novel and improved construction, and is adapted for use on the shelves of cupboards, cabinets, closets, display tables and show cases, such device affording support for the plates and dishes, one behind the other in spaced relation and in display position.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved device of the character mentioned for holding a plurality of dishes and plates, face forward, one behind the other in tilted display position, which maintains them against rolling sidewise and against falling downwards or forwards.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved and novel dish and plate supporting device of the type described, which so holds such articles that even if by accident any of them is shifted to fall forward, they will remain held on the supporting device though tilted upwardly forwardly and will be arrested at a position not far from the vertical plane.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved device of the class set forth, which needs no nail or similar fastening means to engage it on a shelf, but will stay put against forward movement on such shelf.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plate and dish supporting device of the kind described, of novel and improved construction, in which such articles are easily set and removed from, and which does not employ a wall of the closet to support any of the dishes or plates.

A further object hereof is to provide a plate and dish supporting device of the nature set forth, of novel and improved construction whereby there is a saving in the quantity of material required for its make-up, which device may be moulded in one piece of plastic or other suitable material.

Still a further object is to provide a novel and improved article of the kind stated, which is economical to manufacture, easy to use and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plate and dish supporting device embodying the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof, showing plates supported thereon.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at lines 55 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view shown in perspective; the section to be deemed taken at lines 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment which requires less material than the one previously shown, and presents other advantages which will be explained.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken at lines 99 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a section taken at lines Ill-l0 in Fig. 'I.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view shown 'in perspective; the section to be deemed taken at lines I l-H in Fig. 10, but illustrating a slightly modified construction.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, which is designated generally by the numeral I5, the numerals I6, I1, I3 and I9 denote parallel upright walls in spaced relation one behind the other; each of said walls being taller than the comparatively low fence elements 20 and 2|, which join the lower portions of the side edges of said Walls respectively. Each of these fence elements is provided with a series of notches downwardly from and commencing at their respective top edges, one such notch immediately at the rear surface of each of said walls. Two such notches are therefore related to each wall, so in pairs such notches are denoted by the numerals 22, 23, 24 and 25. Successive walls and fence parts are substantially bridged by horizontally extending members 26, 27 and 28, but there are spaces 29, 30 and 3| which are openings, whereby each wall except the front one It, forms a sort of bench back of which the bridge member in front of it, is the seat or shelf. The forward edges of these shelves are denoted by the numerals 25', 21' and 28', respectively. If desired, these forward edges may have a skirt as indicated at 32, 33 and 34, whereupon it is the lower edges of said skirts, as at 35, which takes on significance to act as a stop together with the pads 35 at the upper rear surface of the wall in front, for a plate 31 which would otherwise fall forward, if accidentally displaced. The seat portions of the mentioned bench-like structures, never serving as a plate support in any manner on their upper surfaces,

may be reinforced to be sturdy by means of the ribs 38. A rear piece or body 41, terminates at the back of the article 15, in a downwardly extending thin tab 40, which is in aplane parallel with the walls. This body piece 41 may be an inverted shell, with its bottom edges coplanar with the bottom edges of the walls, so that article I5 may be rested on a table surface with the tab 40 aside an edge of the table, or else with tab 40 in space 4|, which is found to exist in many instances between the shelf 52 and the rear wall 43 of a closet, cupboard or the like.

In use, a plate 31 is set to rest with the bottom of its rim engaged in a pair of notches as 24, with the lowest point of such rim portion in contact with the wall l8 immediately in front of such notches. Dimensions are such that the plate 3'! in the position set as aforesaid, will be tilted upwardly rearwardly, and also rest against the top edge of wall l9 as well as against the skirt edge 28' which is really the forward edge of the shelflike member 28 if no skirt were included. The dish so mounted, is in usual display position. Contact with edge 23, is with but a small part of said plate.

Should the plate 3'! accidently fall forward, its rear surface at bottom rim portion will contact the bottom edge 35 of the skirt 34, and the plates front rim surface will contact the pads as 35 on wall [8, whereupon the plate will assume a slightly forwardly tilted position and fall no further.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. '7, there is a substantial saving in the amount of material in the support device Here there. are no skirts as at 35, but the seats or shelves 44 of the bench-like structures are bowed inwardly upwardly as in Fig. 10, or bowed outwardly upwardly as in Fig. 11, or if desired can be straight as 28 in Fig. 6; the said bowed constructions being pref erable, because in display position, such plate 37 is not only supported as formerly, but also will be contacted by the whole length or nearly the whole length of the forward edge 44' of the member 44, on the rear surface of such plate.

Openings 45 and 46 may be provided in the respective embodiments illustrated, to gain an additional plate setting. Either an additional wall 50 may be added to aid the support of the most rearward plate, or else the plate in such position may rest against the rear wall of the closet. Where tab 40 is not useable, it may be omitted or broken off, and a suitable hole 48 provided in the body piece 4?, for the use of a nail or the like, to secure the device on a shelf.

When the structure used is in Fig. 10, where the shelf piece is bowed centrally upwardly, an element 5| is carried under said piece to act as a stop together with the pads 35 immediately in front, to arrest the fall of a plate.

It is evident that these supporting devices l5 and 15' may be moulded in one-piece or fabricated as a one-piece structure of plastic material or other suitable materials.

The supporting of each plate or dish being independent of the presence of any others, dimensions are made such that when a plurality of plates and dishes fill the supporting device, such plates are out of contact with each other, thus avoiding marring of plate decoration and accidental chipping when initially set up.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for supporting a plurality of dishes and plates, a structure including a plurality of upright walls in spaced relation one behind the other, side members across the side edges of said walls; each side member having notches downwardly from their top edges, one notch immediately behind a wall where a plate is to be supported; said notches being for receiving the rim of a substantially uprightly positioned dish, members extending forwardly in shelf-like manner, one from the front surface of each wall behind the front wall and substantially bridging the side members; the forward edge of each shelflike member being spaced from the wall immediately in front; the major portion of said forward edges being above the bottom edges of the walls whereby an opening is formed at the rear of each wall to receive the bottom portion of the rim of the dish; the top edges of the walls being substantially above the top surfaces of the shelflike members and also of the top edges of the side members; all said components being so dimensioned that when a dish is set with its rim resting in a pair of notches immediately behind one wall and in the opening afforded immediately behind such wall, the plate will rest against the bottom portion of the rear surface of such wall and against the forward edge of the shelf-like member immediately behind such wall and elements extending rearwardly from the top region of the walls respectively, for intercepting a plate falling from normal display position onto such elements respectively.

2. In a device for supporting a plurality of dishes and plates, a structure including a plurality of upright walls in spaced relation one behind the other, side members across the side edges of said walls; each side member having notches downwardly from their top edges, one notch immediately behind a wall where a plate is to be supported; said notches being for receiving the rim of a substantially uprightly positioned dish, members extending forwardly in shelf-like manner, one from the front surface of each wall behind the front wall and substantially bridging the side members; the forward edge of each shelf-like member being spaced from the wall immediately in front; the major portion, of said forward edges being above the bottom edges of the walls whereby an opening is formed at the rear of each wall to receive the bottom portion of the rim of the dish; the top edges of the walls being substantially above the top surfaces of the shelf-like members and also of the top edges of the side members; the respective forward edges of the shelf-like members being straight and substantially horizontal; all said components being so dimensioned that when a dish is set with its rim resting in a pair of notches immediately behind one wall and in the opening afforded immediately behind such wall, the plate will rest against the bottom portion of the rear surface of such wall and against the forward edge of the shelf-like member immediately behind such wall.

3. A supporting device as defined in claim 2, including an element downwardly from said edge to act as a stop for a plate falling forwardly of Number said edge. 1,558,977 JACK BROOKS. 1,810,199 2,281,192 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,430,166

The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 379,520 Number Name Date 10 498,137 D. 115,728 Bardaville July 18, 1939 591,552

Name Date Gray Oct. 27, 1925 Blakeslee et a1 June 16, 1931 Erickson Apr. 28, 1942 Fish et a1 Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 1, 1932 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1939 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1947

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