ADJUSTABLE PLATE STAND
An adjustable plate stand including a plurality of plates configured to hold foodstuffs thereon, a support rod configured to be arranged vertically and support the plurality of plates thereon, and a locking mechanism associated with each of the plurality of plates to lock each of the plurality of plates with respect to the support rod and further configured to allow the plurality of plates to move with respect to the support rod.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a plate stand for displaying foodstuffs in an attractive manner, and more particularly to an adjustable plate stand that allows for the plate stand to be customized and/or the plates to be vertically adjustable.
2. Prior Art
Numerous devices exist that allow for the display of foodstuffs in a multiple level manner. Oftentimes these devices include numerous positioned plates in order to provide an arrangement of the foodstuffs. However, these devices have a number of limitations. For example, the devices typically have a set number of plate arrangements that are not adjustable. For example, the plates in such devices typically do not allow for the vertical movement of the plates for different customized arrangements. Additionally, these devices do not allow for the plates to be added, removed, and/or replaced with varying sizes of plates as desired.
Accordingly, there is a need for a display device having a number of plates that are vertically adjustable and also may have the ability to have varying number and sizes of plates for use therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the invention is directed to an adjustable plate stand that has the ability to exchange plates for varying number and/or sizes of plates and also has the ability to vertically move the plates as desired by the user.
In one aspect, the invention includes an adjustable plate stand including a plurality of plates configured to hold foodstuffs thereon, a support rod configured to be arranged vertically and support the plurality of plates thereon, and a locking mechanism associated with each of the plurality of plates to lock each of the plurality of plates with respect to the support rod and further configured to allow the plurality of plates to move with respect to the support rod.
The locking mechanism may include a knob that is configured to be actuated by a user to lock and unlock the locking mechanism. The adjustable plate stand may include an ornamental cap arranged at the top of the support rod. The locking mechanism may include a ring associated with each of the plurality of plates. The plurality of plates may include at least one of circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal geometric shapes. The adjustable plate stand may include a support rod connector configured to hold the support rod. The adjustable plate stand may include a stand configured to hold the support rod. The adjustable plate stand may include a non-moving plate. The locking mechanism may be configured to increase the friction with respect to the support rod and the plurality of plates.
In another aspect, the invention includes adjustable plate stand including a plurality of plates having an aperture and a flat surface configured to hold items thereon, a support rod configured to be arranged vertically and support the plurality of plates thereon through the aperture, and a locking mechanism associated with each of the plurality of plates to lock each of the plurality of plates with respect to the support rod and further configured to allow the plurality of plates to move with respect to the support rod along the aperture.
The locking mechanism may include a knob that is configured to be actuated by a user to lock and unlock the locking mechanism. The adjustable plate stand may include an ornamental cap arranged at the top of the support rod. The locking mechanism may include a ring associated with each of the plurality of plates. The plurality of plates may include at least one of circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal geometric shapes. The adjustable plate stand may include a support rod connector configured to hold the support rod. The adjustable plate stand may include a stand configured to hold the support rod. The adjustable plate stand may include a non-moving plate. The locking mechanism may be configured to increase the friction with respect to the support rod and the plurality of plates.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following attached detailed description and drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following attached detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced.
The construction and function of preferred embodiments of the plate stand arrangement will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like components are designated by the same reference numeral in the several figures.
The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following attached description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
In a particular aspect, the adjustable plate stand 100 may include plates 102, 104, 106 having apertures therein and arranged vertically along a support rod 108. In this regard, plates 102, 104, 106 may have varying diameter sizes as shown in
As further shown in
As further shown in
The adjustable plate stand 100 may also include an ornamental cap 112 that may be mounted to the top of support rod 108. This cap 112 may have any type of ornamental or geometric shape. Additionally, the cap 112 is not necessary for the practice of the invention. Accordingly, the adjustable plate stand 100 may not have a cap 112, and the support rod 108 may just end at the very top thereof with any type of construction.
As further shown in
Accordingly, the adjustable plate stand 100 of the invention allows a user to have a customized arrangement and construction of a display for foodstuffs and the like. This customizable construction allows for the use of varying size plates and varying vertical placement of plates, the use various plate shapes, the inclusion of a stand and the possibility of having a cap at the very uppermost part of a support rod. This allows the user to have an infinite number of customizable arrangements that provide for a more beautiful and decorative arrangement of foodstuffs thereon.
While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention.
Claims
1. An adjustable plate stand comprising:
- a plurality of plates configured to hold foodstuffs thereon;
- a support rod configured to be arranged vertically and support the plurality of plates thereon; and
- a locking mechanism associated with each of the plurality of plates to lock each of the plurality of plates with respect to the support rod and further configured to allow the plurality of plates to move with respect to the support rod.
2. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a knob that is configured to be actuated by a user to lock and unlock the locking mechanism.
3. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 further comprising an ornamental cap arranged at the top of the support rod.
4. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a ring associated with each of the plurality of plates.
5. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of plates comprise at least one of circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal geometric shapes.
6. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 further comprising a support rod connector configured to hold the support rod.
7. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 further comprising a stand configured to hold the support rod.
8. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 further comprising a non-moving plate.
9. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to increase the friction with respect to the support rod and the plurality of plates.
10. An adjustable plate stand comprising:
- a plurality of plates having an aperture and a flat surface configured to hold items thereon;
- a support rod configured to be arranged vertically and support the plurality of plates thereon through the aperture; and
- a locking mechanism associated with each of the plurality of plates to lock each of the plurality of plates with respect to the support rod and further configured to allow the plurality of plates to move with respect to the support rod along the aperture.
11. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a knob that is configured to be actuated by a user to lock and unlock the locking mechanism.
12. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 further comprising an ornamental cap arranged at the top of the support rod.
13. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a ring associated with each of the plurality of plates.
14. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of plates comprise at least one of circular, oval, square, rectangular, and polygonal geometric shapes.
15. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 further comprising a support rod connector configured to hold the support rod.
16. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 further comprising a stand configured to hold the support rod.
17. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 further comprising further comprising a non-moving plate.
18. The adjustable plate stand according to claim 10 wherein the locking mechanism is configured to increase the friction with respect to the support rod and the plurality of plates.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 3, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 9, 2012
Applicant: Wilton Industries, Inc. (Woodridge, IL)
Inventors: Stephanie GOODE (Woodridge, IL), Thomas Noone (Woodridge, IL), Mason Umholtz (Woodridge, IL)
Application Number: 12/849,415
International Classification: A47G 19/08 (20060101); A47F 7/00 (20060101);