Trivet

Abstract

A trivet (2) comprises a wire frame (4), and a plurality of supports (6) carried thereon, the supports being at least partly formed of a magnetic material, and being mounted on the frame (4) so as to be movable between an inner position and an outer position to accommodate different sizes of pots or pans.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trivet of the type for use in particular although not exclusively for supporting hot receptacles such as pots and pans on a work bench or table top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of designs of such items exist, generally comprising a simple wire frame on which the pot or pan may rest. The frame may be provided a number of bench-engaging feet.

The present invention relates to a trivet of this type but which includes additional functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a trivet comprising a wire frame, and a plurality of supports carried thereon, the supports being at least partly formed of a magnetic material.

This structure allows the trivet to be used with a pot or pan formed of or comprising a part of magnetically soft material such that as the pot or pan is picked up from a surface and moved to a different location the trivet remains attached to the underside of the pot or pan. Pots or pans are very commonly formed of stainless steel and/or include base parts or cladding of stainless steel to which the magnetic parts would magnetically attract.

In a further aspect the invention resides in a trivet comprising a wire frame and a plurality of supports carried thereon, the supports being mounted on the frame so as to be movable between an inner position and an outer position. This allows the trivet to accommodate a wider range of sizes of pot or pan or other item. More particularly, the supports may be mounted on the wire frame so as to be rotatable about the frame, and with the frame extending asymmetrically through the supports whereby rotation of the supports through 180° moves the supports between said inner and outer positions.

In a preferred embodiment the supports comprise plastic bodies having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface carrying a body of magnetic material and covering layer of soft plastics, such as an elastomer the lower surface having at least a surface region of soft plastics material.

The support may have a variety of shapes but a generally triangular shape is particularly convenient, with truncated vertices and the supports carried on these truncated regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a trivet according to an embodiment of the present invention in perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the trivet with its supports moved to an outer position;

FIG. 3 shows the trivet from above; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line X-X of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to the drawings, the trivet is generally indicated 2 and comprises an outer wire frame 4 and three identical supports 6. The design as illustrated has a triangular-shaped frame with truncated vertices defining short straight sections of frame at 8 at which the supports are mounted. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of other shapes of frame could equally be provided so long as there are at least appropriately shaped sections for the mounting of the supports.

Each support 6 has a generally disc-like shape with a thickness greater than the wire frame. As indicated in FIG. 4 the support 6 is formed of a body having upper and lower parts 10, 12 joined together and defining therebetween an opening through which the straight section 8 of the wire frame extends. The opening is disposed asymmetrically through the support 6, the parts 10 and 12 allowing rotation of the supports about the wire frame, although preferably maintaining sufficient friction so that the support stays at any particular position to which it is moved. The supports 6 are movable therefore between an inner position as shown in FIG. 1 to an outer position as shown in FIG. 2. This allows the trivet 2 to be used with a wider variety of different sized pots and pans than would be possible if the supports were fixed. Note also that in FIG. 2, having rotated the supports to the outer position of FIG. 2, the trivet would then normally be inverted from the illustrated position before use.

The parts 10 and 12 may be joined together by various means such as adhesive, welding or other fastening means such as a snap-fit arrangement or using screws. Typically, the parts 10 and 12 are formed of a rigid plastics material. The upper surface of the support 6 has a covering part 14 of a soft elastomeric-type material which must also be heat-resistant. Various silicone rubbers can be utilised for this purpose. Arranged between the upper part 10 and covering part 14 is a disc 16 of a permanently magnetised material. The lower part 12 carries an annular part 18 also of a soft plastic such as an elastomer.

The trivet 2 provides a convenient structure for supporting a hot pot, pan or plate on a table top or work bench, the soft plastics parts 14 and 18 ensuring the trivet cannot scratch any surface on which it is placed. The use of the magnets 16 has the result that if a pot or pan formed of or containing a portion in the base of magnetically soft material (typically stainless steel) is placed on the trivet, if one wishes to pick up the pot or pan and move it to a different location the trivet 2 will stay attached to the base of the pot or pan, which can therefore be simply placed again on a table top or bench without having to separately move the trivet.

Claims

1. A trivet comprising a wire frame, and a plurality of supports carried thereon, the supports being at least partly formed of a magnetic material.

2. A trivet according to claim 1 wherein the supports are mounted on the frame so as to be movable between an inner position and an outer position.

3. A trivet according to claim 2 wherein the supports are mounted on the wire frame so as to be rotatable about the frame, and with the frame extending asymmetrically through the supports whereby rotation of the supports through 180° moves the supports between said inner and outer positions.

4. A trivet according to claim 1 wherein the supports comprise plastic bodies having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface carrying a body of magnetic material overlain by a layer of soft plastics the lower surface having at least a surface region of soft plastics material.

5. A trivet according to claim 4 wherein the soft plastics materials are a heat-resilient elastomer.

6. A trivet according to claim 1 wherein the wire frame has a generally triangular shape with truncated vertices and carries three supports located on respective truncated regions.

7. A trivet comprising a wire frame and a plurality of supports carried thereon, the supports being mounted on the frame so as to be movable between an inner position and an outer position.

8. A trivet according to claim 7 wherein the supports are mounted on the wire frame so as to be rotatable about the frame, and with the frame extending asymmetrically through the supports whereby rotation of the supports through 180° moves the supports between said inner and outer positions.

9. A trivet according to claim 7 wherein the wire frame has a generally triangular shape with truncated vertices and carries three supports located on respective truncated regions.

10. A trivet according to claim 3 wherein the supports comprise plastic bodies having generally planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface carrying a body of magnetic material overlain by a layer of soft plastics the lower surface having at least a surface region of soft plastics material.

11. A trivet according to claim 3 wherein the wire frame has a generally triangular shape with truncated vertices and carries three supports located on respective truncated regions.

12. A trivet according to claim 8 wherein the wire frame has a generally triangular shape with truncated vertices and carries three supports located on respective truncated regions.