Folding star trivet

Abstract

A trivet as may be used to elevate food serving dishes from a table top features the form of an articulated multi-pointed star. A user can easily transform its shape into a form that occupies a smaller volume that is more convenient to store. It also provides a construction that can be economically manufactured using multiples of a single common structural element.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/706,980, filed Aug. 10, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to accessories for serving food and, more particularly, to a folding star trivet for use in elevating food serving dishes from a table top or other surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the folding star trivet of the present invention in a partially opened form;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of FIG. 1 in a closed form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an open form;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view one of the common structural elements of the folding star trivet of FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the preferred geometric relationship between its common connecting points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the folding star trivet of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the folding star trivet features a series of elongated common structural elements 10, 20, 30 ,40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100, each having a common first connection point at a first end, a second common connection point at an intermediate position, and a third common connection point at an end opposite of the first end. Embedded at the first connection point of end element 10 is a magnet 10A. End element 10 further supports a pivot shaft 10B at its second connection point and a pivot shaft 10C at its third connection point. The elongated common structural elements may be constructed from any material that can withstand high temperatures, such as wood, metal and heat-resistant plastics known in the art. In addition, it is to be understood that the term “pivot shaft” encompasses screws, rivets or any other fastening arrangement that permits rotating movement between two elements.

Similarly at their first, second, and third connection points, middle elements 20, 30, and 40 respectively support pivot shafts 20A, 20B, 20C, 30A, 30B, 30C, 40A, 40B, and 40C. End element 50 respectively supports at its first and second connection points a pair of pivot shafts 50A and 50B, and a magnet 50C is embedded at its third connection point.

End element 60 is inverted and rotatably connects at its first connection point to pivot shaft 20A, at its second connection point to pivot shaft 10B, and a magnet 60C is embedded at its third connection point.

Also inverted, middle elements 70, 80, and 90 rotatably connect at their first connection points respectively to pivot shafts 30A, 40A, and 50A, at their second connection points respectively to pivot shafts 20B, 30B, and 40B, and at their third connection points respectively to pivot shafts 10C, 20C, and 30C. Lastly and also inverted end element 100 rotatably connects at its second connection point to pivot shaft 50B, at its third connection point to pivot shaft 40C, and a magnet 100A is embedded at its first connection point.

FIG. 2 shows the folding star trivet in a closed form in which, by rotation of the above pivot shafts, the adjacent longitudinal sides of elements 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 bear against each other in an upper plane, and the adjacent longitudinal sides of elements 60,70, 80, 90, and 100 bear against each other in a lower plane.

FIG. 3 shows the folding star trivet in an open form in the shape of a star in which magnet 10A connects by magnetic force to magnet 100A (hidden), as does magnet 50C to magnet 60C (hidden). In this form the longitudinal axes of elements 10 and 70 are substantially parallel, as are the longitudinal axes respectively of elements 20 and 80, 30 and 90,. 40 and 100, and 50 and 60. It is to be understood that alternative fasteners known in the art may be substituted for magnets 10A, 100A, 50C and 60C.

In FIG. 4 common element 10 is shown in an optionally wider aspect with the folding star trivet in the open form in the context of a series of construction lines 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 respectively at the longitudinal axes of element 10 and elements 20, 30, 40, and 50 not shown. A center point 200 is at the center of the trivet, and a construction line 210 connects center point 200 to an intersection of lines 120 and 150 at the position of pivot shaft 20A.

Another construction line 220 connects center point 200 to an intersection of lines 110 and 150. An offset construction line 230 is substantially parallel to line 110 and is offset from line 110 by a distance J in the direction away from center point 200. Distance J is substantially equal to the width of element 10 indicated by a dimension K.

The locations of the first, second, and third connection points are indicated respectively at the positions of pivot shaft 10A, pivot shaft 10B, and magnet 10C. A construction line 300 connects magnet 10C to a point 20AF located on line 230 such that line 300 is substantially perpendicular to a line 310 connecting point 20AF to pivot shaft 10A. Lastly, a construction line segment 320 connects pivot shafts 10B to pivot shaft 10A, and another construction line segment 330 connects pivot shaft 10B to point 20AF. Point 20AF indicates the phantom location of pivot shaft 20A with respect to element 10 in the closed form.

The particular geometric arrangement of the first, second, and third connection points on the common structural element are then substantially defined as follows:

The first connection point, indicated by pivot shaft 10A, is at the intersection of lines 110 and 140.

The third connection point, indicated by magnet 10C, is at a convenient position on line 210.

The second connection point, indicated by pivot shall 10B, is at a particular position on line 220 relative to magnet 10C such that the length of line segment 320 is substantially equal to the length of line segment 330.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the end edge of element 10 near magnet 10C is substantially parallel to line 120 and offset from line 120 towards center point 200 by a distance S which is greater than or equal to a distance T between line 110 and the longitudinal edge of element 10 nearest center point 200.

As noted above, the third connection point at magnet 10C is at any convenient position on line 210. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, its particular location on line 210 is such that it and the second connection point at pivot shaft 10B are on opposite sides of line 110 and equidistant from line 110.

The above geometric relationship between such first, second and third connection points on a common structural element may be readily applied by one skilled in the art to the construction of any such folding star trivet.

While embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A folding trivet with an open form and a closed form comprising:

a. an even number of six or more elongated common structural elements, each of said elements having a first connection point near a first end, a third connection point near an opposite end and a second connection point in a central portion;

b. a first said element and a second said element rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;

c. the first element rotatably connected to a forth said element by a pivot shaft at their respective third connection points and the second element and a third said element rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective first connection points, where said third and forth elements further comprise a first pair of intermediate elements;

d. the first and second elements of each said pair of intermediate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;

e. a first connection point of an ultimate said element substantially coincident with the first connection point of the first element when the trivet is in said open form and the third connection point of a penultimate said element substantially coincident with the third connection point of the second element when the trivet is in said open form;

f. the ultimate and penultimate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;

g. the penultimate element rotatably connected to a second element of an ultimate said pair of intermediate elements at their respective first connection points and the ultimate element rotatably connected to the a first element of the ultimate pair of intermediate elements a their respective third connection points;

2. The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein a fastener at the first connection point of the first element releasably connects to a fastener at the first connection point of the ultimate element when the trivet is in said open form.

3. The folding trivet of claim 2 in which the fasteners are magnets.

4. The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein a fastener at the third connection point of the second element releasably connects to a fastener at the third connection point of the penultimate element when the trivet is in said open form.

5. The folding trivet of claim 4 in which the fasteners are magnets.

6. The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein the number of pairs of intermediate elements is one and the trivet has three external points in said open form.

7. The folding trivet of claim 1 wherein the number of pairs of intermediate elements is two or more and the trivet in said open form has a number of external points equal to two plus the number of pairs of intermediate elements, and adjacent pairs of intermediate elements rotatably connect to each other at their adjacent respective first and third connection points.

8. The folding trivet of claim 1 in which in the closed form the sides of alternate common structural elements substantially contact each.

9. The folding trivet of claim 8 in which the second connection point of each element is equidistant from the first connection point of said element and a phantom point that is:

a. On a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal element axis containing the first connection point and laterally offset from said axis by a distance away from the trivet center substantially equal to the width of said element; and

b. at a position such that a line between the first connection point and said phantom point is substantially perpendicular to a line between the third connection point and the phantom point.

10. The folding trivet of claim 8 in which the number of external points is five or more and in which in the open form the longitudinal axis of each element is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the adjacent element to which the third connection point of said element connects.

11. The folding trivet of claim 10 in which the second connection point of each element is on a line between the substantial center of the trivet when in open form and a point of intersection between the longitudinal axis of said element and the longitudinal axis when in open form of the adjacent element to which the second connection point of said element connects.