FR2843008A1 - Stand for sea food plate which is divided into sections comprises circular frame supported on three legs, three rollers being mounted on frame to support plate which have rubber collars to improve friction - Google Patents

Abstract

The stand for a sea food plate which is divided into sections comprises a circular frame (2) supported on three legs (7 - 9). Three rollers (4 - 6) are mounted on the frame to support the plate. These are fitted with rubber collars (43) to improve the friction between them and the plate.

Description

The present invention relates to a tray support

  or food presentation container.

  If you consider, for example, an assortment of seafood, it is often presented to guests on a large platter and each guest chooses the type of seafood they prefer. However, when he has exhausted the stock of this type within reach of his hand, in the sector of the plateau in front of him, he must get up to reach a

other sector.

  There are trays mounted rotary, by an axis passing through them, in a support assembly which allows the various sectors of the tray to pass in front of the various guests. However, these sets are relatively expensive and, moreover, since the tray is irremovable, its size cannot be adapted to the instant need, that is to say to the quantity of victuals presented. In such a case, several such assemblies must be provided, with

trays of various diameters.

  The present invention aims to propose a solution offering greater flexibility to avoid

disadvantages mentioned above.

  To this end, the invention relates to a support for a food presentation utensil to be taken from a plurality of places in space, from determined positions, characterized in that the support comprises a chassis carrying laying means for the utensil associated with friction guiding means of the utensil along a path with minimum friction, of shape determined in

  according to the positions of said places.

  Thus, and using the example above, a seafood platter, of any size, can be placed on the support and driven in movement so as to successively present its sectors to each of the

  guests, placed at various sampling locations.

  The guide means therefore determine a guide path according to any desired type of trajectory, looped or non-looped (back and forth), that is to say that the movement of

  the utensil can be a translation and / or a rotation.

  Thus, the friction guide means control the mobility of the presentation utensil, that is to say oppose that of the displacement components which

  could cause the utensil to fall.

  Friction guidance consists in offering a direction of movement corresponding to minimal or even zero friction, as opposed to any other direction, which thus tends to channel the effects of external forces

  moving in the desired direction.

  The friction guiding means functionally replace the mechanical axis joining the plate

  from the prior art to the rest of the rotary support assembly.

  In one embodiment, the guide means are arranged so that the trajectory is in a loop, and in

particular circular.

  Advantageously, there is provided a plurality of laying and guiding rollers spaced apart on the path and mounted to rotate on respective axes of guiding in rotation, carried by the chassis and each extending in a direction locally essentially perpendicular to the path. Essentially perpendicular means that the deviation from a perfect perpendicularity is less than

30 degrees.

  In this case, and in one embodiment, the axes of the plurality of rollers are inclined on a - normal local to the trajectory to exert on the utensil a plurality of respective forces of decentering by friction, canceling each other as long as the rollers cooperate with a predetermined zone with a determined coefficient of friction of the utensil, forces having a result of refocusing in the event of modification of one of the decentering forces following a decentering of said zone of the utensil with respect to the rollers . There is thus a dynamic refocusing of the support utensil. Preferably, each roller comprises at least one ring, made of rubber-based material, forming the running track of the utensil, but, more preferably, at least two rings forming running tracks, axially spaced, one at less of the rings being of material to

rubber base.

  Friction contact with the utensil is thus

better assured.

  In one embodiment, the two rings have, at rest, different external diameters of different raceways, the ring with the largest diameter being shaped so that its material is crushed, under the weight of the utensil, up to '' to reduce the diameter corresponding to the value of the diameter of the other ring,

  when a load threshold of the roller in question is reached.

  The ring that crashes first so best

the reliefs of the utensil.

  The chassis preferably comprises at least one foot, for raising the laying means and the guiding means, relative to a laying surface, such as a table,

intended to receive the support.

  The support thus occupies only a limited surface on a table, that is to say that in fact it generally offers an additional surface of installation, at a level offset from that

of the table.

  It will be noted however that, in the absence of stand (s), the support can be provided to be placed on a table or even on the edge of a container, such as a pan,

  to raise the utensil he is carrying.

  The chassis may comprise at least one crown, comprising means for supporting the axes of the guide means, or even two mutually interlocking concentric crowns carrying respectively two opposite ends.

axes of the guide means.

  The crowns constitute a partial cage

axis support circular.

  In one embodiment, the chassis comprises a plurality of feet, mounted articulated on the crown, by articulation means, so that, in the functional, deployed position, extend in a substantially truncated cone open opposite the laying means and guide means, and to be able to be folded down into a rest position in substantially the same parallel plane and close to a plane of extension of the chassis, if not confused with the latter. The support can thus be stored in a volume

  restricted, in particular limited to the thickness of the chassis.

  The articulation means can be provided for rotation of the feet in respective axial planes of a

geometric axis of the chassis.

  One of the two crowns advantageously comprises the same plurality of stop notches in the functional position of the plurality of feet and of holding in

the corresponding axial plane.

  Twisting of the feet is thus avoided.

  The articulation means can be provided for rotation of the feet in respective directions

  circumferential with respect to a general axis of the chassis.

  Advantageously, the feet each have two twin rods, connected by a loop forming a pad

chassis installation.

  The twisting or lateral twisting of the feet is thus limited. For good stability, the laying means and the guide means are preferably worn in line with the feet. Actuator means can be provided for driving at least one of the rollers, for example controlled

  by at least one optical proximity detector.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  following description of a preferred embodiment of

  the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view showing, in transparent mode, a tripod support according to the present invention, the legs, foldable, being in the deployed state, and - FIG. 2 is the same perspective view,

  representing the tripod in the folded state.

  Figures 1 and 2 show a support 1 of food display rack, here a tray 10, evoked by a circular edge section. The support 1 comprises a chassis comprising a crown 2, extending in a horizontal plane in the functional position, carrying a plurality of elements for positioning and guiding the plate 10 according to a predetermined path, here circular, precisely here a plurality of rollers identical 4, 5, 6 angularly equidistributed, forming a support polygon in an equilateral triangle. The crown 2 could therefore be replaced by a triangle or other loop form or by a hub carrying radial arms, the rollers 4,, 6 remaining arranged in a circle or crown. In this example, the plate 10 is assumed to be of diameter greater than that of the crown 2, so that it is carried by all the rollers 4, 5, 6. The movement of the plate 2 is therefore here purely rotary, so that the plate 10 has a stationary center of rotation, except for fluctuations. Therefore, the guide relates to the "eccentric" material of the plate 10 other than that located at the center of rotation. The rollers 4, 5, 6 therefore impose a particular circular trajectory on each element of

eccentric material of the plate 10.

  In other examples, the plurality of rollers 4, 5, 6 could constitute a raceway, looped or not, of length much greater than the size of the plate 10, that is to say that it would be each moment carried by only a few rollers of the plurality and would be movable in translation, with possible rotation, on the way to

  bearing, by passing over other rollers.

  In other words, if we take the particular example of the figures again, the plate 10 could be placed on two rollers among the rollers 4, 5, 6, then of increased length to offer a sufficient width of the support polygon, in order to ensure the stability of the plate 10. Preferably, the rollers shown 4, 5, 6 would be provided in a larger number to be mounted almost juxtaposed in order to form a continuous raceway, making it possible to also receive plates 10 of very limited size. For convenience of explanation, the support 1 is assumed to be in the functional position, that is to say with the crown 2 extending in a horizontal plane. The present explanations would however remain valid, after transposition, if the support 1 was oriented differently. In this example, a second ring 3 is provided, fitting the ring 2, that is to say radially external and facing one another. The two rings 2, 3 cooperate to form two radially opposite walls each carrying ends, respectively internal and external, axes, substantially horizontal, of the rotary support of the rollers 4, 5, 6, such as the axis 41 of the roller 4. The axes (41) extend in the same radial (horizontal) plane with respect to a general or common geometric axis 11, vertical in functional position, of the crown rings 2 and 3, the axes (41) intersecting in this example, on the axis

  vertical common 11, that is to say they are radial.

  Each ring 2, 3 thus constitutes a plurality of bearings, located at the same level, for the axes such as

  the axis 41, thus avoiding an overhang of these axes (41).

  In this example, the axes (41) also provide the

  holding the two crowns in mutual position 2, 3.

  For the good understanding, in all this

  description the references in parentheses denote a

  plurality of identical elements which, for the sake of brevity, have only been referenced by one of them,

corresponding to this reference.

  As a variant, it could only be provided for the single crown 2, or triangle, then forming a backbone crossed by members formed by the radial axes (41) of the rollers 4, 5, 6, each of these being split under the form of two twin rollers carried radially on either side of the crown 2, which compensates for the overhangs. It can also be provided that the radial axes (41) of the rollers 4, 5, 6 are pivotally mounted, by their central section carried by the crown 2, in a respective vertical plane containing the common axis it, in order to s' adapt to 10 trays or other supports

bulging food.

  Returning to the example illustrated, the roller 4 is carried by the axis 41 by means of a ball bearing (not visible) bearing a tube or ring constituting the body 42 of the roller 4, made of material resistant to wear such as metal or plastic, including the outer surface

  includes a track or tread for the platform 10.

  The material of the track of the roller 4 is chosen to have a high coefficient of friction compared to the material of the plate 10, which can be of wood, metal, plastic, porcelain or the like. To this end, the external surface of the body 42 of the roller 4 carries an O-ring 43, or ring, of rubber-based material, forming a track for fitting the plate 10. In this example, the external surface of the body 42 of the roller 4 has a retaining groove, extending in a vertical radial plane with respect to the axis 41, in which the ring 43 is housed. In the event of a push on the plate 10 on the part of a person for example, the latter ci, due to its friction with the ring 43, can only move in a direction perpendicular to the radial axis 41, that is to say a favored direction of movement, tangential to the crowns 2 and 3 or any circle centered on the common axis 11. The ring 43 thus constitutes a local guide element of the plate 10 in the direction tangential to the common axis 11. The effect of any radial component of the external force is thus canceled out by a radial, equal and opposite friction force on the ring 43 The ring 43 thus constitutes a mechanical filter, eliminating any radial component of the external forces, insofar as this component does not exceed a threshold, a function of the

  coefficient of friction and plate weight 10.

  In this example, a second ring 44 is provided, located on the body 42 of the roller 4, at an axial distance from the first ring 43 and having the same track function. The second ring 44 improves the contact between the

roller 4 and plate 10.

  As a variant, the two rings 43, 44 have, at rest, different external diameters of different raceways, the ring with the largest diameter 43 being shaped so that its material is crushed, under the weight of the plate 10, up to 'in reducing the diameter corresponding to the value of the diameter of the other ring 44,

  when a load threshold of the roller 4 considered is reached.

  Thus, the ring 43 can be made of a relatively soft material, such as rubber or plastic material with cells, and / or have a very limited axial length, so that even a moderate weight of the plate 10 crushes it quite clearly. This ensures very good contact with the plate 10, and therefore a good coefficient of friction. The ring 44, of smaller diameter at rest, constitutes a kind of abutment heel, radial with respect to the axis 41, limiting the reduction, by crushing, of the diameter of the ring 43 and thus protecting it against

undue hardship.

  The support 1 makes it possible, in this example, to carry the tray 10 at a good distance from a surface for laying the support 1, such as a table. For this purpose, the support 1

  has a plurality of feet, here three feet 7, 8, 9.

  It is therefore a tripod, the feet 7, 8, 9 of which are, in this example, pivotally mounted on the chassis of the support 1,

precisely on crown 2.

  In this example, the plurality of feet 7, 8, 9 and the plurality of rollers 4, 5, 6 are therefore both of the same size, that is to say three. As a result, various axes (41) for supporting the rollers 4, 5, 6 have advantageously here been mounted substantially at right angles, or vertically, to the feet 7, 8, 9, which makes it possible to avoid applying weight constraints of platform 10 to the rest

  of the chassis, in particular to the crown 2.

  The feet 7, 8, 9 are mounted articulated on the crown 2 by articulation elements, precisely here hinges, like that referenced 79, constituting lugs comprising a trapped housing, free in rotation, a rod or end section 75 of the foot considered 7, 8, 9. Thus, in the functional, deployed position, the feet 7, 8, 9 extend substantially along a truncated cone open downward, therefore opposite the rollers 4, 5, 6, and they can be folded down in a folded-down position in substantially the same plane, parallel and close to a horizontal plane of extension of the crowns 2 and 3, or even coincident with the latter, that is to say folded in the internal volume of the crown 2, in its thickness in height. The hinges (79) have horizontal pivot axes extending in the local tangential direction of the crown 2, to allow rotation of the feet 7, 8, 9 in respective vertical planes containing the axis

vertical it crowns 2, 3.

  The crown 3 comprises, radially opposite the various hinges (79), and precisely in the respective vertical and axial planes for maneuvering the feet 7, 8, 9, the same plurality of notches open downwards, like the notch 34 , abutment, in the functional position, of respective intermediate sections (74) of the plurality of feet 7, 8, 9, notches (34) further ensuring the maintenance of the associated foot 7, 8, 9, by the edges of the notch considered (34), in the corresponding axial vertical plane. As a variant, in a dual assembly from that shown, the outer ring 3 carries the hinges (79) and then the tangential articulation end rod of the foot 7, 8, 9 considered continues with a radial section which, during deployment of the foot 7, 8, 9 considered, abuts at the bottom of a notch, facing upwards, from the upper edge

of the internal crown 2.

  Returning to the example shown, the feet 7, 8, 9 each comprise a bend substantially at the level of the intermediate section coming to bear in the notch (34), bend making it possible to determine the desired truncated cone angle in which s 'extend the feet 7, 8, 9 in the deployed position. The hinges (79) have indeed axes located substantially at the same horizontal level as the bottoms of the notches (34). Therefore, in the absence of angle compensation by the elbows, this equality of levels would result in a cone that is too flared, and therefore insufficient ground clearance for the crowns 2, 3, under which it is planned to be able to have other objects, for example bottles, glasses, salt shaker and others. The support 1 thus provides a laying surface for the plate 10 while leaving the surface clear on

  which he posed, for example here a table.

  As a variant, the axes of the hinges (79) (or equivalent elements) are oriented in a direction tangential to the crowns 2 and 3 for pivoting of the legs 7, 8, 9 in respective tangential planes relative to the

crowns 2, 3.

  The feet 7, 8, 9 each comprise, in this example, two twin rods, like the rods 71, 72 of the foot 7. The twin rods 71, 72 are connected, at their end opposite to the crowns 2, 3, by a loop 73, extending substantially in a horizontal plane in the deployed position, forming a pad for placing the crowns 2, 3. The two twin rods 71, 72 and the loop 73 are in one piece, being constituted by a metal rod of section circular, shaped as shown, the two free ends of which constitute the two pivot axes in two of the hinges (79). To ensure good stability of the crowns 2, 3, the twin rods 71, 72 have slightly divergent directions of extension from the loop 73. The crowns 2, 3 are thus supported in a double plurality here twice three times mutually spaced points, so well

stable.

  As a variant, the radial axes (41) of the rollers 4, 5, 6 are inclined downhill towards the common axis 11, as already mentioned, that is to say according to a cone open upwards, which allows a better maintenance of the centering of a container with a generally convex bottom, for example rounded, in place of the plate 10, or the maintenance of the plate 10 by inclined edges thereof. Gravity thus ensures a refocusing of the center of gravity of the container or tray 10 towards

substantially the common axis 11.

  Still alternatively, provision may be made for the lower surface of the plate 10 to include a central zone, or a ring track, possibly an attached layer, for example self-adhesive, circular with a coefficient of friction greater than the circumference zone, and of corresponding diameter. substantially to that of the outer ring 3. In such a case, the radial axes (41) of the rollers 4, 5, 6, can be slightly turned in their common horizontal plane, that is to say inclined to the local radial direction , so as to be only substantially radial, so that each roller 4, 5, 6 exerts on the plate 10 an adjacent local force of decentering, pushing it gradually radially towards the common axis 10, that is to say globally, at wire of the rotations of the plate 10, towards the other two of the rollers 4, 5, 6. The above angle of inclination of the axes (41) can for example reach 10, even 20, degrees or a little more, without the friction that this induces, because oblique guidance with respect to the circular path, presents a significant discomfort to users. In principle, due to the symmetry along the common axis 11, the above forces of decentering of the plate 10 exerted by the three rollers 4, 5, 6 compensate each other, that is to say that their resultant is zero, each of the three off-center forces being equal and opposite to the vector sum of the other two. However, a decentering can occur over time, due to inequalities between the friction coefficients of the rollers 4, 5, 6 or the fact that the center of gravity of the

  loaded tray 10 is not in the geometric center of it

  or because someone pushed too much

violently the plate 10.

  If the plate 10 is off-center relative to the crowns 2, 3, the central zone of the plate 10 no longer covers one of the vertices of the equilateral triangle occupied by the rollers 4, 5, 6, for example the roller 4. The roller 4 then cooperates with the area around the plate 10, with a limited coefficient of friction, or even almost zero. As a result, the off-centering action, by radial pushing back of the plate 10, exerted by the roller 4 which has become external to the central zone, is reduced, even canceled, and, thus, it no longer (sufficiently) opposes the action of the other rollers 5

  and 6 which tend to recall the plate 10 towards the roller 4.

  Thus, the disappearance of the local off-center force, at the level of the roller 4, "releases" the two off-center forces exerted by the opposite rollers 5 and 6. As the vector result of the two released off-center forces was equal and opposite to the off-center force of the roller 4, this resultant thus released corresponds to a recentering force, considering that it is, fictitiously, the roller 4 which applies it. This force has the effect of recalling the central zone of the plate 10 towards the roller 4, which remains load-bearing but which has become almost inoperative as regards guidance by friction. The plurality of off-center forces thus presents a result of refocusing in the event of modification, here a decrease, of one of the off-center forces following a decentering of said zone

  central of the plate 10 relative to the rollers 4, 5, 6.

  The offset of the plate 10 thus remains limited to the difference in radii between the central surface area "active by friction" of the plate 10 and the radius of the circle

  on which the rollers 4, 5, 6 are arranged.

  A dual mounting is possible, with rollers 4, 6 with inclined directions opposite to the above case, for each attracting the plate 10, which then comprises a central zone, of lower laying surface, with coefficient of friction reduced. Still alternatively, the rollers 4, 5, 6 or any other equivalent rotary elements, of local guidance in a predetermined direction, could be replaced by sliding guide elements having the same function. One can for example think of a guide track carrying filaments or barbs oriented in the desired direction. The movement of the plate 10 can be carried out manually or by control of an electric motor fixed to the chassis and driving in rotation at least one of the rollers 4, 5, 6. The motor control can be carried out by one or even several power switches, distributed along the trajectory of the plate 10, mounted in parallel. For example, the switches can be mounted on the respective feet 7, 8, 9. Such a switch can in particular include an optical proximity detector, for example infrared, to allow the plate 10 to be moved by approaching

hand or any object.

Claims (19)

claims   1. Support (1) for a utensil (10) for presenting food to be taken from a plurality of places in the space, determined positions, characterized in that the support comprises a frame (2, 3) carrying means (4, 5, 6) for placing the utensil (10) associated with means (41, 42, 43, 44) for frictionally guiding the utensil (10) along a path with minimal friction, of form determined based on the positions of said places.   2. Support according to claim 1, wherein the guide means (41, 42, 43, 44) are arranged so that the trajectory be in a loop.   3. Support according to claim 2, wherein the loop is circular.   4. Support according to one of claims 1 to 3, in   which is provided with a plurality of laying and guiding rollers (4, 5, 6) spaced apart on the path and mounted to rotate on respective axes of guiding in rotation (41), carried by the chassis (2, 3) and s extending each in a direction locally essentially perpendicular to the path.   5. Support according to claims 3 and 4 together,   in which the axes (41) of the plurality of rollers (4, 5, 6) are inclined on a local normal to the trajectory to exert on the utensil (10) a plurality of respective forces of decentering by friction, canceling out mutually as long as the rollers (4, 5, 6) cooperate with a predetermined zone with a determined coefficient of friction of the utensil (10), forces having a result of recentering in the event of modification of one of the centering forces following a decentering of said   utensil area (10) relative to the rollers (4, 5, 6).   6. Support according to one of claims 4 and 5, in   wherein said plurality of rollers is three.   7. Support according to one of claims 4 to 6, in   which each roller (4, 5, 6) comprises at least one ring (43), made of rubber-based material, forming a track utensil bearing (10).   8. Support according to claim 7, wherein each roller (4, 5, 6) comprises at least two rings (43, 44) forming rolling tracks, axially spaced, at least one of the rings (43, 44) being made of rubber material. 9. Support according to claim 8, in which the two rings (43, 44) have, at rest, respective different external diameters of raceways, the ring with the largest diameter (43) being shaped so that its material s '' crushes, under the weight of the utensil (10), until the diameter corresponding to the value of the diameter of the other ring (44) is reduced, when a threshold of   load of the roller under consideration (4) is reached.   10. Support according to one of claims 1 to 9, in   which the frame (2, 3) comprises at least one foot (7, 8, 9), for raising the laying means (4, 5, 6) and the guide means (41, 42, 43, 44), by compared to a   installation surface intended to receive the support (1).   11. Support according to claim 10, in which the chassis comprises at least one ring (2, 3) comprising means for supporting axes (41) guide means (41, 42, 43, 44).   12. Support according to claim 11, wherein the chassis comprises two mutually interlocking concentric rings (2, 3) respectively carrying two opposite ends of axes (41) of the guide means (41, 42, 43, 44)   13. Support according to one of claims 10 to 12,   wherein the chassis (2, 3) comprises a plurality of feet (7, 8, 9), mounted articulated on the crown (2, 3), by articulation means (79), for, in the functional position, deployed , extend substantially along a truncated cone open opposite the laying means (4, 5, 6) and the guide means (41, 42, 43, 44), and to be able to be folded down in a position of rest in substantially the same parallel plane and close to a plane chassis extension (2, 3).   14. Support according to claim 13, wherein the articulation means (79) are provided for rotation of the feet (7, 8, 9) in respective axial planes of a   geometric axis (11) of the chassis (2, 3).   15. Support according to claims 12, 13, 14   assembly, in which one of the two crowns (2, 3) has the same plurality of notches (34) for abutment in the functional position of the plurality of feet (7, 8, 9)   and maintaining in the corresponding axial plane.   16. Support according to claim 13, wherein the articulation means (79) are provided for rotation of the feet (7, 8, 9) in respective circumferential directions relative to a general axis (11) of the chassis (2, 3).   17. Support according to one of claims 13 to 16,   in which the feet (7, 8, 9) each have two twin rods (71, 72).   18. Support according to claim 17, in which the twin rods (71, 72) are connected by a loop (73)   forming a frame mounting shoe (2, 3).   19. Support according to one of claims 13 to 18,   in which the laying means (4, 5, 6) and the guide means (41, 42, 43, 44) are carried in line with the feet (7,   8, 9) 20. Support according to one of claims 4 to 19,   in which actuator means are provided for driving at least one of the rollers (4, 5, 6, 21. Support according to claim 20, in which at least one optical proximity detector controls the actuator means.