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  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/706,980, filed Aug. 10, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     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  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the folding star trivet of the present invention in a partially opened form;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of  FIG. 1  in a closed form;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the folding star trivet of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an open form;  
         [0006]      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  
       [0007]     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  10 A. End element  10  further supports a pivot shaft  10 B at its second connection point and a pivot shaft  10 C 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.  
         [0008]     Similarly at their first, second, and third connection points, middle elements  20 ,  30 , and  40  respectively support pivot shafts  20 A,  20 B,  20 C,  30 A,  30 B,  30 C,  40 A,  40 B, and  40 C. End element  50  respectively supports at its first and second connection points a pair of pivot shafts  50 A and  50 B, and a magnet  50 C is embedded at its third connection point.  
         [0009]     End element  60  is inverted and rotatably connects at its first connection point to pivot shaft  20 A, at its second connection point to pivot shaft  10 B, and a magnet  60 C is embedded at its third connection point.  
         [0010]     Also inverted, middle elements  70 ,  80 , and  90  rotatably connect at their first connection points respectively to pivot shafts  30 A,  40 A, and  50 A, at their second connection points respectively to pivot shafts  20 B,  30 B, and  40 B, and at their third connection points respectively to pivot shafts  10 C,  20 C, and  30 C. Lastly and also inverted end element  100  rotatably connects at its second connection point to pivot shaft  50 B, at its third connection point to pivot shaft  40 C, and a magnet  100 A is embedded at its first connection point.  
         [0011]      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.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows the folding star trivet in an open form in the shape of a star in which magnet  10 A connects by magnetic force to magnet  100 A (hidden), as does magnet  50 C to magnet  60 C (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  10 A,  100 A,  50 C and  60 C.  
         [0013]     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  20 A.  
         [0014]     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.  
         [0015]     The locations of the first, second, and third connection points are indicated respectively at the positions of pivot shaft  10 A, pivot shaft  10 B, and magnet  10 C. A construction line  300  connects magnet  10 C to a point  20 AF located on line  230  such that line  300  is substantially perpendicular to a line  310  connecting point  20 AF to pivot shaft  10 A. Lastly, a construction line segment  320  connects pivot shafts  10 B to pivot shaft  10 A, and another construction line segment  330  connects pivot shaft  10 B to point  20 AF. Point  20 AF indicates the phantom location of pivot shaft  20 A with respect to element  10  in the closed form.  
         [0016]     The particular geometric arrangement of the first, second, and third connection points on the common structural element are then substantially defined as follows:  
         [0017]     The first connection point, indicated by pivot shaft  10 A, is at the intersection of lines  110  and  140 .  
         [0018]     The third connection point, indicated by magnet  10 C, is at a convenient position on line  210 .  
         [0019]     The second connection point, indicated by pivot shall  10 B, is at a particular position on line  220  relative to magnet  10 C such that the length of line segment  320  is substantially equal to the length of line segment  330 .  
         [0020]     In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the end edge of element  10  near magnet  10 C 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 .  
         [0021]     As noted above, the third connection point at magnet  10 C 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  10 B are on opposite sides of line  110  and equidistant from line  110 .  
         [0022]     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.  
         [0023]     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.