Patent Publication Number: US-2010116833-A1

Title: Holding Element for at Least One Object

Description:
The present invention relates to for at least one object according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     DE 200 15 438 U1 discloses a holding element for an object which can be attached to a corresponding support profile. In this case, the corresponding support profile is a plate edge, to which the holding element can be fixed by means of a clamping zone forming an accommodating element. The holding element according to DE 200 15 438 U1 has a dish-shaped holding zone as a first point of support for an object and an opening for inserting the stem of a glass, with the glass then resting in the holding zone. Another option disclosed in the publication for using the holding element is to place a breakfast egg in the holding zone and present it attached to a plate, ready to be eaten. 
     The disadvantage here is that the holding element projects laterally from the plate edge, thereby occupying more space than a conventional plate. This is impractical in use and, when eating the egg placed in the holding element, may lead to the table being soiled, for example. Users find that handling a plate with an attached holding element containing a glass, an egg or similar, is impractical. 
     A further disadvantage is that the prior art holding device can only accommodate one object at a time, i.e. a glass or a breakfast egg. In the case of a breakfast egg, for example, the spoon has to be stored or transported separately. 
     The invention is based on the task of providing a holding element which is more practical, safer and more hygienic to handle than the prior art holding element. Further, the holding element should be of simple construction and, from a technical point of view, should not be excessively costly to produce. 
     The invention solves this task with the features of claim  1 . Other embodiments of the invention will be described in the subsequent subclaims. 
     A holding element according to the invention for at least one object has a body with an outer surface whose limiting edge forms, at least partially, a point of support for accommodating at least one object. The accommodating element for the edge of the support profile is contrived on the lower limiting edge of the outer surface, which is disposed opposite the upper limiting edge. 
     The support profile may be a plate edge, for example. The holding element can be attached to the plate edge in such a way that the lower edge of the outer surface rests at least partially on the plate edge. The upper edge then serves to accommodate the object, a breakfast egg, for example. 
     The holding element may be attached to the plate edge in such a way that it does not project at all, or only slightly, beyond the edge. Hence this arrangement is space-saving, compared to prior art holding elements. Furthermore, a breakfast egg accommodated in this way can be eaten safely and cleanly, as any debris falling over the side of the holding element remains in the plate. 
     The holding element is prevented from slipping onto the plate by, for example, a flange which projects outwards from the lower edge of the outer surface, which, in the attached position, abuts against the plate edge. The lower edge, or portions of the same, may then rest freely on the surface of the plate, so that the holding element can easily be removed. The flange can also be provided with lateral spurs, which, together with the lower edge of the outer surface, define a slit-shaped accommodating element for the plate edge. These spurs may be elastically flexible, so that a clamp holding is created. 
     The holding element is of a very simple construction, and can be made from various materials as one piece, i.e. inexpensively from a production point of view. Merely as examples, possible materials include metal, ceramic or plastic. A holding element could equally be produced as a disposable article made in cardboard, for example. 
     The invention can, for example, make an ideal addition for items of cutlery used on a daily, or infrequent, basis. The simple construction and functionality leave scope for creativity in terms of shape, materials and colour, so that the spectrum of applications may go far beyond the preferred field of use as a dining utensil. 
     The holding element may have a slit-shaped holding opening in one part of the outer surface by means of which the holding element can be attached to the corresponding surface of the support profile in such a way that this surface forms the base portion of the holding element. This solution has several simultaneous, very substantial advantages. On the one hand, the holding element can be contrived as a hollow body, making it easy to clean well when this is required. 
     Another advantage is that when the holding element is used to accommodate a breakfast egg by means of the first point of support, the eggshell can be put in the holding element when this latter is attached to the edge of a plate, for example. The plate edge also forms, for the time the holding element is attached to it, a base for the holding element, thereby offering an egg cup in the traditional sense which can additionally hold eggshell debris. In contrast to conventional egg cups, from which pieces of shell are difficult to remove, the holding element according to the invention can easily be removed from the plate edge and the eggshell debris can fall directly into a disposal bin standing ready under the plate. The holding element can be used in this instance as a mini table disposal bin. 
     Further, at least one slit-shaped point of support may be provided, which follows a wave-shaped curved path. This embodiment of the point of support means that, with the holding element according to the invention, elongated objects in particular can be held in place in very advantageous fashion without them working themselves out of the holding element of their own accord. 
     A solution of this type means that, as a result of the curved path of the slit-shaped point of support, there are at least two resting points for the object to be accommodated, thereby providing said optimum stowing. 
     The holding element may have a cylindrical outer surface. This substantially improves the production process and the ring-shaped point of support is created when generating the basic body of the holding element with no need for further working steps for this purpose. In this way, the holding element can also be cut directly from a tube, which makes high volume production possible. 
     It is also particularly advantageous if at least parts of the outer surface of the holding element can be elastically deformed to a limited extent. This means the holding element can adapt to variously sized objects for stowage, for example. Elasticity in the outer surface additionally generates a clamping effect which improves the hold on the objects. 
     A slit-shaped opening in the outer surface can additionally contribute to the elastic deformability of the latter. 
     The insertion of a dish into the ring-shaped point of support opens up numerous opportunities for other uses, such as, for example, the holding element being attached to a cup or a plate where it may serve to hold a tea bag or a slice of lemon. One might also fill the dish with sugar, honey, jam, pepper or salt, ready for consumption, which would be very useful at breakfast served in a hotel, in particular. The dish could obviously be subdivided into several segments for the purpose of accommodating different things. 
     The holding element may further be provided with a spout so that, if a dish is inserted into the ring-shaped point of support, any liquid in the dish can be poured off. 
     An item of cutlery may be inserted into the slit-shaped point of support. In the case of the aforementioned use as a holding element for an egg, this may be the spoon required to eat the egg. It is further possible to provide several slit-shaped points of support so that several items of cutlery and/or napkins as required for a menu can be provided directly by the plate. 
     The holding element may be made from a deformable material so that it can be rolled or folded up when not in use. Several holding elements may also be contrived so that they can be inserted inside each other or stacked together. Naturally, one might also want to use disposable variations made of cardboard or other recyclable materials in order to overcome the problem of storage entirely. 
     At this point only a few examples of possible uses of the holding element according to the invention will be mentioned. It is conceivable, for example, to use several holding elements as stacking feet for ready-to-serve plates of food, as used for warming up in microwaves, or as support for a grill or spit, i.e. for slotting into the grill height setting facility, for hanging over the edge of a pan to cook eggs and extract them from the boiling water individually, as a holding element for salt and pepper dispensers, as an ashtray, or indeed as an advertising support for use in, in particular, restaurants or hotels for the purpose of publicising the name of the establishment. 
     In particular, use as a tea light holder is also possible, or as a holder for vases or inserts for decorative purposes. The support profile may also be a wall profile from which the holding element is suspended. 
    
    
     
       The invention will be described below with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holding element according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is, compared to the view in  FIG. 1 , a modified embodiment of a holding element in a spatial view; 
         FIG. 3  is another holding element according to the invention, shown in a three-dimensional view; 
         FIG. 4  is a first possible use of a holding element according to the invention, shown in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 5  is another possible use of a holding element according to the invention, shown in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 6  is a modified embodiment of a holding element compared to the embodiment in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is the realisation of another possible use of a holding element; 
         FIG. 8  is a holding element for an egg and several items of cutlery; 
         FIG. 9  is a modified holding element compared to the embodiment of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a holding element according to the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a holding element according to the invention, containing an egg; 
         FIG. 12  is a pair of two holding elements according to the invention, enclosing a glass insert; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a holding element according to the invention slotted into a wall profile. 
     
    
    
     The first embodiment of a holding element according to the invention, seen in  FIG. 1  and designated overall as  9  comprises a prismatic body  9   a  with an outer surface  10  which is essentially contrived as a cylinder which is open on one side. Cylindrical outer surface  10  has an end-to-end slot  15  along its longitudinal extension, which gives limited elasticity to outer surface  10 , and hence to holding element  9  overall. This elasticity can be used to hold an object in an easily removable manner, for example a napkin, which is then held secure in holding element  9  with no chance of it falling out. 
     On the top side of holding element  9  an approximately ring-shaped point of support  6  is formed by the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10 . This point of support  6  can serve to accommodate a breakfast egg, for example, which can be reliably held in place by the elasticity of outer surface  10 . Further, holding element  9  has two slit-shaped points of support  7  and  8  disposed on top of each other in relation to their axial extension and running in the circumferential direction of outer surface  10 . Each of these points of support  7 , 8  may serve to accommodate another object such as an item of cutlery introduced from the side into outer surface  10 . Slit-shaped points of support  7 , 8  are contrived to run along approximately the same path, one above the other in outer surface  10 . 
     On the lower side of holding element  9 , opposite point of support  6 , there is an accommodating element  22  for a support profile to which holding element  9  can be attached. Accommodating element  22  is formed by a lower limiting edge  24  of outer surface  10 , and more specifically by two circular-shaped sections of this lower limiting edge  24 , which extend in the circumferential direction on both sides of perpendicular longitudinal slot  15  and rest against the profile edge. These two parts of lower limiting edge  24  are separated from each other by a flange  26  which projects downwards from outer surface  10  and is disposed on the side of the circumference of outer surface  10  positioned opposite longitudinal slot  15 . Two spurs  16 ,  17  adjoin flange  26  at each side, which also extend in the circumferential direction below lower limiting edge  24 . Together with lower limiting edge  24 , spurs  16  and  17  define a slit-shaped holder opening  12  as accommodating element  22 , into which a corresponding surface of the support profile, i.e. one which matches holding opening  12 , can be inserted, so that holding element  9  can be detachably but securely fixed in place as a result of spurs  16 , 17  resting against the underside of the corresponding surface. 
     The support profile may be the edge of a plate, for example, to which holding element  9  is attached, with the lower edge  24  of the outer surface resting against it. Flange  26  then rests against the outer edge of the plate and prevents holding element  9  from slipping inwards onto the surface of the plate, thereby ensuring the holding element  9  is held securely in place. 
     Whereas, in the embodiment shown here, accommodating element  22  is formed by slit-shaped holding opening  12 , which is delimited on the underside by spurs  16  and  17 , one may dispense with spurs  16  and  17  so that accommodating element  22  is defined only by the lower limiting edge  24  of outer surface  10  and lateral flange  26 . In this case, holding element  9  is not clamped on, but merely attached at the side to the edge of the support profile so that sections of the lower limiting edge  24  rest on the plate edge and flange  26  abuts against this edge at the side. This offers the advantage of easy removability. Hence there are many design options for flange  26 , with or without spurs  16 , 17 , depending on the use of holding element  9 . Further, point of support  6  may also be formed solely by part-sections of upper limiting edge  20 . 
     Compared to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows a modified variation of a holding element  9 . Only one slit-shaped point of support  7  has been contrived in outer surface  10  so that, in addition to first ring-shaped point of support  6  formed by the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10 , one further point of support  7  is available to accommodate appropriate objects such as items of cutlery. It is also significant that the holding element shown in  FIG. 2  has no slots along the axial longitudinal extension of outer surface  10 . The lower limiting edge  24  of outer surface  10  lies along a plane which is sloped compared to upper edge  20 . 
     The holding element of  FIG. 3  is also contrived without a slot, but it has two slit-shaped points of support  7  and  8 . In contrast to the variant illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where the slit-shaped points of support  7 , 8  were contrived in outer surface  10  above each other and running along approximately the same path, these slit-shaped points of support  7 , 8  are positioned at opposite sides of outer surface  10 . 
     A first possibility for using a holding element according to the invention is shown in the context of the exploded illustration in  FIG. 4 . Outer surface  10 , which is provided with only one slit-shaped point of support  7 , features a ring-shaped point of support  6  which is used here to accommodate an object  1  in the shape of a dish. It may hold salt for a breakfast egg, for example, or butter, honey, jam or similar products, whilst holding element  9  is fixed to a plate by means of holding opening  12 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another variant of how a holding element  9  according to the invention may be used. Shown here is a holding element  9  with a slit-shaped point of support  7  into which an object  3  is inserted in the example shown here, the object being an item of cutlery, more precisely a spoon. Ring-shaped point of support  6  accommodates a dish  1  as already mentioned in connection with  FIG. 4 . In outer surface  10  of holding element  9  there is a holding opening  12  running approximately in the axial direction of holding element  9  and functioning as accommodating element  22 , which is used to place holding element  9  over the edge of a cup  11 , to be considered, in this case, as corresponding surface  11 . 
     With reference to the option described in connection with  FIGS. 4 and 5  of using ring-shaped point of support  6  for inserting and holding a dish  1 , and placing the holding element as a whole on a cup  11 , the embodiment of  FIG. 6  represents a further development. In this case, outer surface  10  of holding element  9  is provided with a spout  18  in the region of the upper ring-shaped point of support  6  fitted with dish  1 , which spout can be used to drain liquid from dish  1 . In this way, dish  1  can be filled with lemon juice, for example, which can be added to a beverage in cup  11  in a dosed fashion via spout  18 . Together with outer surface  10  of holding element  9 , part of spout  18  also forms, holding opening  12  for attaching the holding element to cup  11 . 
     A preferred use of a holding element  9  according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . Here, holding element  9  accommodates a breakfast egg  2 , placed on ring-shaped point of support  6 . Holding opening  12  serves to fix holding element  9  to a corresponding surface  11 , which, in the majority of cases, is a plate  11 . Plate  11  forms a base for holding element  9 , so that eggshell debris from egg  2 , for example, can be collected there and then disposed of easily by sliding holding element  9  off the plate edge. The spoon can be inserted into slit-shaped point of support  7 , although this is not illustrated in  FIG. 7  for the purpose of clarity. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show two variations of embodiments of a holding element  9  according to the invention which are similar and only differ in one detail. Both holding elements  9  can, for example, be attached to the edge of a plate  11  by means of holding opening  12 . A breakfast egg can be held in place by means of ring-shaped point of support  6 . Holding elements  9  each have two slit-shaped points of support  7 , 8 , each of which accommodates an item of cutlery  4 , 5 . It can be seen that slit-shaped points of support  8  have a curved contour, thereby creating two points of rest  13  and  14  on which an item of cutlery  5 , a fork in this case, rests. Cutlery item  5  is therefore held securely and reliably in place. The difference between holding elements  9  of  FIGS. 8 and 9  resides in the second slot-shaped point of support  7 . In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , there are, in the upper portion of outer surface  10 , two diametrically opposed slots, together forming the slot-shaped point of support  7  with two points of rest, not designated in further detail, for the item of cutlery  4  placed in it, in this case a knife. In  FIG. 8 , the slots run approximately perpendicular to the circumferential direction of ring-shaped point of support  6 , i.e. in the axial direction of holding element  9 . 
     In the holding element  9  of  FIG. 9 , slot-shaped point of support  7  is only contrived as a slot starting out from ring-shaped point of support  6  on one side. On the diametrically opposite side of holding element  9  this slot is a slot-shaped opening in outer surface  10 , into which knife  4  is inserted. 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a further variant of an embodiment of a holding element  9  according to the invention. This has a cylindrical outer surface  10 . As in the embodiments described above, the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10  forms a first point of support  6 , to accommodate an egg, for example, or dish-shaped container. Holding element  9  also has a point of support  7  in its outer surface  10 , which is contrived here in a slit shape and extends, in a curved wave shape, in the circumferential direction around outer surface  10 . Due to the slit-shaped and slightly curved design of this point of support  7  it forms at least two points of rest  28  and  30  for an item of cutlery  32  as an example of an object to be inserted here for the purpose of holding said item securely in place. Accommodating element  22  is formed by the lower limiting edge  24  of outer surface  10  and serves to attach holding element  9  to a plate  34 . 
     To guarantee support on the plate edge, outer surface  10  is provided with a flange  26 . This flange may also have one or two laterally projecting spurs  16  or  17  which, when holding element  9  is used to hold a napkin, prevent any rolling away onto the base. Flange  26  can also, however, be provided with a flat surface for this purpose, which is not shown in this Figure. 
       FIG. 11  shows a different embodiment of a holding device  9  according to the invention. Outer surface  10  takes the shape of an Easter bunny so that this holding element  9  looks very decorative on the edge of a plate. It also has a ring-shaped point of support  6  hidden behind the upper body of the bunny, which accommodates an egg  36 . Like the previous embodiments, accommodating element  22  serves to attach holding element  9  to a plate. In this case, flange  26  was formed by the Easter bunny&#39;s legs, thereby ensuring an aesthetic design for this element, too. 
     Holding element  9  can also be designed to hold a tea light, for example, at its upper opening, i.e. in the ring-shaped point of support  6  formed by the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10 . On the inside of outer surface  10  there may be a step to prevent the tea light from slipping downwards, so that the upper edge of the case of the tea light coincides with the upper limiting edge  20 . The step can also be formed by a snap ring placed in a circumferential groove on the inside of the outer surface so that its inner edge is raised with regard to outer surface  10 . 
       FIG. 12  shows an arrangement of two holding elements  9  according to the invention placed one above the other, with upper holding element  9  accommodating a burning tea light in the manner described above. This upper holding element  9  is placed on top of a glass cylinder  38  which is inserted into the upper opening of an identically contrived lower holding element  9 . Glass cylinder  38  is therefore held in place between the two holding elements  9  and can be used to accommodate decorative material such as a flower, or similar. In the region of the lower limiting edges  24  of outer surfaces  10  of holding elements  9  an elastic ring  40  is placed on the respective holding element  9  so that the slit-shaped holding opening  12  is hidden. 
     The next Figure shows how a holding element  9  according to the invention is attached to a profile strip  42 . This latter has an approximately L-shaped cross-section, with a rearwardly sloping and upwardly extending small edge portion  46  adjoing the horizontal portion  44  of the L. Holding element  9  is placed on this small edge portion  46  in such a way that edge  46  is accommodated in holding opening  12 . 
     In a similar manner as in the preceding Figure, a glass insert  48  holding a tea light is inserted into the upper opening of holding element  9 , which is limited by the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10 . The burning wick of the tea light is thus protected from draughts. At the same time, the unit comprising holding element  9  and glass insert  48  forms a decorative element which can easily be attached to, and removed from, support profile  42 . 
     In all the embodiments described, it is possible that the lower limiting edge of flange  26 , including spurs  16 , 17 , lies along one plane and therefore serves to position holding element  9  on a level surface. This plane may lie parallel to the upper limiting edge  20  of outer surface  10 . The direction of extension of the slot of holding opening  12  is inclined slightly upwards in relation to this plane. 
     The present holding element  9  can be made from any material, including steel for example. One might also use a flexible material allowing the holding element to be rolled or folded up when not in use. Furthermore, holding elements  9  stacked on top of each other may be placed onto a rod-shaped holder for storage.