Patent Publication Number: US-2009229180-A1

Title: Plant stand with rotating trivet and saucer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to the field of horticulture and, more particularly, to a rotatable potted plant stand for indoor and outdoor use. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Potted plants are placed in various locations in our homes and offices as well as in outdoor locations such as patios, decks, etc. While the selected location is generally one that gives the plant access to direct sunlight during at least part of the day, the plant nonetheless receives this sunlight from only one direction. This results in greater growth on the sun-facing side so that the plant is seen as leaning or listing to that side. 
     Potted plant locations can also provide limited access to all portions of the plant, making it difficult to water, spray or prune the plant effectively. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a plant stand that allows the plant to be easily rotated for varying sun exposure and plant care maintenance while providing a secure supporting surface to the plant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties of rotating potted plants to provide them with sunlight from more than one direction. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotating plant stand assembly that gives the plant a secure supporting surface, both during rotation and while stationary. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rotating plant stand assembly in accordance with the preceding objects that includes a trivet assembly having a plate bearing turntable that allows rotation of the trivet assembly while maintaining sufficient friction to prevent free spinning thereof when rotated. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotating plant stand assembly in accordance with the preceding objects that includes a saucer having protrusions that are captured within corresponding pockets formed in the trivet assembly to align and secure the saucer with respect to the trivet assembly. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a rotating plant stand assembly in accordance with the preceding objects in which the pockets formed in the trivet assembly are sized and spaced to interlock with at least two different sizes of saucers for automatic alignment and self centering of each saucer on the trivet assembly. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a rotating plant stand assembly in accordance with the preceding objects that is not complex in structure and which can be manufactured at low cost but yet efficiently provides a means for easy and stable potted plant rotation. 
     In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to a rotatable plant stand having a trivet assembly and a saucer that is mountable thereon. The trivet assembly includes upper and lower trivet plates joined by an annular plate bearing turntable that provides rotational movement of the upper trivet plate relative to the lower trivet plate. 
     The rotatable plant stand is provided with a centering and retaining mechanism that secures the saucer against sideways movement relative to the trivet assembly. The centering and retaining mechanism includes protrusions on the bottom of the saucer and adjacent an outer perimeter thereof, which mate or nest with either the outer edge of the trivet assembly or one or more pockets formed in the upper surface of the upper trivet plate. In the case of the outer edge, the protrusions on the outer edge of the bottom of the saucer fit down over the outer edge of the trivet assembly to effectively nest the saucer over the trivet assembly. With the pockets, on the other hand, the protrusions on the saucer are received in the pockets to interlock the saucer with the upper surface of the upper trivet plate. Through the interlocking of the saucer protrusions over the outer edge or within the pockets of the trivet assembly, the saucer is centered on the trivet assembly and held against sideways movement that might otherwise cause the saucer to slide off the trivet assembly, particularly when being rotated. 
     According to one preferred embodiment, the centering and retaining mechanism is configured so as to interlock with the protrusions formed on at least two saucers of different sizes, where each saucer size has a different arrangement of protrusions. This allows the same trivet assembly to be used to support multiple plants of different sizes, each sitting within an appropriately sized saucer. 
     These advantages, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a representative trivet assembly with one size saucer and plant pot in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled side view of the trivet assembly and saucer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembled trivet assembly and saucer of  FIG. 2  taken along line A-A thereof. 
         FIG. 4  shows the trivet assembly of  FIG. 1  with another saucer of a larger size. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled side view of the trivet assembly and saucer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembled trivet assembly and saucer of  FIG. 4  taken along line B-B thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a large trivet assembly with plate bearing turntable in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the components of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9A  is a top perspective view of an upper trivet plate of the trivet assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of the upper trivet plate of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9C  is a side view of the upper trivet plate of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9D  is a bottom view of the upper trivet plate of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9E  is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 9D . 
         FIG. 10A  is a top perspective view of the lower trivet plate of the large trivet assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10B  is a top view of the lower trivet plate of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 10C  is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 10B . 
         FIG. 10D  is a side view of the lower trivet plate of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 10E  is a bottom view of the lower trivet plate of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11A  is a top perspective view of the lower bearing plate of the trivet assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11B  is a top view of the lower bearing plate of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 11C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 11B . 
         FIG. 11D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 11B . 
         FIG. 11E  is a side view of the lower bearing plate of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 11F  is a bottom view of the lower bearing plate of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 12A  is a top perspective view of the upper plate of the trivet assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12B  is a top view of the upper plate of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 12C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 12B . 
         FIG. 12D  is a side view of the upper plate of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 12E  is a bottom view of the upper plate of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13A  is a side perspective view of the washer of the trivet assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 13B  is a top view of the washer of  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 13C  is a side view of the washer of  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 14A  is a side perspective view of an assembled plate bearing turntable with washer and upper and lower bearing plates in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 14B  is a top view of the turntable of  FIG. 14A . 
         FIG. 14C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 14B . 
         FIG. 14D  is a side view of the turntable of  FIG. 14B . 
         FIG. 14E  is a bottom view of the turntable of  FIG. 14B . 
         FIG. 15A  is a top perspective view of a rubber foot for use with a trivet assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a top view of the foot of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 15C  is a side view of the foot of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 15D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 15C . 
         FIG. 15E  is a bottom view of the foot of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of a medium trivet assembly with plate bearing in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is an assembled view of the components of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded view of a small trivet assembly with plate bearing turntable in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is an assembled view of the components of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20A  is a top perspective view of a 6″ saucer configured for use with the trivet assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20B  is a top view of the saucer of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20C  is a side view of the saucer of  FIG. 20B . 
         FIG. 20D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 20C . 
         FIG. 21A  is a top perspective view of a 10″ saucer configured for use with the trivet assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21B  is a top view of the saucer of  FIG. 21A . 
         FIG. 21C  is a side view of the saucer of  FIG. 21B . 
         FIG. 21D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 21C . 
         FIG. 22A  is a top perspective view of a 14″ saucer configured for use with the trivet assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22B  is a top view of the saucer of  FIG. 22A . 
         FIG. 22C  is a side view of the saucer of  FIG. 22B . 
         FIG. 22D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 22C . 
         FIG. 23A  is a top perspective view of a 16″ saucer configured for use with the trivet assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23B  is a top view of the saucer of  FIG. 23A . 
         FIG. 23C  is a side view of the saucer of  FIG. 23B . 
         FIG. 23D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 23C . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     As representatively shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the present invention is directed to a rotatable plant stand generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The plant stand includes a trivet assembly  12  and one or more saucers  14 ,  24  of different sizes that are mountable thereon. The saucer supports a planter  16  that generally contains a potted plant (not shown). The planter  16  is of conventional design and is not considered part of the invention as described herein. 
     A side view of the saucer  14 ,  24  as may be mounted on the trivet assembly  12  with a centering and retaining mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral  15 , is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The centering and retaining mechanism  15  secures the saucer  14 ,  24  against sideways movement relative to the trivet assembly  12  and includes protrusions  16  on the bottom of the saucer adjacent an outer perimeter  28  thereof. The protrusions  16  mate or nest with either the outer edge  30  of the trivet assembly  12  ( FIGS. 4-6 ) or one or more pockets  18  formed in the upper surface of the trivet assembly ( FIGS. 1-3 ). In the case of the outer edge  30 , the protrusions  16  adjacent the outer perimeter  28  of the bottom of the saucer fit down over the outer edge  30  to effectively nest the saucer over the trivet assembly. With the pockets  18 , on the other hand, the protrusions  16  on the saucer  14  are received in the pockets to interlock the saucer within the upper surface of the trivet assembly. Through the interlocking of the saucer protrusions over the outer edge or within the pockets of the trivet assembly, the saucers  14 ,  24  which hold planter  16  or other potted plant (not shown), is prevented from moving sideways on the trivet assembly  12 . 
     As above described, the ability to use either the outer edge or upper surface pockets as retaining elements on the trivet assembly allows the same trivet assembly to be used with two different saucer sizes, interchangeably. The manner in which the protrusions  16  on a smaller saucer  14  are received within corresponding pockets  18  formed in the trivet assembly  12  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the same trivet as interlocked with a larger saucer  24 , by engaging the outer edge  30  of the trivet assembly with the protrusions  16 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     Exploded and assembled views of a large trivet assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral  42 , are shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively. The large trivet assembly includes an upper trivet plate  44 , a lower trivet plate  46  and an annular plate bearing turntable, generally designated by the reference numeral  50 , that provides rotational movement of the upper trivet plate  44  relative to the lower trivet plate  46 . 
     The upper trivet plate  44  of the large trivet assembly  42  is shown in  FIGS. 9A-9E  and has an upper surface  52 , a lower surface  53  and a downwardly directed rim  60  around the perimeter  58  that mates with a complementary structure on the lower trivet plate  46 . The upper surface  52  includes an annular channel  54  around the center and a plurality of spaced elongated pockets  56  adjacent the perimeter  58 . With this structure, the large trivet assembly  42  can support at least three different saucers having various corresponding protrusions in a nested or interlocked manner. For example, a small saucer having an annular protrusion or a series of spaced curved protrusions such as shown in  FIGS. 20A-20D  can interlock within the annular channel  54 . A medium saucer having a plurality of spaced elongated protrusions (see  FIGS. 22A-22D ) can be received within the elongated pockets as shown in  FIG. 3 , and a large saucer having a plurality of spaced elongated protrusions (see  FIGS. 23A-23D ) can be interlocked with an outer edge of the upper trivet plate  44  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The same trivet assembly can, therefore, be used to safely and securely center and retain multiple saucers of different sizes, according to the user&#39;s needs. In a preferred embodiment, these varying saucer sizes can be purchased individually and then used interchangeably while being marketed on a common display to provide the user with a full selection of plant support options. 
     The lower surface  53  of the upper trivet plate  44  has a plurality of downwardly projecting bosses  55  in spaced relationship with one another as shown in  FIGS. 9D and 9E . The bosses  55  each have a substantially flat top  57 , a generally cylindrical outer wall  59 , and a blind threaded bore  61  for receiving a fastening element, such as a screw. The cylindrical outer wall  59  of each boss  55  has a plurality of spaced webs  63  that extend longitudinally from the lower surface  53  of the plate  44  toward, but short of, the flat top  57  of the boss  55 . 
     The lower trivet plate  46  of the large trivet assembly  42  is shown in  FIGS. 10A-10E  and includes a flat disc  62  having a plurality of apertures  65  for receiving fastening elements such as screws  95 , and an upwardly extending annular rim  64  close to, but spaced from, the perimeter  66  of the disc  62  so as to define a disc perimeter flange  68 . The downwardly directed rim  60  of the upper trivet plate  44  fits down over the annular rim  64  on the lower trivet plate  46 , bringing the inner surface  70  of the rim  60  against the outer surface  72  of the rim  64 . When fully nested, the rim  60  comes into abutment with or close proximity to the flange  68  when the trivet is assembled. 
     The annular plate bearing turntable  50  fits between the upper and lower trivet plates  44 ,  46 . The turntable  50  includes: a lower bearing plate, generally designated by the reference numeral  82 , as shown in  FIGS. 11A-11F ; an upper bearing plate, generally designated by the reference numeral  84 , as shown in  FIGS. 12A-12E , that has an interfitting relationship with said lower bearing plate; and a washer, generally designated by the reference numeral  80 , as shown in  FIGS. 13A-13C . The plate bearing turntable with the interfitting lower and upper bearing plates  82 ,  84  and washer  80 , as assembled, is shown in various views in  FIGS. 14A through 14E . 
     The lower bearing plate  82  includes a perimeter ring  90  and an inner ring  92  that are preferably integral with one another and formed of molded plastic. The inner ring  92  is raised with respect to the perimeter ring  90  and overlaps therewith such that the outer diameter  94  of the inner ring  92  is larger than the inner diameter  96  of the perimeter ring  90  (see  FIG. 14C ). Both the upper surface  98  and the lower surface  100  of the inner ring  92  are provided with one or more annular ribs  102  that are concentric with the perimeter ring  90 . According to one preferred embodiment, there are two ribs  102  on each of the upper and lower surfaces  98 ,  100  that are spaced from one another and from the edges defining the inner diameter  95  and outer diameter  94  of the inner ring  92 . The annular ribs  102  on the lower surface  100  provide a reduced bearing surface that facilitates relative movement between the two interfitting plates  82 ,  84 , while the annular ribs  102  on the upper surface  98  reduce the contact area with the washer  80  to reduce frictional resistance with the upper trivet plate. The size and shape of the ribs, which are preferably formed integrally with the plate  82 , can be adjusted during manufacture to either decrease or increase the contact area and hence the amount of friction between the lower bearing plate  82  and the upper plate  84 , in turn either facilitating ease of rotation or making rotation more difficult. 
     The perimeter ring  90  has upwardly and downwardly projecting bosses  104 ,  106  on its upper and lower surfaces  108 ,  110 , respectively, that are aligned in respective pairs. Each aligned pair of bosses is provided with a bore  112  that passes through the perimeter ring  90  and is threaded to receive a fastening element, such as a screw  95 . The bosses are preferably integral with the lower bearing plate and formed of molded plastic. 
     Like the lower bearing plate  82 , the upper plate  84  includes a perimeter ring  120  and an inner ring  122 . The inner ring  122  is raised with respect to the perimeter ring  120  and overlapping therewith such that the outer diameter  124  of the inner ring  122  is larger than the inner diameter  126  of the perimeter ring  120  (see  FIG. 14C ). 
     The lower surface  130  of the perimeter ring  120  is provided with one or more annular ribs  132  that are concentric with an outer edge  134  of the perimeter ring  120  and spaced therefrom. According to one preferred embodiment, there are two ribs  132  in a spaced relationship on the lower surface  130 . The annular ribs  132  on the upper plate  84  provide a reduced bearing surface that facilitates relative movement between the two interfitting plates  82 ,  84  by reducing friction between the bottom of the upper bearing plate and the inner surface of the lower trivet plate. As with the ribs on the lower bearing plate, changes can be made in the size and shape of the ribs during manufacture to either decrease or increase the contact area and hence the amount of friction between the contact surfaces. 
     As would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, the desired size, shape and number of the ribs is also determined by the material from which the plates are made. For example, a very smooth material may require larger, flatter or more ribs to increase the rib contact area so that the plates do not spin too freely. Conversely, a rougher or tackier material dictates that smaller, more “pointed”, or fewer ribs be used in order to decrease the contact area so that the plates are not too difficult to rotate. 
     The inner ring  122  on the upper plate  84  has an upwardly extending rim  136  on its inner perimeter edge  138  and a plurality of apertures  140  passing from an upper surface  142  to a lower surface  144  of the inner ring  122 . The upper plate  84  is secured to the upper trivet plate  44  by passing screws  91  (see  FIG. 18 ) through the apertures  140  and into the threaded bores  61  of the upper trivet plate bosses  55 . The rim  136  acts to help center the upper plate  84  with respect to the upper trivet plate  44  during this process, making assembly easier. The inner ring, perimeter ring, ribs and rim are preferably integral with one another and formed of molded plastic. 
     The upper plate  84  fits within the lower bearing plate  82  in a nested relationship in which the upper surface  128  of the perimeter ring  120  of the upper plate  84  engages with the lower ribbed surface  100  of the inner ring  92  of the lower bearing plate  82 . When fully engaged and nested as shown in  FIG. 14C , the lower ribbed surface  130  of the perimeter ring  120  of the upper plate  84  is substantially flush with the lower surface  110  of the perimeter ring  90  of the lower bearing plate  82 . The flat upper surface  142  of the inner ring  122  of the upper plate  84 , however, is higher than the adjacent ribbed upper surface  98  of the inner ring  92  of the lower bearing plate  82 , creating a shoulder  150  that defines an outer diameter of the upper plate inner ring  122 . 
     The washer  80  has a flat upper surface  151  with an inner diameter  152  that corresponds with the outer diameter of the shoulder  150  on the upper plate inner ring  122 . When the turntable  50  is fully assembled with the washer  80  in position as shown in  FIGS. 14A through 14E , the lower surface  154  of the washer  84  rests flat on the ribbed upper surface  98  of the inner ring  92  of the lower bearing plate  82 , with the inner diameter  152  of the washer  80  abutting against the shoulder  150  of the upper plate  84 . When assembled, therefore, the upper surface  142  of the inner ring  122  of the upper plate  84  is flush with the upper surface  151  of the washer  80 . The washer  80  thus distributes and transfers weight placed on the upper trivet plate  44  from the upper plate  84  to the lower bearing plate  82 , ensuring that the upper plate  84  is able to rotate relative to the lower bearing plate  82  without excessive friction, even when the trivet assembly is under the load of a heavy plant and pot. In turn, because the upper plate is secured to the upper trivet plate  44  by the fastening elements or screws  91  (see  FIG. 18 ), the upper trivet plate  44  also rotates relative to the lower trivet plate  46 . At the same time, the interfitting relationship of the plates as stacked upon one another in the plate bearing turntable  50  retains sufficient friction between the plates to prevent free spinning rotation of the trivet assembly  12  (which could overturn the plant). 
     The large trivet assembly  42  is preferably supported on rubber feet, generally designated by the reference numeral  90 , as shown in  FIGS. 15A-15E . The rubber feet are secured against the bottom of lower trivet plate  46  by screws  95 . The rubber feet are generally cylindrical or frusto-conical with a through-passing aperture, generally designated by the reference numeral  170 , extending from a flat top  172  to a flat bottom, generally designated by the reference numeral  174 . As used in connection with the rubber feet, “top” and “bottom” are identified with respect to the positions of the feet when in use. 
     The aperture  170  in each foot  90  has two bore sections of different diameters, with the upper bore  176  having a smaller diameter than the lower bore  178 . The upper bore  176  is concentric with the lower bore  178 . The larger lower bore  178 , which defines the flat bottom  174  as an annular rim  173 , forms a pocket large enough in both width and depth to receive a screw head in a countersunk relationship with the rim  173 . The rim  173  thus provides a non-scratching, frictional contact surface with wood, tile or other supporting surfaces upon which the trivet assembly may be placed. 
     Exploded and assembled views of a medium trivet assembly according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , respectively. Like the large trivet assembly, the medium trivet assembly includes an upper trivet plate, a lower trivet plate and an annular plate bearing turntable that provides rotational movement of the upper trivet plate relative to the lower trivet plate. The foregoing structures correspond with those already discussed in connection with the large trivet assembly and therefore a discussion thereof will not be repeated here. Reference numerals used to identify the corresponding components with respect to the large trivet assembly have been provided with an antecedent “2” since the dimensions of these components are not identical with those of the large trivet assembly. Their structure and function, however, are the same. 
     Exploded and assembled views of a small trivet assembly according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , respectively. Like the large and medium trivet assemblies, the small trivet assembly includes an upper trivet plate, a lower trivet plate and an annular plate bearing turntable that provides rotational movement of the upper trivet plate relative to the lower trivet plate. The foregoing structures correspond with those already discussed in connection with the large trivet assembly and therefore a discussion thereof will not be repeated here. Reference numerals used to identify the corresponding components with respect to the large trivet assembly have been provided with an antecedent “3” since the dimensions of these components are not identical with those of the large trivet assembly. Their structure and function, however, are the same. 
     To assemble any of the small, medium or large trivet assemblies, the upper plate  84  is nested within the lower bearing plate  82  and the washer  80  is positioned on top of the lower bearing plate  82  and against the shoulder of the upper plate  84 , as described above. Screws  91  are then inserted through the apertures  140  in the upper plate from the lower surface  144  to the upper surface  142  and screwed into the threaded bores  61  of the bosses  55  on the lower surface of the upper trivet plate  44 . Once the screws  91  are tightened, the upper plate  84  is held in a fixed relationship with the upper trivet plate. 
     The rim  64  on the lower trivet plate  46  is then inserted inside the rim  60  of the upper trivet plate  44  while aligning the apertures  65  in the lower trivet plate  46  with the downwardly directed bosses  106  on the lower surface  110  of the lower bearing plate  82 . Screws  95  are respectively inserted through the apertures  170  in a corresponding number of rubber feet  90 , and then through the apertures  65  and into the bore  112  of the bosses  106  of the lower bearing plate  82 . The screws  95  are tightened to secure the lower trivet plate in a fixed relationship with the lower bearing plate. The rubber feet  90  serve both a washer function with respect to the screws and also provide a secure, non-slip interface between the trivet assembly and a supporting surface. 
     As assembled, the lower bearing plate  82  and lower trivet plate  46  rotate with respect to the upper plate  84  and the upper trivet plate  44  along the interface between the ribbed lower surface  100  of the inner ring  92  of the lower bearing plate  82  and the flat upper surface of the perimeter ring  120  of the upper plate  84 . The ribs reduce the bearing surface to facilitate rotation but nonetheless provide sufficient friction to prevent freely spinning rotation. 
     Being constructed of molded plastic, the components of the trivet assembly are impervious to moisture and will not corrode in damp environmental conditions. As compared with conventional ball bearings, the plate bearing turntable construction as described herein is simple and inexpensive in construction, with no maintenance required to sustain the rotational capability. 
     To obtain the interchangeable saucer capability of the trivet assembly in accordance with the present invention, the upper trivet plates of each of the trivet assemblies shown herein are provided with a centering and retaining mechanism  15  that includes both the outer edge of the trivet assembly itself and, preferably, one or more variously shaped and positioned pockets to receive correspondingly shaped protrusions on a plurality of saucers of different sizes. Representative saucer sizes and protrusion patterns are shown in the remainder of the drawings. 
     Specifically, a 6″ saucer  424  is illustrated in various views in  FIGS. 20A-20D , a 10″ saucer  525  is illustrated in various views in  FIGS. 21A-21D , a 14″ saucer  624  is illustrated in various views in  FIGS. 22A-22D , and a 16″ saucer  724  is illustrated in various views in  FIGS. 23A-23D . 
     As can be seen, the protrusions  426  on the bottom of the 6″ saucer  424  in  FIGS. 20A-20D  fit cooperatively within the pockets  356  in the upper trivet plate  344  of the small trivet assembly  342  (see  FIGS. 18 and 19 ). The small trivet assembly  342  can also be used to center and retain an 8″ saucer having a construction like that shown in  FIGS. 20A-20D  by interlocking the protrusions on the 8″ saucer with the outer edge of the trivet assembly  342 , such as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The 10″ saucer  524  of  FIGS. 21A-21D  is made with protrusions  526  that fit within the pockets  256  of the upper trivet plate  244  of the medium trivet assembly  242  (see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ). The medium trivet assembly  242  can also be used to center and retain a 12″ saucer having a construction like that shown in  FIGS. 21A-21D  by interlocking the protrusions on the 12″ saucer with the outer edge of the trivet assembly  242 . 
     Finally, the protrusions  626  on the bottom of the 14″ saucer  624  in  FIGS. 22A-22D  fit cooperatively with the pockets  56  in the upper trivet plate  44  of the large trivet assembly  42  (see  FIGS. 9A-9E ). In addition, the protrusions  726  on the bottom of the 16″ saucer  724  in  FIGS. 23A-23D  interlock with the rim  60  of the upper trivet plate  44  of the large trivet assembly  42 . 
     In each saucer design, the centering and retaining mechanism, by which the protrusions on the respective saucer are either captured within corresponding pockets formed in the trivet assembly or locked around the outer edge of the trivet assembly, effectively centers the saucer and secures it against side to side movement. In some cases, as with the large trivet assembly, the pockets formed in the trivet assembly may in themselves be sized and spaced to interlock with two different sizes of saucers for centering of each saucer on the top surface surface of the trivet assembly; such an assembly would then be able to interchangeably support three different saucers, two through interlocking of the protrusions with the various pockets and a third by locking the saucer protrusions over the outer edge of the trivet assembly. 
     Other saucer designs could, of course, also be used provided the trivet assembly was made with such designs in mind. The present invention is intended to include all such complementary trivet assembly and saucer designs that use a centering and retaining mechanism as disclosed herein. 
     The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.