DISHES

Technical field The invention belongs to the field of human necessities and relates to bar and restaurant equipment and accessories, etc.

Technical problem

The technical problem to be solved with this invention consists of the following issues: how to design a rotating mechanism for safely manually carrying a tray with dishes, whereby its use would solve the problem of safely carrying the tray in one hand, so that the content of the dishes does not spill over, and the dish remains dry and full when served to the guest, wherein the problem is also solved of carrying the tray more easily over prolonged periods of time.

Background art

In the patent documentation, there are several published patent applications and patents that may be regarded as relevant in relation to the solution that will be presented here. The state of the art consists of the following documents: Patent application US5899515A1 discloses a device for simultaneously carrying multiple wine glasses. It is comprised of a part in the form of a plate for lifting and a grip for carrying. The part for lifting has a flat rigid plate with circular-shaped openings that are connected to one side of the plate by slits. The shape of the plate can be adjusted for better appearance or function. The grip is shaped like a bow whose ends are connected to the plate. The shortcoming of this carrier is that, without the fear of spilling the content of the glasses, only a limited number of glasses (four, six, eight, etc.) can be carried, necessarily of circular shape.

Patent application US5873616A discloses a device for lifting and carrying multiple containers, which are set in immediate proximity, simultaneously. The device includes several flexible tapes, where one end of the tape is connected to the device for holding, and the other end to the body of the container being transported. The shortcoming of this device is that the container tilts when being lifted and transported and there is the possibility of spilling the content.

Patent application JPS54167077U describes a tray for carrying and serving. It is comprised of a tray of circular or triangular shape or in the shape of a parallelepiped that is rigidly, by means of a rope, connected to an element shaped like an equilateral triangle. One of the sides of the element in the shape of a triangle is replaced with shorter guides at the vertices of the triangle. The shortcoming of this invention is the flexible connection between the element for carrying and the tray, so that the content on the tray may spill unless precautions are taken to position it in such a way as to cause the same amount of load on each rope.

Patent application US2998174A discloses an adjustable carrier for containers, which is used for carrying and transport. It is comprised of a surface to which the shaped carriers of containers and of the fixed carrier by which the containers are transported are rigidly and rotationally connected. The shaped carriers are mutually complementary and can hold containers of various dimensions by supporting them laterally.

The patent FR2751518B1 discloses a carrier that can be used to carry bottles and containers with one narrow end, that is, cylindrical objects narrowed on one side. The carrier is shaped like a plate of circular shape. Along the rim of the plate, circular-shaped incisions are made that narrow towards the outer edge and open towards the outside. In the middle part, a handle is designed for carrying. The products that are carried are inserted through the narrowed part into the middle section of the circular-shaped incision, set vertically and in parallel to one another. This carrier allows carrying multiple products using one hand. The shortcoming of this invention is that only containers or bottles with a narrow end can be carried, with the number of containers that can be carried simultaneously limited by the number of incisions. The problem is also that only an even number of containers/bottles can be carried comfortably due to balance issues.

Patent application WO2018208883A1 discloses a dish for paint in combination with a handle for lifting and carrying. The invention is comprised of a relatively rigid dish that has a bottom and four lateral walls stretching from the bottom upwards. On the top edges of two mutually facing lateral walls guides are designed into which carriers are inserted on the one end, and on the other end the carriers are connected in the handle that is gripped by hand while carrying. The handle allows carrying the dish in one hand without spilling the content of the dish.

Patent application GB2163949A discloses a carrier for cups etc. where cardboard or plastic cups having a rim are placed into a shaped cardboard carrier. As the content in such cups is mostly hot, they cannot be held in hand, nor is it possible to hold more than two cups at the same time. This shaped carrier allows carrying more than two cups in one hand. The shortcoming of this carrier is that dishes without rims at the top cannot be carried safely. The state of the art reveals a number of simple holders that facilitate the simultaneous carrying of multiple shopping bags, which are more or less full, and prevent the contents from falling out, such as the following patent applications: GB2447404A, WO2017027935A1, CN104605611, W02009018633A1, US2015035305A1,

CN1259476A, JP2538236Y2, JPS5043088U, GB2553084A, US2004201236A1,

AU4608779A, US5263755A, US5150938A, US2003110593A1, WO 02/076261.

The closest state of the art in the non-patent-related literature can be seen on the website: https://www.kudaukupovinu.rs/super-shop/544-okretna-posuda?p roduct_id=544 where a food dish is disclosed that helps children not spill food all over the house. The dish rotates 360 degrees in all directions and prevents the content from ever spilling over or dropping on the floor; https://www.mojenterijer.rs/dekor/magnetni-posluzavnik-vise- nema-prosipanja showing a magnetic tray to be used by people who often spill food. The tray is a product that allows everyone to carry glasses and bowls of food without the fear of losing something. This product works like magic, keeping the dishes intact and in place, by an ingenious use of magnetism. The magnets are strategically positioned to prevent dishes from sliding off the tray. In essence, the handles activate magnetic fields. Thus, this tray can be safely tilted by up to 45 degrees before the objects start losing balance. It is made of smooth particle board, can take up to two cups and two plates or bowls. Every dish you set on the tray has a magnetic ring attached to the bottom, which creates a magnetic effect. It is ideal for waiters and waitresses and easily helps them to serve customers better.

Enjoying food or beverages implies bringing food and beverages to the guest’s table as well as cleaning the table after a meal. The catering service is complex and involves a wide spectrum of giving and providing to the guest. The guest also expects his psychological needs to be met. In order for the person serving the guest to meet all of their expectations, over a longer period of time, it is necessary to simplify their job and make the job easier for the person providing the service. To provide relief, studies have been conducted and an analysis has been made of the known solutions from the state of the art, all related to the said problems and user needs. A new solution to the defined technical problem has been developed, which will be described in detail further on in this text, and shown in the attached drawings.

Disclosure of the invention A rotating mechanism for safely manually carrying a tray with dishes holding liquids and food is a novel feature in solving the problems that may arise while carrying, serving and exhibiting food and beverages.

In regard to the state of the art, the invention is different in that it uses a rotating mechanism with a handle, which is attached by rigid connecting bars to the center or to the peripheral parts of the tray. Thereby, the problem is solved of easily carrying the tray in one hand, and the weight is located below its own center of gravity, in order to make it easily transportable and usable at any time.

The rotating mechanism for manually carrying a tray with dishes is comprised of a mechanism that is attached to the one end of a connecting bar, with the other end of the bar being detachably and rigidly connected to the tray. The connecting bar is designed as both straight and curved. Both bars are on the one end connected to the ball of the mechanism. The other end of the straight connecting bar is connected to the center of the tray at the intersection of the axes, and the other end of the curved bar is connected to the edge of the tray.

The rotating mechanism, which is both the subject matter and the novel feature of the invention, is comprised of a body, shaped like a hollow cylinder, with a ball inserted into the hollow. The ball in the technical solution is resting on smaller balls that have been inserted into a circular channel, carved into the surface of the cylinder’s hollow inside, along the circumference of the body. On the other side the ball is restricted by the one end of the handle whose forehead has the shape of a spherical segment with the same radius as the radius of the surface of the body shaped like the ball’s belt. The handle is attached by a rigid detachable connection to the body, and the ball is rigidly and detachably connected to the rigid connecting bar.

In the variant solution for the rotating mechanism, the ball is resting on an elastic element that is inserted into the channel carved into the inside of the hollow cylinder, along the circumference of the body.

The tray with dishes is carried using the handle, in one hand. The mechanism is connected in one point to the connecting bar, and thereby also to the tray. One of the medians of the weight goes through this point. For this reason, the dishes and the content inside them are significantly more stable and easier to carry. Even if the weight loses its balanced position at some point, the ball that is resting on the smaller balls or in the variant solution on the elastic element very quickly restores balance, i.e. a stable position of the weight.

The advantages of the rotating mechanism for safely manually carrying a tray related to the state of the art are as follows: S the weight being carried is below the center of gravity of the body of the person carrying it over prolonged periods of time; S it is easier to carry; S it can be carried single-handedly; S two trays can be carried simultaneously, one in each hand; S multiple dishes of various shapes can be carried simultaneously; S visibility of the products set on the tray is increased.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention has been described in detail on the example of the solution presented in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 - shows a quarter-section view of the mechanism taken along the longitudinal axis;

Figure 2 - shows a quarter-section view of the mechanism taken along the longitudinal axis in the variant solution;

Figure 3 - shows the detail “A” from Fig. 1;

Figure 4 - shows the detail “B” from Fig. 2;

Figure 5 - shows a section view of the body of the mechanism taken along the longitudinal axis;

Figure 6 - shows a quarter-section view of the elastic element;

Figure 7 - shows a view from above of the elastic element;

Figure 8 - shows a quarter-section view of the handle taken along the longitudinal axis;

Figure 9 - shows a lateral view of the invention with the connecting bar attached to the center of the tray that is in horizontal position;

Figure 10 - shows a lateral view of the invention with the connecting bar attached to the center of the tray that is at the maximum displacement from one of the sides;

Figure 11 - a lateral view of the invention with the connecting bar attached to the edge of the tray that is in horizontal position;

Figure 12 - a lateral view of the invention with the connecting bar attached to the end of the tray that is at the maximum displacement from one of the sides.

Detailed Description

The rotating mechanism for manually carrying a tray with dishes is comprised of a mechanism 1, a rigid connecting bar 2, 2a and a tray 3. The connecting bar 2, 2a is designed as straight and curved. Both bars 2, 2a are attached with one end to a metal ball 1.2. The other end of the straight connecting bar 2 is rigidly and revolvingly connected to the center of the tray 3 at the intersection of the axes of the dish 3, and the other end of the curved bar 2a is rigidly connected to the edge of the tray 3.

The tray 3 with dishes is carried by using a handle 1.1 in one hand, and one person can also simultaneously carry two trays 3. The mechanism 1 is connected in one point to the bar 2, 2a, and thereby also to the tray 3. One of the medians of the weight, comprised of: bar 2, 2a, the tray 3 and the dishes with their content, runs through this point. For this reason, the dishes and the content inside them are significantly more stable and easier to carry. Even if the weight loses balance at some point, the ball 1.2 that is resting on smaller balls 1.4 or in the variant solution on an elastic element 1.5 returns very quickly to a balanced position, i.e . a stable position of the weight. This is the way of functioning of this invention, for which several prototypes have been developed and tested in practice.

The rotating mechanism 1 consists of a body 1.3, in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and a metal ball 1.2 inserted into the hollow. The ball 1.2 in the technical solution is resting on the smaller balls 1.4 that are inserted into a circular channel 1.3.1 embedded along the circumference of the body 1.3. On the other side the ball 1.2 is restricted by the one end of the handle 1.1 whose forehead is shaped like a spherical segment with the radius r3. The handle 1.1 is attached by a detachable connection to the body 1.3. The ball 1.2 is attached by a detachable connection, a screw thread cut in the hollow 1.2.1 of the ball 1.2, to the connecting bar 2, 2a.

In the variant solution for the rotating mechanism 1 , the ball 1.2 is resting on the elastic element 1.5 that is inserted into the channel 1.3.1.

The body 1.3 is shaped like a hollow cylinder with the height H. It is made of plastic material, e.g. ABS copolymer that is stronger than pure polystyrene. It can be easily recycled, does not bum but melt, without significant degradation of the material. The body 1.3 can also be made of an aluminum alloy or wood, in which case it needs to be protected.

The inside of the body 1.3, shaped like a hollow cylinder, is designed as two cylindrical surfaces at the axis of the cylinder, which start from bases 1.3.4, 1.3.5, with different radiuses rl, r2 and heights hi, h2, which are mutually connected by the surface 1.3.2 shaped like the ball’s belt with the radius r3.

From the base 1.3.4, inside the axis of the hollow cylinder with the internal radius rl, a cylindrical surface is designed at the heighthl. Starting from the other base 1.3.5, inside the axis of the hollow cylinder with the internal radius r2, a cylindrical surface is designed at the height h2. The radius rl and the height hi are smaller than the radius r2 and the height h2, and the connection of the two internal cylindrical surfaces is achieved by the surface

1.3.2 shaped like the ball’s belt with the radius r3. The height H of the body 1.3 is greater than the sum of the heights h1, h2, and on the difference between these heights the surface

1.3.2 is designed in the shape of the ball’s belt, with the radius r3, for housing the metal ball

1.2 The radius r3 is greater than the radius r of the ball 1.2, by 0.5 mm, so that the ball 1.2 can revolve freely inside the body 1.3. The radius r2 of the body 1.3 is greater than the radius r of the ball 1.2, so that the ball 1.2 can enter the hollow of the body 1.3. The radius rl of the body 1.3 is smaller than the radius r of the ball 1.2, so that the ball 1.2 cannot fall out of the hollow of the body 1.3.

At the joint of the cylindrical surface with the radius rl and base 1.3.4, of the body

1.3, the cylindrical surface is at the height h4, from the base 1.3.4, slanted at the sharp angle α in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body 1.3. It is best if the angle α is 30°. This slanted surface 1.3.6 within the invention serves to increase the angle of displacement of the bar 2, 2a in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body 1.3 of the mechanism 1, so as not to spill the content of the dishes on the tray 3.

On the cylindrical surface with the radius r2 of the body 1.3, the internal screw thread

1.3.3 with the height h2 is cut to connect the body 1.3 to the handle 1.1. The internal screw thread 1.3.3 in the body 1.3 has the same characteristics as the external screw thread 1.1.3 on the handle 1.1 so that they can be locked together.

On the surface 1.3.2 shaped like the ball’s belt, closer to the cylindrical surface with the radius rl, at the sharp angle β related to the longitudinal axis of the body 1.3, the channel 1.3.1 is carved, along the circumference of the body 1.3. The center of the circular channel 1.3.1 is at the height h3 from the base 1.3.4, with the radius r4. The radius r4 is the sum of the radius rl and the width d of the channel 1.3.1. The width d is the width of the channel 1.3.1, and is greater than the diameter dl ofthe smaller ball 1.4 by 0.5 mm. The cross-section of the channel 1.3.1 in the one half, at the bottom of the channel 1.3.1 that is designed at the angle b, is shaped like a semi-circle of the width d. The lateral sides of the channel 1.3.1 are the tangents of the semi-circle with the width d of the channel 1.3.1, are straight and form the sharp angle b with the longitudinal axis of the body 1.3. It is best if the angle b is 35°. The open side ofthe channel 1.3.1 is wider than the diameter dl of the smaller ball 1.4, i.e. in the variant solution than the width dl' of the elastic element 1.5, so that the smaller ball

1.4, i.e. the element 1.5, can freely drop into the channel 1.3.1. Into this channel 1.3.1 the smaller balls 1.4 or in the variant solution the elastic element 1.5 are inserted. Due to the position and shape ofthe channel 1.3.1, the smaller balls 1.4 and the element 1.5 “stick out” ofthe surface 1.3.2 ofthe ball’s belt. The ball 1.2, when inserted into the body 1.3, rests on the smaller balls 1.4, i.e. the side 1.5.3 of the elastic element 1.5 and does not touch the surface 1.3.2 of the ball’s belt.

The ball 1.2 is made of stainless steel, with the surface hardness of 62 HRC, of standard diameter, such as manufactured by, for instance, “Ansal steel d.o.o., Beograd.”

The smaller balls 1.4, which are used in this invention, are the same ones used in manufacturing ball bearings, are made of stainless steel, with the surface hardness of 62 HRC.

The handle 1.1 is made in the shape of an extended cylinder. It is made of a plastic material, e.g. ABS Copolymer, and can also be made of an aluminum alloy or wood, in which case it requires protection. The shell 1.1.1 of the cylinder is shaped so as to adjust to the palm of the hand. On the one end 1.1.2 the cylinder is widened and shaped so as to form a “brake”, to prevent the hand from slipping and sliding off the handle 1.1. The other end of the cylinder is narrowed after the wider part, and this narrowing is also shaped like a cylinder. Along the circumference of the narrowed cylinder the screw thread 1.1.3 is cut, for connecting to the body 1.3. The base 1.1.4 of the handle 1.1, where the screw thread 1.1.3 is cut, is recessed in the shape of the spherical segment with the radius r3, the same as the radius of the surface 1.3.2 of the ball’s belt.

In the metal ball 1.2 with the radius r the hole 1.2.1 is drilled whose axis runs through the center of the ball 1.2, with the depth a, inside which the screw thread 1.2.2 is cut, with the depth al, for connecting the ball 1.2 with the bar 2, 2a.

The bar 2 is straight, with a circular cross-section. On the one end of the bar 2 the screw thread 2.1 is cut for connecting to the ball 1.2. The external screw thread 2.1 has the same characteristics as the internal screw thread 1.2.2 of the ball 1.2. The other end of the bar 2 is shaped so that it can be rigidly and detachably connected to the tray 3, using e.g. a threaded connection.

The bar 2a is curved in one part comprising half the length, so that the beginning and the end of the bar 2a are straight. The horizontal axes of the straight parts 2a.1, 2a.2 of the bar 2a are at the distance k that is equal to or less than the radius of the tray 3, so that the axis of the part 2a.1, of the bar 2a, matches the center of the tray 3 when they are joined together. On the part 2a.1 of the bar 2a, the screw thread 2a.1.1 is cut for connecting to the ball 1.2. The other part 2a.2 of the bar 2a is shaped so that it can be rigidly and detachably connected to the tray 3, using e.g. a threaded connection. The external screw thread 2a.1.1 has the same characteristics as the internal screw thread 1.2.2 of the ball 1.2.

In the variant solution, instead of the smaller ball 1.4 the elastic element 1.5 is used, which is shaped like an open ring. The cross-section of the ring of the elastic element 1.5 is on the one side shaped like a semi -circle with the width dl'. The semi-circle with the width dl' is touched by the sides 1.5.1, 1.5.2 that are set at the sharp angle b related to the y axis of the element 1.5. The sides 1.5.1, 1.5.2 are mutually joined by the side 1.5.3, which is recessed. The recess is shaped like the ball’s belt with a center on the y axis of the element 1.5 with the radius r.

The tray 3 and the rigid bar 2, 2a are part of the state of the art and, for instance, the tray 3 and the bar 2, 2a by the manufacturer “Mockmill” (Pendelino® Tray, Stainless Steel) can be used.

The tray 3 is transported by the handle 1.1 using one hand, which is relaxed next to the body of the person carrying the tray 3. In this way, the person carrying the tray 3 is less burdened and may carry it more easily than would be the case with the traditional way of carrying trays, without worrying about the contents of the dishes spilling or the dishes sliding off of the tray 3.

Since the ball 1.2 is resting on the smaller balls 1.4, or in the variant solution on the elastic element 1.5, the ball 1.2 can slide along them. One end of the bar 2, 2a is rigidly connected to the ball 1.2, and the other end of the bar 2, 2a is connected to the tray 3 on which the dishes with various types of solid or liquid content are placed. When using the hold described above, the tray 3 and its content are found below the center of gravity of the body of the person carrying the tray 3. The tray 3, which is rigidly connected to the ball 1.2 by the bar 2, 2a, can rotate and move sideways up to angle size α to the one or the other side. During this movement, the dishes that are found on the tray 3 remain in place where they have been set, and their content does not spill on the tray 3.