ES1068733U - Support for trays and self-service living containers (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Support for self-service trays and food containers, of the type comprising a lower support base (1) and a rotating upper body (4) for placing a tray (10) or food container, characterized because it comprises a unidirectional bearing (2) disposed between the upper rotating body (4) and the lower base (1), which allows the rotation of the rotary body (4) that supports the tray (10) in a single direction, enabling a supply progressive of the portions or rations of food during its consumption; and in that the upper rotary body (4) comprises in its upper part fastening means (9) for the stable fastening of the tray (10) or food container during use. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Support for trays and food containers in self-service

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a support for trays and food containers in self-service, more specifically to a support for the placement of trays that contain meals in portions or specific portions for consumption by the user, such as pizzas or others.

Background of the invention

Currently in the restaurants of self-service or "self-services" meals are placed in trays and other containers, along a line or counter, so that the user goes through said counter being able to choose the food to your liking, serving portions or portions desired.

Some foods, such as pizzas, empanadas, cakes and others, are served in pre-cut portions and in trays or containers of low height.

The main problem with this type of meals is that as consumers are served the portions, part of the tray is displaced towards the part back of the counter or line, which is common for Back portions are not consumed. In these cases the staff in charge of replenishing food, the tray is rotating so that portions that were behind are in front, in a position accessible by customers.

In other cases the tray is arranged on a rotating support, so that the user can access the rear portions by rotating the tray; in these cases it is common for some portion to be loose, separated from the other or moved from its original position, so it is less appetizing, so it is not usually consumed, should be relocated by service personnel.

In the case of using a rotating support, said problem can be aggravated because the tray or container can spin uncontrollably when the customer pushes a ration to make your grip with a trowel or similar, and because the User can also rotate the tray to their liking to catch a determined portion, which prevents portions from being extracted neatly, leaving gaps in the middle of the portions remaining.

Description of the invention

The support for trays and food containers in self-services, object of this invention, being of the type of comprising a lower support base and a rotating body top for placing the tray or container container  the meals, presents some technical peculiarities destined to facilitate an orderly consumption of portions or portions of foods placed in the tray or container as the consumers are served, allowing the optimal placement of The remaining portions.

Thus, according to the invention, the support it comprises a unidirectional rotation bearing disposed between the upper rotating body and lower base, which allows rotation of the rotating body, which supports the tray in one direction only, enabling a progressive supply of portions or portions of food during consumption. This allows the tray in one direction, contrary to the passage of the consumers. This way when the user takes a portion or piece of food, the tray cannot move because the bearing is blocked, but as portions are consumed it is possible to supply them by turning in the direction opposite, if allowed by the bearing. This turn as you consume portions of meals can be manual by the consumer or employee replacement or automatically by the weight of the portions if the tray and the support are willing inclined.

This support is made of materials that comply with sanitary regulations, being suitable for use in the Industrial hostelry

It is also planned that the rotating body upper comprises fixing means for stable hold of the tray or food container. In an embodiment of the invention these fixing means are constituted by blocks of non-slip material, although the use of other means, for example magnetic, capable of prevent the tray or container from being displaced from the consumer support during normal use, and of  allow the replacement of the empty tray with another full of product.

The upper rotating body is constituted preferably by a plurality of radially arranged arms from the central axis, finding these arched arms or layered for housing the bottom of the tray or container when it is domed inferiorly. In addition this configuration of arms is very light and easy to clean, being able to find the fixing means at the ends of these arms.

Although most of the self-services are of a single service direction, and therefore the support must block in only one direction, it is provided that the bearing is removable and reversible, allowing its placement between the upper rotating body and the base, in the desired position, depending on the direction of rotation and blocking that you want to achieve, which will usually be determined by the clients' access address to the location of the
tray.

The lower base consists of two legs substantially parallel, joined in the middle by a crossbar in "H". These legs have elements at their ends of support, so that the support can be placed with great ease in counters featuring galleys or shelves inclined for food placement, also allowing An easy removal for cleaning.

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to facilitate the understanding of characteristics of the invention, is attached herein descriptive a set of drawings in which, for illustrative purposes and not limiting, the following has been represented:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the support.

- Figure 2 shows a profile view partially sectioned from the support with a tray supported superiorly.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As can be seen in the figures referenced the support is constituted by a base (1) attached by means of a unidirectional bearing (2) and a shaft (3) of coupling to a rotating upper body (4) equipped with possibility of turning in one direction, but locked in direction contrary.

The base (1) consists of two legs (5) substantially parallel, joined in the middle by a crossbar (6) in "H", being at the ends of the legs (5) some supporting elements (7).

In the middle part of the crossbar (7) is housed the unidirectional bearing (2), removable and reversible to determine the directions of rotation and blocking of upper rotating body (4) as necessary.

Said upper rotating body (4) is configured by a plurality of radially arranged arms (8) from the shaft (3) coupling center with the bearing unidirectional (2), being these arms (8) extended of layered or arched shape to establish some support points of the tray (10) or container to support, being able to stay the domed bottom of tray (10) or container in space cupped between said arms (8). At the ends of these arms (8) there are fixing means (9) of the tray (10) or container to the upper rotating body (4), in this case about cleats of non-slip material, specifically natural rubber, which allow for stable adhesion of the tray support.

Once nature is sufficiently described of the invention, as well as a preferred embodiment, for the appropriate purposes that the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, as long as this does not imply an alteration of the essential features of the invention claimed in continuation.

Claims (6)

1. Support for self-service food trays and containers, of the type comprising a lower support base (1) and an upper rotating body (4) for the placement of a tray (10) or food container, characterized because it comprises a unidirectional bearing (2) disposed between the upper rotating body (4) and the lower base (1), which allows the rotation of the rotating body (4) that supports the tray (10) in a single direction, enabling a supply progressive portions or portions of food during consumption; and because the upper rotating body (4) comprises in its upper part fixing means (9) for the stable holding of the tray (10) or food container during use. 2. Support, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means (10) are constituted by blocks of non-slip material. 3. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the unidirectional bearing (2) is removable and reversible from its arrangement between the upper rotating body (4) and the base (1) in two reverse positions, depending on the direction of rotation and desired lock. 4. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper rotating body (4) is constituted by a plurality of arms (8) arranged radially from a central axis (3) attachable with the unidirectional bearing, these arched arms (8) being or angled to accommodate the bottom of the tray (10) or container. 5. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower base (1) is constituted by two substantially parallel legs (5), joined in its middle part by a crossbar (6) in "H". 6. Support, according to claim 5, characterized in that the legs (5) have at their ends support elements (7) of non-slip material.