NL2003080C2 - Holder for a piece of fruit. - Google Patents

Description

P88505NL00

Title: Holder for a piece of fruit

The invention relates to a holder for a piece of fruit.

Pieces of fruit are readily available nowadays and can be bought at various locations such as e.g. supermarkets, fruit shops, lunch rooms. The so purchased piece of fruit can be consumed at any desired location, e.g. during 5 lunch or break at work or school. However, transporting the single piece of fruit can be difficult and during the transport the piece of fruit may be damaged and/or bruised. For example, the single piece of fruit may be crushed in a school bag or office bag. Also, consuming the piece of fruit may be difficult when one is on the way, e.g. when no utensils are available.

10 An object of the invention is to provide for a device that obviates at least one of the above mentioned drawbacks.

Thereto, the invention provides a holder for a piece of fruit, comprising a number of shell parts for enclosing the piece of fruit, wherein the holder is provided with at least one in the holder arranged resilient element 15 for resiliently fixing the piece of fruit in the shell parts.

By providing a holder for a piece of fruit comprising at least one shell part that encloses the piece of fruit, the piece of fruit can be individually transported in the holder. In particular, by providing a resilient element in the holder, for resiliently fixing the piece of fruit in the holder, the piece of fruit 20 can be transported relatively safely in the holder. The piece of fruit is relatively protected from external influences by the shell part that encloses the piece of fruit.

Also, by providing the resilient element, the resilient element provides for a resilient fixation of the piece of fruit in the holder. Damaging of 25 the piece of fruit due to e.g. contact of the piece of fruit with a side wall of the shell part by e.g. movement of the piece of fruit in the holder may be minimized.

2

Further, the resilient element may compensate for the variation in dimension of pieces of fruit. The holder may for example be adapted to accommodate one kind of piece of fruit, e.g. a kiwi or a mango or an orange. By providing the resilient element, the variation in dimension of pieces of fruit 5 such as kiwis or mangos or oranges can be compensated. The resilient element may be sufficiently flexible to accommodate relatively large pieces of fruit, and may be sufficiently stiff to provide a stable fixation of a relatively small piece of fruit in the holder.

By providing two shell parts that are connectable to each other, 10 placing and removing the piece of fruit in/from the holder may become relatively easy. For example, the holder may comprise an upper and a lower shell part, or two or more side shell parts. For example, the shell parts may be connected to each other via a snap connection or a snap-fit connection. Also, the shell parts may be connectable to each other via a common pivot, e.g. the 15 shell parts may be opening and closing with respect to each other as petals of a flower. In the closed position they may enclose the piece of fruit and the position of the shell parts may be locked, e.g. via a coupling ring or via a pin/groove or otherwise locking mechanism.

By providing shell parts that entirely enclose the piece of fruit, 20 relative optimal protection can be provided for the piece of fruit. By fully enclosing the piece of fruit, the piece of fruit may be encapsulated by the shell parts and may be protected against external influences.

By arranging the shell parts that they are connectable under enclosure of the resilient element, the resilient element may be fixated in the 25 holder. The resilient element may be clamped between the shell parts, so the resilient element may be pretensioned and the position of the resilient element may be fixated.

Advantageously the resilient element may be removable. The resilient element can be manufactured as a separate product, e.g. from a 30 different material than the shell parts and may be assembled together with 3 the shell part to form the holder. If the holder and/or the resilient element may be carried out as a one-way product, providing the resilient element as a removable element, may facilitate recycling of the different parts and/or materials.

5 By providing a retaining element in the shell part for holding the resilient element, the resilient element may be relatively easy placed in the shell parts and/or may relatively easily be clamped for pretensioning by the shell parts when the shell parts connect under enclosure of the resilient element in the retaining space. Advantageously, the retaining element is 10 provided by the design of the shell part, e.g. the retaining space may be a cavity in the shell part, or the retaining space may be a shoulder on which the resilient element may support, or the retaining space may be a pin or a hook on which the resilient element may be connected.

By providing the holder with at least two resilient elements, an 15 improved protection of the piece of fruit in the holder may be obtained against damaging of the piece of fruit due to contact of the piece of fruit with a side wall of the shell elements.

By providing a resilient element as a cutlery element, the resilient element may be removed from the holder and may be used as an aid for eating 20 the piece of fruit, when e.g. on the way. For example, two resilient elements may be provided as mutually different cutlery elements, such as a spoon and a knife, for eating the piece of fruit held in the holder.

Advantageously, the holder is provided with a support face for placing the holder on a surface. For example, a shell part of the holder may be 25 provided with the support face and the piece of fruit may be consumed while being retained in the holder with the cutlery elements provided in the holder. So, one can eat the piece of fruit while it may be stable kept in the holder.

Preferably, the shell parts and/or the resilient elements are injection moulded plastic parts. The resilient element may also be provided as a metal 30 plate spring or a plastic or metal spiral spring.

4

By providing the holder with a cooling element, the piece of fruit can be cooled. The piece of fruit thus can be conserved longer and/or the piece of fruit can be kept on a convenient consumption temperature. The cooling element can be provided as a removable element in a shell part. The shell part 5 can be provided with connecting means, such as a snap-fit, a click or a pin/groove connection to accommodate a cooling element in the shell part. The cooling element can be cooled before being placed in the shell part, or the cooling element can be cooled when already placed in the shell part.

The shell part can also be provided with an integrated cavity in 10 which for example a cooling element can be mounted. The cavity can also be arranged as a housing for a cooling substance, such as water or a cooling gel. The cooling substance can e.g. be injected in the housing of the shell part. The cooling element then becomes integrated in the shell part. By exposing the shell part with the housing filled with the cooling substance to a low 15 temperature the cooling substance will be cooled and can provide for the cooling of the piece of fruit.

The cooling element may also be provide on the exterior of the holder, for example as a covering fully or partly enclosing the holder. The holder may on its exterior be provided with connection means for connection 20 with the covering. Also, the covering may be closed and fixed around the holder.

Further advantageous embodiments are represented in the subclaims.

The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of an 25 exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. The exemplary embodiment is given by way of non-limitative illustration of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the holder according to the invention; 5

Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows a schematic front view of a second embodiment of the holder according to the invention.

5 It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non-limiting example. In the figures, the same or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a holder 1 for a piece of fruit 2. The holder 1 comprises 10 in this embodiment two shell parts 3a, 3b that are connectable to each other via connection means 4. The connection means 4 are in this embodiment provided as a snap connection comprising a protrusion 4a in one shell part and a groove 4b in the other shell part. Many other variants of connections between the shell parts are possible.

15 The two shell parts 3a, 3b are in this embodiment provided as an upper shell part 3b and a lower shell part 3a. The lower shell part 3a is also provided with a support face 5 for placing the holder 1 on a surface.

In the holder 1 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, two resilient elements 6 are arranged in the holder 1. The resilient elements 6 are in this embodiment 20 provided as separate, flexible, plastic elements, in the form of a spoon 6a and a knife 6b. The lower shell part 3a comprises retaining elements 7, here a retaining space provided by the design of the lower shell part 3a.

The resilient elements 6 can be removable mounted in the retaining spaces 7. By closing the holder 1 with the upper shell part 3b, the resilient 25 elements 6 can become enclosed between the two shell parts. By providing the resilient elements 6, a piece of fruit 2 can be fixedly arranged in the holder 1 and can be relatively protected against damaging and/or bruising. Also, different sizes of a piece of fruit 2 can be accommodated. With a relatively large piece of fruit 2, the resilient elements 6 may e.g. flexibly move outwards.

6 A relatively small piece of fruit may be approximately centrally held in the holder by the resilient elements.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the holder 1. The holder 1 comprises one shell part 3 that can enclose a piece of fruit 2. The shell part 3 is 5 provided with an approximately flat support face 5 for placing the holder 1 on a surface.

In the holder 1 two resilient elements 6 are provided that can be mounted in the holder and support on retaining elements 7. In this embodiment the retaining elements 7 are provided as shoulders between which 10 the resilient elements 6 can be positioned. By positioning the resilient elements 6 between the shoulders a pretension can be given to the resilient elements 6 for flexibly fixating the piece of fruit 2 in the holder 1. Also, other retaining elements 7 may be provided, such as a snap engagement, or a hook connection. Also, the resilient elements 7 may even be an integrated part of 15 the holder 1. For example, the holder 1 and the resilient elements 6 may be injection moulded or otherwise manufactured in one piece.

A piece of fruit 2 can be placed in the lower shell part 3a of Fig. 2 or the shell part 3 of Fig. 3 between the resilient elements 6. The holder 1 of Fig.

2 can then be closed by the upper shell part 3b. Due to the elasticity of the 20 resilient elements 7, the piece of fruit 2 can be relatively stable fixated in the holder 1.

By opening the holder 1 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the enclosure of the resilient elements 6 can be undone and the piece of fruit 2 can relatively easy be removed from the holder 1. The resilient elements 6, in this embodiment the 25 spoon 6a and the knife 6b, can be used for consuming the piece of fruit, in this example a kiwi.

The piece of fruit 2 can be relatively easily removed from the holder 1 of Fig. 3 by e.g. pressing one or both of the resilient elements 6 to the side walls of the shell part 3 to enable removing of the piece of fruit. If the resilient 30 elements 6 are removable arranged in the holder 1 of Fig. 3, the resilient 7 elements 3 can be removed from between the shoulders 7 in order to enable removing of the piece of fruit 2.

Many variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. The holder may comprise more than two shell parts. The shell parts may be 5 removable connectable to each other, for example a hinge or or an injection moulded flexible joint may be provided. All variants are understood to be comprised within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (15)

Holder for a piece of fruit, comprising a number of tray parts for surrounding the piece of fruit, wherein the holder is provided with at least one elastic element included in the holder for resiliently clamping the piece of fruit in the tray parts. Holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least two shell parts which can be coupled to each other. 3. Holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the dish parts are adapted to completely surround the piece of fruit. 4. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the shell parts can be coupled by means of a snap connection. Holder as claimed in any of the claims 2-4, wherein the shell parts can be coupled while enclosing the elastic element. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the elastic element is releasable. 7. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least one shell part is provided with a receiving space for releasably receiving the elastic element. 8. Holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receiving space is provided by the shape of the shell part. 9. Holder as claimed in claim 8 with reference to claim 2, wherein the shell parts can be coupled while enclosing the elastic element in the receiving space. 10. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the holder is provided with at least two elastic elements. 11. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the elastic element is designed as a cutlery part. 12. Holder as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the elastic elements are designed as mutually different cutlery parts. 13. Holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cutlery parts are designed as a spoon and a knife. 14. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the shell part is equipped with a support surface for placing the holder on a surface. 15. Holder as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising a cooling element.