Folding star trivet

Abstract

A trivet as may be used to elevate food serving dishes from a table top features the form of an articulated multi-pointed star. A user can easily transform its shape into a form that occupies a smaller volume that is more convenient to store. It also provides a construction that can be economically manufactured using multiples of a single common structural element.

1 . A folding trivet with an open form and a closed form comprising: 
 a. an even number of six or more elongated common structural elements, each of said elements having a first connection point near a first end, a third connection point near an opposite end and a second connection point in a central portion;    b. a first said element and a second said element rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;    c. the first element rotatably connected to a forth said element by a pivot shaft at their respective third connection points and the second element and a third said element rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective first connection points, where said third and forth elements further comprise a first pair of intermediate elements;    d. the first and second elements of each said pair of intermediate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;    e. a first connection point of an ultimate said element substantially coincident with the first connection point of the first element when the trivet is in said open form and the third connection point of a penultimate said element substantially coincident with the third connection point of the second element when the trivet is in said open form;    f. the ultimate and penultimate elements rotatably connected by a pivot shaft at their respective second connection points;    g. the penultimate element rotatably connected to a second element of an ultimate said pair of intermediate elements at their respective first connection points and the ultimate element rotatably connected to the a first element of the ultimate pair of intermediate elements a their respective third connection points;    
     
     
         2 . The folding trivet of  claim 1  wherein a fastener at the first connection point of the first element releasably connects to a fastener at the first connection point of the ultimate element when the trivet is in said open form.  
     
     
         3 . The folding trivet of  claim 2  in which the fasteners are magnets.  
     
     
         4 . The folding trivet of  claim 1  wherein a fastener at the third connection point of the second element releasably connects to a fastener at the third connection point of the penultimate element when the trivet is in said open form.  
     
     
         5 . The folding trivet of  claim 4  in which the fasteners are magnets.  
     
     
         6 . The folding trivet of  claim 1  wherein the number of pairs of intermediate elements is one and the trivet has three external points in said open form.  
     
     
         7 . The folding trivet of  claim 1  wherein the number of pairs of intermediate elements is two or more and the trivet in said open form has a number of external points equal to two plus the number of pairs of intermediate elements, and adjacent pairs of intermediate elements rotatably connect to each other at their adjacent respective first and third connection points.  
     
     
         8 . The folding trivet of  claim 1  in which in the closed form the sides of alternate common structural elements substantially contact each.  
     
     
         9 . The folding trivet of  claim 8  in which the second connection point of each element is equidistant from the first connection point of said element and a phantom point that is: 
 a. On a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal element axis containing the first connection point and laterally offset from said axis by a distance away from the trivet center substantially equal to the width of said element; and    b. at a position such that a line between the first connection point and said phantom point is substantially perpendicular to a line between the third connection point and the phantom point.    
     
     
         10 . The folding trivet of  claim 8  in which the number of external points is five or more and in which in the open form the longitudinal axis of each element is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the adjacent element to which the third connection point of said element connects.  
     
     
         11 . The folding trivet of  claim 10  in which the second connection point of each element is on a line between the substantial center of the trivet when in open form and a point of intersection between the longitudinal axis of said element and the longitudinal axis when in open form of the adjacent element to which the second connection point of said element connects.