发明人：
DE GREEF, JOHANNA, PETRONELLA, MARIA
摘要：
A collapsible holder for holding a sponge, comprising a base; and at least one receptacle arranged to support the sponge, wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to be moved between a collapsed configuration and a raised configuration relative to the base.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A collapsible holder for holding a sponge, comprising
a base; and
at least one receptacle arranged to support the sponge,
wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to be moved between a collapsed configuration and a raised configuration relative to the base.
2. The holder of Claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle is arranged to support the sponge spaced above the base when in the raised configuration.
3. The holder of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the base has a substantially planar surface; and wherein the at least one receptacle is configured to be substantially planar with said surface when in the collapsed configuration. 4. The holder of any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one receptacle is pivotally mounted to the base.
5. The holder of Claim 4, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least one lever arranged to allow the at least one receptacle to pivot between the collapsed configuration and the raised configuration.
6. The holder of Claim 5, wherein said at least one lever is arranged to control the attitude of the at least one receptacle when in the raised configuration, for example by arranging said at least one lever and said at least one receptacle to be in a non- linear configuration relative to each other.
7. The holder of Claim 5 or 6, further comprising a protruding element provided on at least one of said at least one lever and the base. 8. The holder of any of Claims 5 to 7, further comprising a recess provided in the base or the at least one lever, the recess being arranged to receive at least part of said at least one lever or a protruding element when the at least one receptacle is moved to the raised configuration. 9. The holder of Claim 7 or 8, wherein the protruding element is provided on an
underside of the lever and arranged to extend towards the base.
10. The holder of Claim 9, wherein a recess is provided in the base for receiving the protruding element when the at least one receptacle is moved to the raised configuration.
1 . The holder of any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the size of the protruding element and the depth of the recess is arranged to control the attitude of the at least one receptacle when in the raised configuration.
12. The holder of any of Claims 8 to 11 , wherein the protruding element is arranged to have an interference fit in the recess so as to at least temporarily maintain the position of said least one receptacle in the raised configuration. 13. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one receptacle is arranged to form a generally circular hoop portion for supporting the sponge, for example wherein the at least one receptacle is generally balloon-shaped, for example wherein the at least one receptacle comprises both a hoop portion and a neck portion that extends out from said hoop portion.
14. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least one arm portion arranged to connect the at least one receptacle to the base, for example via a pivot arrangement. 15. The holder of Claim 14, wherein said at least one arm portion comprises two arm portions arranged to extend from substantially opposing sides of said receptacle.
16. The holder of Claim 14 or 15, wherein said at least one arm portion is in ubstantially the same plane as said receptacle.
17. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises a plurality of receptacles.
18. The holder of Claim 17, wherein each receptacle comprises at least one lever arranged to allow that receptacle to pivot between the collapsed configuration and
the raised configuration.
19. The holder of Claim 18, wherein the levers for each receptacle are arranged in a staggered configuration such that each receptacle is raised to different attitude.
20. The holder of any of Claims 17 to 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of receptacles are arranged to be concentric.
21. The holder of any of Claims 17 to 20, wherein the plurality of receptacles are arranged to be spaced apart when in the raised configuration
22. The holder of any of Claims 17 to 21 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are at least in part arranged to form a repository having an opening for receiving the sponge when in the raised configuration.
23. The holder of Claim 22, wherein the repository is arranged to define a generally circular opening.
24. The holder of Claim 22 or 23, wherein the repository is arranged to be tapered from the opening towards its base when in the raised configuration.
25. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein a raised portion is provided on the upper surface of the base about which the at least one receptacle at least in part surrounds when in the collapsed configuration.
26. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein the base has a shape that corresponds to the largest receptacle, for example such that the largest receptacle is contained within the footprint of the base when in the collapsed configuration. 27. The holder of any preceding claim, wherein the base is generally balloon shaped, for example comprising a generally circular portion and a neck portion extending away from said circular portion.
28. A machine-readable map, or machine-readable instructions, configured to enable a 3D printer (or any printer or manufacturing device/system) to manufacture at least
part of the holder of any preceding claim.
29. A holder for a sponge substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.