DEVICE FOR DETACHABLE FIXING OF ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS TO A SUPPORTING ELEMENT, PARTICULARLY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY SUITABLE FOR THE CATERING FIELD Technical field The present invention relates to a device for detachable fixing of rod- like elements, such as cocktail sticks for appetizers, to a supporting element. Background art

Currently, in the catering field, the manner in which food is presented, as well as the convenience and practicality of the operations for preparing the food, are particularly important.

A typical example relates to the preparation and display of appetizers for aperitifs or receptions.

Generally, the cocktail sticks or toothpicks with which the appetizers are associated are prepared and then arranged on trays or inserted on supports that are placed on the table.

Moreover, it is advantageous to be able to heat some appetizers in an oven before serving them, both to improve the organoleptic qualities of the product and for hygienic reasons, to reduce the bacterial load. This operation also is quite difficult when using currently known devices. Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for detachable fixing of rod-like elements, such as cocktail sticks or toothpicks, to a supporting element.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for detachable fixing of rod-like elements to a supporting element that allows to facilitate the operations for preparation and serving.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for detachable fixing of rod- like elements to a supporting element, characterized in that it comprises a sucker that can be anchored detachably to a portion of the supporting

element.

Advantageously, the fixing device is made of silicone for food use. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a device for detachable fixing according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for detachable fixing according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is again a perspective view, but from a different angle, of the device for detachable fixing;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a manner of using the device for detachable fixing according to the invention. In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, a device for the detachable fixing of appetizers is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and is designed to allow the fixing of rod-like supporting elements for appetizers

100 to a supporting element 2, such as for example a glass 101 , a tray, a baking tray, a mirror, and in general any smooth surface.

In particular, according to the invention, the device for detachable fixing 1 comprises a sucker 3 that can be anchored detachably to a portion 4 of the supporting element 2.

Advantageously, the device for detachable fixing 1 is made of silicone for food use, so that it can also be placed in an oven (either

traditional or microwave), placed on a plate or fried, without compromising the quality of the foods associated thereto.

In greater detail, the sucker 3 is associated with a body 5 for coupling to a portion 6 of a rod-like element 7 for supporting food 8. Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the coupling body 5 comprises a protrusion that protrudes from the sucker 3 on its opposite side or surface 3 a with respect to the surface 3 b for coupling to the portion 4 of the supporting element 2. Conveniently, the coupling body 5 can be coupled detachably to an end portion 7a of the rod-like element 7.

The coupling body 5 can be deformable in order to allow the stable insertion of the end portion 7a of the rod-like element 7.

However, nothing prevents the coupling body 5 from being provided with at least one insertion hole 9 designed to accommodate the portion 6 of the rod-like element 7.

This aspect is particularly important, since it allows to arrange the sucker 3 on a substantially vertical plane, subsequently selecting the preferable inclination or orientation for the rod-like element 7 without thereby compromising the stability of the device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the sucker 3 is associated with a maneuvering tab 10, which is adapted to facilitate the separation of the device for detachable fixing 1 from the portion 4 of the supporting element 2. Conveniently, the maneuvering tab 10 lies on a plane of arrangement that is substantially coplanar with respect to the plane of arrangement of the sucker 3.

Moreover, it has been found that it is particularly advantageous for the maneuvering tab or tabs 10 to extend radially with respect to the sucker 3.

As already explained, the supporting element 2 can be constituted by a glass 101 but also for example by a tray or a plate, a mirror, a slide, and more generally by a smooth surface.

Operation of a device for detachable fixing of rod-like elements to a supporting element according to the invention is evident from what has been described above.

After coupling the rod-like element (and particularly the free end 7a of the rod-like element 7 to which the appetizer is associated) to the coupling body 5, the sucker 3 is coupled to the glass 101 or to the tray or, if the appetizer is to be warmed, to the baking tray, or is inserted in the frying machine.

The fact that the coupling occurs by means of the sucker 3 ensures stability and allows, as also clearly shown in Figure 3, to also use as fixing portions vertically arranged walls and surfaces without thereby compromising their use.

This aspect is facilitated by the possibility to insert the end 7a of the rod-like element 7 with any orientation in the coupling body 5 without compromising its stability.

All the characteristics of the invention indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects in all of its embodiments.

In practice, the dimensions may be any according to requirements.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2007A000138

from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.