Extend post_class with a class for parent category

functions.php

<?php
/**
 * Erweitert post_class() um eine Klasse für Elternkategorien.
 *
 * @author Dominik Schilling
 * @license GPLv2
 * @link http://wpgrafie.de/178/
 *
 * @version 0.2
 */
function ds_add_parent_category_class( $classes ) {
    $cats = get_the_category();

    if ( empty( $cats ) )
        return $classes;

    foreach ( $cats as $cat ) {
        $parent_cat = get_category( $cat->category_parent );
        if ( ! is_wp_error( $parent_cat ) )
            $classes[] = 'parent-category-' . sanitize_html_class( $parent_cat->slug, $parent_cat->term_id );
    }

    return $classes;
}

add_filter( 'post_class', 'ds_add_parent_category_class' );