Cake tier separator for layered cakes
A separator for stacking layers of cake includes a base plate that comprises an attachment means such as a rail or track. A plurality of planar supports mates with the attachment means to provide a stable structure for stacking layers of cakes. Planar supports arranged between the upper most layers may be ornamentally designed with décor that includes an attachment button for mating with an opening in a planar support.
There are no related patent applications.
The present invention did not receive federal research and/or development funding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGenerally, the present invention relates to a tier separator for use in constructing a layered cake. More specifically the invention relates to a system of planar supports that are attached to a plate upon which a layer of cake is deposited. Additional plates and planar supports, along with their associated layers of cake, may be stacked to create a tiered cake that is more stable than the existing art.
Wedding cakes, and cakes made for other special occasions are typically cakes that include multiple layers that are tiered or having cake layers arranged one above another. In the past, multi-layered cakes have been constructed by a plurality of plates that were supported on a plurality of cylindrical columns such as is shown in
Thereafter, each cylindrical column is inserted into the first layer of cake. Since the columns are cylindrical in shape and circular in cross section, they tend to cause a “coring” effect that removes or separates an amount of cake equal to the cross diameter of each cylindrical column. This coring effect destabilizes the cake in an area immediate to the inserted column. Moreover, because the columns are cylindrical in shape, they have no sharp edges and can only provide support vertical support between the two plates. The cylindrical support does not resist lateral forces applied between the ends of the column. These lateral forces may be experienced when the cake is lifted in an uneven manner and moved from one location to another.
During the prior art construction process, the cylindrical columns used tends to core the area of the cake where they are inserted. This destabilizes or disturbs the cake by displacing a volume of cake that could otherwise operate as a support for the columns in resisting lateral forces applied along the columns. Since cake is light and fluffy in nature, the columns tend to further displace cake material if the cake is moved or bumped.
Thus, there exists a need in the baking art for a new type of tiered cake supporting means that provides a sturdy cake that is stable when moved. The present invention provides a plurality of planar supports that fasten at least to one side of a plate supporting a layer of cake above. An upper end of a planar support fastens to the plate and includes a substantial surface area to resist lateral forces directed between the upper and lower ends of the planar support. That is, the sides are long enough to come into contact with a substantial surface area of the cake to resist any lateral forces applied to the planar support because the force must not only overcome the resistance of the support but it must also overcome the resistance created by the mass of the cake behind the planar support.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing planar supports that have sides of extended surface area. Any lateral forces experienced by the planar supports are displaced over a larger surface area. Moreover, the extended surface area of each side of a planar support distributes the laterally-applied forces over an entire side of the planar support to resist misshaping the cake near the columnar supports. Thus, the present invention is a more stable way of constructing a layered or tiered cake.
In one embodiment of the invention, a cake is constructed with plates and planar supports that are unique to the present invention. The cake includes a bottom layer that is arranged atop a plate. An upper end of each planar support is mated to an attachment means on a bottom of the plate. The attachment means may include a rail. All of the planar supports are fastened to the bottom of the plate and are then appropriately positioned and inserted into the bottom layer of cake.
An elevated layer of cake is then arranged atop the upper surface of the plate to which the planar supports are fastened. The above recited procedure is then repeated as necessary to present the desired number of tiers or layers of cake. Between the top two layers, the planar supports may be elongated in height and include openings for receiving décor.
The plate and supports assembly provides a system that is constructed and the supports are then inserted into the lower layer of cake. The bottom end of each support is small in cross section area such that the supports slide easily into the cake. Preferably the sides of each support are substantially planar and the bottom end of the support is slightly arcuate in shape when taken in cross section as shown. The upper end of the support may include a t-rail shape for attaching to the plate. The surface area of the lower end of the support is small in size such that it easily slices through a layer of cake into which it is inserted.
Thus, the present invention is a cake tier separator device that structurally supports a multi-layered cake. The cake tier separator device comprises a plate upon which a layer of cake is arranged. The plate comprises at least one track and preferably a plurality of tracks disposed on at least one side thereof. The cake tier separator includes a plurality of planar supports. Each support has an upper end and a lower end. At least the upper end includes a rail that slides into a track disposed on the plate to affix the planar support to the plate. The cake tier separator may include a plate that comprises four pairs of tracks.
In one embodiment, the cake tier separator device comprises a curved track. In another embodiment, the planar support is curved when viewed from an end. In a further embodiment, the track includes a t-shaped recess that mates with a t-shaped rail arranged on an upper end of the planar support. In a further embodiment of the invention, the track of the plate includes two edges into which a planar upper edge is inserted. The invention may be utilized to construct a two or more layer cake. The invention may be utilized to provide a three tiered cake that includes elongated support members between the two highest tiers of the cake.
The cake tier separator may comprise a plate that comprises a lightweight plastic material that may be molded or extruded. The cake tier separator device may comprise planar supports that comprise lightweight, rigid, plastic that is molded or extruded.
It is an object of the invention to provide planar supports to which decorations may be easily attached
It is a further object of the invention to provide planar supports which easily slice through cake without disturbing or disrupting the area of the cake around the support
It is an additional object of the invention to provide planar supports that interlock with an attachment means on a bottom of plate.
It is an object of the invention to create a more stable tiered cake that can be easily transported without damage to the cake or its décor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cake tier separator that includes planar supports that resist lateral forces.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means of instrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the nonlimiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
An elevated layer of cake 105B is then arranged atop the upper surface of the plate 9 to which the planar supports 5 are fastened. The above recited procedure is then repeated as necessary to present the desired number of tiers or layers of cake. Between the top two cake layers 105B and 105C, the planar supports 7 may be utilized to raise the upper cake layer 105C to an extended height above the next lower cake level. The planar supports 7 may include openings 21 for receiving end 27 of décor 25 as can be understood by the skilled artisan in
The plate and supports assembly 1 provides a system that is constructed by inserting an upper end of each support into the attachment track 11 provided on a bottom surface 9A of a particular plate 9 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Thus, the present invention is a cake tier separator device that structurally supports a multi-layered cake. The cake tier separator device comprises a plate upon which a layer of cake is arranged. The plate comprises at least one track and preferably a plurality of tracks disposed on at least one side thereof. The cake tier separator includes a plurality of planar supports. Each support has an upper end and a lower end. At least the upper end includes a rail that slides into one of the tracks disposed on the plate to affix the planar support to the plate. The cake tier separator may include a plate that comprises four tracks.
In one embodiment, the cake tier separator device comprises a curved track. In another embodiment, the planar support is curved when viewed from an end. In a further embodiment, the track includes a t-shaped recess that mates with a t-shaped rail arranged on an upper end of the planar support. In a further embodiment of the invention, the track of the plate includes two edges into which a planar upper edge is inserted. The invention may be utilized to construct a two or more layer cake. The invention may be utilized to provide a three tiered cake that includes elongated support members between the two highest tiers of the cake.
The cake tier separator wherein the plate comprises a lightweight plastic material that may be molded or extruded. The cake tier separator device may comprise planar supports that comprise lightweight, rigid, plastic that is molded or extruded.
While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A cake tier separator device that structurally supports a multi-layered cake, said cake tier separator device comprising:
- a plate upon which a layer of cake is arranged, said plate comprising an attachment means that includes at least one pair of tracks disposed on one side of the plate: and,
- a plurality of planar supports, each planar support having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end including a rail that slides into the at least one pair of tracks disposed on one side of the plate to affix the planar support to the plate.
2. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of planar supports is four tracks.
3. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said one pair of tracks are curved.
4. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein each planar support is arcuate when viewed from an end.
5. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 includes an attachment means that includes a t-shaped recess formed by the at least one pair of tracks.
6. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pair of tracks are mirror images of one another and facing each other.
7. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 further comprising a second cake tier separator.
8. The cake tier separator device of claim 7 further comprising a third cake tier separator.
9. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said plate comprises plastic.
10. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said planar supports comprise plastic.
11. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said rail that slides into the at least one pair of tracks disposed on one side of the plate to affix the planar support to the plate is t-shaped when viewed in cross section.
12. A cake tier separator device that structurally supports a multi-layered cake, said cake tier separator device comprising:
- a plate upon which a layer of cake is arranged, said plate comprising a plurality of attachment means, each attachment means including a pair of tracks disposed on a bottom side of the plate: and,
- a plurality of planar supports, each planar support having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end including a rail that slides into one of the plurality of attachment means.
13. The cake tier separator device of claim 12 wherein said plurality of planar supports is four tracks.
14. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said one pair of tracks are curved.
15. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein each planar support is arcuate when viewed from an end.
16. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 includes an attachment means that includes a t-shaped recess formed by the at least one pair of tracks.
17. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pair of tracks are mirror images of one another and facing each other.
18. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said plate comprises plastic.
19. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said planar supports comprise plastic.
20. The cake tier separator device of claim 1 wherein said rail that slides into the at least one pair of tracks disposed on one side of the plate to affix the planar support to the plate is t-shaped when viewed in cross section.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2008
Inventor: Philip L. Harris (Corapeake, NC)
Application Number: 11/708,556