Cake shield for protection of cake from expelled germs and candle residue

Abstract

A cake shield to protect a cake during celebration allowing celebrants to enjoy activity and excitement of special moment without distraction or hesitation previously caused by thoughts and concerns about what they just observed to be blown or dropped onto cake they are about to eat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/712,056, filed on Aug. 29, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to bake ware and, more specifically, to a new and improved cake shield made of formed transparent plastic for use over celebration cakes to provide protection of the cake from, but not limited to, exposure to saliva, expelled germs, debris and candle residue associated with placing, lighting, and blowing out of candles by one or many persons to celebrate a birthday or other special event

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although others have previously invented cake shields, the cake shield of the present invention is superior because it is more effective and practical than others for obtaining desired results. The cake shield of the present invention is lightweight, clear, simple, economical, disposable, and safe to use. It is easily manufactured as a single entity using readily available methods of plastic forming. It is intended to be manufactured using thin sheets of flame resistant, non toxic, transparent plastic formed into a variety of common shapes including, but not limited to, rectangular, square, round, and oblong and in sizes to accommodate any common shape or size of cake.

The cake shield of the present invention is also intended to allow several cake shields of square, rectangular, or other complementary shape to be used in combination to accommodate any size cake of unique shape or size not accommodated by a single cake shield. It is also height adjustable by using support tubes that, if used, can be easily cut to exact length needed to support the cake shield above a cake with or without decorations and appliqués of many sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield to support lit candles and protect cake during celebration allowing celebrants to enjoy activity and excitement of special moment without distraction or hesitation previously caused by thoughts and concerns about what they just observed to be blown or dropped onto cake they are about to eat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawings have been prepared to illustrate the cake shield formed in several possible shapes, included optional support tubes, and various candle placements above a decorated cake.

FIG. 1 is a top surface perspective view of a transparent plastic cake shield of the present invention with optional ‘cut-to-length’ support tubes attached.

FIG. 2 is an underside surface perspective view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 showing projecting ends of plurality of step taper cavities with ‘cut-to-length’ support tubes attached.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 showing cake shield in place over a decorated cake with several candles inserted into a row step taper cavities.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 showing possible arrangement of plurality of step tapered cavities for candle support.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternate shape cake shield.

FIG. 7 is a side section view of the cake shield of FIG. 6 with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached.

FIG. 8 is a top edge perspective view of the cake shield of FIG. 6 with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached.

FIG. 9 is a top surface perspective view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 and candles placed to graphically represent age 199.

FIG. 10 is a top surface perspective view of the cake shield of FIG. 1 and candles placed to graphically represent age 40.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements.

FIGS. 1-10 together show a cake shield, hereinafter cake shield 44, of the present invention. The cake shield 44 may be fabricated from thin transparent plastic or other suitable material and formed with a deep perimeter edge 46 and short flange 48 to provide sufficient stiffness to support a flat surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the cake shield 44 may have a plurality of step tapered cavities 50 arranged to hold securely upright many sizes and varieties of candles 58. The cake shield 44 may also accept support tubes 52 of “cut-to-length” size and of diameter to securely fit over any underside protruding ends 54 of step tapered cavities 50 to support cake shield 44 above cake 56 and applied decorations, designs, frosting, and other similar dimensional elements often placed on cake 56 surface. The cut-to-length support tubes 52, if used, are easily and securely placed over any projecting ends 54 of the step tapered cavities 50 extending from underside of top surface of the cake shield 44 in any pattern or frequency to avoid undesired damage to cake decorations.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cake shield 44 is able to support a wide variety of different sizes of candles 58 placed securely in a random or any frequency pattern within the plurality of step tapered cavities 50 to represent the age of the honored celebrant. In this figure, for example, the candles 58 represent the birthday of a 7 year old child with one more candle added “for good luck”—a total of 8 candles.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the number and arrangement of plurality of step tapered cavities 50 also allows for placement of candles 58 in a graphic representation of age in years of honored celebrant formed by Arabic numerals from age 1 up to age 199. The number and arrangement of the plurality of step tapered cavities 50, while ideal for intended use, is sufficiently limited in total number to not obscure the desired clear view of the cake 56 as occurs with other cake shields previously patented or produced.

The support tubes 54 can be formed to allow several tubes 54 to be linked in length to increase overall support height of the cake shield 44 to accommodate special very tall celebration cake 56.

The cake shield 44 allows for simple disposal, rather than cleaning, after each use, to further reduce risk of exposure and possible ingestion of unhealthy contaminates collected, during use, on the cake shield 44.

Several formed interlock tabs may be added to each face of deep perimeter edge 46 of cake shield 44 to allow several cake shields to be attached together to form a larger surface area and be supported by just a few support tubes 54 properly placed to support entire surface over a very large or unusually shaped celebration cake 56.

Clear thin film transparent sheets can be attached to a single edge 46 or all edges 46 of the cake shield 44 to increase the area of side surface protection to very large, tall, or unusually shaped celebration cakes from expelled germs during act of blowing out candles 58.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cake shield comprising:

a flat surface;

a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface; and

a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface.

2. The cake shield of claim 1 wherein the flat surface is transparent.

3. The cake shield of claim 1 wherein the flat surface is one of rectangular, square, round, and oblong.

4. The cake shield of claim 1 wherein the step tapered cavities are dimensioned to fit candles of varying widths.

5. The cake shield of claim 1 further comprising a flange extending from the perimeter edge for providing stiffness to the flat surface of the cake shield.

6. The cake shield of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and

a plurality of support members, each support member having a first end dimensioned to be coupled to one of the plurality of protruding ends and having a second end dimensioned to be inserted into a cake.

7. The cake shield of claim 6 wherein the first end of the support member is hollow to receive and secure the protruding end.

8. The cake shield of claim 6 wherein the support members are dimensioned to be linked to each other to increase overall height of the cake shield.

9. The cake shield of claim 6 wherein the support members are hollow tubes.

10. The cake shield of claim 1 further comprising at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield to allow several cake shields to be attached together to form a larger surface area.

11. A cake shield comprising:

a flat surface;

a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface;

a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface;

a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and

a plurality of support members, each support member having a first end dimensioned to be coupled to one of the plurality of protruding ends and having a second end dimensioned to be inserted into a cake.

12. The cake shield of claim 11 wherein the support members are dimensioned to be linked to each other to increase overall height of the cake shield.

13. The cake shield of claim 11 wherein the support members are hollow tubes.

14. The cake shield of claim 11 further comprising at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield to allow several cake shields to be attached together to form a larger surface area.

15. A method for protecting a cake comprising the steps of:

providing a cake shield comprising: a flat surface; a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface; and a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface; a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and a plurality of support members;

coupling a first end of each support member to one of the plurality of protruding ends; and

inserting a second end of each support member into the cake.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling at least two support members to each other to adjust the height of the cake shield for a thicker cake.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield;

linking one interlock tab of the cake shield to an interlock tab coupled to a perimeter edge of another cake shield to form a larger surface area.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of inserting a plurality of candles into the step tapered cavities in a pattern indicating the age of a celebrant.