Holding Assembly for Aesthetically Displaying Comestibles
A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises a retaining structure and a positioning member. The retaining structure allows the user to firmly secure a comestible to the holding assembly. The retaining structure has two different embodiments: one embodiment for softer comestibles with a flat bottom, such as a cupcake, and another embodiment for more rigid comestibles with a round exterior, such as fruit. The first embodiment of the retaining structure is a platform with tines, and the second embodiment of the retaining structure is a hollow hemisphere with one tine. The positioning member is a long shaft that allows the user to position the comestible in a desired location. The top end of the positioning member is used to attached to the bottom of the retaining structure, and the bottom end of the positioning member is used to penetrate into a base in order to situate the holding assembly.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/413,691 filed on Nov. 15, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to an apparatus capable of holding a comestible in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditional apparatuses used to hold a comestible in aesthetically pleasing manner would simply support the comestible from the bottom, and, thus, would be severely limited in the angles and positions that the comestible could be displayed in. These traditional apparatuses would also position multiple comestibles relatively close together without any appreciation for the aesthetic appeal of spatial distribution. Traditional apparatuses does not provide a user with the opportunity to be creative with the arrangement of their comestibles, and, rather, force a preformed arrangement that is created by either the designer or the manufacturer. The objective the present invention provides the user with a flexible means to arrange and position their comestibles in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The present invention is able to penetrate into a comestible, which firmly situates the comestible on the present invention, and allows the comestible to be displayed in a variety of angles and positions. The present invention uses a long shaft to extend the position of the comestible in any direction.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
As can be seen in
The retaining structure 10 allows the present invention to hold a comestible in place by piercing the comestible and by supporting the comestible from the bottom. In the typical embodiment of the present invention, the retaining structure 10 comprises a platform 11, a plurality of openings 13, a plurality of supporting ribs 14, a plurality of insertion tines 15, and a collar 17. This embodiment of the retaining structure 10 is illustrated in
The plurality of insertion tines 15 provide the retaining structure 10 with a means to penetrate the comestible and to firmly situated the comestible onto the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is positioned around the center axis of the platform 11 and is positioned normal to the top of the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is connected to the top of the platform 11. The configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 allows a user to easily grasp the positioning member 20 and to apply the proper force to penetrate the plurality of insertion tines 15 into the comestible. Each of the plurality of insertion tines 15 has a tine tip 16, which is used for the initial penetration of the comestible. The tine tip 16 is positioned on each of the plurality of insertion tines 15 opposite to the platform 11. The shape of the plurality of insertion tines 15 can be designed according to the type of comestible being displayed by the present invention. For example, the plurality of insertion tines 15 could be needle-shaped if the comestible is a piece of fruit. The plurality of insertion tines 15 can be modified in terms of number, shape, and size in order to provide the retaining structure 10 with optimum holding power for a particular kind of comestible. The plurality of supporting ribs 14 strengthens the configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 by being positioned underneath each of the plurality of insertion tines 15. The plurality of supporting ribs 14 are positioned radially around the collar 17 and is connected to both the bottom of the platform 11 and the collar 17. The retaining structure 10 needs the plurality of supporting ribs 14 to strengthen the configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 because the plurality of openings 13 traverse through the platform 11 and is adjacent to the plurality of insertion tines 15. The plurality of openings 13 is used as a means to eliminated unnecessary material and reduces the cost of the present invention.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining structure 10 is designed to hold a comestible with a rounder shape, such as fruits and vegetables, in place, which can be seen in
The positioning member 20 allows the present invention to situate the comestible in the proper area and is shown in
The present invention can also include a base in addition to the retaining structure 10 and the positioning member 20, which are together known as a holding assembly. The base is used to situate a plurality of holding assemblies. The plurality of holding assemblies can be configured onto the base in a number of different aesthetic arrangements. In one aesthetic arrangement shown in
Experience has shown that, if the folded paper cup for a cupcake is not used, then the cupcake should be allowed to cool to room temperature. For added benefit, the cupcake should be placed in a refrigerator and cooled further to reduce the likelihood of the cupcake crumbling when installed on the present invention. It should be noted that recipes can be adjusted for best holding as well as the entire retaining structure 10.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises,
- a retaining structure;
- a positioning member;
- said retaining structure comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of supporting ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar;
- said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end;
- each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip;
- said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; and
- said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member.
2. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- said collar being centrally positioned to said platform;
- said collar being connected below to said platform;
- said plurality of insertion tines being concentrically positioned around said collar;
- said plurality of insertion tines being connected normal to said platform opposite of said collar;
- said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said platform; and
- said plurality of openings traversing through said platform adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
3. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 2 comprises,
- said plurality of supporting ribs being radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality of insertion tines; and
- said plurality of supporting ribs being connected to said platform adjacent to said collar.
4. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 2 comprises,
- said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
5. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem;
- said slit end being inserted into said collar;
- said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.
6. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises,
- a retaining structure;
- a positioning member;
- said retaining structure comprises a receptacle, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar;
- said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end;
- each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip;
- said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; and
- said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member.
7. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 6 comprises,
- said collar being centrally positioned to said receptacle;
- said collar being connected below to said receptacle;
- said plurality of insertion tines being positioned parallel to said collar;
- said plurality of insertion tines being connected to said receptacle opposite of said collar;
- said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said receptacle; and
- said plurality of openings traversing through said receptacle adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
8. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 7 comprises,
- said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
9. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 6 comprises,
- said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem;
- said slit end being inserted into said collar;
- said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.
10. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises,
- a retaining structure;
- a positioning member;
- said retaining structure comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of supporting ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar;
- said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end;
- each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip;
- said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs;
- said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member;
- said collar being centrally positioned to said platform;
- said collar being connected below to said platform;
- said plurality of insertion tines being concentrically positioned around said collar;
- said plurality of insertion tines being connected normal to said platform opposite of said collar;
- said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said platform; and
- said plurality of openings traversing through said platform adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
11. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 10 comprises,
- said plurality of supporting ribs being radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality of insertion tines;
- said plurality of supporting ribs being connected to said platform adjacent to said collar;
- said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
12. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 10 comprises,
- said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem;
- said slit end being inserted into said collar;
- said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and
- said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 15, 2011
Publication Date: May 17, 2012
Inventors: Wendy Lee WEST (gilroy, CA), Jeffrey J. Christian (Morgan Hill, CA)
Application Number: 13/297,248