Fixture for forming decorative loops for fondant and gum paste bows

A fixture (12) for forming decorative loops of fondant and gum paste has a support base (14) and two support members (16, 18). The support members (12) are pivotally mounted to opposite, longitudinally disposed ends of the support base (12) for moving from extending horizontally in storage positions to extending vertically in production positions, spaced apart in opposed relation. Apertures (26, 28) extend transversely through the support members (16, 18) and are aligned in registration for receiving forming rods (34, 36) and holding the Forming rods (36, 38) in stationary positions, spaced apart along lengths of the support members (16, 18). In a storage configuration, the support members (16, 18) are folded into horizontally disposed storage positions atop an upper surface of the support base (12), and the forming rods (36, 38) are secured in rod retaining clips (42, 44) mounted to the upper side of the support base (14).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to equipment for bakeries, and in particular to a fixture for forming decorative loops of edible materials for use in decorating cakes and other baked goods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Decorative loops made of edible materials have been formed of fondant and gum paste, or sugar paste, for use in decorating cakes, pastries, and other bakery items. Prior art rods have been loosely mounted atop various items and then edible strips of fondant and gum paste have been wrapped around the rods to provide the decorative loops. The decorative loops are often assembled into bows and other decorative items. The prior art rods have been provided by broom sticks, mop handles, and similar items. The loose mounting of the prior art rods allows the rods to move causing difficulty in forming the decorative loops. Use of broom sticks, mop handles, and the like, results in unsanitary conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fixture for forming decorative loops of edible materials, such as fondant and gum paste, or sugar paste, has a support base and two support members. The support base extends horizontally with two oppositely disposed, longitudinal ends. The fixture is configured with a lower side for laying flat upon a work surface. The two support members are pivotally mounted to respective ones of the oppositely disposed, longitudinal ends of the support base. The support members are raised from horizontally disposed, storage positions to vertically disposed, production positions in which the two support members are spaced apart in opposed relation. The support members have apertures which extend transversely through the sides of the support members, with the apertures extending through front edges of the support members and having closed ends. The apertures of opposed support members are aligned in registration for receiving forming rods. The apertures are preferably configured for receiving forming rods of respective sizes, spaced apart along lengths of the support members. The forming rods are preferably rigid, and when received within the apertures retain the support members in the vertically disposed, production positions. Decorative loops may then be formed on the forming rods with the forming rods held in stationary positions by the support members. The fixture may be disposed in a storage configuration by removing the forming rods from the apertures and folding the support members into storage positions, horizontally disposed atop an upper surface of the support base. Preferably, a first one of the support members will lay flat top the support base and the second support member will lay flat atop the first support member when the fixture is disposed in the storage configuration. The fixture may also be configured to include retaining clips for securing the forming rods directly to the upper side of the support base when not in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a fixture12for forming decorative loops which provide elements that are assembled to provide edible bows and other decorative items for use in decorating cakes, pastries, and other bakery items. The fixture12includes a support base14and two support members16and18, with forming rods34and36extending between the support members16and18. The support base14is of a form which is preferably rectangular-shaped, having an upper surface15of a planar, rectangular shape, a lower surface17of a planar, rectangular shape which extends parallel to the upper surface15, with corners19. The support base14has two longitudinally disposed opposite ends21and23, and is preferably approximately thirty-six inches in length and twenty inches wide. The support member16is mounted on the upper surface15at the end21, and the support member18is mounted on the upper surface15at the end23. Preferably, the support member16is pivotally mounted by a hinge20to the support base14, and the support member18is pivotally mounted by a hinge22to support base14. An offset24is provided to dispose the hinge22at an elevation above the hinge20, with the offset24being approximately the size of the thickness of the support member16. The offset24is preferably an offset member provided by the mounting plate for the hinge22by which the hinge22and the support member18are secured to the upper surface15of the support base14.

The support members16and18preferably have longitudinal lengths for extending in vertically aligned positions when the fixture12is disposed in a production configuration, and extending in horizontally aligned position when the fixture12is disposed in storage configuration. The support members16and18are preferably each of elongate rectangular shapes, having first and second sides25and27, front edges29and rear edges31. Preferably, the support members16and18are each approximately thirty inches in length, such that the support members16and18are able to fold flat atop the support base14without extending outward of the support base14. First portions of the support members16and18are secured directly to the hinges20and22, and second portions are disposed on opposite longitudinal ends from the first portions. Intermediate portions of the support members16and18extend between the first and second portions.

A plurality of apertures26and28extend into intermediate portions of the support members16and18, spaced apart in distally disposed positions within the support members16and18such that respective ones of the slots26and28in of the same size are disposed in registration and in opposed relation for receiving respective ones of the forming rods34and36. In the preferred embodiment, the retaining apertures26are provided by elongate slots having a closed ends30and open ends31for receiving respective ones of the forming rods34, and the retaining apertures28are provided by elongate slots having closed ends32and open ends33for receiving respective ones of the forming rods36. The apertures26and28preferably extend into the forward edges29of the support members16and18, and are formed to have longitudinal lengths which extend at an angle to the vertical of approximately forty-five degrees, such that respective ones of the forming rods34and36will drop into the apertures26and28. The formed ends30are preferably shaped to match and fitting closely against the outer peripheral shape of the forming rods34, and the formed ends32are preferably shaped to match and fitting closely against the outer peripheral shape of the forming rods36, such that the forming rods34and36are removably held firmly in position for forming the decorative loops on the outer peripheral surfaces of the forming rods34and36.

In the preferred embodiment, the forming rods34are provided by a quantity of two PVC tubes of a one-half inch nominal diameter, and the forming rods36are provided by a quantity of two PVC tubes of a one inch nominal diameter. Other suitable food grade materials may be used for the rods34and36. End caps38and40, such as those formed from PVC, are provided for sealing opposite ends of respective ones of the forming rods34and36from moisture and debris. The end caps38and40are removable so that the decorative loops may be easily removed after forming. Preferably, a slight friction fit or interference fit will be provided between the interior diameter of the end caps38and40and respective ones of the forming rods34and36to removably retain the end caps38and40onto the ends of the forming rods34and36. The support base14and the support members16and18are also preferably formed of PVC, or other suitable food grade materials. Bands formed of food grade materials may be provided on the end portions of the forming rods34and36, such as in the form of a tape or sleeve, to provide the friction fit or the interference fit between the end caps38and40and respective ones of the end caps38and40. Retaining bands60and62are also provided, preferably of food grade elastomeric materials, for securing around respective ones of the forming rods34and36, spaced apart from the end caps38and40by approximately the thickness of the support members16and18. The retaining bands60and62engage against the sides27of the support members16and18to maintain the support members16and18in upright positions when the fixture12is in the production configuration. The retaining bands are preferably one-quarter to one-half inches wide, and of sufficient thickness to prevent the support members16and18from folding inward on the forming rods34and36. The fixture12further has retaining clips42and44by which corresponding ones of the forming rods34and36may be secured atop the upper surface of the support base14for storage.

FIG. 2is a perspective view showing fixture in a storage configuration, with the support members16and18folded in storage positions in which the support member16is laying flat atop the upper surface15of the support base14, and the support member18is laying flat atop the support member16. The forming rods34and36are shown in an exploded position disposed above respective ones of the retaining clips42and ready for insertion into the clips42to secure the forming rods34and36to the support base14for storage.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of a storage clip42for the retaining the forming rods34and36to the support base14during storage of the fixture12. The retaining clip42has a base portion44to which a small clip portion46is mounted and a large clip portion48is mounted, both of which are of a similar U-shaped configuration having an open end for receiving respective ones of the forming rods34and36. The U-shaped configuration of the clip portions46and48each have opposed arms52which extend to define arcuately shaped sections which are curved for fitting closely against the exterior periphery of the preferably cylindrical exterior shapes of the forming rods34and36. Upper portions of the arms52are formed to include retaining sections54which fit above respective one of the forming rods34and36for retaining the forming rods34and36within respective ones of the clip portions46and48. The upper portions of the arms52also include entry sections56for guiding the forming rods34and36into position for passing between the retaining sections54. The arms52are flexible, such that pressure pushing the forming rods34and36against the retaining sections54will spread opposed ones of the arms52apart for passing respective ones of the forming rods34and36into and out of the clip portions46and48. The retaining clip42is preferably formed of food grade materials, either metal or plastic, with the clip portions46and48also preferably formed of resilient food grade materials, such as spring steel or a plastic.

It should be noted that in other embodiments, forming rods34and36may be retained to support members by support loops sized for receiving the forming rods34and36, as opposed to the apertures26and28. Additionally, the offset24may be provided by a joggle (two oppositely facing ninety degree bends) formed into a mounting plate for the hinge23which is secured directly to the lower end of the support member18, a joggle formed into in the lower end of the support member18, or a mounting block disposed beneath the hinge22, such that the support member16will pivot and lay flat atop the support base14and the support member18will pivot and lay flat atop the support member16.

The fixture provides forming rods on which decorative loops of edible materials are formed for use in decorating cakes and other bakery items. The fixture has a support base, two support members, and a plurality of forming rods. The fixture is disposed in a product configuration by placing the support base upon a work surface, and aligning the support members to extend upward from the support base in opposed relation for receiving the forming rods into apertures formed into the two support members. The apertures in opposed ones of the support members are in aligned in registration for receiving respective ones of the forming rods, such that the forming rods are retained in fixed locations for a user to wrap strips of edible materials, such as fondant, gum base paste, or sugar paste, to form the decorative loops. After use, the forming rods are removed from the support members and the support members are folded flat atop a support base to disposed the fixture in a storage configuration. The forming rods are secured to in retaining clips mounted to an upper surface of the fixture for storing the forming rods with the fixture disposed in the storage configuration.