Device for making patterns or images using powder substances

Abstract: A device for making patterns or images having predetermined shape using powder substances includes: a container (6), disposed inside a cylindrical body (4), for receiving powder substance, the container (6) having an open bottom and a top featuring a recess (6a) with a related hole (6b); a bottom mask (8), provided with a perforated pattern or image (8a), which closes the lower part of the container (6) in co-operation with retention means (9) engaging removably with the cylindrical body (4); a driving device (5), partially introduced in this recess (6a) , so that a related shaft (5a) passes through the hole (6b); a power supply (10) for feeding the driving device (5); an operative member (7) disposed inside the container (6) and integral with the shaft (5a) of the driving device (5), for facilitating the passage of the powder substance contained in the container (6) through holes of the perforated pattern or image (8a) of the bottom mask (8).

Description: The present invention relates to devices for making patterns or images having predetermined shape, using powder substances. Such a device in known from US-A-3 964 646. In particular the invention is conceived for decoration of hot beverages, sweets, cakes, and the like. It is known that sweets, cakes or hot beverages, the latter preferably covered with a foamy or cream layer, are decorated with patterns or images having predetermined shape. The patterns or images are made by means of suitable vibrating devices using powder substances (e.g. cocoa, vanilla, sugar, etc.). Basically, these devices include a cylindrical body, inside which there is made a container for a powder substance to be used and, in the lower part, a suitably shaped and perforated sift. A motor, usually disposed coaxial with these devices, features, keyed onto its shaft, an eccentric weight, whose rotation drives this cylindrical body to vibrate. In this way, the powder contained inside the container passes through the perforated part of the sift and falls onto the surface of the sweet, cake or on the foamy or creamed surface of the hot beverage situated below. The pattern or the shape of the image will be better defined if there is a suitable chromatic contrast between the powder substance and the surface of hot beverage, cake or sweets to be decorated. The biggest disadvantage of this device consists in the poor sharpness of the image thus obtained. Another disadvantage derives from the fact that the powder substance, under the action of the vibration, passes through the perforated area of the sift in a random way. The main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by a device for obtaining patterns or images having predetermined shape using powder substances, that guarantees the best definition and a high chromatic contrast. Another object of the present invention is to propose a device obtained with a simple, cheap, extremely reliable and practical technical solution, which allows to define the profile of the chosen pattern or image in best way and to obtain the best chromatic contrast. The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the content of the claims. The characteristics of the invention have been pointed out in the following, with a particular reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front schematic view of a vertical section of the proposed device; Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of the same device; Figures 3, 4 are schematic plan view of particularly significant parts of device; Figure 5 is a lateral view of the part shown in Figure 4. With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates the proposed device for obtaining flat patterns or images. Basically, this device 1 includes a cylindrical body 4, whose top is closed by a cover 3. The lower portion of this cylindrical body 4 includes a container 6 for powder substances, having transversal section matching the Lnternal section of the cylindrical body. A circular, "U"-shaped edge 6c extending from the base of the container 6, is coupled with the corresponding bottom of the cylindrical body 4 (Figure 1). The container 6 is set in coaxial relation with the cylindrical body 4 and open at the bottom. A ring like seat is formed in the region of the circular edge 6c of the container 6. A bottom mask 8, suitably perforated, e.g. a sift, is introduced into the ring-like seat for closing the bottom of the container 6. The powder substance contained in the container 6 passes through suitably perforated profiles 8a of the mask 8 and reproduces the pattern or image. The mask 8 is fastened into the ring-like seat, made along the circular edge 6c of the container 6, by a retention member 9, which is removably snap-coupled with this circular edge 6c. The top of the container 6 features a recess 6a, coaxial with the cylindrical body 4 and having a hole 6b for receiving the suitably shaped shaft 5a therein of a driving device 5. The driving device includes, for instance, an electric motor-gear 5 having pre-established reduction ratio, which is fed by a power supplying battery 10, disposed inside the cylindrical body 4. The motor 5 is operated by a push button 11, placed in the middle part of the cylindrical body 4 outer surface. The motor 5 is press-fit into the recess 6a, and the shaft 5a of the motor is keyed into a complementary receiving bore 7a made in an element 7, substantially shaped like a overturned "T". The element 7, e.g. a scraper element, is situated inside the container 6 and includes a vertical stem, whose upper part is provided with the receiving bore 7a, and two horizontal opposite extensions 7b, substantially constituted by scrapers arranged at suitable working angles with respect to the bottom mask. These horizontal extensions 7b of the scraper 7 are rotated by the motor 5 and facilitate the passage of the powder substance, contained in the container 6 situated above, through the perforated profiles 8a of the mask 8. When a surface of a hot beverage, kept in a suitable pot, is to be decorated, the device 1 is placed over the pot and the button 11 is pushed for a time sufficient to define the profile of the pattern or image. While the battery 10, via the button 11, is feeding the motor 5, rotation of the scraper (7) allows and facilitates the passage of the powder substance, contained in the container 6, in through the perforated profiles 8a of the mask 8, thus defining a particularly clear image. After having been used, the proposed device can be advantageously placed on a support plane, in a overturned position with respect to Figure 1, i.e. it is placed on the suitably shaped cover 3 of the cylindrical body 4. The simple fastening of the bottom mask 8 to the container 6 by the retention member 9 allows the mask 8 to be easily and quickly replaced with another one with a different perforated profile 8a. Since there is no vibration movement, the powder substance while falling can define the pattern or image in best way and create a considerable chromatic contrast with the beverage surface. Location of the button 11 in the middle part of the cylindrical body 4 allows an excellent vertical stabilization of the proposed device, while being used, which positively influences the definition of the image thus obtained. According to an interesting variation, the motor 5 working period can be controlled by a timer, so that the number of revolutions of the scraper (7), and consequently the quantity of the powder substance, are not determined by the user, but controlled by this timer. Also this positively influences the definition of the image thus obtained. It is also to be pointed out that the number of components of the device for obtaining flat pattern or images with a predetermined shape is limited and they are easily manufactured, which allows to keep the production costs low. The above mentioned objects can be obtained by a simple technical solution, extremely reliable and practical, which improves the look of sweets, cakes or hot beverage being decorated by the proposed device.

Claims: Device for obtaining patterns or images having predetermined shape using powder substances characterized in that it includes: a container (6) for powder substance, open at bottom, which is introduced into a cylindrical body (4) of complementary section and provided, at top, with a cover (3), with said container (6) having in its upper part, a recess (6a), coaxial with said cylindrical body (4), and a related hole (6b); a bottom mask (8), provided with perforated profiles (8a), for allowing powder substance inside the container (6) to pass through said profiles, said mask (8) closing the bottom of said container (6) in co-operation with retention means (9) engaging removably with said cylindrical body (4); a driving device (5), at least partially introduced in said recess (6a), so that a relative shaft (5a) passes through said hole (6b); a power supply (10) for feeding the driving device (5), situated inside said cylindrical body (4); a member (7), shaped substantially like an overturned "T", situated inside the container (6) and connected to the shaft (5a) of the driving device (5), with said member (7) rotating and thus facilitating the passage of the powder substance contained in the container (6) through the corresponding perforated profiles (8a) of the bottom mask (8). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said member (7) has a vertical stem, whose upper part is provided with a bore (7a), which receives said shaft (5a) of the driving device (5) as a press-fit, and two opposite horizontal extensions (7b). Device, according to claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal extensions (7b) include scrapers arranged at suitable working angles. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said container (6) features at bottom, in the region of said bottom mask (8), a circular "U"-shaped edge (6c) folded outwards, and removably coupled with the lower part of said cylindrical body 4). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said bottom mask (8) is set into a ring-like seat formed in the container (6). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said driving device (5) is operated by means (11) placed in the middle part of said cylindrical body (4). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said cover (3) defines a support base for the device (1) when not used. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said driving device (5) is an electric motor and said power supply (10) is a battery.

Inventors: MISCHIATTI ROMANO, MISCHIATTI, ROMANO
Applicants: SO GE CA SNC, SO.GE.CA. S.N.C.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G3, A47J43, A21C15