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 
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/712,056, filed on Aug. 29, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    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 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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 
       [0005]    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 
       [0006]    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 
         [0007]    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. 
           [0008]      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. 
           [0009]      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. 
           [0010]      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. 
           [0011]      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. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side section view of the cake shield of  FIG. 1  with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of an alternate shape cake shield. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side section view of the cake shield of  FIG. 6  with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top edge perspective view of the cake shield of  FIG. 6  with optional “cut-to-length” support tubes attached. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a top surface perspective view of the cake shield of  FIG. 1  and candles placed to graphically represent age 199. 
           [0017]      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 
       [0018]    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. 
         [0019]      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. 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    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. 
         [0022]    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. 
         [0023]    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 . 
         [0024]    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 . 
         [0025]    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 . 
         [0026]    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 . 
         [0027]    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.