Abstract:
The present invention discloses a three-dimensional helically-shaped display stand, and a stand and cake combination. Methods of manufacturing the same are also disclosed. From a base to an apex, a helically-shaped display rises. This helix can be cut from a single disc of material and can be supported in a variety of ways from a base.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/037,554 for “DISPLAY STAND” filed Mar. 9, 1998, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a display stand and more particularly to a helically shaped stand for displaying items such as cakes, candles, flowers, cookies, chips, vegetables, fruit, pastries, candies, and the like.  
           [0003]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that standard cakes, candles, flowers, and the like look better when displayed in different and ornamental methods. The prior art has several different types of displaying such materials. U.S. Pat. No. 1,570,651 issued to W. Topping, et al on Jan. 26, 1926, discloses a multi-tiered circular display. A similar display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,169,496 and 3,951,079. Other displays are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,115,253; 4,096,772; 4,311,237; 4,539,914; 4,823,966; and 5,572,936. Unfortunately, each of these displays require multiple individual levels. Additionally, each of these displays requires that the entire tier or disc be filled in order to present a pleasing display. In other words, if a tier is not filled, then the viewers of the display would see the tier. However, filling the entire tier can be very expensive. Additionally, if consumers see the tier as opposed to the material on the tier, they will feel like they have been short changed.  
           [0004]    What is needed, then, is a new display. This needed display must be simple to manufacture. This needed display must be economical to manufacture. This needed display must be able to present a material in an economical way. This needed display must be capable to displaying in a nice ornamental way. This display is presently lacking in the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention discloses a three-dimensional helically shaped display stand. From a base to a apex, a helically shaped display rises. This helix can be cut out of a single disc of material and can be supported in a variety of ways such as multiple external supports placed along an underside or a single internal support through the center of the helix up toward the apex or top of the base.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a shaped-shaped display stand.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display stand that is simple and economic to manufacture.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display stand which is economical to cover with the materials to be displayed.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an ornamentally pleasing display.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display of an item such as a cake which spreads a sheeted cake over a three-dimensional area thereby making a single sheet appear bigger thereby allowing the sheet of cake to be presented in a new manner. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display stand illustrating in partially cutaway view a portion of a spiral sheet cake in place upon the display stand.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the display stand of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display stand of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  10 . The display stand  10  includes a helically shaped display  16  rising from a base or lowermost end  12  to an apex or uppermost end  14 . A support column  26  rises through the middle of the display  16  from a base plate  100  up to apex  14 . Apex  14  can also be described as the proximal top  14  of the display  16 . A support block  32  supports the lower end of support column  26  upon the base plate  100  to steady the support column  26 . Any necessary additional support members (not shown) may be added extending from the base plate  100  to the various spiral loops of the display  16  to aid in supporting the display  16  in the spiral orientation illustrated.  
         [0014]    Referring now to the plan view of FIG. 2, it is there seen that the spiral display  16  is formed from a generally disc-shaped sheet of material  42  in which a spiral cut  44  has been made. The spiral cut  44  extends between a location near the center of the sheet  42  and an outer edge of sheet  42 . After the spiral cut  44  is made, while securing the base or lowermost end  12  such as to base plate  100 , the apex  14  is pulled upward thereby creating the helically shaped display  16 . Display  16  may also be described as an upwardly tapered spiral shelf  16 .  
         [0015]    This results in a spiral shelf having a continuous planar upward facing surface  18  extending from the lowermost end  12  to the uppermost end  14  and extending around a central axis  60  of display stand  10  in a plurality of loops such as  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 . The upper surface  18  has radially inner and outer edges  70  and  72 , respectively, which are best shown in FIG. 2. The inner and outer edges  70  and  72  decrease in radius from the lowermost end  12  to the uppermost end  14 . At any point along the length of the spiral shaped display shelf  16 , the inner edge  70  of the upward facing surface  18  is substantially vertically aligned with the outer edge  72  of the next spiral loop of the shelf  16  located thereabove.  
         [0016]    Without limitation, the spiral display  16  may be made of any sufficiently rigid material to support whatever is being displayed either with or without a support system. For example, the display  16  can be made of cardboard, wood, plexiglas, tile board, copper coil, and rod iron.  
         [0017]    Additionally, support walls (not shown) can be added around the edge of the spiral display to aid in retaining small items such as small individual cupcakes, candies or the like on the spiral display  16 .  
         [0018]    The display stand  10  can be utilized to display any desired articles, including, without limitation, candles, fruit, flowers, cookies, pastries, candies, cakes, chips and fresh vegetables. One preferred use of the display stand  10  is for the display of a spiral shape sheet cake  50 , a portion of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. This allows the sheet cake  50  to be spread over a three-dimensional area, thus making a single sheet of cake appear bigger thereby allowing the sheet cake  50  to be presented in a new manner.  
         [0019]    In FIG. 1, only a portion of the spiral shape cake  50  is shown, so that the underlying spiral shaped display stand may be clearly illustrated. As is apparent in FIG. 1, however, the cake  50  will include multiple continuous spiral loops of cake decreasing in radius from a lowermost end to an uppermost end. The lowermost end of the cake will be coterminous with and overlie lowermost end  12  of display  16 , and the uppermost end of the cake will be coterminous with and overlie the apex  14  of the spiral support stand  16 .  
         [0020]    Thus, there have been described a novel spiral-shaped display stand, and display stand and cake combination, along with methods of constructing the same. While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present disclosure, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention, except as set forth in the following claims. Numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art with such changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.