Abstract:
This is a shroud for a cake in which a cake can be covered and then uncovered to add panache to any banquet or wedding. A means to illuminate the area around the device will also be provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   This relates to designing a cover for a cake. This would be particularly important in banquets or weddings where the cake or other food is a center piece. 
   B. Prior Art 
   There are many other prior art references to cakes and cake coverings. Representative examples of these include Knoch U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,961, Ross U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,015, and Napolitanal U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,266. 
   The Knoch patent is an illuminating cake stand without a cover and the Ross and Napolitanal are cake decorating stands. 
   In the present application this is a cake stand which can be illuminated but also have a covering which moves up and down a series of stanchions or supports to unveil the cake to the audience. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This is a device, which is a covering for a cake. It will have a base, several support stanchions or guides and a top. Between the top of the device and the base will be the covering. The covering may consist of a variety of different materials although a thin cotton or shear material is probably preferred for the desired effect. 
   The cake rests on the top of the base underneath the top of the device. Holes in the top of the base and bottom of the top are provided to insert the support stanchions. Several support stanchions will be used to support the top and provide the enclosure for the cake or other item that will be covered. 
   The shroud material would be positioned in such a fashion to cover the entire space between the top and bottom of the device. A means to allow the shroud material to travel between the base of the device and the top would be provided. A variety of means to enable the shroud material to move up and down the stanchions is contemplated. 
   The thin shroud material will travel up and down in a generally vertical direction along the support stanchions on this device. The means to enable the shroud material to travel may be operated locally or remotely. 
   This device will enable the cake to be unveiled at the appropriate time for the viewing audience. A method to illuminate the device as well as a source of illumination will also be included. 
   It is an object of this device to make a cake a centerpiece of a particular event such as a wedding reception or other gathering. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the device with the shroud in the down position. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the device with the shroud in the up position. 
       FIG. 3  is a representation of the guide mechanism and remote control motor. 
       FIG. 4  is a representation of one embodiment to move the shroud material up and down the stanchions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   This device  5  is a cake shroud. It will be comprised of a base  30  and a top  15 . Between the top  15  and the base  30  will be a plurality of support stanchions  25  to support the top  15 . On end of the stanchion  25  will be inserted into a hole in the base  30  and the other end will be inserted into a hole on the bottom surface of the top  15 . It is contemplated and depicted in the drawings that both the top  15  and the base  30  will be circular to conform to the general shape of a wedding cake. Other shapes such as a square or rectangle may also be used.  FIG. 1   
   Additionally, there will be a means of illumination or source of lighting  20  around the top  15  as well as the base  30 . The source of lighting  20  may be small incandescent bulbs or may be a plurality of LEDs. Because excessive heat is not desired, LEDs would probably be the preferred choice although there are many different types of lighting sources. Appropriate wiring and a power source, which can be alternating current or battery power will be provided to operate the means of illumination. FIG.  1 , 2   
   The means to illuminate the base  30  and the top  15  will be placed around the perimeter of the base  30  and the top  15 . A power source for the source of illumination will also be provided. The power source could be alternating current or a plurality of batteries. The lighting may also be regulated using a rheostat or dimmer to allow the user of the device to adjust the amount of light on the device, as desired. 
   The base  30 , top  15  and support stanchions  25  will likely be constructed of plastic or some other lightweight, durable material. The support stanchions  25  will fit into designated holes on the base  30  as well as the top  15 . The holes are not depicted but are indicated by the drawings in  FIG. 2 . It is contemplated that four stanchions will be used to insure that the top  15  is secured to the device  5 . 
   Before the presentation of the cake the shroud material  10  will be in the down position or shielding from view the interior contents of the device  5 .  FIG. 1  When the shroud material  10  moves from the base  30  to the top  15 , the interior contents are revealed, in this case, a cake. 
   This device will provide a certain desired amount of panache to a significant event such as a wedding or banquet. Although a cake is depicted in the drawings, it may also be used for other food or to display non-food items as well. 
   In order to move the shroud material  10  from the bottom of the base  30  to the top  15  several different means are anticipated. FIG.  3 , 4  Appropriate wiring and a power source, which can be alternating current or battery, will be provided to operate the means to move the shroud material. 
   The first embodiment involves using a small electrical motor  31 , string  32  and a series of pulleys  35 .  FIG. 3  The string  32  would be looped around both ends of the shroud  10  and as the electrical motor  31  winds a spool the shroud material  10  is pulled in an upward direction. The electrical motor is shown placed on the underside of the top  15  but may be placed on other locations on this device. 
   A second embodiment is to place grooves  26  in the stanchions and corresponding male ends on the shroud to ensure uniform and even movement of the shroud material  10  as it moves along the stanchions. 
   A third embodiment, which is not depicted, may include a plurality of rings around the shroud material at certain intervals. 
   The small electrical motor  31 , string  32  and pulleys  35  would be necessary to allow the shroud material to move up and down along the stanchions in a uniform, even manner. The specific movement may be accomplished either locally by an on/off switch (not depicted) or remotely using a remote control device. Both the on/off switch and the remote control device would control the operation of the electrical motor and the source of illumination. 
   Additionally, because the cake is eventually to be consumed it is anticipated that the stanchions and top may be removed easily by pulling the stanchions out of the holes for the support.