Patent Publication Number: US-2017367352-A1

Title: Baking Pan for Shaping Cakes and Method of Using It

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a baking pan for baking one or more cakes of different size and shapes and more particularly to a baking pan for baking one or more cup cakes with each cup cake baked in two pieces with one cup cake shaped like a cup and another shaped like a cup interior. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cup cakes are traditionally made by baking cake mix in the form of a small cake with a rounded cake top. This process of baking cup cakes is traditional, antiquated, and lacks creativity. Furthermore, toppings for cakes have become abundant. Consumers tend to put pretty much anything on cup cakes, e.g. ice cream, gummy bears, frostings, chocolate, whip cream, fruit, nuts, caramel, cookies, etc. In this regard, the traditional cup cake considering its size is limited as to what toppings can be applied or the amount that can be applied. In addition, some consumers may prefer more cake than toppings and some consumers may prefer more toppings than cake or a customer may prefer both. 
     As such, there is a need for a cup cake and a mechanism for making such that can produce multi-shaped cup cake pieces wherein the pieces can be formed to accommodate the toppings consumers desire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that a need exist in the art to produce a cup cake having separable pieces with different size and shapes. It is therefore a primary objective of the invention to provide a baking pan for baking at least one cup cake having a bottom piece and a top piece of differing size and shape. 
     To achieve the objectives, the invention is directed to a baking pan that includes a top and bottom pan with baking units formed therein and with each baking unit defining a unique size and shape, the unique size and shape defining in one baking unit a cup shape and the other a solid cylinder shape. 
     the invention is also directed to a method of making a cup cake by use of the baking pan described. After the cup cake is baked in separate pieces, the cup cake pieces can be filled with or spread with cup cake toppings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a top view of base cup cake pan according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of top cup cake pan according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an open side view of a cup cake baking pan assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a closed side view of a cup cake baking pan assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be set forth in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like components are designated by like reference numerals thereon. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A and 1B , a top view of a base body  10  that includes four sides and at least one baking unit  20  formed within the base body  10  and a top view of a top body  30  that includes four sides with at least one baking unit  40  formed within the top body  30  is illustrated. Base body  10  and top body  30  when coupled form a baking pan for baking cup cakes with each cup cake baked in two pieces comprising a top and a bottom of differing size and shape. The baking pan can be made out of any material which will withstand the baking process, which typically involves a temperature of  400  degrees or more for one hour or more, and not taint the cakes; such materials include FDA-approved plastics, metals, foils and baking papers. The finish should be suitable for the normal release of the baked cake. 
     In this embodiment, the illustration shows four baking units  20  formed in the base body  10  with each baking unit  20  formed within the body body  10  with a length L 1 , L 2 , e.g. 10/16 of an inch, from each side of the base body  10  and each baking unit  20  separated by a length L 3 , L 4 , e.g. of 1 inch. In addition, the baking units  20  may have a diameter D 1  of 3 inches, as an example. The example dimensions essentially provide for a base body with each side 8¼ inches. Although, it should be understood that these sizes can be easily varied. Furthermore, the number of baking units can be varied and the shapes of the baking units can be of different shapes. 
     Further to this embodiment, the illustration shows four baking units  40  formed within the top body  30  with a length L 5 , L 6 , e.g. 1 inch, from a each side of the top body  40  and each baking unit  40  separated by a length L 7 , L 8 , e.g. of 1 12/16 inches, as an example. In addition, the baking units  40  may have a diameter D 2  of 2¼ inches, as an example. The example dimensions essentially provide for a top body with each side 8¼ inches. Although, it should be understood that these sizes can be easily varied. Furthermore, the number of baking units can be varied and the shapes of the baking units can be of different shapes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 , a cut-away view of an assembled baking pan  50  is illustrated. Baking pan  50  includes a base body  52  that includes at least one baking unit  60  formed within the base body  52  and a top body  54  that includes at least one baking unit  70  formed within the top body  54  is illustrated. The base body  52  includes each baking unit  60  having a diameter D 3 . In addition, the base body  52  includes a hinge  56  coupling base body  52  with top body  54 . The top body  54  includes each baking unit  70  having a diameter D 4 . Furthermore, each baking unit  60  includes a height H 1  and each baking unit  70  includes a height H 2  and the heights are of differing heights with H 1  greater than H 2 . 
     It should be understood that the illustration is an alternative embodiment that although adheres to the fundamental principals of the measurements described in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the illustration is illustrative of a baking pan with more baking units  60 , 70 . As such, although the same dimensions do not apply the necessary and similar dimension could be easily ascertained and applied to the baking pan pan illustrated or any other baking pan of differing size and dimensions. It should also be understood the shapes illustrated are not limiting in any way. The shapes of the baking units  60 , 70  can be of any form. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , baking pan  80  is illustrated that shows the assembled baking pan that includes base body  52  and top body  54  with top body  52  rotated about the hinge  56  to align baking units  60  and  70 , effectively forming a dual chamber baking apparatus for producing cup cakes shaped as cup and the other as cup cake center. 
     Thus, While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it Will be under stood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps Which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same Way to achieve the same results are Within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but that they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.