Patent Publication Number: US-2019167021-A1

Title: Protective Cake Shield and Candle Support

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/172,999 filed on Feb. 5, 2014 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/792,014 filed on Mar. 15, 2013. The above identified patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cake shield. More specifically, the present invention describes a cake shield comprising a plate that is supported by a pair of legs that can be mounted on a top of a cake. The plate may include a number of flexible insertion holes for placing birthday candles thereon. Alternatively, the plate may be adapted for clipping on a decorative top cover that includes a number of flexible insertion holes. The plate provides a barrier that inhibits the direct contact of expelled air and saliva from a user blowing out birthday cake candles, while preserving the celebratory tradition of blowing out a set of cake candles as part of a birthday celebration. 
     Birthday parties often include a birthday cake with candles placed on top that are blown out by the individual celebrating his or her birthday. The act of blowing out birthday candles requires an individual to forcefully expel air from his or her mouth in order to extinguish the candle flame. The expelling of air allows germs and saliva to make direct contact with the cake, which causes contamination of the cake. As the cake is consumed, the germs and saliva thereon are ingested by others, which can lead to the spreading of bacteria, viruses, and a variety of illnesses. 
     The present invention relates to a new and improved cake shield. The device comprises a transparent or opaque (e.g., designed or colorfully designed), that may include a number of flexible insertion holes. The insertion holes expand and contract with candle insertion and removal, respectively, for placing and frictionally securing birthday candles thereon. The device further includes legs for adjusting the height of the plate, which allows for placement of the cake shield on cakes with varying shapes and dimensions. During use, the cake shield provides a barrier that inhibits the direct contact of expelled air and saliva with the cake, while preserving the celebratory tradition of blowing out birthday candles. This prevents the spread of germs and lessens the probability that individuals will become ill after eating the cake. The plate also acts as a reservoir to collect melted wax from the candles. This preserves the cake decorations for later consumption. The device can be washed by hand in a sink. The device is also dishwasher safe, such that it can withstand heat and water pressure in a dishwasher. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of cake shield devices known in the art, the present invention provides a new and improved cake shield, wherein the same can be utilized for providing a barrier that inhibits the direct contact of expelled air and saliva, while preserving the celebratory tradition of blowing out birthday candles. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cake shield device that has all of the advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cake shield device that has a plate to act as a barrier between a user and a cake surface. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide a cake shield device that has insertion holes that holds candles in an upright position and acts as a reservoir to collect melted wax from the candles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield device with legs, which allows for placement of the device on cakes of varying shapes and dimensions. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield device with multiple embodiments that can accommodate different styles of cake. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield device configured for use with various decorative covers having insertion holes. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield device with retractable legs that can be folded inwards for storage between uses. 
     A final object of the present invention is to provide a cake shield device that can be cleaned by hand or by a dishwasher after one or more uses. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective cake shield and candle support. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the protective cake shield and candle support. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a conventional birthday candle being inserted through a flexible material in a candle insertion hole. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a conventional birthday candle being inserted through another embodiment of a flexible material in a candle insertion hole. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective cake shield and candle support. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the protective cake shield and candle support. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the cake shield of the present invention. The device comprises a plate  27  for placement above or slightly above a cake surface, and a plurality of legs  23  attached thereto. The plate  27  has a mostly flat upper surface  25  and a mostly flat lower surface  26 . The plate  27  is made of a durable material that can withstand heat and water pressure in a dishwasher, for easy cleaning after a use. The plate  27  surface can be formed into any of a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate cakes of various shapes and dimensions. The plate  27  includes an outer perimeter, wherein the outer perimeter defines an area of protection for the cake provided by the cake shield. In  FIG. 1 , the plate  27  is rectangular to accommodate a rectangular cake. In an alternate embodiment, the plate  27  is shaped irregularly, e.g., like a football, to accommodate a football themed cake. In a further alternate embodiment, the plate  27  is circular-shaped to accommodate a round cake. The plate  27  surface can be plain, or it can be decorated with any of a plurality of designs or color to accommodate preferences, themes, or styles. 
     The plate  27  surface has a plurality of circular or rectangular candle insertion holes  22  configured for inserting conventional or ornamental candles therethrough. Each insertion hole  22  comprises a gasket or flaps made of a rubber-like, flexible material along the interior perimeter thereof. The flexible material expands as a candle is inserted therethrough for a snug fit and holds the candle in an upright position. When the candle is removed, the corresponding insertion hole  22  is vacant, the flexible material returns to its original state and the insertion hole  22  is substantially closed. The flexible material prevents saliva or debris from passing through the insertion holes  22  and onto the cake through the vacant holes  22 . The secure support of the candles at their base also collects melted wax that trickles downward therefrom, preventing wax from dripping onto the cake surface. 
     The legs  23  of the cake shield are attached to the lower surface  26  via a plurality of hinges  24 . The hinges  24  allow the legs  23  to rotate into a stowed state, such that they can fold in toward the center of the plate  27  and lie parallel to the plate  27  when the cake shield is not in use. The hinges  24  also allows the legs  23  to fold outwards into a working state, whereby the legs  23  extend perpendicularly outward from the plate  27  when the cake shield is in use. The legs  23  may be disposed in an adjacent relationship, or alternately, can be positioned across from one another along the lower surface of the plate  27  for greater stability. In the shown embodiment four legs  23  are shown, however, it is also contemplated that alternate numbers of legs may be deployed on a given plate for support of the plate  27  itself and the candles thereon, including but not limited to one, two, three, four, or more legs  23 . 
     A fastener  51  is disposed on the lower surface  26  of the plate  27 . The fastener  51  is configured to secure each leg  23  in the stowed configuration. The fastener  51  allows for each leg to be secured in the stowed configuration so that the protective cake shield of the present invention can be stored in a substantially flat position. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener  51  comprises a magnet disposed on a lower surface of the plate  27 . The magnet is configured to correspond with a magnetic material  52  of the leg  23 , such that the leg  23  can be secured in a stowed state by the magnetic interaction between the magnetic material  52  of the leg  23 , and the magnet of the fastener  51 . In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic material  52  is disposed on a distal end of the leg  23 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a side view of the present invention. In operation, a user folds out the legs  23  and places the device onto a surface of a single- or multi-tiered cake. The legs  23  have a pointed tip at the ends thereof, such that the legs  23  are configured to be partially inserted into the cake  30  while the plate surface  27  of the device is elevated slightly above the cake  30 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener  51  comprises a latch configured to secure each leg  23  in a stowed configuration. The latch is of any design suitable for frictionally securing the leg  23  therein. In an alternate embodiment, the lower surface of the plate defines a housing corresponding to each leg  23  such that each leg  23  is contained therein when in a stowed state. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , there are shown multiple embodiments of the flexible material within the insertion holes  22  of the present invention. Each insertion hole  22  includes a rubber-like, flexible material  28  around the inner perimeter to support candles of various shapes and sizes in an upright position. The flexible material  28  has the ability to reshape itself after it has been stretched. In  FIG. 3A , there is shown a flap-like embodiment of the flexible material  28  around the inside perimeter of the insertion hole  22 . The flaps of this embodiment are pushed downwards as a candle  31  is pushed therethrough. When the candle  31  is removed, the flaps are pulled back up to their starting position to keep the insertion hole  22  substantially closed. In  FIG. 3B , there is shown an individual gasket-like embodiment of the flexible material  28  that expands when the candle  31  is pressed therethrough. The candle  31  is squeezed through the small aperture in the flexible material  28 , which expands when the candle  31  is pressed therethrough. When the candle  31  is removed, the flexible material  28  elastically returns to its original shape to maintain the insertion hole  22  in a substantially closed state. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an embodiment of a decorative cover  32  being attached to the top of the plate  27 . To attach the cover  32  to the top of the plate  27 , a user slides on the decorative cover  32  to the plate  27  once they are aligned. In an alternate embodiment, a clip secures the decorative cover  32  in place. Aligning the decorative cover  32  and the plate  27  would also align the insertion holes on the decorative cover  32  with a set of insertion holes on the plate  27 . The decorative cover  32  is easily interchangeable, allowing the user to attach a different decorative cover  32 , e.g., a decorative cover featuring a different design to change the appearance of the device, without obtaining a new cake shield assembly. In one embodiment, the decorative cover  32  is configured to have an image  53  depicted on a top surface of the cover  32 . As such, the user is able to personalize the image  53  overlaying the decorative cover  32  according to any design. 
     The present invention provides a protective cake shield that is designed to provide a protective barrier between a user and a top surface of a cake. The cake shield can be configured to accommodate to various styles, shape, and dimensions of a cake. The device enables the user to place candles of various sizes on top of the shield. Additionally, the user can clip on a decorative cover to further change the appearance of the shield. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.