Patent Abstract:
A stand for cakes or pastries comprises a base, a transparent column mounted to said base, and a platform positioned on said transparent tube to support the cake or pastry. Air bubbles are introduced into water in the transparent tube, and an electric bulb in the base lights up the water and air bubbles.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a novel stand for the decorative display of cakes or pastry at weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or other special events. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Supporting stands for cakes and pastry to be exhibited at special events are known. 
     No prior cake or pastry stands are known having the unique decorative features of the present stand, which features include a column of bubbles lit by light in a column of water or other liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel stand for the decorative display of cakes and similar items at weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. 
     Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent by reference to the accompanying specification and drawings and to the appended claims. 
     Briefly, I have discovered that the foregoing objects may be attained by providing a base supporting a hollow transparent tube which in turn supports a stand on which the cake or pastry is exhibited. Means are provided to generate a column of air bubbles in water or other colored liquid contained within the tube. Lighting means are provided to illuminate the inside of the tube and the water and column of air bubbles contained therein. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like parts in the several views: 
     FIG. 1 represents a partially diagrammatic view in perspective of the present invention, showing the air pump and the power pack. 
     FIG. 2 represents a view in elevation, partially in section and partially diagrammatic, of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 represents a view in elevation, partially in section and partially diagrammatic, of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is seen as comprising base  1 , adapted to be stably supported on a table or the like (not shown), transparent water-tight tube  2  which may be of glass or clear plastic material made, for example, from an acrylic polymer, and platform  3  adapted to support a cake, pastry or the like (not shown) mounted on the upper end of tube  2 . Sleeve  4 , securely mounted to the bottom face of platform  3  adjacent the center thereof, slidably fits inside the upper end of tube  2 , and is of length sufficient to stabilize platform  3  when a cake or pastry is placed thereon. 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in some detail in FIG. 2, the lower portion of tube  2  extends through an opening in base  1  to the bottom thereof, and may be secured therein by means of cement or glue or the like. 
     Inverted sleeve  5 , water-tightly closed at the bottom thereof by means of transparent plate  6 , which may be of glass or clear plastic material made, for example, from an acrylic polymer, is mounted within tube  2  adjacent the lower end thereof, and is secured therein by cement or glue or the like so as to provide a water-tight seal between the periphery of inverted sleeve  5  and the adjacent interior surface of tube  2   
     Tube  2  is provided at its lower end below plate  6  of inverted sleeve  5 , with aperture  7  registering with aperture  8  in base  1 . 
     Air pump  9 , powered by line  10  connected to a household main (not shown), is provided with air hose  11  running through apertures  7  and  8  and connected to air nozzle  12 . Grommet  13  mounted in an aperture in plate  6  provides a water-tight seal around air nozzle  12 . 
     Platform  3 , with sleeve  4  connected thereto, may temporarily be removed from tube  2 , by lifting it until sleeve  4  slides out of and above the upper end of tube  2 , so as to permit tube  2  to be filled with water or other colored liquid up to a level indicated diagrammatically by line  15 , after which platform  3  and sleeve  4  are placed in their original positions. The water-tight seal around air nozzle  12  where it passes through plate  6 , and the water-tight seal between inverted sleeve  5  and the interior of tube  2  effectively prevents any liquid in tube  2  from escaping below plate  6 . 
     It will be seen that air pumped from air pump  9  passes through air hose  11  and air nozzle  12  into the column of water  14  in tube  2  as bubbles  16  which rise through the column of water  14  into sleeve  4 , escaping from the apparatus through aperture  17  in sleeve  4  registering with aperture  18  in tube  2 . 
     Power pack or step-down transformer  19 , powered by line  20  connected to a household main (not shown), delivers through line  21 , which runs through apertures  7  and  8 , low voltage electricity through socket  22  to light bulb  23 . Light from light bulb  23  passes through transparent plate  6  into the column of water  14  in tube  2 . 
     The column of air bubbles  16  rising through the column of water  14  or other colored liquid, lit by light from light bulb  23  provides a most decorative effect to heighten the special occasion calling for the cake or pastry. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 3, tube  2  is threaded into base  1 . This may, for example, be done by providing collar  24  with internal thread  25 , and which is secured by cement or glue to the central aperture in base  1 . The bottom of tube  2  is provided with male thread  26  which can be screwed into collar  24 . Air hose  11  extends from air pump  9  through apertures (not shown) in base  1  and collar  24  to air nozzle  12  positioned above plate  6  in the water column  14 . Plate  6  is secured in a water-tight manner to collar  24 , so as to prevent the escape of water  14  from that portion of tube  2  above plate  6  to the space below plate  6 . Power line  21  extends from power pack  19  through apertures (not shown) in base  1  and collar  24  to socket  22  holding bulb  23 . In the same manner as with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the passage of air bubbles  16  through water column  14  and the light from bulb  23  provides a most decorative effect. 
     In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the color of the light passing through water column  14  can be altered by placing colored glass or plastic beads, or colored glass or plastic filters, on plate  6 . 
     To further heighten the decorative effect, small fish, like goldfish or tropical fish, can be placed in tube  2  in the water column  14 . 
     The foregoing description is illustrative of the principles of my invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes may readily occur to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, the invention should not be limited to the exact apparatus shown and described herein, and the appended claims should be construed as covering suitable modifications and equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8