GB2187412A - Indenting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A crimper for indenting a deformable surface (e.g.for sugar craft) utilises an endless band (7) to set the spacing apart of the free ends (4, 5) used for the indenting operation. Ribs (6) can provide locations for the band (7). The adjustable band makes the crimper easier to use by setting the spacing of the free ends. The effect of the adjustment on an exemplified end pattern is shown in Figs 2 and 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved indenting device This invention relates two an improved indenting device for use by cake decorators, confectioners, pastry chefs, potters and others wishing to produce patterns of indentations in softsurfacessuch as sugarpaste, marzipan, bread dough, chocolate, clay and otherdeformable plastic materials which mayor may not be hardenable with orwithoutthe application of heat. For convenience in the following description the term "deformable mass" will be used to describe the medium indented by a device according to this invention.

Specifically the invention relates to an improved crimper, a device which comprises a U-shaped member having the free ends of the legs ofthe U-shaped memberformed to make the required indentation pattern in the deformable mass. The spacing apart of the free ends determines the precise indentation made when the crimper is pressed down into the deformable mass and heretofore the skill of the user has been relied on to set the spacing to the required value and to maintain it for as long as is required to make the requisite number of indentations on the surface ofthe deformable mass.

The required degree of skill to use the known crimpers is not available to starters in a craft (e.g.

sugarcraft) and the known devices cannot therefore be used for extensive high quality work until the required degree of skill in using the known devices has been acquired.

This invention relates to a simple modification of a known type ofcrimperwhich makes it much easierto use by accurately and reproducibly setting the spacing-apart of the free ends ofthe legs of the crimper.

According to the invention a crimper comprises a U-shaped member having two legs resiiiently linked to one another at one end of each leg so that the legs naturally diverge from said one end and with the opposite or free end of each leg shaped to form an indenting tool for a deformable mass, which is characterised in that the legs are surrounded by an endless band which is put in tension by the natural divergence of the legs and means is provided to indicate the distance along at least one of the legs from the free ends thereof at which the band is located.

Conveniently the crimper is made from stainless steel sheet material and each leg is provided with a line of spaced-apart indentations to indicate the position of the band therealong.

Suitably the band is made of elastomeric material and preferably an O-ring (e.g. made of Neoprene) is used for this purpose.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a crimper according to the invention, Figure2showsthe indentation formed using a crimper like that shown in Figure 1 butwith a different shaping of free ends ofthe legs in one set configuration, and Figure 3 shows the different indentation produced when set in a second configuration.

The crimper shown in Figure 1 comprises legs 1 and 2 sprung connected at3 and having free ends4 and 5. Each leg is formed with a series of ribs 6to provide position indications for an O-ring 7. In the position ofthe O-ring 7 shown in Figure 1 the free ends4and 5 are held somewhatapart bythe natural resilience of the stainless steel sheet from which the crimper has been stamped and shaped. Moving the ring 7 closer to the free ends (in the direction of arrow 8) will close the gap between the free ends and thus alter the indentation made by the crimper when the free ends are pushed into a deformable mass.

An O-ring of Neoprene is preferred.

Figures 2 and 3 show the effect of adjusting the position ofthe O-ring 7 along the legs of a similar device to that shown in Figure 1 but with a differently shaped end 5to the leg 2. In the Figure3 configuration, the 0-ring 7 has been moved closerto the free ends of the legs than in the Figure 2 configuration. It will be appreciated a wide range of different shapes for the free ends 4,5 can be used.

Ribs 6 are convenient to locate the O-ring 7 in a selected position and have a further advantage in that they allow a certain degree of closing ofthe angle between the legs without movement of the ring 7 along the legs. When the free ends ofthe crimper are engaged in a deformable mass, raised designs can be created in the mass due to such a partial closing and provided the ring 7 does not slip between squeezings of the crimper, the outer configurations of all raised designs will be the same.

However, despite this advantage of ribs 6, the ribs could be replaced with simple markings on either or both ofthe legs 1,2.

Endless bands otherthan an O-ring can be used but bands with a high degree of extensibility (e.g.

conventional rubber bands) have not been found to give good reproducible results.

1. A crimper comprising a U-shaped member having two legs resiliently linked to one another at one end of each leg so that the legs naturally diverge from said one end and with the opposite or free end of each leg shaped to form an indenting tool for a deformable mass, characterised in thatthe legs are surrounded by an endless band which is put in tension by the natural divergence of the legs and means is provided to indicate the distance along at least one of the legs from the free ends thereof at which the band is located.

2. Acrimperasclaimed in claim 1 inwhichthe U-shaped member is made from stainless steel sheet material.

3. Acrimper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each leg is provided with a line of spaced-apartindentationsto indicate the position of the band therealong.

4. Acrimper as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the band is made of elastomeric material.

5. A crimper as claimed in claim 4, in which the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved indenting device This invention relates two an improved indenting device for use by cake decorators, confectioners, pastry chefs, potters and others wishing to produce patterns of indentations in softsurfacessuch as sugarpaste, marzipan, bread dough, chocolate, clay and otherdeformable plastic materials which mayor may not be hardenable with orwithoutthe application of heat. For convenience in the following description the term "deformable mass" will be used to describe the medium indented by a device according to this invention. Specifically the invention relates to an improved crimper, a device which comprises a U-shaped member having the free ends of the legs ofthe U-shaped memberformed to make the required indentation pattern in the deformable mass. The spacing apart of the free ends determines the precise indentation made when the crimper is pressed down into the deformable mass and heretofore the skill of the user has been relied on to set the spacing to the required value and to maintain it for as long as is required to make the requisite number of indentations on the surface ofthe deformable mass. The required degree of skill to use the known crimpers is not available to starters in a craft (e.g. sugarcraft) and the known devices cannot therefore be used for extensive high quality work until the required degree of skill in using the known devices has been acquired. This invention relates to a simple modification of a known type ofcrimperwhich makes it much easierto use by accurately and reproducibly setting the spacing-apart of the free ends ofthe legs of the crimper. According to the invention a crimper comprises a U-shaped member having two legs resiiiently linked to one another at one end of each leg so that the legs naturally diverge from said one end and with the opposite or free end of each leg shaped to form an indenting tool for a deformable mass, which is characterised in that the legs are surrounded by an endless band which is put in tension by the natural divergence of the legs and means is provided to indicate the distance along at least one of the legs from the free ends thereof at which the band is located. Conveniently the crimper is made from stainless steel sheet material and each leg is provided with a line of spaced-apart indentations to indicate the position of the band therealong. Suitably the band is made of elastomeric material and preferably an O-ring (e.g. made of Neoprene) is used for this purpose. The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a crimper according to the invention, Figure2showsthe indentation formed using a crimper like that shown in Figure 1 butwith a different shaping of free ends ofthe legs in one set configuration, and Figure 3 shows the different indentation produced when set in a second configuration. The crimper shown in Figure 1 comprises legs 1 and 2 sprung connected at3 and having free ends4 and 5. Each leg is formed with a series of ribs 6to provide position indications for an O-ring 7. In the position ofthe O-ring 7 shown in Figure 1 the free ends4and 5 are held somewhatapart bythe natural resilience of the stainless steel sheet from which the crimper has been stamped and shaped. Moving the ring 7 closer to the free ends (in the direction of arrow 8) will close the gap between the free ends and thus alter the indentation made by the crimper when the free ends are pushed into a deformable mass. An O-ring of Neoprene is preferred. Figures 2 and 3 show the effect of adjusting the position ofthe O-ring 7 along the legs of a similar device to that shown in Figure 1 but with a differently shaped end 5to the leg 2. In the Figure3 configuration, the 0-ring 7 has been moved closerto the free ends of the legs than in the Figure 2 configuration. It will be appreciated a wide range of different shapes for the free ends 4,5 can be used. Ribs 6 are convenient to locate the O-ring 7 in a selected position and have a further advantage in that they allow a certain degree of closing ofthe angle between the legs without movement of the ring 7 along the legs. When the free ends ofthe crimper are engaged in a deformable mass, raised designs can be created in the mass due to such a partial closing and provided the ring 7 does not slip between squeezings of the crimper, the outer configurations of all raised designs will be the same. However, despite this advantage of ribs 6, the ribs could be replaced with simple markings on either or both ofthe legs 1,2. Endless bands otherthan an O-ring can be used but bands with a high degree of extensibility (e.g. conventional rubber bands) have not been found to give good reproducible results. CLAIMS

1. A crimper comprising a U-shaped member having two legs resiliently linked to one another at one end of each leg so that the legs naturally diverge from said one end and with the opposite or free end of each leg shaped to form an indenting tool for a deformable mass, characterised in thatthe legs are surrounded by an endless band which is put in tension by the natural divergence of the legs and means is provided to indicate the distance along at least one of the legs from the free ends thereof at which the band is located.

2. Acrimperasclaimed in claim 1 inwhichthe U-shaped member is made from stainless steel sheet material.

3. Acrimper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each leg is provided with a line of spaced-apartindentationsto indicate the position of the band therealong.

4. Acrimper as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the band is made of elastomeric material.

5. A crimper as claimed in claim 4, in which the band is an O-ring.

6. Acrimper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.