GB2430652A

GB2430652A - Cake decoration with mounting for photograph

Info

Publication number: GB2430652A
Application number: GB0519928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karen Jane Sinfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-30
Filing date: 2005-09-30
Publication date: 2007-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-30
Also published as: GB2430652B; GB0519928D0

Abstract

The cake decoration device comprises a mounting plate 1 against which a sheet bearing a photograph or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use. The mounting plate 1 has at least one spike 3 extending rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place on the cake. The device may also have a removable prop 4 which may engage with mounting grooves or sockets 10a, 10b to allow the device to be stood on an edge for use as a picture frame. The prop may be connected to the plate 1 by a hinge.

Description

I

IMPROVEMENTS TO CAKE DECORATIONS

field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cake decorations.

Background to the Invention

Cake decorations come in a range of shapes and forms and variously comprise graphic and sculptural artworks that may be edible, eg icing sugar figurines and lettering of edible ink on rice paper, or inedible, eg moulded plastics figurines or writing on inedible paper. The most popular or familiar of these are the icing sugar- lettered and adorned cakes for celebrating birthdays and other occasions and multi- tier wedding cakes topped with figurines of plastics or icing sugar.

On the whole, however, the types of cake decoration commercially available lack innovation and are not as personal and appealing as they might be. One particular aspect of potential cake decoration that has largely been ignored is the display of photographic images. Past attempts to combine cake decoration with display of photographic images have largely been restricted to mounting photos on a cake stay for holding a cake or applying digitally stored images to the cake itself by spray printing the cake using edible ink.

An object of the invention is to provide a new cake decoration that involves display of photographs or other artwork in an appealing way and which suitably is versatile and compact.

:.. Summary of the Invention * * *S..

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cake * * * * decoration device which comprises a mounting plate against which a sheet bearing a photographic image or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be * displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly, suitably orthogonally rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate *.S.

* 35 to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake.

The spike suitably is pointed! tapered! frusto-conically tipped for insertion into the cake but may have a flat or untapered end but preferably is, alone or together with a further said spike, configured to hold the decoration in place, resisting rotation of the decoration device about the spike. Thus if only one spike is used this suitably has an end profile (transverse cross section) that is non-circular. Preferably the at least one spike is at least about one inch (2.5 cm) in length.

Preferably the cake decoration device further comprises a cover having or serving as a protective viewing panel to cover the mounting plate's display surface, and hence to cover and protect a said sheet (eg photo) mounted thereon. Preferably the cover is a plastics moulding that is of transparent plastics material or has a part that is of transparent plastics material. Suitably the mounting plate is also a plastics moulding and suitably the cover is adapted to resiliently or friction fit engage the mounting plate.

In a first preferred embodiment the at least one spike is borne on the mounting plate. In an alternative embodiment the at least one spike is borne on the cover and extends rearwardly therefrom through the mounting plate to hold the decoration in place on a cake.

Particularly preferably the cake decorating device further comprises at least one mountable!demountable or collapsible prop that may be deployed to extend from the rear of the device to prop the device up to be freestanding on an edge when it is not required to anchor the device flat on a cake by the at least one spike. Suitably the device has formations to mount a prop in two or more alternate positions to enable different poises of the device - suitably allowing for selectively standing the device on a long edge or short edge. I. *1 * IS.. * a * **.

Preferably the device further comprises a substantially flat frame shaped surround insert to be placed within the device to frame the sheet as a border. This may be marked with graphics/ wording such as with birthday greetings and images of bows * or bells and may have space for the user to, for example, apply the name(s) of the * : a., recipient(s) of the cake or in whose honour the cake is dedicated. S.. *

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for decorating a cake that comprises: a mounting plate against which a sheet bearing a photographic image or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly, suitably orthogonally rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake; and a cover having or serving as a protective viewing panel to cover the mounting plate's display surface, and hence to cover and protect a said sheet (eg photo) mounted thereon, the cover being adapted to assemble to the mounting plate.

Preferably the kit further comprises a least one mountable/demountable prop that may be deployed to extend from the rear of the device to prop the device up to be free-standing on an edge when it is not required to anchor the device flat on a cake by the at least one spike. Suitably the kit has formations on the device to mount the prop in two or more alternate positions to enable different poises of the device - suitably allowing for selectively standing the device on a long edge or short edge.

Preferably the kit further comprises a substantially flat frame shaped surround insert to be placed within the device to frame the sheet as a border. Suitably the kit further comprises a set of labels that may be applied to the surround insert and which are sized to suit the dimensions of the insert, enabling an insert to be re-labelled for different occasions for re-use of the device.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of decorating a cake comprising providing a cake decoration device which comprises a mounting plate against which a sheet bearing a photographic image or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly, suitably orthogonally rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate to Insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake; and installing a photograph, or other sheet * .a.

* * to be displayed, on the mounting plate and fitting the cover in place over the sheet and assembled to the mounting plate, and inserting the spike in the cake to hold the device substantially plane parallel on a surface of the cake. * . * * *. Se

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 to 11 are views of a first embodiment of the cake decoration device, having the spikes on the front cover moulding, Figures 1 to 5 being respectively, a front elevation view of a transparent cover moulding, long side, rear and end elevation views of the same and with Figure 5 being a sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 1; Figures 6 to 10 are, respectively, a front elevation view of mounting plate moulding, long side, and end elevation views of the same and with Figure 9 being a sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 6 and with Figure 10 being a sectional view along the line B-B in Figure 6; Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled device with a border and a photograph, or similar, installed therein; Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention as assembled, having the spikes on the mounting plate/ backing plate moulding, and showing the prop fitted to the mounting plate and thus deployed for use as a conventional free standing table-top photo frame; Figure 13 is an exploded/ disassembled view of the Figure 12 device; S... * I..

Figure 14 is a rear perspective view of the Figure 12 device with the prop re- positioned to an alternative socket on the mounting plate to support the device at an incline standing on its longer edge, rather than its shorter/end edge; * 5 Figure 15 is a front perspective view of the Figure 12 device; - 555 35 Figure 16 is a schematic of a kit comprising the device of the present invention and showing the device in its primary mode of use, ie mounted atop a cake; and Figure 17 is an end elevation view of the assembled device as mounted atop the cake.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As shown in Figures 1 to 11, the first embodiment of the cake decoration device comprises a mounting, or backing, plate I and a cover 2, both moulded of plastics and the cover 2 being transparent at least in its central window zone D and suitably also a border window zone C. The materials used in construction of the device are selected to be foodcompatible! safe and may, for example, comprise polypropylene for the mounting plate 1 and clear polystyrene or other suitable clear plastics for the cover 2.

The cover 2 resiliently fastens to the backing plate laround its rim or is at least fastened to the backing plate 1 by the penetration of the two spaced apart spikes 3 on the rear of the cover 2 through apertures in the mounting plate 1. In the illustrated embodiment the spikes 3 are on a raised buttress 3a on the rear of the cover 1 that seats in and projects through a correspondingly shaped aperture 3b in the mounting plate 2.

The spikes 3 extend out through the rear of the mounting plate 1 to serve as the spikes that stably affix the device in use onto the flat top or flat sidewall of a cake.The spikes 3 are about three quarters of an inch to one and a half inches in length and are tapered with truncated! flattened ends. Their tapered shape facilitates :..:: insertion into a cake and, since a sharp point is unnecessary, the flattened tip renders them safe for handling even by children. The spacing of the two spikes 3 gives an anti-rotational stable fixture of the device to the cake.

I I..'

* The fastening of the cover 2 to the mounting plate 1 around the perimeter of the plate 1 suitably is effective to substantially seal the photograph or other artwork : content therein from damage by the cake's surface and environment and particularly si.. 35 preferably is substantially water-tight in case of drinks spillages in the vicinity but at least is sufficient to substantially fully shield the photo/ artwork from icing sugar and crumbs of the cake.

In this first embodiment the mounting plate 1 incorporates a prop 4 hinged at 5 to its rear to enable the device to later be used a freestanding picture frame once the cake has been consumed. Thus the device is versatile and rather than solely being used on the cake and then stored away until a future occasion can be used for ongoing display, like a conventional photo frame, freestanding on a table-top or other surface.

Turning to the second embodiment as shown in Figures 12 to 15, this embodiment is configured with spikes 3 extending orthogonally rearwardly, directly from the mounting plate 1. The cover 2 is shaped in the manner of a sandwich box lid and has an arched rim defining a perimeter recess 6 on the rear face of the cover 2 to seat over a corresponding arched rim perimeter ridge 7 of the mounting plate 1.

Pegs! lugs 8 are positioned at intervals around the ridge 7 or to be received in corresponding sockets 9 in the rim of the cover plate 1. The pegs 8 friction fit with the sockets 9 to provide a secure fastening of the cover 2 to the mounting plate 1.

The arrangement of the sockets 9 to be on the cover 2 with the pegs 8 to be on the mounting plate 1 may, of course be reversed, and is a simple, discrete and effective and efficient way of affixing the cover to the plate once the photo! artwork and any frame-shaped surround have been mounted therewithin.

Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a separate/ separable prop 4, not one that is hingedly held on the mounting plate 1. Here the prop 4 : ** attaches to the mounting plate 1 by interference fit of an end of the prop 4 into one * s** of two alternative mounting grooves! sockets I Oa, I Ob. The arrangement allows for * * ** standing of the device on alternative edges but might also be adapted for adjusting the tilt of the device, for example.The prop 4 is able to be stowed flat against the rear of the mounting plate 1, being provided with apertures 11 to mount over the * **I** * spikes 3, and also apertures 12 that fit over the prominences in which a one of the : * . grooves lOa is located. *..S *S * S *S

Turning to Figure 16, this shows a kit incorporating the cake decoration device of the first embodiment and which further includes a substantially flat frame shaped surround insert 13 to be placed within the device to frame the sheet as a border The surround insert 13 has space 14 for a label to be marked eg with the name of the cake recipient and the kit for cake decoration further comprises a set of labels 15 that may be applied to the surround insert 13 and which are sized to suit the dimensions of the insert, enabling an insert 13 to be re-labelled for different occasions for re-use of the device. A separate over-mounting external plastics frame/ border moulding 15 may also be provided in the kit to push fit, clip fit or otherwise attach to the front of the cover 2. * ** * * * I *S. l.a

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Claims

Claims 1. A cake decoration device which comprises a mounting plate

against which a sheet bearing a photograph or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly relative to the mounting plate to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake.
2. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device has a plurality of said spikes spaced apart thereon.
3. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the at least one spike extends orthogonally rearwardly.
4. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the at least one spike is borne on the mounting plate.
5. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the cake decoration device further comprises a cover having or serving as a protective viewing panel to cover the mounting plate's display surface, and hence to cover and protect a said sheet (eg photo) mounted thereon.
6. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the device * ** further comprises at least one mountable/demountable or collapsible prop that may be deployed to extend from the rear of the device to prop the device up to be free- standing on an edge when it is not required to anchor the device flat on a cake by $ **** the at least one spike. *.SS * 30

* *S.S*
7. A cake decoration device as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the : ** * device further comprises a substantially flat frame shaped surround insert to be * ** ** placed within the device to frame the sheet as a border that may be marked with *S..

graphics/ wording such as with birthday greetings and imagesof bows or bells and may have space for the user to, for example, apply the name(s) of the recipient(s) of the cake or in whose honour the cake is dedicated.
8. A kit for cake decoration comprising: a mounting plate against which a sheet bearing a photographic image or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly, suitably orthogonally rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake; and a cover having or serving as a protective viewing panel to cover the mounting plate's display surface, and hence to cover and protect a said sheet (eg photo) mounted thereon, the cover being adapted to assemble to the mounting plate.
9. A kit for cake decoration as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a least one mountable/demountable prop that may be deployed to extend from the rear of the device to prop the device up to be free-standing on an edge when it is not required to anchor the device flat on a cake by the at least one spike.
10. A kit for cake decoration as claimed in claim 9 the kit having formations on the device to mount the prop in two or more alternate positions to enable different poises of the device - such as allowing for selectively standing the device on a long edge or short edge.
11. A kit for cake decoration as claimed in claim 8, 9, 10 orIl, the kit further comprising a substantially flat frame shaped surround insert to be placed within the device to frame the sheet as a border. * **
12. A kit for cake decoration as claimed in claim 11, the kit further comprising a set * of labels that may be applied to the surround insert and which are sized to suit the **.* dimensions of the insert, enabling an insert to be re-labelled for different occasions S..

* 30 for re-use of the device. * S

: * .
13. A method of decorating a cake comprising providing a cake decoration device 55* ** which comprises a mounting plate against which a sheet bearing a photographic *5*S image or other graphic or literary item may be mounted to be displayed in use, the mounting plate having associated therewith at least one spike extending rearwardly, suitably orthogonally rearwardly, relative to the mounting plate to insert into a cake to hold the decoration in place flat on the cake; and installing a photograph, or other sheet to be displayed, on the mounting plate and fitting the cover in place over the sheet and assembled to the mounting plate, and inserting the spike in the cake to hold the device substantially plane parallel on the surface of the cake. * SI * I S * S.. * a.. *IS* * III * I I * * I * * SII *.S. S...