WO1989006495A1

WO1989006495A1 - A device for decorating an article of confectionary

Info

Publication number: WO1989006495A1
Application number: PCT/GB1989/000061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian West; Anthony Michael Gibbon
Original assignee: Brian West; Anthony Michael Gibbon
Priority date: 1988-01-22
Filing date: 1989-01-23
Publication date: 1989-07-27
Also published as: AU2948989A

Abstract

A device for use in decorating articles of confectionary which in a preferred form consists of a nozzle formed of first and second tubular parts (1, 2), one being of lesser diameter than the other and inserted therewithin to form an annular passageway (3) between the outer wall of the inserted tubular member (2) and the inner wall of the outer tubular member (1). One end of the nozzle is closed with a baffle member (11) provided with a circular array of holes (10) communicating with the annular passageway (3). The walls of the inner and outer tubular members (1, 2) terminate to form an annular outlet passageway (A) having cooperating formations (F) along the peripheral edges (4, 5) thereof. Thus when decorating fluid is delivered under pressure through the holes (10) in the baffle, and with the annular passageway (3) being occupied by the fluid, it is forced out of the annular outlet A and spreads in opposing transverse directions on the surface of the confectionary article to form a precise deposit of decorating fluid provided with a decorative effect determined by the type of cooperating formations and configurations of the annular outlet.

Description

_{A D}EVICE FOR DECORATING AN ARTICLE OF CONFECTIONARY. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for use in food preparation and in particular to such a device for decorating confectionary such as cake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The commonly employed method of decorating cakes with cre_?m, involves the use of an injection nozzle provided with a passageway for. delivering the cream to the decoration area from a source of supply under pressure applied manually or otherwise.

The end of the nozzle has a portion of successively diminishing cross section to provide an outlet aperture which assists and controls pressure distribution of the cream as it is being applied.

The periphery of that end portion of the nozzle is of saw tooth configuration such that decorative formations are applied to the cream as it is being forced through the outlet aperture onto the surface of the cake. To the applicants knowledge this is the only method presently available for cake decoration and it has extremely severe limitations inter alia in respect of the number and variety of decorative designs which can be formed on the cake surface. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a device for decorating a cake which is able to provide a variety of shapes and forms otherwise unobtainable by the prior art, and so obtainable in a more automated fashion thus reducing expense of manufacture and producing a decorated cake which has more appeal to the consumer.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for use in decorating an article of confectionary comprising a decorating fluid delivery head, nozzle means for dispensing the decorating fluid attached to the delivery head, said nozzle means having inner and outer walls defining an annular passageway therebetween for passing said fluid received from the delivery head, said annular passageway forming an annular outlet of said nozzle means between terminating edges of said inner and outer walls such that a desired decorative deposit may be applied to the article by fluid forced through said annular outlet.

With this arrangement much more precise decorative arrangements can be applied to confectionary articles, in particular cakes, than heretofore possible. This is because the decorative fluid is applied through a constricted annular outlet between confining walls rather than through an ordinary outlet formed between a single annular wall. Thus fluid forced out of the annular passageway is distributed in both transverse directions upon the surface of the cake and in the plane, or substantially in the plane, of the nozzle outlet passageway.

In a preferred embodiment cooperating formations are provided on the terminating edges of the inner and outer walls in the form of saw teeth with the saw teeth on each edge being in alignment.

This design results in the ability of the device to form individual flower arrangements on the cake with each petal corresponding to each transverse extrusion through the openings in the saw teeth along the cooperating edges, and a central clear area along the axis of the nozzle.

Advantageously the delivery head is formed of two parts, the first part being cone shaped and the second part a flat circular plate attachable to the conical part so defining between the two an internal chamber for receiving the decorating fluid for delivery to the nozzle means attached to the circular plate. The nozzle means is preferably in the form of a pair of tubular members one being of lesser diameter and in interference fit within a circular flange provided at one end of the other tubular member so defining the annular passageway for decorative fluid between adjacent walls of the tubular members. The flange is provided with a series of holes for passing the fluid from the internal chamber to the annular passageway.

A number of said nozzle means may be arranged in a circle on said plate each in communication with the internal chamber. This arrangement is able to provide a series of individual flower heads disposed around the surface of the cake being decorated. It will be appreciated that an infinite variety of decorative designs are possible dependent on the design of the cross section of the annular outlet of the nozzle. For example, the terminating edges of the inner and outer walls of the nozzle may be formed to the shape of a butterfly and so on.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a device for use in decorating an article of confectionary comprising a nozzle body, said body having inner and outer walls defining an annular passageway, one or more inlets to said passageway formed in said nozzle body for delivery of decorating fluid to said annular passageway, said annular passageway forming an annular outlet between terminating edges of said inner and outer walls, whereby the fluid delivered under pressure through said inlet to said passageway is forced through said annular outlet such that a decorative annular deposit of confectionary fluid may be applied to said article. To exemplify the invention preferred embodiments therefore will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings accompanying this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of a delivery nozzle for decorative confectionary fluid according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the nozzle of Figure 1 showing individual component parts therefor, one closure part thereof being shown in plan view;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a decorativ fluid delivery head provided with a series of nozzles of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a pictorial representation of a decorative design obtainable using the nozzle shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of a delivery nozzle for decorating the sides of a cake or other articles of confectionary;

Figure 6, 6a and 6b are sectional, top and bottom views respectively of a modified form of delivery nozzle for decorative confectionary fluid; and

Figure 7 is a part sectional view showing a modification of the nozzle depicted in Figures 6, 6a and 6b.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The cake decorating nozzle shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings is comprised of two tubular parts 1 and 2 of equal length, the part 2 being of smaller cross- section than part 1, and disposed within that part to form an annular passageway 3 between the two parts. The adjacent terminating edges 4 and 5 of tubular parts 1 and 2 are of saw tooth configuration forming between them an annular outlet aperture A, with the V- shaped openings F between the teeth being aligned across the annular passageway 3.

The size of the saw teeth, and consequently the V-shaped openings F, along each respective edge 4 and 5, may be the same or different depending on the decorative design to be applied to the article of food to be decorated. An annular closure piece 6 fits to the top of the outer tubular part 1. The closure piece 6 has a flange 7 which rests on the peripheral edge 8 of the outer tubular part 1, and a depending skirt 9 which is dimensioned to provide an interference fit with the tubular part 1.

A circular series of holes 10 are drilled in the flange 7 as shown.

The open top of inner tubular part 2 is closed by means of a closure cap 11. The closure cap 11 has a conical head 12, a depending boss 13 and a flange 14 intermediate the conical head 12 and boss 13.

The boss 13 is dimensioned for interference fit within the inner tubular part 2 with the flange 14 in abutment with the surface of the flange 7 of the closure piece 6.

A number of decorative cream (or other like fluid) delivery nozzles N of the type illustrated in Figuresl and 2, are shown attached to a delivery head generally indicated at 15 in Figure 3.

The head 15 shown in Figure 3 is adapted for connection, via coupling 15', to apparatus (not shown) for delivering decorating fluid under suitable pressure to the head

15 thereafter, to be dispensed over the cake being decorated through each nozzle N.

The delivery head 15 is comprised of a conical head piece 16 fastened by means of bolts B to a flat circular plate 17 thus forming between them a distribution chamber

18.

Nozzles N of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2 are attached in circular array to the exposed side of plate 17, the diameter of the array being determined by the size of the cake to be decorated and/or the position of the decorative designs on the upper surface of the cake.

The nozzles N are held in place to the plate 17 by interference fit as between the flange 7 and recesses

19 see Figure 3, formed around the periphery of the openings

20 drilled to receive, and also in interference fit with the outer tubular part 1 of each nozzle N. 495

In operation with the nozzles N disposed in close proximity to the upper surface of a cake to be decorated, decorative fluid is fed under pressure from a source (not shown) through delivery inlet I in the coupling 15' of the conical head piece 16 to the distribution chamber 18.

The fluid then passes through the holes 10 in the flange 7* to occupy the annular passageway 3 between adjacent walls of the tubular parts 1 and 2 of each nozzle N, whereafter to be forced under pressure through the annular outlet A formed between the terminating edges 4 and 5.

In view of the close proximity of the cake surface to the edges 4 and 5, the decorating fluid will be caused to extrude through the V-shaped openings F along each terminating edge 4 and 5 effectively transversely of the axis of each nozzle N and in the plane of the annular outlet A.

The decorative formations produced on the surface of the cake will be in the form of a circular array of individual extrusions of decorative fluid to either side of the position of the annular outlet A over the cake, with a small clear central area lying on the axis of each nozzle N.

The size of each individual extrusion will depend on the size of the V-shaped openings 3 but the overall effect using the nozzle design above described will be one of the distinct appearance of the head of a crysanthamum flower as shown pictorially in Figure 4.

Other decorative patterns are possible using the technique of the invention. Thus instead of being of circular configuration for example, the terminating edges 4 and 5 defining the outlet aperture A could be formed in a wide variety of shapes such as a butterfly or other animal design.

Moreover the decorative design produced by the nozzle configuration as above described could be varied by having differently shaped formations around the edges 4 and 5 formed for example of elongate slots.

As a further variation the cut-outs on each edge 4 and 5 of whatever shape, could be arranged to be misaligned between the opposing walls of the annular passageway of the nozzle thereby to vary extrusion occurring in each transverse direction. Alternatively the terminating edges 4 and 5 could be straight so producing a plain ring deposit on the cake or other confectionary article. Figure 5 shows an application of the invention to a device for applying cream to the sides of a cake.

This comprises a conical cream distribution head 21 provided with a distribution chamber 22 around the upper conical wall 23.

A circular plate 24 is attached to the head 21, the plate 24 being provided with an array of spaced holes 25 around its peripheral edge. Each hole 25 leads to an annular passageway 26 formed between depending circularly annular walls 27 and 28 attached to the plate 24, the diameter of the inner annular wall 27 formed by the tubular wall 27 being chosen to suit the size of the cake being decorated.

The wall 28 is longer than the wall 27 to provide a terminating edge 29 of wall 28 which extends inwardly underneath the bottom edge 30 of the wall 27, to form an annular outlet 31 of passageway 26 facing the side of the cake to be decorated.

Cream delivered under pressure to the chamber 22 through inlet 32 in the head 21, passes to the annular passageway 26 through holes 25 and is then forced through the outlet 31 to coat the sides of the cake.

An even thickness of coating cream may then be applied to the sides of the cake as the head 21 is moved in a vertical direction by means (not shown) , thereby to decorate the side of the cake as desired.

In a practical situation it is envisaged that the device as described above with reference to Figure 5 would be used in conjunction with the device of Figure 3, the latter to decorate the top of a representative cake for example and the former the sides of the same cake.

A fully automated procedure for cake decoration is therefore possible with the invention in contrast to present methods which involve time consuming and expensive manual operations. A modified form of delivery nozzle for decorating fluid is shown in Figure 6.

In the embodiment shown the nozzle comprises an annular flanged head 33 designed to engage the open end of a flexible bag (not shown) for holding decorating fluid which can be squeezed by hand pressure to force the fluid out of the bag and through the nozzle delivery aperture as will be described.

The flanged head 33 s provided with a central depending stem 34. A tubular member 35 is mounted to the head

33 around the central stem 34 such that a fluid delivery chamber 36 is formed between the outer surface 37 of the central stem 34 and the inner surface 38 of the tubular member 35. A series of fluid delivery holes 39 are provided around the flanged head 33 and leading to the delivery chamber 36.

The central stem 34 of the head 33 is composed of an upper tubular section 39 and a lower section 40 having a gradually increasing circular cross section to provide an annular wall surface 41 inclined in the path of travel of the fluid through the delivery chamber 36.

The surface portion 41 extends towards the inner surface 39 to form a gradually narrowing annular delivery chamber part 36' of the delivery chamber 36, terminating in a constricted annular fluid delivery aperture 42 formed between the annular peripheries 42 and 44 of the outer wall 35 and the inclined wall surface portion 41 respectively.

The annular peripheries 43 and 44 lie in the same plane as the periphery 43 in the embodiment shown to form a planar annular aperture 42. With this configuration with the peripheries 43,44 placed against the surface of the article to be decorated, a perfectly formed and sharply defined ring deposit may be delivered by the nozzle depicted in Figure 6, the inclined surface 41 providing a component of force on the extruding product acting to direct the product flow outwardly with respect to the axis of the nozzle with in conjunction with the confining influence engendered by the opposing wall surface 38 provides the sharp outer and inner definition of the ring deposit referred to above. The inner definition is enhanced by the reduced tendency for the product to adhere to the body of the central portion 34 because of the reduced availability of wall surface in the critical area by virtue of the inward inclination of the surface portion 41 with respect to the periphery 44. Moreover since the fluid is also forced outwardly away from the periphery 43 by the action of the inclined surface 41, the cling or drag effect induced by the walls of the tubular member 35, which otherwise would destroy the outer ring definition is removed.

Patterns may be formed in the ring deposit itself by serating one or both of the peripheries 43,44 as in the previous embodiment as at S in Figure 6. A further variation is shown in Figure 7. 13

In this embodiment the annular periphery 45 of the bell-shaped end 40 has a diameter the same as the external diameter of the tubular member 35, with the plane of the periphery 46 of the tubular member 35 offset rearwardly with respect to the plane of the periphery 47 to form a constricted annular outlet aperture 4rf for delivering decorating fluid essentially by a sideways action, but providing the distinct ring shaped deposits as with the Figure 6 embodiment. In use as with the peripheries 43 and 44 of the Figure 6 embodiment, the periphery 45 of the Figure 7 embodiment is placed against the product P to be decorated, see Figure 7 for example, and the fluid ejected by hand pressure on the flexible bag attached to each nozzle and containing the source material.

To avoid suction effects, the interior of the hollow central portion 31 may be vented to air in any suitable manner.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for use in decorating an article of confectionary comprising a nozzle body, said body having inner and outer walls defining an annular passageway, one or more inlets to said passageway formed in said nozzle body for delivery of decorating fluid to said annular passageway, said annular passageway forming an annular outlet between terminating edges of said inner and outer walls, whereby the fluid delivered under pressure through said inlet to said passageway is forced through said annular outlet such that a decorative annular deposit of confectionery fluid may be applied to said article.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner wall has a lower portion of gradually increasing circular cross section extending to said terminating edge thereof to provide an annular wall surface inclined in the path of travel of the fluid through said annular passageway and a constricted said annular outlet compared to the size of said annular passageway.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said terminating edges lie in a plane transverse to the axis of the nozzle body.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the terminating edge of the outer wall of said nozzle body is above that of the inner wall, the peripheries of both said terminating edges having the same lateral extent with respect to the axis of the nozzle body.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein said terminating edges are serrated.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the terminating edges are straight.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the terminating edge of the outer wall is serrated and the terminating edge of the inner wall straight.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the periphery of each said terminating edge is circular

9. A device for use in decorating an article of con¬ fectionary comprising a decorating fluid delivery head, nozzle means for dispensing the decorating fluid attached to the delivery head, said nozzle means having inner and outer walls defining an annular passageway therebetween for passing said fluid received from the delivery head, said annular passageway forming an annular outlet of said nozzle means between the terminating edges of said inner and outer walls, such that a decorative annular deposit may be applied to the article by fluid forced through said annular outlet.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the terminating edges have cooperating formations in the form of saw teeth with the saw teeth on each edge being in alignment.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said delivery head is formed of two parts, the first part being cone shaped and the second part a flat circular plate attachable to the conical part so defining between the two an internal chamber for receiving the decorating fluid for delivery to said nozzle means attached to the circular plate.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said nozzle means is in the form of a pair of tubular members, one being of lesser diameter and in interference fit within a circular flange provided at one end of the other tubular member so defining said annular passageway.

13. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 12 wherein said flange is provided with a series of holes for passing the fluid from the internal chamber to the annular passageway.

14. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein a number of said nozzle means are arranged in a circle on said plate in communication with said internal chamber.

15. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said annular inner wall defines an internal space for receiving the article to be decorated, and wherein a terminating edge of said outer wall extends beneath a terminating edge of said inner wall such that said annular outlet faces said article disposed within said internal space, and means for moving the delivery head with respect to the article to coat the article with fluid delivered through said annular outlet.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein each said terminating edge is straight.