WO2008090443A1 - Support - Google Patents

Support Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008090443A1
WO2008090443A1 PCT/IB2008/000140 IB2008000140W WO2008090443A1 WO 2008090443 A1 WO2008090443 A1 WO 2008090443A1 IB 2008000140 W IB2008000140 W IB 2008000140W WO 2008090443 A1 WO2008090443 A1 WO 2008090443A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support
indicators
food item
support according
portions
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/000140
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Guillaume Jean Since
Original Assignee
Salton, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Salton, Inc. filed Critical Salton, Inc.
Publication of WO2008090443A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008090443A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A47G19/02—Plates, dishes or the like
    • A47G19/022—Plates comprising indications for dividing cakes or the like into parts of equal size
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A21—BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
    • A21C—MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH
    • A21C15/00—Apparatus for handling baked articles
    • A21C15/04—Cutting or slicing machines or devices specially adapted for baked articles other than bread
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A47G19/02—Plates, dishes or the like
    • A47G19/025—Plates, dishes or the like with means for amusing or giving information to the user
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J47/00—Kitchen containers, stands or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass; Cutting-boards, e.g. for bread
    • A47J47/005—Cutting boards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/24—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies
    • B26D3/245—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies having means to change the number of equal segments, e.g. for pies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D7/00—Indicating measured values
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a support.
  • the invention relates to a support in the form of a cake stand or cake tray, or similar, which can be used for cutting-up portions of food items, such as pizzas, cakes, pies, or the like.
  • the present invention is aimed at providing such an apparatus.
  • the present invention provides a support for receiving a food item requiring division in to a number of portions, comprising: a support surface, which provides a support area sized to receive in use a food item; a plurality of indicators; a user interface, for allowing a user to select a required number of portions of a food item; a controller, operatively-connected to the user interface and the plurality of indicators; wherein the controller is programmable to activate a selection of the plurality of indicators, dependant on the number of portions required, such that, the selected indicators provide a guide to division of a food item placable on the support area.
  • the plurality of indicators may be located on the support surface and, further preferably, may be provided at a periphery of the support surface, or surrounding the support surface.
  • the support may further comprise a first indicator, for identifying a position of a first cut of a food item, and a second, or subsequent, indicator, for identifying a position of second, or subsequent, cut of a food item.
  • the selected indicators provide a set of indicators which indicate all portions of the number of portions required.
  • the indicators of each set are, preferably, equally spaced.
  • a set of 1 to 12 indicators may be provided or a set of 1 to 24 indicators.
  • the number of indicators provided may be 46, in order to provide for up to 12 portions to be indicated.
  • the indicators are LEDs, which may comprise numerical indicators. Further, the indicators may comprise a plurality of LEDs and corresponding lenses.
  • the support comprises a detachable cutting tray.
  • the support includes concentric patterns, to aid positioning of a food item.
  • the controller may comprise one or more of: a processor; a memory; a power source; and one or more input devices for interacting with the processor.
  • the user interface may comprise one or more of: one or more buttons for interacting with one or more input devices; a display; and a speaker.
  • the controller preferably, comprises a PCBA card for supporting the indicators.
  • the support may further comprise a music-making apparatus and/or random illumination apparatus.
  • the music-making apparatus may be electronic.
  • the random illumination apparatus may be one or more LEDs.
  • the support may be capable of playing one or more different tunes of music and/or providing one or more types of random illumination, which tune or type being selectable by a user.
  • the support may comprise a top member and a base member, the top member being rotatably mounted to the base member.
  • the top member may comprise a translucent ring which houses one or more lenses.
  • the lenses are provided proud of the surface of the translucent ring, in order to aid rotation of the top member with respect to the base member.
  • the base member includes a bearing, to allow relative rotation of the top and base members.
  • the present invention provides a support in which the positioning of the indicators (for example, illuminated/activated LEDs) provide an indication of the position of each cut that should be made in the cake.
  • the indicators for example, illuminated/activated LEDs
  • the invention applies equally to other dividable food items, for example, a pie or a pizza, or the like.
  • a method of operating a support comprising: placing a food item on the support surface; selecting, using the user interface, a number of required portions of the food item, such that, a selection of the indicators are activated; making a first cut in the food item in-line with a first activated indicator; making a second, or subsequent, cut in the food item inline with a second, or subsequent, activated indicator, in order to provide one or more portions of the food item.
  • the method further may comprise selecting, using the user interface, a tune of music to be played by the support.
  • the method may comprise selecting, using the user interface, a type of random illumination.
  • the food item may be a pizza, a cake or a pie.
  • a support for receiving a food item comprising a top member rotatably mounted to a base member, wherein the support further comprises a plurality of indicators, for indicating portions of a whole of a food item placable on the top member.
  • Figure 1 is an exploded view of a cake stand (support) according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cake stand of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is an internal view of a top member of the cake stand of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is an internal view of a base member of the cake stand of Figure 1;
  • Figure 5A is an underneath view of a cutting tray of the cake stand of Figure 1 and Figure 5B is a partial- cross-sectional view of the cutting tray of Figure 5A along the line A-A;
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of the cake stand of Figure 1;
  • Figure 7 is a side view of the cake stand of Figure 1.
  • a cake stand (support) according to the present invention is indicated in general by reference 1.
  • the cake stand 1 is provided with a top member 2 and a base member 3.
  • the top member 2 is rotatably mounted to the base member 3.
  • the top member 2 is provided with a detachable cutting tray 4 ⁇ (support surface 4) , a translucent ring 5, a user interface 6, a PCBA card 7 and a top support 8.
  • the top support 8 is circular and is provided with a peripheral groove 9 for receiving the PCBA card 7.
  • the peripheral groove 9 is provided with support members 10 which space the PCBA card 7 from the bottom of the groove 9.
  • the top support 8 is also provided with four arcuate ribs 11, which interact with corresponding portions of the cutting tray 4, to prevent rotation of the cutting tray 4 with respect to the top support 8.
  • the corresponding portions of the cutting tray 4 are shown, in Figures 5A and 5B, in which it can be seen that a cruciform-shaped ridge 12 is proud of the under surface of the cutting tray 4.
  • the arcuate ribs 11 on the top support 8 form an interlock with the cruciform ridge 12 of the under side of the cutting tray 4, which prevents respective rotation of those parts.
  • the power source 16 is locatable under the top support 8, but remains part of the top member 2.
  • the PCBA card 7 is shown in Figure 3 in particular, and is annular-shaped and locatable in the peripheral groove 9 of the top support 8.
  • the PCBA card 7 is the controller and comprises the main electronics which allow for operation of the cake stand 1, in particular, for operation of music-making apparatus and illumination apparatus.
  • the PCBA card 7 also includes a processor, a memory and a power source 16. Additionally, the PCBA card 7 (controller 7) is operatively connected to the user interface 6 and a plurality of indicators 17,18 and is programmable to activate a selection of the plurality of indicators 17,18, dependant on the number of portions of a food item required.
  • Various indicators 17,18 can be grouped to provide a set of indicators which, when selected by a user, identify all positions of division of the cake, i.e.
  • the indicators 17,18 will indicate the boundaries of all portions of the number of portions required by the user to make division of the cake simple.
  • sets of 1 to 12 indicators can be provided or as many as, say, sets of 24 indicators.
  • a set of indicators are those activated following a user inputting a required number of portions. For example, if a user enters 4 required portions, then a set of four indicators will be activated.
  • the cake stand 1 is capable of indicating any number of portions of cake up to 12 portions.
  • the set of indicators to indicate the number of portions will always include the first indicator 17 and then one or more subsequent indicators 18.
  • the subsequent indicators 18 will be included in more than one set of indicators, when located in the correct position, and, therefore, completely separate indicators for each set are not required.
  • a cake stand having four sets of indicators - in order to cut the cake into quarters, thirds and halves or leave whole - requires six indicators. And so on, such that five portions requires ten indicators, 6 portions requires 12 indicators, seven portions requires 18 indicators, etc.
  • the cake stand 1 is provided with 46 indicators 17,18, so that it can indicate up to twelve portions of the cake.
  • a control module 13 which includes, as can be seen from Figure 3, in particular, a visual display 14 and four input devices 15, relating to functions of a plus and minus input, a selector input and an on/off input.
  • the control module 13 is also provided with means for interacting with a speaker, which may be housed as part of the translucent ring 5.
  • a first indicator 17 is provided by an LED 17 located in a central-region of the control module 13. This first indicator 17 is provided to highlight to a user a position of a first cut of a food item placed on the cake stand.
  • Second and subsequent indicators 18 are provided by LEDs 18 interspersed around the PCBA card 7 and are provided to highlight to a user a second, or subsequent, position of cut of the food item.
  • the PCBA card 7 interacts with and controls the music-making apparatus and the LEDs (illumination apparatus) .
  • the LEDs can be controlled to provide random illumination and, therefore, various illumination effects.
  • the music-making apparatus of the control module 13 allows a user to select, using the plus or minus buttons 29, 30 a tune of music to be played by the cake stand 1. For example, there may be five different tunes of music, of which one, is at least the well known tune Happy Birthday.
  • a user is capable of selecting a particular type of random illumination of the LEDs, to provide a different effect, depending upon the circumstances.
  • the translucent ring 5 is also annular and can receive a user interface 6 which can interact directly with the input devices 15 of the control module 13.
  • the translucent ring 5 is provided with a hole 19 through which the display 14 can be placed.
  • the user interface 6 is also provided with a transparent portion 20, through which the display 14 can be seen by a user.
  • the translucent ring 5 may include a speaker 21, which is powered by the PCBA card 7.
  • the translucent ring 5 is provided with 45 rectangular lenses 22.
  • the lenses 22 are provided to emphasise the light of the corresponding LED 18 underneath, and their relatively long rectangular shape provides an aid to a user to make a second or subsequent cut along the line of the rectangular lens 22. This rectangular feature of the lenses 22 aids accuracy of cutting by a user.
  • the lenses 22 are proud of the surface of the translucent ring 5 and provide a more gripable surface to aid rotation of the top member 2 with respect to the base member 3.
  • the user interface 6 provides a facia to cover up the internal components of the control module 13, and includes the first indicator 17.
  • the user interface 6 is provided with four input buttons 28,29,30,31 for interacting with the four input devices 15.
  • the user interface 6 is provided with a music button 28, a minus button 29, a plus button 30 and an on/off button 31.
  • the user interface 6 is also provided with a ridge 32, for preventing a food item being cut fouling the user interface 6.
  • the cutting tray 4 - which includes the support area - is provided with one or more concentric circles 33, to aid a user placing a food item in the centre of the cake stand 1.
  • the cutting tray 4 may be made of glass, ceramic or melamine.
  • the base member 3 supports the top member 2, such that the top member 2 and base member 3 are rotatably mounted together.
  • the base member 3 includes four feet 23, which are provided with rubber tips 24, which are intended to prevent slipping of the cake stand 1 on a surface on which it is placed.
  • the base member 3 is also provided with a central support member 25, which supports a centre-region of the top member 2.
  • the base member 3 includes four sets of brackets 26, for each receiving a bearing ball or rotatable member 27.
  • the rotatable members 27 are freely mounted in the brackets 26, such that they can rotate and provide respective rotation of the top member 2 and base member 3.
  • the top support 8 receives the PCBA card 7 in the peripheral groove 9, followed by receipt of the translucent ring 5 and user interface 6. Finally, the detachable cutting tray 4 is placed on an upper portion of the top support 8, so that the corresponding portions 11, 12 interact.
  • the base member 3 is provided by locating the rotatable members 27 in their respective brackets 26. In order to assemble the cake stand 1, the top member 2 is simply placed on to the base member 3 from where it can rotate with respect to the base member 3.
  • a cake is placed upon the cutting tray 4, using the concentric circles 33 as a guide to the correct positioning of the cake. Having positioned the cake, a user selects - using the input buttons - a number of portions of the whole cake desired. The number of portions selected will be shown by the display 14. Depending upon the numerals indicated in the display 14, various LEDs 17,18 will be illuminated/activated and shine through their respective lenses 22.
  • the positioning of the illuminated LEDs 17,18 provide an indication of the position of each cut that should be made in the cake - to provide equal shares to all intended recipients. Starting from the first indicator means 17, this LED 17 highlights a first cut that should be made to the centre of the cake. Second and subsequent cuts are highlighted by second and subsequent indicator means/LEDs 18 which shine through their respective lenses
  • a user should then make a subsequent cut to the centre at the position of each of the illuminated LEDs 18. In this way, a substantially equal, or equal, portion of the cake is provided to each person. If a user selects four portions in the user interface 6, then it will be understood that a set of four LEDs 17,18 will be illuminated, indicating that four cuts should be made in the cake to provide the four portions. In particular, the set of four illuminated LEDs 17,18 will be equally-spaced and provide a quarter of the cake to each recipient.
  • the cake stand 1 is capable of playing a tune of music and/or providing random illumination of LEDs, in addition to the LEDs acting as indicators to aid cutting the cake. The tune of music to be played is selected by toggling the music button 28.
  • Use of the music- making and/or illumination apparatus could be an alternative, or addition, to having candles on the cake and/or singing.
  • a user may remain in approximately the same position to make each of the cuts into the cake as the top member 2 is rotatable with respect to the base member 3. Therefore, after each cut of the cake, the cake may be rotated to allow a subsequent cut of the cake from the same position of user.
  • the cake stand is provided with a fixed base, such that, the cake stand does not have a top and base members that are rotatably mounted.
  • the cake stand 1 is provided with: a single support member (fixed base), which is provided with a support surface - which includes the support area; a plurality of indicators; a user interface; and a controller - all as discussed in relation to the embodiment above.
  • a user may simply rotate the cake stand manually, by lifting or dragging, etc., or alter their position around the cake stand, in order to carry out the second and subsequent cuts of the cake.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un support permettant de recevoir un article alimentaire devant être partagé en un certain nombre de parts. Le support comprend : une surface de support (4) qui constitue une zone de support dimensionnée afin de recevoir, en cours d'utilisation, un article alimentaire; une pluralité d'indicateurs (17, 18); une interface utilisateur (6) permettant à un utilisateur de sélectionner un nombre requis de parts d'un article alimentaire; et un dispositif de commande (13-16) relié de manière opérationnelle à l'interface utilisateur (6) et à la pluralité d'indicateurs (17, 18). Le dispositif de commande peut être programmé afin d'activer une sélection des multiples indicateurs en fonction du nombre de parts requis, de sorte que les indicateurs sélectionnés fournissent un guide pour le partage d'un article alimentaire placé sur la zone de support.
PCT/IB2008/000140 2007-01-25 2008-01-23 Support WO2008090443A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0701455.88 2007-01-25
GB0701455A GB2452007A (en) 2007-01-25 2007-01-25 A plate with electronic division indicators

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008090443A1 true WO2008090443A1 (fr) 2008-07-31

Family

ID=37872788

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2008/000140 WO2008090443A1 (fr) 2007-01-25 2008-01-23 Support

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2452007A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008090443A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016092575A1 (fr) * 2014-12-12 2016-06-16 Antonio Mele Dispositif laser alimenté par pile qui montre le trajet de coupe afin d'obtenir des portions égales d'un gâteau, d'une pizza ou d'aliments similaires

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2605926A1 (fr) * 1986-10-29 1988-05-06 Turbe Jean Pierre Marqueur lumineux aidant a la decoupe des patisseries et plats cuisines
FR2755636A1 (fr) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-15 Aumont Jacques Aide au decoupage alimentaire en parts egales
US6557260B1 (en) * 1999-02-03 2003-05-06 Kenneth A. Morris Even-slice pizza cutter
CN2626923Y (zh) * 2003-01-28 2004-07-21 焦玉飘 可旋转带音乐蛋糕盒
US20060164229A1 (en) * 2005-01-21 2006-07-27 Masters Stephen C System and method for providing a display utilizing a fast photon indicator
CN2811204Y (zh) * 2005-03-22 2006-08-30 潘永勤 生日蛋糕纸盘
US20060215384A1 (en) * 2005-03-28 2006-09-28 Trisco Technology Corp. [illumination structure of a meter]

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1527833A (fr) * 1967-02-20 1968-06-07 Appareil permettant la division régulière des gâteaux
FR2408436A1 (fr) * 1977-09-28 1979-06-08 Bassereau Roger Appareil pour partager un gateau ou analogue
FR2554756A1 (fr) * 1983-11-10 1985-05-17 Richert Evelyne Ustensile a usage domestique ou professionnel pour diviser des objets en parts egales
US5736659A (en) * 1996-10-10 1998-04-07 Kyle, Jr.; Richard Musical rotating cake plate

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2605926A1 (fr) * 1986-10-29 1988-05-06 Turbe Jean Pierre Marqueur lumineux aidant a la decoupe des patisseries et plats cuisines
FR2755636A1 (fr) * 1996-11-08 1998-05-15 Aumont Jacques Aide au decoupage alimentaire en parts egales
US6557260B1 (en) * 1999-02-03 2003-05-06 Kenneth A. Morris Even-slice pizza cutter
CN2626923Y (zh) * 2003-01-28 2004-07-21 焦玉飘 可旋转带音乐蛋糕盒
US20060164229A1 (en) * 2005-01-21 2006-07-27 Masters Stephen C System and method for providing a display utilizing a fast photon indicator
CN2811204Y (zh) * 2005-03-22 2006-08-30 潘永勤 生日蛋糕纸盘
US20060215384A1 (en) * 2005-03-28 2006-09-28 Trisco Technology Corp. [illumination structure of a meter]

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016092575A1 (fr) * 2014-12-12 2016-06-16 Antonio Mele Dispositif laser alimenté par pile qui montre le trajet de coupe afin d'obtenir des portions égales d'un gâteau, d'une pizza ou d'aliments similaires

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0701455D0 (en) 2007-03-07
GB2452007A (en) 2009-02-25

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