GB2035055A

GB2035055A - Cake pillar

Info

Publication number: GB2035055A
Application number: GB7840510A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dibro Ltd
Current assignee: Dibro Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-13
Filing date: 1978-10-13
Publication date: 1980-06-18

Abstract

A cake pillar comprises a pillar- like member (10) which has a recess (20) at its one end and a spike member (12) having a spike (16) extending perpendicularly from a disc-like base (24) which is dimensioned to be snugly received in the mouth of the recess (20). In use, the spike is inserted into a cake so that the base (24) lies on the upper surface of the cake. The pillar-like member (10) is then placed over the spike member with its recess in engagement with the base (24) of the spike thereby positively locating the pillar-like member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cake pillar This invention relates to cake pillars and particularly to cake pillars for wedding cakes which have several tiers placed one on top of another.

Conventional cake pillars, as they are referred to, are quite satisfactory when the cake is to remain in one place and on a firm surface. When they are to be moved however the tiers normally have to be taken down and each carried separately. This is because conventional cake pillars can be unstable and even when the cake is on the surface of a trolley, for instance, the greatest care has to be taken to avoid accidents when it is moved.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cake pillar which can be used to hold up the first and subsequent tiers of a cake with at least a reduced risk of one or more of the tiers toppling over when the cake is moved or when it is on an unstable surface.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a cake pillar comprising a pillar-like member having a recess at one end for receiving the base of a spike member, the latter being adapted to project into or engage with a lower tier of a multi-tier cake.

By comparison with the prior art therefore, a cake pillar in accordance with this invention has an advantage in that, when the spike member is pushed into the cake, its base provides a more stable and firm seating for the pillar-like member. The latter can then, in collaboration with other similar cake pillars, support with greater stability the next tier of the cake.

Preferably the spike member comprises a disc-like part and a tapered spike which extends substantially perpendicularly, from the middle of the disc-like part. Furthermore, the recess in the pillar-like member comprises an internal cylindrical bore whose depth and diameter is substantially equal to the thickness and diameter respectively of the disc-like part of the spike members.

The disc-like part may have a flat or indentation for aiding its disengagement from the pillar-like member.

Advantageously the recess in the pillar-like member is of sufficient depth to receive the spike member when it is inverted and its base is received within the recess. This latter feature aids in the package, storage and transportation of the cake stand because the awkwardly shaped spike of the spike member is accomodated within the pillar-like member.

The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the invention is shown in perspective view.

The cake pillar illustrated comprises a pillar 10 and a spike member 12, the latter having a disc-like base 14 and spike 16. The pillar 10 has a recess 20 having a substantially cylindrical part 1 8 which is of similar dimension to that of the base 1 4. Consequently a press fit is achieved when the spike member 1 2 is seated in the pillar 10. The recess 20 is sufficiently deep so that when the spike member is reversed, the base 14 can still be received by the cylindrical part 1 8 with the spike 1 6 in the recess 20. It is mainly for the purpose of removing the spike member 1 2 from its inverted position in the pillar 10, that a flat 22 is provided on the base 14.This can be engaged by a finger nail or knife or some other tool, so as to prise the base 14 and pillar 10 apart.

In use, the spike 1 6 is driven into the icing, if present, at the top of a cake. Other similar spikes are likewise pushed into the cake at desired locations; which usually forms a square on any shape of cake. Next, the pillars 10 are each located on the bases 1 4 which are lying with their lower surfaces 24 against the top surface of the cake. In each case, the cylindrical part 1 8 of the recess 20 is seated on the base 1 4 so that the bottom 26 of the pillar 10 lies flush with the lower surface 24 of the base 14.

Consequently the external appearance of the pillars is no different from the prior art but at the same time the spike securely holds the pillars to the lower tier so that a cake placed onto the top surfaces 28 of the so-arranged pillars is more stable than was the case with prior art pillars.

The invention is not, however, restricted to pillars having hexagonal cross-section as is shown in the drawing but round or square ones or any shaped ones are equally applicable. The same can be said for the base 1 4 of the spike member 1 2 and its associated recess 20. Square or hexagonal or round bases 1 4 are equally encompassed by this invention.

Furthermore, although the invention improves the functional abilities of a cake pillar, the latter still remains simple to manufacture.

So while some conventional cake pillars are constructed from such materials as plaster or the like, a cake pillar in accordance with the invention can easily be made from inert plastics material which is washable and hence more hygenic.

Finally, the top 28 can be constructed with a hole so that the recess 2G continues all the way through the pillar. Thus a dowling or the like may be used if preferred to locate the top and bottom cakes with respect to the cake pillar.

1. A cake pillar comprising a spike member having a spike portion carried by a base portion, and a pillar-like member having a

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cake pillar This invention relates to cake pillars and particularly to cake pillars for wedding cakes which have several tiers placed one on top of another. Conventional cake pillars, as they are referred to, are quite satisfactory when the cake is to remain in one place and on a firm surface. When they are to be moved however the tiers normally have to be taken down and each carried separately. This is because conventional cake pillars can be unstable and even when the cake is on the surface of a trolley, for instance, the greatest care has to be taken to avoid accidents when it is moved. It is an object of this invention to provide a cake pillar which can be used to hold up the first and subsequent tiers of a cake with at least a reduced risk of one or more of the tiers toppling over when the cake is moved or when it is on an unstable surface. In accordance with this invention there is provided a cake pillar comprising a pillar-like member having a recess at one end for receiving the base of a spike member, the latter being adapted to project into or engage with a lower tier of a multi-tier cake. By comparison with the prior art therefore, a cake pillar in accordance with this invention has an advantage in that, when the spike member is pushed into the cake, its base provides a more stable and firm seating for the pillar-like member. The latter can then, in collaboration with other similar cake pillars, support with greater stability the next tier of the cake. Preferably the spike member comprises a disc-like part and a tapered spike which extends substantially perpendicularly, from the middle of the disc-like part. Furthermore, the recess in the pillar-like member comprises an internal cylindrical bore whose depth and diameter is substantially equal to the thickness and diameter respectively of the disc-like part of the spike members. The disc-like part may have a flat or indentation for aiding its disengagement from the pillar-like member. Advantageously the recess in the pillar-like member is of sufficient depth to receive the spike member when it is inverted and its base is received within the recess. This latter feature aids in the package, storage and transportation of the cake stand because the awkwardly shaped spike of the spike member is accomodated within the pillar-like member. The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the invention is shown in perspective view. The cake pillar illustrated comprises a pillar 10 and a spike member 12, the latter having a disc-like base 14 and spike 16. The pillar 10 has a recess 20 having a substantially cylindrical part 1 8 which is of similar dimension to that of the base 1 4. Consequently a press fit is achieved when the spike member 1 2 is seated in the pillar 10. The recess 20 is sufficiently deep so that when the spike member is reversed, the base 14 can still be received by the cylindrical part 1 8 with the spike 1 6 in the recess 20. It is mainly for the purpose of removing the spike member 1 2 from its inverted position in the pillar 10, that a flat 22 is provided on the base 14.This can be engaged by a finger nail or knife or some other tool, so as to prise the base 14 and pillar 10 apart. In use, the spike 1 6 is driven into the icing, if present, at the top of a cake. Other similar spikes are likewise pushed into the cake at desired locations; which usually forms a square on any shape of cake. Next, the pillars 10 are each located on the bases 1 4 which are lying with their lower surfaces 24 against the top surface of the cake. In each case, the cylindrical part 1 8 of the recess 20 is seated on the base 1 4 so that the bottom 26 of the pillar 10 lies flush with the lower surface 24 of the base 14. Consequently the external appearance of the pillars is no different from the prior art but at the same time the spike securely holds the pillars to the lower tier so that a cake placed onto the top surfaces 28 of the so-arranged pillars is more stable than was the case with prior art pillars. The invention is not, however, restricted to pillars having hexagonal cross-section as is shown in the drawing but round or square ones or any shaped ones are equally applicable. The same can be said for the base 1 4 of the spike member 1 2 and its associated recess 20. Square or hexagonal or round bases 1 4 are equally encompassed by this invention. Furthermore, although the invention improves the functional abilities of a cake pillar, the latter still remains simple to manufacture. So while some conventional cake pillars are constructed from such materials as plaster or the like, a cake pillar in accordance with the invention can easily be made from inert plastics material which is washable and hence more hygenic. Finally, the top 28 can be constructed with a hole so that the recess 2G continues all the way through the pillar. Thus a dowling or the like may be used if preferred to locate the top and bottom cakes with respect to the cake pillar. CLAIMS

1. A cake pillar comprising a spike member having a spike portion carried by a base portion, and a pillar-like member having a recess at its one end for engageably receiving the base of the spike member, the latter member being adapted for projection into or engagement with a lower tier of a multi-tier cake.

2. A cake pillar as claimed in claim 1 in which the base portion of the spike member is substantially disc-shaped and is integrally connected to the spike portion which extends perpendicularly from the middle of the discshaped base portion.

3. A cake pillar as claimed in claim 2 in which the recess in the pillar-like member includes a cylindrical bore portion whose depth and diameter are substantially equal to the thickness and diameter respectively of the disc-like base portion of the spike member.

4. A cake pillar as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the disc-like base portion of the spike member has a flat or indentation for aiding its disengagement from the pillar-like member.

5. A cake pillar as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the recess in the pillarlike member is of sufficient depth to accommodate the spike member for storage purposes when the latter is inverted and its base portion is engaged within the recess.

6. A cake pillar as claimed in any previous claim made from an inert plastics material.

7. A cake pillar as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pillar-like member has a longitudinal bore or aperture extending throughout its length.

8. A cake pillar as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spike portion of the spike member is tapered.

9. A cake pillar substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.