Cake protection unit

Abstract

An arched support strut dement that fits on top of a cake pan and which extends over the cake. The support strut element is located above the top rim of the pan and extends over the cake to support a flexible element, such as Saran@ Wrap, or the like, above the top surface of the cake. More specifically, the struts are adjustable so they can accommodate any width of pan and the hooks on the ends are memory-flexible so they can be bent to accommodate any edge shape for a pan.

Claims

1. A unit for protecting a cake comprising: A) a supporting pan having a first side wall, a second side wall, a transverse axis extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, a first top rim on the first side wall, a second top rim on the second side wall, and a width dimension as measured along the transverse axis between the first side wall and the second sidewall; and B) a plurality of support ribs, each support rib including an arcuate body, the arcuate body of each support rib including a first section having a first end, and a second section having a second end, a first end clip on the first end of the first section of each support rib, a second end clip on the second end of the second section of each support rib, the first end clip and the second end clip of each support rib being flexible and adapted to snugly engage the top rims of the supporting pan side walls to securely mount each support rib on the supporting pan, each support rib further including a width dimension as measured between the first end clip and the second end clip, and a height dimension as measured between a plane containing the first and second end clips and a plane tangent to a highest point on the support rib, and a plurality of slider blocks slidably connecting the first and second sections of each support rib together so the first section and the second section of each support rib can slide with respect to each other so the width of each support rib can be adjusted to match the width dimension of the supporting pan so each support rib will span the width of the supporting pan when securely mounted on the side walls of the supporting pan and the height of each support rib can be adjusted so each support rib will extend above a cake located in the supporting pan beneath the rib.

2. The unit defined in claim 1 further including a flexible band secured to the support ribs.

3. A unit for protecting a cake comprising: a baking pan having two side walls and a width dimension measured between the side walls; and a cover unit having at least one rib, each rib includes a first rib section and a second rib section that are movably connected together, each of the first and second rib sections having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first rib section being located adjacent to a first end of the second rib section and the second end of the first rib section being spaced apart from the first end of the first rib section and spaced apart from the second end of the second rib section, the at least one rib further including a respective clip on each second end of the first and second rib sections, for attaching to the side walls of the baking pan to mount the cover unit on the baking pan, each rib having a width dimension measured between the clips on the second ends of the first and second rib sections, and at least one slider block slidably connecting the respective first and second rib sections together so the respective first and second rib sections can move relative to each other and move the clips on the rib sections toward and away from each other to adjust the width dimension of the at least one rib to match the width dimension of the baking pan.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

(1) The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawing and description. The components in the FIGURE are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the FIGURE, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cake protection unit embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) Referring to the FIGURE, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a unit 10 which is used to prevent flexible covering, such as a bag B or flexible wrap, such as Saran@ Wrap or the like, from contacting a cake during storage or transport.

(4) Unit 10 is used in conjunction with a pan 20 in which the cake is located and prevents contact between that cake and bag B. Unit 10 includes a plurality of arcuate support ribs 30, 32 and 34 which extend along transverse axis 40 of pan 20, Each rib includes an arcuate body, such as body 42 of rib 34, two slidably connected sections, such as sections 50 and 52 of rib 30, and two arcuate end clips, such as end clips 60 and 62 of rib 30, that are bendable and which are sized to snugly engage side walls 70 and 72 of pan 20 adjacent to the top rims 74 and 76 respectively thereof to securely mount the associated rib in the side walls of the pan.

(5) Each rib further includes a plurality of slider blocks, such as slider blocks 80, 82 and 84 of rib 34, and 86 on rib 30 which slidably connect the two sections of the rib together. The slidable connection between the two sections of each rib permit the width W of the rib, as measured between the end clips thereof, and the height H thereof as measured between a line tangent to the topmost location of the rib, indicated by plane 100 tangent line to the top of rib 30, and a plane P containing the two end clips as indicated by plane 110 associated with rib 30, to be adjusted to fit pan 20 and have the tangent line located spaced above a cake being accommodated in the pan. This will protect the top of the cake from contact with any material used to cover the cake, such as bag B.

(6) Conventional baking pans are available generally in a range of common sizes, for example and 1113, Because they are adjustable, the ribs of unit 10 can be used on any size baking pan. The slider blocks permit the riles to have their width adjusted so the end clips will securely mount the ribs on the side walls of the pan and the height of the ribs can be adjusted to space the ribs, and hence the flexible covering, above a cake, indicated in the FIGURE by a dotted line C, and thus prevent the flexible covering from contacting the cake.

(7) As is also shown in the FIGURE, an elastic band E can be used to secure bag B to the ribs and hence secure bag B in a cake covering position.

(8) While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.