Cake cutting tool

Abstract

A cake cutting spool is provided for a user to dispense lengths of cutting thread therefrom and for cutting a cake in straight segments. The spool comprises a circular housing having a central spindle, an outer sidewall, and a securable door for retrieving and separating lengths of cutting thread. The cutting thread comprises a series of thread segments removably connected to one another and wound around the spindle, wherein each segment includes a first handled end and a second free end. The handled end includes a pull tab, which allows a user to grasp the thread segment and pull the free end thereof through the cake after a cutting procedure without lifting the thread through the cut line. This allows for straight line cutting and no sticking of the cake batter or icing to the tool after the cut is made, whereafter the utilized cutting thread is disposable.

Claims

1. A cake cutting tool, comprising: a spool housing having an upper and lower surface, a perimeter sidewall, and an internal volume; a spindle disposed centrally within said internal volume; an opening in said perimeter sidewall; a hingable door over said opening in said perimeter sidewall; a plurality of cutting thread lengths connected to one another and wound about said spindle; said cutting thread lengths comprising a first end and a second end; a pull tab disposed on said first end of said cutting thread lengths; a trimmed section disposed on said second end; wherein said trimmed section connects said second end to a pull tab on said first end of a subsequent cutting thread length; gripping teeth disposed on said hingable door along a distal end of an interior surface thereof; wherein said gripping teeth are configured to pinch an exposed cutting thread length.

2. The cake cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said spool housing comprises a circular shape.

3. The cake cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said cutting thread lengths are disposable after use.

4. The cake cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said housing upper surface is removable from said housing to expose said interior volume and allow for replacement of cutting thread therein.

5. The cake cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said housing lower surface is removable from said housing to expose said interior volume and allow for replacement of cutting thread therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the cake cutting tool of the present invention in an open and dispensing state.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an overhead cross section view of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of the cake cutting tool in a working state, cutting a cake in straight lines and thereafter being retrieved without disturbing the cake batter or icing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the cake cutting tool. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for cutting cake and other pastry items into neat segments, whereby the tool allows for straight line cuts and for retrieval of the tool after the cut is made. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

(6) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an overhead perspective view of the present invention. The device comprises a spool assembly 31 that supports a wound length of cutting thread 60 about a central spindle 32. Cutting thread 60 is an assembly of thread lengths temporarily attached to one another in an elongated fashion, whereby retrieving one length of thread 62 draws a second length from the spool 31. An individual, exposed length 62 of thread is then separated from the spool 31 for use as a cake cutting implement. It is desired to disclose a new and novel cake cutting tool that can be provided as a complete assembly, or alternatively as a replenishable tool having an accessible interior volume that permits replacement thread 60 to be placed within the spool 31 and about the spindle 32 when the thread has been consumed. The thread lengths 62 are disposable after their use with a single cake, wherein subsequent lengths can be withdrawn for different events or on occasions where a fresh length of cutting thread is desired.

(7) The spool 31 comprises a circular housing having an upper 45 and lower 46 surface and a perimeter sidewall 33 therebetween. The housing provides an interior volume that supports a spindle 32 within the center thereof, which is adapted to support the wound length of cutting thread 60 within the housing. Along a portion of the sidewall 33 is a doorway 37 that allows a user to retrieve individual lengths 62 of thread from within the housing. A hinged door 34 controls access within the housing, and further provides a means to separate the individual lengths 62 of thread.

(8) The hinged door 24 maintains the tangential curvature of the sidewall 33 and provides coverage for the housing opening 37. When retrieving a length 62 of thread, the door 34 is opened, a length 62 is retrieved. As the subsequent length of thread is revealed, the door 34 is utilized to stabilize this subsequent length as the user pulls the exposed length 62 therefrom. The pulling action causes the lengths to separate as door 34 depresses the length of thread behind the exposed length 62. To assist this process, a length of gripping teeth 35 or serrated teeth can be disposed along the distal end of the door 34 and along the interior surface thereof. This assists in gripping the thread length from one side while separating an exposed length thereof for use as an independent cutting tool.

(9) The individual cutting thread lengths 62 comprise a first handled end 61 and a second, free end 63. The first end 61 includes a pull tab 64 that is utilized in the cake cutting process and in the thread retrieval process. The free second end 63 of the thread length 62 is adapted to be temporarily attached 65 to a first end 61 of a subsequent length of cutting thread within the spool. In this way, the lengths 62 are attached while in the spool housing and can be retrieved in order by the user, whereby one length is exposed, separated, utilized, and then replaced by another length that has been partially exposed by the first length.

(10) Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an overhead cross section view of the spool and cutting thread assembly of the present invention. As visualized, the spool housing includes an open interior and a central spindle 32 therein. A wound coil of cutting thread is disposed about the spindle 32 and within the rounded sidewalls 33, whereby the cutting thread is connected in defined lengths 62 for individual dispensing through the sidewall door 37. When retrieving a length 62, the door 34 is opened to expose a pull tab 64 of the next cutting thread length in line to be dispensed. That length is drawn through the opening 37 and exposed from the spool housing. The gripping teeth 35 on the door 34 and the ability to pinch the thread using the door 34 allow a user to separate the exposed length from the rest of the wound thread within the spool housing. The door 34 pivots about a hinge pin 36, which allows the user to open the door 34 and close the same onto a subsequent thread length as a user separates an exposed length extending therefrom.

(11) Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a view of the cutting thread of the present invention in a working state, cutting a cake into individual segments while not disrupting the look or structure of the cake layers in the process. In use, the individual cutting thread length 62 is grasped with two hands, one at the first end 61 and one at the second end 63 thereof. The user tensions the thread length 62 over the cake 200 and positions the tensioned thread over a location in which a straight cut is desired. The user then depresses the tensioned thread downwards 300 through the cake icing and all of its layers.

(12) At this point, a planar cut has been made through the cake. However, after this point is generally where the cake can become damaged. Using a utensil to cut the cake is easily accomplished, however the cake batter and icing generally sticks to the utensil item after the cut is made, making retrieval of the utensil from within the cake interior very problematic. The cake layers stick to the utensil as the user pulls the utensil from the cake, drawing the cake with it and causing separation and tipping over of the layers and smearing of the icing. This is not ideal for serving freshly cut cake at an event, where presentation is valued.

(13) Using the cutting thread of the present invention, once the cut is made through the cake, the cutting thread length 62 is positioned against the bottom of the cake or its supporting plate. Rather than drawing the thread through the created cut plane, the user simply pulls on the first end 61 of the thread length 62 and draws the second end 63 through the cake and away 301 therefrom. The second end 63 will not snag or draw with it any icing or batter, creating a clean cut line 201 through the cake 200. The procedure can be repeated many times to create individual slices and segments of the cake. The use of the cutting thread improves efficiency of cutting, improves the aesthetics of the cut and the served slice, and further allows for finer cuts and smaller cake segments to be cut, where otherwise a thick utensil would simply mash or crumble the cake rather than separate the same.

(14) As consumers, we generally use knives and other utensils to cut a cake. This can sometimes ruin the cake during the utensil retrieval process, as the frosting adheres to the utensil, or the utensil is not the correct length to cut across the entire cake. This makes a mess of the cake and the individual slices. The present invention comprises a wound length of cutting thread and a spool housing for dispensing the same. The thread is ideally dispensed in equal lengths, however varying length spools are contemplated within the present invention.

(15) Overall, the assembly provides a tool for cutting a cake without using knives or utensils that would otherwise ruin the frosting design. The individual lengths are preferably for single-use only, wherein a cake is cut with the same cutting thread length, and thereafter the length is disposed of. Contemplated material for the cutting thread includes any sanitary thread that can be manufactured to have trimmed sections between the free end of one length and the handled end of a subsequent thread length. The thread also has be strong enough to be tensioned by the user during the cake cutting procedure, whereafter the thread is not an environmentally hazardous material when disposed of. The thread is preferably made from any one of the following material: monofilament, polymer, cotton, nylon, metal, or another suitable material thread length material. Finally, the spool housing of the present invention may comprise a static structure, or may further comprise a structure that includes a removable upper or lower surface for accessing the interior volume therein for replacing the wound cutting thread with a replacement length thereof.

(16) It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(17) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.