The present invention concerns a device for placing candles on a birthday cake.
Traditionally, placing candles has always been tedious because the process occurs on the cake itself, using small individual supports (candleholders).
There will be as many holes as there are candles, which may ruin the decorations. Until the candles are blown out, wax melts and runs all over the cake, requiring that it be scraped off carefully after the candles are removed in order to avoid ruining the cake and ingesting candle wax. In blowing out the candles, there is a risk of spreading saliva droplets and germs; when the candles are extinguished, toxic smoke results which is annoying for guests, and therefore, we hasten to remove the candles one at a time.
The device of the invention resolves all these problems. It actually comprises a ring proportionate to the diameter of the cake equipped with holes formed with the same diameter as the candleholder, allowing placement of as many candles as desired. This preparation can be done next to the cake without touching it. The ring has four feet; when it is positioned on the cake, this considerably reduces the number holes and consequent damage to the cake. The ring is fashioned so that it catches the wax dripping from the candles and the cake is not dirtied. It is also provided with a transparent plastic disc that prevents the spread of saliva droplets and germs onto the cake.
Finally, once the candles have been extinguished, they can all be removed at the same time by lifting up the ring, shortening the time during which the candles continue to produce toxic smoke.
According to some specific embodiments of the invention:
The top of the ring may be flat and wide enough to catch wax, with a narrower area below the ring to ensure that the candles and the candleholders hold tightly.
A plate located on the cross-pieces may be provided in the middle of the ring to hold number shaped candles.
Four detachable feet can be attached to the ring to maintain it at a certain height from the cake. Each foot may have a stop to prevent it from sinking into the cake.
The device can be made in any shape and size that conforms to a cake shape (round, square, rectangular, heart-shaped, etc.), and in any number or letter shape.
The device may be made of any possible material (plastic, cardboard, stainless or even precious materials).
The device may be made of a single color or with various whimsical motifs.
The device may be provided with blinking diode lights.
The device may be equipped with musical microchips.
The attached drawings illustrate the invention:
With reference to the drawings, the device comprises a ring (1) with a flat upper surface having a plurality of drilled openings (2) of the same size as a candleholder. Along the perimeter of the device, the ring (1) may become thicker in the area (3) near the hole for the candleholder (2) in order to ensure that the candle is held tightly.
Four detachable feet (4) are attached to the ring (1) near the thicker area (3). The foot (4) comprises a stop (5) to prevent the foot (4) from sinking into the cake.
The plate (6) comprises two holes (7) to accommodate number shaped candles; it is placed in the center of the ring (1) and is connected to it by four arms (8).
A transparent plastic disc (9) with the same diameter as the ring (1) is placed on the plate (6) and the arms (8)
The plate (6) and the arms (8) are one millimeter thinner than the ring (1) to ensure that the disc (9) is supported.
The disc (9) has two holes corresponding to the holes (7) in the plate (6) to allow placement of numeral shaped candles.
The entire device may be made of plastic material in a single injection molding operation except for the feet (4), which are made in the same way, but separately, and the disc (9), which is made of transparent flexible plastic.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0508837 | Aug 2005 | FR | national |
This application is a national stage completion of PCT/FR2006/001531 which claims priority from French Application Serial No. 0508837 filed Aug. 29, 2005.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FR2006/001531 | 6/29/2006 | WO | 2/28/2008 |