The present invention relates to a device for blowing out candles on a birthday cake generally, and more particularly to an economical, effective, easy to use new filtering device for blowing out candles on a birthday cake while minimizing the spread of germs.
Birthday, holiday and occasion cakes are often decorated with designs with a particular motif or theme to commemorate a particular event. The cakes are meant to be visually pleasing and protected until the cake is sliced for serving. Candles are frequently placed on cakes to help commemorate the event being celebrated. After the candles are lit, by a match or other means, the person or persons who are involved in the commemoration are then asked to blow the candle or candles out to extinguish the same.
To some, the act of blowing out the candles raises concerns about the transmission of germs, particularly if the birthday boy or girl is sick. With one forceful blow, a sick individual can contaminate an entire cake. There is a need, therefore, for a device or the like for blowing out candles on a cake without jeopardizing the health of the participants and future consumers of the cake.
A filtered cake candle extinguisher device comprises a filter, a mouthpiece connected to the filter and a decorative cover for covering filter. A user blows into the mouthpiece and through the filter so that the air that contacts the cake and the candles is filtered to prevent the spread of the user's germs and the ultimate contamination of the cake. A sound generator may be provided in conjunction with the filter to enhance the user's enjoyment while using the extinguisher device to blow out the candles.
This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.
The filter 110 is preferably disposed within a straw section 140 that has an inlet 144 and an outlet 148, the inlet 144 receiving the filter 110 and the outlet 148 being positioned in the direction of the candle or candles to be extinguished (see
A sound generator or resonator 150 is preferably positioned in front of the filter 110 so that a user can make a pleasing sound or musical tune while using the extinguisher device 100. Of course, placement of the sound generator 150 would be acceptable anywhere along the user's blow path, i.e., from the mouthpiece 120 to the outlet 148 of the straw section 140. The sound generator 150 could be a separate element and attached to the filter 110 at the point of manufacture, or the sound generator 150 and filter 110 could be manufactured as a single, integrated component. The sound generator 150 is preferably inexpensive in the nature of a reed or whistle device, although more expensive options that require electronics or circuitry are certainly contemplated.
One function of the decorative cover 130 is to provide a handgrip for the user during operation of the extinguisher device 100. The cover 130 could additionally be provided with a textured outer surface and/or molded finger portions (not shown), for example, to facilitate gripping. Furthermore, the cover 130 could be formed in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, textures, materials, etc., to commemorate any occasion.
Operation of the extinguisher 100 is relatively straightforward and illustrated in
While the entire extinguisher device 100 is preferably discarded after a single use, a multi-use embodiment may be commercialized where only certain elements are disposable. For example, if the filter 110 is effective for up to ten uses, then it might be desirable to have only a disposable mouthpiece 120. Alternatively, both the mouthpiece 120 and the decorative cover 130 might be disposable if the type of filter used is comparatively expensive. A variety of disposable and non-disposable options are contemplated to address a particular environment, user, event or marketing price point.
While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/976,443 filed on Sep. 30, 2007, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60976443 | Sep 2007 | US |