Cake shield for protection of cake from expelled germs and candle residue

Abstract

A cake shield to protect a cake during celebration allowing celebrants to enjoy activity and excitement of special moment without distraction or hesitation previously caused by thoughts and concerns about what they just observed to be blown or dropped onto cake they are about to eat.

1 . A cake shield comprising:
 a flat surface;   a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface; and   a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The cake shield of  claim 1  wherein the flat surface is transparent. 
     
     
         3 . The cake shield of  claim 1  wherein the flat surface is one of rectangular, square, round, and oblong. 
     
     
         4 . The cake shield of  claim 1  wherein the step tapered cavities are dimensioned to fit candles of varying widths. 
     
     
         5 . The cake shield of  claim 1  further comprising a flange extending from the perimeter edge for providing stiffness to the flat surface of the cake shield. 
     
     
         6 . The cake shield of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and   a plurality of support members, each support member having a first end dimensioned to be coupled to one of the plurality of protruding ends and having a second end dimensioned to be inserted into a cake.   
     
     
         7 . The cake shield of  claim 6  wherein the first end of the support member is hollow to receive and secure the protruding end. 
     
     
         8 . The cake shield of  claim 6  wherein the support members are dimensioned to be linked to each other to increase overall height of the cake shield. 
     
     
         9 . The cake shield of  claim 6  wherein the support members are hollow tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The cake shield of  claim 1  further comprising at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield to allow several cake shields to be attached together to form a larger surface area. 
     
     
         11 . A cake shield comprising:
 a flat surface;   a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface;   a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface;   a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and   a plurality of support members, each support member having a first end dimensioned to be coupled to one of the plurality of protruding ends and having a second end dimensioned to be inserted into a cake.   
     
     
         12 . The cake shield of  claim 11  wherein the support members are dimensioned to be linked to each other to increase overall height of the cake shield. 
     
     
         13 . The cake shield of  claim 11  wherein the support members are hollow tubes. 
     
     
         14 . The cake shield of  claim 11  further comprising at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield to allow several cake shields to be attached together to form a larger surface area. 
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting a cake comprising the steps of:
 providing a cake shield comprising:
 a flat surface; 
 a perimeter edge extending perpendicularly from the flat surface; and 
 a plurality of step tapered cavities defined by the flat surface; 
 a plurality of protruding ends created by the plurality of step tapered cavities, the protruding ends extending from a bottom surface of the flat surface; and 
 a plurality of support members; 
   coupling a first end of each support member to one of the plurality of protruding ends; and   inserting a second end of each support member into the cake.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of coupling at least two support members to each other to adjust the height of the cake shield for a thicker cake. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one interlock tab coupled to the perimeter edge of the cake shield;   linking one interlock tab of the cake shield to an interlock tab coupled to a perimeter edge of another cake shield to form a larger surface area.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of inserting a plurality of candles into the step tapered cavities in a pattern indicating the age of a celebrant.