Stencil holder apparatus and method

Abstract

A frame operable to hold a stencil taut and secure for decorating a food product such as a cookie, baked good or the like. An embodiment of the frame is comprised of a bottom sub-frame having a first height, and a top sub-frame having a second height that is less than the first height, such that the bottom sub-frame accommodates one size of cookie when the bottom sub-frame is placed around the cookie and when the frame is flipped 180 degrees along a lateral axis, it accommodates a thinner cookie when the top sub-frame is placed around a cookie.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for decorating cookies, baked items or other items, comprising:
 a frame, the frame further comprising a bottom sub-frame and a top sub-frame,   the top sub-frame and bottom sub-frame having complementary shapes in at least two (x, y) of their three (x, y, z) dimensions;   the frame having an opening formed by the sides of the bottom sub-frame and top sub-frame; and   a coupling mechanism for semi-permanently coupling the bottom sub-frame to the top sub-frame.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one magnet exposing a first polarity positioned on the bottom sub-frame and at least one magnet exposing a second polarity positioned on the top sub-frame, wherein the exposed polarities of the magnets align and attract each other when the top sub-frame is co-axially aligned and positioned on the bottom sub-frame. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a quadrilateral shape, having length (x), width (y) and height (z) dimensions, the bottom sub-frame and top sub-frame having substantially equivalent length (x) and width (y) dimensions;
 the bottom sub-frame further comprising a bottom sub-frame first side, a bottom sub-frame second side, a bottom sub-frame third side and a bottom sub-frame fourth side;   wherein each of the bottom sub-frame first side, bottom sub-frame second side, bottom sub-frame third side and bottom sub-frame fourth side has a substantially linear length, substantially linear width and substantially linear height forming a rectangular parallelepiped or cuboid;   wherein each of the bottom sub-frame first side, bottom sub-frame second side, bottom sub-frame third side and bottom sub-frame fourth side has a proximate end and a distal end;   wherein the proximate end of the bottom sub-frame first side is coupled to the distal end of the bottom sub-frame second side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the bottom sub-frame first side and bottom sub-frame second side;   wherein the proximate end of the bottom sub-frame second side is coupled to the distal end of the bottom sub-frame third side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the bottom sub-frame second side and bottom sub-frame third side;   wherein the proximate end of the bottom sub-frame third side is coupled to the distal end of the bottom sub-frame fourth side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the bottom sub-frame third side and bottom sub-frame fourth side;   wherein the proximate end of the bottom sub-frame fourth side is coupled to the distal end of the bottom sub-frame first side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the bottom sub-frame fourth side and bottom sub-frame first side;   the top sub-frame further comprising a top sub-frame first side, a top sub-frame second side, a top sub-frame third side and a top sub-frame fourth side;   wherein each of the top sub-frame first side, top sub-frame second side, top sub-frame third side and top sub-frame fourth side has a substantially linear length, substantially linear width and substantially linear height forming a rectangular parallelepiped or cuboid;   wherein each of the top sub-frame first side, top sub-frame second side, top sub-frame third side and top sub-frame fourth side has a proximate end and a distal end;   wherein the proximate end of the top sub-frame first side is coupled to the distal end of the top sub-frame second side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the top sub-frame first side and top sub-frame second side;   wherein the proximate end of the top sub-frame second side is coupled to the distal end of the top sub-frame third side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the top sub-frame second side and top sub-frame third side;   wherein the proximate end of the top sub-frame third side is coupled to the distal end of the top sub-frame fourth side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the top sub-frame third side and top sub-frame fourth side; and   wherein the proximate end of the top sub-frame fourth side is coupled to the distal end of the top sub-frame first side, forming a corner having a 90 degree angle between the top sub-frame fourth side and top sub-frame first side.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the frame comprises a square shape with an opening therein, the frame having length (x), width (y) and height (z) dimensions;
 further wherein the length (x) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame;   further wherein the width (y) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame;   further wherein the height (z) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame; and   wherein the length (x) of the frame and width (y) of the frame are substantially equivalent.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the frame comprises a rectangular shape with an opening therein, the frame having length (x), width (y) and height (z) dimensions;
 further wherein the length (x) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame;   further wherein the width (y) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame;   further wherein the height (z) of the top sub-frame is substantially equivalent to that of the bottom sub-frame; and   wherein the length (x) of the frame and width (y) of the frame are different.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of magnets positioned on the bottom sub-frame and a plurality of magnets positioned on the top sub-frame, wherein the magnets have exposed polarities aligned so as to attract to each other when the top sub-frame is aligned and positioned on the bottom sub-frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first magnet exposing a first polarity is positioned at the corner of the bottom sub-frame first side and bottom sub-frame second side;   a second magnet exposing a first polarity is positioned at the corner of the bottom sub-frame second side and bottom sub-frame third side;   a third magnet exposing a first polarity is positioned at the corner of the bottom sub-frame third side and bottom sub-frame fourth side;   a fourth magnet exposing a first polarity is positioned at the corner of the bottom sub-frame fourth side and bottom sub-frame first side;   a fifth magnet exposing a second polarity is positioned at the corner of the top sub-frame first side and top sub-frame second side;   a sixth magnet exposing a second polarity is positioned at the corner of the top sub-frame second side and top sub-frame third side;   a seventh magnet exposing a second polarity is positioned at the corner of the top sub-frame third side and top sub-frame fourth side; and   an eighth magnet exposing a second polarity is positioned at the corner of the top sub-frame fourth side and top sub-frame first side.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the magnets are of a cylindrical shape having a diameter (d) and length (l). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each corner is dimensioned to have a convex outside wall and convex inside wall, and a cylindrical cavity formed in each corner, each magnet being axially positioned and secured in a respective cylindrical cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , in combination with a stencil. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the stencil is positioned between the top sub-frame and bottom sub-frame. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the magnets are of the neodyne variety secured with an adhesive within the bottom sub-frame and top sub-frame respectively. 
     
     
         13 . An frame apparatus for holding a stencil, comprising a bottom assembly of two parallel bars and a top sub-frame having a quadrilateral shape;
 the frame apparatus having an opening formed within the sides of the bottom assembly and the sides of the top sub-frame; and   a coupling mechanism for semi-permanently coupling the bottom assembly to the top sub-frame, said coupling mechanism being a set of magnets, wherein the exposed polarity of the magnets are positioned so that the top sub-frame is attracted to the bottom assembly.   
     
     
         14 . A method of securing a stencil for decorating an item, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a bottom sub-frame having a quadrilateral shape and an opening, the bottom sub-frame having facing up magnets exposing a first polarity at each corner of its quadrilateral shape;   aligning a stencil on the bottom sub-frame; and   positioning a top sub-frame having a quadrilateral shape and an opening, the top sub-frame having magnets facing down exposing a second polarity at each corner of its quadrilateral shape.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of placing an item under the stencil, wherein the item is one selected from the group consisting of a cookie, a baked good, a cupcake or a cake. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of applying a spray-able decorative frosting to the item under the stencil.