This Invention relates to a collapsible receptacle, mo e particularly, but without limitation to, a culinary piping stand for use with a piping bag. In particular, this invention relates to a piping stand that Is readily transformable between a retracted condition for storage purposes, and a telescopicaiiy extended condition which defines an interior volume capable of receiving and supporting a piping bag.

A piping or pastry bag Is a culinary utensil which is used to dispense Icing, toppings and other pliable foodstuffs onto pastries, cakes and the like. Piping bags may also be used for dispensing foodstuffs such as meringue, yoghurt, cream, butterscotch, savoury fillings and other pliable products of similar consistency.

A piping or pastry bag generally comprises a conical open bag which generally Includes an opening or moulded nozzle which extends through the bottom tip of the bag and through which the pliable foodstuff can be dispensed. The handling and filling of the piping bag Is an entirely manual operation which requires a user to open the top section of the piping bag with one hand, and then pull the rest of the bag over that hand. The foodstuff to be dispensed is than spooned or poured Into the bag with the other hand, before twisting the fabric of the bag around the foodstuff. it is however difficult to perform this task as Ideally both hands are often needed to hold the piping bag open. Sometimes users resort to ad hoc techniques of placing the piping bag inside suitably-steed open utensils that may be readily to hand. However, these solutions are often inadequate. In order to address this problem various piping stands have been developed over the years. These products generally consist of a tapered cone section into which the piping bag can be placed. These products do however suffer a number of disadvantages. The first drawback with these products is that they tend to be quite bulky and unless the user routinely has the need to use a piping or pastry bag these products are simply loo large to justify storage in a user's often space-iimited kitchen area. it is an object of the present invention to provide a piping stand which overcomes or reduces the drawbacks associated with known products of this type. The present invention providing a piping stand which is readily transformable between a retracted condition for storage purposes, and a teiescopiealy extended condition which defines an interior volume capable of receiving and supporting a piping bag. The piping stand can be te!escopicaliy extended to the extent that is capabie of receiving and supporting a wide range of piping bag sizes.

According to the present invention there is provided a piping stand for use with a piping bag, the stand comprising a base and a body formed by a plurality of members that are telescopicatly arranged inside one another, the members being noveabie between a retracted condition and an extended condition so as to define an interior receiving volume.

An advantage of using the piping stand of the present invention to support a piping bag Is that a piping stand is provided which is readily and quickly transformable between a retracted condition for storage purposes and an extended condition which defines an inferior volume capabie of receiving and supporting the piping bag. in the telescopical!y extended condition, the piping bag is supported for the purposes of ease of filling, and to prevent unwanted spillage during use. The piping stand can also be quickly placed into a refracted condition which presents a low profile design thereby taking up much less room in an often overcrowded kitchen utensil cupboard. In use, ihe plurality of members may be arranged coaxiaily inside one another.

Preferably, the plurality of members are frustoconical-shaped such that the bottom Is smaller In section than the top.

Further preferably, in an extended condition, the body defines a tapered receptacle. in use, in an extended condition, the body may define a frustoconicai receptacle.

Preferably, the angle of the taper is around 22 degrees.

Further preferably, the angle of the taper is around 18 to 26 degrees.

In use, the base may be formed integrally with the body.

Preferably, the base is removable from the body. Further preferably, the diameter of the base is greater than the diameter of the uppermost member of the plurality of members.

In use, the diameter of the base may be around 12 times the diameter of the uppermost member of the plurality of members.

Preferably, each of the plurality of members are able to be secured together by a generally wedge-shaped protuberance on one member engaging in a recess In another member.

In use, the base may further comprise a rubberised ants slip portion. Further preferably, a plurality of recesses are provided in one member around It periphery with grooves extending between adjacent recesses, and a plurality of generally wedge-shaped protuberances on one member being engagsable In the recesses and able to travel along the grooves between adjacent recesses to form an Interlock.

In use, the number of recesses and the number of generally wedge-shaped protuberances on one member may be four.

Preferably, In a retracted condition, the members are planar and parallel to each other.

Further preferably, In a retracted condition, the body and base Is dimensioned to fit inside a lid portion for storage, the lid comp ising a base wall and a side wall extending therefrom. in use, In a retracted condition, the gap between the members and the base may be sufficient to allow a flow of water for cleaning.

Preferably, the cleaning can be achieved In a dishwasher.

Further preferably, the base includes a plurality of slotted apertures around its periphery for meeting a plurality of male parts on the lid to form a bayonet fitting.

In use, the base may Include a plurality of concentric indentations into which the members can be received in a retracted condition.

Preferably, the base further comprises a plurality of cut-outs around its periphery.

Further preferably, the body Is moveable to an extended condition using gravity.

In use, the body is moveable to a retracted condition by rotating each member through an angle of around SO degrees, Preferably, the base, the body and/or the lid is formed from a syllable plastics material selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any of the following: Acrylonitrils butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene {PP}, Polycarbonates {PC), Polyethylene (PE), Polystyrene (PS), Nylon, Po!yamids, Acrylic and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Further preferably, the opening In the uppermost member of the plurality of members is around 110mm,

It is believed that a piping stand for use with a piping bag in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a collapsible receptacle comprising a base and a body formed by a plurality of members thai are teiescopieai!y arranged inside one another, the members being moveable between a retracted condition and an extended condition so as tc define a receiving volume.

Advantageously, the collapsible receptacle of the present invention is readily and quickly transformable between a retracted condition for storage purposes and an extended condition which defines a receiving volume capable of retaining foodstuffs contained within a piping bag.

Preferably, the receiving volume is dimensioned to support a foodstuff contained within a piping bag.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is Intended that the present Invention may be used other than as specifically described herein. Specific non-KmlOng embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a piping stand In a teiescopicaiiy extended condition according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the piping stand of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the piping stand of Figure 1 in a retracted condition, the retracted piping stand being retainable inside a lid for storage;

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the retracted piping stand of Figure 3 retained inside the lid;

Figure 5 is a plan view f om above o? the piping stand of Figure 1 ; and

Figures 6 to 10 illustrate how the plurality of members forming the tapered body of the piping stand are teiescopicaiiy extendable and engageab!e to form a rigid piping stand in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a piping stand 10 for use with a piping bag (not shown) is illustrated In Figures 1 and 2, Figures 1 and 2 show how the piping stand 10 can be placed In a teiescopicaiiy extended condition for receiving and supporting a piping beg.

As shown In Figures 1 and 2, the piping stand 10 according to the present invention comprises a generally circular base 12 supporting an upwardly- extending tapered body formed by a plurality of generally concentric members 1 . The tapered body, In an extended condition, is capable of receiving a piping bag (not shown). The base 2 and body formed by the plurality of members 14 are manufactured from a suitable plastics material, such as Acryionitflte butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene (PR), Polycarbonates (PC), Polyethylene (PE , Polystyrene (PS), Nylon, Po!yamide, Acrylic and/or Polyethylene ieraphihaiate (PET), The piping stand 10 is capable of being cleaned in dishwasher environment

Located at the underside of the base 12, opposite to the body formed by the plurality of members 14, .a rubberised grip ing 13 is retained or over-moulded into an aperture situated around the periphery of the base 12. The rubberised gnp ring 13 improves the slip performance of the piping stand 10, especially when used on w t surfaces or worktops.

The piping stand 10 of the present Invention is Intended predominantly for personal and domestic use, although the skilled person can appredate that larger dimensioned versions could be used in large scale catering environments.

The telescopic body comprises six concentric ring-shaped members 14a to 141 Each member 14 Is slightly tapered to form a frustoconlcai shape. The lowermost section 14a has a section which connects with the base 12, and the remaining ring-shaped mem s 14b to 14f ere open at both ends.

As can be eppreoietad from Figures 1 and 2, the uppermost part of the bottommost member 14a is capable of being received within, the bottommost pad of member 14b. Member 14b likewise fits within member 14c above it, as does member 14d within member 14e. Member 1 s is capable of being received within the uppermost member 14f. The uppermost part of the uppermost member 1 1 o? the body also Includes an outer rim 18. in use, a user simply grips the base 12 and turns It upside down. Under the effect o? gravity, each of the members 14 of the piping stand 10 is telescoplcaily extended, automatically rotated and locked in position. To then retract the piping stand 10 for storage, the user sim ly rotates the uppermost section 14f in a anticlockwise direction so that each member 14 drops into the base 12, as wi!i be described in detail further below. Figures 1 and 2 also show that the bass 12, which is generally planar. Includes a series of concentric Indentations IS around the base 12, These are numbered as indentations 16b to 16f which receive the respective members 14b to 14! in a retracted condition. As shown In Figures 1 and 2 various external ribs 20 are moulded into the members 14 which define, on their other side, shaped protuberances in members 14 which are used to rotate and engage the members 1 in use.

As can be seen from figures 1 and 2, the plurality of members 14a to I4f are frustaconical-shaped such that the bottommost diameter of each member 14 Is smaller than the uppermost diameter, in an extended condition, as illustrated In Figures 1 and 2, the body defines a tapered or frustoconical-shaped receptacle having a gradual decrease In diameter from the uppermost member 14i to the bottommost member 14a which is dimensioned to receive and support a piping bag within the Interior space defined by the members 14. in a preferred embodiment, the angle of the taper, illustrated by angle a In Figure 1, Is around 22 degrees. Ids majority of commercially-available piping bags can be successfully retained within the stand 10 when the angle of the taper is somewhere In the region of 18 to 26 degrees.

In the preferred embodiment, the base 12 is formed Integrally with the bottommost member 14a, Alternatively, the base 12 can be secured to the bottommost member 14a via an interference fit or other attachment means such that the base 12 is removable from the members 14. To ensure a stable support surface, the diameter of the base 1 is greater than the diameter of the uppermost member 14! of the plurality of members 14, In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the base is around 1 ,2 t mes the diameter of the uppermost member 14f of the plurality of members 14. Figure 3 shows how the piping stand 10 of the present invention can be readily transformed to a re traded condition for storage purposes. To ensure thai tha stand 10 is kept clear of dust If it is stored for extended periods of time, the retracted piping stand 10 is dimensioned to fit Inside a separate lid 28. The fid 28 is formed as a base wall with a side wali extending therefrom. Figure 3 shows some further detail of how the stand 10 or the collapsible receptacle of the present invention can be telescopieally extended and retracted. As shown, each of the members 14 includes a plurality of recesses 22 situated around Its periphery with grooves 24 extending between adjacent recesses 22. Each of the plurality of members 14 are then able to be secured together by a generally wedge-shaped protuberance on one member 14 engaging in a recess 22 in another member 14. The generally wedge-shaped protuberance on one member 14 Is firstly engageab e in the recess 22 in another member 14 and Is able to travel along the groove 24 between adjacent recesses 22 to form an interlock. This is only made possible because the generally wedge-shaped protuberance on one member 14 is dimensioned to fit through the recess 22 In another member 14, and the raised wedge-shaped profile defines an inclined plane which rotates the member 1 forcing it to travel along the groove 24.

Figure 3 also shows that, In a retracted condition, the members 14 are generally planar and parallel to each other to present a low profile design for storage, In a retracted condition, the gap between the members 14a to 14f Is large enough to aflo a flow of water between the mem ers 14 for cleaning. In use, cleaning can also be achieved In a dishwasher.

Figure 3 also shows Inst the base 12 includes a plurality of slotted apertures 26 around its periphery which meet with a plurality of complementary-positioned engagements parts 32 situated on the flange 30 of the d 28 to secure the lid 28 to the base 12 using a bayonet-type engagement. To enable ease of use when telescopicaily extending the stand 10 by holding it upside down, the base 12 Includes a number of economically positioned cut-outs 34 around its periphery.

Figure 4 shows the piping stand 10 according to the present invention in a retracted condition situated securely Inside the iid 28, Also as shown in Figure 4, the iid 28 includes moulded directional arrows 36 which indicate the direction of rotation needed to remove the lid 28 from the base 2.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the piping stand 10 according to the present invention in an extended condition from above. As can be seen, the respective recesses 22 in each of the members 14 and each of the respective grooves 24 extending between recesses 22 are dimensioned to meet with a generally wedge-shaped protuberance 38 In each of the members 14. In a preferred embodiment, the number of recesses 22 and grooves 24 extending between the recesses 22, and the number of generally wedge-shaped protuberances 38 in each of the members 14b-14f Is four.

The operation of the teiescopicaiiy extending and retracting piping stand 10 is best illustrated with reference to Figures 6-10, This shows that the members 14 are able to be secured together by a generally wedge-shaped protuberance 38 on one member 14 engaging in a recess 22 in another member 14. In doing so, the raised wedge-shaped profile of protuberance 38 rotates the member 14 relative to its adjacent member 14 orcing 11 to travel along the groove 24 until it meets with a stop 40 moulded at the thin end of the protuberance 38, This is best illustrated In Figure 7, Figure 7 also shows that at the end of each groove 24 is a notch 42 which meets with corresponding detent (not shown) formed in the protuberance 38. This effectively locks the relative position of the members 14 when tetescopicaiiy extended. However, a small anticlockwise rotational force is sufficient to overcome the Interlock formed between the notch 42 and the corresponding detent on the protuberance 38 when the user wishes to retract the piping stand 10,

Figures δ-10 show how the piping stand 10 is extended by turning the stand 10 upside down. Figure 6 Illustrates that a plurality of recesses 22d are provided in member 14d. The generally wedge-shaped protuberance 38e on member 14e is engageable In recess 22d and is able to rotate and travel along the groove 24d, In this way, the member 14d is able to be secured to adjacent member 14e by protuberance 38e engaging against the groove 24d. The protuberances 38 are generally wedge-shaped to allow them to move upwards and rotate along onto the groove 24 in each respective member 14. In use, a user simply uses gravity by holding the base 12 and turning It upside down to achieve a tetescopicaily extended condition using gravity alone,

Alternatively, each member 14 can be lifted, rotated and secured from the base 1 individually, thereby allowing the body to be assembled incrementally from member 1 b through to member 141. This ensures that the body can be extended to an appropriate height for the respective si2e of piping bag that It shall be used in conjunction with. Figures 7-10 iitustrate h w the uppermost member 141 is ielescopicaliy extended and iocked relative to member 14a

After use, the members 14 ere transformable to a retracted condition by rotating uppermost member 14f through an angfe of somewhere in the region of 50 degrees to retract it into its adjacent member 14s. Members 14f and 14e are then retracted by rotation into member 14d and so on until ail of the members 14 are retracted into the base 12,

Various alterations and modifications may be mads to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.