HAND HELD CRAFT TOOL The present invention relates to a hand held craft tool and more particularly though not exclusively to a hand held craft tool made from food safe material for use in crafting, modelling and cake decoration, for example. The present invention also relates to a kit for creating patterns in crafting, modelling and cake decoration, for example, the kit including the hand held craft tool of the invention.

In the crafting industry it is typical for professionals and enthusiasts to wish to create patterns and, oftentimes, intricate patterns in the material with which they are working. In the papercraft industry, for example, parchment craft design utilising embossing tools has long since been a common way for intricately patterning paper materials. So called parchment craft tools often are presented to the user in a pack comprising a number of headed tools with each head being specifically designed to impress and/or pierce a particular shaped pattern on- or into the papercraft material, such as parchment paper or the like, with which the user is operating.

The present invention is predicated on the inventor's realisation that crafters utilising materials other than paper, such as fondant icing, clay, or other similar mouldable or pliable material cannot readily use tools designed for parchment craft patterning in papercraft as those tool heads are specifically designed with a paper impression and/or piercing in mind. Specifically, the tips of parchment craft tools are designed to cut through paper and are therefore extremely thin, pronged ends which act to pierce the paper material or otherwise are rounded balls of dimensions substantial enough to emboss the material but not cut through. A particular difficulty encountered in cake decorating, modelling and other crafting activities involving the creation of a pattern in a mouldable material, is that it has been very difficult to create, by freestyle patterning, a repetitive pattern that remains consistent as the crafter/user of the relevant tool creates the pattern.

In creating a craft tool specifically designed with non paper applications in mind, the inventor has encountered a number of problems for which a specific tool design is required to overcome the problems of utilising parchment craft tools which have been designed for a specific papercraft usage.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a hand held craft tool for use in creating a pattern in a mouldable material.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a hand held craft tool which is capable of creating a pattern in a material such as fondant icing, clay or other soft material.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a hand held craft tool comprising an elongate holder element and a pattern tool attachable to an end of the elongate holder element, the pattern tool comprising a tool head formed of at least two prong projections capable of forming a pattern in an mouldable material, wherein the holder element and the pattern tool are co-axial with one another.

In embodiments of the invention, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool may be integrally formed with one another. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool are formed as separate elements. More specifically, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool may be separate elements configured to be attachable of one another. In certain embodiments, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool may be formed as separate elements which may be permanently attachable to one another. Alternatively, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool may be formed as separate elements which may be removeably attachable to one another. In the latter embodiments, the elongate holder element and the pattern tool may initially be separate elements and may be attached to one another in readiness for use and, thereafter, detached from one another following use, for storage and/or cleaning for example. In embodiments of the first aspect the present invention, the hand held craft tool may further comprise a tool attachment element attachable to an end of the elongate holder element. In such embodiments, it is preferably that the pattern tool is attachable to an end of the tool attachment element opposite that end of the tool attachment element connected to the elongate holder element.

In embodiments wherein the hand held craft tool further comprises a tool attachment element, the holder element, tool attachment element and the pattern tool are preferably co-axial with one another. In certain embodiments of the invention, the tool attachment element is permanently attached to the end of the elongate holder element. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the tool attachment element is integrally formed with an end of the elongate holder element. In alternative embodiments, the tool attachment element may be formed as a separate part to the elongate holder element. In such embodiments, the tool attachment element may be permanently attached to the elongate holder element in readiness for use. More specifically, the tool attachment element and the elongate holder element may initially be separate elements until attached to one another for a first time which attachment results in a permanent attachment of the two components.

In alternatives embodiments, the tool attachment element may be releasably attachable to the elongate holder element. More specifically, the tool attachment element may be releasably attached to the elongate holder element by means of a push fit, screw fit or friction fit. Alternatively, the tool attachment element may be releasably attached to the elongate holder element by way of a bayonet-type fitting. A plurality of interchangeable tool attachment elements may be provided. Each tool attachment element may be provided with a pattern tool comprising a tool head formed of projection(s) in unique configurations.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the elongate holder element may comprise a single tool attachment element at an end thereof. In such embodiments, the other end of the elongate holder element will be a blank end comprising no attachment element or pattern tool.

In embodiments of the invention the elongate holder element may comprise two tool attachment elements one at each end of the elongate holder element. In such embodiments, each of the first and second tool attachment elements is attachable to a pattern tool. More specifically, the first and second pattern tools are attachable to the first and second tool attachment elements respectively, which in turn are attachable to the first and second ends respectively of the elongate holder element.

In embodiments comprising first and second pattern tools, the pattern tools each comprise a tool head. The first and second tool heads may be the same or different in their tool head configuration. The tool head configuration creates the pattern when the tool head is pushed onto and/or into a soft material.

The tool head configurations envisaged in the present invention include, but are not limited to, letters (of an alphabet), numbers, closed shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, heart-shapes or the like, leaf-shapes, open shapes such as chevron, semicircle, lines or the like. It should be understood when reading the present description that multiple shapes may be provided in the tool head configurations of the present invention. In certain embodiments, the tool attachment element may be substantially frustoconical. More specifically, the tool attachment element may be formed of a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion. Yet more specifically, the tool attachment element may be formed of cylindrical and frustoconical portions integrally formed with one another.

In embodiments of the invention, the narrowest section of the frustoconical portion of the tool attachment element is attachable to the elongate holder element and the cylindrical portion of the tool attachment element is furthermost from the elongate holder element. In this way, the tool attachment element tapers radially outwardly from its longitudinal axis starting from the edge of the tool attachment element proximate the elongate holder element to the distal edge of the tool attachment element furthermost from the elongate holder element.

The tool attachment element is preferably hollow.

In certain embodiments, the tool attachment element comprises at least one aperture, the aperture being provided in the side wall of the tool attachment element. More specifically, the tool attachment element comprises a substantially frustoconical portion and the at least one aperture is provided in the sidewall of the frustoconical portion of the tool attachment element. In certain embodiments, the tool attachment element may be provided with two apertures. More specifically, when two apertures are provided, they lie opposite one another in the wall of the tool attachment element. In this way, when the pattern tool attached to the tool attachment element is inserted into a mouldable material such as fondant icing for example, the fondant icing entering the pattern tool and the tool attachment element may be ejected from the tool attachment element through the aperture and therefore away from the working surface of the user.

The inner surface of the wall of the tool attachment element may be profiled to facilitate release of a material entering the hollow interior of the tool attachment element through the, or each, aperture. More specifically, the tool attachment element may have a tapered bore. Yet more specifically, the bore of the tool attachment element may increase in diameter from its opening end towards the at least one aperture in the sidewall of the element. In this way, any material entering the bore of the tool attachment element at its opening end will be held increasingly loosely as it approaches the, or each, aperture in the sidewall of the element. In this way, ejection of the material from the bore of the element through the, or each, aperture is facilitated.

In certain embodiments the plane in which the aperture in the tool attachment element sits is substantially orthogonal to the plane(s] including the end(s] of the tool attachment element.

In certain embodiments an end of the tool attachment element is adapted for attachment to an end of the elongate holder element and the opposite end of the tool attachment element is adapted for engagement with a pattern tool. More specifically, the pattern tool may be attachable permanently or, alternatively, releasably to the tool attachment element.

In embodiments of the invention, the pattern tool comprises an end which is attachable to the tool attachment element. More specifically, the pattern tool may be attached to the tool attachment element by way of adhesive, a push fit, a friction fit, a bayonet fitting, a screw fit, a push fit or other similar attachment means.

The pattern tool, at an opposite end thereof, comprises a tool head.

In embodiments of the invention, the tool head comprises one or more projection(s]. The projection(s) being configured to provide a piercing, shape and/or a cut out in the soft material into which the hand held craft tool is pressed.

In embodiments wherein the hand held craft tool comprises a single pattern tool, the tool head comprises at least two prongs.

In embodiments wherein the hand held craft tool comprises two pattern tools, one at either end of the elongate holder element, and/or a plurality of interchangeable pattern tools, one or more of the pattern tools may comprise at least two or a series of three or more prongs forming a pattern (tool head configuration). Alternatively, or in addition, in embodiments wherein the hand held craft tool comprises two pattern tools, one at either end of the elongate holder element, and/or a plurality of interchangeable pattern tools, at least one pattern tool comprises a tool head comprising two or more prong projections and a further one or more tool head(s) may be an impression or cutter shape. When the further tool head[s] configuration is a shape, as opposed to being formed by pronged projections, the shape may be an open or, alternatively, may be a closed shape pattern. For example, the tool head configuration may be a partial polygon or circle for a full polygon or circle or other similar shape, when the tool head forms a closed shape, it should be understood that the tool head is capable of cutting out a portion of the material in to which the impression is made. In such embodiments, the aperture in the tool attachment element sidewall provides a point of release for the impressible material away from the tool and the working surface.

The, or each, tool head may comprise at least two prong projections. More specifically, the, or each, tool head may comprise a plurality of prongs projecting from the tool head body and each of equal dimension and length. The plurality of prongs is preferably arranged into a design impressible into a soft, mouldable material. In this way when the prong or collection of prongs are pressed into the soft material such as fondant or the like, the tool head may create a series of impression holes or recesses, or may pierce through the material to create a design in the material.

In alternative arrangements, the, or each, tool head may comprise a shaped or hollow impression (cutter) element. In this way, when the shaped or hollow impression element is pressed into a soft material such as fondant or the like, the tool head creates an impression of the tool design in the material. It should be readily understood that such a tool head may also cut out the shape from the material into which the tool head is pressed by pressing all the way through the recipient material. The, or each tool head of a pattern tool is designed to allow cake decorators, confectioners and others involved in the creation of decorative foods, for example, to create in freehand/freestyle series of patterns and designs by impressing the tool head into the foodstuff material. By providing a number of tool heads, each with a different tool head configuration, a user may create a large number of decorative designs and effects, including decorative edges, in the material. By providing one or more cutter tool heads, a user is able to cut out the tool head configuration from the material.

It should be understood, that the hand held craft tool on the invention may be used with any soft material such as clay for example.

The diameter of the pronged projectionfs] or the, or each, tool head and/or the thickness of the material of the tool head cutter/impression shape, is such that the impression, piercing or cut out of material made when the tool head is pressed into the material is not affected as the material relaxes form its newly impressed/cut/pierced form. For example, fondant icing relaxes over time and if the tool head dimensions are too small, the impressions, piercing or cut out would be lost as the material relaxed around the shape. The size and dimension of the pronged projection(s) is important in ensuring a consistent pattern. More specifically, when the pronged projection(s) are pressed into the soft (mouldable) material by the user, the uniform size and dimension of the, or each, pronged projection ensures that the pierced holes are the same width and the overall footprint of an individual tool pattern created by the user in the soft material is also consistent.

The hand held craft tool of the invention may be used to create a vast number of decorative effects in soft material such as cake fondant, for example. Decorative effects such as a lace-effect or a broderie anglaise pattern effect are made possible by the tool of the present invention. In arrangements wherein the tool head is operable to pierce and/or cut through a material, it should be understood that the material to be pierced/cut may be layered. More specifically, the soft material to be cut/pierced may have a first layer and a second layer, the tool head being operable to pierce or cut the first layer to expose a portion of the second layer through the cut out or piercing. In this way, a user is able to create a multitude of intricate, layered patterns in fondant icing of the like. In preferred usage, the lower of the first and second layer of material is preferably coloured differently to the upper of the first and second layer so that the pierced pattern created through the lower layer, exposing a portion of the lower layer may be clearly seen.

By providing a hollow tool head and tool attachment element, the cut out soft material may travel up the hollow part of the tool design into the apertures present on the side of the tool attachment element. In this way, the soft material may be released from the tool and therefore does not foul up the tool head for subsequent usage and also removes the fondant from the working area of the user.

The tool head may comprise a location indicator such that when it is attached to the tool attachment element, the user is assisted in positioning the tool in the correct orientation for creating a design in the impressible material. In certain embodiments, the location indicator may be a detent or similarly raised portion of the tool head indicating the correct orientation of the hand held craft tool to the user in relation to the impressible material. The location indicator may be provided on the elongate holder element proximate the attachment line between the holder and the tool attachment element.

In certain embodiments, a plurality of location indicators may be provided about the circumference of the elongate holder element. The, or each, tool head may be attached permanently or releasably to the tool attachment element. In this way, a series of alternative tool heads may be provided with a tool holder element and tool attachment element in order that they are detachable and interchangeable by the user.

It is the inventor's predication that the small footprint of the tool heads relative to the impressible material and the consistent length of the prongs or depth of the impress tool and the narrowness of the elongate device itself allow the user to easily see where they are placing the tool design on the impressible material. In this way, when a user is utilising the hand held craft tool to create a freestyle pattern, it is important that the user is able to discern where one part of the pattern ends before placing the tool to begin the next part of the pattern. In this way, a consistent freestyle pattern may be repeatedly generated.

The tool heads are all of consistent length width and dimensions so as to provide a multitude of different impressions footprints in the impressible material.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a kit of parts for providing a hand held craft tool, the kit of parts comprising at least one elongate holder element, at least one tool attachment element attachable to the elongate holder element, at least one pattern tool attachable to the at least one tool attachment element and having a tool head configured to create an impression in an impressible material.

It is much by preference that the features of the second aspect of the invention are in accordance with those of the first aspect. More specifically, the elongate holder element, the tool attachment element and/or the pattern tool of the second aspect of the invention may have one or more of the features of the first aspect of the invention.

In certain embodiments, a kit according the second aspect of the invention further comprises a piercing tool. More specifically the piercing tool may be a sharp pointed implement having an elongate handle. In this way the piercing (scribing] tool may be used to create a free style design on the impressible material. The point of the piercing tool is most preferably the same or substantially similar dimension to the and/or each prong projection of a tool head comprising same. In this way, if a user requires a single piercing dot or hole in the pattern created by the pronged tool head, each piercing dot or hole is of the same or substantially similar dimension. In a kit according to the second aspect of the invention, there may be provided a single ended elongate holder element configured to be attachable to a single tool attachment element, and a pattern tool comprising a tool head formed of at least two prong projections, the pattern tool being attachable to the tool attachment element so as to form a hand held craft tool.

In alternative embodiments of the second aspect, a dual ended elongate holder element is provided, the dual ended elongate holder being attachable to up to two tool attachment elements and corresponding pattern tools at any one time. At least one of the pattern tools may comprise a tool head formed of at least two prong projections.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, there may be provided a kit of parts comprising a single elongate holder element, a piercing tool, at least one tool attachment element and a plurality of pattern tools comprising different tool heads, each pattern tool being interchangeably connectable to the tool attachment element. In certain embodiments of the second aspect, in the kit for forming a hand held craft tool, each pattern tool may be provided with a tool attachment element with each tool attachment element being interchangeable on the elongate holder element. In this way, a user may be provided with a kit for forming a hand held craft tool, the kit comprising, a single elongate holder element, a plurality of tool attachment elements each connected to a pattern tool comprising a tool head.

It is preferred that in such embodiments, each pattern tool in the kit would have a different tool head to any other in the kit. Each tool head would have its own tool head configuration and would, therefore, provide a different design in a soft material to any other tool head in the same kit. In alternative embodiments, an elongate holder element comprising a tool attachment element at each end thereof is provided together with at least two pattern tools each having a different tool head. More specifically the kit may be provided with 6, 8, 10 or more tool heads pattern tools each having a different tool head applied thereto.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and easily carried into effect reference will now be made to accompanying drawings in which: - Figures la, lb, lc and Id depict an elongate holder element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2a, 2c and 2f show a tool attachment element in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 2d and 2e show an end plan view of the tool attachment element of Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2f;

Figure 2b shows a cross-sectional representation of the tool attachment element of Figure 2a wherein the section is taken along the line A-A; Figure 3 shows 16 pattern tools each having a different tool head in front plan view and end plan view;

Figure 4 shows in exploded schematic view a hand held craft tool according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 5a-5d show a tool attachment element having an pattern tool with a pronged tool head applied thereto in side and end plan views;

Figure 6 show a kit of parts in accordance with an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention; Figure 7 shows a piercing tool in accordance with one embodiment of the second aspect of the invention;

Figure 8 shows an alternative hand held craft tool in accordance with further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 9a and 9b show alternative kits for forming two hand held craft tools according to alternative embodiments of the invention; and Figure 10a and Figure 10b show the patterns to be created by the tool head configurations of Figures 9a and 9b respectively.

Figures la - lc show an elongate holder element according to one embodiment of the present invention. The elongate holder element 3 comprises a barrel portion 5 which is substantially cylindrical about a longitudinal axis 7 the barrel portion 5 having fluted ends 9 and 11 each having a greater diameter than the central section 13 of barrel portion 5. Each fluted end 9, 11 has a tapered end section 10, 12 respectively connecting the fluted ends 9, 11 with respective neck portions 15, 17. The neck portion 15, 17 are coaxial with barrel portion 5 along longitudinal axis 7 of the elongate holder element 3. Each neck portion 15, 17 has a diameter less than the diameter of the adjacent tapered section 10, 12. Each neck portion 15, 17 comprises a J-slot 19, 21 forming part of a bayonet fitting arrangement with a tool attachment element (not shown). The J-slot 19, 21 allows releasable attachment of a tool attachment element (not shown) at each end of a dual ended elongate holder element 3 such as that depicted in Figure 1. In the depicted embodiment, the barrel comprises two locator elements 23, 25 at either end of the barrel portion 5. The locator elements 23, 25 are preferably aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and provide for, in use of the elongate holder element 3, a way to align the orientation of the tool of which the elongate holder forms a part with a material to be impressed upon by the tool in use. The locator elements 23, 25 ensure a consistent alignment of the tool with the material to be impressed upon when interchangeable tool attachment elements and tool heads (not shown) are attached to the elongate holder element 3.

It should be readily understood from reading the present description, that an alternative elongate holder element may provide a barrel portion having a single fluted end and neck portion in accordance with that depicted in Figure 1 whilst having a blank end without a neck portion at the opposite end thereby forming a single ended elongate holder element. In exemplary embodiments, the tool as measured from one end of the first neck portion 15 to the opposite end of the neck portion 17 will be 120mm in length. In such an embodiment, the neck portion may be 10mm in length as measured from the tapered end section 10, 12 to the end of the respective neck portion 15, 17. In such embodiments, the fluted end 9, 11 of the barrel portion 5 will have a diameter of 11.62mm and a distal ends of the neck portions 15, 17 remote from the barrel portion 5 may have a diameter of 6.4mm. It should be understood that these dimensions provide for one embodiment of the elongate holder element 3 in accordance with the invention. Figures 2a-2f together depict a tool attachment element 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Tool attachment element 30 comprises a body portion 33, the body portion itself comprising a frustoconical section 35 attached at an end thereof to a cylindrical section 37. The frustoconical section 35 and the cylindrical end section 37 are coaxial with one another along a longitudinal axis of the tool attachment element 30 the longitudinal axis being designated 39 in Figure 2.

The frustoconical section 35 comprises bayonet lugs 41 extending from an inner surface of the hollow frustoconical section 35. The bayonet lugs 41 are arranged to interlock with the J-slots 19, 21 of the elongate holder element of Figure 1. In this way, an interlocking fit between the tool attachment element 30 and elongate holder element neck portions 15, 17 is provided. Apertures 43, 45 are provided in the cylindrical section 37. In this way product entering the hollow tool attachment element 30 via the cylindrical section 37 may pass through the cylindrical section 37 and frustoconical section 35 and exit the frustoconical by apertures 43, 45. In this way, as the tool head (not shown] is impressed into a soft, mouldable material, the material removed from the material surface may pass through the tool attachment 30 and out through apertures 43, 45 so as to be removed from the tool and prevent clogging of the tool head.

As best seen in Figure 2b, the cylindrical section 37 of the element 30 has a tapered bore. The tapered bore increases in diameter from opening 31 to the line of attachment between cylindrical section 37 and the frustoconical section 35. In this way, soft material entering the element 30 at opening 31 will loosen within the tapered bore of the element 30 as it passes from the opening 31 towards apertures 43, 45. When the soft material reaches apertures 43, 45 its release from the hollow interior of the tool 30 will have been facilitated as the bore of the tool 30 widens.

Locator element 47 in the form of a lug on the outer surface of the cylindrical section 37 is located so as to be aligned with the locator elements 23, 25 on the elongate holder element 3 of Figure 1 thereby ensuring that when the tool attachment element 30 is located on to the elongate holder element 3 the user orientates the tool attachment element 30 correctly in order that the tool head may be presented to a material in the correct orientation at all times. The lower edge of the cylindrical section 37 proximate opening 31 comprises a recess 49 which is configured to receive a corresponding element on a tool head (not shown] for attachment of the tool head to the tool attachment element 30.

In the depicted embodiment the longitudinal dimension of the tool attachment element 30 from the end of cylindrical section 37 to the opposing end of frustoconical section 35 may be 26mm. The cylindrical section 37 may have a diameter at its end distal from the frustoconical section 35 of 13.53mm. The outer diameter including the wall of the cylindrical section 37 is in the depicted embodiment 15.99mm. The diameter of the end of the frustoconical section 35 remote from the cylindrical section 37 is, in a depicted embodiment, 4.77mm.

Figure 3 depicts a series of pattern tools generally denoted by the reference numeral 50. Each pattern tool 50 comprises a tool head in the form of an arrangement of prongs 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65 or in the form of a cutter 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81. Each of the tool heads is attached to a tool head body 83 having a substantially cylindrical cross section. Each tool head body 83 comprises a locator element 85 configured to interlock with recess 49 (Tool attachment element 30 of Figure 2). Each tool head is specifically designed to provide a tool head configuration or pattern as depicted with the end plan views corresponding to each of the tool heads depicted in Figure 3. The pronged tool heads depicted in figures 3a - 3h each comprise a series of prongs depending from the tool head body 83 and projecting from the tool head body by the same dimension in each of the tool heads of the pronged embodiments. In the depicted embodiments the prongs of each tool head are 10mm in length. In each of the depictions in Figure 3i-3p where the tool head comprises cutter elements the cutters depend from the tool head body 83 by 8mm with the end portion of the cutter element providing a tool head configuration as depicted in Figures 3i - 3p.

It should be readily understood that any number of arrangements of tool head prongs and tool head cutters may be provided in order to provide a multiplicity of shapes for selection by the user. Each of the depicted pattern tools 50 may be releasably attached or in certain embodiments permanently attached to a tool attachment 30, [see Figure 2).

Figure 4 depicts a hand held craft tool 1 in exploded schematic view. The hand held craft tool 1 comprises a dual ended elongate holder element 3 having neck portions 15, 17 at either end thereof and two tool attachment elements 30a, 30b at the first and second ends of the barrel portion 5 of the elongate holder element 3. The tool attachment elements 30a, 30b are attached to the respective neck portions 15, 17 by way a bayonet fitting through J-slots 19, 21. Pattern tools 50a, 50b are provided for attachment to the tool attachments elements 30a, 30b respectively in order that the locator elements 85 locate into recesses 49a and 49b on the respective tool attachment elements 30a, 30b. In the depicted arrangement, a first tool head 63 is attached to tool attachment element 30a and tool head 73 is attached to tool attachment element 30d. It should be readily understood that when the component parts are connected together tool 1 is a hand held craft tool having a multiply- pronged tool head at a first end and a tool head cutter at a second end thereof. It should be readily understood that any of the tool heads depicted in Figure 3 is suitable for attachment to the tool attachment elements 30a, 30b.

Figures 5a to 5d depict tool head 57 of Figure 3d attached to a tool attachment element 30 of Figure 2. In the depicted embodiment recess 49 of the tool attachment element 30 and locator element 85 of the pattern tool 50 are in interlocking engagement with one another thereby holding tool head 57 in engagement with the pattern tool and the tool attachment element 30. In the depicted arrangement, the pattern tool comprising the tool head 57 and the tool attachment element 30 are releasably engageable with one another. It should be understood that in alternative arrangements, the pattern tool 50 carrying tool head 57 and the tool attachment element 30 may be formed integrally with one another or may be permanently attached as two separate elements.

Figure 6 depicts kit for forming a hand held craft tool 1 and for use in impressing, piercing and/or cutting a soft material such as cake fondant. The kit comprises a single elongate holder element 3 being dual ended and having two neck portions 150, 170 on to which, by a push fit attachment, may be pressed any one of tool attachment elements 300. Each tool attachment element 300, of which in the depicted embodiment there are 8 represented, is attached a tool head 65, 55, 59, 51, 81, 71, 75, 67 (see Figure3). The kit also comprises piercing tool 90 being a pointed needle like scribing tool with a bulbous end 93. The pointed end of the piercing tool is the same diameter and length as the prongs of the tool heads 50 of Figure 3. The kit may be provided to a user in the form depicted and the user may by push fit releasably attach each of the attachment elements 300 to one or both ends of the elongate holder element 3 to provide a hand held craft tool according to the invention. It should be readily understood that the tool heads in the depicted embodiment may be replaced or supplemented by other tool heads such as those depicted in Figure 3 or any other shape of tool head required by the user.

Figure 7 depicts the piercing tool 90 having a first bulbous end 93 and a second pointed end 95. The barrel 97 of the piercing tool may be tapered towards the pointed end 95 such that the barrel 97 and the pointed end 95 are cylindrical but having different cross sectional diameters.

Figure 8 shows a hand held craft tool 100 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The hand held craft tool 100 comprises a barrel portion 105 having two tool attachment elements 130a, 130b attached at opposite ends of the barrel portion 105. Tool attachment element 130a is connected to a first multi- pronged tool head 151 comprising a plurality of prong projections, and tool attachment 130b is attached to a cutting tool head 167.

The tool 100 of Figure 8 may be provided to the user as a single integral element wherein the tool attachment element 130a, 130b and the tool heads 151, 167 are permanently connected to one another providing a single permanently attached dual headed hand held craft tool 100. In alternative embodiments, the tool attachment element 130a, 130b and or the tool heads 151, 167 may be releasably attached to one another in order that the elements of the tool may be releasably attachable to one another thereby providing an interchangeable tool kit for providing a craft tool.

Figure 9a and 9b show alternative kits for forming two hand held craft tools according to alternative embodiments of the invention. Each kit comprises a single, dual-ended barrel-shaped holder 3 and a piercing tool 90 having a single, pointed end of the same length and diameter dimensions as the prongs of the tool heads depicted in Figures 9a and 9b. The kit of Figure 9a comprises 8 tool attachment elements 30 each attached to a different tool head 65, 55, 59, 51, 81, 71, 75, 67. The kit of Figure 9b comprises 8 tool attachment elements 30 each attached to a different tool head 63, 61, 53, 57, 79, 77, 69, 73. Figures 10a and 10b show the patterns created by each of the tool head configurations of the tool heads 65, 55, 59, 51, 81, 71, 75, 67 (Figure 9a] and 63, 61, 53, 57, 79, 77, 69, 73 (Figure 9b]. The user may select the tool attachment element 30 and attached tool head to create the desired pattern. The patterns shown in Figures 10a and 10b are examples of a multitude of possible patterns which may be created using a hand held craft tool according to the invention.

Figure 10a and Figure 10b show the patterns to be created by the tool head configurations of Figures 9a and 9b respectively.

It is envisaged that there is modifications may be made to the features of the depicted embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the tool heads provided in the depicted embodiments may be replaced by any suitably shaped tool head comprising either a series of prongs or a cutting element.

Any material from which the elements of the hand held craft tool are formed is preferably food safe material and even more preferably a food safe plastic material. Although it is principally envisaged that the hand held craft tool will find use in the creation of decorative food when a user will create, in freestyle, a series of patterns and designs by impressing the tool pattern into the food stuff, the tool will work equally well other soft material such as clay for example.