ROTARY HEAD COVER FOR COTTON CANDY MAKER

Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for making cotton candy and, more particularly, to an independently rotatable cover for a rotary head of a cotton candy maker.

Background of the Invention Conventional cotton candy making machines include a base having an electric motor mounted therein. A bowl is positioned on the top surface of the base, where a hollow rotary member, rotary head, is positioned in the bowl. The hollow rotary member is operably connected to the electric motor, such that the electric motor rotates the hollow rotary member when activated. The hollow rotary member has a sugar supply port at the center thereof allowing for the pouring of sugar therein. A heating element for heating and melting the sugar is positioned adjacent to the hollow rotary member.

The heating element heats the sugar in the hollow rotary member, such that as the electric motor rotates the hollow rotary member the molten sugar is guided toward the peripheral wall of the hollow rotary member by a centrifugal force. Apertures are formed on the peripheral wall of the hollow rotary member so that molten sugar is spun therethrough, thus obtaining a fibrous candy.

The cotton candy making machine can also include a fan for producing an upward air flow around the rotary member. The air flow from the fan causes outward dispersion of the fibrous candy obtained by spinning the molten sugar through the apertures, along

the radial direction of the rotary member, thereby obtaining a good fibrous state. The fibrous candy is stuck around a stick to prepare cotton candy.

Summary of the Invention The present disclosure provides a cotton candy making machine having a rotary head and a cover decoupably connected to the rotary head. The decoupled connection of the cover to the rotary head permits an independent rotation of the cover with respect to the rotary head. In this manner, when the rotary head is being spun, a contacting of the cover by an outside object will decrease or stop the rotation of the cover, while the rotary head continues to spin.

The cotton candy making machine can includes a base housing a motor and a heating element connected to the base. A bowl is positioned on the base, about the heating element. The rotary head is positioned in the bowl, operably connected to the motor. The cover is decoupably connected to the rotary head.

The decoupling connection of the cover to the rotary head can include a bearing mechanism interposed between the rotary head and the cover. The bearing mechanism permits the independent rotation of the cover with respect to the rotary head.

Brief Description of the Drawings A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a cotton candy maker of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts an rotary head for the cotton candy maker of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 depicts a partial front isometric view of the rotary head of FIG. 2 on the cotton candy maker;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the connection of a decoupled cover to a rotary head; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the connection of a decoupled cover to another rotary head.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments The present disclosure provides a cotton candy maker have a rotary head and a cover mounted thereto. The cover is mounted in a decoupling arrangement with the rotary head, such that the cover can rotate independently from the rotary head. In this manner, when the rotary head is being spun, a contacting of the cover by an outside object will decrease or stop the rotation of the cover, while the rotary head continues to spin.

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cotton candy maker 10. The cotton candy maker 10 includes a base 12 housing an electric motor (not shown). A heating mechanism 14 is provided on the base 12. A bowl 16 having a center opening 18 is positioned on the base 12, where the center opening 18 in the bowl 16 is positioned about the heating mechanism 14. A rotary head 20 is detachably mounted to the electric motor, such that an activation of the electric motor rotates the rotary head 20. A fan (not shown) can be

mounted to the motor, where an activation of the motor rotates the fan, thereby generating an air flow from base 12 into the bowl 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary rotary head 20 is provided. The rotary head 20 includes a circular tray 22 having a top plate 24 affixed to the top thereof. The circular tray 22 and the top plate 24 are jointed and configured to form apertures at their interface. The top plate 24 includes a central orifice 26, allowing for the pouring of sugar therein. A shaft 28 is mounted to a bottom of the circular tray 22, where an opposite end of the shaft 28 is connected to the electric motor. The shaft 28 is operably connected to the motor such that an activation of the electric motor rotates the rotary head 20.

A reflector plate 30 can be mounted to the top plate 24, where the reflector plate

30 is spaced apart from the top plate 24. Spacers 32 are interposed between the reflector plate 30 and the top plate 24. Fasteners 34 are positioned through the reflector plate 30, the spacers 32, and the top plate 24, attaching the reflector plate 30 to the top plate 24 in the spaced apart configuration. The reflector plate 30 includes a central orifice 36, which is coaxial with the center orifice 26 of the top plate 24. The reflector plate central orifice 36 has a first radius Rl .

A cover 44 can be mounted to the rotary head 20, where the rotation of the cover 44 can be decoupled from the rotation of the rotary head 20. Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a bearing mechanism 38 is interposed between the cover 44 and the rotary head 20, decoupling the rotation of the cover 44 from the rotation of the rotary head 20.

The bearing mechanism 38 includes an outer surface 40 and an inner surface 42, where the outer surface 40 of the bearing mechanism 38 has a radius substantially equal to the first radius Rl of the reflector plate central orifice 36. The bearing mechanism 38

is securely fitted into the reflector plate central orifice 36. The inner surface 42 of the bearing mechanism 38 has a second radius R2, where the second radius R2 is less then the first radius Rl.

The bearing mechanism 38 is configured such that the rotation of the inner surface 42 is decoupled from the rotation of the outer surface 40, such that the inner surface 42 can rotate independently from the outer surface 40. For example, the outer surface 40 can include a plurality of ball bearings 41 rotatably mounted in and about the bearing mechanism 38, the ball bearings 41 forming the outer surface 40 of the bearing mechanism 38. In this manner, the inner surface 42 of the bearing mechanism 38 can rotate independently with respect to the outer, ball bearing, surface 40.

Alternatively, the inner surface 42 can include a plurality of ball bearings 41 rotatably mounted in and about the bearing mechanism 38. In this manner, the outer surface 40 of the bearing mechanism 38 can rotate independently with respect to the inner, ball bearing, surface 42.

The above bearing mechanisms 38 are only exemplary in nature, and it is contemplated the any bearing mechanism which decouples the rotation of the inner surface 42 of the bearing mechanism 38 with respect to the outer surface 40 of the bearing mechanism 38 can be utilized.

The cover 44 includes a top portion 46, having a central fill spout 48, and an elongated hollow portion 50 extending from the bottom of the cover 44. The elongated hollow portion 50 extends downwardly from the central fill spout 48, defining a passage through which sugar can be poured. The elongated hollow portion 50 has an outer surface 52 which is affixed to the inner surface 42 of the bearing mechanism 38. The

connection of the cover 44 to the bearing mechanism 38 decouples the rotation of the cover 44 from the rotation of the rotary head 20.

The cover 44 is affixed to the bearing mechanism 38, such that the passage through the cover 44 is coaxial with the central orifice 36 of the reflector plate 30 and the central orifice 26 of the top plate 24. In this manner, sugar can be poured through the fill spout 48 in the cover 44 into the circular tray 22 of the rotary head 20.

In a method of use, sugar is poured through the fill spout 48 in the cover 44 into the circular tray 22 of the rotary head 20. The motor and the heating mechanism 14 are turned on, rotating the rotary head 20. Simultaneously, the heating mechanism 14 heats the sugar in the circular tray 22 of the rotary head 20. As the electric motor rotates the rotary head 20, the molten sugar is guided toward the peripheral wall of the circular tray 22 by a centrifugal force. Apertures formed between the top plate 24 and the circular tray 22 allows molten sugar to be spun therethrough, thus obtaining a fibrous candy.

As the rotary head 20 is spun, the cover 44 is simultaneously spun. However, the bearing mechanism 38 interposed between the rotary head 20 and the cover 44 decouples the spinning of the cover 44 from the rotary head 20. In this manner, a contacting of the cover 44 by an outside object stops the spinning of the cover 44 with respect to the rotary head 20, while the rotary head 20 remains in motion.

Referring to FIG. 5, a rotary head 60 includes a circular tray 62 having a top plate

64 affixed to the top thereof. The top plate 64 includes a central orifice 66, allowing for the pouring of sugar therein. The top plate central orifice 66 has a first radius Rl . A shaft 68 is mounted to a bottom of the circular tray 62, where an opposite end of the shaft

68 is connected to the electric motor. The shaft 68 is operably connected to the motor such that an activation of the motor rotates the rotary head 60.

The bearing mechanism 38 is interposed between the cover 44 and the rotary head 60, decoupling the rotation of the cover 44 from the rotation of the rotary head 60. The bearing mechanism 38 has an outer surface 40 and an inner surface 42, where the outer surface 40 of the bearing mechanism 38 has a radius substantially equal to the first radius Rl of the top plate central orifice 66. The bearing mechanism 38 is securely fitted into the top plate central orifice 66.

The cover 44 is attached to the rotary head 60, where the outer surface 52 of the elongated hollow portion 50 is affixed to the inner surface 42 of the bearing mechanism 38. The connection of the cover 44 to the bearing mechanism 38 decouples the rotation of the cover 44 from the rotation of the rotary head 60.

The cover 44 is affixed to the bearing mechanism 38, such that the passage through the cover 44 is coaxial with the central orifice 66 of the top plate 64. In this manner, sugar can be poured through the fill spout 48 in the cover 44 into the circular tray 62 of the rotary head 60.

In a method of use, sugar is poured through the fill spout 48 in the cover 44 into the circular tray 62 of the rotary head 60. The motor and the heating mechanism 14 are turned on, rotating the rotary head 60. Simultaneously, the heating mechanism 14 heats the sugar in the circular tray 62 of the rotary head 60. As the electric motor rotates the rotary head 60 the molten sugar is guided toward the peripheral wall of the circular tray 62 by a centrifugal force. Apertures formed between the top plate 64 and the circular tray 62 allows molten sugar to be spun therethrough, thus obtaining a fibrous candy.

As the rotary head 60 is spun, the cover 44 is simultaneously spun. However, the bearing mechanism 38 interposed between the rotary head 60 and the cover 44 decouples the spinning of the cover 44 from the rotary head 60. hi this manner, a contacting of the cover 44 by an outside object stops the spinning of the cover 44 with respect to the rotary head 60, while the rotary head 60 remains in motion.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.