Methods and systems for inhibiting leakage between a surface and a shaping object

#Frequently, containers are of a fixed shape. The container's surface can thus be continuous. This continuity can prevent materials that will fill the container from leaking through gaps (e.g., created in response to force exerted by the material). However, the fixed shape also carries disadvantages. For example, the container's utility may be limited to instances in which a precise size or shape of the container is appropriate. Further, storing the container may require a substantial amount of space. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus or system that can reliably contain materials while extending its flexibility in its potential utilization.

#In some embodiments of the invention, systems and methods relate to a flexible strip that can be formed into a closed shape and positioned on top of a compressible mat. The strip can be pressed into the compressible mat such that a crevice is formed along a bottom edge of the strip. The crevice can prevent material poured into the formed closed area from leaking underneath the strip.

#In some embodiments of the invention, systems and methods allow a user to make a food item (e.g., a cake) in a custom shape. For example, a user may arrange one or more objects (e.g., a strip or blocks) on a surface to at least partly define a perimeter. A non-solid food item (e.g., cake batter) may be poured inside the perimeter and baked. After baking, the baked food item (e.g., cake) may have a shape similar to the perimeter. In order to prevent the non-solid food item from leaking through the perimeter, a leak-proof boundary may be formed between the perimeter and the surface. For example, the surface may include a mat (e.g., a shapeable, compressible, deformable, substantially non-resilient, semi-adhesive and/or adhesive mat). A user may press the perimeter into the mat and/or compress an area within the perimeter. Leakage of the food item may be inhibited (e.g., due to a seal between the object and the mat and/or due to a relatively high surface of a portion of the mat outside the perimeter).

#FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate examples of compressible mats, according to some embodiments of the invention.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a method for making food items, according to some embodiments of the invention.

#FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a method for baking a cake, according to some embodiments of the invention.

#In some embodiments of the invention, systems and methods allow a user to make a food item (e.g., a cake) in a custom shape. For example, a user may arrange one or more objects (e.g., a strip or blocks) on a surface to at least partly define a perimeter. A non-solid food item (e.g., cake batter) may be poured inside the perimeter and baked. After baking, the baked food item (e.g., cake) may have a shape similar to the perimeter. In order to prevent the non-solid food item from leaking through the perimeter, a leak-proof boundary may be formed between the perimeter and the surface. For example, the surface may include a mat (e.g., a shapeable, compressible, deformable, substantially non-resilient, semi-adhesive and/or adhesive mat). A user may press the perimeter into the mat and/or compress an area within the perimeter. Leakage of the food item may be inhibited (e.g., due to a seal between the object and the mat and/or due to a relatively higher surface of a portion of the mat outside the perimeter).

#The mat may be of any of a variety of shapes. For example, the mat may be substantially rectangular, substantially square, substantially circular, etc. The mat may be, e.g., at least about, about or less than about 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 or 48 inches wide and/or long (e.g., about 6-36 inches wide and about 6-36 inches long). In some embodiments, the mat extends across an area slightly smaller than, approximately equal to, or slightly larger than a base of a standard size cake pan or cookie sheet (e.g., the mat may be substantially rectangular and slightly smaller/larger than 26×18 inches, 21×15 inches, 18×13 inches or 13×9 inches, or the mat may be circular with a diameter slightly smaller/larger than 8, 9 or 10 inches). The mat may have a depth (which may comprise an uncompressed depth) of at least about, about or less than about 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 inches. For example, the mat may have an uncompressed depth of at least 0.5 inches and be configured such that a fully compressed depth is less than 0.5 inches or less than 0.25 inches. In some embodiments, the mat has a (e.g., maximal) width and/or a (e.g., maximal) length of about 5-36 inches or about 8-24 inches and/or has an uncompressed depth of about 0.5-2 inches or about 0.5-1 inch.

#A mat may or may not be provided separately from a supporting surface. For example, a mat may be physically independent (and/or provided or sold independently) from a supporting surface, such as a cookie sheet or cake pan. As another example, a mat may be physically independent from a supporting surface, but the mat and surface may be provided together (e.g., a mat may be sold with a cookie sheet). As another example, a mat may be physically coupled with a supporting surface or the supporting surface may be configured to include the mat and/or have properties described herein in relation to the mat. For example, a product may resemble a cookie sheet or cake pan but have a mat fixedly attached to its top surface (e.g., where cookies or cake batter would be positioned) or have a top surface that includes one or more properties described herein with respect to a mat (e.g., such that the top surface is compressible). In some embodiments, a mat as described herein may be manufactured to be a stand-alone product (e.g., such that cake-shaping objects and food items may be placed on the mat and transported without the mat collapsing or disturbing the objects placed thereon). A mat may or may not include solid and rigid sidewalls, bottom surface, handles, etc. that may assist in stand-alone functionality.