US3165252A - Confectionary novelty and container therefor - Google Patents

Description

' Jan. 12, 1965 P. H. CARTER ETAL v CONFECTIONARY NOVELTY AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Original Filed Jan. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS h. C A A 7/8 RAYMon/O 4 Mok A TTORNE Y P. H. CARTER ETAL 3,165,252

CONFECTIONARY NOVELTY AND CONTAINER mzagr oa Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 19, 1961 7 FIG FIG. .I

INVENTORS A TTORNE Y United States Patent 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-55 This is a division of our copending application for patent, Ser. No. 83,762, filed January 19, 1961.

This invention relates to confectionary products and it is more particularly concerned with novelty items which appeal to and are especially attractive to children.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a confectionary novelty item in which ice cream, sherbert, ices, or other frozen confectionary material is held in a paper container and which can be removed by a person with one hand to expose the confectionary material for consumption, while the other hand firmly holds a support on which the confectionary material is disposed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a confectionary novelty item which is adapted to the disposition of a hidden surprise, such as a figurine, inside a mound of frozen confectionary material, as a toy for children.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a novelty item comprising an inverted frusto-conical paper container having an opening at the bottom that seats an inverted frusto-conical base member for supporting the confectionary material at the bottom of the container and a handle integral with and projection downwardly from the base member as a handle for the item.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type mentioned in which a figurine is provided integral with the upper part of the base member and the handle is secured to it at a recessed point so that after the confectionary material is consumed, the stern can be broken off at a point above the bottom of the base member thereby permitting the base member to be used as a support for the figurine on a horizontal surface.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a container for a confectionary material which permits the removal of a portion of the container to expose the edible contents on a supporting member constituting the remaining part of the container.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a supporting memberfor removable disposition at the bottom of a frusto-conical shell to form therewith a complete container for a confectionary material.

These objects and still further objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing of several embodiments of the invention given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing: I

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view generally through the center of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified embodiment of the invention, partly broken away.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Patented Jan." 12, 1965 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 are views corresponding to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, of a modification of the first embodiment.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises an inverted frusto-conical paper shell 11 open at the top and bottom. The top is adapted to beclosed by a circular lid 12 after the contents 13 are inserted, such as ice cream, sherbet, milk ice, water ice, or other types of frozen confectionary materials or combinations thereof.

The bottom of the paper shell is closed by a removable inverted frusto-conical plug 14 which forms the bottom wall or base of the container and upon which the confectionary material 13 is deposited.

The plug 14 comprises an upper disc 15 and a lower disc 16 connected to each other by a group of vertical fins 17, preferably in the form of crossed members, as shown. A portion of the lower disc 16, such as the diametrical portion 18, is upwardly recessed and a handle 19 is integrally formed with the plug at the recess. The upper end of the handle 19 adjacent the portion 18 is of reduced cross-section to form a neck 20 as a weakened break-off point for the purpose of fracturing and separating the handle from the plug at a point above the bottom of the disc 16.

Integral with the upper disc 15 is a figurine 21 which projects upwardly therefrom and is encased in the confectionary material 13. This figurine may be a surprise toy for children, but functionally serves as a retainer for preventing the lateral slippage of the confectionary material on the disc 15. After the confectionary material is consumed, the handle 19 is broken off, as explained above, thereby resulting in a toy that can be supported on a horizontal surface. Also, any sharp or rough edges occasioned by the fracture is concealed within the recess, thereby serving to protect a child playing with the toy from injury therefrom.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 in the form of the plug member. The plug member of this embodiment comprises a disc 22 having a downwardly extending and tapering frusto-conical flange 23. The handle 24 is attached to the bottom of the disc 22 with a constricted neck portion 25 as the break-off or fracture point.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 differs from the previously described embodiment in providing a plug member 26 of a solid material with a recess 27 at the bottom, similar to that of the first embodiment, and a handle 28 with a similar constructed neck portion 29 adjacent the recess.

The plug member of each of the embodiments is preferably formed of any suitable conventional plastic material, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, etc. but may be of any other suitable liquid impervious material that will not contaminate food and which is otherwise safe to use in contact with food.

The modification of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 comprises essentially reduction in length of the vertical fins 17.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

The combination of a frusto-conical container and an end closure member, said container having a smaller opening at one end and a larger opening at the other end, said member comprising a one-piece plastic plug having a relatively larger imperforate disc at one end and a relatively smaller imperforate disc at the other end,

said discs being disposed in planes spaced from and parallel to each other, integral means securing the discs tcgether, said means being disposed between the discs and being inwardly offset from the peripheries of the discs, the diameter of the smaller disc being substantially equal to the diameter of the said smaller opening and the di-- beyond the container a substantial distance, said" larger 7 disc being in continuous peripheral engagement with'the container and said smaller disc being disposed in and filling said smaller opening.

Valentine 21548 Murphy. 7 Legge 20656 Barricini.

Schlumbohrn 22042 Oclassen'et al. 206*56 Lynn [2,06-56 Lockhart 206-56 Anderson 2065 6 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMlvlOI ID,,Examiner.

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