Abstract:
An ice cream scoop includes a scooping bowl and a handle coupled to the scooping bowl. The scoop defines a confection retention enclosure for receiving a candy confection therein. An aperture is provided for dispensing the confection out of the enclosure. A removable plug is used to cover the aperture to selectively permit and prevent the confection from being dispensed out of the enclosure. The retention enclosure may be transparent or translucent to permit viewing of the confection located therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/923,413, filed Apr. 13, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to frozen confection serving devices, and, more particularly, to ice cream scoops. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Ice cream and other frozen confections are enjoyed around the world, and are often eaten with sprinkled candy or nuts on top. Traditionally, ice cream is stored in large refrigerated receptacles and scooped into smaller portions for individual servings. Traditionally, to serve a portion of ice cream with candy or nuts on top, a portion of ice cream is first scooped into an individual serving with a scoop, and then candy and/or nuts are sprinkled over the ice cream using a spoon, an open bag, or other dispensing device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a dual function ice cream scoop that is used to perform the scooping of ice cream and is also used to perform the dispensing of candy confections, nuts, or other toppings. In one form of the present invention, the dual function scoop is provided with a hollow handle that is adapted to store candies, ground nuts, or the like. The scoop allows a user to scoop a portion of frozen confection, such as ice cream, and then sprinkle or otherwise dispense the candy out of the handle and onto the frozen confection before serving. 
         [0005]    According to another form of the present invention, an ice cream scoop includes a scooping bowl and a handle. The handle defines a substantially hollow section to receive a topping such as a candy confection or nuts. The handle has a first end, a second end, a gripping surface, and at least one aperture. The aperture permits dispensing of the confection, and a cover is provided for covering the aperture. In one aspect of the invention, the handle is substantially clear to permit viewing of the confection inside the handle. Alternatively, the confection storing region of the device includes a viewing zone that is transparent and provides for viewing of the confection stored therein. That viewing zone or zones may be decoratively configured to increase the aesthetic appeal of the device. Still alternatively, the viewing zone or handle are translucent to allow viewing of the stored confection, and may impart other attributes such as a tinting or distortion of light reflected by the stored confections. 
         [0006]    According to another form of the present invention, a method of serving ice cream is provided. The method includes providing an ice cream scoop having a handle defining a hollow section with a topping such as a candy confection contained inside the handle. The handle defines an aperture for dispensing the candy confection. Next, a portion of the frozen confection is scooped with the scoop, and the candy confection is dispensed through the aperture and onto the frozen confection. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the ice cream scoop of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the ice cream scoop; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the ice cream scoop; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the ice cream scoop; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the ice cream scoop, taken towards the second end as viewed from above. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawings, an ice cream scoop, one preferred form of which is referenced by the numeral  10 , is provided for serving frozen confections, such as ice cream, frozen yoghurt, frozen custard, or the like, and also allows a user to store and dispense candy confections onto the frozen confection. The scoop  10  has a bowl portion  12  and a handle portion  14 . Handle  14  is substantially hollow and has a first end  14   a  and a second end  14   b . Bowl portion  12  is attached to handle  14  at first end  14   a . An end cap  16  is provided at second end  14   b  of handle  14  ( FIGS. 1-5 ). End cap  16  includes an aperture  18  for dispensing a topping such as a candy confection  20 . 
         [0014]    Handle  14  is a tapered hollow cylinder sized to comfortably fit in a user&#39;s hand. Handle  14  is open at second end  14   b , through which candy confection may be added to handle  14 . Handle  14  may incorporate dispensing holes (not shown) through the cylindrical wall, such as proximate first end  14   a , proximate second end  14   b , or between first end  14   a  and second end  14   b . Handle  14  is made of clear plastic, and may be made of any suitably strong material resistant to embrittlement in low temperatures. Alternatively, for example, the handle may comprise an inner cylinder rotatably or slidably mounted within an outer cylinder, each cylinder having one or more dispensing holes that may be aligned to dispense candy, and un-aligned to prevent spillage of candy. Handle  14  may be opaque or translucent, for example, and may have a light filter to create color, reflection, refraction, and/or distortion effects on the light reflected by candy  20 . Alternatively, handle  14  may have one or more viewing regions (not shown), where the viewing regions may be one or more of a plurality of shapes, for example, stars, strips, circles, triangles, lines, etc. 
         [0015]    End cap  16  is removable and fits snugly into second end  14   b  of handle  14 , substantially closing off the opening in handle  14  at second end  14   b . End cap  16  defines aperture  18 . End cap  16  may be made of plastic, rubber, or other resilient material, and may be retained in handle  14  such as with screw threads, friction fit, snap-fit, or the like. Alternatively, end cap  16  may be fixed in second end  14   b  of handle  14 . 
         [0016]    Aperture  18  in end cap  16  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ) has a diameter between approximately 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters, and may be larger or smaller depending on whether aperture  18  is to be used for filling or dispensing, or both filling and dispensing, candy  20 . Although shown as a single round hole, aperture  18  may comprise a plurality of smaller holes or slots such as when used only for dispensing candy  20 . A removable cover or plug  22  covers aperture  18 , to prevent undesired spillage or contamination of candy  20  in handle  14 . The plug may be made of rubber, for example, and may be hingedly attached or otherwise tethered to end cap  16  of handle  14 . Alternatively, the plug may comprise a sliding or rotating member to block aperture  18  when aperture  18  is not in use. Still alternatively, end cap  16  may be on a side of handle  14 , may be near bowl portion  12 , or may be inside bowl portion  12 , for example. 
         [0017]    Examples of candy confections that may be used in conjunction with the dual function ice cream scoop of the present invention include, but are not limited to: M&amp;M&#39;s® brand MINIS®, available from Mars Inc.; JOLLY RANCHER ROCKS®, available from Hershey Foods Corp.; and WONKA® brand NERDS®, available from Nestlé USA, Inc. However, it will be appreciated that any suitably small and clumping-resistant candy, or nuts, or other desired food item may be used with the invention. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, the ice cream scoop  10  may be used to scoop a serving of frozen confection and then dispense candy  20  onto the frozen confection, such as by orienting the ice cream scoop such that aperture  18  is aimed downward, or by shaking or tapping scoop  10  to dispense candy  20 . Handle  14  may be filled with candy  20  by removing end cap  16  and filling handle  14  at second end  14   b , or by removing plug  22  from aperture  18  and filling handle  14  through aperture  18 . 
         [0019]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, alternative embodiments of dual function ice cream scoops are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The alternative embodiments described herein are intended to be exemplary and are not limiting in any way. For example, a first alternative embodiment of a dual function ice cream scoop includes a handle portion, a bowl portion, and a separate candy storage and dispensing chamber for storing and dispensing candy through one or more apertures in a wall of the chamber. In a second alternative embodiment, a dual function ice cream scoop incorporates a candy storage and dispensing chamber that is internally illuminated, and which may include one or more batteries and a switch to supply electrical energy to a light. In a third alternative embodiment, a dual function ice cream scoop incorporates a candy storage and dispensing chamber that is at least partially opaque and has one or more translucent or transparent regions or zones through which an interior portion of the candy storage and dispensing chamber may be viewed. The transparent region or zone may distort light reflected by candy in the candy storage and dispensing chamber, such as to create a distorted, colored, or textured view of the candy. The opaque regions and the translucent or transparent regions may be arranged in a decorative pattern and may, for example, create an aesthetically-pleasing visual effect when the storage and dispensing chamber is at least partially filled with candy. For example, the storage and dispensing chamber may be a hollow cylindrical handle with a spiral pattern of white opaque regions alternating with colorless transparent regions that, when the storage and dispensing chamber is at least partly filled with colored candy, creates a “candy cane” visual effect. 
         [0020]    In a fourth alternative embodiment, a dual function ice cream scoop incorporates a candy storage and dispensing chamber and an agitator or vibrating device to facilitate the dispensing of candy through one or more apertures in a wall of the storage and dispensing chamber, and may include one or more batteries and a switch to supply electrical energy to the agitator or vibrating device. In a fifth alternative embodiment, a dual function ice cream scoop incorporates a candy storage and dispensing chamber, and an ejector device that is similar to ejector or firing devices commonly used in conjunction with spring-loaded BB guns or pinball machines. A small portion of candy, such as an individual candy piece, is received in an ejection chamber, whereupon a spring-loaded member is drawn back and released to impact the candy piece and eject it through a barrel or tube in the candy storage and dispensing chamber, and out through an aperture in an outer wall of the candy storage and dispensing chamber. The loading and ejecting functions may be automated such that individual candy pieces may be sequentially ejected in rapid succession by depressing and holding a switch, for example. 
         [0021]    These and other changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.