Abstract:
A preferred embodiment of a device includes a lid for holding at least a portion of a foodstuff, a body for supporting the lid while the foodstuff is consumed, and a noisemaking device secured to the body so that the noisemaking device and the body cooperate to produce a sound in response to the passage of air through the noisemaking device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for holding a foodstuff such as a frankfurter  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Foodstuffs such as frankfurters are commonly served at public and private gatherings such as sporting events, circuses, barbecues, parties, etc. Frankfurters are typically served on plates, or on trays tailored to the shape of the frankfurter. Toppings such as mustard, relish, sauerkraut, and ketchup are commonly applied to frankfurters. The toppings can be applied before the frankfurter is served to the consumer. Alternatively, the toppings can be applied by the consumer from dispensers or packets.  
           [0003]    Plates and trays used to hold frankfurters can be awkward for the consumer to hold or otherwise support, particularly at public gatherings where a table or other convenient resting place is not available. Moreover, applying toppings to a frankfurter from packets or dispensers can be inconvenient and messy. Also, many types of plates and trays do not prevent toppings or juices from the frankfurter from dripping onto the consumer. This characteristic can be particularly disadvantageous where the consumer is a young child.  
           [0004]    Plates and trays used to hold frankfurters, in general, are not visually appealing to consumers (particularly children), and do not have any additional uses. Hence, the plates and trays are often discarded after use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A preferred embodiment of a holder for a foodstuff comprises a substantially cone-shaped body, and a lid comprising a main portion, a lip adjoining the main portion for securing the lid to a first end of the body, and an elongated member adjoining the main portion for receiving at least a portion of the foodstuff. A preferred embodiment also comprises a noisemaking device fixedly coupled to a second end of the body.  
           [0006]    A preferred embodiment of a device for holding a foodstuff comprises a substantially cone-shaped body, a lid for mating with the body and receiving at least a portion of the foodstuff, and a noisemaking device for generating a sound. The noisemaking device is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the body so that the body at least one of amplifies and projects the sound when the lid is removed from the body.  
           [0007]    A preferred embodiment of a device comprises a lid for holding at least a portion of a foodstuff, a body for supporting the lid while the foodstuff is consumed, and a noisemaking device secured to the body so that the noisemaking device and the body cooperate to produce a sound in response to the passage of air through the noisemaking device.  
           [0008]    Another preferred embodiment of a device for holding a foodstuff comprises a substantially cone-shaped body, and a lid comprising a main portion, a lip adjoining the main portion for securing the lid to the body, an elongated member projecting from the main portion for receiving at least a portion of the foodstuff, and a well adjoining the main portion for receiving a topping for the foodstuff.  
           [0009]    Another preferred embodiment of a device comprises a lid for holding at least a portion of a foodstuff, a body for supporting the lid while the foodstuff is consumed, and one of a whistle and a horn in fluid communication with an internal volume of the body. The lid can be removed from the body so that the one of a whistle and a horn and the lid cooperate to produce a sound in response to the passage of air through the one of a whistle and a horn. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a presently-preferred embodiment, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show an embodiment that is presently preferred. The invention is not limited, however, to the specific instrumentalities disclosed in the drawings. In the drawings:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a device for holding a foodstuff, in an unassembled condition;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1, in an assembled condition;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a lid of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the lid shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lid shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, taken along the line “A-A” of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a body and a noisemaking device of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the body and the noisemaking device shown in FIG. 6, taken along the line “B-B” of FIG. 6;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the lid shown in FIGS. 3-5; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a side view of alternative embodiment of the lid shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 1-7 depict a preferred embodiment of a device  10  for holding a foodstuff. The device  10  is configured to hold a frankfurter  12  (see FIG. 2). It should be noted that alternative embodiments of the device  10  can be configured to hold other types of foodstuffs such as corn dogs, beef on a stick, chicken on a stick, etc.  
         [0021]    The device  10  comprises a body  14  and a lid  16 . The lid  16  is capable of being secured to and removed from the body  16 , and includes provisions for receiving the frankfurter  12 . Details relating to these features are presented below.  
         [0022]    Preferably, the body  14  is substantially cone-shaped as shown in FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  7 . It should be noted the body  14  can have other shapes, e.g., a cup shape, in alternative embodiments. The body  14  has a first end  14   a,  and a second, smaller-diameter end  14   b.  The body  14  is preferably formed from a recyclable material such as plastic or cardboard, although other types of materials can be used in the alternative.  
         [0023]    The device  10  preferably comprises a noisemaking device  18  fixedly coupled to the second end  14   b  of the body  16  (see FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  7 ). The noisemaking device  18  is preferably in fluid communication with an internal volume of the body  14 , as shown in FIG. 7. The noisemaking device  18  can be a whistle or a horn of the well-known type used in noisemakers (party favors). Other types of noisemaking devices can be used in the alternative. The purpose of the noisemaking device  18  is discussed below. It should be noted that alternative embodiments of the device  10  can be constructed without the noisemaking device  18  (the lid  16  may or may not be permanently secured to the body  14  in such embodiments).  
         [0024]    The lid  16  preferably comprises a main portion  19  and an adjoining lip  20  (see FIGS. 1 and 3- 5 ). The lip  20  extends around a circumference of the main portion  19 . The lip  20  extends downwardly from the main portion  19  (from the perspective of FIG. 1).  
         [0025]    The lip  20  helps to secure the lid  16  to the body  14 . More specifically, the lip  20  is preferably sized so that the lip  20  interferes with the end  14   a  of the body  14  as the lid  16  is mated with the body  14 . The lip  20  (and the remainder of the lid  16 ) are preferably formed from a material that permits the lip  20  to resiliently deflect in an outward direction in response to the noted contact with the end  14   a.  For example, the lip  20  can be formed from a thin sheet of plastic material. The resilience of the lip  20  causes the lip  20  to securely grasp the body  14 , thereby securing the lid  16  to the body  14 . The thickness of the lip  20  is preferably selected so that the mating force between the lip  20  and the body  14  is sufficient to prevent inadvertent removal of the lid  16 , while permitting the lid  16  to be removed without the use of excessive force. It should be noted that structures other than the lip  20  can be used to secure the lid  16  to the body  14  in alternative embodiments.  
         [0026]    The lid  16  further comprises an elongated portion  22 . The elongated portion  22  is preferably shaped as a cylinder, although other geometric configurations can be used in alternative embodiments. A first end of the elongated portion  22  is fixedly coupled to the main portion  19  proximate a center thereof. The elongated portion  22  extends downward from the main portion  19  (from the perspective of FIG. 1). The elongated portion  22  is thus positioned within the body  14  when the lid  16  is secured to the body  14  (see FIG. 2). A hemispherical cap  24  is fixedly coupled to a second end of the elongated portion  22 .  
         [0027]    The elongated portion  22  and the cap  24  hold the frankfurter  12 . More particularly, the elongated portion  22  preferably has a length sufficient to permit approximately half of the frankfurter  12  to fit therein (see FIG. 2). The diameter of the elongated portion  22  is preferably sized so that the elongated portion  22  holds the frankfurter  12  in a substantially upright position, as shown in FIG. 2, while allowing the frankfurter  12  to be inserted into and removed from the elongated portion  22  without substantial resistance.  
         [0028]    It should be noted that the optimum values for the diameter and length of the elongated portion  22  will vary with the particular type or types of frankfurters (or other foodstuffs) with which the device  10  is used. Specific values for these dimensions therefore are not presented herein.  
         [0029]    The lid  16  preferably includes one or more wells  26  (see FIGS. 1 and 3- 5 ). The wells  26  extend downward from the main portion  19 . The wells  26  can be used as trays for holding toppings for the frankfurter  12  such as mustard, relish, sauerkraut, ketchup, etc.  
         [0030]    The main portion  19 , lip  20 , elongated portion  22 , cap  24 , and wells  26  can be unitarily formed by a suitable process such as injection molding.  
         [0031]    The device  10  can be used, for example, by a food vendor at a sporting event. In particular, a foodstuff such as the frankfurter  12  can be sold to a customer with the frankfurter  12  inserted the elongated member  22 , as shown in FIG. 2. The wells  26  can be filled with one or more toppings by the vendor before the device  10  and the frankfurter  12  are provided to the customer (the frankfurter  12  and toppings can thus be conveniently served as a single package). Alternatively, the customer can fill the wells  26  with one or more toppings from dispensers or packets of toppings provided by the vendor.  
         [0032]    The body  14  can easily be held with one hand by children as well as adults, it is believed, due to its substantially conical shape. The frankfurter  12  can be removed from the device  10  and consumed in its entirety while being held in the other hand of the consumer (as is common for children attending a sporting event). Alternatively, the frankfurter  12  can be consumed, in part, while being held by the device  10 . An end the frankfurter  12  can be dipped in the toppings held in the wells  26  as the frankfurter  12  is being consumed. Applying the toppings in this manner is believe to lessen the likelihood for the toppings to drip from the frankfurter  12  as the frankfurter  12  is consumed.  
         [0033]    The lid  16  can be removed from the body  14  before or, more conveniently, after the frankfurter  12  has been consumed. The body  14  and the noisemaking device  18  can thereafter be used as an audible signaling device. In particular, the user can blow into the noisemaking device  18  to produce a sound. This activity can be undertaken in response to activities at the sporting event. For example, the noise produced by the body  14  and the noisemaking device  18  can be used as a form of fan participation signifying approval (or disapproval) of activities in the sporting event, in a manner similar to applause, whistling, shouting, etc.  
         [0034]    The noisemaking device  18 , as noted previously, is preferably in fluid communication with the internal volume of the body  14 . The preferred cone-shaped geometry of the body  14  is believed to amplify or project the sound produced by the noisemaking device  18 . This feature can potentially enhance the feeling of fan participation in the user. The body  14  and the noisemaking device  18  can subsequently serve as a souvenir or memento of the sporting event.  
         [0035]    The exterior surface of the body  14  can be decorated in a manner that makes the device  10  attractive to children. For example, images of cartoon characters, sports figures, or the like can be printed on the exterior surface of the body  14 . Commercial advertisements and team logos can also be placed on the body  14 .  
         [0036]    It should be noted that the above-described use of the device  10  has been presented for exemplary purposes only. The device  10  can be used in other ways, and at other types of public or non-public events, e.g., at circuses, birthday parties, barbecues, theme parks, movie theaters, etc.  
         [0037]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.  
         [0038]    For example, the lid  16  can be modified to hold foodstuffs other than the frankfurter  12 . One such modification is depicted in FIG. 8, which shows a lid  30  comprising a well  32  for holding ice cream or a similar foodstuff. The lid  30  can be used in conjunction with the body  14 , in the manner described above with respect to the lid  16 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 9 depicts an alternative embodiment of the body  14 . In particular, FIG. 9 depicts a body  34  that is not equipped with the noisemaking device  18 . The body  34  has a first end  34   a  and a second end  34   b.  Preferably, the diameter of the second end  34   b  is sufficiently large to permit the body  34  to be used a megaphone when the lid  16  is not installed thereon. An optional handle  36  can be secured to the body  34  (this feature can also be applied to the body  14 ). The body  34  can be used in conjunction with the lid  16 , in the manner described above with respect to the body  14 .