Abstract:
A package for storing and transporting a stack or column of nested ice cream cones that is hollow, round in circumference with a cylindrical top portion and a conical bottom portion that converges toward a radially extending base. A circular cover snaps on an open top and an enclosure snaps on the bottom to form a base. The package is made of food safe plastic and is shaped to look like a baseball bat.

Description:
This invention relates to packaging, and more particularly, to a multi-purpose tubular plastic package capable of both protecting a nested column of waffle or sugar-type ice cream cones and also acting as a toy baseball bat when empty. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Ice cream cones have been made nestable, one within another, to enable them to be efficiently stored and packaged for ease of transportation. Packaging for nestable cones tends to either be a long package of a single column of nested cones, or a rectangular package of a plurality of columns of nestable cones positioned in rows with dividers therebetween. Once such package for a column of nestable cones may be found at U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,884 issued to Madson on Feb. 13, 1990. This patent is cited in applicant&#39;s prior existing patent for an ice cream cone package, U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,146 issued Aug. 3, 1993. These patents disclose ice cream cone packages suitable for storing and transporting a nested column of ice cream cones in a cardboard container. The bottom end of a column of nested ice cream cones comes to a point. The packages disclosed in both of the prior patents disclose converging baffles in one and an upper end having a narrowed portion to symbolize the handle end of a baseball bat in the other. Both of these packages have been made out of cellulose or cardboard material. While baked goods used to be a locally made commodity, the global economy has provided for baked goods to be made and shipped over long distances. 
   With the advent of the global marketplace a need has developed for stronger packaging that can be used to more safely transport and store fragile ice cream cones across the country or around the world. 
   It is therefore an object of the invention, generally stated, to provide a new and improved packaging for nestable and stackable ice cream cones. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a stronger less expensive package for ice cream cones that can withstand the rigors of cross country and global shipping. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a improved ice cream cone package that has a useful life after the cones therein have been removed and consumed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention resides in a package made of food safe material for transporting and storing food stuffs that comprises a hollow generally cylindrical body including an upper cylindrical portion having an open top. The main body also includes a lower converging or conical portion extending below the cylindrical portion. A circular cap or cover  18  selectably releasably retained on the open top of the generally cylindrical body. A radially extending base means is positioned subjacent a bottom of the conical portion for providing a widened base for the package. The generally cylindrical body, cap and radially extending base means resembles the shape of a baseball bat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DETAILED DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a package for shipping and storage of ice cream cones constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the package shown in  FIG. 1  as it appears without a top cover and with a stack of complete nested ice cream cones positioned therein; 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross section view of the package shown in  FIG. 1 , taken substantially along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the joinder shown in  FIG. 3  between the cover and body of the package of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary detail cross sectional view of the bottom of the package shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the package shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the package shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view of a portion of the top rim of the package showing the thumb recess thereon. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the ice cream cone storing and shipping container, generally indicated at  10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, is made of food safe plastic, preferably polypropylene, and includes a central cylindrical or body portion, generally indicated at  11  at the bottom of the cylindrical portion  11  and integrally formed therewith is a converging or conical portion  12 . At the base of the conical portion is a radially extending rib, donut section, or flange  13 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the generally cylindrical body  10  further includes a cylindrical cap or cover  14  and a bottom or base  15  with each mounted on opposing ends of the generally cylindrical body  11 , such that the package, as an entirety, resembles the shape of a baseball bat. 
   The baseball bat shaped package is preferably made out of a molded plastic, food-safe material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, and may be wholly injection molded, partially or wholly blow molded, or made of a combination of different molded or fabricated parts. In a currently preferred embodiment, the package is about 14.2 inches long, 2.9 inches wide at the top with a base 2.2 inches wide and 0.92 inches high. The side wall thickness is 0.080 inch. The entire package weighs about 166 grams. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , sugar or waffle type cones, with sugar cones indicated at  16 - 16 , are stacked in nested form and positioned as a column inside the generally cylindrical body  11  with the bottom of the cones  16  extending down into the hollow lower conical portion  12  of the generally cylindrical body  11 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 , the generally round cover or cap  14  includes a crowned top and an OG shaped rim, generally indicated at  20  in  FIG. 4 , that matingly engages a complimentary OG shaped rim  21  on the top of generally cylindrical body portion  11 . The outer extension or distal end of each of the rims  20 - 21  is enlarged to provide interference, or snap fit, to the cap or cover  14  as it is pressed on the rim  21  of the generally cylindrical upper body portion  11 . A thumb hole or recess  22 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , is positioned in the outer wall of upper cylindrical body portion  11  just subjacent the OG upper rim  21  thereof to allow a thumb to be inserted therein to pry the cap or cover off the generally cylindrical body portion  11 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , as a strengthening aid at the bottom of the conical portion  12  of cylindrical body portion  11 , a plurality of inwardly extending ribs, in this case 4 ribs, with 25, 26 and 27 shown provide additional stiffening support and bracing for the smaller conical bottom of the generally cylindrical tubular portion  11 . In the preferred embodiment, the ribs are 0.060 inch thick. The inward extension of ribs  25 ,  26 ,  27 , with the fourth rib not shown, does not extend so far as to restrict the entry of the bottom of cones  16 - 16  thereinto. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the bottom or base  15  of the package  10  is generally saucer-like with a flat bottom  30  and an upwardly curving ridge  31  having an indented groove  32  positioned on the outer surface thereof. The upper portion of the heel includes a generally flat radially extending wall  35  with a tubular cylindrical wall  36  depending from the circumference thereof and including adjacent its distal end an outwardly extending detent or groove  37  that matingly engages the indent  32  on the base  15  to provide an interference fit over the upwardly extending wall  31  and provide snap-on capability of the base onto the heel  13 . It should be noted that the indent-detent portions of the snap fit engagement could be reversed within the scope of the present invention. Also, as most clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , a second thumb hole or recess  23  is positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the donut section  13  of the generally cylindrical body  11 . Thumb recess  23  is identical to thumb recess  22  and allows the base  15  to be snapped on or off of generally cylindrical portion  11 . 
   A new and improved more rigid ice cream cone container has been shown and described that provides both improved stiffness and rigidity for storage and transportation of the substantially fragile ice cream cones and yet more closely resembles a baseball bat. It should be noted that when the ice cream cones stored or transported within the package  10  are utilized and the package is empty, that it may be utilized as a toy bat or a bat capable of hitting a hollow plastic ball such as sold under the trade name Wiffle Ball, or the like. 
   While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.