Lollipop with pivot holder

A confection device includes a body of confection, such as hard candy, pivotally mounted on a housing. The candy pivots between a position in which it is in a carrying space defined by the housing and a position in which it extends from an end of the housing ready for consumption in the manner of a conventional sucker. When the candy is in the carrying space, the open side of the housing is preferably closed by a cover to protect the candy against contamination.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a novelty confection and, more particularly, to a 
confection that is pivotally mounted on a housing to pivot between a first 
position in which it is in a space defined by the housing and a second 
position in which it projects from the housing. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Throughout history, people have enjoyed sweet edibles. Various types of 
candy and similar confections have been known for over a hundred years. 
The variety of such confections that are available has increased 
dramatically in this century. In recent years, confection products that 
have an interest in addition to their sweetness have become increasingly 
popular. There appears to always be a demand for more original products 
and particularly new products that appeal to children. 
Lollipops are a type of candy that has been known for decades in its basic 
form of a ball of hard candy on a simple stick. Variations and 
elaborations of this basic theme are well-known. One type of variation is 
changing the nature of the candy on the stick. For example, specialty 
lollipops, such as lollipops with Santa Claus shaped candy, have been on 
the market for a number of years. One problem that is encountered in 
connection with traditional type suckers or lollipops, as well as some of 
the more recent modified types, is the tendency of children to put the 
sucker aside when the candy is only partially consumed. The sucker may be 
laid aside on a surface that is not clean. The child subsequently picks up 
the sucker and puts the candy in his mouth. This habit is unsanitary but 
is difficult for parents to avoid or control. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed toward a novelty confection. According to 
an aspect of the invention, the confection comprises a housing defining a 
carrying space, a mounting member, and a body of confection. The mounting 
member has opposite first and second ends. The first end is pivotally 
mounted on the housing adjacent to one end thereof, to pivot about an 
axis. The body of confection is secured to the second end of the mounting 
member and extends therefrom in a direction away from the first end and 
perpendicular to the axis. The mounting member has a first pivot position 
in which the confection body is in the space defined by the housing and a 
second pivot position in which the body projects from the housing. The 
mounting member is biased toward the second pivot position. 
Preferably, the first and second pivot positions are about 180.degree. 
apart. However, the amount of pivot between the first and second positions 
may be greater or less than this preferred amount. 
A preferred feature of the invention is a cover for an open side of the 
housing through which the confection body pivots as the mounting member 
moves from its first pivot position to its second pivot position. The 
cover is pivotally attached to an end of the housing opposite the end 
adjacent to which the mounting member is pivotally mounted. The cover has 
a closed position in which it closes the open side of the housing. 
Preferably, the cover is positioned to be contacted, and pivoted away from 
its closed position, by the confection body when the mounting member 
pivots out of its first pivot position toward its second pivot position. 
In the preferred embodiment, the novelty confection includes a latch and a 
release button. The latch is positioned to engage the mounting member to 
inhibit pivotal movement of the mounting member out of its first pivot 
position toward its second pivot position. The release button is 
positioned on an outside surface of the housing and is operable to move 
the latch out of engagement with the mounting member. In its preferred 
form, the latch comprises a projection projecting into the housing 
parallel to the axis, and interlocking portions carried by the projection 
and the mounting member. The release button is attached to the projection 
and is biased outwardly with respect to the housing. This biases the 
interlocking portions into an engaged position in which they inhibit 
pivotal movement of the mounting member. 
According to another aspect of the invention, the novelty confection 
comprises a housing defining a carrying space, a mounting member pivotally 
mounted as described above, and a body of confection secured to the 
mounting member as described above. The mounting member has a first pivot 
position in which the body is in the carrying space and a second pivot 
position in which the body projects from the housing. The novelty 
confection further comprises a latch and release button, as described 
above. 
The novelty confection of the invention helps satisfy the desire of 
children for products that both provide a sweet edible and are interesting 
in a manner that goes beyond consumption of the edible. In addition, by 
providing a housing for the edible body of confection, the invention helps 
to avoid the problem of children putting confections down on unclean 
surfaces and later picking them up for further consumption. The protection 
against confections being put aside to pick up germs and dirt from unclean 
surfaces is maximized in embodiments of the invention including the 
preferred feature of the cover. 
These and other advantages and features will become apparent from the 
detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention that 
follows.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
The drawings show two novelty confections 2, 12 that are constructed 
according to the invention and that constitute the best modes for carrying 
out the invention currently known to the applicant. The two embodiments 
differ with respect to the ornamental configurations of the exterior 
surfaces of the housing and cover. In other respects, the two embodiments 
are essentially identical. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment 2 comprises a housing 4 
having a cover 6. A mounting member 8 is pivotally mounted on the housing 
4. An elongated body C of confection, such as a body of hard candy, is 
secured to the end of the mounting member 8 visible in FIG. 2. The candy C 
is shown in FIG. 2 projecting from the elongated housing 4 from one end 
thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof. A release button 10 is 
mounted on the outside surface of the housing 4 for the purpose described 
below in connection with the second embodiment 12 shown in FIGS. 3-16. As 
can be seen in FIG. 2, the exterior configuration of the first embodiment 
housing 4 and cover 6 represents a worm, with the release button 10 
appearing as an enlarged eye. The functioning of the embodiment of FIG. 2 
is the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 3-16, described below. 
Referring to FIG. 3, the second embodiment 12 includes a housing 14 with a 
cover 80. The outer surfaces of the housing 14 and cover 80 are configured 
to resemble a pocket knife. The housing 14 defines an inner carrying space 
16, shown in FIGS. 4 and 13. A divider wall 15, visible in FIG. 13, 
projects into the space 16. The wall 15 has a notch 17 on its inner free 
end for receiving the mounting member 8 when the candy body C is in 
position inside the housing 14, as shown in FIG. 13. The end of the 
housing 14 through which the mounting member 8 projects when the candy C 
is in its projecting position shown in FIG. 5 has a corresponding notch 9 
for receiving the mounting member 8. 
The structure of the mounting member 8 is best seen in FIGS. 13 and 14. The 
mounting member 8 has a first end 18 that is pivotally mounted on the 
housing 14 adjacent to the end in which the notch 9 is formed. The 
mounting member 8 is mounted to pivot about an axis X, shown in FIG. 12. 
The opposite second end 20 of the mounting member 8 has secured thereto 
the candy body C. The candy C extends from the second end 20 in a 
direction away from the first end 18 and perpendicular to the axis X. The 
mounting member 8 is mounted to pivot between a first pivot position, 
shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 13, and a second pivot position, shown in FIGS. 5 
and 11. When the mounting member is in the first pivot position, the candy 
C is in the space 16. When the mounting member is in the second pivot 
position, the candy C projects from the housing 14. 
The first end 18 of the mounting member 8 has an extension 22 that helps 
guide pivotal movement of the mounting member 8. The extension 22 also 
cooperates with the divider wall 15 to help stabilize the position of the 
mounting member 8 when the mounting member 8 is in its second pivot 
position. In addition, the extension 22 substantially closes the notch 
opening 9 when the mounting member 8 is in its first pivot position. This 
closing of the notch opening 9 is illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 and helps 
maximize the protection of the candy C against contamination when the 
housing 14 is put aside or in a pocket before the candy C has been 
completely consumed. 
Still referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the second end 20 of the mounting 
member 8 to which the candy C is attached includes a main portion 24. The 
main portion 24 has a socket formed therein and opposite shoulders 28 
facing inwardly at a mid portion of the socket. The end 20 is formed in 
two pieces in order to facilitate manufacture. The second piece has a 
short attaching end 30 that is received into the socket formed by the main 
portion 24. Shoulders 32 are formed on the end 30 and abut the shoulders 
28 on the main portion 24, as shown in FIG. 14, to secure the two pieces 
together. The end 30 has a cutout 34 to allow it to be compressed for 
insertion into the socket. The second piece also includes a base 36 from 
which a projection 38 extends in a direction opposite the short end 30. 
The base 36 and projection 38 cooperate to securely mount the candy C to 
the mounting member 8. 
The mounting member 8 is mounted on the housing 14 by means of a pivot 
shaft 40. The shaft 40 can be seen in FIGS. 13-16 and is best seen in 
FIGS. 14-16. The shaft 40 has a radial flange 42 formed thereon and a 
first end portion 44 projecting axially beyond the flange 42. A reduced 
diameter end portion 46 is formed on the opposite end of the shaft 40. 
The mounting member 8 is biased toward its second pivot position shown in 
FIGS. 5 and 11. A spring mounting member 48 is carried by the housing 14 
adjacent to the first end portion 44 of the shaft 40. The member 48 is in 
turn secured in a recess formed in a knob portion 50 of the housing 14. 
The member 48 is interference fit into the recess to prevent movement of 
the member 48 relative to the housing 14. The member 48 has an inner 
annular wall 52 which divides a recess formed by the member 48 into a 
center recess 54 and an outer annular spring recess 56. A coil spring 58 
is positioned in the annular recess 56 and has a first end that abuts and 
is anchored to the inner end of the recess 56. The opposite end of the 
spring 58 extends outwardly from the recess 56 through the pivot shaft 
flange 42 and into a recess 60 in the first end 18 of the mounting member 
8, as shown in FIG. 14. Movement of the mounting member 8 into its first 
pivot position compresses the spring 58. 
The pivot shaft 40 extends through a suitable opening in the center of the 
mounting member 8. Opposite circumferential surfaces of the mounting 
member 8 abut the flange 42 and a sleeve 62 that surrounds the shaft 40 
adjacent to the reduced diameter end portion 46. The sleeve 62 has a gear 
64 formed thereon. As described further below, the gear 64 forms a part of 
a latch mechanism. A spring end member 66 surrounds the reduced diameter 
end portion 46 of the shaft 40 and abuts the outer end of the sleeve 62. 
The outer end of the end member 66 has a spring abutment recess 68 formed 
therein. 
The novelty confection device 12 also includes a release button 70 which 
corresponds to the release button 10 shown in FIG. 2. The release button 
70 is positioned on an outside surface of the housing 14, as shown in 
FIGS. 3-16. A projection 72 extends from the button 70 inwardly into the 
space 16 defined by the housing 14. The inner end of the projection 72 has 
teeth 74 formed thereon. The projection 72 extends parallel to the axis X, 
and the teeth 74 formed thereon provide interlocking portions that 
interlock with the teeth of the gear 64 carried by the sleeve 62. The 
projection 72 may include two opposite separate projecting legs, one of 
which is visible in FIG. 13. 
Since the mounting member 8, shaft 40, and sleeve 62 all pivot as a unit, 
the interengagement of the teeth 74 and gear 64 is, in effect, an 
interengagement between the release button projection 72 and the mounting 
member 8. The interengagement inhibits pivotal movement of the mounting 
member 8. A spring 76 is positioned in the inner end of the recess defined 
by the projection 72 and abuts the inner end of the recess and an inner 
surface of the abutment recess 68 in the spring end member 66. This biases 
the release button 70 into the projecting position shown in FIGS. 14 and 
15 to in turn bias the teeth 74 and gear 64 into an interengaged position. 
The button 70 may be moved inwardly by pressing a thumb or finger against 
it to move the teeth 74 out of engagement with the gear 64. This action 
allows pivotal movement of the mounting member 8. 
As mentioned above, the device of the invention also includes a cover 80. 
The cover 80 is pivotally mounted to the end of the housing 14 opposite 
the pivot shaft 40. The pivot location is indicated by the reference 
numeral 81 in FIGS. 3-11. Adjacent to its outer free end, the cover 80 has 
a projection 82 formed thereon that extends into the space 16 when the 
cover 80 is in its closed position. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, when the 
release button 70 is pushed into its inner release position, a cam surface 
86 on the end of the button's projection 72 contacts a bevel 84 on the 
projection 82 of the cover 80. 
The operation of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 and 6-11. FIGS. 
3 and 6 show the novelty confection device in its closed storage 
configuration. The mounting member 8 is in its first pivot position with 
the candy body C in the space 16 defined by the housing 14. The cover 80 
is in its closed position in which it closes the open side of the housing 
14. To move the candy C out of the housing 14 into a position for 
consumption, the user holds the housing 14 in one hand with the cover 80 
facing upwardly and the housing end with the release button 70 thereon 
facing outwardly. The release button 70 is pressed inwardly with the 
thumb. This causes the cam surface 86 on the button projection 72 to 
contact the bevel 84 on the cover inner projection 82, as shown in FIG. 
16. The contact between the surfaces 84, 86 causes the cover to open 
slightly, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 16. 
Movement of the button projection 72 also releases the interengagement 
between the teeth 74 and the gear 64 to allow the spring 58 to pivot the 
mounting member 8 outwardly through the open side of the housing 14 toward 
its second pivot position. FIG. 8 illustrates the beginning of this 
pivoting movement. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the free end of the candy 
body C contacts the cover 80 to pivot the cover 80 away from its closed 
position and toward an open position. FIGS. 4 and 9 illustrate the 
configuration as the outward pivoting motion of the mounting member 8 and 
candy C continues. Once the candy C clears the cover 80 and moves into the 
projecting consumption position shown in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, the cover 80 
is returned by gravity into its closed position in which it closes the 
open side of the housing 14. FIG. 10 illustrates the cover 80 moving back 
into its closed position. FIGS. 5 and 11 show the configuration when the 
cover 80 has returned to its closed position and the candy C extends from 
the end of the housing 14 ready to be consumed. 
When it is desired to put the novelty confection 12 aside after having 
deployed the candy C into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, it is a 
simple matter to return the candy C to its stored position shown in FIGS. 
3 and 6. The cover 80 is easily opened by moving it manually into a 
position slightly beyond that shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. In this fully open 
position, the cover extends essentially perpendicularly to the housing 14. 
Then, the candy C is returned to the carrying space 16 by pushing on the 
mounting member base 36 to pivot the mounting member 8 and candy C 
180.degree. into the first pivot position. Preferably, the interengagement 
of the teeth 74 and gear 64 is sufficiently resilient to yield when a 
manual force is exerted on the base 36 to return the mounting member 8 to 
its first pivot position. Movement of the member 8 into the first position 
compresses the spring 58 preparatory to the next time it is desired to 
deploy the candy C. When the manual force is removed from the mounting 
member 8, the spring 76 that biases the release button 70 into its outer 
position holds the button 70 in the outer position to maintain 
interengagement between the gear 64 and teeth 74. This interengagement 
holds the mounting member 8 in its first pivot position and the candy C in 
the space 16. Then, the cover 80 may be closed by simply giving it a 
little push or allowing gravity to cause it to return to its closed 
position. 
The various parts of the novelty confection device may be made from various 
materials. As noted above, the confection body C is preferably formed from 
hard candy. However, other types of candy or other confections may also be 
used. The nonedible portions, including the housing 14, cover 80, mounting 
member 8, and pivot shaft assembly, are preferably formed from molded 
plastic. The only exception is that the springs 58, 76 would typically be 
metal. Certain portions of the device, including the mounting member 8, 
are made from two or more separate pieces rather than a single piece for 
reasons relating to ease and cost effectiveness of manufacture, as opposed 
to function. The details of the configurations of the various parts and 
the choice to form them from a single or a plurality of portions may be 
varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated 
and described herein, it is intended to be understood by those skilled in 
the art that various modifications and omissions in form and detail may be 
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as 
defined by the following claims.