SUPPORT CONTAINER FOR ICE CREAMS

Abstract: The container has a substantially conical body (1) and a mouth or cup of larger diameter (5). It may be provided with grooves (3), a closure cap (10), ribs or notches (7) for a better coupling of the cornet (8), an orifice for holding the spoon, truncation (2) and/or corrugation of the conical body, as well as various geometrical configurations. A plurality of systems for rising the cornet as well as means for holding complementary serviettes and wafers. The container also includes a system for channelling the ice-cream dripping. It applies to ice-cream cornets. It offers a new presentation of a consumption product, giving it a better look and attraction for the consumer with regards to the shape, color and size, causing a new sensation and commodity to the consumer when eating the ice-cream. It also contributes to better salubrity, hygiene and cleanliness when manipulating and consuming the product. It avoids the dripping of the ice-cream which stains and spots any part of the consumer body, the garments, and the environment. Finally, it has all the advantages of being a container, and for all these reasons it is an improvement of the industrial quality concept.

Description: The present invention refers to an ice cream support container, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, which offers a way of holding ice cream, preferably of the cone type, during consumption, in such a way that the perimeter of the cone is completely covered. A well known way to eat ice cream is in a cone, which is eaten right away, usually out on the street, holding the wafer of the cone with the hands. Obviously, this can become very uncomfortable for the consumer, since the melting ice cream starts dripping and can easily drip on the person handling or consuming it, or on the surroundings. All this presents a series of sanitary disadvantages, (hygiene, clealiness and comfort) in the whole process of serving and consuming the product. Until now, no device or invention has been found to solve these problems satisfactorily. US-A-1 920 995 discloses a holder for ice-cream cones which comprises the features of the preamble of claim 1 of this patent. The soft lower portion of the holder known from said document (see figure 2) makes it difficult to handle the support container during the insertion of the cone. In order to avoid the drawback mentioned above, the invention consists of an ice cream support container as claimed in claim 1. The ice cream support container can present the following optional features: 1) Cover. The design of the mouth provides the possibility of adapting over it a lid that fits the perimetric ledge, so that the container can be used to keep or sell ice cream already prepared, such as that sold currently in carton containers. 2) Grip system. On the inside of the upper end of the base there are ridges or grooves that, with the help of the cone or wafer, improve its grip. 3) Securing the spoon. On a part of the outer edge of the mouth or lip, an orifice or tab can be placed to hold a spoon. 4) Corrugation of the body. The body of the container or support can present a corrugated surface in part, for better grip. 5) Different shapes. The shape of the container support can adapt different geometric variations. Also anticipated in the use of wafers with specific shapes that adapt to the structure of the container. Consequently, the complementary wafer will be offered with the same shape or similar to that of the main support container, and will present comparable options, such as the above-mentioned grip system, the truncation of the body and the different geometric shape. A specific option of the complementary wafer is its presentation without a mouth or lip and truncated on the bottom base. The container of the invention can be used in ice cream shops as a complement to the ice cream, when the users acquire the product, enabling them to use the container to hold their ice cream cone or wafer. On the other hand, the invention offers support containers that incorporate a "bellows" system for elevating the edible ice cream cone, facilitating in this way hygienic extraction, for consumption of the cone as well as the ice This system can be used for both the whole wafer and the truncated cone. The system works by the BELLOWS effect: The system works by the BELLOWS effect: pressure is applied from the bottom end of the base upwards, producing the pleating of the plastic of the support due to its bellows. Also provided for in the design is that the support containers can have, on the back or reverse side of the wing or lip, a clip, orifice or eye to place and hold a napkin. Another optional characteristic of the invention of the ice cream support containers lies in the small casting or notches on the side of the wing or lip. These notches enable the attachment of a complementary wafer which lend an additional trimming to the ice cream, while giving support to more voluminous shapes of ice cream. Another optional novel characteristic of these supports is the system that channels melting ice cream dripping on the wing or lip. This channeling system consists of equipping the container with a drain borne in the lower part of the mouth which is extended by means of a double wall over the base. Said channeling system is useful for protecting the ice cream cone or wafer from moisture. Hereinafter to provide a better understanding of this specification and forming an integral part of the same are a series of figures in which the object of the invention has been represented in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner. Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned view of an ice cream support container according to the present invention, also showing the corresponding wafer and ice cream. Figures 2 to 6 show views of the wafers especially adapted to the ice cream support containers of the invention. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an ice cream support container according to the invention and which incorporates wafer elevation by the bellows, or accordion-pleat system. Figure 8 partially shows a perspective view of an ice cream support container, according to the present invention, which displays the notches for attaching a complementary wafer, the pin for holding a napkin and the channeling system for melting ice cream. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an ice cream cone fitted in one of the support containers of the present invention, which includes a holder for a small spoon. Hereinafeter is a description of several embodiments of the invention, making reference to the numbering used in the figures. Figures 1-6 and 8-9 show some optional features of the invention, whereas an embodiment of the basic inventive concept is shown in figure 7. Figure 2 shows a rung (7) in the mouth (5) which will allow fitting in the wafter (8). Figure 2 shows a portion of ice cream (9) so as to appreciate the fact that the melting ice cream (9) would drip into the mouth of the support (5), thus avoiding dripping on the consumer. Figures 2 and 3 show wafers that are especially adapted to the containers of the invention. The notches (17) on the wafer (15) in figure 2 are recesses that adapt to the rungs (7) of the container shown in figure 1; while in wafer (16) of figure 3 said areas (17)are ribs. Other embodiments of wafers especially adapted to the containers of the invention are shown in figures 4, 5 and 6, although conventional wafers may also be used. Figure 7 shows a support container with a way of elevating the inside wafer (18) without it being touched by the consumer. Thus, the support container (19) in figure 7 containers a pleated (bellows) section (20), so that when compressing the section (20), the wafer comes out more. The support containers of the invention optionally include other novelties as shown in figure 8. One of them consists of including several notches (38) on the outer edges of the wing or lip (39) of the container, which allows attaching a complementary wafer (40) which may be used as a trimming or to hold the ice cream (41). Another novelty is that it optionally introduces a kind of ring or pin (42) on the underside of the wing or lip (39) for attaching a napkin. Finally, included in figure 8 is the possibility of channeling the dripping ice cream by means of the double wall (43) of the container, in such a way that the melting ice cream (44) drops to the bottom without touching the conventional wafer so that it does not become moist and soggy.

Claims: Ice cream support container, which comprises means for gripping a wafer and a wider nearly truncated cone upper part of a larger diameter, wherein said means for holding the wafer are axially displaceable with respect to the cited upper part to lift said wafer without it being directly touched by the consumer, protecting it, characterized in that said means for holding the wafer are relatively rigid, and in that the grip means comprise a lower part connected to said upper part (19) by means of a corrugated section of a bellows type (20) that is compressible in its axial direction. Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a rung, projections or notches (7, 11) that aid in fixing the wafer or cone (8). Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes an orifice (12) in one section of said wide part (4) to hold a small spoon. Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a perimetric wing (39) in its mouth that is provided with some notches (38) that enable attachment of a complementary wafer (40) which provides additional support for the ice cream (41). Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that said top wide part includes a ring or clamp (42) that allows attachment of a napkin. Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that it can have different geometric variations that allow attachment of wafers or cookies of shapes adapted geometrically to said container or with conventional shapes. Ice cream support container, according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of the support container may have some corrugations (3).

Inventors: BOLOS PEREZ ROSA MARIA, CABEDO TRIGUEROS ROCIO, GARCIA BENAU JUAN, MARTINEZ VALLS ARCADIO, BOLOS PEREZ, ROSA MARIA, CABEDO TRIGUEROS, ROCIO, GARCIA BENAU, JUAN, MARTINEZ VALLS, ARCADIO
Applicants: BOLOS PEREZ ROSA MARIA, CABEDO TRIGUEROS ROCIO, GARCIA BENAU JUAN, MARTINEZ VALLS ARCADIO, BOLOS PEREZ, ROSA MARIA, CABEDO TRIGUEROS, ROCIO, GARCIA BENAU, JUAN, MARTINEZ VALLS, ARCADIO
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: A23G9, B65D85