Abstract:
The present invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus. Because of the unique shape, size, and functioning of the apparatus, the apparatus prevents spills of contained treats regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus further prevents premature withdrawal of treats from the apparatus by the user (e.g. a child) or other unscrupulous third parties so that the collected treats may subsequently and conveniently be inspected after completion of treat collection (e.g. completion of trick-or-treating). The apparatus is preferably adapted such that if the apparatus is opened to gain access to the contents of the apparatus, such opening is rendered evident.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/331,374, filed May 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to containers for use in collecting treats and more especially for use when collecting treats during “trick-or-treating” or “guising”. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Treat collection container are well known and for many years have been widely used in collecting treats when “trick-or-treating” or “guising”. Such treat containers are commonly of a generally spherical shape and include a large opening to provide ready access to the contents of the container. Further, such treat containers commonly provide in the shape of and to resemble certain creatures or characters known for the occasion such as jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, monsters, princesses, animals, etc. Many such treat collection containers have had certain features added such as lighting, sound, and wheeled structures. Examples of such containers are provided in the following list of US patents and applications, the whole of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,594,669, 6,869,199, 6,789,932, 6,619,810, 5,797,507, 20100001481, 20080284138, 20040104140, 20030174519, 20030086260, and 20020085369. Furthermore, spill resistant containers are also known and have been successfully used in various industries. Examples of such containers are provided in the following list of US patents and applications, the whole of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,246,046, 5,495,876, RE36,131, 5,832,969, 5,908,057, RE39,443, 6,386,138, 7,942,109, Ser. Nos. 09/707,156, 11/618,921, 12/539,803, and 29/359,140. 
         [0004]    However, all such prior art treat collection devices, while useful in collecting and transporting treats, are highly prone to spillage. Spillage of the collected treats can be especially problematic for younger children. Inasmuch as such trick-or-treating it typically performed in the evening when it is dark, such spillage problem is compounded by the difficulty finding the spilled treats in the dark. Further, children engaged in trick-or-treating are often excited to maximize their collected treats and thus often exhibit little patience in waiting for another child who needs to find and re-collect spilled treats. 
         [0005]    Yet another problem encountered with current treat collection containers is that they provide no means for regulating the withdrawal of such treats. One result of the lack of treat withdrawal regulation is that during the trick-or-treating process, a typically older/larger and unscrupulous child may readily reach into the container of another child and steal treats out of the open treat container of the younger child. Further, young children are often not well adapted to self regulating the amount of treats that they may consume during the trick-or-treating process. Further still, many parents or guardians prefer to inspect collected treats at home or at treat inspection locations (e.g. police station, fire station, etc.) prior to treat consumption by the child. However, young children are often not disciplined enough to wait for such inspection. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus. In a first embodiment, the container defines a generally spherical shaped container having an open upper end, a flange ending from the opening, and a handle swivelably connected to the container, and a funnel removably attached to the container flange. The container preferably resembles a jack-o-lantern and is preferably generally orange in color. The funnel extends into the inner cavity of the container and is preferably substantially clear. The funnel functions so as to allow collected treats to be readily dropped into the container through the funnel and yet functions to prevent spillage of the collected treats from within the container. The funnel length and/or opening size is preferably adapted such that although a treat will readily pass through the funnel, a child&#39;s hand is substantially prevented from reaching into the inner cavity of the container to retrieve a treat from the container. The apparatus is further preferably adapted to provide an indication if the funnel is removed from the container. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a plan view or top orthographic view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a trimetric view of the funnel of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a bottom orthographic view of the funnel of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5   a  is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in an upright position with treats depicted contained in the lower portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5   b  is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in a substantially 90 degree rotated position with treats depicted contained in a side portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5   c  is an orthographic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially at the location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “5” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in an upside-down position with treats depicted contained in the upper portion of the container and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6   a  is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “6” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in an pre-fastened configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6   b  is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “6” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in an fastened configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7   a  is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “7” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in a pre-engaged configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity, and; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   b  is an equivalent “orthographic” cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken substantially in a curved location indicated by the cross-section arrows annotated with “7” in  FIG. 2 , the invention is shown in an engaged configuration and with cross-hatching omitted for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 Apparatus 
               
               
                 20 
                 Container 
               
               
                 22 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 24 
                 Flanges 
               
               
                 26 
                 Flange gaps 
               
               
                 28 
                 Stake retention hole 
               
               
                 29 
                 Button retention hole 
               
               
                 30 
                 Handle 
               
               
                 40 
                 Funnel 
               
               
                 42 
                 Lower opening 
               
               
                 44 
                 Central opening 
               
               
                 46 
                 Ramp 
               
               
                 48 
                 Upper opening 
               
               
                 50 
                 Lower flanges 
               
               
                 52 
                 Upper flange 
               
               
                 54 
                 Flexible tabs 
               
               
                 56 
                 Stakes 
               
               
                 58 
                 Prongs 
               
               
                 59 
                 Button 
               
               
                 60 
                 Flange connection web 
               
               
                 62 
                 Funnel grips 
               
               
                 70 
                 Rivets 
               
               
                 80 
                 Removable label 
               
               
                 90 
                 Treat 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 6  of the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus (SRTETCCA)  10 . Apparatus  10  comprises a container  20 , a handle  30 , a funnel  40 , a plurality of rivets  70 , and an optional removable label  80 . Container  20  preferably defines a generally spherically shaped blown molded plastic container having a generally circular shaped opening  22  in the top of container  20  with a plurality of flanges  24  extending radially inward from opening  22 , with flange gaps  26  being formed therebetween, and with each container flange  24  having a stake retention hole  28  formed therein. Container  20  is preferably orange in color and preferably resembles a jack-o-lantern but may resemble other things such as a ghost, a witch, a monster, an animal, etc. One of the ways in which container  20  in defines over other spill resistant containers is that the volumetric capacity of container  20  is much greater than the capacity of other spill resistant containers so as to provide for the collecting of treats. Container  20  in a substantially spherical configuration is preferably approximately 12 inches in diameter resulting in an approximate 904 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 416 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity (i.e. somewhat less than half of the total volumetric capacity). However, container  20  may be larger than noted such as a container having an approximate 14 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 1,436 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 661 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity, or may be smaller than noted such as a container having an approximate 10 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 523 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 241 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity, or a container having an approximate 8 inch diameter resulting in an approximate 268 cubic inch volumetric capacity and in an approximate 123 inch spill resistant volumetric capacity. Handle  30  preferably defines a generally flat elongated flexible extruded black plastic handle. Funnel  40  preferably defines a clear injection molded plastic funnel having a lower opening  42 , a central opening  44 , a ramp  46 , an upper opening  48 , a plurality of lower flanges  50 , and an upper flange  52 . Funnel upper flange  52  includes a plurality of flexible tabs  54  formed in the flange, with each tab  54  having a stake  56  extending therefrom, and each stake having at least one prong  58  extending therefrom. Each of funnel lower flanges  50  is connected to funnel upper flange  52  by a flange connection web  60 . Funnel ramp  46  further preferably includes a plurality of funnel grips  62  formed therein. Funnel  40 , by virtue of the size of lower opening  42  and/or central opening  44  and/or the length of funnel  40 , is preferably adapted such that a treat may readily pass through funnel  40  and yet hand access through funnel  40  to a treat  90  contained within container  20  is substantially restricted. Funnel lower opening  42  may for instance have a circular opening of 1.0 inches in diameter or an opening of an equivalent cross-sectional area (i.e. approximately 0.78 in 2 ). Alternatively, funnel lower opening  42  may be larger than a 1.0 inch diameter equivalent cross-sectional area opening. Optional removable label  80  preferably defines a semi-adhesive label which may include product information and advertising thereon and may also serve to prevent debris from entering container  20  before apparatus  10  is used by a consumer. 
         [0022]    The spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus  10  is assembled such that each end of handle  30  is swivelably riveted via rivets  70  to a side of container  20  to provide for a swivelable handle. Funnel  40  is attached to container  20  by passing funnel lower opening  42  through container opening  22  and by passing funnel lower flanges  50  through container flange gaps  26  until funnel upper flange  52  rests against container flange  24 . Grasping funnel grips  62 , funnel  40  is then rotated relative to container  20  approximately 90 degrees (CW in a top view orientation) until further rotation is restricted by flange connection webs  60 . Stakes  56  are then pressed into exposed stake retention holes  28  such that stake prongs  58  engage with container flanges  24 . With funnel  40  thus attached to container  20 , funnel  40  cannot be removed from container  20  without such removal being made evident. Funnel  40  remains fastened to container  20  unless and until stakes  56  or stake prongs  58  are severed in order to remove funnel  40  from container  20 . Label  80  is optionally removably adhered to upper funnel flange  52  and/or container flanges  24 . In addition to providing for product information and advertising space, label  80  prevents unwanted articles and debris from entering the apparatus during product transit and sale (such unwanted entered articles and debris being difficult to extract from apparatus  10  without removal of funnel  40  from container  20 ). 
         [0023]    In practice, a user (such as a child) uses spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus  10  to collect treats  90  when trick-or-treating. It shall be noted for the purposes of this application that in once instance, treat shall mean an edible and preferably wrapped confection, and more preferably an individually wrapped edible confection and in another instance, treat shall mean in addition to an edible confection, toys, trinkets, seasonal erasers, action figures, money, or the like such as would be collected when trick-or-treating. It shall be further noted that the use of apparatus  10  is not limited to the Halloween season, but rather apparatus  10  may be used on other treat collecting occasions such as Easter. When treat  90  is obtained, it is dropped onto or in funnel  40 . Treat  90  then falls into the inner cavity of container  20  and remains therein substantially regardless of the orientation of apparatus  10  and substantially regardless of the efforts of the user or an unscrupulous third party to extract treat  90  from apparatus  10 . Upon completion of the trick-o-treating session, the user preferably returns home, and by an adult or under close adult supervision funnel  40  is removed from container  20  and treats  90  are preferably inspected by the adult and then consumed and/or used by the user at a rate of the adult&#39;s choosing. Further in practice, funnel  40  is removed from the container by severing flexible funnel tabs  54 , and then grasping funnel grips  62  and rotating funnel  40  relative to container  20  approximately 90 degrees (CCW in a top view orientation). Funnel  40  is then lifted out of container  20  and treats  90  are readily accessible. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5  and  7  of the drawings, a second embodiment of the invention is substantially identical to the first embodiment of the invention except that container  20  includes button retention holes  29  instead of stake retention holes  28  and except that funnel  40  includes buttons  59  that snappingly engage upwardly into button retention holes  29  of container flange  24  instead of stakes  56  that engage downwardly into stake retention holes  28  of container flange  24 . Further, in order to remove the funnel  40  from container  20 , instead of severing flexible funnel tabs  54 , buttons  59  are simultaneously depressed (without destroying funnel  40 ) and funnel  40  may then be rotated and lifted out of container  20 . In the second embodiment, apparatus  10  is not tamper evident per se but apparatus  10  is reusable (funnel  40  can be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from the container) and the disengagement is difficult to perform for a small child (e.g. a child, having less dexterity and smaller hands than an adult is not able to depress buttons  59  simultaneously while rotating funnel  40 ). 
         [0025]    In third embodiment, apparatus  10  is substantially similar to the first embodiment except that funnel  40  merely snaps onto (and off of) container  20 . In a fourth embodiment, apparatus  10  is substantially similar to the first embodiment except that funnel  40  merely threads onto (and off of) container  20 .