Patent Publication Number: US-2015079242-A1

Title: Decorative Toothpick Mold

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/490,503 filed Jun. 7, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Chocolate-covered strawberries and other confections are a popular and delicious treat that can be made as a snack or as a gift. These confections can be rather plain, and users typically want to add decorations to celebrate different occasions and holidays. Some individuals may choose to purchase plastic toppers and place them on top of the strawberry or other confection, but these toppers are inedible and do not blend in very well with the colorful strawberry and chocolate, or other confection. Consequently, an effective solution is necessary. 
     There is a need for an edible decoration attached to a chocolate-covered (or any other covering/coating) strawberries or other confections. The present invention discloses a decorative toothpick device that is an edible decoration for chocolate-covered strawberries or other fruits, and can also be used for caramel apples, cupcakes, cake pops and other confections and finger foods. The decorative toothpick device can come in a variety of themes to suit different occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, and seasonal holidays. By using this invention, users can add a fun and decorative flair to an otherwise plain yet popular treat. All users will appreciate the appeal that this invention affords. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a decorative toothpick device designed primarily for use with chocolate-covered strawberries or other fruits, caramel apples, cupcakes, cake pops, or other confections or finger foods. The decorative toothpick device comprises a toothpick comprising a first end and a second end, and a decorative molded topper secured horizontally to the first end of the toothpick. The second end of the toothpick is then inserted horizontally into a side of the confection or finger food till the decorative molded topper contacts the confection or finger food (i.e., food article). The decorative molded topper would then be secured to the side of the food article via the toothpick. The decorative toothpick device can come in a ready-to-use package, or be prepared by hand by a user. 
     Furthermore in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the decorative molded toppers are shaped as a flattened disk, square, or rectangle and then an image is secured to a surface of the decorative molded topper. The image can be a picture or a three-dimensional object. The decorative molded toppers can be decorated in a variety of designs and themes, depending on the occasion. Furthermore, any kind of additional additive can be added to the decorative molded toppers, such as sprinkles, colored edible paint, frosting, candies, etc., or any other suitable additive as is known in the art can be used to decorate the decorative molded toppers. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a decorative toothpick device in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into a cake pop in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device showing the decorative molded topper without an image in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into an apple, wherein the image is a piano in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into a plurality of cake pops, wherein the image is a plurality of pictures in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into a cupcake in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into a strawberry in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device inserted into a cake pop in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the decorative toothpick device, wherein the image is a plurality of arms, legs, and a head in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. 
     The present invention discloses a decorative toothpick device that is an edible decoration for chocolate-covered strawberries or other fruit, and can also be used for caramel apples, cupcakes, cake pops, and other confections or finger food. The disclosed invention provides individuals with a small, edible decoration that can be customized for any specific holiday, party, theme, etc., and attached to a food article (e.g., a cake pop). The decorative toothpick device comprises a toothpick, and an edible, decorative molded topper secured horizontally to an end of the toothpick. The opposite end of the toothpick is then inserted horizontally into a chocolate-covered strawberry or other fruit, or other confection or food article. The decorative toothpick device would then act as an edible decoration attached to the food article. 
     The decorative toothpick device can come in a variety of themes to suit different occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, seasonal holidays, etc. Additionally, the decorative toothpick device can come in a ready-to-use package, or be prepared by hand by a user. By using this invention, users can add a fun and decorative flair to an otherwise plain yet popular treat. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a decorative toothpick device  100  designed primarily for use with chocolate-covered strawberries or other fruit, caramel apples, cupcakes, cake pops, or other confections or food articles. The decorative toothpick device  100  comprises an elongated member or a toothpick  102  comprising a first end  104  and a second end  106 . If a toothpick is used, the toothpick  102  would have the appearance of a typically constructed toothpick as is known in the art. Typically, the toothpick  102  is cylindrical in shape, however any other suitable shape can be used as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The elongated member or toothpick  102  would generally be constructed of wood or plastic, though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the elongated member or toothpick  102  as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The elongated member or toothpick  102  is approximately between 1 and 4 inches in length as measured from first end  104  to second end  106 , and approximately between 1/16 th  and 3/16 th  of an inch in diameter. Further, the whole toothpick  102  is not needed and the decorative toothpick device  100  can be made with half of a toothpick  102  or even a smaller portion of the toothpick  102 . 
     The decorative toothpick device  100  further comprises an edible, decorative molded topper  108  horizontally secured to the first end  104  of the toothpick  102 . The decorative molded topper  108  can be comprised of chocolate, candy, caramel, or any other suitable, edible material that can be poured into a mold and solidified. Typically, the toothpick  102  is placed in a food-grade mold that is designed for use at elevated temperatures or with heated liquids. The decorative molded topper  108  is typically shaped as a flattened disk, square, or rectangle, or any other suitable shape (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The decorative molded topper  108  then comprises an image  112  secured to a surface  114  of the decorative molded topper  108  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The image  112  can be created directly on the surface  114  of the decorative molded topper  108 , or the image  112  can be created independently and then can be secured to the surface  114  via any suitable means as is known in the art. The image  112  can be a picture or a three-dimensional object, or any other design as is known in the art, and the image  112  can be designed in a variety of themes to suit different occasions and celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, showers, holidays, graduations, etc. 
     The decorative molded toppers  108  can then be further decorated depending on the occasion. For example, any kind of additional additive  110  can be added to the decorative molded toppers  108 , such as luster dust, edible glitter, edible decorations, sprinkles, colored edible paint, frosting, candies, edible picture images, etc., or any other suitable additive as is known in the art can be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the decorative toothpick device  100  inserted into a cake pop  200 . Specifically, the second end  106  of the toothpick  102  is inserted horizontally into the side  116  of the cake pop  200 , fruit or other confection or food article till the decorative molded topper  108  contacts the food article (i.e., cake pop  200 ), such that the decorative molded topper  108  is secured to the side of the food article (cake pop  200 ) via the toothpick  102  and displays an image  112 . The decorative toothpick device  100  would then act as an edible decoration attached to the food article. The decorative toothpick device  100  can be offered in a variety of designs and themes, and can come in a ready-to-use package, or be prepared by hand by a user. 
       FIGS. 4-5  illustrate the decorative toothpick device inserted into apples and cake pops and decorated in various designs or themes. For example,  FIG. 4  discloses the decorative toothpick device  100  inserted into a side  116  of an apple  201 , wherein the image is a three-dimensional object (i.e., a piano  118 ).  FIG. 5  discloses a plurality of decorative toothpick devices  100  each inserted into a side  116  of a plurality of cake pops  200 , wherein the images  112  secured to the decorative molded toppers  108  are a plurality of pictures  120 . These pictures are completely edible images, created on a frosting sheet (i.e., much like a photo printer) and then decorated with edible ink and other edible additives, these are then applied to the chocolate square (decorative molded topper  108 ). 
     Additionally,  FIG. 6  discloses another embodiment of the decorative toothpick device  100 , wherein the decorative toothpick device  100  is inserted into a cupcake  122  that is decorated with colored icing or edible paint and additional additives. Specifically, in this embodiment, the decorative molded toppers  108  are a set of raised arms  124  decorated with colored icing or edible paint of different colors. Here, a toothpick  102  is horizontally secured to each arm  124  and then secured to the cupcake  122 . 
     Furthermore,  FIGS. 7-9  disclose another embodiment of the decorative toothpick device  100 , wherein the decorative toothpick device  100  is inserted into a strawberry  126  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) or a cake pop  132  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) to resemble a baby. Specifically, a head  128  and arms and legs  130  are molded onto individual toothpicks  102  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) and then inserted into the food item to create the baby. 
     In operation, a user would purchase a specific food-grade mold that is designed for use with heated liquids or at elevated temperatures. The mold is typically shaped as a flattened disk, square, or rectangle, or any other suitable shape. Then, a user would pour hot chocolate, candy, or caramel, or other suitable, edible material into the molds. After the chocolate, candy, caramel, or other suitable, edible material hardens, the user would remove the decorative molded toppers from the molds. The molds are re-useable and can be used as often as needed. A user can then decorate the decorative molded toppers with images. The image can be created directly on the surface of the decorative molded topper, or the image can be created independently and then can be secured to the surface via any suitable means as is known in the art. The image can be a picture or a three-dimensional object, or any other design as is known in the art, and the image can be designed in a variety of themes to suit different occasions and celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, showers, holidays, graduations, etc. 
     The decorative molded toppers can then be further decorated depending on the occasion. For example, any kind of additional additive can be added to the decorative molded toppers, such as luster dust, edible glitter, edible decorations, sprinkles, colored edible paint, frosting, candies, edible picture images, etc. The decorative molded toppers are then horizontally secured to the first end of the toothpick. Or, the decorative toothpick devices can come in a ready-to-use package, in which a user can purchase the decorative toothpick devices based on a specific theme or design. The user then removes the decorative toothpick devices from the packages and horizontally inserts the toothpick end of the decorative toothpick devices into a side of a cake pop, or other food article. The decorative toothpick device then acts as an edible decoration attached to the food article. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.