Patent Publication Number: US-2012031956-A1

Title: System and method for resealing a lollipop or the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a packaging wrapper for articles, and particularly for the opening and resealing of handheld food products by the end user and/or the use of a collectible item on a food product. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Confectionary items, such as candies, have been made and consumed for many centuries. Candy can be formed into a multitude of shapes, colors, flavors, sizes and textures. Candies can be divided into crystalline and non-crystalline types. Crystalline candies can be hard, smooth and/or creamy with a defined structure containing small crystals. Non-crystalline candies, such as toffees, brittles, and caramels, are chewy with a homogeneous structure. These types of candies are formed by the addition of milk or other protein products to solutions of sugars at elevated temperatures. 
     Confectionery products are generally packaged individually in a portion of preprinted film of appropriate size and shape, and may be formed on a stick or holder. It is thus possible for these individually packaged products to be in their turn packed in bulk in a small packaging bag of an appropriate size. Typically, the article to be packaged is first completely wrapped in a rectangular piece of film and the wrapper thus formed may be closed by twisting the wrapper. 
     The containment of suckers or lollipops and ice cream bars at the time of manufacture, during storage prior to sale after being manufactured, and after partial consumption has presented persistent problems in the past when the end user partially consumes the item and desires to preserve the remainder of the item. 
     For example, when a paper or plastic film covering has been used, separation of the two at the time of use has frequently resulted in only partial removal of the covering. Sometimes, the stickiness of the lollipop is transferred to the fingers and hands of the user during removal of the covering. Failure to provide a suitable method of resealing such containers, using prior techniques, including coverings, has contributed to a failure to recluse or reseal the item after partial consumption. 
     Users, especially small children, often desire to only partially consume a lollipop or popsicle at any one point in time, hoping to save the remainder for one or more later points in time. However, the container or covering used during the on-sale stage of the lollipop or popsicle is usually discarded, but, when it has been saved or a new covering is provided, the wetted nature of the partially consumed product makes subsequent separation difficult and messy. Often, the partially consumed lollipop is left on a table, a furniture piece, a chair, or a floor, only to be cleaned up and discarded by a frustrated parent. 
     Sometimes, the user wishes to carry the partially consumed lollipop or popsicle with him or her for later readily available use. The original or another covering is typically used and a pocket or purse is sometimes the temporary storage site. This tends to fuse the covering and the wetted partially consumed lollipop, making all the more difficult subsequent separation of the two. The pocket or purse may become soiled and sticky as a consequence of direct exposure of the lollipop thereto due to, for example, weeping, pressure, heat, and partial uncovering of the stored lollipop. 
     It is known to provide a sticker or other means to reseal the confectionary item in its original wrapper; however, the end user fails to recognize the intended use of the sticker. As a result, the end user tends to discard the resealing means rendering it useless. Thus, the end user has discarded the elements necessary to rewrap and reseal the partial consumed item. 
     There has long existed a need for a more satisfactory way of containing lollipops immediately after manufacture, during storage prior to sale, and after partial consumption by the user. 
     Additionally, there is a need to provide a collectible item on lollipops and other confectionary items to enhance the experience of the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A combination of a food stuff, e.g., a confectionary item, and a removable wrapper provides a containment system for the confectionary item at the time of manufacture, during storage prior to sale after being manufactured, and after partial consumption by an end user. The combination containment system may comprise the confectionary item disposed on a holder formed partially into said confectionary item to permit the end user to hold the confectionary item during consumption. A resealable wrapper is formed to at least partially encapsulate the confectionary item. A resealing member is removably adhered to the resealable wrapper; the resealing member having adhesive on a first side facing a surface of said resealable wrapper to define an overlapping area thereby permitting the resealing member to be selectively removed from the resealable wrapper and replaced onto the resealable wrapper to retain the wrapper around the confectionary item. A flag member is either formed as part of the resealing member or is interposed between the resealing member and the resealable wrapper, wherein the flag member projects away from the overlapping area between the resealing member and the resealable wrapper. 
     The flag member is preferably provided with indicia to thereby provide notice to the end user of the availability and use of the resealing member so that the end user is aware of the resealing member and the ability to reseal a partially consumed item. When formed as part of the resealing member, the tab or flag member may be perforated for easy removal. Also, the tab or flag member may be coated with a non-sticky coating on top of the adhesive so that the flag member will lie loose and away from the object on which the resealing member is stuck. 
     As a result of the unique combination of features provided by the present invention, the end user is made aware of his/her ability to reseal the food product after it has been partially consumed by the end user. 
     Alternatively, a user may utilize the tab or flag member as a collector item. Thus, a user may remove the tab or flag member from the food item on which it is conveyed and stick it on the door to his room, on a school book, school locker, dresser mirror, backpack, literally on anything that is clean. The user may want to keep the flag member because it has graphics of his favorite cartoon character, NASCAR driver, rock and roll star, or a roller coaster ride he rode while visiting a theme park. The flag member for this user becomes a collectible. 
     If the user doesn&#39;t know the resticker can be removed from the object of conveyance and place on a different object without leaving a residue or tearing as he would expect a regular label to do, then the user will not realize the resticker is something he can keep and he will throw it away with the wrapper when unwrapping the Lollipop. The restickers can be stuck on trade show magazines, retail catalogs, church bulletins, newsletters, envelopes, drinking cups and then peeled off and restuck anywhere else. The resticker could be a “save the date” resticker that a person would want to keep and stick on a bulletin board, filing cabinet, or exit door where they will be reminded of that date and to not miss it. Without the tab informing the person seeing the resticker that the resticker is something to keep and that it sticks over and over on any clean surface, the person looking at the resticker is most likely going to think the resticker is a regular label and will throw it away. So the tab is useful for: a. helping to pull the resticker off the object of conveyance; b. informing the consumer what the resticker is; c. informing the customer to keep the resticker and not throw it away; d. the tab can be torn off at the perforation so only the message or art on the resticker remains to be decorative and attractive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a lollipop embodying the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of  FIG. 1  showing the resealing member and flag member separated from the lollipop and wrapper. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein the resealing member and flag member are formed as a unitary body. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-5  whereby the wrapper is shown partially removed from the confectionary product. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the method steps when forming the flag member and the resealing member as a unitary body as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention whereby food stuff  10  comprises a confectionary formed as a lollipop  12  to be supported by a stick or holder  14 . While the preferred embodiment of this invention is a lollipop, it will be understood that various different food stuffs (e.g., confectionary products such as lollipops or other food stuff such as ice cream bars or popsicles) may utilize the wrapper system of the invention whereby the end user may reclose and reseal the product after partially consuming the product. 
     A resealable wrapper  16  at least partially encapsulates the confectionary item or lollipop  12 , and a resealing member in the form of a sticker  18  is removably adhered to the resealable wrapper  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the resealing member  18  includes adhesive on a first side facing the resealable wrapper  16  to define an overlapping area thereby permitting the resealing member or sticker  18  to be selectively removed from the resealable wrapper  16  and replaced onto the resealable wrapper  16  to retain the wrapper  16  around the confectionary item. 
     In accordance with the invention, a flag member  20  is interposed between the resealable wrapper  16  and the resealing member  18 . The flag member  20  is positioned to project away from the overlapping area between the resealing member  18  and the resealable wrapper  16 . The flag member  20  is provided with identifying indicia  22  to alert and inform the user that the sticker or resealing member  18  may be used by the end user to reseal the wrapper  16 . The flag member  20  is disposed to project away from the confectionary product  10  and stand out from all other indicia or ornamentation provided by the confectionary product  10 , wrapper  16 , and/or resealing member  18 . 
     It is known to provide a sticker or other means to reseal the confectionary item in its original wrapper; however, the end user fails to recognize the intended use of the sticker. As a result, the end user tends to discard the resealing means rendering it useless. Thus, the end user has discarded the elements necessary to rewrap and reseal the partial consumed item. According to the present invention, the end user is provided with sufficient notice to use the resealing member  18  in accordance with its intended use by way of the flag member  20  and resealing member  18 . 
     In accordance with the invention, the flag member  20  includes indicia  22  disposed thereon to provide instructions for using the resealing member  18 . For example, the flag member  20  may include indicia notifying the end user that the resealing member  18  is actually a resealable sticker to be used by the end user. Alternatively, the flag member  20  may provide specific instructions on how to reseal the confectionary item. Other indicia  22  may be providing in accordance with preferences by the provider of the resealing member  18 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the flag member  20  is sandwiched between the resealable wrapper  16  and the resealing member  18 , whereby the flag member  20  is retained in place by adhesive disposed on the resealing member  18 . 
     It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the wrapper  16  may be formed and disposed in any one of a various number of known methods. Of course, it is preferred that the wrapper  16  may at least be partially overlapped with itself when encapsulating the confectionary item at least along the stick or holder  14 . Those of skill in the art, however, will understand that the wrapper  16  may take many forms and may not overlap upon itself. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by  FIGS. 4-5  whereby the flag member  20  of  FIGS. 1-3  (shown as element  20 ′ in  FIGS. 4-5 ) is formed as a part of the resealing member  18 ′ such that the flag member  20 ′ serves as a pull-tab for the resealing member  18 ′. In this embodiment, the flag member  20 ′ and resealing member  18 ′ are formed as one member with the flag member  20 ′ projecting away from the resealing member  18 ′ to stand out from and provide visual notice to the end user that the resealing member  18 ′ may be used to reseal the wrapper  16 . This notice alerts the end user not to discard the resealing member  18  during partial consumption of the food stuff. 
     For the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-5 , the flag member  20 ′ is formed as part of the resealing member  18 ′ with perforations formed between the two member  18 ′,  20 ′. During manufacturing of the combination resealing member  18 ′ and flag member  20 ′, adhesive is applied to both the resealing member  18 ′ and flag member  20 ′. Then, an additional layer of non-adhesive or non-sticky material is applied to the flag member  20 ′ so that the flag member  20 ′ will not adhere to the surface to which the resealing member  18 ′ is applied. Thus, the flag member  20 ′ will not stick to the surface and the flag member  20 ′ will lay loose and away from the object (i.e., mailer, catalog, drink cup, lollipop, etc.) to which the resealing member  18 ′ is stuck to make it easy to grab hold of the combination in order to pull the resealing member  18 ′ off the object. The user can also separate the flag member  20 ′ from the resealing member  18 ′ at the perforations  19 ′. 
       FIG. 7  provides a flow chart showing various steps in the manufacturing process for the combination resealing member  18 ′ and flag member  20 ′; i.e., when these two members are formed as a unitary body. In step  30 , a substrate is provided to a printing press. In step  32 , text or artwork is applied to the substrate by the printing press. In step  34 , adhesive is applied to one side of the substrate, then the substrate is die cut at step  36  as a unitary body as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . At step  38 , perforations are created between the flag member  20 ′ and the resealing member  18 ′ so that the flag member  20 ′ may be separated from the resealing member. Lastly, a non-adhesive, non-sticky material is applied to the flag member and on top of the adhesive so that the flag member  20 ′ will not adhere to a surface. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-5  in a partially disassembled state showing the wrapper  16  being removed from the food stuff. 
     While the foregoing invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention as defined herein and by the prior art.