Patent Publication Number: US-6209345-B1

Title: Ice cream caddy system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to portable food preserving caddies and devices and more particularly to an ice cream caddy system for storing and transporting ice cream and ice cream eating utensils and the like that includes an insulated lid member, an open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member, and an inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member; the open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member being sized to receive the insulated lid member thereon in a manner to seal a top opening of the cooling mixture container member; the inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member defining an ice cream receiving cavity accessible through an open top and being centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface of the cooling mixture container member to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member for receiving a cooling mixture including ice and rock salt; the ice cream container member having a number of elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed therethrough providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member having two spaced handle attachment structures on an exterior surface thereof between which a handle assembly is secured; each of the handle attachment structures being attached to the cooling mixture container member with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Many individuals enjoy ice cream even in remote locations where ice cream storage facilities are unavailable. It would be a benefit to these individuals to have an ice cream caddy system that provided an insulated holder that could contain a supply of ice and rock salt to allow a quantity of ice cream to be transported to a remote location for consumption and held for a period of time without melting. It would of course also be a benefit if the ice cream caddy system included a holding device for holding and transporting a number of serving bowls and spoons as well as an ice cream scoop. 
     GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the invention to provide an ice cream caddy system for storing and transporting ice cream and ice cream eating utensils and the like that includes an insulated lid member, an open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member, and an inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member; the open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member being sized to receive the insulated lid member thereon in a manner to seal a top opening of the cooling mixture container member; the inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member defining an ice cream receiving cavity accessible through an open top and being centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface of the cooling mixture container member to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member for receiving a cooling mixture including ice and rock salt; the ice cream container member having a number of elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed therethrough providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member having two spaced handle attachment structures on an exterior surface thereof between which a handle assembly is secured; each of the handle attachment structures being attached to the cooling mixture container member with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
     Accordingly, an ice cream caddy system is provided. The ice cream caddy system includes an insulated lid member, an open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member, and an inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member; the open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member being sized to receive the insulated lid member thereon in a manner to seal a top opening of the cooling mixture container member; the inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member defining an ice cream receiving cavity accessible through an open top and being centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface of the cooling mixture container member to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member for receiving a cooling mixture including ice and rock salt; the ice cream container member having a number of elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed therethrough providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member having two spaced handle attachment structures on an exterior surface thereof between which a handle assembly is secured; each of the handle attachment structures being attached to the cooling mixture container member with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the ice cream caddy system of the present invention showing the insulated lid member; the open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member sized to receive the insulated lid member thereon in a manner to seal a top opening thereof; and the inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member defining an ice cream receiving cavity and being centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface of the cooling mixture container member to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member; the ice cream container member having a number of elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed therethrough providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member having two spaced handle attachment structures on an exterior surface thereof between which a handle assembly is secured; each of the handle attachment structures being attached to the cooling mixture container member with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away, perspective view of the exemplary ice cream caddy system of FIG. 1 showing the foam construction of the insulated lid member, the cooling mixture container member and the ice cream container member; the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member provided for receiving a mixture of ice and rock salt; the elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed through the ice cream container member providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member and the lid member being sized to house a number of ice cream serving bowls if desired; the ice cream receiving cavity being sized to receive a number of spoons and an ice cream scoop as well as a carton of ice cream. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a section of the cooling mixture container member with an aperture provided therethrough, a dog-leg bent handle attachment structure having a member attachment aperture formed through one portion and a handle attachment aperture formed through the remaining portion, and a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
    
    
     EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the ice cream caddy system of the present invention generally designated  10 . Ice cream caddy system  10  includes an insulated lid member, generally designated  12 ; an open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member, generally designated  14 ; and an inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member, generally designated  16 . Open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member  14  is sized to receive insulated lid member  12  on a rim portion  20  thereof in a manner to seal a top opening  22  of cooling mixture container member  14 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, ice cream container member  16  defines an ice cream receiving cavity  24  accessible through a round open top  26  and is centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface  30  of cooling mixture container member  14  to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity  34  defined between an interior wall  36  of cooling mixture container member  14  and an outer wall  38  of ice cream container member  16  for receiving a cooling mixture including ice and rock salt. Ice cream container member  16  has four elongated cooling mixture passage slots  40  formed therethrough providing fluid communication between ice cream receiving cavity  24  and tube shaped cooling mixture cavity  34 . In this embodiment, ice cream receiving cavity is sized to receive and hold a gallon container of ice cream as well as a number of spoons and an ice cream scoop. Lid member  12  is provided with a bowl storage cavity  44  for providing a storage area for a number of serving bowls when lid  12  is placed onto cooling mixture container  14 . 
     Cooling mixture container member  14  has two identical, spaced handle attachment structures  50   a , 50   b  on an exterior surface  52  thereof between which a handle assembly  56  is secured. With reference to FIG. 3, each of the handle attachment structures  50   a , 50   b  is a dog-leg shape bent structure having a member attachment aperture  51  formed through one portion and a handle attachment aperture  53  formed through the remaining portion and is attached to the outer surface  52  of cooling mixture container member  14  with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly, generally designated  60  including a washer insert  62 , a retaining pin  64  having locking structures  66  extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring  68  sized to snap fit over locking structures  66  of retaining pin  64 . During installation, a section of the cooling mixture container member  14  is provided with an aperture  70  into which washer insert  62  is inserted. Member attachment aperture  51  of handle attachment structure  50   a , 50   b  is then aligned with washer insert  62  and the end of retainer pin  64  inserted through and into the interior of cooling mixture container member  14  where locking ring  68  is then snap fit over locking structures  66  of retaining pin  64 . 
     It can be seen from the preceding description that an ice cream caddy system for storing and transporting ice cream and ice cream eating utensils and the like has been provided that includes an insulated lid member, an open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member, and an inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member; the open topped, cylinder shaped, outer insulated cooling mixture container member being sized to receive the insulated lid member thereon in a manner to seal a top opening of the cooling mixture container member; the inner, open topped cylinder shaped ice cream container member defining an ice cream receiving cavity accessible through an open top and being centered within and permanently secured to a bottom surface of the cooling mixture container member to form a tube shaped cooling mixture cavity defined between an interior wall of the cooling mixture container member and an outer wall of the ice cream container member for receiving a cooling mixture including ice and rock salt; the ice cream container member having a number of elongated cooling mixture passage slots formed therethrough providing fluid communication between the ice cream receiving cavity and the tube shaped cooling mixture cavity; the cooling mixture container member having two spaced handle attachment structures on an exterior surface thereof between which a handle assembly is secured; each of the handle attachment structures being attached to the cooling mixture container member with a retainer pin/snap ring assembly including a washer insert, a retaining pin having locking structures extending outwardly from an end thereof and a locking ring sized to snap fit over the locking structures of the retaining pin. 
     It is noted that the embodiment of the ice cream caddy system described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.