Abstract:
A cupcake package includes a base element having a primary diameter for receiving a cupcake body and a relieving cylinder having a second diameter extending from the base element for clearance of a top contour of the cupcake. A bottom surface closes the base element and includes an aperture centrally located therein sized to accept insertion of a finger for removal of the cupcake. A cylindrical lid is closely received over the relieving cylinder to close the package.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to the field of packaging for pastry and baked goods and more particularly to a multidiametric case for a cupcake or similar good, the case having a relieved upper portion for clearance of frosting or topping, an aperture in the bottom allowing easy removal of the cupcake from the package and retaining elements within the case for closely contacting the cupcake for retention in the package until removal. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Cupcakes and similar baked goods and pastries are typically packaged in boxes containing multiple units. Baked goods such as cupcakes are quite fragile in nature and such packaging does not provide satisfactory protection for the baked goods, allowing individual cupcakes to move within the box creating distortion or damage to the soft cake and frosting. Retaining elements within the multiunit box have been previously employed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,671 issued to McDonnough et al on Dec. 21, 1999. However extracting individual cupcakes is typically not easy or convenient and such packaging is not readily economically adaptable for individual cupcakes. 
         [0005]    Individual packaging has been provided in the form of small boxes or paper wrapping which suffer many of the same issues as multiunit packaging. Certain single item packages such as that disclosed in US patent publication 2004/0251162 to McGinnis et al published on Dec. 16, 2004 have been provided, however, such packaging is overly complex and expensive to be cost effective for high quantity production and sale of baked goods. 
         [0006]    It is therefore desirable to provide a cost effective packaging system for individual cupcakes or similar baked goods. It is additionally desirable that such a packaging system would allow easy removal of the cupcake without damage while retaining the cupcake safely within the package until removal is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Exemplary embodiments provide cupcake package employing a base element having a primary diameter for receiving a cupcake body and a relieving cylinder having a second diameter extending from the base element for clearance of a top contour of the cupcake. A bottom surface closes the base element and includes an aperture centrally located therein sized to accept insertion of a finger for removal of the cupcake. A cylindrical lid is closely received over the relieving cylinder to close the package. In one exemplary embodiment the base element is frustoconical. 
         [0008]    In certain implementations, the base element further incorporates a restraint system for the cupcake. A first restraint system includes two sets of opposing apertures in the base element vertically displaced from and perpendicular to each other. A first dowel is received through the first set of apertures and extending through a cupcake body carried in the base element and a second dowel is received through the second set of apertures and extending through the cupcake body. 
         [0009]    A second restraint system incorporates multiple pyramidal protuberances extending from an inner surface of the base element oriented with an extended point downward toward the bottom to engage the body of the cupcake. 
         [0010]    A third restraint system uses one or more circular ridges extruded from an inner surface of the base element to engage the body of the cupcake. 
         [0011]    The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a bottom angle isometric view of a general embodiment of the cupcake package of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1D  is a top angle isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  with the closure lid removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1E  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  with a cupcake inserted in the case; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1F  is the side section view of the case with the cupcake being removed; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a bottom angle isometric view of an embodiment of the cupcake package with a first restraint structure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a top angle isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2C  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2D  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A  showing interior details of the embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2E  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the cupcake package with a second restraint structure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4A  is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the cupcake package with a third restraint structure; and, 
           [0027]      FIG. 4B  is a side section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The embodiments described herein disclose a cupcake package having a multidiametric case with multiple cylindrical elements or a combination of cylinders and conical frustrums to receive the cupcake and having a bottom with an aperture for urging the cupcake from the case with a consumer&#39;s finger, a lid for closing the case, and various restraint elements within the case to maintain the cupcake in the case until removed. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1A-1E  for an exemplary embodiment, a frustoconical base element  10  of the case with a first primary diameter  11  receives the body of the cupcake (as best seen in  FIG. 1E ). The shape of the base element may be a conical frustrum as shown for use with a conventional cupcake or various depths and diameters of cylindrical elements or other rotated geometric shapes defined to closely receive the baked good. The inner surface  12  of the base element frictionally engages the sides of the cupcake to assist in retaining the cupcake in the package and prevent unwanted motion in the package during handling or transport. A cylindrical top element  14  expands from the base element  10  to a second diameter  15  to allow volumetric relief within the package for frosting or top contouring of the cupcake or other baked good to be contained in the case. Further, the larger diameter of the top element simplifies the insertion of the cupcake or baked good into the case. 
         [0030]    A lid  16  having an inner diameter sized to be closely received over the cylindrical top element  14  provides a closure for the case to protect the cupcake or baked good after insertion into the case. For the embodiment shown a filleted external surface of the lid allows for easy grasping by the consumer for removal. In alternative embodiments, a smooth cylindrical external surface or a textured surface may be employed. 
         [0031]    A bottom surface  18  of the base element  10  incorporates an aperture  20  which is sized to accommodate insertion of a fingertip. As best seen in  FIG. 1F , after removing the lid, inserting a fingertip through aperture  20  and pressing upward against the bottom  22  of the cupcake urges the cupcake body  24  from the case allowing the consumer to easily remove the cupcake for consumption. 
         [0032]    For the exemplary embodiments, injection molded polystyrene or similar material may be employed for the case and lid providing a very low cost, mass producible product. Alternative paper, cardboard or plastic materials may be employed in alternative embodiments using standard fabrication techniques known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0033]    To further restrain the cupcake in the case, a restraint system is employed. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2E , a first exemplary restraint system for the embodiment shown incorporates apertures  30  in the base element through which wooden or plastic toothpicks or dowels  32  are inserted, piercing the body of the cupcake. The dowel ends extend through the apertures  30  on each side of the base element thereby restraining the cupcake within the case. For the embodiment shown, two perpendicular vertically offset sets of apertures and dowels are employed. In alternative embodiments, a single aperture set and dowel may be employed or additional sets for increased security. For removal of the cupcake, the dowels are extracted from the case and the cupcake is removed by inserting a finger into the aperture  20  in the bottom  18  to urge the cupcake out of the case. 
         [0034]    A second exemplary restraint system is shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C  which employs pyramidal protuberances  34  extending from the inner surface  12  of the base element  10 . Orientation of the protuberances with point  36  extending downwardly toward the bottom  18  of the base element engages and restrains the body of the cupcake when the cupcake is placed into the case and urged toward the bottom. For the embodiment shown, four pyramidal protuberances  34  are shown. In alternative embodiments one or more protuberances may be employed as required to firmly secure the cupcake or other backed good in the case. For removal of the cupcake, inserting a finger into the aperture  20  in the bottom  18  and urging the cupcake upwards with sufficient force overcomes the friction created by the indentation of the pyramidal protuberances in the body of the cupcake allowing it to be removed from the case. 
         [0035]    Ridges  38  extruded from the inner surface  12  of the base element  10  provide a third exemplary retention system for the embodiments disclosed as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . For the embodiment shown, the ridges extend around an entire circumference of the inner surface and two ridges are employed. In alternative embodiments ridges extending over a portion of the circumference or a single or additional multiples of ridges are employed. A substantially circular cross section of the ridges is employed which provides sufficient resistance against the body of the cupcake to retain the cupcake in the case. However, alternative cross sections such as triangular or rectangular may be employed in alternative embodiments. As with the pyramidal protrusions, removal of the cupcake is accomplished by inserting a finger into the aperture  20  in the bottom  18  and urging the cupcake upwards with sufficient force overcomes the friction created by the indentation of the circular ridges in the body of the cupcake allowing it to be removed from the case. 
         [0036]    Having now described various embodiments of the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims.