Abstract:
A portable confection container is provided with a ring for transport. A lid and housing confine the confection to prevent contamination during transport and storage. The lid and housing are releasably secured together with the confection secured to either the lid or housing. Optionally, the housing can be reversed and attached to the lid so as to expose the confection. Indicia on the lid with the ring can be aesthetically used independent from the housing or with the housing for miscellaneous item storage after the confection is consumed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    A confection is housed within a container provided with a housing, a lid and a ring such that separation of the housing and lid exposes the confection for consumption and connection of the lid and housing prevent contamination.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The consumption of hard and semi-solid confections has been common for many years. The confections are typically protected by a paper or foil wrapper, whether on a stick or not. In many instances, and particularly so when consumed by children, the entire confection is not consumed or is dropped and contaminated when not completely consumed, the confection is either unnecessarily thrown away or wrapped in the same or a new paper or foil for storage. The wrapping of a partially consumed confection typically results in the sticky surface of the confection tightly sticking to the wrapper. It is difficult to remove such a wrapper. During consumption, the sticky confection will smudge and soil any surface it contacts and will usually become contaminated by any surface contacted.  
           [0005]    The combination of rings and other articles and confections is old. W. Parker, U.S. Des 229,522, issued Dec. 11, 1973, makes a ring of candy. A. Shorin et al, U.S. Des 242,645 and U.S. Des 242,646, issued Dec. 7, 1976, teach a ring having a matrix for supporting candy and a ring with candy respectively. S. Coleman, U.S. Pat. No. 219, 445, issued Sep. 9, 1879, teaches a ring having a spring-loaded closure for a compartment for housing matches supported on a ring. C. Bull, U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,862, issued Mar. 31, 1998, teaches a ring that removably supports a container for holding dental materials.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A confection is housed within a covered container having a lid for preventing contamination of the confection. The housing or lid is provided with a ring for slipping over a finger for convenience and transport. The lid can be removed from the container, part of the confection consumed, and the lid reapplied for transport, storage, and contamination free later consumption. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded side views of the confection containing ring with the lid shown separated.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of a second embodiment of the confection containing ring with the ring supporting confection separated from the cover.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of a third embodiment of the confection containing ring with the confection containing housing separated from the ringed lid.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a lid and housing attachment. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The present confection housing ring is for conveniently transporting protecting and consuming the confection. The ring can be secured to the lid or housing. The confection can easily be placed on a finger and carried around until it is desired to consume the confection. The confection is consumed by simply separating the lid from the housing and licking the confection. Any remaining confection can be kept safe and free from contamination until it is desired to consume more of it by simply joining the lid and housing.  
         [0012]    Vertically the confection housing ring  1  of FIG. 1 shows the lid  2  separated from the housing  13 . The lid has a ring  4  secured to the top or outer end of the lid and an arcuate rim  3  around the base of or inner end of the lid. The arcuate rim is provided with slits  5  around its length to provide lines of weakness so that the arcuate rim can be sprung outwardly when pressure is applied. A protrusion  6  is provided centrally under or within the lid with a lip  7  around its terminal end. The housing  13  provides an arcuate base  18  within the housing for supporting the confection  12 . The inner end  19  of the housing is provided with an arcuate rim  11  that is slightly smaller than the arcuate rim  3  of the lid. The outer end  14  of the housing has a centrally positioned recess  16  with a groove  17  around its terminal end. In its on finger portable configuration, the base  8  of the lid  2  is pressed  10  onto the housing inner end  19  where the arcuate rim  3  of the lid snaps over the arcuate rim  11  of the housing  13  where it seals the lid to the housing where it remains until use.  
         [0013]    To consume the confection  12 , the lid  2  is pulled away  10  from the housing. The slits  5  in the arcuate non-resilient rim  3  act as lines of weakness and give the arcuate rim  3  a spring like quality enabling the rim  3  to be removed from the slightly smaller arcuate rim  11 . With the lid removed from the housing  13 , the confection  12  can be licked and consumed by extending the tongue through the open housing inner end  19 . The protrusion  6  within the lid  2  can be pressed  21  into the recess  16  in the housing as indicated in FIG. 2. The outer end  14  of the housing fits within the arcuate rim  3 , and the inner end  8  of the lid. The lip  7  on the protrusion  6  slips into the groove  17  at the base of the recess  16  to removably secure the lid  2  to the housing outer end  14 . With the lid secured to the housing outer end, the confection is exposed through the housing open inner end  19  while the confection housing ring is positioned on a finger. After the consumer is finished, the remaining confection can again be sealed by pulling  21  the lid protrusion  6  from the housing outer end recess  16  and pressing the lid arcuate rim  3  over the housing arcuate rim  11 .  
         [0014]    The inner end  8  of the lid  2  is provided with indicia such as a hologram or graphic image  27  so that the lid can be used as an aesthetic ring independent of the housing when the confection is consumed as well as a means for housing other objects with use of the empty housing  13  attached to the lid.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a modification of the confection containing ring of FIGS. 1 and 2. The lid  22  has a ring  24  on its outer end  29  and an arcuate rim  23 , similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, on its inner end  28 , except that the rim  23  does not have slits. The confection  25  is held under the lid  22  using a matrix  26  to secure it in place. The confection extends beyond the lid base  28 . The housing  33  is hollow for receiving the confection  25  for storage and transport. The housing inner end  39  has an arcuate rim  31  provided with slits  35 . The arcuate rim  23  of the lid is slightly smaller than the arcuate rim  31  of the housing. By pressing  36  the lid and housing together, the arcuate rim  31  of the housing snaps over the arcuate rim  23  of the lid for sealing, transport and/or storage. By pulling  36  the lid  22  and housing  33  apart, the confection is exposed for consumption. The confection can be consumed while the lid is held on a finger by the ring  24 , without the necessity to remove the ring from the finger used for transport.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a further modification of the confection containing ring of FIGS. 1 and 2. The lid  42  has ring  44  secured to the top or outer end  49  of the lid with an arcuate rim  43  having slits  45  on its inner end  48  as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The housing  53  contains the confection  52  being held within the housing by matrix  56  on the inner side of the outer end  54  of the housing. The inner end of the housing  59  is provided with an arcuate rim  51  that is slightly smaller than the lid arcuate rim  43 . By pressing  57  the lid  42  against the housing  53 , the housing arcuate rim  51  and the lid arcuate rim  43  snap together to seal and secure the two together. By pulling  57  the lid and housing apart, the two are separated. The confection  52  can then be consumed by licking the confection through the open housing inner end  59 . After a consumption of some of the confection, the remaining portion can be sealed within the housing by pressing  57  the lid back onto the housing. The lid inner end  48  is provided with indicia such as a hologram or graphic image  41  so the lid can be worn as an aesthetic ring independent of the housing.  
         [0017]    The horizontal shape of the lid and housing is optional. They can be circular, oval or have flat sides that match. The housing and or lid can be constructed of metal or plastic. They are preferably large enough to avoid accidental swallowing. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a slit arcuate rim  63  inner end  68  held in place over an arcuate rim  61  for holding and sealing one component  62 , for example a lid, onto a second component  65 , for example a housing. The connection seals and protects any confection held between the two. Any confection  66  within the housing  65  is exposed through the opening  64  at the housing inner end  69 .  
         [0018]    It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and that changes, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.