Candy baby rattle

Abstract

A novelty candy and toy product combination has a hollow body for holding a confectionary product within an interior chamber and a handle extending from the hollow body. An open top of the hollow body allows access to the interior chamber. A lid engagable with the body is releasably held closed to cover the open top and contain the confectionary product therein. The hollow body is provided with an arrangement of motion activated lights about an exterior circumferential ring. A candy stick holding a hard candy product is removably received within the handle and includes a noise making device on a bottom end. In use, the lid is opened, the candy stick is removed from the handle and the hard candy product is dipped into the confectionary product in the hollow body for combined consumption.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novelty candy device and, more particularly, to a simulated baby's toy containing edible confectionary products.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Parents of young toddlers are often confronted with the task of keeping the toddlers occupied and content. In order to accomplish this task, parents often resort to providing the toddlers with various items such as toys or food products to satisfy a fussy child. The toys utilized for such an undertaking are varied according to the age of the child. Young children are often given rattles in an attempt to induce contentment as the sound factor of the rattle stimulates the child's inquisitive and learning desire. Preferably the toy will include various aspects to occupy the child's attention over an extended time span.

Alternatively, parents will often give their children food items such as finger foods or candy such as lollipops. Finger foods require a dedicated container to retain the individual food pieces in one place. Lollipops and other hard candy pops have been traditionally placed on a stick to permit repeated removal and placement of the candy within one's mouth without having to touch the candy, thereby providing a convenient and sanitary means of consuming the candy product. However, if the child does not consume all of the finger food items or completely consume the entire candy pop, the parent must then find a place to store the food until the next time the child desires it.

Typically, because of a child's relatively short attention span, a parent must employ a number of different items to maintain the child in a state of relative contentment. Unless the child is at home, this requires that all these items must be transported along with the child to the desired destination. Thus, one of the objectives of a parent is to select individual items which have multiple features for maintaining a child's attention.

Thus what is desired is a novelty toy having multiple entertainment features and additionally includes novelty candy products stored therein and accessible for consumption by a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a novelty candy device in the form of a baby rattle. The candy device includes an enlarged top container and a hollow tubular handle extending downwardly from the top container. The handle has an open bottom end for receiving a hard candy stick therethrough and within the hollow handle. A knob on the bottom end of the candy stick releasably fastens to the open bottom end of the handle, with the candy stick protectively concealed within the handle. The knob has a bead filled rattle chamber for producing a rattle noise by shaking the device.

The top container is filled with a candy powder (e.g. sour candy powder) that is accessible by opening a hinged cap on the top of the container. The container may be provided with motion activated lights on the exterior for visual entertainment.

In use, the candy stick is removed from the bottom end of the handle, by releasing the attachment of the knob from the open bottom end (e.g. by twisting). The candy product can then be consumed by opening the cap on the top of the container and dipping the candy stick into the candy powder. Due to the tacky nature of the candy stick, the powder easily adheres to the candy stick surface when the candy stick is dipped in the powder.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a candy baby rattle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the candy baby rattle in use illustrating the candy stick removed from the handle and dipped in the candy powder of the top container;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the candy stick shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating the central rigid core; and

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the candy baby rattle with the candy stick shown removed from the handle.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a candy baby rattle 20 which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. Candy baby rattle 20 has a hollow body 22, typically molded of a resin and in the form of a sphere as shown herein, although other shapes are also contemplated. Hollow body 22 has an open top 23 surrounded by rim 21. A lid 28 conforms to open top 23 and is affixed to hollow body 22 by hinge 27. Hinge 27, while not shown in detail, can be a living hinge integrally molded with hollow body 22 and lid 28. Lid 28 also includes a latch feature substantially opposite from or extending around the periphery of lid 28 engagable with rim 21 to firmly retain lid 28 in a closed position to prevent the spillage of the contents of hollow body 22. Lid 28 also includes a knob 25 on an outer surface thereof to facilitate the opening and closing of lid 28.

Hollow body 22 has a ring about an outer periphery thereof with a motion activated light system 24. Motion of candy baby rattle 20 initiates the illumination of individual lights 26. The illumination of lights 26 can occur in a number of different illumination patterns wherein all lights 26 are lit and remain illuminated or all lights 26 can blink in random or predefined sequences.

A hollow handle 30 is affixed to a bottom of hollow body 22 substantially opposite from open top 23. Hollow handle 30 is formed as a tubular member with a bottom end 32 having an opening 34. Hollow handle 30 receives therein a candy stick 40, as further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Candy stick 40 has an enlarged end or base 42 which engages bottom end 32 of handle 30 to retain the candy stick 40 to handle 30. The engagement of the candy stick base 42 to hollow handle 30 can be by the incorporation of cooperating male and female threads, a snap fit, or as a friction fit, all of which are known in the industry. The end 42 of candy handle is at least partially defined by a hollow dome 44. A plurality of beads 46 are retained within hollow dome 44 such that when the candy stick 40 is shaken, a rattling sound is produced by the movement of beads 46. Dome 44 can also be clear with beads 46 being multicolored so that during the rattling process, the movement of beads 46 can be watched.

Base end 42 includes a rigid core 48 affixed to the top of base handle 42 and extending vertically upwards therefrom. Typically, rigid core 48 is of a molded resin and is integrally formed with the base 42. A flavored hard candy is molded about and supported by rigid core 48. The outside of molded candy 50 is formed to be readily received within hollow handle 30 such that base 42 engages bottom end 32 of handle 30 with candy 50 protected by hollow handle 30.

The user can shake the candy baby rattle 20 which will cause the beads 46 to rattle within dome 44 to provide audible entertainment, and if dome 44 is clear, visual entertainment also by watching beads 46 move. Movement of candy baby rattle 20 will also initiate the illumination of light system 24 for further visual entertainment. Moreover, candy base 40 can be disengaged from hollow handle 30 for consumption of molded candy 50.

Hollow body 22 contains a candy powder 38 of a flavor to complement the flavor of the molded candy 50. Various flavor combinations, while not described herein, are contemplated. When lid 28 is opened, molded candy 50 can be dipped into candy powder 38, thereby coating molded candy 50 with a layer of candy powder 38 to deliver a combined flavor. When the user no longer desires to consume the candy products 38 and 50, lid 28 can be closed to engage hollow body 22, thereby sealing candy powder 38 therein. Additionally, candy stick 40 can be reinserted into hollow handle 30 to protect any unconsumed portion of molded candy 50 until the user again desires to resume consumption.

In the foregoing description those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims expressly state otherwise.

Claims

1. A novelty candy and toy device combination comprising:

a hollow body with an interior chamber for holding a confectionary product and said hollow body including an open top communicating with the interior chamber;

a lid movably engagable with said hollow body between an open position to uncover said open top for access to said interior chamber and a closed position to close said open top and contain the confectionary product within said interior chamber;

a tubular handle extending from said hollow body;

an elongate candy stick structured and disposed to be at least partially received within said handle, said candy stick constructed to hold a candy product thereon to be received in said handle, and said candy stick being removable and separable from said handle for allowing consumption of the candy product; and

wherein said candy product on said candy stick can be inserted through said open top of said hollow body and dipped into the confectionary product for combined consumption of the candy product and the confectionary product.

2. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said confectionary product is a flavored powder composition.

3. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said candy product on said candy stick is a flavored hard candy.

4. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said candy stick includes a noise making device on a bottom end.

5. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said noise making device is a rattle defined by a hollow dome containing a plurality of beads.

6. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

a plurality of motion activated lights on said hollow body.

7. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality of motion activated lights are arranged about a circumferential ring on an exterior of said hollow body.

8. A novelty candy and toy device combination comprising:

a hollow body with an interior chamber for holding a confectionary product and said hollow body including an open top communicating with the interior chamber;

a lid movably engagable with said hollow body between an open position to uncover said open top for access to said interior chamber and a closed position to close said open top and contain the confectionary product within said interior chamber;

a tubular handle extending from said hollow body;

an elongate candy stick structured and disposed to be at least partially received within said handle, said candy stick constructed to hold a candy product thereon to be received in said handle, and said candy stick being removable and separable from said handle for allowing consumption of the candy product;

said candy stick including a rattle noise making device on a bottom end thereof; and

wherein said candy product on said candy stick can be inserted through said open top of said hollow body and dipped into the confectionary product for combined consumption of the candy product and the confectionary product.

9. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said rattle noise making device is defined by a hollow dome containing a plurality of beads.

10. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said confectionary product is a flavored powder composition.

11. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said candy product on said candy stick is a flavored hard candy.

12. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of motion activated lights are arranged about a circumferential ring on an exterior of said hollow body.

13. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said hollow body is sphere shaped.

14. The novelty candy and toy device combination as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of motion activated lights are arranged about a circumferential ring on an exterior of said hollow body.