LOLLIPOP KIT

Abstract

A kit including a solid confection segmented into a plurality of member segments and a corresponding set of sticks is described herein. Each of the segments includes a blind hole for accepting an end of a stick. The kit can optionally further include an edible adhesive for bonding stick and confection segment, and a container for confining the kit components.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates generally to novelty confectionary items. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a lollipop kit including a segmented solid confection, each segment having a blind hole for accepting a stick, and a plurality of sticks.

2. Brief Description of Related Technology

Lollipops or suckers are essentially hard candies mounted on a short stick of some sort. The stick serves as a handle, and the hard candy lollipop is either sucked or bitten apart until consumed. The terms lollipop and sucker are frequently used interchangeably, but often the term lollipop is applied to candy that is relatively flat, especially disc-shaped, while the term sucker is applied to candy that is spherical. According to the disclosure herein the term lollipop is intended to encompass any shape or three-dimensional profile. Lollipops can also include fillings in the center, such as chocolate, liquids, and bubble gum. No matter what size or shape, the lollipop is typically made primarily of sugar, water, corn syrup, and flavorings.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a kit including a solid confection segmented into a plurality of member segments, and a corresponding set of sticks. Each of the segments includes a blind hole for accepting an end of a stick. The kit can optionally further include an edible adhesive for bonding stick and confection segment, and a container for confining the kit components.

Further aspects and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings. While the kit and components thereof are susceptible of embodiments in various forms, the description hereafter includes specific embodiments with the understanding that the disclosure is illustrative, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For further facilitating the understanding of the present invention, five drawing figures are appended hereto.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a kit including a segmented confection, a corresponding set of sticks, and a squeeze tube of sugar glue.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a segment assembled with a stick.

FIGS. 3 (side view) and 4 (perspective view) show a container for holding the kit components of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container of FIGS. 3 and 4 in closed configuration holding the kit components of FIG. 1, whereby the overall configuration resembles a traditional lollipop and yet the pieces of the kit are visible to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Recently, there has been a desire in the industry to limit the amount of sugar and calories in an individually-portioned serving size of confection. The following description provides a means of achieving that goal while maintaining the general size and shape of traditional confections when desired.

As stated above, the kit includes a solid confection segmented into a plurality of member segments, and a corresponding set of sticks. Each of the segments includes a blind hole, preferably only a single hole, for accepting an end of a stick.

Solid confections are known in the industry. In one type of embodiment, the solid confection is made primarily of hardened, flavored sucrose with corn syrup. On the other hand sugar-free candies are known in the industry and, thus, the term confection as used herein is intended to include both sugary and sugar-free sweets. Other solid confections are also contemplated, including but not limited to chocolates, caramels, and gummies.

The size and shape of the segments are not particularly limited in concept. For example, the segmented confection can be generally flat (e.g., disc-like) in one type of embodiment, such as that described in detail below in connection with the figures. If it is viewed as having been divided by a plurality of straight planes passing perpendicular through the major plane of the confection, the planes passing through the center of the confection, then the resulting segments will be generally pie-shaped in profile (i.e., circular sectors).

In another type of embodiment the segmented confection can extend more uniformly in three dimensions, such as in the form of a sphere. If viewed as having been divided by straight planes passing through the center of the confection, the sectors will be shaped as hemispheres, quadrants, etc, depending on the number of divisions. In yet another type of embodiment, the segments will have the same profile, and optionally the same shape as the segmented confection, e.g., as a cube comprised of cubical segments. Other such embodiments of geometric shapes will be immediately apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

In still another type of embodiment, the segmented confection can have the profile of or take the shape of a predetermined figure or structure. Such embodiments can include, but are not limited to animals, people, faces, typical toy objects such as cars, buildings, sports equipment, and other recognizable shapes.

The segments can optionally include a filling, such as in the form of liquid, solid, or paste. Examples include, but are not limited to, chocolate fillings, caramel fillings, and bubble-gum fillings. Preferably, the filling is compartmentalized such that it does not intersect with the blind hole used to mount the segment on the stick. However, in another embodiment wherein the filling is at least semi-solid and preferably gummy, the blind hole may lead to the filling and thus allow the filling to engage the stick.

The segmented confection can be made in any desirable manner. In one type of method, a sugar-corn syrup solution is cooked (e.g., about 310° F. (154° C.)) until the concentration of the solution reaches a high level, and a supersaturation of sugar remains upon cooling. When the mixture is hot it is plastic or malleable, and may be poured into a mold. As the solution cools, it takes the shape of the mold, becoming glass-like. Any desired colors or flavorings can be added before the candy material is poured into the mold. A confection can be prepared and then divided into segments, or individual segments can be fabricated. The blind hole can be formed as part of a molding process, or can be created (e.g., by drilling) subsequent to fabrication of a segment.

The blind hole in each segment is sized with respect to the sticks to accept an end of the stick and thus mount the segment on the stick, such that the stick serves as a handle for manipulating and eating the segment. For example, the sizing can be such that a press-fit engagement results from inserting the stick in the hole, such as by frictional engagement and/or engagement by compression of a portion of the stick.

The segments are preferably individually wrapped, such as with a cellophane or wax paper.

Lollipop sticks are known in the art, and any conventional material will be suitable. Examples include, but are not limited to, rolled paper, plastic, and wood.

The kit and components are contemplated to include embodiments including any combination of one or more of the additional optional elements, features, and steps further described below (including those shown in the figures), unless stated otherwise.

The kit can optionally further include an edible adhesive for bonding stick and confection segment together. Preferably, the edible adhesive is a confection. The edible adhesive can be provided in any desirable manner, including but not limited to a squeeze tube or a dip pot.

The kit components can be wrapped together, e.g., by cellophane, or can optionally include a container for confining the kit components. The container is preferably rigid plastic, and preferably is at least translucent, such that a consumer can view the confection contained therein. The container preferably includes a first portion having a profile generally resembling a profile of the segmented solid confection, and a second portion which has a generally linear or rectilinear profile. In one specific type of embodiment, the shape of the container is reminiscent of a traditional lollipop, with a generally disc-shaped portion above a generally stick-shaped portion. For example, the sticks can be confined in parallel arrangement and the segmented solid confection can be adjacent to (e.g., above) a set of ends of the sticks. The container preferably has a clam-shell configuration with both top and bottom portions, such that the kit components can be completely encased.

The kit can be used by selecting a confection segment, inserting a stick into the blind hole of the segment, and then inserting the segment into the user's mouth. As one segment is finished, the user can use the same stick or a new stick for assembling a second stick/segment combination. Repeat as desired.

One advantage of the kit described herein is the ability to provide individually-portioned serving sizes of candy that have relatively low levels of sugar and calories, while maintaining the overall appearance of a traditional, larger-sized confection. Inclusion of a container as described herein can allow the user to conveniently enjoy different segments of the confection at times distant from one another. The kit also provides an interactive experience for the candy consumer, which can be further enhanced by inclusion of the optional edible adhesive.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a lollipop kit according to the disclosure. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a kit including a segmented confection 10 comprising six segments 12, a corresponding set of six sticks 14, and a squeeze tube 18 of sugar glue. Each segment 12 in this embodiment has a pie-shaped profile in the plan view as illustrated. The segmented confection 10 is generally disc-shaped and has a circular shape in profile. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a segment 12 assembled with a stick 14. The blind hole 20 of the segment 12 is shown in dashed lines, as is the inserted portion 14a of the stick 14. The blind hole 20 and inserted stick portion 14a are shown spaced apart for ease of distinguishing the two, whereas the sizing between the two can be such as to provide frictional engagement and/or engagement by compression of the portion 14a of the stick. When a confectionary adhesive such as sugar glue 18 is used, the sizing between the blind hole 20 and stick portion 14a can be the same or can provide additional room for adhesive.

FIGS. 3 (side view) and 4 (perspective view) show a container 22 for holding the components of the kit of FIG. 1. The container 22 as shown is made of molded, transparent, rigid plastic and has a clam-shell configuration with lower 24 and upper 28 halves hinged by a strip of plastic 30 on a side of the top portion 32. The top portion 32 is generally disc-shaped and has a profile generally resembling the profile of the segmented solid confection 10. The container 22 includes a bottom portion 34 which is generally stick-shaped and has a rectilinear profile for holding sticks 14 in parallel arrangement (see also FIG. 5). The container has a recessed portion 38 in the lower half 24 of the container 22, for holding the squeeze tube 18 of sugar glue (not shown, but see FIG. 5). The container 22 also has a recessed portion 40 in the bottom portion 34 of the lower clamshell half 24 for confining sticks 14 (not shown, but see FIG. 5). The container 22 also has recessed (as shown in FIG. 4) portions 42 and 44 for confining and encasing the segmented confection 10 (not shown, but see FIG. 5).

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container 22 in closed configuration holding the segments 12 of the solid segmented confection 10, sticks 14, and squeeze tube 18 of sugar glue, whereby the overall configuration resembles a traditional lollipop and yet the pieces of the kit are still visible to the user.

The foregoing description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications within the scope of the invention may be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.

Throughout the specification, where compositions are described as including components or materials, it is contemplated that the compositions can also consist essentially of, or consist of, any combination of the recited components or materials, unless described otherwise.

Claims

1. A confectionary kit, comprising: wherein each of the segments comprises a blind hole sized to receive an end a stick.

a segmented solid confection comprising a plurality of segments; and

a plurality of sticks,

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the segmented solid confection has a geometric-shaped profile.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the segments has the same shape.

4. The kit of claim 2, wherein the segmented solid confection has a circular profile and the segments have a pie-shaped profile.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the segments includes a single blind hole.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the segments is individually wrapped in a protective film.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the segmented solid confection comprises a hard candy.

8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the number of sticks is equal to the number of segments of the segmented solid confection

9. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a supply of edible adhesive.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the edible adhesive is a confection.

11. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a container designed to confine the segmented solid confection, and sticks, and any optional components.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the container is designed to confine the sticks in parallel arrangement and the segmented solid confection adjacent to a set of ends of the sticks.

13. The kit of claim 11, wherein the container comprises a clam-shell configuration and includes a recess for confining a supply of edible adhesive.

14. The kit of claim 11, wherein the container comprises a first portion having a profile generally resembling a profile of the segmented solid confection and a second portion which has a generally linear or rectilinear profile.