Ice Cream Holder

Abstract

An ice cream holder includes a lid, a holder, and a cup. The holder that secures a cone-shaped pastry includes a platform, a lateral wall, a central opening, and an intermediate flange. The cup and the lid are oppositely positioned of each other about the holder so that the cone-shaped pastry and the ice cream can be protected. A bottom edge of the lateral wall is perimetrically connected around the platform. The central opening concentrically traversing through the platform thus allowing the cone-shaped pastry to be placed. The intermediate flange is perimetrically connected around a top edge of the lateral wall and perimetrically engaged around a bottom flange of the cup. The cup allows the user to grasp or place the ice cream holder in existing cup holders for transportation. A top flange of the lid is compressionally engaged around the intermediate and bottom flanges, protecting the ice cream.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a portable ice cream holder. More specifically, the present invention is able to completely cover a portion of ice cream and the cone-shaped pastry that the portion of ice cream is placed upon to avoid unwanted contact or spillage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice cream is a favorite dessert or snack for many people, especially in a hot summer day. Ice cream can be placed within a bowl or cup to be consumed. However, ice cream is also placed within the cone-shaped pastry as a portable and edible container. The cone-shaped pastry can include, but is not limited to, a sugar cone, a wafer-style cone, and a waffle cone. Generally, ice cream has to be consumed in a timely manner as the frozen ice cream tends to melt over the cone-shaped pastry. Furthermore, issues arise during the transportation of ice cream, as people may need to move to different locations on the beach or in other public spaces. During the transportation process, ice cream can melt over the cone-shaped pastry, ice cream can fall out of the cone-shaped pastry, people may bump into each other and causes unwanted spillage, or unwanted foreign object such as dirt can be deposited onto the ice cream.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an ice cream holder that can fully protect ice cream and the cone-shaped pastry during transportation process and during the consuming process. The present invention provides a solution to all issues mentioned above as the cone-shaped pastry and the ice cream can be safely secured within. The present invention provides a lower part that can fit perfectly into cupholders of many vehicles for easy transportation. The present invention also provides a middle part that can lock and secure the cone-shaped pastry within the lower part. The present invention also provides a top part that completely engulfs the ice cream to avoid ice cream from falling off. Collectively, the lower part, the middle part, and the top part are able to fully enclose the ice cream and the cone-shaped pastry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side exploded view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is illustrated as a transparent body.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is an ice cream holder 5 that can fully protect ice cream and the cone-shaped pastry during transportation process and during the consuming process. The cone-shaped pastry explained hereinafter can include, but is not limited to, a sugar cone, a wafer-style cone, a waffle cone, or any other of cone that the ice cream can be placed. The present invention comprises a lid 1, a holder 5, a cup 13, and a central axis 17 as shown in FIG. 1-3. In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, the lid 1, the holder 5, and the cup 13 are concentrically aligned along the central axis 17 so that the present invention can be assembled. More specifically, the holder 5 is placed around and positioned within the cup 13 so that the cone-shaped pastry can be secured. The cup 13 and the lid 1 are oppositely positioned of each other about the holder 5, wherein the cup 13 functions as the portable container and allows the users the grasp the present invention. The lid 1 is mounted to the cup 13 and the holder 5 so that the ice cream that is placed upon the cone-shaped pastry can be protected from outside elements.

In reference to FIG. 2-3, the holder 5 comprises a platform 6, a lateral wall 7, a central opening 11, an intermediate flange 10, and a plurality of runoff openings 12. More specifically, a bottom edge 8 of the lateral wall 7 is perimetrically connected around the platform 6 so that the lateral wall 7 is able to define the depth or the height of the holder 5. The central opening 11 concentrically traverses through the platform 6 so that the cone-shaped pastry can be inserted into the central opening 11. Due to the tapered bottom of the cone-shaped pastry, the central opening 11 is able to secure the cone-shaped pastry vertically and concentrically. In other words, when the cone-shaped pastry is inserted into the central opening 11, a bottom half of the cone-shaped pastry is positioned below the platform 6 and a top half of the cone-shaped pastry is positioned above the platform 6. The intermediate flange 10 is perimetrically connected around a top edge 9 of the lateral wall 7, wherein the intermediate flange 10 and the platform 6 are oppositely positioned of each other about the lateral wall 7. The intermediate flange 10 is outwardly oriented from the lateral wall 7 so that platform 6 and the lateral wall 7 can be placed within the cup 13 while the intermediate flange 10 is perimetrically engaged around a bottom flange 16 of the cup 13. For example, when the holder 5 is placed upon the cup 13, the intermediate flange 10 engages around the bottom flange 16 of the cup 13 as the lateral wall 7 and the platform 6 are positioned within the cup 13.

In reference to a preferred embodiment of the holder 5, a diameter of the platform 6 is about 3.8 inches. An outer diameter of the lateral wall 7 ranges from 3.8 inches to 4.1 inches. An inner diameter of the central opening 11 ranges from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches so that the central opening 11 is able to facilitate difference shapes and sizes of the cone-shaped pastry. Furthermore, the diameter of the central opening 11 is preferably about 1.57 inches.

In reference to an alternative embodiment of the holder 5, a diameter of the platform 6 is about 3.8 inches. An outer diameter of the lateral wall 7 ranges from 3.8 inches to 4.1 inches. An inner diameter of the central opening 11 ranges from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches so that the central opening 11 is able to facilitate difference shapes and sizes of the cone-shaped pastry. Furthermore, the diameter of the central opening 11 is preferably about 2.37 inches.

In reference to FIG. 2, the plurality of runoff openings 12 is radially positioned around the central opening 11 and traverses through the platform 6. As a result, the plurality of runoff openings 12 is able to drain any melted ice cream into the cup 13 and keeps the cone-shaped pastry dry as the platform 6 is able to catch the melted ice cream that may fall onto the holder 5. More specifically, the plurality of runoff openings 12 is positioned adjacent to the lateral wall 7 so that the melted ice cream is able to flow away from the cone-shaped pastry and into the cone-shaped pastry. Preferably, the plurality of runoff openings 12 can range from 5-6. However, the actual number of the plurality of runoff openings 12 can differ upon different embodiments, user requirements, manufacturing specifications, or any other rules and regulations.

In reference to FIG. 2-3 and FIG. 5, the cup 13 further comprises a base 14 and a side wall 15 in addition to the bottom flange 16. More specifically, the side wall 15 is perimetrically connected around the base 14 so that the side wall 15 and the base 14 can delineate the general shape of the cup 13. The bottom flange 16 is perimetrically connected around the side wall 15 as the bottom flange 16 and the base 14 are oppositely positioned of each other about the side wall 15. Furthermore, the bottom flange 16 is outwardly oriented from the side wall 15 thus providing the sufficient surface area to rest the intermediate flange 10.

In reference to a preferred embodiment of the cup 13, a diameter of the base 14 is about 2.7 inches. An outer diameter of the side wall 15 ranges from 2.7 inches to 3.5 inches. A height of the cup 13, which is the vertical total height of the base 14, the side wall 15, and the bottom flange 16, is about 3.2 inches to facilitate the bottom half of the small-height cone-shaped pastry.

In reference to a first alternative embodiment of the cup 13, a diameter of the base 14 is about 2.7 inches. An outer diameter of the side wall 15 ranges from 2.7 inches to 3.5 inches. A height of the cup 13, which is the vertical total height of the base 14, the side wall 15, and the bottom flange 16, is about 5 inches to facilitate the bottom half of the medium-height cone-shaped pastry.

In reference to a second alternative embodiment of the cup 13, a diameter of the base 14 is about 2.7 inches. An outer diameter of the side wall 15 ranges from 2.7 inches to 3.5 inches. A height of the cup 13, which is the vertical total height of the base 14, the side wall 15, and the bottom flange 16, is about 6 inches to facilitate the bottom half of the large-height cone-shaped pastry.

In reference to FIG. 2-5, the lid 1 further comprises a cover 2 and a top flange 4. More specifically, the cover 2 is preferably a hallow body with an opening to cover 2 the ice cream that is placed on top of the cone-shaped pastry. The top flange 4 is perimetrically connected around a rim 3 of the cover 2 and outwardly oriented from the cover 2. As a result, the top flange 4 is able to function as a locking member to engage around the holder 5 and the cup 13. In other words, the top flange 4 is compressionally engaged around the intermediate flange 10 and the bottom flange 16 so that the cup 13, the holder 5, and the lid 1 can be attached together. When the lid 1 is pushed against the holder 5 and cup 13, the top flange 4 elastically snaps around the bottom flange 16 and presses the intermediate flange 10 against the bottom flange 16.

In reference to a preferred embodiment of the lid 1, an outer diameter of the top flange 4 is about 5.1 inches. A height of the cover 2 is about 3.4 inches to cover 2 the top half of the cone-shaped pastry and the ice cream.

In reference to FIG. 1-5, the user may use the present invention in the following manner: First, remove the lid 1 from the cup 13 to reveal the center opening of the holder 5. The user can then insert the cone-shaped pastry into the center opening, wherein the bottom half of the cone-shaped pastry is positioned inside the cup 13. Then the lid 1 is aligned and pushed towards the cup 13 so that the top flange 4 is able to engage around the bottom flange 16 and the intermediate flange 10. Once the lid 1 is in place, the lid 1 is can fully engulfs the top half of the cone-shaped pastry and the ice cream that is placed on the cone-shaped pastry.

The present invention is preferably made into a full transparent body so that the user can easy view the stored ice cream and the cone-shaped pastry. However, the present invention is not limited to the transparent body and can be made into an opaque body or semi-transparent body.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An ice cream holder comprising:

a lid;

a holder;

a cup;

a central axis;

the holder comprising a platform, a lateral wall, a central opening, and an intermediate flange;

the lid, the holder, and the cup being concentrically aligned along the central axis;

the cup and the lid being oppositely positioned of each other about the holder;

a bottom edge of the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the platform;

the central opening concentrically traversing through the platform;

the intermediate flange being perimetrically connected around a top edge of the lateral wall;

the intermediate flange being perimetrically engaged around a bottom flange of the cup; and

a top flange of the lid being compressionally engaged around the intermediate flange and the bottom flange.

2. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate flange is outwardly oriented from the lateral wall.

3. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the lid further comprising a cover; and

the top flange being perimetrically connected around a rim of the cover.

4. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top flange is outwardly oriented from the cover.

5. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the holder further comprising a plurality of runoff openings;

the plurality of runoff openings being radially positioned around the central opening; and

the plurality of runoff openings traversing through the platform.

6. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the cup further comprising a base and a side wall;

the side wall being perimetrically connected around the base;

the bottom flange being perimetrically connected around the side wall; and

the bottom flange and the base being oppositely positioned of each other about the side wall.

7. The ice cream holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom flange is outwardly oriented from the side wall.