Ice cream cones and inserts for ice cream cones

Abstract

Ice cream cones and inserts for ice cream cones. A cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs is described herein, including a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion transitioning to a curved or flared upper portion, and an extension portion that extends above a relative top of the curved or flared upper portion, the extension portion defining a product channel therethrough.

Description

[0001] ICE CREAM CONES AND INSERTS FOR ICE CREAM CONES

[0002] PRIORITY & RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 63 / 624,585, filed on January 24, 2024, U.S. design patent application serial no. 29 / 924,250, filed on January 18, 2024, and U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 63 / 615,295, filed on January 13, 2024. The contents of each of the aforementioned patent applications are incorporated herein directly and by reference in their entirety.

[0004] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, comprising a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion transitioning to a curved or flared upper portion, and an extension portion that extends above a relative top of the curved or flared upper portion, the extension portion defining a product channel therethrough.

[0006] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein the extension portion is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical.

[0007] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein the extension portion has a slight taper inward from a relative bottom to a relative top.

[0008] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein the product channel extends between a relative top and a relative bottom of the extension portion

[0009] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein the product channel extends further into the cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion.

[0010] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, configured to receive soft-serve ice cream on curved or flared upper portion and around the extension portion.

[0011] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, configured to receive a food product within the product channel of the extension portion. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, candy-coated chocolates, gummy bears, gummy worms, candy bar pieces, peanut butter chips, candy-coated peanut butter pieces, Swedish fish, cookie pieces, whipped cream, and fruit.

[0012] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, further comprising a plurality of ribs extending between an inner perimeter of the curved or flared upper portion and a lower portion of the extension portion.

[0013] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, further defining an insert pocket extending upward from a relative bottom of the cone into the base portion of the cone.

[0014] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, wherein said insert pocket is configured to receive an extension portion of another cone.

[0015] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, comprising edible ingredients.

[0016] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, and shown and / or described herein.

[0017] The present disclosure includes disclosure of an insert for a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, comprising an extension portion extending a length of said insert, a product channel extending a length of said insert, and a plurality of ribs extending therefrom.

[0018] The present disclosure includes disclosure of an insert for a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, and shown and / or described herein.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an upper perspective view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a front view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a rear view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a right side view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Fig. 5 shows a left side view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig. 6 shows a top view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 7 shows a bottom view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Fig. 8 shows an upper perspective view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Fig. 9 shows a front view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Fig. 10 shows a rear view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Fig. 11 shows a right side view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Fig. 12 shows a left side view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Fig. 13 shows a top view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Fig. 14 shows a bottom view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Fig. 15 shows a lower perspective view of a cone, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0035] Fig. 16 shows a top view (subsection a)), a side view (subsection b)), a bottom view (subsection (c)), an upper perspective view (subsection d)), and a lower perspective view (subsection e)) of an insert for a cone, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] As such, an overview of the features, functions and / or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described and some of these non-discussed features (as well as discussed features) are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and / or configuration. Furthermore, wherever feasible and convenient, like reference numerals are used in the figures and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The figures are in a simplified form and not to precise scale.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

[0039] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a novel cone useful to support ice cream and other foodstuffs. As shown in FIG. 1 , an exemplary cone 100 of the present disclosure has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion 102 that transitions to a curved or flared upper portion 104. Curved or flared upper portion 104 has a relative top 106, whereby ice cream or other foodstuffs can be positioned thereupon.

[0040] Exemplary cones 100 of the present disclosure further comprise an extension portion 108 that extends above relative top 106 of curved or flared portion 108. Extension portions 108 can be cylindrical or generally cylindrical, such as having a slight taper inward from a relative bottom 110 to a relative top 112, such as shown in FIG. 1. Extension portions 108 further define a product channel 114 therethrough, such as extending between a relative top 112 and a relative bottom 110, and optionally further downward into an area within cylindrical base portion 102. Extension portions can have a round cross-section, such as shown in FIG. 1 , or cross-sections of different shapes, such as a triangular cross-section, a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a pentagonal cross-section, a hexagonal cross-section, an octagonal cross-section, and the like.

[0041] In use, and for example, and exemplary cone 100 of the present disclosure can have soft-serve ice cream positioned above and somewhat inside upper portion 104, around a relative outside of extension portion 108. A second foodstuff, such as hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, peanut butter / sauce, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, candy-coated chocolate (such as M&Ms), gummy bears, gummy worms, candy bar pieces, peanut butter chips, candy-coated peanut butter (such as Reese’s Pieces), Swedish fish, cookie pieces (such as chocolate chip cookie pieces or Oreo pieces), whipped cream, fruit (bananas, cherries, etc.), and the like, can be positioned within product channel 114 of extension portion 108 so to improve the overall eating experience. For example, cold soft-serve ice cream could be positioned upon upper portion 104, and hot fudge sauce could be positioned within product channel 114 of extension portion 108. It is noted that extension portions 108 of the present disclosure can serve not only as a separation barrier, but also as a thermal barrier, such as when, for example, a hot or relatively hot second foodstuff (like hot fudge for example) is positioned within product channel 114 while soft-serve ice cream is positioned around said extension portion 108. Such an invention, as disclosed herein, can keep a good quantity of condiments / toppings (a second foodstuff of the present disclosure) available to consume through most of the eating experience, keeping it better organized from dripping everywhere.

[0042] Exemplary cones 100 of the present disclosure can also comprise a number of ribs 116 extending between an inner perimeter of upper portion 104 and a lower portion of extension portion 108, such as shown in FIG. 1 . Said ribs 116 can provide structural integrity to cone 100 while allowing for ice cream or other food stuffs to move downward into spaces defined between said ribs 116. Cones of the present disclosure can have any number of ribs 116, such as nine ribs 116 (see FIG. 8), eighteen ribs 116 (see FIG. 1 ) or fewer or more ribs 116, such as two, three, four, five, six, or more ribs 116.

[0043] Cones 100 of the present disclosure further define an insert portion 118 extending upward from a relative bottom 120 of said cone 100 into base portion 102 of said cone 100. Said insert portion 118 could have general dimensions slightly larger than dimensions of extension portion 108 so that an extension portion 108 of one cone 100 can be inserted into insert portion 118 of another cone 100, to allow for stacking and / or more compact packaging, such as shown in FIG. 15.

[0044] Cones 100 of the present disclosure can be edible and have any number and type of flavors.

[0045] Cones 100 of the present disclosure can be made of ingredients including flour, sugar, eggs, and milk or cream, and be baked until they are relatively crisp.

[0046] The present disclosure further comprises an insert 200 configured to be positioned within a traditional ice cream cone. Fig. 16 shows a top view (subsection a)), a side view (subsection b)), a bottom view (subsection (c)), an upper perspective view (subsection d)), and a lower perspective view (subsection e)) of an insert for a cone, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 16, insert 200 comprises an extension portion 108 having a product channel 114 defined therethrough, and a plurality of ribs 116 extending relatively outward from extension portion 108. Said insert 200 is configured to be positioned within a traditional ice cream cone, whereby ribs 116 stabilize said insert 200 within cone, and wherein at least part of extension portion 108 extends above a relative top of said traditional ice cream cone. Inserts 200 of the present disclosure can have any number of ribs 116, such as nine ribs 116 (see FIG. 16), eighteen ribs 116, or fewer or more ribs 116, such as three, four, five, six, or more ribs 116.

[0048] Inserts 200 of the present disclosure are configured to receive a second foodstuff, such as hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, candy-coated chocolate (such as M&Ms), gummy bears, gummy worms, candy bar pieces, peanut butter chips, candy-coated peanut butter (such as Reese’s Pieces), Swedish fish, cookie pieces (such as chocolate chip cookie pieces or Oreo pieces), whipped cream, fruit (bananas, cherries, etc.), and the like, within product channel 114 so to improve the overall eating experience. For example, cold soft-serve ice cream could be positioned around insert 200 in a traditional ice cream cone, and hot fudge sauce could be positioned within product channel 114 of extension portion 108.

[0049] Inserts 200 of the present disclosure can be edible and have any number and type of flavors. Inserts 200 of the present disclosure can be made of ingredients including flour, sugar, eggs, and milk or cream, and be baked until they are relatively crisp.

[0050] While various embodiments of cones and inserts have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.

[0051] Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and / or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and / or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, comprising: a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion transitioning to a curved or flared upper portion; and an extension portion that extends above a relative top of the curved or flared upper portion, the extension portion defining a product channel therethrough.

2. The cone of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical.

3. The cone of claim 2, wherein the extension portion has a slight taper inward from a relative bottom to a relative top.

4. The cone of claim 1 , wherein the product channel extends between a relative top and a relative bottom of the extension portion5. The cone of claim 4, wherein the product channel extends further into the cylindrical or substantially cylindrical base portion.

6. The cone of claim 1 , configured to receive soft-serve ice cream on curved or flared upper portion and around the extension portion.

7. The cone of claim 1 , configured to receive a food product within the product channel of the extension portion.

8. The cone of claim 7, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, candy-coated chocolates, gummy bears, gummy worms, candy bar pieces, peanut butter chips, candy-coated peanut butter pieces, Swedish fish, cookie pieces, whipped cream, and fruit.

9. The cone of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of ribs extending between an inner perimeter of the curved or flared upper portion and a lower portion of the extension portion.

10. The cone of claim 1 , further defining an insert pocket extending upward from a relative bottom of the cone into the base portion of the cone.

11. The cone of claim 10, wherein said insert pocket is configured to receive an extension portion of another cone.

12. The cone of claim 1 , comprising edible ingredients.

13. An insert for a cone for ice cream or other foodstuffs, comprising: an extension portion extending a length of said insert;a product channel extending a length of said insert; and a plurality of ribs extending therefrom.

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