US3122441A

US3122441A - Candied apple package

Info

Publication number: US3122441A
Application number: US164709A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith George Leslie
Original assignee: Prepackage Sales Corp
Current assignee: Prepackage Sales Corp
Priority date: 1962-01-08
Filing date: 1962-01-08
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 e. L. SMITH 3,122,441

CANDIED APPLE PACKAGE Filed Jan. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR. GEORGE LESLIE SMITH Feb. 25, 1964 sMlTH 3,122,441

CANDIED APPLE PACKAGE Filed Jan. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE LESLIE SMITH Attorneys United States Patent lliinois Filed Jan. 3, 1962, 591. No. 164,709 2 Claims. or. 99 1s0 This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to compartmented packages for foodstuff and the like.

In packaging certain foodstuii it is desirable to combine attractive display appearance for sales apepal with sanitation and protection of the contained foodstuff from contamination. The present invention satisfies these requirements and has particular utility for packaging of candy coated apples, i.e. taffy apples or apples on a stick, etc. Such articles usually consist of an apple entirely covered with a layer of candy, sometimes including a comrninuted confection, nut meats, etc., covering over the layer of candy, and the apple being impaled on a stick.

Accordingly one object or" this invention is to provide improved packaging; which packaging is of the multicompartmented type and particularly adapted for attractive, yet sanitary packaging of foodstufis and the like. It is another object of the invention to provide a compartmented, fully visible content package for maintaining the contents thereof clean and essentially sanitary; and which package also permits breathing in response to temperature and humidity changes to maintain the apples intact, protected and attractive.

It is still another object of the invention to provide improved, relatively inexpensive and easily manufactured packaging of the compartmented type.

The laws of some states will not permit the sale of candy (the category in which candied apples are classified) if any edible portion thereof extends beyond the confines of the package. Due to the manner of candy coating stick mounted apples by dipping them in a bath of candy substance, a quantity of the candy material builds up on the stick. Accordingly it is another object of this invention to provide a compartment package for foodstuff having particular utility in the packaging of a plurality of candied apples or the like, and which packages completely confine the edible portions or" the products in a sanitary manner.

In the packaging or" candied apples there is the additional problem of preventing contact between such products and the internal surfaces of the package which results in damage on removal thereof. Thus, it is still another object of this invention to provide a package for candied apples or the like which is arranged to entirely encompass and confine all edible portions within the package, to maintain them substantially stationary out of substantial contact with the package, and thereby maintain the apples intact even during handling and shipment.

And it is yet another object of this invention to provide a fully visible content package for foodstuiis arranged for attractive counter display.

Briefly, in one embodiment, a package according to the concepts of this invention is comprised of a one-piece, transparent, self-sustaining plastic member formed into two essentially mirror image halves joined together by a narrow land of plastic. A fold line is formed in to land and includes a displaced portion which produces a slightly oif center projection when the halves are folded together whereby the completed package tends to tilt when resting on a surface. A plurality of opposed, substantially hemispherical indentations are formed on each half which conjointly form in face-to-face relation a plurality of side-byside spheroidal cavities.

The halves are so formed as to provide an opening of 3,122,441 Patented Feb. 25, 1954 substantial cross section between adjacent cavities for a free flow of air therebetween. Each of the hemispherical indentations include a wide embossed portion which provides reeuiorcing for each cavity and which is arranged to cooperate with an object placed therein to prevent accidental displacement or movement. Extending from the top of each of the hemispherical portions is an outwardly converging groove terminating in a generally half cylindrical passage. Opposed pairs of these grooves and cylindrical halt" passages form a generally truncated conical passage from the spherical cavity, terminating in a constricted cylindrical passage. The two halves are joined by a plurality of spaced spot welds which provide a relatively rugged structure with spaces permitting the package to breathe under changing conditions of temperature and humidity. A suitable handle is attached across the top for carrying the package.

Other objects and further features and advantages of packaging according to the concepts of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed drawing description in which like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package according to this invention having a plurality of candy apples contained therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the package of FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a side edge elevation of the open package arrangement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end edge elevation of the open package arrangement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a closed package according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end edge elevation of the closed package arrangement of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line '77 of the arrangement of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a section view through the package of FIG. 1 showing a candied apple in place therein.

A package according to this invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as comprised of a one-piece, transparent, self-sustaining plastic member 10 formed essentially in two

mirror image halves

11 and 12 joined together by a narrow land of plastic 13. There is an elongated, dis placed portion or embossed groove 14 in the land slightly to one side of the longitudinal bisector thereof. The embossed groove 14 is shown in the edge view in FIG. 4 and will be discussed in more detail hereafter.

A plurality of generally hemispherical indentations, shown in general by number 15, are formed in each half. Opposed pairs of the indentations 15 are arranged to register in facing relation producing a plurality of spheroidal cavities for containing a plurality of substantially spherical objects. Preferably, the bottom of each indentation is somewhat flattened as at 15a. Each cavity also includes a rounded upper portion 15b and a truncated conical lower portion interconnected by the embossed portion 16. The embossed portion 16 is formed about each of the hemispherical cavities, substantially perpendicular to the central axis thereof. The embossed plastic portions 16 serve as reenforcing for each cavity as well as providing an arrangement to assist in maintaining a contained candied apple or the like, in a substantially stationary position as shall be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

There is an outwardly converging displaced portion or groove 17 opening from the top of each cavity which terminates in a constricted generally half cylindrical displaced portion 18. Opposed pairs of displaced portions 18 frictionally engage and secure a stick 19 extending from a candied apple. Opposed pairs of outwardly converging grooves 17 together form a truncated conical passage to enclose any candy on the stick beyond tie apple. Windows 20 are formed in the

opposed halves

11 and 12 which may be imprinted with advertising legends, trade names or the like. T seal the two halves together with their contained goods, shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of spot welds 21 are added after placing the apples in the package and the two halves closed. The separated welds leave spaces or openings to allow breathing of the package.

The hemispherical portions are so formed as to provide an opening 22 of substantial extent between adjacent compartments, thereby allowing free passage of air through the compartments and around the contents. A laterally displaced portion at 23 smoothly connects adjacent hemispherical depressions 15 which, together with an opposed displaced portion 23 on the other half form the opening 22.

The preferred plastic material for construction of a package according to the invention must be inert to the food material contained therein, must be odorless and must otherwise be fit for housing food destined for eventual human consumption. A candied apple is shown in FIG. 8 as it might be in place in one of the spherical chambers. The constricted cylindrical passage 18 serves to firmly grip the stick 1 while'the truncated conical portion 17 completely encompasses the candy 3tl'which builds up on the stick above the apple'31. This truncated conical configuration is necessary because of the build up of candy on the stick and is generally of the shape shown. conventionally, an apple is placed'in a paper cup 32, and the apple and cup are packaged within each spherical chamber. The depression 16 not only serves as a reenforcing for the respective chambers as discussed above, but also cooperates with the upper peripherial edge 33 of the cup to prevent upward and downward movement and this together with the gripping of the stick by the cylindrical passage 18 prevents relative movement of the apple within the package. This is particularly important when the apple does not have a coating on the candy, such as comminuted nut meats 34. If the apples were allowed to move freely inside the package, the candy would stick to the inside of the'package.

FIG. 8 more clearly shows the cooperation between a supporting surface 35 and the elongated fold ridge 14. By placing the depression off the center, the package tilts when placed on a surface. The perpendicular is generally indicated by dotted line at 36 in FIG. 8. This arrangement tends to better display the package on a shelf.

Preferably some manner of carrying handle is attached to the package. In FIG. 1 a U-shaped paper handle 40 is shown attached by a pair of staples 41 along the upper edge of the container. The handle illustrated is a double ply with one part of each end on either side of the package, however, a single ply handle may be used as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention in detail with sufficient particularity as to enable those skilled in the art to practice it, what I desire to have protected by Letters Patent'is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A compartmented, fully visible content package of candied apples on a stick for maintaining the contents thereof clean and essentially sanitary and also permitting breathing of the package resulting from temperature and humidity changes comprising a one-piece, transparent, self-sustaining plastic member formed into two essentially mirror image halves joined together by a narrow land of the plastic, there being an elongated displaced portion in the land between halves forming a fold line for the members off the center of said land, there being a pillrality of opposed, substantially hemispherical indentations in each said half conjointly forming when in facing relation a generally spherical cavity forming a cover enclosing a plurality of candied apples, the hemispherical indentations being formed so as to provide an opening of substantial cross sectional dimensions between adjacent enclosed candied apples, there being an outwardly converging groove at the top of each said' hemispherical indentation and ending'adiacent the edge of the half in a half-cylindrical groove so as to form Withits opposing groove and half-cylindrical groove a truncated corneal passage from each said cavity ending in a cylindrical. passage to encompass candy build-up on the stick and form a constricted opening to frictionally grip the out-.

wardly extendingstick, means for securing said halves together at spaced intervals while maintaining breathing row land of plastic extending therebetween, there being an elongated embossed groove in the land between the halves forming a fold line at one side of the center line of the land, there being a plurality of opposed substantially hemispherical indentations having flattened bottoms in each half conjointly forming with its opposite when in facing relation a plurality of fiat bottomed substantiaily spherical cavities forming separate compartments enclosing a plurality of candied apples on a stick, the hemispherical indentations being formed so as to provide an opening between adjacent enclosed apples, th re be ing at' least one outwardly displaced plastic portion'extending a substantial distance across each hemispherical portion forming a stifiening member and an inwardly. facing groove and arranged to cooperate'with a cup in which the apple is placed to prevent relative movement thereof, there being an outwardly convergingigroove at the top of each said hemispherical indentation andend ing adjacent the edge of the half in a constricted portion so as to form with its opposing groove and constriction a truncated conical passage to encompass candy buildup on the apple stick and a constricted opening arranged to frictionally grip the outwardly extending apple stickab'ovei the candy buildup, a plurality of spaced welds joining said halves together while leaving breathing spaces therebetween, and handle means secured to said package for carrying the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,219 Duvall Oct. 29, 1929 2,166,568 Kuhlke July 18, 1939 2,437,072 Campbell Mar. 2, 1948 2,549,513 Nicolle Apr. 17, 1951 2,578,445 Nicolle Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS I 1,210,694 rance Oct. 5, 1959 604,987 Canada Sept. 13, 1960

Claims

1. A COMPARTMENTED, FULLY VISIBLE CONTENT PACKAGE OF CANDID APPLES ON A STICK FOR MAINTAINING THE CONTENTS THEREOF CLEAN AND ESSENTIALLY SANITARY AND ALSO PERMITTING BREATHING OF THE PACKAGE RESULTING FROM TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CHANGES COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE, TRANSPARENT, SELF-SUSTAINING PLASTIC MEMBER FORMED INTO TWO ESSENTIALLY MIRROR IMAGE HALVES JOINED TOGETHER BY A NARRW LAND OF THE PLASTIC, THERE BEING AN ELONGATED DISPLACED PORTION IN THE LAND BETWEEN HALVES FORMING A FOLD LINE FOR THE MEMBERS OFF THE CENTER OF SAID LAND, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF OPPOSED, SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL INDENTATIONS IN EACH SAID HALF CONJOINTLY FORMING WHEN IN FACING RELATION A GENERALLY SPHERICAL CAVITY FORMING A COVER ENCLOSING A PLURALITY OF CANDIED APPLES, THE HEMISPHERICAL INDENTATIONS BEING FORMED SO AS TO PROVIDE AN OPENING OF SUBSTANTIAL CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS BETWEEN ADJACENT ENCLOSED CANDIED APPLES, THERE BEING AN OUTWARDLY CONVERGING GROOVE AT THE TOP OF EACH SAID HEMISPHERICAL INDENTATION AND ENDING ADJACENT THE EDGE OF THE HALF IN A HALF-CYLINDRICAL GROOVE SO AS TO FORM WITH ITS OPPOSING GROOVE AND HALF-CYLINDRICAL GROOVE A TRUNCATED CONICAL PASSAGE FROM EACH SAID CAVITY ENDING IN A CYLINDRICAL PASSAGE TO ENCOMPASS CANDY BUILD-UP ON THE STICK AND FORM A CONSTRICTED OPENING TO FRICTIONALLY GRIP THE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STICK, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID HALVES TOGETHER AT SPACED INTERVALS WHILE MAINTAININGD BREATHING SPACES THEREBETWEEN, SAID NARROW LAND PERMITTING SAID PACKAGE TO STAND UPRIGHT AND TILTED FORWARDL, AND HANDLE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE PACKAGE ACROSS THE JOINED HALVES FOR CARRYING THE COMPLETED PACKAGE.