Amusement devices: toys – Convertible from – or serving as diverse article
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2002-03-26
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Convertible from, or serving as diverse article
C446S081000, C446S297000, C446S484000, C084S095200, C084S600000, C206S006100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06361394
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of sanitary containers for food and in particular to a new and useful holder for confections such as lollipops simulative of other objects and having sound and visual displays associated with use of the holder.
Lollipop holders are generally known, such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,941 for a lollipop holder having a lighted portion. A lollipop is held within the holder for use. The lollipop is extended for consumption while still being held by the holder. The holder includes a lamp for illuminating at least a portion of the holder. In one embodiment, the lamp is activated by extending a lollipop from a storage position to a consumption position. However, the holder is not intended to be simulative of other objects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,200 discloses a toy portable telephone having a holder for a lollipop. The lollipop is held above the telephone to resemble an antenna. The telephone can make noises and may be illuminated to simulate a real portable telephone. The telephone has an enclosure for storing the lollipop to prevent contamination. The sounds and light are not generated in response to the lollipop being affixed or removed.
A simulative lunch box for holding a child's lunch and containing an action figure for playing with the lunch box is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,417. In a preferred embodiment, the lunch box resembles a space ship and control center. An astronaut figure is provided for playing with the lunch box. A button panel is provided on one side, but it is non-functional and is for play only. The lunch box does not have any visual or sound responses to actions by a user.
Other patents disclose different types of candy holders, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,870 for a device used to hold a confectionary product, such as a lollipop, for storing and coating the confectionary product with an edible topping. The holder has an enclosure formed from a handle and a removable top cover. The lollipop is supported inside the enclosure in a stick support. In one embodiment, the holder has a mechanically activated switch for opening and closing the top cover. When the top is open, the coating is prevented from exiting the handle and spilling. The device is not intended to be simulative of another object.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,098 teaches a box for candy or other objects which is simulative of an object, such as a jack-o-lantern or a bear face. The candy is placed inside the box and can be retrieved through a mouth or other opening in the simulative box.
A simulative container for candy in the shape of an animal has two halves which are separable along a circular seam is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,377. The container may also be used as a toy.
Other patents teach simulative devices with audio effects, such as the simulative backpack having a built in tape recorder of U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,042 to Sims. The tape recorder is not activated by opening the backpack, and must be activated manually to record or play back messages.
A combined simulative dispenser and garbage receptacle, such as for cat litter, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,569. The dispenser and receptacle is made to resemble a cat. The dispenser and receptacle does not have any indicators or responses to use of the functional portions.
Known sanitary holders for confectionary products do not include an animated response to use of the holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simulative holder for a food product which produces an animated response to use of different storage containers in the holder.
Accordingly, a holder for lollipops is provided which resembles another object, having an animated response to the removal of a lollipop from a receptacle of the holder. The animated response is related to the object that the holder simulates. Examples of the simulative form of the holder include a carousel, a boot, a desk telephone, a cellular phone, a camera, a baseball and glove and a cuckoo clock. The animated response may be a light blinking, a sound being emitted from the holder or a physical movement, such as the carousel rotating on its axis, or the cuckoo clock having a bird appear. The response may include a combination of two or three types of response as well, such as blinking lights, music playing and the carousel rotating.
The response may be activated, for example, by an electromechanical switch which changes position when the lollipop is removed from the receptacle.
The holder may include a compartment for receiving a partially consumed lollipop for keeping the lollipop clean and relatively fresh. A further compartment may be provided for holding garbage from a lollipop, such as the stick and wrapper. These compartments may be sliding trays or pivoting drawers which can be opened and closed manually.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4947722 (1990-08-01), Lewis
patent: 5422429 (1995-06-01), Shih et al.
patent: 5696333 (1997-12-01), Shih
patent: 5779032 (1998-07-01), Iimura et al.
patent: 5973250 (1999-10-01), Zirille et al.
patent: 6158588 (2000-12-01), Conti
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Francis Faye
Notaro & Michalos P.C.
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