Retainer and support device for food item

Details Retainer and support device for food item Retainer and support device for food item

2000-02-10

2001-04-17

Hansen, James O. (Department: 3636)

Supports: cabinet structure

Show-case type

With racks

C312S284000, C220S252000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217136

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a retainer and support device for a food item, and more specifically to a retainer and support device for a spherical food item, such as a jawbreaker.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a holder for a lollipop, which is designed to grip the lollipop stick and rotate the stick about its axis as a person licks the surface of the lollipop. This device relies upon the provision of a supporting stick for the lollipop to make the device operable.
A need is believed to exist for a retainer and support device that is capable of supporting and rotating a food item that is not mounted on a stick (e.g., a jawbreaker) while permitting a person to lick the surface of the food item. In addition, it is desirable to provide such a retaining and support device that permits the food item to be easily removed therefrom and placed in a person's mouth, if desired, and thereafter stored in the retainer and support device for future use, either by licking the surface of the food item while it is being rotated within the support device, or by again removing the food item from the device and placing it in the person's mouth. It is to a retainer and support device of this latter mentioned type that this invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects of this invention are achieved in a retainer and support device for a food item including a housing having a recessed wall therein to provide a chamber for receiving a food item, such as a jawbreaker therein. A passageway, or opening, is provided in the recessed wall, most preferably at the bottom thereof, and a product engaging member extends through the passageway to engage and move a food item positioned within the chamber. A manually actuatable drive member cooperates with the product engaging member to drive the product engaging member and thereby move, e.g., rotate, a food item, such as a jawbreaker, retained in the chamber.
In a preferred embodiment, a dome or lid is moveably secured to the housing between a closed position for closing the chamber and an opened position for permitting access to the chamber. Most preferably the dome or lid is made of a clear plastic material so that a food item, such as a jawbreaker, positioned within the chamber can be visually seen by the user. A latching member is provided to retain the dome or lid in a closed position, and this latching member can be manually defeated to thereby permit the dome or lid to be opened manually, as desired.
In the preferred embodiments of this invention the retainer and support device can be carried in a person's pocket or purse, and can be attached, through a conventional chain, to a person's key or key ring.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2214993 (1940-09-01), De Witt
patent: 3652142 (1972-03-01), Kreutweiser
patent: 4632474 (1986-12-01), Ingersoll
patent: 4934527 (1990-06-01), Ho
patent: 5487600 (1996-01-01), Griffin
Catalog Page, “Basic Fun Catogue”, No Date Given.

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