Taste Enhanced Candy Configuration

Abstract

A taste enhanced candy piece is formed by a first candy section which is in an engagement to a second candy section. The candy piece has three taste areas for a user, and each can impart a different candy taste. Sweet or sour candy material may form either of the candy sections and either candy section may be formed of soft candy material or hard candy material.

Claims

1. A taste enhanced candy piece, comprising: a first candy section; a second candy section; a second side of said first candy section in an engagement with a second side of said second candy section along an engagement line; said first candy section having a first tasting area formed on a first exposed exterior surface, said first exposed exterior surface including a first side of said first candy section opposite said second side thereof, and an area extending from said first side to an intersection of said engagement line at a first exterior circumference of said first candy section; said second candy section having a second tasting area formed on a second exposed exterior surface, said second exposed exterior surface including a first side of said second candy section opposite said second side thereof, and an area extending from said first side of said second candy section to an intersection of said engagement line at a second exterior circumference of said first candy section; a recess formed circumferentially around said taste enhanced candy piece; a third tasting area, said third tasting area defined by a portion of said first exposed exterior surface located on one side of said recess and a portion of said second surface which is located on an opposite side of said recess from said first exposed exterior surface.

2. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 1, additionally comprising: one of said first candy section or said second candy section being hard candy; and the other of said first candy section or said second candy section being soft candy.

3. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 1, additionally comprising: one of said first candy section or said second candy section being formed of sour candy material; and the other of said first candy section or said second candy section being formed of sweet candy material.

4. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 3, additionally comprising: one of said first candy section or said second candy section being formed of sour candy material; and the other of said first candy section or said second candy section being formed of sweet candy material.

5. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 1, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy is formed of edible adhesive.

6. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 2, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy is formed of edible adhesive.

7. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 3, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy is formed of edible adhesive.

8. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 4, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy is formed of edible adhesive.

10. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 1, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy comprises: a projection extending from one of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section; and said projection engaged with an opening formed on the other of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section.

11. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 2, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy comprises: a projection extending from one of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section; and said projection engaged with an opening formed on the other of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section.

12. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 3, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy comprises: a projection extending from one of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section; and said projection engaged with an opening formed on the other of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section.

13. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 4, wherein said engagement of said second side of said first candy section with a a second side of said second candy comprises: a projection extending from one of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section; and said projection engaged with an opening formed on the other of said second side of said first candy section or said second side of said second candy section.

14. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 1, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

15. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 2, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

16. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 3, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

17. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 4, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

18. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 8, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

19. The taste enhanced candy piece of claim 13, additionally comprising; a recess formed into one of said first side of said first candy section or said first side of said second candy section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURE

[0032] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a mode of the candy piece, herein, showing a first candy section formed of a first candy material and a second candy section formed of a second candy material.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the candy device of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 2A shows the candy device wherein a diameter of the second section is larger than the diameter of the first section to which it is engaged.

[0035] FIG. 2B shows the candy device wherein a diameter of the second section is smaller than the diameter of the first section to which it is engaged.

[0036] FIG. 3 depicts an example of another mode of the candy device of FIG. 1, wherein the exterior surface area of the candy section formed of one candy material exceeds the surface area of the second candy material.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through FIG. 3 showing that, internally, the candy section having the smaller exterior surface area forms a center of the candy piece.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a mode of the candy piece device, herein, showing the exposed external surface area of one section of the candy piece is formed substantially larger than that of the other, thereby increasing contact thereof with the taste sensory cells on the tongue.

[0039] FIG. 6 depicts the candy piece herein having two sections showing a first tasting area, a second tasting area, and a third tasting area provided by the candy piece in a two section configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Referring now to the candy piece 10 herein shown in simple format by the depictions of FIGS. 1-6, there is seen in FIG. 1 the candy piece 10 which is formed to a singular structure from a plurality of candy sections, shown as a first candy section 12 and a second candy section 14. While shown as round sections and candies, the candy may also be shaped in other fashions such as rectangular or oval. However, currently oval or round candy pieces 10 formed of oval or round sections are preferred as such eliminates rough edges. As such, by the term round, as used herein, is meant generally circular and including both oval and round shapes.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the candy piece 10 is formed of a first candy section 12 and a second section 14 which are engaged along one side surface of each. Where the diameter of the first candy section 12 is adjusted to be larger or smaller than that of the second section 14 to adjust the surface area of each which is exposed to the tongue of the user, which would have substantially equal widths running perpendicular to the respective diameter.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the candy piece 10 is round and has a first candy section 12 which has a first diameter D1 and the second candy section 14 has a second diameter D2 which is substantially equal to the first diameter D1. In this mode, the respective exterior first surface or tasting area 31 (FIG. 6) of the first candy section 12 and the second tasting area 33 (FIG. 6) of the second candy section 14, which is exposed to the taste sensors in the tongue of a user, would be substantially equal. A third tasting area 35 (FIG. 6) is formed in the recess 15 there between and would expose the user to an equal area of the first tasting area 31 and the second tasting area 33 in a combination to different taste sensors of the tongue positioned in the recess 15.

[0043] While the exterior circumferential surface of the engaged first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 can be planar and form a planar circumference at the intersection with the contact line 17 of the formed candy piece 10, it is preferred that circumferential recess 15 is formed in a central area of the formed candy piece 10. Such a recess 15 is shown as aligned with the facing surfaces of each candy section along a contact line 17 where they contact each other. This recess 15 is preferred because it gives the user eating the candy piece 10 the, herein noted, three tasting areas to taste three flavors of the formed candy piece 10.

[0044] The first tasting area 31 for tasting is defined by the exterior surface of the first candy section 12, which extends from the intersection of the exterior surface at the center line 17 and around a first exposed surface 21 of the first candy section 12. The second tasting area 33 for tasting is defined by the second exterior surface of the second candy piece 14, which extends upon the exterior surface from the center line 17 and around the second exposed surface 25 of the second candy section 14.

[0045] The third tasting area 35 for flavor tasting is defined by the surface of the exterior of both the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14, which is positioned on opposing sides of the recess 15. In this third tasting area 35, the tongue and taste sensors thereon of a user will contact against respective portions of both the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 concurrently and provide a completely different sensed taste which is a combination of the taste of the candy forming the first candy section 12 and second section 14. For example, the first candy section 12 can be formed with sour candy material, as noted above, and the second candy section 14 can be formed of sweet candy material, as noted above.

[0046] While shown as curving portions of both the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 which are positioned on opposing sides of the recess 15 and which slant downward toward the connecting line 17, these facing portions can also be planar or linear. As noted, such a recess 15 tends to attract contact by a tongue of a user eating candy and the manufacturer count on such and thereby can adjust the sweetness and sour nature of the solid solution forming each of the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 to combine in the third tasting area 35 in the recess 15 and provide the user with a completely different taste of flavor than that of either of the first candy section 12 or second candy section 14.

[0047] In FIG. 2A is shown the candy piece 10 wherein the diameter D1 of the candy section 12 is smaller than the diameter D2 of the second candy section 14. This configuration allows the manufacturer to take into consideration the larger second tasting surface area 33 for tasting the flavor provided to the second candy section 14. This configuration, as shown, also includes the preferred recess 15 forming the third tasting area 35 for tasting.

[0048] In FIG. 2B is shown the candy piece 10 wherein the diameter D2 of the second candy section 14 is smaller than the diameter D1 of the first candy section 12. This configuration allows the manufacturer to take into consideration the larger first tasting area 31 for flavor tasting provided to the larger exposed area of the first candy section 12. This configuration, as shown, also includes the preferred recess 15 forming the surface of the third tasting area 35 for tasting.

[0049] Shown in FIG. 3, the width of the second candy section 14 which runs along a line perpendicular to the contact line 17 which intersects the second exposed surface area 25, of the second candy section 14, is substantially twice the width of the first candy section 12 which extends from the contact line 17 to the first exposed surface 21. In this mode, the area of the second exposed surface 25 and the first exposed surface 21 are substantially equal. However, the area of the circumference 23 extending from the contact line 17 to the second exposed surface 25 is twice that of the area of the circumference 19 of the first candy section 12. The ratio of the circumferential side surfaces 19 of the first candy section 12 to the circumference side 23 of the second candy section 14 can be adjusted by the maker, in order to change the perceived flavor of the candy, when exterior areas of the two sections come in contact with sensory cells on the tongue. As can be seen, the recess 15 has equal areas of the surfaces of the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 forming the third tasting area 35.

[0050] In all modes of the device herein, the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14 are in an engagement, such as along contact line 17. By the term engagement is meant either an adhesive engagement or a mechanical engagement such as by a first formed connector on the first candy section 12 with engages with a complimentary second formed connector on the second candy section 14.

[0051] Such an adhesive engagement may be formed by an edible adhesive 13 (FIG. 6) such as tylose glue, sugar, or other conventional edible adhesive, in a contact, such as along the contact line 17, between exterior surfaces of the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14, such as shown in FIGS. 2-3, 5-6. In many cases, the sucrose or sugar contained in one or both of the first section 12 and second section 14 can provide the edible adhesive 13.

[0052] However, a more preferred mode of such an engagement, which works no matter the material content of either of the first candy section 12 and second candy section 14, is a mechanical engagement such as having a projecting portion 16 from one of the first candy section 12 or second candy section 14. As shown herein, the first candy section 12 formed with the projecting portion 16 having a larger diameter at the distal end 27 than the diameter of an annular other recess 18 therearound which is formed adjacent the body of the first candy section 12. This mechanical engagement has shown to be more fixed and less likely to separate when the formed candy piece 10 is exposed to the tongue and saliva of the mouth of the user and maintains the third tasting area 35 intact longer and generally for the entire duration of eating of the candy piece 10.

[0053] Such may be accomplished, for example, by forming the first candy section 12 of a hard candy and positioning the projecting portion 16 through an opening 29 of a softer candy forming the second candy section 14. Such allows the softer candy forming the second candy section 14 to temporarily expand and then contract into the recess 18, to a final form, and thereby hold the second candy section 14 engaged with the first candy section 12. Once so engaged, the material of the second candy section 14 is locked in an engagement with the projecting portion 16 of the first candy section 12 as in FIG. 4.

[0054] Shown in FIG. 5 is an example where the first tasting area 31 formed on the first candy section 12 is substantially increased over the second tasting area 35 of the second candy section 14. As noted, this will cause more surface area of the first candy section 12 to contact sensory cells of the tongue, and increase the brain's perception of the flavor of the first candy section 12, when combined with the flavor sensed by the sensory cells from the lessor exterior surface area of the second candy section 14.

[0055] An adjustment to this contact with tongue sensory cells, as noted above, can also be achieved by forming exterior surface areas of one of the candy sections in a curved or other large depression 20 to increase the first exposed surface area 21 which may contact with tongue sensory cells or a projecting curve 22 to decrease the contact with tongue sensory cells.

[0056] Shown in FIG. 6, is a two section candy piece 10 with a recess 16 therebetween which extends completely around the circumference of the candy piece 10 substantially along the contact line. As depicted, FIG. 6 shows examples of the formed first tasting area 31, a second tasting area 33, and a third tasting area 35 which combines the tastes of the first tasting area 31 and second tasting area 33 but on opposite sides of the recess 15, so that the user will taste both flavors in a combination touching different sensory positions on their tongue. While not depicted, if a third candy section is engaged to the first two, a fourth tasting area would be positioned in the recess between the adjacent candy section to with the third candy section is engaged along a common contact line.

[0057] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the candy piece formation for adapting sensed flavor have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.