DEVICE FOR PRESENTATION OF AN ICE CREAM

Abstract

A device for presenting ice cream. The device includes: a first container for the ice cream, incorporating a base for supporting the ice cream, and a hollow rod extending between an upper end and a lower end at the base, the upper and lower ends being open; a second container intended to be sealed by the base of the first container; and a tube to be assembled with the hollow rod to form a suction channel for drawing a liquid contained in the second container. The device also includes a closure member for closing the upper end of the hollow rod, which closure member can be moved from a closed position to an open position in which the hollow rod is open.

Claims

1. A device for presenting an ice cream, comprising: a first container for containing the ice cream, incorporating: a base for supporting the ice cream, a hollow rod extending between an upper end and a lower end at the base, the upper end and the lower end being open; a second container to be sealed by the base of the first container; a tube, independent of the first container and of the second container, insertable into the hollow rod to form a suction channel for drawing a liquid contained in the second container; and a closure member for closing the upper end of the hollow rod, wherein the closure member is movable from a closed position to an open position in which the hollow rod is open to make enable consumption of the liquid of the second container.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises a rod having a first solid end insertable into the hollow rod of the first container from the lower end until the upper end is closed.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the closure member comprises first and second lugs located at a second end opposite the first end, for handling the closure member.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second container comprises a body having a bottom wherefrom extends a peripheral wall, and an upper wall, opposite the bottom and having an opening for introducing the tube into the second container.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the second container comprises a membrane seal for covering the opening of the upper wall.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first container comprises a receptacle formed by a bottom and a peripheral wall extending from the bottom, the base having a drip gutter for receiving an end of the peripheral wall of the receptacle to form a closed volume between the receptacle and the base.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall of the second container has a peripheral groove located close to the upper wall and the base comprises a ring hook insertable into the peripheral groove of the second container to seal the first container by the base.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first container comprises at least one gusset integral with the base and with the hollow rod to hold in position the hollow rod.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow rod comprises a retainer for retaining the tube in the hollow rod.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the closure member is integral with the first container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a preferable embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a device for the presentation of an ice cream, according to the invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a closure member of the device according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention, according to the first embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 4 is a detailed view according to the insert IV in FIG. 3, showing the assembly between a first container and a second container of the device according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic view showing a portion of the second container of the device according to the invention, the second container being provided with a closure membrane seal;

[0059] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention, according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a device 1 for the presentation of an ice cream, according to the invention, comprises: [0061] a first container 2; [0062] a second container 3 intended to be sealed by the first container 2; [0063] a tube 4 forming a straw to make it possible for a consumer to suck up a liquid contained in the second container 3 from the first container 2; [0064] a closure member 5, illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, which can be moved from a closed position for closing a portion of the first container 2 as explained hereafter, to an open position preventing the closure of a portion of the first container 2.

[0065] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the first container 2 comprises a receptacle 21 and a support 22 that mutually define a closed volume 23.

[0066] The receptacle 21 forms a dome and comprises a bottom 211, a peripheral wall 212 extending from the bottom 211 up to a free end 213.

[0067] By way of example, the receptacle 21 is produced in a plastic material for example by moulding. The constituent plastic material of the receptacle 21 may have properties such as once moulded, the receptacle is transparent, translucent or of a chosen colour.

[0068] However, other materials such as bamboo, steel or any other natural and/or reusable material could be used. Such materials make it possible in particular to create receptacles 21 of different shapes and colours.

[0069] The support 22 comprises, for its part, a base 221 and a hollow rod 222 that extends substantially perpendicular to the base 221, between an upper end 2221 and a lower end 2222 located at the base 221.

[0070] Advantageously, the upper end 2221 and the lower end 2222 are open, that is to say that a fluid may pass through the hollow rod 222 from the upper end 2221 to the lower end 2222 and vice versa.

[0071] Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the hollow rod 222 has a frustoconical shape, the lower end 2222 having a larger diameter than the upper end 2221.

[0072] The hollow rod 222 comprises protuberances 2223 protruding inwardly of the hollow rod 222. More specifically, the hollow rod comprises three protuberances 2223 distributed at 120° from one another, said protuberances forming means for retaining the tube 4 as explained hereafter.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 221 has a peripheral drip gutter 2211 extending along the extension of the hollow rod 222 and for receiving the end 213 of the peripheral wall of the receptacle 21.

[0074] With reference to FIG. 4 in particular, the drip gutter 2211 has recesses 2211a wherethrough the melted ice cream may flow and be collected between the base 221 and the second container 3. Thus, the melted ice cream does not drip along the second container 3 and does not reach the fingers of the consumer. Moreover, the consumer does not risk getting their clothes dirty due to the drips of melted ice cream.

[0075] Preferably, the drip gutter 2211 has three recesses 2211a distributed at 120° from one another. This makes it possible to facilitate the recovery of the melted ice cream and prevent a localised accumulation of melted ice cream in the drip gutter 2211. Such an accumulation could then overflow and form a drip on the second container 3, and therefore adversely affect the enjoyable experience of consuming the ice cream.

[0076] Furthermore, the base 221 also comprises a ring hook 2212 extending inwardly of the base 221, the ring hook 2212 being intended to cooperate with the second container 3 to ensure the assembly of the first container 2 with the second container 3 as explained in detail hereafter.

[0077] In order to ensure the connection between the hollow rod 222 and the base 221, the support 22 also comprises gussets 223, integral with the base 221 on one hand and the hollow rod 222 on the other hand. Moreover, the gussets 223 make it possible to facilitate the consumption of the ice cream by preventing the rotation thereof about the hollow rod 222.

[0078] Advantageously, the support 22 comprises two gussets 223 spaced 180° from one another. The number of two gussets 223 is advantageously chosen to make it possible to hold the hollow rod 222 correctly without it getting in the way of the consumer for eating the ice cream.

[0079] According to one advantageous embodiment, the support 22 is produced in a plastic material in an integral manner, that is to say the base 221, the hollow rod 222 and the gussets 223 are integral and only form one piece for example obtained by moulding.

[0080] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the second container 3 comprises a bottom 31, a peripheral wall 32 extending from the bottom 31, and an upper wall 33 opposite the bottom 31.

[0081] More specifically, the second container 3 forms a housing 34 wherein a liquid may be received, the liquid being inserted into the housing 34 via an opening 35 made in the upper wall 33.

[0082] Advantageously, once that the housing 34 is filled with liquid, the second container 3 may receive a membrane seal 36 for closing the housing 34 so that the liquid that it contains is retained in the second container 3.

[0083] As illustrated in FIG. 4 on the detail of the device 1, the peripheral wall 32 of the second container 3 has a peripheral groove 321 and an oblique protrusion 322 extending outwardly of the second container 3.

[0084] More particularly, the peripheral groove 321 is located close to the upper wall 33 and is intended to cooperate with the ring hook 2212, and the oblique protrusion 322 is located above the peripheral groove 321, that is to say between the upper wall 33 and the peripheral groove 321.

[0085] Said arrangement makes it possible to assemble the first container 2 with the second container 3 as explained hereafter.

[0086] In one embodiment not shown in the figures, the assembly of the first container 2 with the second container 3 is performed by screwing.

[0087] In this case, the base 221 of the first container 2 bears an internal tapping for cooperating with an external threading made on the second container 3.

[0088] More specifically, the tapping replaces the ring hook 2212, and the external threading replaces the peripheral groove 321 and the oblique protrusion 322.

[0089] According to one advantageous embodiment, the second container 3 is produced in a plastic material combining strength and lightness to facilitate the consumption of the ice cream and of the liquid contained in the device 1.

[0090] However, other materials such as bamboo, steel or any other natural and/or reusable material could be used for the manufacture of the second container 3. Such materials make it possible in particular to create second containers 3 of different shapes and colours.

[0091] The tube 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, is in the form of a hollow cylinder, with circular section. Preferably, the tube 4 is produced in a plastic material (or any other natural and/or reusable material) and has a thin wall permitting an elastic deformation of the tube 4 by the protuberances 2223 when it is inserted into the hollow rod 222. Once inserted into the hollow rod 222 and elastically deformed, the tube 4 is held in position and makes it possible for the consumer to suck up the liquid of the housing 34 of the second container 3 from the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222.

[0092] The closure member 5, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 make it possible in particular to prevent the formation of ice cream inside the hollow rod 222 during the formation of the ice cream in the closed volume 23 of the first container 2.

[0093] For this, the closure member 5 can be moved from a closed position wherein the closure member 5 closes at least the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222, to an open position wherein the closure member 5 opens the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222.

[0094] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure member 5 comprises a rod 51 having a first solid end forming a pin 52 and handling lugs 53 at a second end opposite the first end.

[0095] The pin 52 is intended to close the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222 so that the product constituting the ice cream does not enter the hollow rod 222 at the risk of forming ice cream.

[0096] Advantageously, the pin 52 may have an outer periphery provided with a threading intended to come into helicoidal engagement with the upper end 2221.

[0097] The handling lugs 53 make it possible for a restaurant owner to easily remove the closure member 5 of the hollow rod 222 (for example by rotation of the closure member 5 about the axis of extension thereof, by acting on the lugs 53) to permit the insertion of the tube 4 into the hollow rod 222.

[0098] Advantageously, the rod 51 of the closure member also has a frustoconical shape so as to produce an assembly by complementarity of shape between the closure member 5 and the hollow rod 222.

[0099] The use of the device 1 for the presentation of an ice cream, according to the invention, comprises the following three phases: [0100] formation of the ice cream in the first container 2; [0101] assembly of the first container 2 with the second container 3; [0102] consumption of the ice cream and of the liquid.

[0103] In order to form the ice cream, the receptacle 21 is filled with a liquid or semi-liquid product that, after resting at a negative temperature will form the ice cream.

[0104] Once the receptacle 21 has been filled, the hollow rod 222 is inserted into the receptacle 21 until the end 213 of the peripheral wall 212 of the receptacle 21 is lodged into the peripheral drip gutter 2211 of the support 22, which forms the first container 2.

[0105] Before the insertion of the hollow rod 222 into the receptacle 21, the closure member 5 will have been positioned in the hollow rod 222 so that the pin 52 closes the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222. Thus, the product contained in the receptacle is prevented from flowing into the hollow rod 222.

[0106] Subsequently, the first container 2 is placed in a freezer (or any container at negative temperature) so that the liquid or semi-liquid product transforms into ice cream.

[0107] When a consumer desires a consumption, a restaurant owner (or any person responsible for preparing the consumption) grasps the first container 2 wherein the ice cream is formed, removes the closure member 5 by taking hold of the lugs 53 and by pivoting about the axis of extension thereof, then inserting instead of the closure member 5 the tube 4.

[0108] Once inserted, the tube 4 is held correctly inside the hollow rod 222 when the tube 4 reaches the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222 and when it is elastically deformed by the protuberances 223.

[0109] The restaurant owner subsequently takes hold of the second container 3 previously filled with a liquid (such as alcohol or squash) and closed with a membrane seal 36, then assembles the first container 2 with the second container 3.

[0110] During the assembly, the tube 4 pierces the membrane seal 36 so as to make possible the fluidic communication between the first container 2 and the second container 3.

[0111] Alternatively, the restaurant owner may remove the membrane seal 36 manually before the assembly of the first container 2 with the second container 3.

[0112] During the assembly of the two containers 2, 3, the ring hook 2212 slides on the oblique protrusion 322 so as to permit an elastic deformation of the base 221 until the ring hook 2212 protrudes from the oblique protrusion 322 and lodges into the peripheral groove 321, the base 221 then covering the original shape thereof.

[0113] When the first container 2 and the second container 3 are assembled with one another, the consumer may remove the receptacle 21 to enjoy their ice cream and suck through the hollow rod 222 to obtain a gulp of the liquid contained in the second container 3.

[0114] According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the closure member 5 is integral with the receptacle 21 so that the closing of the upper end 2221 is carried out as soon as the hollow rod 222 is inserted into the receptacle 21.

[0115] The closure member 5 then takes the form of a pin protruding from the bottom 211 of the receptacle towards the end 213 of the peripheral wall.

[0116] When the receptacle 21 is filled with a liquid or semi-liquid product that, after resting at a negative temperature will form the ice cream, the insertion of the hollow rod 222 into the receptacle 21 is carried out so that the closure member 5 (integrally formed with the receptacle 21) penetrates inside the hollow rod 222 via the upper end 2221 thereof. The upper end 2221 is then closed by the closure member 5 so as to prevent the formation of ice cream in the hollow rod 222.

[0117] According to another alternative embodiment, not illustrated in the figures, the closure member 5 is in the form of a membrane seal for covering the upper end 2221 of the hollow rod 222. In this case, the tube 4 may then be inserted into the hollow rod 222 until it pierces the membrane seal for the sucking up of the liquid of the second container 3. The membrane seal then being in the open position thereof of the liquid of the second container 3. Alternatively, the membrane seal may be provided with a tab that the restaurant owner will know how to grasp in order to remove the membrane seal. The membrane seal will then be in the open position thereof of the liquid of the second container 3.

[0118] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.