CONFECTION PACKAGE

Abstract

The invention is directed to a confection package comprising of a handle (8), a planar sheet (7) and a plastic mould product. The plastic mould product (1) comprises of a space (2) for a confection fluidly separated from a space (3) for one end of a handle (6), and a horizontal planar surface (5). An offset intermediate part (11, 22) of the handle (6) is sealed at its upper end (13) to the planar cover sheet (7) and at its lower end (14) to an upper end (15) of a wall part (16) of the plastic mould product (1) which wall part (16) horizontally separates the space (2) for a confection from the space (3) for one end of a handle (6). The upper end (13) of the handle (6) is positioned above the planar surface (5).

Claims

1. Confection package comprising of a plastic mould product comprising a space for a confection, a space for one end of a handle, and a horizontal planar surface, wherein the space for a confection is fluidly separated from the space for one end of a handle and wherein the space for one end of a handle and the space for a confection is positioned below the planar surface, a planar cover sheet sealed to the planar surface of the plastic mould product, a volume of a freezable or frozen confection as present within the space for a confection, and a handle comprising of an interior part of the handle which is positioned within the volume of freezable or frozen confection in the space for a confection and an exterior part which in use will allow the volume of freezable confection to be manually held by a user and which exterior part is positioned in the space for one end of the handle, wherein the interior part is connected to the exterior part by means of an offset intermediate part, and wherein part of the intermediate part of the handle is sealed at its upper end to the planar cover sheet and at its lower end to an upper end of a wall part of the plastic mould product which wall part horizontally separates the space for a confection from the space for one end of a handle and wherein the upper end of the handle is positioned above the planar surface.

2. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein the offset intermediate part of the handle consists of three bends, wherein a first bend is between the interior part and intermediate part directing the handle from the confection towards upper end of wall, a second bend at upper end directing the handle towards space for one end of a handle and a third bend connecting the intermediate part and the exterior part of the handle and directing the handle in the direction of the space for one end of a handle, wherein the second bend is comprised in the upper end of the handle.

3. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein the offset intermediate part of the handle consists of at least 4 bends, wherein a first bend is between the interior part and intermediate part directing the handle from the confection towards the planar surface, a second bend which directs a horizontal part of the handle along the planar surface, a third bend which directs the handle towards space for one end of a handle and a fourth bend connecting the intermediate part and the exterior part of the handle and directing the handle in the direction of the space for one end of a handle and wherein the upper end of the handle is comprised in the horizontal part of the handle.

4. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a rounded upper surface and a flat lower surface.

5. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein the interior part and the exterior part of the handle extend in a parallel longitudinal direction.

6. Confection package according to claim 5, wherein the interior part and the exterior part of the handle are aligned.

7. Confection package according to claim 6, wherein the interior part and the exterior part have the same shape such that the handle is shape symmetrical.

8. Confection package according to claim 7, wherein the interior part and the exterior part of the handle are provided with one or more snap-fit type connectors.

9. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein an air gap is present between the exterior part of the handle and the bottom of the space for one end of a handle.

10. Confection package according to claim 1, wherein the freezable confection is not frozen.

11. Process to prepare a confection package according to claim 1 comprising the following steps: (i) combining a handle with a plastic mould product having a space for a confection, a space for one end of a handle, and a horizontal planar surface wherein the space for a confection is fluidly separated from the space for one end of a handle and wherein the space for one end of a handle and the space for a confection is positioned below the planar surface, (ii) adding a non-frozen freezable confection as a liquid to the space for a confection, and (iii) sealing a planar cover sheet to the horizontal planar surface of the plastic mould product and to the upper end of the handle.

12. Process according to claim 11, wherein in step (ii) the non-frozen freezable confection is added up to the level defined by the horizontal planar surface.

13. Process according to claim 11, wherein a thermoforming apparatus is used comprising of a plastic mould product forming station which provides the plastic mould product by thermoforming, a handle placing station, a non-frozen confection loading station, a sealing station and a cutting station.

14. Process according to claim 13, wherein the plastic mould product forming station makes use of a mould obtained by 3D printing.

15. Process according to claim 13, wherein the sealing station makes use of a sealing mould obtained by 3D printing.

Description

[0038] The invention will be further illustrated by making use of FIGS. 1-9.

[0039] FIG. 1 schematically shows three elements of the confection package according to this invention as separate items, namely the planar cover sheet 7, the handle 6 and the plastic mould product 1. FIG. 2 shows these three items as one combined confection package.

[0040] The plastic mould product 1 has a space 2 for a confection, a space 3 for one end of a handle 6, and a horizontal planar surface 5. Space 2 for a confection is fluidly separated from the space 3 for one end of a handle 6 by wall part 16 having an upper end 15. Space 3 for one end of a handle 6 and space 2 for a confection is positioned below the planar surface 5.

[0041] The handle 6 has an interior part 9 of the handle 6 and an exterior part 10 which in use will allow the volume of freezable confection 8 to be manually held by a user. The handle is provided with an off-set intermediate part 11. The offset intermediate part 11 of the handle 6 consists of three bends, wherein a first bend 16 is between the horizontal interior part 9 and intermediate part 11 directing the handle 6 upwards, a second bend 12 directing the handle 6 downwards and a third bend 18 connecting the intermediate part 11 and the exterior part 10 of the handle 6 and directing the handle in a horizontal direction.

[0042] The interior part 9 and the exterior part 10 of the handle 6 of FIG. 1 extend in a parallel longitudinal direction, are aligned and have the same shape. Handle 6 is shape symmetrical.

[0043] In FIG. 2 it is shown how these three items are combined. The offset intermediate part 11 is sealed at its at its upper end 13 to the planar cover sheet 7 and at its lower end 14 to an upper end 15 of a wall part 16. The planar cover sheet 7 is also sealed to the planar surface 5 of the plastic mould product 1. A volume of a freezable or frozen confection 8 is present within the space 2 for a confection. An air gap 18 is present between the exterior part 10 of the handle 6 and the bottom 19 of the space 3 for one end of a handle 6. FIG. 2 also shows that the upper end 13 of the handle 6 is positioned above the planar surface 5.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the confection package of FIG. 2. The numbers have the same meaning as in FIGS. 1-2.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an example of how the confection package according to this invention may appear, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the confection package similar to the view of FIG. 2. Similar components are provided with the same numerals as in FIGS. 1-3. A difference with the earlier figures is that the handle 21, as shown in FIG. 5, has an intermediate part 22 consisting of four bends. A first bend 23 between the interior part 9 and intermediate part 22 directing the handle from the confection towards the planar surface 5, a second bend 24 which directs a horizontal part 25 of the handle 21 along the planar surface 5, a third bend 26 which directs the handle 21 towards space 3 for one end of a handle 6 and a fourth bend 27 connecting the intermediate part 11 and the exterior part 10 of the handle 6 and directing the handle in the direction of the space 3. Handle 21 is further provided with a male connector 28 of a snap-fit connector. FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of the confection package of FIG. 4 wherein the cover sheet 7 is not shown.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the handle 21 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 shows a view from below of the handle 21 of FIG. 5. In FIG. 8 four female connectors 29 are shown which can make a snap fir connection with any of the four male connectors 28 as present on another handle 21. Structures like for example towers, bridges and buildings may thus be created using multiple handles interconnected by these male and female connectors 28, 29.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a sealing mould 30, used to seal planar sheet 7 to planar surface 5 and to the upper side of horizontal part 25 of the handle 21. The sealing mould 30 is provided with a gasket groove 31 and a press block 32. Press block 32 pressed and seals the lower side of horizontal part 25 to the upper end 15 of a wall part 16. Sealing mould 30 may be manufactured by the same manufacturing techniques described for the mould used to make the moulded product 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6. If the mould is manufactured by 3D printing it is preferred that the sealing mould 30 is also made by 3D printing.