Silicone Ice Cream Cone

Abstract

A silicone ice cream cone is configured with various design properties and features to make eating ice cream more enjoyable and clean. For example, the ice cream cone is manufactured with a pigment mixed in the silicone, so the cone changes color once engaging with the ice cream and reaches a certain color. Typically, the portions touching the cold ice cream change color while other portions that have not met the temperature remain unchanged. Once the colder portions of the ice cream cone rise in temperature, their color will change back to their original color. The exterior of the ice cream cone has a spiral ridge that extends from a bottom portion of the cone's stem toward an upper portion of the cone. The spiral ridge provides stability to the ice cream cone when in use.

Claims

1. A silicone ice cream cone, comprising: a base; a stem extending upward from the base, wherein the stem has a cavity in its interior to receive ice cream; an upper portion having a greater diameter relative to the stem, wherein a slope of an interior surface of the upper portion gradually transitions from a vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation; a spiral ridge positioned on an exterior of the ice cream cone, wherein the spiral ridge extends from a bottom portion of the stem toward at least an upper portion of the stem.

2. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 1, wherein the spiral ridge extends to the upper portion.

3. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 2, wherein when an object engages and covers the cavity on the stem, a suction action is created against the object which prevents the object from spilling.

4. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 3, wherein the upper portion's slope causes any melted ice cream to fall toward an interior base of the stem.

5. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 4, wherein an exterior upper portion meets a rim of the ice cream cone, and across from where the exterior upper portion slope meets the rim, an interior upper portion continues to gradually transition to the substantially horizontal orientation.

6. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 5, wherein the silicone ice cream cone is reversible.

7. The silicone ice cream cone of claim 6, wherein the silicone ice cream cone is comprised of a pigment that changes color responsive to changes in temperature.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative perspective view of the silicone ice cream cone from an upper side;

[0007] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative representation of the ice cream cone from a bottom side;

[0008] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an illustrative representations of a half portion of the ice cream cone to show its interior configuration;

[0009] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative representation of the ice cream cone with a scoop of ice cream on top;

[0010] FIGS. 6-8 show illustrative representations of the ice cream cone in a reversible state; and

[0011] FIGS. 9-14 show illustrative representations of the ice cream cone from various angles.

[0012] Like reference numerals indicate like elements in the drawings. Elements are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] FIGS. 1 and 2 show illustrative representations of a silicone ice cream cone 105 having a base 130, an upper portion 110, and an upper interior surface 135 for receiving ice cream. The ice cream cone includes a stem 125 above its base 130, and inside the stem's interior is a cavity 125 at the ice cream cone's center to hold ice cream and melted ice cream. The exterior of the stem 120 has a spiral support ridge that starts adjacent to the base and spirals toward the upper portion. In other scenarios, the spiral ridge may extend from the base itself and may extend to the top end of the upper portion 110 or the top of the stem. The spiral ridge provides stability to the ice cream cone when standing in upright position, which could otherwise collapse/or be disformed particularly when ice cream is inside or placed just on the top of the upper interior surface 135. The spiral ridge works as structural support and at the same time saves material and provides durability for the cone in an upright position. For example, the spiral ridge provides sufficient support for the ice cream, which otherwise may not be possible without using additional silicone material (i.e., a thicker design). As discussed in further detail below, the use of the spiral ridge also enables the malleability and manipulation of the ice cream cone, which otherwise may be difficult if the cone itself is thicker. The ice cream cone is reusable and dishwasher friendly to make reuse easy.

[0014] Color-changing portions 140 are examples of the ice cream cone changing color when its temperature changes, typically when in contact with cold ice cream. In typical implementations, the entire silicone ice cream cone may be manufactured with a pigment that causes the cone to change color responsive to changes in temperature. Specifically, a specific organic thermochromic pigment is used which is configured to trigger color changing at a specific temperature. Minium pigment used is approximately half of gram per 100 grams of silicone. The pigment can be mixed in room temp above 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and only with one part of liquid silicone rubber. Once the pigment is properly mixed with silicone, the colored silicone part one is mixed with an activator which sarts the process of silicone to change its state from liquid to flexible solid. Mixed silicone with the pigment is degassed in a vaccum chamber before injecting it into the mold. The silicone ice cream cones can be manufactured using different pigments, and the temperatures at which color changing occurs can be also changed to any degree. Typically, the silicone used is Food Grade and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved. The mixing process between the pigment and the silicone prevents the pigment from leaking out of the silicone so that they are fully intact.

[0015] Typically, only portions of the ice cream cone 105 that are changing in temperature will change color, while other portions that are room temperature or warmer will maintain their color. For example, the inside of the ice cream cone may change color since it will hold the ice cream, whereas the exterior may maintain its color. Over time, however, when the cold interior portions transfer to the exterior, the exterior may also gradually change color. Once the ice cream melts or is otherwise eaten, the cone will change to its original color once it reaches its normal room temperature.

[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 show illustrative cutaway representations of the silicone ice cream cone 105 to expose its interior configuration and design. The interior of the ice cream cone includes an interior base 305 that holds ice cream or melted ice cream. The ice cream cone is configured with a specific slope, as prominently shown in FIG. 4, which causes the melted ice cream to drip downward and inside the ice cream cone instead of off its edges. This helps keep a cleaner environment while eating ice cream. The specific slope of the upper portion 110 also creates a suction when the ice cream or some other object is placed over the cavity 125. As shown, the slope of the inside surface 135 gradually transitions from a vertical orientation at the cavity 125 to a substantially horizontal orientation near the end of the upper portion 110. Such slope enables a suction action against an object that covers the cavity 125. Furthermore, the exterior surface of the cone has a substantially vertical rim 405 relative to the top portion that becomes horizontal. The gradual slope on the exterior meets the vertical rim, and across from the meeting point, the interior surface 135 continues to gradually transition from a vertical to horizontal orientation.

[0017] The shape of the ice cream cone's upper portion is also designed to support the weight of the ice cream scoop so that the cone does not collapse. As shown, the ice cream cone's rim is smooth, relatively even, and free from rough edges and hard parts, making the eating experience more enjoyable.

[0018] For example, FIG. 5 shows an illustrative representation in which a scoop of ice cream 505 is placed on the inside surface 135 of the ice cream cone 105. Such encapsulation of the cavity 125 creates a suction against the ice cream, which at least partially prevents the ice cream from easily spilling over the end of the cone and making a mess. Furthermore, as discussed above, the slope of the upper portion 110 causes any melted ice cream to slip downward toward the interior base 305.

[0019] FIGS. 6-8 show illustrative representations in which the ice cream cone 105 has been pushed inside out but still effectively operates as an ice cream cone. Since the ice cream cone is made of a malleable silicone, the user can push the exterior base 130 (not shown in FIGS. 6-8) upward toward the upper portion 110 to reverse the cone, thereby putting the spiral ridge 115 on the inside of the cone. The interior base 305 and the interior surface 135 are now exposed on the outside of the cone. Such transformations can make the ice cream cone more fun and enjoyable for a user. For example, the user may like to see the spiral ridges 115 turn color when it touches the cold ice cream.

[0020] FIGS. 6 and 8 show different sizes that can be created based on the amount the user configures the upper portion 110 relative to the base 130. The size of the stem in FIG. 6 may be capable of holding two or three scoops of ice cream, and the size of the stem in FIG. 8 may be capable of holding a single scoop of ice cream. While the reverse is shown, a similar size customization can be performed in the standard cone configuration, that is, not inside out. Furthermore, the malleability of the ice cream cone allows a user to stretch it to put more ice cream inside, unlike other rigid ice cream cones. Such malleability also allows a user to squeeze the remaining ice cream out that may have reached the bottom.

[0021] FIGS. 9-14 show illustrative representations in which the silicone ice cream cone 105 is depicted from various angles, including a front view, rear review, left side view, right side view, top plan view, and bottom plan view.

[0022] Various exemplary embodiments of the silicone ice cream cone are described herein. In one implementation, a silicone ice cream cone is disclosed, comprising: a base; a stem extending upward from the base, wherein the stem has a cavity in its interior to receive ice cream; an upper portion having a greater diameter relative to the stem, wherein a slope of an interior surface of the upper portion gradually transitions from a vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation; a spiral ridge positioned on an exterior of the ice cream cone, wherein the spiral ridge extends from a bottom portion of the stem toward at least an upper portion of the stem.

[0023] In another example, the spiral ridge extends to the upper portion. As another example, when an object engages and covers the cavity on the stem, a suction action is created against the object which prevents the object from spilling. In a further example, the upper portion's slope causes any melted ice cream to fall toward an interior base of the stem. As a further example, an exterior upper portion meets a rim of the ice cream cone, and across from where the exterior upper portion slope meets the rim, an interior upper portion continues to gradually transition to the substantially horizontal orientation. In another example, the silicone ice cream cone is reversible. As another example, the silicone ice cream cone is comprised of a pigment that changes color responsive to changes in temperature.

[0024] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.