Abstract
We disclose an ice cream cone with three, and optionally four, completely edible, interchangeable and customizable flavor and texture components. The cone comprises a wafer, a handle to be inserted into and through the wafer, and an edible adhesive joining the wafer to the handle. Ice cream or another comestible is surrounded by the wafer and supported from beneath by a flat top surface of the handle and optional handle topper.
Claims
1. An ice cream support assembly, comprising: a. An edible wafer shaped in a truncated right cone having a central vertical axis, a wider, upper opening, a narrower, lower opening, and an interior lateral surface defining an interior space therewithin; b. a solid, and not hollow, edible handle comprising a right cone with a circular platform and an exterior lateral surface, this handle dimensioned to snugly fill the interior space of the wafer and leave a vertical cross section of the interior space at the upper opening unfilled, then pass through and extend beyond the lower opening of the wafer, wherein the circular platform of the handle, together with the interior lateral surface of the wafer extending above the circular platform defines an enclosure supporting and surrounding a scoop of ice cream therewithin; and c. an edible and spreadable adhesive spread between and sealing the interior lateral surface of the wafer to the exterior lateral surface of the handle.
2. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower opening of the wafer further comprises a hollow cylindrical neck depending therefrom.
3. The ice cream support assembly of claim 2, wherein the handle extends through and snugly fills, then extends beyond, the hollow cylindrical neck.
4. The ice cream support assembly of claim 3, wherein the handle extends beyond the hollow cylindrical neck of the wafer into a cone shape.
5. The ice cream support assembly of claim 3, further comprising adhesive sealing the wafer to the handle within the cylindrical neck.
6. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle extends beyond the lower opening of the wafer into a cone shape.
7. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a baked cookie, toasted rice cereal-marshmallow material or a granola bar.
8. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a solid, and not hollow, confection of chocolate or another candy.
9. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1, wherein the edible and spreadable adhesive comprises: melted chocolate, melted white chocolate, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, nut butters, seed butters, jelly, jam, frosting, caramel, nougat, cheese, and combinations thereof.
10. The ice cream support assembly of claim 1, wherein the wafer further comprises a circumferential bulge protruding outward perpendicular to the central vertical axis.
11. The ice cream support assembly of claim 10, further comprising an edible topper resting on the circular platform of the handle.
12. The ice cream support assembly of claim 11, wherein the edible topper further comprises gummy candy, licorice, chewing gum or marshmallow.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the wafer.
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the handle.
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the wafer.
(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of a three-part cone, fully assembled.
(5) FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the fully assembled three-part cone shown in FIG. 4.
(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of a three-part cone, fully assembled.
(7) FIG. 7 is a cut-away of the fully assembled three-part cone shown in FIG. 6.
(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of a third embodiment of a three-part cone, fully assembled.
(9) FIG. 9 is a cut-away view of the fully assembled three-part cone shown in FIG. 8.
(10) FIG. 10 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of a three-part cone, fully assembled.
(11) FIG. 11 is a front view of a handle with the optional topper.
(12) FIG. 12 is a top view of a handle with a first embodiment of the optional topper.
(13) FIG. 13 is a top view of a handle with a second embodiment of the optional topper.
(14) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the handle.
(15) FIG. 15 is a front view of the handle shown in FIG. 14.
(16) FIGS. 16 and 17 are a perspective and front view, respectively of the first embodiment of the handle.
(17) FIG. 20 is a front view of FIG. 1, in the open and flat configuration, before shaping
(18) FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the wafer, showing cooling on a rack
REFERENCE NUMBERS
(19) 1 wafer, first embodiment 5 handle, first embodiment 7 edible adhesive 8 optional indicia 9 handle topper 11 wafer, second embodiment 15 handle, second embodiment 19 handle, ring embodiment 21 wafer, third embodiment 25 handle, third embodiment 29 handle topper, disk embodiment 35 handle, fourth embodiment 45 handle, fifth embodiment 100 ice cream support assembly
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(20) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of wafer 1. The wafer preferably comprises what is commonly known in the industry as a sugar cone. Unlike a conventional ice cream sugar cone, this wafer is truncated as it narrows, so it is open at the bottom. The wafer has a wider, upper opening, and a narrower, lower opening, and an interior lateral surface defining an interior space about a vertical, central axis. Preferably, the wafer is thin and baked into a crispy, cracker-like texture, with or without an embossed waffle texture, but other textures can be used and still be within the scope of this invention. The upper opening of the cone preferably forms a circle and has a diameter preferably sized to accept a single cup scoop of ice cream, approximately three inches across, although larger or smaller sized wafers, and other cross sections, such as oval or square, are within the scope of this invention.
(21) Wafers 1, 11 and 21 are baked in a custom mold, preferably flat, but also in three-dimensions, or in a continuous sheet and cut, either in an oven or in a dedicated waffle iron. Recipes for wafer batter are common and well known to those skilled in the art. Optionally, color and flavor can be added to the wafers, without affecting their ability to be shaped or hardened. As an example, wafer 1 while still in the flat configuration, before being shaped, is shown in FIG. 20. It is baked until warm and pliable. While still soft, the wafer can be shaped around a three-dimensional template, not shown. The wafer is rolled around the template as it hardens and cools into the desired shape. The wafer is removed from the template for assembly into a completed cone.
(22) FIG. 3 shows a second wafer embodiment 11. Wafer 11 is identical to the simple truncated cone of FIG. 1, but has a hollow cylinder neck continuous with and depending from the lower opening of the wafer. The cylinder extends vertically from the bottom of the wafer along the same central vertical axis as the cone. This cylindrical extension provides additional surface area to retain and adhere to the handle. Other shapes and cross sections, such as oval or square (making the wafer appear more like a hollow pyramid than a cone) are permissible and completely within the scope of this invention.
(23) FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a handle 5. Handle 5 comprises a solid and edible material, preferably a baked cookie, chocolate or hard candy. Other materials may be substituted as known to those or ordinary skill in this art. Handle 5 has an upper, conical portion, and a lower portion, which can be cylindrical, conical or a cylinder tapering to a cone. The upper, conical portion of handle 5 is dimensioned to fill and nest snugly against lower internal space defined by the wafer. Handle 5 has a circular platform (not numbered) and an exterior lateral surface. The exterior lateral surface of the handle must rest against the interior lateral surface of the wafer. The conical portion of the handle is shorter than that of the wafer. This leaves a cross section at the upper portion of the wafer exposed. The exposed interior lateral surface of the wafer, together with the circular platform, encloses a scoop of ice cream therewithin.
(24) The greater the surface area of the wafer contacting the handle, the more edible adhesive that can be applied in this junction, and the stronger the bond between these two components. See, for example, FIGS. 4-5, showing edible adhesive 7 between wafer 11 and handle 5. However, ornamental surface details such as rims and ridges, and other generally planar and perpendicular configurations are possible. The handle must extend beyond the wafer at least long enough for a person to grip it in his palm. Preferably, the handle would extend at least two inches beyond the wafer, but other dimensions are possible and considered within the scope of the invention. The handle should be thick enough to stay intact while a person grips it. Preferably, the handle would have a diameter or thickness of at least one inch, but other dimensions are possible and still considered within the scope of this invention.
(25) If the handle is a solid cookie, a user can bake the desired cookie flavor in a custom designed oven-proof mold pan, not shown, but known to those of ordinary skill in the art. These mold pans accept raw cookie batter and produce solid, three-dimensional cookies in a commercial or conventional oven. If the handle is to be confectionery, whether solid chocolate or hard candy, the melted product is poured into a custom heat-proof mold known to those of ordinary skill in the art and allowed to cool and solidify.
(26) FIGS. 6-7 show the same wafer 11 combined with a second embodiment of the handle 15. Handle 15 is identical to handle 5 except it has three sections instead of two. It is shaped in a truncated cone at an upper portion, in a cylinder at a middle portion and tapers again into a cone at a lower portion. The upper and middle portions are still congruent with and substantially fill the lower space defined by the wafer, except the exposed, lower portion of the handle is a cone instead of a cylinder. There is an option to affix or emboss indicia 8 on the exposed handle 15, or on any handle variation. The indicia may be edible or not.
(27) Another combination of wafer and handle shape is shown in FIGS. 8-9. Here, a solid cone shaped handle 25 is inserted into and fills the lower interior space defined by wafer 1 and joined by edible adhesive 7. Handle embodiment 45 is congruent with either the first 1 or the second 11 wafer and is shown in FIGS. 14-17. Fifth handle embodiment 45 has a shorter and rounded lower portion.
(28) FIGS. 10-13 show a third wafer embodiment 21 which is not a regular truncated cone, but has a circumferential bulge protruding outward perpendicular relative to the vertical axis. This bulge is designed to accommodate an optional handle topper 9. The topper 9 presents yet another place to add different tastes and textures and further serves to secure the handle in its position and thereby also secure the ice cream scoop. The topper sits atop or is integral with third handle 35, which is identical to second handle 25, except 35 is shorter along its central axis than 25. Topper 9 preferably comprises a sticky or gummy confection. In FIG. 12, topper 19 shows a ring-shaped variation. In the ring-shaped variation, one can see the top of the handle through the hole in the topper. In FIG. 13, topper 29 shows a flat, disk-shaped variation, through which you cannot see the handle. Topper 9, 19 or 29 comprise gummy candy, chewing gum, marshmallow or licorice, but other similarly sticky and gummy textured comestibles can be substituted and still be within the scope of this invention.
(29) The edible adhesive will not only add yet another dimension of flavor, but also will further prevent ice cream from dripping. Preferably, the edible adhesive comprises melted chocolate or melted white chocolate, whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, other nut butters, jellies and jams, frosting, caramel, and nougat, although other similar spreadable sticky ingredients can be used and only limited by the creator's imagination. Savory spreads like cheese could also be used. See FIGS. 5, 7, and 9 to see the preferred placement of adhesive, although other placements are possible.
