Device to secure an ice cream and a method thereof

Abstract

A device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) comprising: a cone-type holder (14) comprises a top portion (14a), a base portion (14b) and a center portion (14c); a base (16), coupled to the top portion (14a) of the cone-type holder (14), comprises a hollow portion (16a) to place the ice-cream (12); a slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12); and a sensor (20) connected to the cone-type holder (14) to sense a tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14). The center portion (14c) of the cone-type holder (14) is configured to hold the ice cream (12), and said ice-cream (12) is secured in the hollow portion (16b) of the base (16).

Claims

1. A device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) comprising: a. a cone-type holder (14) comprises a top portion (14a), a base portion (14b) and a center portion (14c); b. a base (16), coupled to the top portion (14a) of the cone-type holder (14), comprises a hollow portion (16a) to place the ice-cream (12); c. a slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12); and d. a sensor (20) connected to the cone-type holder (14) to sense a tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14), wherein the center portion (14c) of the cone-type holder (14) is configured to hold the ice-cream (12), and wherein said ice-cream (12) is secured in the hollow portion (16b) of the base (16).

2. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (20) is connected to the slidable shutter.

3. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slidable shutter is configured to receive commands from said senor (20).

4. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slidable shutter is two-portions shutter (18a, 18b) in oval shape covering the periphery (16b) of the base (16) in a closed loop.

5. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 4, wherein one portion (18a) of the two portions of the slidable shutter is configured to slide back to the other portion (18b) to release the ice-cream (12) for eating.

6. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 5, wherein, said sensor (20) is configured to determine that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14) is equal to or greater than 70°.

7. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 6, wherein, when said sensor (20) determines that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14) is equal to or greater than 70°, said sensor (20) sends the command to the slidable shutter to secure the ice-cream (12).

8. The device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when said slidable shutter receives the command from the sensor (20) to secure the ice-cream (12), said one portion (18a) from the two portions (18a, 18b) of the slidable shutter that has slid back comes back to its original position forming the oval shape to secure the ice-cream (12).

9. A method to secure an ice-cream comprising: a. placing the ice-cream in a base of a cone-type holder; b. providing a slidable shutter on a periphery of the base to secure the ice-cream, wherein the slidable shutter is a two-portion shutter in oval shape; and c. monitoring a tilt-angle of the cone-type holder using a sensor, wherein, when eating the ice-cream, one portion of the two portions of the slidable shutter slides back to the other portion.

10. The method to secure an ice-cream as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: a. determining that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder is equal to or greater than 70°; and b. when said sensor determines that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder is equal to or greater than 70°, sending the command to the slidable shutter to secure the ice-cream, wherein said one portion from the two portions of the slidable shutter that has slid back comes back to its original position forming the oval shape to secure the ice-cream.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a device to secure an ice-cream in open state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a device to secure an ice-cream in closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may not have been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

[0038] Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein would be contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0040] The term “some” as used herein is to be understood as “none or one or more than one or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0041] The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features. It does not in any way limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0042] More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do not specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

[0043] Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there needs to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is required.”

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.

[0045] Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfill the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.

[0046] Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

[0047] Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

[0050] FIG. 1 is a device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) in open state according to an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) comprises a cone-type holder (14) comprises a top portion (14a), a base portion (14b) and a center portion (14c). The cone-type holder (14) may be made of metal or non-metallic frame as suitable for the purpose. In some embodiments, the device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) further comprises a base (16) comprises a hollow portion (16a) to place the ice-cream (12). In some embodiments, the base (16) is coupled to the top portion (14a) of the cone-type holder (14). In some embodiments, the device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) further comprises a slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12). In some embodiments, the device (10) to secure an ice-cream (12) further comprises a sensor (20) connected to the cone-type holder (14) to sense a tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14).

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12) may be two-portions shutter (18a, 18b) in oval shape covering the periphery (16b) of the base (16) in a closed loop. In some embodiments, the slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12) may be more than two-portions shutter (18a, 18b) in petal shapes covering the periphery (16b) of the base (16) in a closed loop or a closed state. In some embodiments, the slidable shutter attached to a periphery (16b) of the base (16) to secure the ice-cream (12) may be flower shaped shutter (18a, 18b) having petal shaped wings covering the periphery (16b) of the base (16) in a closed loop.

[0052] In some embodiments, the base (16) is coupled to the top portion (14a) of the cone-type holder (14). In some embodiments, the center portion (14c) of the cone-type holder (14) is configured to hold the ice cream (12). In some embodiments, the ice cream (12) is secured in the hollow portion (16b) of the base (16). In some embodiments, the base (16) of the device (10) is further configured to collect the dripped ice cream so that the ice cream does not fall on consumers' hand or floor. In some embodiments, the base (16) may be made of a metallic or non-metallic properties.

[0053] In some embodiments, the base (16) is coupled to the top portion (14a) of the cone-type holder (14). In some embodiments, the center portion (14c) of the cone-type holder (14) is configured to hold the ice cream (12). In some embodiments, the ice cream (12) is secured in the hollow portion (16b) of the base (16). In some embodiments, the base (16) of the device (10) is further configured to collect the dripped ice cream so that the ice cream does not fall on consumers' hand or floor.

[0054] In some embodiments, the base may be connected to a senor (20). In some embodiments, the sensor (20) is connected to the slidable shutter. In some embodiments, the device (10) to secure an ice cream (12) may comprise of a plurality of sensors (20). In some embodiments, the sensors (20) may be an inclinometer. The inclinometer is an instrument used for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation, or depression of an object with respect to gravity's direction. It is also known as a tilt indicator, tilt sensor, tilt meter, slope alert, slope gauge, gradient meter, gradiometer, level gauge, level meter, declinometer, and pitch & roll indicator. The tilt sensor (20) can measure the tilting of the cone holder (12) or the device (10) so that if the angle of tilt is close to normal, then the chances of dripping the ice cream are more. Preferably, in some embodiments, the at least one sensor (20) is configured to determine the tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14). In some embodiments, the at least one sensor (20) is configured to determine that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14) is equal to or greater than 70°. In some embodiments, when said sensor (20) determines that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder (14) is equal to or greater than 70°, the sensor (20) sends the command to the slidable shutter to secure the ice cream (12).

[0055] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slidable shutter is configured to receive commands from the senor(s) (20). Further, as shown in Figure, 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, one portion (18a) of the two portions of the slidable shutter is configured to slide back to the other portion (18b) to release the ice-cream (12) for eating, i.e., the open state of the device.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the slidable shutter is two-portions shutter (18a, 18b) in oval shape covering the periphery (16b) of the base (16) in the closed state. When the slidable shutter receives the command from the sensor (20) to secure the ice-cream (12), the one portion (18a) from the two portions (18a, 18b) of the slidable shutter that has slid back comes back to its original position forming the oval shape to secure the ice-cream (12). In some embodiments, the device (10) is enabled with sensors (20) to provide automatic securing of ice creams.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method to secure an ice cream comprises placing the ice-cream in a base of a cone-type holder. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method to secure an ice cream further comprises providing a slidable shutter on a periphery of the base to secure the ice-cream. In some embodiments, the slidable shutter is a two-portion shutter in oval shape. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method to secure an ice cream further comprises monitoring a tilt-angle of the cone-type holder using a sensor. In some embodiments, when eating the ice cream, one portion of the two portions of the slidable shutter slides back to the other portion.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method to secure an ice-cream further comprise determining that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder is equal to or greater than 70°. The method to secure an ice cream further comprise, when said sensor determines that the tilt angle of the cone-type holder is equal to or greater than 70°, sending the command to the slidable shutter to secure the ice-cream. In some embodiments, the one portion from the two portions of the slidable shutter that has slid back comes back to its original position forming the oval shape to secure the ice cream.

[0059] Moreover, the actions of any components in the block diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

[0060] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.

[0061] While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments.