CHOCOLATE PICKER AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CHOCOLATE PACKAGING

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a picker for chocolate, which is an integral part of the chocolate packaging (11). It is meant preferably for chocolate bars (3), but can also be used for candies or cookies (13). The invention solves the problem of packaging design for chocolate, which includes one or more pickers which can be used to pick up an individual piece of chocolate (2), chocolate candy or cookie (13) without the chocolate itself coming into direct contact with the user's fingers (5). This allows for greater hygiene when eating chocolate bars (3), pieces of chocolate (2), candies or cookies (13). The picker can be made in various possible versions (1, 6, 7, 9, 16) or other related, and is intended for either multiple (1, 6, 7, 9) or single use (16). It can be integrated into the packaging (11), inserted into it or attached to it on an additional outer surface (19).

Claims

1. Chocolate picker, which is an integral part of the chocolate packaging (11) and designed for consumption of chocolate bars (3), pieces of chocolate (2), candies or cookies (13), characterized in that, is basically made of two arms (1A, 1B), which are separated by a crease (4), has various designs (1, 6, 7, 9, 16), and provides that the user's fingers (5) do not come into direct contact with chocolate, whereby the usage of picker is intended either for multiple times (1, 6, 7, 9) or being disposable (16), and can be integrated into the basic outer packaging (11), inserted into it (16) or is attached to it on additional outer surface (19).

2. Picker according to claim 1, characterized in that, its basic version has one or two creases (4), which divides it into two arms (1A, 1B) and is made of material which gives a proper rigidness, such as paperboard or thicker paper which enables the picker (1) to open automatically when we spread our fingers on the hand (5) and a good grip on chocolate piece (2), candy or cookie (13), thus providing a so-called tweezer grip with the arms (1A, 1B).

3. Picker according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, it can be designed as a picker (7) with an additional tab (8), which can be held with index and middle finger of the arm (5), whereby the additional tab (8) enables greater stabilization of the picker (7) in the user's hands (5).

4. Picker according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, it can be designed as a picker (9) with openings (18) for the thumb and index finger on the hand (5), wherein the advantage of this design is that due to good stabilization it can also be made from thinner paper or other suitable materials.

5. Picker according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the pickers (1, 6, 7, 9) or their variations can be integrated into the chocolate packaging (11) if it is made of a suitable material, preferably paperboard or stiffer paper, of which the pickers (1, 6, 7, 9) are also made, and are separated from each other by perforation (10), so that the user can easily tear them off from the packaging (11) before use, and they may be located on the top, back, or sides of the packaging (11).

6. Picker according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the pickers (1, 6, 7, 9) can be added to the packaging (11) also on the additional surface for the pickers (19), which is attached to the back or other side of the packaging (11) with the perforation (10).

7. Picker according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, all the versions of pickers (1, 6, 7, 9) can also be designed separately from the packaging (11) and can be inserted inside the packaging (11), both in an individual form or as a set where the pickers are separated from each other by a perforation (10).

8. Picker according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, its application is also possible as a disposable item, where each piece of chocolate (2), chocolate candy or cookie (13) is already wrapped with the picker (16) which is attached and prepared for immediate use, and in this case the thickness or strength of the material of which the pickers (16) are made, is less important.

9. Picker according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the version of picker (16) for individual chocolate pieces (2), chocolate cookies or candies (13), it is optimal that inside the outer packaging (11) a tray with recesses (15) is added on which the chocolate pieces (2) or candies (13) are placed, which are already wrapped with pickers (16).

Description

[0014] Description of the invention. The invention described in the patent presented here therefore differs from all solutions stated above. Below the invention will be described with some implementation examples and with the help of the following drawings showing:

[0015] FIG. 1: Basic concept of a pickersingle folded picker

[0016] FIG. 2: Design of a single folded picker

[0017] FIG. 3: Use of a single folded picker

[0018] FIG. 4: Double folded picker

[0019] FIG. 5: Design of a double folded picker

[0020] FIG. 6: Use of a double folded picker

[0021] FIG. 7: Picker with additional tab

[0022] FIG. 8: Design of picker with additional tab

[0023] FIG. 9: Use of a picker with additional tab

[0024] FIG. 10: Picker with finger holes

[0025] FIG. 11: Design of a picker with finger holes

[0026] FIG. 12: Use of a picker with finger holes

[0027] FIG. 13: Integration of picker into existing chocolate packagingan example according to FIG. 5

[0028] FIG. 14: Integration of picker into existing chocolate packagingan example according to FIG. 8

[0029] FIG. 15: Design of a set of pickers with perforation added to the back side of the packagingan example according to FIG. 8

[0030] FIG. 16: Design of several pickers together separated by perforationan example according to FIG. 8

[0031] FIG. 17: Disposable pickers added to chocolate bar, wrapped around individual pieces of chocolatean isometric projection

[0032] FIG. 18: Disposable pickers added to chocolate bar, wrapped around individual pieces of chocolate

[0033] FIG. 19: Disposable picker wrapped around a piece of chocolate

[0034] FIG. 20: Disposable pickersoption with a tray/base with cutouts for easier grip

[0035] FIG. 21: Picker design for a cookie or round chocolate candy

[0036] FIG. 22: Chocolate candies/cookies wrapped with pickers on a tray/base with recesses for easier grip (box of chocolates)

LIST OF INDIVIDUAL DRAWING REFERENCES

[0037] 1single folded picker [0038] 1Aindividual arm (or handle) of picker [0039] 1Bindividual arm (or handle) of picker [0040] 2a piece of chocolate [0041] 3chocolate bar [0042] 4crease (or folding or joint) [0043] 5hand [0044] 6double folded picker [0045] 7picker with additional tab [0046] 8additional tab for holding the picker with forefinger and middle finger [0047] 9picker with finger holes [0048] 10perforation [0049] 11outer packaging of chocolate [0050] 12tray [0051] 13chocolate candy or cookie [0052] 14cuts (cutouts)/recesses in the tray [0053] 15plate with recesses (candy box) [0054] 16disposable picker [0055] 17cut (cutout) [0056] 18finger hole [0057] 19additional packaging surface for pickers

[0058] FIG. 1 shows the simplest concept of the picker 1, which has one single crease 4 (FIG. 2), which divides the picker into two arms 1A and 1B. Suitable material for the picker would be thicker paper, which is sometimes already a part of the packaging of chocolates of a higher price rangecheaper ones are usually packed with plastic foil or aluminum foil wrapped by thinner paper which is less suitable for a picker. With this version of the picker it is important that the paper has such properties that it allows the picker to open automatically while we open the fingers of the hand 5 holding the picker 1. This allows a tweezers like grip of individual piece of chocolate 2 by holding the picker 1 with the fingers of your hand 5, as shown in FIG. 3, grabbing a piece of chocolate 2 and carrying it to the mouth.

[0059] The picker 6 (FIG. 4) is quite similar to picker 1, it only differs in this feature that it has a double crease 4 (FIG. 5) instead of a single crease. Its use is shown in FIG. 6.

[0060] The picker can also be made with an additional tab 8 which is connected to one of the arms of picker. This picker 7 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The additional tab 8 is placed between the index finger and the middle finger on the arm 5 (FIG. 9) which enables better stabilization of the picker 7 in the hand 5, which significantly improves the handling of the picker and consequently holding a piece of chocolate 2.

[0061] Next version of the picker is shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. This picker 9 is slightly more complex, as two finger holes 18 are provided and a cut-out 17 is designed for this purpose. Picker 9 therefore has two finger openings 18 through which the user inserts their thumb and index finger on hand 5 for its use. Its advantage is that, for the reason of good grip due to better stabilization of the picker with two fingers of the hand 5 which are put through finger holes 18, thus it can also be made of thinner paper or other similar materials.

[0062] These are just a few examples of possible designs. Of course, different shapes are also possiblewith various designs which have rounded, triangular or otherwise shaped individual partsthis however does not change the essence of the invention.

[0063] Different versions of the pickers 1, 6, 7 and 9 and their variations, can be integrated into the chocolate packaging itself, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Specifically FIG. 13 shows the outer packaging of chocolate 11 made of paperboard or thicker paper with the pickers 6 with double crease 4 as an integral part of packaging, the pickers are separated from each other by a perforation 10. There may be a single picker 6 on the packaging, or there may be numerous pickers. The user simply tears them out of the packaging 11 and can start using them. In a similar way, the picker 1 or the picker with the additional tab 7 can be located on the top or bottom (back) of the package 11. The user also tears them off, as they are separated by a perforation 10, folds them at the crease 4 and starts using them. This option is shown in FIG. 14. Of course, these are not the only options for integrating the grippers into the outer packaging 11; for example, they could also be located at the sides of packaging for thicker chocolates 3.

[0064] The pickers can also be added to the packaging 11 on extra surface for the pickers 19 which is attached to the back of the packaging 11 via perforation 10, as shown in FIG. 15. They can also be added in other ways, e.g. on the top. The advantage of this version is that the basic envelope or the packaging 11 is not ruined from tearing-off the pickers 7 from the packaging 11. In this way, when the pickers 7 are torn-off, the basic shape and function of the packaging 11 remains intact, even when the pickers 7 are torn-off from the packaging.

[0065] However, all variations of pickers (e.g. 1, 6, 7 and 9) can also be designed and manufactured separately from the packaging 11 and supplied individually within the packaging 11. Such attached pickers can already be set apart of each other or made in the form of a picker-set where individual pickers are separated by perforation (FIG. 16). Pickers can be perforated in different ways depending on the design or other factors, e.g. depending on the structure and shape of the chocolate. Such solutions can be more user-friendly, but are less environmentally efficient than the version where the pickers are already integrated into the packaging.

[0066] In this sense, it is also possible to provide pickers for single use, which are shown in FIGS. 17 to 22. In these designs, each chocolate piece 2 or chocolate candy or cookie 13 has a picker 16 attached, which is already prepared for immediate use, being wrapped around chocolate piece 2, chocolate candy or cookie 13. This version is preferably made of thinner food grade paper suitable for contact with food or other appropriate material. The option in FIG. 20 also shows the tray 12 on which the chocolate pieces 2 are placed. Each chocolate piece/candy/cookie 13 has its own attached picker 16, which is discarded after eating a chocolate piece 2, candy or cookie 13. This version is the least environmental friendly, but is suitable for more luxurious chocolates.