AU646923B2 - Liquid confectionery product dispensed from a package with a lickable surface - Google Patents

Description

_I ~I I I_ 4 S F Ref: 203610 S F Ref: 203610

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

ta a ti r o a 4 a a.a a a a t t ttE: Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Wm. Nrigley Jr. Company 410 North Michigan Avenue Chicago Illinois 60611 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ronald L. Ream, Christine Schlecht L. Corriveau and Vctoria L.

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Liquid Confectionery Product Dispensed from a Package with a Lickable Surface The following statement is a full description of this inventi including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- ~--~lllcle~llcePLCC PI ~CCII PIII- 1 LIQUID CONFECTIONERY PRODUCT DISPENSED FROM A PACKAGE WITH A LICKABLE SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field confectionery products. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel liquid confectionery product and dispensing package.

j 10 Confectionery products have been sold in various forms over the years. It is generally known that providing confectionery products in novel forms can lead to enhanced i marketability of such a product, particularly with younger Sconsumers.

i SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION S°Briefly stated, the present invention is a i confectionery product comprising which includes both a Sliquid confectionery material and a specially designed package. The package includes a container portion, a I 'lickable surface, and at leastone orifice through which the confectionery material can be squeezed out of the container portion and licked off of the lickable surface.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 25 present invention, the liquid confectionery material is a carbohydrate syrup based confection. Preferably, the liquid confectionery material is selected so as to be low enough to allow easy expulsion through the orifice, yet high enough to allow the confectionery material to remain on the lickable surface long enough to be consumed.

Also in this embodiment, the package is in the form of a squeezable tube with a dome-shaped end. An orifice passing through the dome shaped end allows the liquid confection material to be squeezed out onto the dome-

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1. shaped end from which it can be licked by the consumer.

Preferably, a cap is included to seal and reseal the orifice and cover the lickable surface when not in use.

The present invention is advantageous in that it presents both a novel confectionery material, namely a liquid, and a novel packaging and dispensing system, namely one in which the liquid confectionery material is expelled from the container onto a lickable surface.

The preferred embodiment, wherein the liquid confectionery material is based on a carbohydrate syrup, is also advantageous in that it provides a relatively inexpensive and simple confectionery material, namely a carbohydrate syrup with flavor added. In addition, it has I .been found that flavors are readily released from this 15 liquid carbohydrate syrup so that less flavor than would be expected is needed, and so that the flavor delivery to the consumer is more instantaneous.

;i The present invention, together with any other i advantages, will be best understood with reference to the 20 detailed description below read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the lid off.

FIGURE 2 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 in use by a consumer.

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sec(.:.ional view along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 4a is a view of the same embodiment as shown in FIGURE 4 in use by a consumer.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view through another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a display box of the confectionery products of the present invention.

3 FIGURE 7 is a view of an alternative display box for the confectionery products of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the most preferred embodiment of the present invention. The confectionery product 11 includes a squeezable tube 13 which is filled with the liquid confectionery material. Although a squeezable tube is preferred for simplicity, other types of containers from which the liquid confectionery material can be expelled are also available. For example, in a less preferred embodiment, the container is cylindrical in shape and includes a plunger for expelling the liquid through the orifice.

ii ,It is also preferred that the squeezable container have a relatively simple shape such as that shovn in FIGURE 1. Alternatively, the squeezable container can have a fanciful shape, such as that of the 15 body of a famous character or the like.

Connected to the squeezable tube 13 is a dome-shaped portion which includes an orifice 19 and a lickable surface 21. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the surface area of the lickable surface 21 is substantially larger than the orifice 19.

A cap 17 is designed to screw onto the package by the threads 27 on the dome-shaped portion 15. Alternatively, the cap can be retained on It the dome-shaped portion by other means such as a friction fit. As shown i in FIGURE 3, the cap 17 includes a nub 29 adapted to fit within and thus I close the orifice 19. As a result, the cap 17 functions to close the orifice and to cover the lickable surface when not in use.

In manufacturing the product of the invention, it is preferred to fill the tube 13 through an open end opposite the dome-shaped portion and then seal the open end with a melt seal such as that shown at 23.

4 1/1829m eeLI*IICcl 4 Preferably, the tube 13 is made from a polymeric material which is transparent, or at least translucent so that the consumer can see the lic'id confectionery material inside of the package 11. Most preferably, the tube 13 will have product information printed on its surfaces.

Preferably, the cap 17 is opaque and is colored so as to match the color of the liquid confectionery material.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the confectionery product in use. As can be seen, when the tube 13 is squeezed, a portion of the liquid confectionery material is expelled through the orifice 19. At this point, the expelled portion of the liquid confectionery material can be consumed by licking the top surface 21 of the dome-shaped portion One advantage of the present invention is that it provides what is known in the art as "play value." In other words, the package provides the consumer with something to do other than just to consume the confectionery material.

Preferably, the viscosity of the liquid confectionery material is selected to meet the following 20 criteria. First, it should be low enough so that the material can be expelled through the orifice without undue force. Second, the viscosity should be high enough that it remains on the lickable surface long enough to be consumed.

That is, the liquid should not run off the lickable surface.

Also, in order to avoid potential messes and conflict, the viscosity is preferably high enough so that the liquid confectionery material cannot be -quirted from the tube even I if great force is applied to the squeezable container.

SInstead, the liquid should come through the orifice slowly.

In other words, although play value can be important in confectionery items, squirting the confectionery material from the container at someone or something is preferably not one of the activities.

FIGURE 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention which includes multiple orifices. Also, the I container is provided with human features 43. In yet other embodiments, the container can be provided in other shapes, such as that of famous cartoon characters and the like.

As shown in FIGURE 4a, when the tube 45 is squeezed, a portion of the liquid confectionery material 47 is expelled through the orifices so as to look like the hair on the head of the human figure. Consequently, this alternative embodiment provides even more play value.

FIGURE 5 depicts yet another embodiment of the i0 present invention. In this enmbodiment, the container 51 is divided into two sections 53 and 55 by a partition 57. The Stop portion 59 includes an orifice 61 through which the confectionery material in section 53 can be expelled, and an orifice 63 through which the confectionery material in section 55 can be expelled. As a result, this embodiment can be used to contain two different flavors and/or colors of liquid confectionery materials, each of which can be expelled through a different hole. Thus, with this embodiment, the consumer can mix the two material on the lickable surface or can lick each one separately.

S. In yet other alternatively embodiments, the container can be divided into three or more sections to provide even further novelty and flavor and/or color 'combinations.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate different display cartons for the present invention. In the carton 71 of FIGURE 6, a plurality of the products 73 are laid on their i side to thereby show the product information printed on the I side of the tubes 75. Also, because the tubes 75 are preferably transparent, the consumer is able to see the color of the liquid confectionery material inside.

In the carton 81 of FIGURE 7, the products 83 are stood up vertically. The upper portion 85 of the carton can be used to display further product information.

6 As to the liquid confectionery material to be used with the present invention, several types are available. As noted above, the most preferred material is a carbohydrate syrup with flavor and color added. Alternatively, the liquid confectionery material can be of another type such as a soft taffy, a soft chocolate composition, or even a composition similar to cake icing.

Nevertheless, the carbohydrate syrup based material has proven advantageous in that it is a relatively simple and inexpensive formulation to produce.

It has also been found that this formulation provides significant flavor advantages. Specifically, it has been found that conventional flavors are released from this formulation more rapidly and more efficiently than other types of confectionery products. For comparison, in the typical hard candy formulation, wherein a carbohydrate syrup is boiled down to achieve the final product, a certain level of flavor is added to achieve the desired flavor profile of the hard candy. Also, there is a certain time between when the hard candy is first contacted by the consumer's mouth and when the flavor is fully perceived. In contrast, with the liquid composition of the present invention, namely wherein the carbohydrate syrup is not boiled down to the point of being hard, it has been found that about half of the amount of the same flavor is required to achieve the same impact in the final product. Also, it has been found that the flavor is perceived by the consumer much quicker than with a typical hard candy.

While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is currently believed that these advantages result from the fact that, in the liquid vehicle of the present invention, the carbohydrate syrup is already solubilized and thus the flavor is more quickly and more thoroughly released from the liquid syrup medium.

===WNRrF W w I1~11I11~I1I--^--. i Preferably, the liquid confectionery material will comprise more than 95 percent by weight of a carbohydrate syrup. Most preferably, the liquid confectionery material will comprise ,iore than about 99 percent by weight of a carbohydrate syrup and less than 1 percent by weight flavoring agents, colorants, and acidulents. Alternatively, formulations can be made with less carbohydrate syrup.

Ingredients such as water, sorbitol, or glycerine can be used to take the place of some of the syrup. If water is added, a thickening agent, such as a modified food starch, is preferably used to thereby increase the viscosity to the desired level.

i' The flavoring agents used can be any that are suitable in this type of medium, such as those already used 15 in making hard candy. Likewise, the colorants and acidulents can be conventional colorants, such as those used in making hard candy. Acidulents are used to provide a certain flavor impact, for example a tanginess or tartness, if desired. The acidulents are also useful in reducing the i 20 pH of the material which typically improves shelf-life.

Preferably, the pH of the material is selected at between about 2.0 and about 3.5. Preferably, conventional preservatives are also added in the appropriate amounts to S ensure good shelf-stability for the product.

A sample formulation for the liquid confectionery material is as follows: ,r Ingredient Percentage by Weight Carbohydrate Syrup 99.24 SAcidulents 0.61 Preservatives 0.10 Colorants 0.04 Flavoring Agents 0.01 A sample formulation for the liquid confectionery material wherein glycerin and a thickening agent are used is as follows: Ingredient Percentage by Weight Carbohydrate Syrup 96.05 Glycerine 1.72 Acidulents 1.72 Modified Food Starch 0.27 Colorants 0.17 Flavoring Agents 0.07 Other ingredients may also be added to the liquid confectionery material. For example, vitamins, minerals, or medicaments may be added. Also, a breath freshening compound may be added to thereby provide a novel delivery of a breath freshener.

Preferably, the mixture is heated to facilitate the even mixing and dissolution of all the ingredients.

This heating process is also helpful in driving air bubbles from the confection which important in the manufacture of a transparent confection.

2 ad Typically, the acidulents and flavoring agents are Sadded after the other ingredients in that they are more volatile.

o' Depending on the starting moisture content of the \I I. carbohydrate syrup and on the desired final viscosity, the 11* 25 heating step may be continued to reach the desired final moisture content. Most preferably the moisture level is brought to below about 20 percent by weight.

It should be noted that although much of the discussion has involved a squeezable tube, other configurations and mechanisms for containing and expelling a liquid confectionery material are available and within the I 9 scope of the present invention. Also, it is noted that confectionery products other than those based on carbohydrate syrups are also available. Certainly, these and all other modifications which are within the ordinary skill in the art to make are considered to lie within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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Claims (19)

1. A confectionery product comprising: liquid confectionery material; a package including a squeezable container portion, a generally dome-shaped lickable surface, and an orifice passing through the lickable surface through which the confectionery material can be expelled out of the container portion onto the lickable surface, from which surface it can be licked by a consumer; wherein the lickable surface is substantially larger than the orifice; wherein the lickable surface and orifice present a substantially smooth surface to be licked; and wherein the viscosity of the liquid confectionery material is selected so as to be low enough to allow the liquid confectionery material to be expelled through the orifice, yet high enough to keep the liquid confectionery material from running off the lickable surface.

2. A confectionery product comprising: liquid confectionery material comprising a carbohydrate syrup and a flavour; a package including a squeezable container portion, a generally dome-shaped lickable surface, an orifice passing through the lickable surface through which the confectionery material can be expelled out of the container portion onto the lickable surface, from which surface it can be licked by a consumer, and a removable cap for covering the 25 lickable surface and closing the orifice; wherein the lickable surface is substantially larger than the orifice; wherein the lickable surface and orifice present a substantially smooth surface to be licked; and wherein the viscosity of the liquid confectionery material is selected so as to be low enough to allow the liquid confectionery material to be expelled through the orifice, yet high enough to keep the liquid confectionery material from running off the lickable surface.

3. The product of Claim 2 wherein the cap is threaded on.

4. A confectionery product comprising: liquid confectionery material comprising a carbohydrate syrup and a flavour and a thickening agent; a package including a squeezable container portion having transparent walls, a generally dome-shaped lickable surface, an orifice LMM/1829m *44441 L I i. t 44 RA CSEC S104 0 ~I i i i i _1 11 passing through the centre of the dome-shaped lickable surface through which the confectionery material can be expelled out of the container portion onto the lickable surface, from which surface it can be licked by a consumer, and a removable cap for covering the lickable surface and closing the orifice; wherein the lickable surface is substantially larger than the orifice; wherein the lickable surface and orifice present a substantially smooth surface to be licked; and wherein the viscosity of the liquid confectionery material is selected so as to be low enough to allow the liquid confectionery material to be expelled through the orifice, yet high enough to keep the liquid confectionerj material from running off the lickable surface.

The product of Claim 4 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises more than about 99 percent carbohydrate syrup by weight.

6. The product of Claim 4 wherein the liquid confectionery material further comprises a thickening agent.

7. The product of Claim 1 comprising a plurality of orifices through which the confectionery material can be squeezed, wherein the lickable surface is substantially larger than all of the orifices combined.

8. The product of Claim 1 wherein the lickable surface is shaped Ilike a human head.

9. The product of Claim 1 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises a carbohydrate syrup and flavour.

The product of Claim 9 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises more than about 95 percent carbohydrate syrup by weight.

11. The product of Claim 9 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises more than about 99 percent carbohydrate syrup by weight.

12. The product of Claim 9 wherein the liqud confectionery S material further comprises a thickening agent.

13. The product of Claim 1 wherein the squeezable container portion is partitioned into compartments with different confectionery materials in each compartment, and wherein the package includes at least Sone orifice for each compartment so that the different confectionery PSEC materials can be squeezed out of the package without mixing. /1829m 12

14. The product of Claim 2 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises more than about 95 percent carbohydrate syrup by weight.

The product of Claim 2 wherein the liquid confectionery material comprises more than about 99 percent carbohydrate syrup by weight.

16. The product of Claim 2 wherein the liquid confectionery material further comprises a thickening agent.

17. The product of Claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a cap to cover the lickable surface when not in use, which cap includes a protrusion which fits within the orifice to thereby stop the flow of liquid confectionery material out of the squeezable container portion.

18. The product of Claim 17 wherein the cap is threaded on.

19. The product of Claim 1 wherein the dome-shaped lickable surface includes a small circular depression around the orifice. DATED this NINETEENTH day of MARCH 1993 Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON I I i t Liquid Confectionery Product Dispensed from a Package with a Lickable Surface ABSTRACT The present invention is a confectionery product (11) which includes both a liquid confectionery material and a specially designed package. The package includes a container portion a lickable surface and at least one orifice (19) through which the confectionery material can be squeezed out of the container portion (13) and licked off the lickable surface Preferably, the container portion is squeezable and the liquid confectionery material comprises a carbohydrate syrup and a flavor. Figure 1 00 00 0 a e 000000 o 0 00000 0 0) 0 #000000 oo 0 0 m 0 0 0 0 0 e i i I _MOC/4502W