GB2396543A

GB2396543A - Novelty lollipops

Info

Publication number: GB2396543A
Application number: GB0226915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Walker
Original assignee: SWIZZELS MATLOW Ltd
Current assignee: SWIZZELS MATLOW Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-19
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Also published as: GB0226915D0

Abstract

A lollipop 1 comprises a body 4 of edible confectionery material having decoration applied to at least one surface thereof wherein a transparent layer of edible confectionery 5 is applied over the decoration such that the transparent layer acts as a lens for viewing the decoration.

Description

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CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS

This invention relates to confectionery products with surface decorations.

To promote interest to consumers it is known to provide confectioner products 5 with surface decoration, such as patterns or words. For example, it is known to press shapes and words onto the surface of confectionery products formed from compressed sugar-based mixtures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a confectionery product which has surface decorations and is of enhanced interest to the consumer.

10 According to the present invention there is provided a confectionery product comprising a body of edible confectionery material having decoration applied to at least one surface thereof wherein a transparent layer of edible confectionery material is applied over the decoration on the surface of the said body, said layer being configured to act as a lens for viewing of the decoration.

15 With this arrangement the consumer can see the decoration through the lens defined by the transparent layer which provided enhanced interest.

The body of the confectionery material may have any suitable characteristics and may be formed from any suitable material. Preferably it is opaque and also it may have a hard brittle consistency rather than a malleable plasticized consistency.

20 In a particularly preferred embodiment the body of confectionery material is made from an edible compressed particulate material such as sugar or dextrose or a combination thereof.

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The body of confectionery material may further comprise at least one acidic component such as acidulant lactic, citric acid or tartaric acid.

The body of confectionery material may also comprise substances such as flavourings and colourings which aid the compression process.

5 The body may be of any suitable shape and may incorporate one or more said surfaces which may be of any suitable form and shape.

Thus, the body may comprise a generally spherical or part spherical or ball shaped body, if desired with facets or steps or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment there is a single said surface which is at 10 least generally flat and which may for example be generally circular. Thus, for example, the body may be generally part spherical with a circular flat surface. Other shapes and forms are also possible.

The said decoration may be of any suitable kind and may comprise markings of words, numbers or symbols or graphic patterns, shapes or pictures. The decoration may 15 be distinguished by virtue of being raised or impressed or differently textured or coloured relative to the associated said surface.

The decoration may form an integral part of the body, for example it may be made with a stamp during the compression of particulate material forming the body, or it may be applied to the body as a layer or separate elements or the like incorporated in the body 20 during formation thereof or applied to the surface after formation thereof e.g. in a printing process.

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The transparent layer of the confectionery product may be made from a high-

boiled sweet composition i.e. boiled sugar. It is preferably a hard candy layer.

The transparent layer may further comprise any of the following either alone or in combination:- glucose syrup, acidulant lactic, citric acid, tartaric acid, colourings and 5 flavourings.

Preferably the transparent layer is colourless and clear. However, it may possess a degree of colour or even translucency provided that its transparent nature remains adequate for viewing of the decoration.

The transparent layer is applied to the (or each) said surface of the body having 10 the decoration applied thereto. It may be applied exclusively to such a surface i.e. such that it is coextensive with or smaller than said surface, or if desired it may also overlap other surfaces or parts of the said body.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the transparent layer is coextensive with the (or each) said surface and is shaped to cooperate with the said body so as to provide 15 an overall product shape with a smoothly continuous transition between the body and the transparent layer e.g. such as to define a generally spherical or ball shaped product, if desired with facets or steps or the like.

The shape of the transparent layer may be of any suitable nature. In a particularly preferred embodiment the transparent layer is generally domed shaped. This domed 20 configuration is preferably such as to define a convex lens having a magnifying effect.

The effect of the lens may be such that any other visual effect is defined, for example distortion or reduction. Combination of effects may be defined by using

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different lens configurations on the same or different surfaces or by using a lens configuration having different optical characteristics at different positions.

The transparent layer may be applied to the (or each) surface in any suitable manner, for example by formation in situ using a mould or by bonding as a pre-formed 5 structure.

In one embodiment the present invention is manifested in the form of a lollypop.

Thus the body may be attached to a stick or other elongate or other shaped support preferably positioned so that the decoration faces upwardly. Thus, in the case of a generally ball-shaped or spherical product the support may be disposed axially. Other 10 kinds of products are however possible.

The present invention will be described further by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure I is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention; and 15 Figure 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a confectionery lollypop I having a hard brittle edible integral head part 2 mounted on a stick 3.

The head part 2 is generally spherical or ball-shaped and has a lower body part 4 20 and an upper top part 5.

The body part 4 has a main cylindrical section 6 with a fiat circular top face 7, and a lower convexly curved part spherical bottom section 8.

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The upper top part S has a lower cylindrical section 9 with a flat circular bottom face l O. and an upper convexly curved part spherical top section 1 1.

The body part 4 is formed by compression of an edible mixture of sugar particles and other material such as an acidic component such as lactic, citric or tartaric acid, 5 flavourings, colourings and components to facilitate cohesion of the compressed body.

The body part 4 is an opaque hard confectionery structure.

The stick 3 which is a plastic tube is embedded in the body part 4 and extends axially projecting from a flattened central region 12 of the bottom section of the body part 8.

10 The stick 3 which can alternatively be made from paper or any other suitable material terminates within the body part 4 i.e. it does not project beyond the top face 7 of the body part.

The top face 7 of the body part 4 is formed, e.g. by pressing during formation of the body part, with a raised decoration 13 which, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises words 1S within and outer heart shape. The words and heart shape are coloured differently from the remainder of the face 7 and the body part 4, which are all the same colour. This colour difference may be achieved by applying coloured material to the raised decoration after formation or by applying greater pressure and/or heating or the like to give a colour difference during pressing of the decoration.

20 The upper top part S is formed from transparent edible material i.e. boiled sugar which is moulded onto the top surface 7 of the body part 4 and is thus allowed to cool and set.

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: a... The top part 5 is shaped, as shown so that it is coextensive with the top face 7 of the body part 4. The cylindrical section 9 of the top part 5 is of the same diameter as the cylindrical section 6 of the body part 4 so that the outer surfaces of these sections have a smooth continuous transition.

5 The top part 5 is domed-shaped and acts as a clear transparent convex lens which magnifies the decoration on the top face 7 of the body part 4.

This gives an interesting and entertaining effect.

During consumption the transparent layer is gradually diminished thereby altering the lens effect of the clear transparent layer upon the decoration. Therefore, the lollypop 10 not only creates enhanced interest amongst consumers in the marketplace, but also during consumption. It is of course to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A confectionery product comprising a body of edible confectionery material having decoration applied to at least one surface thereof wherein a transparent layer of edible confectionery is applied over the decoration on the surface of the said body, said 5 layer being configured to act as a lens for viewing of the decoration.

2. A confectionery product according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises an Àe - À edible compressed particulate material.

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3. A confectionery product according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body is À -- -

opaque. À..- 10

4. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the body has Àe À. a hard brittle consistency.

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5. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises at least one acidic component.

6. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the body 15 comprises one or more surfaces.

7. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is generally part spherical with a circular flat surface.

8. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the decoration applied to the body is raised or impressed relative to the at least one surface of 20 the body.

9. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the decoration forms an integral part of the body.

10. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the decoration is applied to the body as a layer.

11. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the transparent layer of the product is a hard candy layer.

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12. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the transparent layer is such that the decoration can be viewed therethrough.

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13. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the I. À transparent layer is coextensive with the at least one surface of the body.

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14. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the e-. 10 transparent layer is generally domed shaped.

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15. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the Àe À. À transparent layer defines a convex lens having a magnifying effect.

16. A confectionery product according to any preceding claim, wherein the product is a lollipop. 15

17. A confectionery product substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2.