GB2428553A

GB2428553A - Drinking system comprising an edible container

Info

Publication number: GB2428553A
Application number: GB0615340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tim Furlong; Darren Hurst
Original assignee: BRAND21 Ltd
Current assignee: BRAND21 Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-03
Filing date: 2006-08-02
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0615340D0; GB0515971D0

Abstract

A drinking system comprises a container assembly having an inner container 10 which may be cylindro-conical, of edible material which may be packaged in a hygiene wrapping 20, and an outer container 30 which supports the inner container. The wrapping may be of light-weight flexible material, shaped and dimensioned such that the edible container fits in it reasonably snugly but can be readily removed, and may be heat shrunk onto the inner container. Cut-outs 21, or projecting ears may allow the inner container to be grasped for easy removal. Perforations 22 down its side may allow the wrapping to be torn away from the inner container. The wrapping may extend above the rim of the inner container around at least part of the rim, so that it can be turned outwardly and downwardly over the rim of the outer container. The wrapping may be coloured and/or printed with informative and/or attractive data and/or graphics. The outer container frame may have cut-outs 31, deeper than the cut-outs in the wrapping, to allow it to be grasped for easy removal, and a hole 32 in its base. A set of containers, each in its own wrapping, may be arranged in a tray or stacked in a column.

Description

Drinking System The present invention relates to drinking systems.

There are many devices used for drinking. For wines, there is a great variety of wine glasses; for beers, there are mugs and straight glasses; and for tea and coffee, there are various forms of cup.

For many drinks, the beverage is uniform; it is the straight beverage and nothing else, all the way through. But there are also many drinks where a mixture of tastes is desired or provided and is achieved by some form of physical separa- tion. With some beers, the formation of a head of froth on top of the main body of liquid is desirable; with coffee, a separate layer of cream on top of the dark coffee may be provided, or sugar crystals may be added so that a sweetened layer forms at the bottom of the cup; and with cocktails, various items may be added such as slices of fruit, a small onion, or a frosting of salt around the rim of the glass.

The object of the present invention is to provide a drinking system offering a further technique for mixing tastes. a a

* According to the invention there is provided a drinking system comprising * 25 a container assembly having an inner container of edible material and an outer a container which supports the inner container. Preferably the inner container is of : *** chocolate or other confectionery. Preferably also the inner container is packaged "a.

in a hygiene packaging. Further preferred features are described below. a. . * S.

The edible container will normally be supplied in its wrapping. For use, it * will be placed (still in its wrapping) in the outer container and then filled with S. S

S a... a...

S S *S'.

liquid (typically, a spirit such as vodka). The drinker will then drink the liquid and more or less simultaneously remove the edible container from its wrapping and frame and eat it. The wrapping will be suitably disposed of; the outer container will remain for re-use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be given by way of example and with reference to the drawing, which is an exploded view of a drinking system.

Referring to the drawing, the drinking system comprises three main elements: an edible container 10, a wrapping or hygiene packaging 20, and an outer container or support frame 30. The system is intended primarily for use with spirits such as vodka.

The edible container 10 is made of hard chocolate, preferably of the type used for pre-formed food products such as chocolate bowls for ice cream, fruit, etc. Flavourings and/or small particles of distinctive taste and/or consistency may be incorporated into the chocolate,. The container can conveniently be of cylin- dro-conical shape; convenient dimensions are 50 mm high, 45 mm top diameters, and 35 mm bottom diameter.

The wrapping 20 is of light-weight flexible material, shaped and dimen- * sioned such that the edible container will fit in it reasonably snugly but can be readily removed. The wrapping has cut-outs 21 to allow the container 10 to be * grasped for easy removal; it may also have perforations 22 down its side to allow * 25 it to be torn away from the container. The perforations may be either longitudinal as shown or helical, and may extend partially or wholly round the edge of the : ***, base. **** * S.. * * *5SS

The wrapping may extend above the rim of the container around at least * *5 * 30 part of the rim, so that it can be turned outwardly and downwardly over the rim of S..

the container, again to make it easier to remove the container from the wrapping. *. . S...

S S *.

As an alternative to the cut-outs 21, the wrapping may have upwardly projecting ears which can be grasped in order to pull the wrapping off the container 10.

In one preferred form, the wrapping is applied around the edible container and then heated, eg by a hot air blast, to shrink it onto the container (shrink-wrap).

The wrapping can be coloured and/or printed with informative and/or attractive data and/or graphics.

The containers will normally be provided in sets, each container in its own wrapping. The containers may be arranged in a tray, or stacked in a column.

The support frame 30 is of reasonably stout and rigid material, such as is metal or rigid plastics material which will withstand repeated handling and pressing against drinks dispensers (optics) in bar environments. It is shaped and dimensioned such that the edible container with its wrapping will fit in it reasonably snugly but can be readily removed; the rim of the edible container should be slightly below the rim of the support frame.

The frame has cut-outs 31 to allow the contaer 10 to be grasped for easy removal; these cut-outs are preferably deeper than the cut-outs in the wrapping.

The frame 30 also has a hole 32 in its base, to allow the container 10 to be pushed upwards to remove it from the frame. This hole also provides drainage for any * 25 liquid that may spill between the edible container and the support frame. * ** * * * **.* * * * * p. * . * S. * S.. S. * 5..

S S S...

Claims

Claims s 1 A drinking system comprising a container assembly having an

inner con- tainer of edible material and an outer container which supports the inner container.
2 A drinking system according to claim I wherein the inner container is of chocolate or other confectionery. i0
3 A drinking system according to either previous claim wherein the inner container is of cylindro-conical shape.
4 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the inner is container is packaged in a hygiene wrapping.
A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping is of light-weight flexible material, shaped and dimensioned such that the edible container will fit in it reasonably snugly but can be readily removed.
6 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping p has cut-outs to allow the inner container to be grasped for easy removal.

*
7 A drinking system according to any of claims I to 5 wherein the wrapping * 25 has upwardly projecting ears which can be grasped in order to pull the wrapping * off the inner container.
8 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping I...

also has perforations down its side to allow it to be torn away from the inner * 30 container.

S * 0sS * ,
9 A drinking system according to claim 8 wherein the perforations are either longitudinal or helical, and extend partially or wholly round the edge of the base.
A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping S extends above the rim of the inner container around at least part of the rim, so that it can be turned outwardly and downwardly over the rim of the container.
11 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping is applied around the inner container and then heated to shrink it onto the container.
12 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the wrapping is coloured and/or printed with informative and/or attractive data and/or graphics.
13 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the outer container frame has cut-outs to allow the container to be grasped for easy removal.
14 A drinking system according to claim 13 wherein the cut-outs are deeper than the cut-outs in the wrapping.
15 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the outer : container has a hole in its base.

:*
16 A drinking system according to any previous claim wherein the outer * container frame has cut-outs to allow the inner container to be grasped for easy * 25 removal.

: *
17 A set of containers as defined above, each in its own wrapping, arranged in r a tray or stacked in a column. * S.. * *.
18 A drinking system substantially as herein described. *SS

S S. S

S S.'. S...
19 Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention). * U. * * * * *.. * U **.. * ** * U * * *. * **. * * U... ** * U S...