GB2578636A - New snow globe effect product - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a mixture intended for human consumption comprises a hollow substantially translucent main body 1, an opening 2, a neck portion 9 into which an internal object 6 comprising a visual portion 7 and a fixing portion 8 is fitted leaving an unblocked portion (10, figure 3) of the opening 2 and a lid 4 that is affixed removably to the neck portion 9 sealing the unblocked portion of the opening. The container may contain a mixture of a colourless liqueur and flakes of a noble edible metal. The flakes in the liqueur produce a snow globe effect.

Description

New Snow Globe Effect Product This invention relates to snow globe style products and more particularly to a new snow globe effect product.

The invention relates to a container suitable for forming the basis of a snow globe effect product and a snow globe effect product formed with the container.

Conventionally snow globes, also referred to as waterglobes, snowstorms or snowdomes, consist of a permanently sealed container comprising a clear substantially spherical-shaped hollow main body and a base element affixed to main body used (in conjunction with the external surface of the main body) to seal the container; the base element also allowing the container to sit stationary on a flat surface. The container contains a solid two or three-dimensional internal object (such as an image/model of a building or figure) that is either affixed to or forms part of the base element, with the other space within the container taken up by a mixture of a liquid (commonly a combination of water and glycerine/glycol) and a solid particulate to imitate "snow flakes" (commonly small pieces of white plastic). When the container is shaken, the movement of the "snow flakes" within the liquid imitates the effect of snow fall or snow circulating within the air.

The two-dimensional and three-dimensional internal objects are made by known processes, such as printing for two-dimensional images or injection moulding for three-dimensional models.

The liquid/solid particulate mixture within conventional snow globes is traditionally not drinkable. Indeed, the mixture can be poisonous.

The invention relates to a cost effective container suitable for forming the basis of a snow globe effect product that is openable and contains a mixture intended for human consumption and such a snow globe effect product formed with the container.

This specification will make reference to the accompanying drawings (Figures 1 to 5) to assist with explaining the invention. Dotted lines are used to give an idea of boundaries between different portions of an object, single pointed arrows are used to point to particular features (save with respect to 7 and 8 where they are used to give an idea of portions of an object falling one side or another of a boundary) and double pointed arrows are used to given an idea of where measurements are taken from and to.

To minimise production costs, it is proposed that an existing openable bottle made from material(s) suitable for the storage of substances intended for human consumption form the basis of the container, wherein: the hollow main body of the bottle (in which the majority of the substance is stored) is substantially translucent sufficient to allow the internal object to be visible; the bottle contains one opening; the bottle has a neck portion extending outwards from the main body and forming the opening; and the bottle is openable by way of the removal of a lid element that affixes removably to the neck by known methods and seals the opening. An example of a suitable bottle can be seen (without limitation) in Figures 1 and 2, which comprises a substantially translucent hollow main body (1), an opening (2), a neck (9) that extends outwards from the main body (1) and forms the opening (2) and a lid (3) that can repeatedly affixed removably to the outside of the neck (9) and subsequently removed by way of screwing and unscrewing. Preferably, the hollow main body is spherical or substantially spherical so as to best imitate the shape of conventional snow globes. In one preferred embodiment, the main body and neck are made from PET and the lid is made from PP. The invention envisages that the lid comprise a sufficient external flat surface (4) to allow the container to sit stationary on a flat surface (5) or that a separate base element for the container to sit in be manufactured using known methods for such purpose.

In the invention, the bottle contains a solid or sufficiently solid internal object (6) fitted within it, comprising what will be referred to as a visual portion (7) with a cross-sectional diameter never exceeding the minimum cross-sectional diameter of the inside of the neck (9) and what will be referred to as a fixing portion (8) with a maximum cross-sectional diameter (8CSD) that at least in places is the same as or sufficiently equivalent to the minimum cross-sectional diameter of the inside of the neck. The wording sufficiently equivalent in recognises that there may be an element of flexibility in materials used. Preferably, the internal object (6) is made of known material(s) suitable to come into contact with substances intended for human consumption, recyclable and sturdy plastics.

In production, the internal object (6) would be inserted into the bottle by way of the visual portion entering the opening (2) first and being fitted into the bottle by way of the fixing portion (8) sitting tightly within the neck (9). Preferably, for better fixing, the length of the fixing portion (8L) should be the same as or substantially the same as the height (9H) of the opening portion (9). Preferably, for better and easier fixing, the cross-sectional diameter (8CSD) of the fixing portion (8) should be consistent or substantially consistent and the cross-sectional diameter of the inside of the neck (9) should along its entire height (9H) be the same as or substantially the same as the cross-sectional diameter (2CSD) of the inside of the opening (2).

The maximum length (7L) of the visual portion (7) of the internal object (6) must be no longer than the height (1 H) of the translucent main body (1). Preferably, for better stability, the length of the visual portion of the internal object (7L) should be the same as or sufficiently equivalent to the height of the main body (1 H). Preferably, the length (7L) of the visual portion (7) of the internal object (6) should be no shorter than the height (1 H) of the main body (1) minus the height (9H) of the neck (9) to prevent the internal object (6) being pushed completely through the neck (9) and completely inside the translucent main body (1) on production.

With the internal object (6) fitted into the bottle, there should remain an unblocked portion (10) of the opening (2) to allow a mixture to be filled into the container through the unblocked portion (10) and the lid (3) subsequently affixed removably to the neck (9) and, conversely, the lid (3) to be removed from the container and a mixture to he dispensed from the container. In production, it is suggested that the internal object (6) is fitted into the bottle before the mixture is filled into the container. The internal object (6) on fitting should he suitably sterile.

Preferably, to allow cost effective production of the internal object (6) with a notable three-dimensional effect and for better and more stable fitting of the internal object (6) into the neck (9), the internal object (6) is formed by way of two separate laser cut elements (11 and 12) being fitted into each other transversely by way of each of the elements (11 and 12) incorporating a male connector portion (13 and 14) that is inserted into the corresponding female connector portion (16 and 15 respectively) in the other element such that the two elements (11 and 12) fit together and each contribute to the fixing portion (6) such that the fixing portion (6) can be fitted into the bottle by way of at least four contact points between the fixing portion (6) and the inside of the neck (9). Forming of the internal object (6) in this preferred way allows for cost effective production of variations of the internal object (6) (such as personalised internal objects). Fitting of the internal object (6) into the bottle in this preferred manner also has the added advantage that the channels formed that end at the unblocked portion (10) aid accurate and measured dispensing of a mixture from the container. In one preferred embodiment, the laser cut elements (11 and 12) are laser cut from sheets of Perspex with a thickness of at least 2mm.

The invention envisages a snow globe effect product formed with the container containing any mixture of substances intended and fit for human consumption and that can reasonably be used to create a substantially equivalent effect to conventional snow globes when shaken. The substance can be filled into the container by known methods.

Preferably, the product contains a mixture of a drinkable fluid and an edible particulate that does not dissolve within or otherwise react with the fluid so as to render the mixture no longer fit for human consumption or no longer able to create a substantially equivalent effect to conventional snow globes when shaken, or does not have a material impact on either of these matters within generally accepted suitable shelf-life periods for similar mixtures. Preferably, there will be no material effect on either of these matters within six months after production.

In one preferred embodiment, the particulate used as part of the mixture is made of a noble edible metal. In one preferred embodiment, the particulate used as part of the mixture consists of gold flakes. In one preferred embodiment, the particulate used as part of the mixture consists of a colourant comprising potassium aluminium silicate and titanium dioxide.

In one preferred embodiment, the fluid used as part of the mixture consists of an alcoholic drink. In one preferred embodiment, the fluid used as part of the mixture consists of an alcoholic drink that is substantially translucent sufficient to allow the internal object (6) to be visible. In one preferred embodiment, so that after the container is shaken the particulate remains suspended within the fluid for longer creating, after shaking, a substantially equivalent effect to conventional snow globes for longer, the fluid used as part of the mixture consists of an alcoholic drink with a density of at least 1.04 g/cm3.

In one preferred embodiment, the container will contain a mixture (17) of a colourless liqueur and gold flakes of 23-carats or higher.

The invention ensures in a cost effective manner (without limitation) an important aspect of the new snow globe effect product: that the internal object does not move around within the container and is not liable to fall out of the container when opening for dispensing.

A container produced in the format of conventional snow globes would not be suitable for forming the basis of a snow globe effect product that is openable and contains a mixture intended for human consumption. The invention overcomes a number of issues that would arise were such a snow globe effect product sought to be produced in the format of conventional snow globes. In particular, it avoids issues that could arise due to the internal object being affixed permanently to or forming part of the base. For example: The invention avoids potential issues with the internal object interfering with the removable fixation method between the neck and the lid (such as the internal object 160 preventing/restricting the ability to screw a lid onto the neck).

The invention avoids potential issues, were the internal object glued to the inside of the lid by way of known food safe adhesives, with the contained mixture interfering with the bond between the internal object and the lid such that the internal object becomes detached from the lid and is liable to move around within the container and/or fall out of the container on dispensing the mixture from the container. The internal object cannot be fitted into the lid in the same way that the invention envisages the internal object (6) is fitted into the neck (9) due to potential issues with the internal object interfering with the removable fixation method between the neck and the lid. 1 70

The invention avoids the substantial cost that would be incurred in producing an all-inone lid and internal object by way of injection moulding or other known methods for creating such a single form item.

1 75 The invention avoids the potential issue of the contained mixture dripping/falling from the internal object and creating mess due to it having to be removed from the container every time the lid was removed and being liable to carry some of the mixture with it (particularly in preferred embodiments where the container contains a mixture of a drinkable fluid and an edible particulate).

Claims (2)

1. Claims 1 A container for a mixture intended for human consumption comprising a hollow substantially translucent main body, an opening, a neck portion into which an internal object comprising a visual portion and a fixing portion is fitted leaving an unblocked portion of the opening and a lid that is affixed removably to the neck portion sealing the unblocked portion of the opening.
2. 2. A container as described in claim 1, containing a mixture of a colourless liqueur and flakes of a noble edible metal.