US20060040019A1

US20060040019A1 - Combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker

Info

Publication number: US20060040019A1
Application number: US10/922,897
Authority: US
Inventors: Al Cecere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-23
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2006-02-23

Abstract

A novelty device formed of the combination of a bottle top beverage dispenser and edible candy material which is attachable to a beverage bottle allowing the consumer to simultaneously enjoy and taste the flavors of the candy and a liquid beverage when the device is sucked upon to withdraw the fluid from the bottle and through the candy.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novelties and confections. In particular, the present invention relates to the combination of a beverage drinking top for a bottle including an edible hard candy confectionary in the form of a sucker or lollipop through which the beverage flows.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of novelty items combine a hard candy with a beverage and some of the prior art devices are listed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,899 to Cecere shows a novelty device in the form of a combination drinking straw, beverage bottle cap and a lollipop attached to a beverage bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,980 to Stanger shows a combination straw and candy formed on one end of a straw. The candy is positioned such that it may be placed in a user's mouth and simultaneously function as a lollipop. This enables the user to not only taste the candy, but to sip the liquid material through the straw and thereby enhance the flavor combination.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,036,706 to Law discloses a frozen confection placed on a straw. The confection is lowered into a glass of beverage to cool or flavor the beverage, while allowing a user to entrain the beverage through the straw.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,500,047 to Bias shows the combination of a toy balloon and a lollipop attached to one end thereof. The balloon may be blown up while consuming the lollipop.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,925 to Chambers shows a container attachment for pop bottles. The attachment holds flavoring mixtures or other edible materials so that the contents of the pop bottle are flavored as they pass through the container. The container includes oppositely disposed neck portions, one of which is insertable into the top of a soda bottle and the other which is used as a straw to consume the flavored liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,996,203 to Hollingsworth shows a drinking straw coated with a soluble flavoring material so that the material will flavor the liquid being drawn through the straw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novelty in the form of a bottle top beverage dispenser and hard candy sucker. A hard candy confection is attached to a standard/conventional threaded beverage bottle cap. This allows a consumer to simultaneously enjoy and taste the flavors of an edible hard candy lollipop type sucker and a liquid beverage, such as, soda pop dispensed through the candy. The candy material dissolves in the consumer's mouth and mixes with the liquid beverage flowing into the mouth to form a flavor combination that enhances both the candy sucker and beverage flavors.
In particular the invention is directed to a novelty device in the form of a combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker including a base, a dispensing tube and an edible candy material. The candy having an upper surface, a bottom surface and a body extending therebetween, the edible candy material being attached on the base and around the dispensing tube so as to enclose the dispensing tube, the dispensing tube including a very small diameter channel running therethrough which permits fluid to be sucked therethrough, but does not allow fluid to be readily poured therethrough. Thus, forcing the user to suck on the candy to dispense the beverage in the bottle.
It is an object of the invention to provide the channel which is between 1-3 mm in diameter and is tapered at one end and enlarged at its opposite dispensing end.
It is another object of the invention to provide a base including an upper surface, an annular sleeve extending downwardly therefrom, wherein the sleeve has internal threads to facilitate connection to a standard threaded beverage bottle and the upper surface provides a support for the edible candy material.
A further aspect of the invention is wherein the dispensing tube includes a series of ribs along the length of its outer surface to facilitate attachment of the edible candy material thereto and preventing erosion of the candy material along the length of the dispensing tube during consumption. The first rib in the series being located at and extends slightly beyond the upper surface of the candy material.
Another object of the invention is to provide a base including an upper surface with means for preventing the candy material from rotating when molded thereon and the edible material is a hard candy confectionary product.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a cover which secures to the base and seals the channel in the dispensing tube with a plug when secured to the base and covers the edible candy.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a consumer using the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the present invention on a beverage bottle.
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the present invention secured to a beverage bottle.
FIG. 4 shows an elevational view of the base of the present invention without the hard candy material secured thereon.
FIG. 5 shows an elevational view of the present invention with a transparent cover attached thereto.
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the present invention with the transparent cover in place.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the transparent cover closing the liquid dispensing opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a combination bottle top beverage dispenser and hard candy sucker device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The device 10 is secured and/or screwed onto a conventional threaded top 12 of a beverage bottle 14. The bottle contains consumable liquid 16. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the combination bottle top beverage dispenser and hard candy sucker device 10 of the present invention includes a base 20, a dispensing tube 22, a hard candy sucker 30 and a cover 40.
Referring to the drawings, the base 20 includes an upwardly extending dispensing tube 22 and downwardly extending annular sleeve 25. The base 20 is dimensioned to screw onto conventional threaded beverage bottles via the sleeve 25 having internal threads 21 which mate with external threads 12 on the bottle 14. The upper surface 33 of the base 20 provides a raised pedestal 23 for supporting the edible hard candy material 30. Located upon pedestal 23 are a series of either projections or recesses 24 which provide a means for preventing the candy 30 from rotating once the candy 30 is molded onto the base 20. A series of ribs 26 are located on the outer surface of the dispensing tube 22. The ribs 26 not only function to prevent candy 30 from pulling off of base 20, but also serve to prevent beverage and saliva from traveling down the outer surface of dispensing tube 22 and eroding the candy 30 away from inside out. The ribs 26 aid in preventing the candy 30 from loosening and separating from the dispensing tube 22 before usage is completed. Should space between the dispensing tube 22 and the candy 30 begin to erode from the top down to the upper surface 33, the series of ribs 26 allow the user to continue to simultaneously suck on the candy 30 and sip the liquid beverage 16 without sucking air through the eroded space. This is because the next lower rib 26 will still be intact with the candy 30 despite the fact that erosion may cause separation between the candy and the upper rib. As can be seen, the top rib 26 a is even or protrudes slightly from the hard candy 30 and the rib 26 b is spaced therebelow.
It will be appreciated that the base 20, dispensing tube 22 and sleeve 25 may be integrally formed as a single molded piece from various plastics, such as polypropylene. The hard candy 30 is formed over the portion of the dispensing tube 22 which extends beyond the upper surface 33 of the base 20 using conventional candy making/molding techniques so that it lies on or above the upper surface 33 of the base 20. The dispensing tube 22 includes a very small diameter channel 28 to allow/restrict the flow of fluid transmission therethrough. The small diameter channel 28 functions to control the rate at which fluid flows out of the bottle 14. That is the larger the diameter the less restricted the flow will be. The diameter ranges between approximately 1-3 mm. This forces the user to suck the fluid 16 out of the bottle 14, instead of allowing the fluid to simply pour out when the bottle is tilted upward for drinking. The channel 28 includes an enlarged opening 29 at its upper end which accepts a plug 42 extending down from the top of the cover 40. The plug 42 becomes recessed in the channel opening 29 to seal the opening shut and prevent fluid flow when the cover 40 is attached to the base 20, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The opposite end of the channel 28 includes a tapered or funnel shaped opening 27 to enhance the fluid flow into the dispensing tube 22.
The cover 40 is made from a transparent plastic permitting the candy 30 to be viewed. As discussed above, the covet 40 includes an internal plug 42 on its top side which seals the channel 28. The cover 40 further includes a means for attachment to the base 20 by screwing or twisting on. The attachment as shown is a threaded attachment system wherein the cover 40 includes female threads 44 and the base 20 includes male threads 45. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any form of attachment, such as, a friction fit or a ribbed friction fit would function just as well.
As best seen in FIG. 6, the cover 40 is spaced from the candy 30 when attached to base 20. The space 48 prevents the candy 30 from becoming attached to the cover 40 during the storage and consumption process when stored thereon during the consumption process. The space 48 is created because the candy 30, when molded onto the base 20, does not cover the entire upper surface 33 and is smaller than the dimensions of the cover. The candy is molded onto a slightly raised pedestal 23 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper surface 33. Thus, the candy extends radially to cover the pedestal 23, but exposes the ends of protrusions 24, while leaving only an annular ring of upper surface 33 radially extending beyond the pedestal and candy mounted thereon. The annular ring is located between the outer surface of threads 45 of base 20 and the outer edge 31 of candy 30. As can also be seen in FIG. 6 the outer diameter 49 of cover 40 is substantially coextensive with the outer diameter 52 of the sleeve 25.
The present invention allows a consumer to simultaneously enjoy and taste the flavors of an edible candy and a liquid beverage. As the candy dissolves, it mixes with the liquid beverage in the mouth. The mixture forms a new combined flavor that enhances both the flavor of the candy and beverage.
It will be appreciated that the candy component of the device may also be made of other candy such as milk chocolate and consumed in combination with a liquid dairy milk beverage. There is no limit as to the candy and beverage flavors which may be combined. The combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker is intended to be sold as a separate unit which may be attached to any type of commercially available beverage bottle with a screw on cap.
It will be further appreciated that the dispensing tube and candy may take many different shapes, sizes, colors or flavors. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as to find in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A novelty device in the form of a combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker comprising:

a base;

a dispensing tube; and

an edible candy material having an upper surface, a bottom surface and a body extending therebetween, the edible candy material being attached on the base and around the dispensing tube so as to enclose the dispensing tube, the dispensing tube including a very small diameter channel running therethrough which permits fluid to be sucked therethrough, but not allowing fluid to be readily poured therethrough.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the channel in the dispensing tube is tapered at one end and enlarged at its opposite dispensing end.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the channel is between approximately 1-3 mm.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the base includes an upper surface, an annular sleeve extending downwardly therefrom, the sleeve having internal threads to facilitate connection to a conventional threaded beverage bottle and the upper surface providing a support for the edible candy material.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tube includes a series of ribs along the length of its outer surface to facilitate attachment of the edible candy material thereto and preventing erosion of the candy material along the length of the dispensing tube during consumption

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a first rib in the series of ribs is located at and extends slightly beyond the upper surface of the candy material.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the base includes an upper surface with means for preventing the candy material from rotating.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the means for preventing rotating is a series of projections on the base which extend into the candy molded thereon.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said edible material is a hard candy confectionary product.

10. The device of claim 1 further including a cover which secures to the base and seals the channel in the dispensing tube when secured to the base.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the cover includes a plug which enters the channel of the dispensing tube to prevent fluid flow when secured to the base.

12. A novelty device in the form of a combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker comprising:

a base;

a dispensing tube; and

an edible candy material having an upper surface, a bottom surface and a body extending therebetween, the edible candy material being attached on the base and around the dispensing tube so as to enclose the dispensing tube, the dispensing tube including a channel running therethrough which permits fluid to be sucked therethrough, but not allowing fluid to be readily poured therethrough; and a cover which attaches to the base to enclose the candy and seal the channel.

13. A novelty device in the form of a combination bottle top beverage dispenser and candy sucker comprising:

a base;

a dispensing tube; and

an edible candy material having an upper surface, a bottom surface and a body extending therebetween, the edible candy material being attached on the base and around the dispensing tube so as to enclose the dispensing tube, the dispensing tube including channel running therethrough and an outer surface with a series of ribs along the length thereof to facilitate attachment of the edible candy material thereto and preventing erosion of the candy material along the length of the dispensing tube during consumption.