US2234013A - Frozen confection, container therefor, and method of removing contents - Google Patents

Description

R. STOVER 2,234,013.

FROZEN CONFECTION; CONTAINER THEREFOR, AND METHOD OF REMOVING QONTENTS March 4, 1941.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1938 INVENTOR. RUSSELL STOVER.

1! BY I vi i ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1941. RSTOVER 2,234,013

' FROZEN CONFECTION, CONTAINER THEREFOR, AND METHOD' OF REMOVING CONTENTS Filed Jime 'l0, 1938 1 2 smu -ghee '2 v 2" n L k ,.-/I

2 1 INVENTOR.

RUSSELL S TOVER ATTORNEY.-

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FROZEN CONFECTION, CONTAINER THERE FOR, AND METHOD OF REMOVING CON- TENTS Russell Stover, Kansas City, Mo.

Application .i'une 10, 1938, Serial No. 212,916 I 6 Claims.

'of may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of improved containers and a method of packaging normally liquid substances frozen to a substantially solid state so as to be vendible in premeasured uniform quantities or units without entailing any appreciable time, labor, or equip-. ment expense.

Edible substances such as normally liquid compositions frozen or refrigerated for conversion into confections or sundaes have become inc'reasingly popular for dispensing over the counter, but the objectionable feature thereof from a commercial standpoint is in the inability to pre-measure a quantity or unit to be dispensed for each order. As a result, accurate control of profits on compositions of this character that require preparation on order for immediate consumption over the counter, is impossible when such are vended in the usual manner known in the art. In fact, there is appreclable waste and surplus quantities prepared for each consumer because of the inability of the attendant to premeasure such with any degree of accuracy or uniformity within the time allotted therefor. This substantially diminishes the profits otherwise realizable from such vendible compositions and, in fact, often results in a loss or at least requires the vendor to place a rather high price upon such refrigerated compositions sold in the form of drinks, sodas, sundaes or other types of frozen confections.

Pre-measured units have heretofore been commercially exploited in the form of a roll or cylindrical molds of pre-measured quantity and size, but such requires an investment in expensive machinery which is elaborate in design and utilizes a great deal of floor space so that only large ice cream manufacturers can avail themselves of this equipment. It is now proposed to accomplish the same results in a much more inexpensive manner without any special equipment and to further limit the expense that approximates or is even less than the usual packaging processes now used in the'preparation of ice cream. With the teachings of the present invention, it is contemplated to employ a paper container that serves as a mold and also as a wrapper to enable the simple handlingot pre- 7' measured units in a clean and sanitary manner.

One object of the present invention is to pro- 'vide' an improved method for forming premeasured units of normally liquid substances frozen to a substantially solid state.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive container means serving as a mold for normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state and constituting the wrapper mp for a multiple of units thereof.

Still another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive container of improved construction that serves as a mold for preparing pre-measured units of normally liquid substances frozen to a substantially solid state.

A further object is to provide an elongated collapsible container having vent-holes to permit the filling thereof with a plastic freeze to serve as a mold therefor and to constitute a wrapper for multiple units thereof.

A still further object is to provide an elongated paper container having calibrated dividing lines thereon and provided with vent holesto permit the filling thereof with a plastic freeze to serve as a mold therefor and to constitute a wrapper for multiple frozen units thereof.

Still a further object is to provide an elongated paper container having a longitudinal double wall that is adapted for slitting a longitudinal flap or flaps therealong to serve as an unravelling expedient after being filled with normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state and segregated into multiple units.

An additional object is to provide improved container slitting and guide means to provide flap means for container removal from its selfsustaining and form-retaining contents.

Other objects and advantages will appearfrom the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

container filled with normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state together with a special mitre box for effecting the segregation thereof into multiple units.

vention.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IX-IX of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a container slitting device for use 'inconjunction with the container shown in Figure 8 after being filled and the contents has been rendered self-sustaining and form-retaining.

Figure 11 is a sectional fragmentary view of a filled container constructed similar to that shown in Figure 8 and after being slitted by a device similar to that shown'in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an end view of the filled container shown in Figure 8 with a modified cutting mechanism applied thereto for longitudinal slitting along the median line of the double wall portion.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 12, parts thereof being shown in section to clarify the showing.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a sectional perspective view of a multiple unit cut transversely from the container after being filled, frozen and slitted preparatory to removal of, the wrapper which formerly constituted a part of the container.

The structure selected for illustration exemplifles a method of i'orming pre-measured units of normally liquid tially solid state. It comprises essentially the provisionof an elongated container l0 prepared preferably though not essentially from glazed paper that renders such impervious to a plastic freeze which is to be poured therein and frozen to a substantially solid state. The container I0 is provided with the usual bottom flap II and preferably though not essentially having a serrated or fringed overlapping edge l2. The front and rear walls l3 and I4, respectively, are sep arated by end walls lland l6 that are longitudinally creased along a median line thereof as at H and iii to render the container in collapsible to assume a fiat position that is compact for packing and shipment to the desired destination (Figures 1 and 2).

As shown, the collapse of the container ill with the bottom flap l I adjacent to and in parallelism with the rear wall I, brings of the front wall I! inwardly and correspondingly below the edge 26 of the rear wall I (Figure 1).. The .side walls I! and I6 of the collapsed container III are simultaneously disposed inwardly along their median crease lines l1 and! that approach each other between the forward and rearward walls I! and I4. As shown. the mouth edges i9-20 may be serrated or fringed depending upon the dictates of commercial practice, and

the size of the component parts of the container Ill may be varied within a wide range to meet any commercial requirements.

In order to enable the container III to be units. from which the conapertures of material frozen to a substan- .nal severance by pulling the ing top line 26' the mouth edge l9 liquid material that filled therewith, the bottom fiap H is preferably though not-essentially provided with vent holes or apertures 2| and 22, in this instance two, that are punched or otherwise provided therein so as to extend entirely through the confronting front walls l3 and 14, these being minute apertures topermit the escape of air as the bag is filled with the plastic freeze which is frozen or otherwise is discharged from the customary freezer or other source of supply.

The restricted apertures or vent holes 2| and 22 are of such small size as to preclude the discharge of the plastic substance therethrough, but permits theescape of air which is essential or preferable-to properly fill the container"). Then, too, the apertures 2| and 22 are disposed sufllciently close to the outside edges of the front and rear walls l3 and I4 so as to pierce the overlying the end walls l5 and. I6 when collapsed, thereby providing apertures 23 and 24 (Figure 6) in the side walls proximate to the bottom ll affording additional venting without any further punching operations.

The rear wall It is preferably though not essentialiy provided with an overlapping seam 25 adhesively or otherwise attached together to form the enclosed container ill from a fiat sheet of paper. The opposite front wall i3 is provided interiorly with 26' to define a double wall in connection with the adjacent wall I3 to extend longitudinally for the entire length thereof (Figure 1). The paper strap 26 is'of stronger material than the wall I3 of the container Ill and may only be adhesively j'oined thereto by adhesive spots 21 extending and spaced along the side edges of the strap 26. To enable the strap 26 to serve as 'a container severing element, the container wall l3 may be. perforated along a longitudinal median line 21 to define a line of weakness and effect longituditear strap 26. It will be apparent that with the filling of the container ill with a plastic freeze to the top of the container III which may have a measure indicatinscribed thereon, the container Ill will assume a cylindrical shape (Figure 3') owing to the presence of the plastic freeze content 28 that is poured therein.

'Thereupon, the container walls beyond thefilling line 26' serve as flaps 29 to enclose the normal opening, these being retained in position owing to the adhesion of the paper to the plastic in may have the with transverse lines v3i], 3|, 32, 33 and the correspondingly spaced top filling line 26' which will divide the elongated container III with its contents into a plurality a comparatively wider paper strap is to be frozen to a substantially solid state and to render such easily of pre-measured units (Figuaes 6 and '7) along which the entire container and its contents can be cut or otherwise severed in any manner found expedient in production operations. In the present embodiment, the calibrations 20', a, u. u,

and 33 may be dispensed with and a severing guide substituted in lieu thereof. One form of severing guide may consist of a mitre box having a base 35 with an upstanding ledge 36 to whichside members 31 and 38 are attached. The side members 31 and 38 are disposed vertically in spaced parallelism for attachment to the upstanding base ledge 36 by means of suitable fas teners 39. An end member 40 isattached in a manner similar to the side members 3138 to define a rectangular compartment with the aid of corner brackets 4| attached thereto in any suitable or convenient manner.

As shown, the side members 31-38 are provided with transversely aligned knife receiving vertical slots 42 and 43 extending downwardly therein to the upper service of the base ledge 36 to serve as guides for a suitable severing device such as a heavy knife which may be thrust therein to cut through the container l and its contents 28 which are disposed between the side members 31-38. To this end, the horizontally aligned slots 42-43 may be spaced uniformly along the length of the side members 3'i38 so as to determine the size of the pre-measured units 28' (Figures 6 and 7).

The length thereof may be varied depending upon the dictates of commercial practice and the content form to be shaped with each serving or unit. severing units may be utilized such as circular saws disposed and uniformly displaced along a rotating shaft which turns the severing saws at high speeds in the path of the filled containers It by resort to suitable feeding equipment for that purpose. Each of the units that are divided bylines Ed-3E3, 3@3i, 3i-32, and 32-33 may be conveniently calibrated into sub-units by multiple markings 3% which are equi-distantly spaced to dissect quarter units; however, this may be varied within a wide range depending upon the dictates of commercial practice and the servings which are desired from the complete container iii.

After the container it with its contents has been frozen and segregated into the desired multiple or pre-measure'd units by any well known severing operation, it will be foundthat each of the units are provided with a wrapper which formerly served as part of the container M. It will be observed that the multiple units are severed from the initial container it while the latter is still kept intact in conjunction with the strap 25 that is adhesively or otherwise joined thereto. Consequently the wrapper of each multiple unit can be removed by merely exerting a pull on the strap 2% connected therewith.

it will be apparent that after the severing strip 26 has separated the container it} along the perforate line of weakness N, the adjacent severed container edges will extend from each of the multiple units outwardly to present pulling flaps enabling the wrapper removal from the hardened contents 28 so as to render such free for disposition in a dish, cone or other receptacle for consumption or further processing as commercial practice may dictate. It will be apparent that a simple and inexpensive method has been provided to produce pre-measured units of normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state without requiring any expensive equipment or entailing any appreciable time or involving any skill in the molding process.

In the modified embodiment disclosed in Figures 8 to 14 inclusive, the container [0 has a reinforcing strip 26" attached to the interior of the container wall l3 by applying a narrow adhesive ribbon 21" along both side edges of the reinforcing strip 26" for the entire length of the container ID. The plastic freeze 28' is then poured into the container H) as it is discharged from the funnel attached freezer or other producing device until filled. Thereupon, the flaps 29 are turned over and the container ill with its contents 28' placed in a hardening room to render such selfsustaining and form-retaining.

When desired for use, the frozen container 10 with its contents 28 may be slitted along a longitudinal median line of the reinforcing strip 26" of the wall l3 so as to cut entirely clear through and present finger grasping flaps M and 65 which are part of the container It. The reinforcing strip 26" is also calibrated into two portions (Figure 11) and adhere to the plastic freeze 28; however, the flaps it and it are free to be grasped for exerting a pull thereon in order to easily remove the container it) which serves as a wrapper for the contents 28'. Longitudinal slitting is or that its vital knife edge 53 will be disposed with-.

in the housing at in the path of the container 88 as it is displaced therethrough. .The housing as is provided witha divergently flared flange] as preferably though not essentially formed integral with the cylindrical housing 38 so as to serve as an opening to quickly receive the bottom end of the container it! with its frozen contents 23' to efiect slitting of the double wall portion of the container it defined by the wall l3 that is interiorly confronted by the adhesively joined reinforcing strip 26".

Another form of severing device may constitute the modified structure shown in Figures 12 to 14 wherein the confronting ears ta carry a blade 52 by means of the screw studs or fasteners at and 58' so that the pointed severing edge 53' will be in the path of the container 50' and its contents 28. In this instance, however, the cars 59' terminate in arcuate extensions or flanges 33' which conform in curvature with the exterior contour of the filled container it so as to serve as a guide in displacing the knife edge 53' along the container it and its reinforcing strip 26" when the ears lit are grasped by the attendants fingers and moved longitudinally along the container ill within the limits of the reinforcing strip 26''.

This accomplishes the same purpose as the device shown in Figure 10, and the severing instrumentalities may take a variety of forms and may.

. with. This presents freely projecting and nonadhering flaps ti -i5 that can be pulled to remove the container l 0 that defines a wrapper for multiple units after being segmented in any suitable manner such as described in connection with tations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A package for normally liquid material frozen to-a substantially solid state comprising an elongated paper container folded to normally assume a fiat collapsed position along predetermined creaselines, elongated overlapping portions on said container. presenting a longitudinal double wall along the length-thereof, said overlapping portions being adhesively edge joined to present two confronting adjacent thicknesses of paper free from each other except at the longitudinal edges 7 of adhesive attachment, said adjacent thicknesses of paper along said container being longitudinally cut through a median line thereof to present pairs of internal and external flaps to facilitate content removal by exerting a pull on the exterior confronting flaps.

2. A package for normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state comprising an elongated paper container folded to normally assume a fiat collapsed position along predetermined crease lines, there being air vent openings in said container to permit the escape of air therethrough when the container is being filled with contents, predetermined markings 'on the exterior of said container, said markings being calibrated along the length thereof to designate predetermined units therealong, and an elongated longitudinal member adhesively joined along its side edge to a wall of said container for enabling the severance of said container to facilitate content removal.

double wall portion along said container. to present confronting pairs of flaps responsive to severance along a longitudinal median line to facilitate the separation of said container from the contents.

4. A package for normally liquid material frozen to a substantially solid state comprising an elongated paper container folded to normally assume a fiat collapsed position along predetermined crease lines, there being air vent openings in said container to permit the escape of air therethrough when the container is being filled with contents, and a longitudinal paper reinforcement adhesively joined to said container to present a spaced double wall portion, said container being provided with said double wall for severance along a longitudinal median line thereof to define confronting pairs of flaps to facilitate the finger manipulated separated thereof from the contents.

5. A package for normally liquid material frozen to a substantial solid state comprising an elongated paper container folded to normally assume a fiat collapsed position along predetermined crease lines, there being air vent openings in said container to permit the escape of air therethrough when the container is being filled with contents, and alongitudinal paper reinforcement adhesively joined along its edges to said container, said longitudinal paper reinforcement being of material having a greater tearing strength than the paper comprising the container body for presenting an intermediate inadherin region adjacent a wall of said container to facilitate the separation thereof from the contents.

6. A package for normally liquid material frozen to, a substantially solid state comprising an elongated paper container that is not normally selfsustaining or form-retaining folded to normally assume a fiat collapsed position along predetermined crease lines, there being air vent openings in said container to permit the escape of air therethrough when the container is being filled with contents, and a linear double wall region extending for the length of said container, said double walled region presenting spaced walls within the limits thereof to present confrontin pairs of double pulling flaps upon severance therethrough.

' RUSSELL STOVER.

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