WO2009136917A1

WO2009136917A1 - Device for making frozen confections

Info

Publication number: WO2009136917A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/062814
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angela R. Markum
Original assignee: Markum Angela R
Priority date: 2008-05-07
Filing date: 2008-05-07
Publication date: 2009-11-12

Abstract

A device (100) for making frozen confections according to the present invention includes a flexible container (110) having a plurality of compartments (112), each compartment (112) having an upper end (112a)that may be selectively sealed and opened. The compartments (112) are laterally connected to one another along lines of perforation (113) for selectively separating the compartments (112) from one another. A funnel (120) is connected to the upper ends (112a) of the compartments (112) for guiding a liquid into respective compartments (112) when respective ends are open. The upper ends (112a) include a zip lock mechanism (130) for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends (112a).

Description

DEVICE FOR MAKING FROZEN CONFECTIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to frozen confections and, more particularly, to a device for making frozen confections.

Traditional frozen popsicles (also known as "freezer pops") have been enjoyed by many people throughout the years. Frozen popsicles typically consist of fruit juice or flavored water that has been frozen on a stick or in a flexible container for storage in a freezer until a consumer is ready to consume it. These confections are typically purchased in the frozen foods section of a grocery store, transported to a consumer's home, and stored in a freezer.

Various devices have been proposed in the art that enable a consumer to make his own frozen popsicle. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices either include several component parts that may be easily misplaced or are unable to make multiple popsicles with efficient speed and in a manner in which they may be stored together yet easily separated when desired.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device for making frozen confections that minimizes preparation time and minimizes the potential for spillage. Further, it would be desirable to have a device for making frozen confections that provides for preparation of multiple popsicles that may be easily separated when desired. In addition, it would be desirable to have a device for making frozen confections that does not include multiple component parts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for making frozen confections according to the present invention includes a flexible container having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened. The compartments are laterally connected to one another along lines of perforation for selectively separating the compartments from one another. A funnel is connected to the upper ends of the compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when respective ends are open. The upper ends include a zip lock mechanism for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a device for making frozen confections that includes a flexible bag having a plurality of compartments into which a liquid may be guided and later frozen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for making frozen confections, as aforesaid, in which the compartments are connected laterally by lines of perforation for selectively separating the compartments when desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for making frozen confections, as aforesaid, in which the compartments may be selectively sealed and opened.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for making frozen confections, as aforesaid, which includes a funnel for efficiently guiding a liquid into the compartments without spillage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for making frozen confections, as aforesaid, that is easy to use and cost-effective to manufacturer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device for making frozen confections according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a a perspective view of a single compartment separated from the device for making frozen confections as in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device for making frozen confections as in Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A device 100 for making frozen confections (e.g., frozen popsicles) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 through 3 of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a device 100 according to the current invention includes a container 110 having a plurality of compartments 112. Each compartment 112 has an upper end 112a that may be selectively sealed and opened.

The container 110 may be flexible and include first and second sheets 114a, 114b of material (e.g., a flexible plastic) coupled together to define the plurality of compartments 112. In one embodiment, the first and second sheets 114a, 114b of material are coupled together by a heat sealing process, though other appropriate coupling methods may additionally or alternately be used. As shown in Fig. 1, the compartments 112 may be laterally connected to one another along lines of perforation 115 so that the compartments 112 may be selectively separated from one another. In other words, the first and second sheets 114a, 114b of material may include lines of perforation 115 and the compartments 112 may be selectively separable from one another along the lines of perforation 115. It should be understood that the first and second sheets 114a, 114b may initially be separate from one another or alternately a single sheet that is folded to define the two distinct sheets.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a funnel 120 may be coupled to the upper ends 112a of the plurality of compartments 112 for guiding a liquid into respective compartments 112 when the upper ends 112a are open. The funnel 120 may be adjacent the upper ends 112a in various ways. In one embodiment, the funnel 120 may be constructed separate from the container 110 and attached thereto. In another embodiment, the first and second sheets may collectively define the funnel 120.

Means for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends 112a of the plurality of compartments 112 may be included. More particularly, a zip lock 130 (a type of tongue and groove fastener as shown in Figs. 1 through 3) or another appropriate fastener may be adjacent the upper ends 112a of the plurality of compartments 112 to selectively seal the upper ends 112a.

In use, a liquid (e.g., a juice or another popsicle mixture) may be introduced to the compartments 112 through the open upper ends 112a. The funnel 120 may ease the introduction of the liquid to the compartments 112 by appropriately directing the flow of the liquid. Once the liquid is in the compartments 112, the zip lock 130 may be utilized to seal the upper ends 112a of the compartments 112. The device 100 may then be placed in a cold environment, such as inside a freezer, and the liquid may solidify into popsicles inside the respective compartments 112. The compartments 112 may have thin walls to allow the liquid to quickly solidify. The respective compartments 112 may be separated along the lines of perforation 115, and the upper ends 112a may be cut (such as by a pair of scissors) to allow the user to access the popsicles without interference from the funnel 120 (Fig. 2). Once the popsicle is eaten or otherwise removed from a respective compartment 112, the compartment 112 may be disposed of.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is as follows:

L A device for making frozen confections, said device comprising a flexible container having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said compartments are laterally connected to one another along lines of perforation for selectively separating said compartments from one another.

3. The device as in claim 2, further comprising a funnel connected to said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

4. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a funnel connected to said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible container includes first and second sheets of material coupled together to define said plurality of compartments.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein: said material includes plastic; and said first and second sheets of plastic are coupled together by a heat sealing process.

7. The device as in claim 5, wherein: said first and second sheets of material include lines of perforation; and said compartments are selectively separable from one another along said lines of perforation.

8. The device as in claim 5, further comprising means for selectively sealing and opening said upper ends of said plurality of compartments.

9. The device as in claim 5, wherein said first and second sheets collectively define a funnel adjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

10. The device as in claim 5, further comprising a funnel connected to said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

11. The device as in claim 1, further comprising means for selectively sealing and opening said upper ends of said plurality of compartments.

12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said means includes a zip lock.

13. A device for making frozen popsicles, said device comprising: first and second sheets of material coupled together to collectively define a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened; and means for selectively sealing and opening said upper ends of said plurality of compartments.

14. The device as in claim 13, wherein: said compartments are laterally adjacent one another; said first and second sheets of material include lines of perforation; and said compartments are selectively separable from one another along said lines of perforation.

15. The device as in claim 13, wherein said first and second sheets collectively define a funnel adjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

16. The device as in claim 13, further comprising a funnel connected to said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.

17. The device as in claim 13, wherein: said material includes plastic; and said first and second sheets of plastic are coupled together by a heat sealing process.

18. The device as in claim 13, wherein said means for selectively sealing and opening includes a zip lock.

19. A device for making frozen popsicles, said device comprising: first and second sheets of flexible plastic coupled together to collectively define a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened; and a zip lock adjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for selectively sealing and opening said upper ends of said plurality of compartments.

20. The device as in claim 19, further comprising a funnel adjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.