CONFECTIONARY CONTAINER AND METHOD OF PLAYING A GAME

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a confectionary container.

[0002] Confectionary is popular throughout all societies, and children are a major consumer of confectionary. Children also require entertaining with toys and games, but there are relatively few games involving confectionary.

[0003] The present invention seeks to address this issue.

[0004] Examples prior art containers include those disclosed in WO2002/44057, US5356035, US5988424, WO2007/072123, GB2277511, AT368096, US1513773, CA2502492, US5064073 and US2006/079355.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a confectionary container according to claim 1.

[0006] By providing a substantially flat upper surface the container may have indicia printed on its upper surface, and by forming the egress between the upper surface and the domed base or on the domed base contamination of the chamber owing to the printing process is avoided, thereby allowing loose confectionary to be stored inside the chamber. Furthermore, by providing such an egress the top of the container may remain a flat unbroken surface to aid playing games as described below as snagging of items of confectionary on an egress closure is avoided.

[0007] In some embodiments the egress is spaced from the upper surface.

[0008] In some embodiments the egress is openable and closable by means of a slidably mounted covering.

[0009] In some embodiments the covering is mounted within the chamber.

[0010] In some embodiments a covering is releasably retained in a position wherein the egress is closed by a protrusion mating with a recess.

[0011] In some embodiments the protrusion is formed on the covering and the recess is formed on an inner wall of the chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments the protrusion is formed on an inner wall of the chamber and the recess is formed on the covering.

[0013] In some embodiments the egress is provided by the upper surface being hingeably attached to the domed base.

[0014] In some embodiments the confectionary container is formed of a plastic material.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of playing a game according to claim 10.

[0016] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood specific embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a confectionary container made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention with its egress closed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 with its egress open;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the covering of the egress of the container of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a confectionary container made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention with its egress closed;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 5 with its egress open.

[0017] Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a confectionary container 1 comprises a domed base 2 and a substantially flat and circular upper surface 3.

[0018] As best illustrated by Figure 4 domed base 2 is continuously curved. That is to say that it does not comprise a flattened portion to rest upon, but instead has minimal contact with a surface upon which it rests, thereby allowing for container 1 to be freely rotated.

[0019] Together domed base 2 and upper surface 3 define a chamber for the storage of confectionary.

[0020] Side of domed base comprises substantially rectangular egress 4, which is openable and closable by means of covering 5.

[0021] Covering 5 is curved in profile so as to be slidably mounted on an internal wall of domed base 2.

[0022] Covering 5 comprises a grip 6 that projects outwardly and allows a user to readily slide covering 5 between a first position wherein egress 4 is closed and a second position wherein egress 4 is open.

[0023] Covering 5 further comprises a domed protrusion 7 that mates with a recess (not shown) formed on the internal wall of domed base 2 so as to releasably retain covering 5 in its first position.

[0024] Domed base 2, upper surface 3 and covering 5 are all formed of a plastics material.

[0025] Upper surface 3 may have printed thereon one or more indicia, which may be promotional images and text or other markings.

[0026] Owing to confectionary container 1 being rotatable upon its domed base container 1 may be used to play a variety of games, two of which will now be described for illustrative purposes.

[0027] In a first game players firstly set a minimum number of revolutions that must be achieved upon a player's turn.

[0028] A first player may then open egress 4 by moving covering 5 from its first position to its second position, and remove a piece of confectionary from the chamber of container 1.

[0029] The player may then balance the piece of confectionary on the upper surface 3 of container 1 and then spin the container.

[0030] Provided that the minimum number of revolutions of container 1 are achieved on that turn and the piece of confectionary remains balanced upon container 1 the player is allowed to keep the piece of confectionary for consumption.

[0031] However, if the minimum number of revolutions is not achieved or if the confectionary falls from upper surface 3, container 1 and piece of confectionary in play move to the next player in order for them to take their turn.

[0032] Once all players have taken a turn the minimum number of revolutions required on a turn is increased by one, thus making the game progressively more difficult.

[0033] In a second game that requires two players each player is each provided with a number of pieces of confectionary. Again a minimum number of revolutions that a person is required to spin the container on their turn is determined at the outset of the game.

[0034] A first player bets a chosen number of pieces of confectionary by positioning them on upper surface 3 and then spins container 1

[0035] Provided that the minimum number of revolutions is obtained by a player the number of pieces of confectionary that they gambled are donated to the first player by the second player.

[0036] However if the minimum number of revolutions is not met the confectionary or if any confectionary falls from upper surface 3 the confectionary gambled is donated to the second player.

[0037] The second player then takes a turn to bet a chosen amount of confectionary.

[0038] Once both players have taken a turn the minimum number of revolutions required on a turn is increased by one, thus making the game progressively more difficult.

[0039] It will be apparent that in order for a game requiring revolutions to be counted to be easily played some form of indicia are desirable on upper surface 3.

[0040] As such in many embodiments it is preferable to have indicia printed on upper surface 3.

[0041] Owing to the toxicity associated with some printing processes it is advantageous to position egress 4 of container away from upper surface 3.
By providing an egress 4 that is not formed in upper surface 3 inadvertent contamination of the chamber of container 1 is avoided. It is particularly beneficial if an egress 4 is spaced from upper surface 3 as the chances of contamination are further reduced.

[0042] Thus, in the present embodiment egress 4 is located on the side of domed base 2, thereby allowing container 1 to be filled with loose confectionary.

[0043] Turning to a second embodiment of a confectionary container made in accordance with the present invention and Figures 5 and 6, a container 8 comprises a domed base 9 and a substantially flat and circular upper surface 10.

[0044] Together domed base 9 and upper surface 10 define a chamber 11 for the storage of confectionary.

[0045] Upper surface 10 is attached by hinge 17 to domed base 9 such that in its first position upper surface 10 acts as a lid to domed base 9 and when hinged away from domed base 9 into a second position (as illustrated in Figure 6) an egress into chamber 11 is provided. The egress of container 8 is therefore formed between upper surface 10 and domed base 9.

[0046] To assist a user in operating upper surface 10 as a lid a notch 16 is formed in the exterior wall of domed base 9. Notch 16 is positioned diametrically opposite hinge 17.

[0047] Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A confectionary container (1, 8) comprising:

a chamber for storing confectionary;

a domed base (2, 9) and an upper surface (3, 10);

an egress (4) that is openable so as to allow confectionary to be removed from the container and closable so as to prevent confectionary being removed from the container; wherein

the egress is either formed between the upper surface and the domed base or is formed on the domed base; the upper surface is flat and comprises indicia printed thereon;

said confectionary container being

characterized in that

the container is hemispherical.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the egress is spaced from the upper surface.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2 wherein the egress is openable and closable by means of a slidably mounted covering (5).

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the covering is mounted within the chamber.

5. The container of claim 3 or 4 wherein said covering is releasably retained in a position wherein the egress is closed by a protrusion (7) mating with a recess.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the protrusion is formed on the covering and the recess is formed on an inner wall of the chamber.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein the protrusion is formed on an inner wall of the chamber and the recess is formed on the covering.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the egress is provided by the upper surface being hingeably attached to the domed base.

9. The container of any preceding claim wherein the confectionary container is formed of a plastic material.

10. A method of playing a game with a confectionary container according to any preceding claim, said container comprising a piece of confectionary, said method comprising the steps of:

removing a piece of confectionary from the container via its egress;

balancing the piece of confectionary on the upper surface; and

spinning the confectionary container on the domed base.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Konfektbehälter (1, 8), umfassend:

Eine Kammer für die Aufbewahrung von Konfekt;

eine gewölbte Unterseite (2, 9) und eine Oberseite (3, 10);

eine Öffnung (4), die aufklappbar ist, damit das Konfekt aus dem Behälter entnommen werden kann, und verschließbar, um zu verhindern, dass das Konfekt aus dem Behälter entnommen werden kann; wobei

die Öffnung entweder zwischen der Oberseite und der Unterseite oder an der Unterseite geformt ist; die Oberseite ist flach und umfasst darauf gedruckte Angaben;

der besagte Konfektbehälter ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass, der Behälter halbkugelförmig ist.

2. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Öffnung durch einen Zwischenraum von der Oberseite getrennt ist.

3. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Öffnung über eine verschiebbar angebrachte Abdeckung (5) aufklappbar und verschließbar ist.

4. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Abdeckung in der Kammer befestigt ist.

5. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei die besagte Abdeckung abnehmbar in einer Position gehalten wird, wobei die Öffnung durch das Ineinandergreifen eines Vorsprungs (7) und einer Aussparung geschlossen wird.

6. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Vorsprung an der Abdeckung geformt ist und die Aussparung an einer Innenwand der Kammer geformt ist.

7. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Vorsprung an einer Innenwand der Kammer und die Aussparung an der Abdeckung geformt ist.

8. Der Behälter nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich die Öffnung an der Oberseite befindet und klappbar an der gewölbten Unterseite befestigt ist.

9. Der Behälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Konfektbehälter aus einem Kunststoffmaterial geformt ist.

10. Ein Verfahren zur Nutzung eines Konfektbehälters als Spielzeug nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der besagte Behälter umfasst ein Stück Konfekt, das Verfahren umfasst die folgenden Schritte:

Herausnehmen eines Stücks Konfekt aus dem Behälter über seine Öffnung;

Balancieren des Stücks Konfekt auf der Oberseite; und

Konfektbehälter auf der gewölbten Unterseite kreiseln lassen.

Revendications

1. Récipient pour confiseries (1, 8) comprenant :

une chambre destinée au stockage des confiseries ;

un fond bombé (2, 9) et une surface supérieure (3, 10) ;

une sortie (4) qui peut être ouverte de manière à permettre aux confiseries d'être retirées du récipient et qui peut être fermée de manière à empêcher les confiseries d'être retirées du récipient ; dans lequel

la sortie est soit constituée entre la surface supérieure et le fond bombé, soit constituée sur le fond bombé ; la surface supérieure est plate et comprend des informations imprimées sur celle-ci ; ledit récipient pour confiseries étant caractérisé en ce que le récipient est hémisphérique.

2. Récipient selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la sortie est espacée de la surface supérieure.

3. Récipient selon la revendication 1 ou 2 dans lequel la sortie peut être ouverte et fermée au moyen d'un couvercle monté coulissant (5).

4. Récipient selon la revendication 3 dans lequel le couvercle est monté à l'intérieur de la chambre.

5. Récipient selon la revendication 3 ou 4 dans lequel ledit couvercle est retenu de manière amovible dans un emplacement dans lequel la sortie est fermée par une saillie (7) s'accouplant avec un évidement.

6. Récipient selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la saillie est constituée sur le couvercle et l'évidement est constitué sur une paroi intérieure de la chambre.

7. Récipient selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la saillie est constituée sur une paroi intérieure de la chambre et l'évidement est constitué sur le couvercle.

8. Récipient selon la revendication 1 dans lequel la sortie est fournie par la surface supérieure qui est fixée de manière articulée au fond bombé.

9. Récipient selon une quelconque revendication précédente dans lequel le récipient pour confiseries est constitué d'une matière plastique.

10. Procédé pour jouer un jeu avec un récipient pour confiseries selon une quelconque revendication précédente, ledit récipient comprenant un morceau de confiserie, ledit procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :

le retrait d'un morceau de confiserie du récipient par l'intermédiaire de sa sortie ;

la mise en équilibre du morceau de confiserie sur la surface supérieure ; et

la rotation du récipient pour confiseries sur le fond bombé.

Drawing