Food items, systems and methods

• US 20060216387A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Judith N. Stimson
• Original Assignee: Judith N. Stimson
• Inventors: Stimson, Judith N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,763,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/549
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/33 Edible containers, e.g. cups or cones
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/40 Products characterised by the type, form or use
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/47 Decorated or decorative products

Abstract

Described is a cone-shaped food item and systems and methods for packaging and dispensing the same. A preferred food item includes a cone-shaped edible food element such as a cone-shaped waffle, a cone-shaped external wrap for covering the food element, a foodstuff filling received within the edible food element, and a lid for covering an open upper end of the food element. Systems for assembling and dispensing the food item can include assembling the food element and optionally storing the food element originally in an inverted position wherein the foodstuff to be received internally of the cone-shaped food element is originally contained within the lid and thus not in substantial contact with the waffle or other conical food element. This can help to maintain the integrity of the cone-shaped food element during assembly and maintenance prior to distribution to consumers. Thereafter, for example upon serving the food item to a consumer, the food item is manipulated to its upright position whereupon the foodstuff is deposited by gravity into the interior volume of the cone-shaped waffle or other food element.

Claims

1. A food item, comprising:

a cone-shaped, edible food element having an open upper end;

a cone-shaped wrap covering an exterior surface of said cone-shaped, edible food element;

an edible foodstuff received within said cone-shaped, edible food element; and

a lid covering said open upper end of said cone-shaped, edible food element.

2. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said cone-shaped, edible food element comprises a waffle.

3. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said edible foodstuff comprises an egg foodstuff.

4. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said lid includes an internal chamber having a volume sufficient to contain said edible foodstuff when said lid is in an inverted position.

5. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said wrap is formed with a paper material.

6. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said wrap is formed from a spiraled sheet material.

7. A food item according to claim 1, wherein said cone-shaped edible food element comprises a soft, malleable waffle.

8. A food item, comprising:

a soft, malleable waffle, said soft, malleable waffle configured to provide a conical edible food element;

an edible foodstuff received within said conical edible food element; and

a wrap element received around at least a portion of said conical edible food element.

9. A food item according to claim 8, wherein said wrap element is adapted to be manually disrupted during consumption of said cone-shaped edible food element.

10. A food item according to claim 9, wherein said wrap element is cone-shaped and covers substantially an entire exterior surface of said cone-shaped edible food element.

11. A food item according to claim 8, wherein said cone-shaped edible food element includes a sheet-form, soft, malleable waffle wrapped to provide the cone-shaped edible food element.

12. A method for providing a food item to a consumer, comprising:

providing a food item including a cone-shaped edible food element, an edible foodstuff for receipt within the cone-shaped edible food element, and a lid element defining an internal chamber having a volume sufficient to at least substantially contain the edible foodstuff;

providing said food item in an inverted, assembled condition including said lid in an inverted position and containing said edible foodstuff within said internal chamber, and said cone-shaped edible food element in an inverted position and received atop said lid, said cone-shaped edible food element having an internal volume in communication with said internal chamber of said lid element; and

manipulating said food item to a non-inverted position, whereupon said edible foodstuff falls into the internal volume of the cone-shaped edible food element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said food item also includes a wrap element received around at least a portion of said cone-shaped edible food element.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said cone-shaped edible food element comprises a waffle.

15. A system for distributing food items, comprising:

a plurality of pre-assembled food items, each such food item including a cone-shaped edible food element, an edible foodstuff for receipt within the cone-shaped edible food element, and a lid element; and

said plurality of pre-assembled food items maintained in an inverted position, said inverted position of said pre-assembled food items including said lid in an inverted position and at least in part containing said edible foodstuff, and said cone-shaped edible food element in an inverted position and received atop said lid, and said cone-shaped edible food element having an internal volume in communication with said internal chamber of said lid element.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said pre-assembled food items also include a wrap element received around at least a portion of said cone-shaped edible food element.

17. The system of claim 15, said system also including at least one heating element in heat exchange relationship with said plurality of pre-assembled food items.

18. The system of claim 15, said system also including at least one cooling element in heat exchange relationship with said plurality of pre-assembled food items.

19. A method for distributing food items, comprising:

providing a plurality of pre-assembled food items, each such food item including a cone-shaped edible food element, an edible foodstuff for receipt within the cone-shaped edible food element, and a lid element; and

maintaining said plurality of pre-assembled food items in an inverted position, said inverted position of said pre-assembled food items including said lid in an inverted position and at least in part containing said edible foodstuff, and said cone-shaped edible food element in an inverted position and received atop said lid, and said cone-shaped edible food element having an internal volume in communication with said internal chamber of said lid element.

20. The method of claim 19, also including heating said plurality of pre-assembled food items.

21. The method of claim 19, also including cooling said plurality of pre-assembled food items.