U.S. patent application number 13/839945 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for container assemblies, cookies, and related designs.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nathan D. Ehrlich, Sarah Moffat. Invention is credited to Nathan D. Ehrlich, Sarah Moffat.
Application Number | 20140272015 13/839945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51528158 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140272015 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ehrlich; Nathan D. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Container Assemblies, Cookies, And Related Designs
Abstract
Container assemblies are presented, some of which comprise a
container having a wall that includes a window; a top coupled to
the wall, the top comprising a removable lid; and a bottom coupled
to the wall. In certain embodiments, the assembly may include two
sockets coupled to the wall; and a handle coupled to the two
sockets such that the handle may move in the sockets. In certain
embodiments, the container assembly comprises edible products, and
it comprises a sleeve coupled to the container that is configured
to hold a financial transaction card. Ornamental designs for
container assemblies and edible products, such as cookies, are also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Ehrlich; Nathan D.; (Duluth,
GA) ; Moffat; Sarah; (Atlanta, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ehrlich; Nathan D.
Moffat; Sarah |
Duluth
Atlanta |
GA
GA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51528158 |
Appl. No.: |
13/839945 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/110 ;
220/662; 220/737; 426/106; 426/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20130101;
B65D 25/54 20130101; B65D 85/60 20130101; B65D 25/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/110 ;
426/106; 426/128; 220/662; 220/737 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A container assembly comprising: a container comprising: a wall
comprising a window; a top coupled to the wall, the top comprising
a removable lid; and a bottom coupled to the wall.
2. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising: two
sockets coupled to the wall; and a handle coupled to the two
sockets such that the handle may move in the sockets.
3. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising: edible
products in the container.
4. The container assembly of claim 3, where the edible products
comprise cookies.
5. The container assembly of claim 4, where each cookie includes a
shape comprising one of a hammer, a saw, a tape measure, and a
paint can.
6. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a sleeve
coupled to the container and configured to hold a financial
transaction card.
7. The container assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a
financial transaction card coupled to the container.
8.-9. (canceled)
10. The container assembly of claim 6, further comprising: a
financial transaction card in the sleeve loaded with an amount of
money or credit or loadable with an amount of money or credit.
11. The container assembly of claim 1, where the wall comprises
plastic.
12. The container assembly of claim 11, where the window comprises
plastic and is transparent.
13. The container assembly of claim 1, where the top of the
container and the bottom of the container comprise tin coated
steel.
14. A container assembly comprising: a container having a wall that
includes a window; edible products in the container, at least one
of the edible products being at least partially visible through the
window; and a sleeve coupled to the container and sized to hold a
financial transaction card.
15. The container assembly of claim 14, further comprising: edible
products in the container.
16. The container assembly of claim 15, where the edible products
comprise cookies.
17.-19. (canceled)
20. The container assembly of claim 14, further comprising: a
financial transaction card in the sleeve loaded with an amount of
money or credit or loadable with an amount of money or credit.
21.-22. (canceled)
23. A container assembly comprising: a cylindrical container having
a window; and cookies in the container visible through the
window.
24. The container assembly of claim 23, further comprising: a
sleeve coupled to the container and sized to hold a financial
transaction card.
25. The container assembly of claim 24, further comprising: a
handle coupled to the container, and the sleeve is coupled to the
handle.
26. The container assembly of claim 25, where the sleeve has an
open end.
27. The container assembly of claim 26, further comprising: a
financial transaction card in the sleeve.
28.-35. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to container assemblies for holding
edible products like cookies, designs for containers, cookies, and
cookie designs. This invention also relates to ornamental designs
for the container assemblies and for the edible products.
SUMMARY
[0002] Container assemblies configured to contain edible products
are disclosed. In one embodiment, a container assembly is presented
comprising: a container comprising: a wall comprising a window; a
top coupled to the wall, the top comprising a removable lid; a
bottom coupled to the wall; two sockets coupled to the wall; and a
handle coupled to the two sockets such that the handle may move in
the sockets.
[0003] In another embodiment, a container assembly is presented
comprising: a container having a wall that includes a window;
edible products in the container, at least one of the edible
products being at least partially visible through the window; and a
sleeve coupled to the container and sized to hold a financial
transaction card.
[0004] In still another embodiment, a container assembly is
presented comprising: a cylindrical container having a window; and
cookies in the container visible through the window.
[0005] In certain of the above embodiments, the container assembly
further comprises edible products in the container. In certain
embodiments, the edible products comprise cookies. In specific
embodiments, each cookie includes a shape comprising one of a
hammer, a saw, a tape measure, and a paint can.
[0006] In certain of the above embodiments, the container assembly
may further comprise: a sleeve coupled to the handle and configured
to hold a financial transaction card. In some embodiments, the
sleeve is coupled to the handle with a tie. In certain embodiments,
the sleeve has an open end. In certain of the above embodiments,
the sleeve may contain a financial transaction card in the sleeve
loaded with an amount of money or credit or loadable with an amount
of money or credit.
[0007] In some of the above embodiments, the wall of the container
assembly comprises plastic. In some of the above embodiments, the
window comprises plastic and is transparent. In certain of the
above embodiments, the top and bottom of the container comprise tin
coated steel.
[0008] In other embodiments, the container assembly comprises: a
sleeve configured to retain a financial transaction card; a
financial transaction card configured to be loaded with an amount
of money; and a tie coupled to the sleeve and the handle.
[0009] In another embodiment, a container assembly is presented
that comprises a wall having a window; cookies in the container
visible through the window; and a sleeve coupled to the container
and sized to receive a financial transaction card.
[0010] In various embodiments, the top, bottom, and/or wall may
comprise paper, cardboard, aluminum, painted or colored glass, a
polymer material, or another suitable material.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the window may be an opening. In
other embodiments, window may comprise a substantially transparent
or a substantially translucent material.
[0012] In some embodiments, the sleeve may comprise plastic, paper,
or cardboard.
[0013] In certain embodiments, the financial transaction card may
be preloaded with an amount of money or credit, including $5, $10,
$15, $20, $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, $50, $55, $60, $65, $70, $75,
$80, $85, $90, $95, $100 or more. In other embodiments, a purchaser
may select the amount to load on the gift chard.
[0014] In another embodiment, a composition is presented
comprising: an edible product that includes a shape comprising one
of a hammer, a saw, a tape measure, and a paint can.
[0015] In another embodiment, the ornamental designs for a
container assembly as shown and described are presented.
[0016] In another embodiment, the ornamental designs for edible
products as shown and described are presented.
[0017] In another embodiment, the ornamental designs for cookies as
shown and described are presented.
[0018] This disclosure includes designs and ornamental designs for
edible products, each of which may be applied as surface indicia to
an edible item such as a cookie or another edible item such as
chocolate or candy.
[0019] This disclosure also includes designs and ornamental designs
for container assemblies. In certain embodiments, the ornamental
designs do not include bottom surfaces. In certain embodiments, the
ornamental designs do not include bottom surfaces or other details
of the container assemblies besides the shape of the wall, the
shape of the window, and/or the shape of the sleeve.
[0020] The term "coupled" is defined as connected, although not
necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
[0021] The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless
this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise.
[0022] The term "substantially" is defined as being largely but not
necessarily wholly what is specified (and include wholly what is
specified) as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In
any disclosed embodiment, the term "substantially" may be
substituted with "within [a percentage] of" what is specified,
where the percentage includes 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 percent.
[0023] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as
"comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such
as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as
"includes" and "including") and "contain" (and any form of contain,
such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs.
As a result, a container assembly or composition that "comprises,"
"has," "includes" or "contains" one or more elements possesses
those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only
those one or more elements. Likewise, an element of a system or
composition that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one
or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not
limited to possessing only those one or more features.
[0024] Furthermore, a structure or composition that is configured
in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also
be configured in ways that are not listed. Metric units may be
derived from the English units provided by applying a conversion
and rounding to the nearest millimeter.
[0025] The feature or features of one embodiment may be applied to
other embodiments, even though not described or illustrated, unless
expressly prohibited by this disclosure or the nature of the
embodiments.
[0026] Any embodiment of any of the disclosed container assemblies
and compositions can consist of or consist essentially of--rather
than comprise/include/contain/have--any of the described elements
and/or features and/or steps. Thus, in any of the claims, the term
"consisting of" or "consisting essentially of" can be substituted
for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to
change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be
using the open-ended linking verb.
[0027] Details associated with the embodiments described above and
others are presented below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not
limitation. For the sake of brevity and clarity, every feature of a
given structure may not be labeled in every figure in which that
structure appears. Identical reference numbers do not necessarily
indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference number
may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar
functionality, as may non-identical reference numbers.
[0029] Unless otherwise noted, the figures are drawn to scale,
meaning that the sizes of the depicted items are accurate relative
to each other for at least the embodiments depicted in the
figures.
[0030] FIGS. 1A-1G are perspective, front, back, left, right, top,
and bottom views, respectively, of an embodiment of a container
assembly.
[0031] FIGS. 2A-2C are front, left, and right views, respectively,
of the container assembly of FIGS. 1A-1G with cookies inside.
[0032] FIGS. 3A-3G are perspective, front, back, left, right, top,
and bottom views, respectively, of an embodiment of the container
assembly of FIGS. 1A-1G with a sleeve comprising a financial
transaction card coupled to the container.
[0033] FIGS. 4A-4C are front, left, and right views, respectively,
of the container assembly of FIGS. 3A-3G with cookies inside the
container.
[0034] FIGS. 5A-5F are perspective, top, left, right, front, and
back views, respectively, of one embodiment of a cookie.
[0035] FIGS. 6A-6F are perspective, top, left, right, front, and
back views, respectively, of one embodiment of a cookie.
[0036] FIGS. 7A-7F are perspective, top, left, right, front, and
back views, respectively, of one embodiment of a cookie.
[0037] FIGS. 8A-8F are perspective, top, left, right, front, and
back views, respectively, of one embodiment of a cookie.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Various features and advantageous details are explained more
fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the
following description. It should be understood, however, that the
detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating
embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration
only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions,
modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from this
disclosure.
[0039] In the following description, numerous specific details are
provided to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed
embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will
recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures,
materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to
avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
[0040] FIGS. 1A-1G depict an embodiment of container assembly 10,
which is one example of the present container assemblies. In the
present embodiments, container assembly 10 is configured to
resemble a paint can in appearance, e.g., container assembly 10
comprises a container that is substantially cylindrical, has a
handle, and has a removable lid, much like a paint can. In various
embodiments, container assembly 10 may resemble a standard gallon
sized paint can (65/8''.times.7 13/16''), a standard quart sized
paint can (41/4''.times.47/8''), a standard pint sized can (3
7/16''.times.3 15/16''), or a standard half-pint sized paint can
(27/8''.times.27/8'').
[0041] Container assembly 10 comprises a container 11 comprising
bottom 20 and a top 18 comprising a removable lid 16. Bottom 20 and
top 18 are coupled to a wall 22. Top 18, removable lid 16, and
bottom 20 are substantially circular.
[0042] In the embodiment shown, top 18 comprises a lip or a ring
surrounding an opening into which removable lid 16 is secured.
[0043] In the illustrated embodiment top 18, removable lid 16, and
bottom 20 comprise tin coated steel. In other embodiments, top 18,
removable lid 16, and bottom 20 may comprise paper, cardboard,
aluminum, painted or colored glass, a polymer material, or another
suitable material.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, wall 22 comprises a
substantially opaque polymer material. In other embodiments, wall
22 may comprise paper, cardboard, tin coated steel, aluminum,
painted or colored glass, or another suitable material.
[0045] In addition, wall 22 comprises a window 24 which, in the
illustrated embodiment, comprises a substantially transparent
polymer material. In other embodiments, window 24 may comprise an
opening (that is, a hole or an aperture). In still other
embodiments, window 24 may comprise a substantially translucent
material. The oblique lines on window 24 indicate it is one or more
of translucent and transparent.
[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, a handle 12 is coupled to
sockets 14 located in wall 22. In the illustrated embodiment,
handle 12 is comprised of bent wire and is configured to be
rotatable in sockets 14.
[0047] Container 11 is configured to contain edible products, such
as cookies, chocolates, candies, or other food items. FIGS. 2A-2C
depict the container assembly 10 of FIGS. 1A-1G with assorted
cookies 40 inside of container 11. Cookies 40 are considered to
comprise a part of container assembly 10 in embodiments where
cookies are present.
[0048] At least parts of some of cookies 40 are visible through
window 24. In some embodiments, cookies 40 are wrapped in a wrapper
or bag, such as a plastic bag. In certain embodiments, cookies 40
may be individually wrapped or may be wrapped in smaller portions
than the whole contained within container 11 (for example,
container 11 may comprise two, three, or more separate bags of
assorted cookies 40).
[0049] FIGS. 3A-3G depict the container of FIGS. 1A-1G with a
sleeve 30 attached to it. In the illustrated embodiment, sleeve 30
is configured to retain a card 32 and is attached to handle 12 with
a tie 34 through hole 36 of sleeve 30. In the illustrated
embodiments, sleeve 30 comprises an open end 33 into which
financial transaction card 32 may be placed. While card 32 is
coupled to container 11 in this embodiment by being positioned in
sleeve 30, which is coupled to handle 12 with tie 34, in other
embodiments, card 32 may be coupled to container 11 in other ways
that do not involve attachment to handle 12. For example, in other
embodiments, card 32 could be coupled to container 11 (such as to
wall 22 or top 18) using an adhesive or tape, or it could be
coupled to another structure (like an actual or mock paint mixing
stick) that is coupled to container 11.
[0050] Card 32 may be a financial transaction card in some
embodiments. In such embodiments, card 32 may be loaded or provided
with a certain amount of money or credit, or may be configured to
be loaded or provided with a certain amount of money or credit. In
various embodiments the amount may be in predetermined increments
($25, $50, $100, etc.) or the amount may be specified by a
customer.
[0051] In other embodiments, card 32 is not a financial transaction
card. In some such embodiments, card 32 may include indicia, such
as indicia encouraging the reader to purchase a financial
transaction card and place the same in sleeve 30.
[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, sleeve 30 comprises a
transparent polymer material. In other embodiments, sleeve 30 may
be translucent or opaque. In certain embodiments, sleeve 30 may
comprise paper or cardboard. The oblique lines on sleeve 30
indicate it is one or more of translucent and transparent.
[0053] In the embodiment shown, tie 34 comprises an elastic band
tied in a knot around handle 12. In other embodiments, tie 34 may
comprise a substantially inelastic material. In certain
embodiments, tie 34 may comprise thread, string, twine, rope,
plastic, or a zip tie.
[0054] Sleeve 30, card 32, and tie 34 are considered to comprise a
part of container assembly 10 in embodiments where those elements
are present.
[0055] FIGS. 4A-4C depict the container assembly 10 of FIGS. 3A-3G
with assorted cookies 40 inside of container 11. Cookies 40 are
considered to comprise a part of container assembly 10 in
embodiments where cookies are present.
[0056] At least parts of some cookies 40 are visible through window
24. In some embodiments, cookies 40 are wrapped in a wrapper or
bag, such as a plastic bag. In certain embodiments, cookies 40 may
be individually wrapped or may be wrapped in smaller portions than
the whole contained within container 11 (for example, container 11
may contain two, three, or more separate bags of assorted cookies
40).
[0057] FIGS. 5A-5F depict a hammer cookie 42, which is one of the
assorted cookies 40 that may be present inside container 11 of
container assembly 10.
[0058] FIGS. 6A-6F depict a saw cookie 44, which is another of the
assorted cookies 40 that may be present inside container 11 of
container assembly 10.
[0059] FIGS. 7A-7F depict a tape measure cookie 46, which is still
another of the assorted cookies 40 that may be present inside
container 11 of container assembly 10.
[0060] FIGS. 8A-8F depict a paint can cookie 48, which is still
another of the assorted cookies 40 that may be present inside
container 11 of container assembly 10.
[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, cookies 40 comprise
shortbread cookies. One skilled in the art would understand that
cookies 40 may be coated, for example, with chocolate, mint
chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, frosting, icing or
another coating or topping. In such embodiments, the design on each
of the hammer cookie 42, saw cookie 44, tape measure cookie 46,
and/or paint can cookie 48 may be formed in the coating or topping
in addition to or instead of in the cookie itself.
[0062] One skilled in the art would also understand that any
suitable cookie flavor, such as sugar cookies, ginger snaps,
chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, or
may be used in addition to or instead of shortbread cookies.
[0063] One skilled in the art would further understand that other
edible products, such as chocolates, having the same or similar
shapes as assorted cookies 40 may be used in addition to or instead
of cookies 40.
[0064] The above specification and examples provide a complete
description of the structure and use of an exemplary embodiment.
Although certain embodiments have been described above with a
certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more
individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make
numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing
from the scope of this invention. As such, the illustrative
embodiment of the present devices is not intended to be limited to
the particular forms disclosed. Rather, they include all
modifications and alternatives falling within the scope of the
claims, and embodiments other than the one shown may include some
or all of the features of the depicted embodiment. For example,
components may be combined as a unitary structure and/or
connections may be substituted. As another example, one of ordinary
skill in the art would understand that, in alternate embodiments,
cookies 40 may instead be chocolates. Further, where appropriate,
aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with
aspects of any of the other examples described to form further
examples having comparable or different properties and addressing
the same or different problems. Similarly, it will be understood
that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one
embodiment or may relate to several embodiments.
[0065] The claims are not to be interpreted as including
means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a
limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the
phrase(s) "means for" or "step for," respectively.
* * * * *