Patent Application
20080003264
The Description of the Preferred Embodiment will be better understood with reference to the following figures:
Turning first to
In the preferred embodiment, the entire confection 10 is made of an edible, candy material. Alternatively, it is contemplated that any portion of the confection 10, less than the entire confection 10, may be made of the edible, candy material provided that the confection 10 is made of a sufficient amount of candy to accomplish the intended purpose of the invention as disclosed herein. In this alternate embodiment, the remaining portion of the confection 10 not made of the edible candy can be made of any other type of material that is known to one skilled in the art and that is adaptable to be used in combination with the portion of the confection 10 that is made of candy for forming the confection 10.
The candy material of the confection 10 preferably comprises any combination of ingredients for creating the candy; provided that, when completed, the candy is sufficiently rigid such that it may be broken into pieces as described later in the specification. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the candy, when completed, may provide any variation from flexibility to rigidness as is available and known to one skilled in the art. It is further contemplated that the candy may be enhanced with any flavoring including but not limited to cherry, root beer, pina colada, banana cream, grape, blueberry, wintergreen, strawberry, or any other available flavoring known to one skilled in the art.
The confection 10 can formed into any design, shape, or pattern as is desired and available for making candy or any combination of candy with other materials. In the preferred embodiment and as illustrated in
The covering 12 preferably comprises an enclosed body 16 having an opening 18. In the preferred embodiment, the body 16 has a width 20 that is substantially equal to the width of the confection 10. Likewise, the opening 18 is designed to extend across the entire width 20 of the body 16 for enabling the confection 10 to be easily inserted through the opening 18 and directly into the body 16 without causing any problems.
In the preferred embodiment, the covering 12 is made of a cellophane material. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the covering 12 may be made of a suitable plastic film or any other type of material known to one skilled in the art provided that the material is sufficient to accomplish the purpose of the covering 12 provided below. The covering 12 is also preferably made of a transparent material such that the candy confection 10, or any portion thereof, is made visible through the covering 12.
The purpose of the covering 12 is: (1) to completely cover and retain the confection 10 within the covering 12; (2) to be made of a material sufficiently durable to withstand an impact with a rigid object such as a wall or floor without tearing or exposing any openings or holes in the covering 12 thereby continuing to retain the entire confection 10 therein; (3) to be made of a material sufficiently durable to withstand the confection 10 being broken into pieces when engaging the rigid object without tearing or exposing any openings or holes in the covering 12 (i.e., even with some broken pieces of the confection 10 presumably resulting in sharp edges). This enables the covering 12 to prohibit any of the confection 10 from being uncontrollably thrown from the covering 12 which could cause injury or harm to others; and (4) to be made of a transparent material enabling the individual using the candy confection 10 to visually see the candy confection 10 actually engaging the rigid object and being broken into pieces as a result of the impact.
Once the candy confection 10 is received into the covering 12, the bow tie 14 is used for twisting around and closing the opening 18 thereby securing the candy confection 10 within the covering 12. Alternatively, the means for closing the opening 18 and securing the candy confection 10 within the covering 12 includes but is not limited to hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro®, rope, wire, twine, clasp, staples, stitching, glue, fusion or other form of bonding, and/or any other means known to one skilled in the art.
Alternatively, it is contemplated that the confectionary product 8 may be packaged in a shrink wrap or other form fitting covering 12 thereby eliminating the necessity of an opening 18 in the body 16 to receive the confection 10 and/or a bow tie 14 to close the opening 18.
Should it be desirable, a stand 22 is provided to store and display the confectionary product 8 until the confectionary product 8 is to be used.
When the confectionary product 8 is to be used, an individual locates the confectionary product 8, which may or may not be displayed in the stand 22, and takes possession of the confectionary product 8 such as in their hand 24. In a non-limiting example as illustrated in
When the confectionary product 8 comes in contact with the hard or rigid object or surface 26, the impact causes the confection 10 to break into various pieces. If the confectionary product 8 engages a wall as illustrated in
When the confectionary product 8 is no longer in motion, the individual retrieves the confectionary product 8 and removes the bow tie 14 from the confectionary product 8. This releases the opening 18 in the covering 12 exposing the various pieces 28 of the confection 10, as illustrated in
Alternatively, it is contemplated that the confectionary product 8 may comprise a confection 10 that is made of a malleable material such that the confection 10 is immune from being broken into various pieces. One example would be a rubbery textured confectionery commonly known as gummy bears.
As everyone experiences various feelings that accompany positive or negative emotions, any of these emotions can be controlled or improved by using the confectionary product 8 as disclosed above. Although the list of positive or negative emotions is endless, some of the emotions include exuberance, joy, happiness, anger, rage, frustration, disappointment, etc. . . . Since dealing with such emotions is important to one's health (e.g., repression of negative emotions can lead to depression, anxieties, panic, eating disorders, etc. . . . ) and the health and safety of others, Applicant's confectionary product 8 provides the solution.
When an individual experiences and begins to express any emotion that desires to control or improve, the individual can turn to and focus on Applicant's confectionary product 8. This initial interest distracts the individual's attention away other outlets such as another person or thing. With the confectionary product 8 in the individual's possession and the individual still experiencing the emotions, the individual can exert or use these emotions into the energy exerted for throwing the confectionary product 8 toward a hard or rigid object or surface 26. When the confectionary product 8 impacts the hard or rigid object or surface 26, the individual observes the impact and the confection 10 within the covering 12 breaking into the various pieces 28. Alternatively, the individual may hear the audible sounds of the confection 10 breaking into the various pieces. This resulting action of the confection 10 breaking and the visual or sound recognition of the action further assists the individual to release and expel negative emotions or enhance the positive emotions. The subsequent retrieval of the confectionary product 8, opening of the covering 12 to expose the various pieces 28, and eating any of the various pieces 28 of the confection 10 essentially rewards the individual for their actions in using the confectionary product 8 and limiting any of the possible actions available to the individual as a result of these emotions to be confined to the confectionary product 8 only. The preferred candy embodiment of the confection 10 and the various types and flavors available provide a confectionary product 8 that is desirable to any individual. In this manner, the confectionary product 8 is used for controlling the emotions of said individuals.
If the confectionary product 8 is made of a malleable material, the confection 10 will not break into various pieces. However, the confection 10 could be deformed, bounce off the hard or rigid object or surface 26, or have reactions other than breaking which can have the same affect on the individual as the breaking.
Alternatively, the confectionary product 8 may be used to continue the historic tradition known as Kabbalat Panim where, during a wedding reception, the mothers of the bride and groom stand together and break a plate as a sign of the bride and groom's commitment to one another.
Thus, there has been provided a unique confection product for controlling or improving the emotions of individuals. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
