BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the present invention broadly relate to a toy and method for preparing a confectionary. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for a toy and method for preparing a frozen confectionary, such as ice cream or yogurt.
2. Description of the Background Art
Frozen confectionary, such as ice cream or yogurt, has long been favorites as a desert. Home-made frozen confectionary, particularly home-made ice cream, is one of the favorite home-made deserts, especially for children. Home-made ice cream is prepared by placing salt and ice in a cylinder, and rotating the cylinder while in contact with a liquid mixture which when freezes produces ice cream. Such preparation, however, limits the preparation to a single flavor of ice cream, since only a single mixture comes in contact with the rotating cylinder.
What is needed and what has been invented is a toy and method for simultaneously preparing frozen confectionary (e.g., ice creams) of different flavor. What is more particularly needed and what has been invented is a toy and method for preparing and/or contacting two or more frozen-confectionary-producing mixtures with a cylinder containing salt and ice, so the frozen-confectionary-producing mixtures may solidify around the cylinder to produce two or more frozen confectioneries with different flavors (e.g., vanilla, chocolate, etc.).
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a toy for preparing frozen confectioneries. The toy has a base assembly and a tray removably supported by the base assembly and including a first trough and a second trough. A cylinder assembly is rotatably supported by the base assembly and includes a first cylinder rotatably positioned within the first trough and a second cylinder rotatably positioned in the second trough. The toy further has a cover assembly supported by the base assembly, and a crank assembly rotatably supported by the cover assembly and coupled to the cylinder assembly for rotating the first and second cylinders to prepare frozen confectionaries.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for preparing frozen confectioneries with a toy having a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a tray including a first trough and a second trough. The method for preparing frozen confectioneries comprises disposing salt and ice in the first and second cylinders, disposing respectively a first and second liquid confectionaries in the first and second troughs of the tray, and rotating respectively the first and second cylinders in the first and second troughs for respectively contacting the first and second liquid confectionaries and producing frozen confectioneries on the outside of the first and second cylinders.
These provisions together with the various ancillary provisions and features which will become apparent to those artisans possessing skill in the art as the following description proceeds are attained by devices, assemblies, systems and methods of embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments thereof being shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the toy.
FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the toy.
FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of the toy.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the toy without the cover assembly and with the crank assembly positioned as engaged to one of the cylinder gears.
FIG. 2C is a front elevational view of the toy of FIG. 2B illustrating the crank assembly engaged to on the cylinder gears.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the toy disclosing one of the cylinders which holds ice and salt for causing a liquid mixture to freeze and produce frozen confectionary on the outside of the cylinder.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toy with out the cover and crank assembly.
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the toy of FIG. 4 disclosing one of the cylinders which holds ice and salt for causing a liquid mixture to freeze and produce frozen confectionary on the outside of the cylinder.
FIG. 6 is a segmented front elevational view of the base of the toy illustrating the tray removed from the base.
FIG. 7 is a segmented perspective view of the base of the toy of FIG. 6 including the removed tray.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the base of the toy of FIG. 6 but with the tray in its lodged position.
FIG. 9 is a partial segmented top perspective view of the base of the toy including the tray in its lodged position but with the scraper spacedly positioned from a horizontal support member of the base.
FIG. 10 is a partial segmented side perspective view of the base of the toy including the tray in its lodged position but with the scraper spacedly positioned from a horizontal support member of the base and from an opening in the tray where the scraper pivotally lodges.
FIG. 11 is a partial segmented side perspective view of the base of the toy including the tray in its lodged position but with the scraper pivotally lodged in an opening in the tray and spacedly positioned from a horizontal support member of the base.
FIG. 12 is a segmented perspective view of the base of the toy of FIG. 6 including the removed tray, but with a bowl member disposed in a recess within the base.
FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the tray having a pair of troughs and an opening where the scraper pivotally lodges.
FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the tray having four depending legs and an opening where the scraper pivotally lodges.
FIG. 15 is another bottom perspective view of the tray having four depending legs and an opening where the scraper pivotally lodges.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cup from which the frozen confectionery may be eaten.
FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a pair of cylinders which in operation contain ice and salt for producing a pair of frozen confectionaries on respective outside surfaces of each cylinder.
FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the pair of cylinders of FIG. 17 separated at their coupling juncture.
FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of the pair of cylinders of FIG. 17 separated at their coupling juncture with one of the cylinders partially separated into cylinder parts.
FIG. 20 is a segmented perspective view of one of the cylinders separated into cylinder parts.
FIG. 21 is another segmented perspective view of one of the cylinders separated into cylinder parts.
FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of the depending horizontal gear of the crank assembly engaged to a perimetrical gear disposed along a circumferential perimeter of a gear member associated with one of the cylinders.
FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of the crank assembly spaced from the cover assembly with the crank assembly disposed for being coupled to the cover assembly.
FIG. 24 is bottom perspective view of the crank assembly spaced from the cover assembly with the crank assembly disposed for being coupled to the cover assembly.
FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of the crank assembly coupled to the cover assembly.
FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective view of the crank assembly coupled to the cover assembly.
FIG. 27 is a bottom plan view of the crank assembly.
FIG. 28 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 28-28 in FIG. 27.
FIG. 29 is a top plan view of the gear-support plate for the crank assembly.
FIG. 30 is a vertical view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 30-30 in FIG. 29.
FIG. 31 is a partial top plan view of another embodiment of the cover assembly illustrating the transom having an eyelet for pivotally engaging a lug of an embodiment of the scraper.
FIG. 32 is a front elevational view of the transom and eyelet of FIG. 31.
FIG. 33 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the scraper.
FIG. 34 is a top plan view of the scraper of FIG. 33.
FIG. 35 is a front elevational view of the scraper of FIG. 33.
FIG. 36 is a partial rear view of the scraper of FIG. 33.
FIG. 37 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 37-37 in FIG. 35.
FIG. 38 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 38-38 in FIG. 35.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring in detail now to the drawings for various embodiments of the present invention and wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen a toy, generally illustrated as 10, for producing a frozen confectionary (e.g., ice cream, yogurt, or the like). The toy 10 includes a base assembly 12, a bowl member 14 supported by the base assembly 12, a tray 16 removably secured to the base assembly 12, a scraper 18 pivotally engaged to the tray 16, a cylinder assembly 20 rotatably supported by the base assembly 12, a cover assembly 22 supported by the base assembly 12, and a crank assembly 24 rotatably supported by the cover assembly 22 and coupled to the cylinder assembly 20 for rotating the same. In another embodiment of the invention the scraper 18 is pivotally supported by the cover assembly 22.
The base assembly 12 has a floor 30, a base shoulder 32 bound to the floor 30, and a base head 34 bound to the base shoulder 32. The floor 30 has a recess 37 where the bowl is removably postured. The base shoulder 32 has a structure generally defining an arcuate configuration 32a includes a plurality of openings 39 for slidably receiving dowels (identified as “60” below) of the tray 16. The base head 34 has a pair of bearing surfaces 38-38 (generally arcuate recesses) recessed in opposed positions for rotatably supporting the cylinder assembly 20. The base head 34 also has a pair to bearing assemblies 44-44 and a transom 40 for mating and supporting the front of the cover assembly 22. Each bearing assembly 44 has a bearing groove 48 for receiving a bar (identified as “90” below) of the cover assembly 20. Each bearing assembly 44 also has spaced ribs 50 for defining channels 54 wherein splines (identified as “88” below) of the cover assembly 20 removably lodge. In an embodiment of the invention the transom 40 has an eyelet 58 (see FIGS. 31-32) wherein a scraper lug (identified as “94”) pivotally lodges for facilitating the pivoting of the scraper 18 into a position to remove frozen confectioneries off of the cylinder assembly 20 and depositing the same in the bowl 14. A cup 8 is shown in FIG. 16 from which frozen confectionary may be eaten.
The tray 16 has a plurality of depending dowels 60 for slidably passing into the openings 38 of the base shoulder 32 of the base assembly 12 to affix the tray 16 in its operable position. The tray 16 also includes a back 64 and a pair of troughs 62 where a liquid confectionary 63 (see FIG. 3) may be poured to come in contact with cylinders (identified as “70” below) of the cylinder assembly 20 and freeze on the surfaces thereof and be scraped off by the scraper 18. In an embodiment of the invention, the tray 16 may further have a transverse opening 68 (see FIG. 13) for pivotally receiving a depending lug (identified as “99” below) for an embodiment of the scraper 18. Each of the troughs 62 may have a different flavored liquid confectionary to produce frozen confectioneries with different flavors, or a same flavored liquid confectionary to produce frozen confectionary with the same flavor. In this embodiment the tray 16 would pivotally support the scraper 18 such that the user may as desired pivot the scraper 18 against the cylinders of the cylinder assembly 20 to remove frozen confectionary therefrom. The scraper 18 is capable of being pivoted backwards and forward as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5.
As best shown in FIGS. 17-21 the cylinder assembly 20 comprises generally hollow cylinders 70-70. Each cylinder 70 has a cylindrical ring 71 with a cylindrical face 72 upon which the liquid confectionary freezes. Each cylinder 70 also has a removable cap 74 for exposing the hollow inside of the cylinder 70 in order that salt and ice may be placed to cool the face 72 of the cylindrical ring 71 and cause liquid confectionary 63 in the troughs 62 of the tray 16 to freeze upon the face 72. Each removable cap 74 has a protruding cylindrical bearing 76 which in operation is rotatably disposed on one of the oppositely disposed bearing surfaces 38-38. Each cylinder 70 also includes inner plate 78 (preferably a metallic plate) integrally secured to the cylindrical ring 71 at an end opposite to the end against which the removable cap 74 lodges. A gear plate 80 is coupled to the cylindrical ring 71 over the inner plate 78 which protects the bearing plate 80 from ice and salt. Each gear plate 80 has a perimetrical structure defining a gear 81. Because both gear plates 80-80 have a gear 81, and because a driving gear (identified below as “gear 174”) only engages one of the gears 81 (not both gears 81-81), the user does not have to be concerned about any position or location of any of the cylinders 70-70 within the base assembly 12. If only one of the cylinders 70-70 had a gear 81, then as a user disposes the cylinder assembly 20 into its operative posture within the base assembly 12, the user would have to ensure that the cylinder assembly 20 has the proper orientation such that gear 81 of the particular cylinder 70 having the gear 81 would engage the driving gear (identified below as “gear 174”).
Concentrically bound to each gear plate 80 is a cylindrical coupler 82. One of the cylindrical couplers 82 has coupling lugs 82a as best shown in FIG. 19. The other cylindrical coupler 82 has coupling slots 82b for receiving the coupling lugs 82a to interconnect the two cylinders 70-70 as best shown in FIG. 17. The cylinder assembly 20 including hollow cylinders 70-70 may be easily disassembled to place ice and salt within the confines of cylindrical rings 71-71 by removing the cap 74. After ice and salt have been placed within each cylindrical ring 71, the cap 74 may be coupled back into place such that salt and ice are between each cap 74 and each inner plate 78 of the respective hollow cylinders 70.
Referring now to FIGS. 24-23, there is seen perspective views of the cover assembly 22 and the crank assembly 24. The cover assembly 22 has a pair of coupling assemblies 85, each having splines 88-88 and a bar 90 for engaging the bearing assemblies 44-44 of the base assembly 12 to couple the cover assembly 22 to the base assembly 12. More specifically, in order to couple the cover assembly 22 to the base assembly 12, each bar 90 of the coupling assemblies 85 is disposed in one of the bearing groves 48 (an arcuate groove) followed by pivoting forward the cover assembly 22 causing the spline 88 to pass into the channels 54 defined by the spaced ribs 50 of the bearing assemblies 44-44 of the base assembly 12.
The cover assembly 22 also has recessed semi-circular grooves 100-100 which mesh with bearing groves 48-48 of the bearing surfaces 38-38 to provide a circular recess area for rotatably, removably housing the cylindrical bearings 76-76 of the removable caps 74-74 of the cylinders 70-70. A latch 101 releasably engages the transom 40 of the base head 38 of the base assembly 12. Openings 104-104 are conveniently provided for allowing a user to view the cylinders 70-70 for determining when frozen confectionary is being formed on the faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71. As best shown in FIG. 23, the cove assembly 22 has a crank-support surface 108 where the crank assembly 24 may be removably supported. The crank support surface 108 has an opening 112, a plurality of snap-receiving openings 116-116-116, and a pair of dowel-receiving cylindrical apertures 119-119.
The crank assembly 24, has a housing 120, a lever 124 secured to the housing 120, and a handle 126 mounted to the lever 124. The crank assembly 24 also includes a circular gear plate 130 (see FIG. 27) having an internal perimeter 132 defining circumferentially disposed gear-teeth 134. Concentrically positioned with the circular gear-plate 130 and secured to the housing 120 is a shaft 140. The crank assembly 24 also has a gear-support plate 142 for rotatably supporting a crank gear assembly 150. The gear-support plate 142 has a conduit 144 concentrically connected thereto for rotatably receiving the shaft 140 connected to the housing 120. Secured to the bottom of the gear-support plate 142 in a depending relationship are dowels 117 for passing into cylindrical apertures 119, and snaps 148-148-148 for releasably passing into the snap-receiving openings 116-116-116 of the crank support surface 108 in order to releasably secure the gear-support plate 142 to the crank support surface 108.
The crank gear assembly 150 has generally cylindrical-shaped gear assemblies 154 and 158. Gear assembly 154 is rotatably supported by the gear-support plate 142 and includes gears 160 and 164 secured to each other in a superimposed relationship. In operation gear 160 engages the gear teeth 134 of the circular gear plate 130. Gear 158 assembly is defined by a gear body 170 having gear 172 and gear 174 opposedly connected thereto. Gear body 170 is rotatably connected to and supported by the circular gear plate 130. In operation gear 172 is engaged to and driven by gear 164. Gear 174 extends below the circular gear plate 130 and engages gears 81 of gear plate 80 of one of the cylinders 70. Broadly, in operation for turning of the cylinder assembly 20, rotation of the handle 126 causes the circular gear plate 130 to move rotatably in unison therewith. As the gear-plate 130 moves, the associated teeth 134, which are engaged to the teeth of gear 160, causes gear 160 to rotate. As indicated, gear 164 is bound to gear 160. Thus, gear 164 will rotate with and in the same direction as gear 160. When gear 164 rotates, gear 158 rotates. The teeth of gear 164 is engaged to the teeth of gear 172, causing gear 172 to rotate as gear 164 rotates. Rotation of gear 172 rotates gear body 170 which in turn rotates gear 174 since gear 174 is affixed to gear body 170. Because the teeth of gear 174 are engaged to the teeth of gear 81 of gear plate 80 of one of the cylinders 70, when gear 174 rotates the engaged gear 81 of gear plate. 80 rotates, causing the rotation of both cylinders 70-70 of the cylinder assembly 20, preferably in a direction towards the scraper 18 and in direction of arrow B in FIGS. 2B and 3.
More specific in operation for turning the cylinder assembly 20, clockwise rotation of the handle 126 causes circular gear-plate 130 to also rotate clockwise, causing gears 172 and 174 to move counterclockwise. As gears 172 and 174 move counter-clockwise, the cylinder assembly 20 including its associated cylinders 70-70 rotate towards the transom 40 of the base head 34 of the base assembly 12 and towards the scraper 18 for removing frozen confectioneries off of the cylindrical faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71 of the cylinders 70-70.
Referring now to FIGS. 33-37, there is seen an embodiment of the scraper 18 as comprising an arcuate blade structure 200, an upright lug-supporting structure 202 bound to the blade structure 200, and a handle 204 bound to the lug-supporting. structure 202. The blade structure 200 has a blade edge 101, outside upstanding end walls 210-210 and inside upstanding walls 214-214. The upright lug supporting structure 202 has a scraper lug 94 positioned within a lug cavern 220. In this embodiment of the invention the scraper lug 94 pivotally lodges within the eyelet 58 of the transom 40 for allowing the user to pivot the scraper 18 towards the rotating cylinders 70-70 of the cylinder assembly 20. In another embodiment of the scraper 18 and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the scraper 18 comprises a handle 203 and a depending lug 99 pivotally lodging in transverse opening 68 of the tray 16 such that the user may pivot the scraper 18 towards the cylinders 70-70 of the cylinder assembly 20 which are rotating towards the scraper 18 and in direction of arrow B in FIG. 2B. For the embodiment of the scraper 18 in FIGS. 33-38, when handle 204 is pulled or pivoted in a direction away from the transom 40 and the cylinders 70-70 of the cylinder assembly 20, blade edge 101 moves into contact with the faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71. For the embodiment of the scraper 18 in FIGS. 1A-4, when handle 203 is pushed or pivoted in a direction towards the transom 40 and the cylinders 70-70 of the cylinder assembly 20, blade edge 101 moves into contact with the faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71.
Continuing to refer to drawings for operation of embodiments of the invention, cover assembly 22 is pivoted upwardly about cooperating bearing assemblies 44-44 of the base assembly 12 and coupling assemblies 85-85 of the cover assembly 22. This exposes the cylinder assembly 20 which may be removed to expose troughs 62-62 of the tray 16. A suitable liquid confectionary 63 may be poured into both troughs 62-62. In an embodiment of the invention each trough 62 contains a different flavor liquid confectionary 63 so that upon freezing, a user may enjoy two different flavors.
The cold temperature for freezing the liquid confectionary 63 is to originate from ice and freezing salt within the cylinders 70-70. To load the cylinders 70-70 with ice and freezing salt, caps 74-74 are removed from the cylindrical rings 71-71 to expose inner plates 78-78 and the hollow insides of the cylindrical rings 71-71 of the cylinders 70-70. After suitable quantities of ice and freezing salt are disposed inside the cylindrical rings 71-71, caps 74-74 are snapped back into place for encapsulating the ice and freezing salt within respective cylindrical rings 71-71.
The cylinder assembly 20, including its associated cylinders 70-70 having ice and freezing salt, is then disposed within the base assembly 12 such that the cylindrical bearings 76-76 protruding from the caps 74-74 are rotatably disposed on bearing surfaces 38-38 of the base head 34 of the base assembly 12, and such that the lower portions of the cylinders 70-70 are immersed or contained in the liquid confectionary 63 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The cover assembly 22 is then pivoted into a closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the closed position, as best illustrated in FIG. 2C, bearing 174 is engaged with gear 81 of one of the gear plates 80. When handle 126 is rotated clockwise, gear plate 130 also rotates clockwise. Clockwise rotation of gear plate 130 causes gear 172 and 174 to rotate counterclockwise. As gear 174 rotates counterclockwise, intercoupled cylinders 70 and 70 rotate in direction of arrow B in FIG. 2B. After about 5 minutes, frozen confectionary begins to form on the faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71. As a skin of frozen confectionary forms, the scrapper 18 may be positioned such that the blade edge 101 contacts the skin of frozen confectionary and scrapes or removes the frozen confectionary into the bade structure 200 of the cylindrical rings 71-71 from where the removed frozen confectionary falls by gravity into the bowl. The procedure is continued until all liquid confectionary 63 has been removed from the troughs 62-62. The dual-blade structure of the scraper 18 allows for simultaneous removal of frozen liquid confectionary from both faces 72-72 of the cylindrical rings 71-71.
The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20050214422
