DISPOSITIF COMESTIBLE ENVELOPPE POUR PRODUIT DE CONFISERIE

EDIBLE, SHRINK-WRAPPED HANDLE FOR CONFECTIONS

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The edible handle provided by the invention for
frozen or non-frozen confections ensures that a handle has
sufficient strength to resist bending or breaking, particularly
while it is being manipulated in automatic apparatus for insert-
ing such handles into confections. The handle is of edible
substances such as chewing gum, licorice, or the like, and is
pre-wrapped within a tube of heat-shrinkable film, which is then
subjected to heat, so as to closely wrap such handles. It has
been discovered that such pre-wrapping lends rigidity and
strength to the edible substances employed in a confection handle.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method of making an edible, shrink-wrapper handle
for confections comprising the steps of:
pre-forming an edible handle;
inserting said handle in a pre-formed polyester film,
heat-shrinkable tube,
heating said wrapped handle to shrink said film
therearound.
2. A method of making an edible, shrink-wrapped handle
for confections according to claim 1, and including the provision
of an interior, longitudinal tear strip within said film tube.
3. An edible, shrink-wrapped handle for confections
produced according to the method of claim 1.
4. An edible, shrink-wrapped handle for confections,
produced according to the process of claim 1, said handle being
pre-formed of edible materials being selected from the group
consisting of bubble gum and licorice

Description

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The invention relates to a han.dle -for Erozen c.onfections,
or non-frozen confections, the handle its.elf being of edl.ble or
confectionery material.
The concept of providing an edible handle for frozen
confections is not new. .~or example, in Canadian patent Mb.
328,958 datecl January 3, 1933 there is disclosed a handle stick
for frozen confections ma~e of licorice or the like. The disclo-
sure of this old patent, however, e~fectively merely disclos.es
the concept. It is of interest that this concept has ne~er found
its way into the market place.
In conducting preliminary e~periments, appli.cant deter-
mined that most con-f-ectionery produc:ts such as licorice, bubble
gum, or the like, in stick form i.s eit.her too soft or too brittle
for use in automatic stick inserti.ng apparatus ~hen f:roz:en. or
other confections are being manufac.tured~
Applicant has discov-ered that, surpr;.singl~, when sticks
of bubble gum, licorice, or the li.ke are enca.sea in the shrinkable
polyester film that substantial stabi.lity and strength is added
to the stick so encased.
An object of the inven.tion, therefore, is to provide a
stick of bubble gum, licorice, or the like, whi.ch is shrir~k-wrapped
in polyester fïlm., so as to lend ad`ditional sta.~ili.ty to the con-
fectionery product being usea as hanale for frozen c.onfectïon.s,
and which at the same time provides a sanitary wrap for the portions
of the handl.e which is held while the frozen confecti.on i.s being
consumed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method
of manufacturing such hanales.
A principal ob.ject of the in.vention is to provide a
method of making an edible, shrink-wrapped handle -for confections

~ ,1736~,
comprising the steps of: pre-forming an edi~le hanclle; inserting
said handle in a pre-formed polyester -fïlm, heat-shrinkable tube;
heating said wrapped handle to shrink said film therearound.
These and other objects of the invention will become
apparent with reference to the follo~ing drawings in ~hich:
Figure 1 illustrates a confection handle according to
the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pre-formed tube of
heat-shrinkable polyester film;
Figure 3 illustrates the tube of Figure 2 containing a
confectionery handle, prior to shrinking;
Figure 4 ;llustrates a confection handle according to
the invention following shrink-wrapping within the polyester film
tube; and
Figure 5 illustrates a handle according to the invention
following securement in a frozen confection (without the outer
wrapper normally associated with such frozen confections).
Deta:iled reference will now be made to the drawings in
which like reference numerals will be used to identify like parts.
An edible stick handle accorcLing to the invention is
identified generally by the reference numeral 10. As illustrated
in Figure 1 an edible stick o:E bubble gum, licorice, or the Like
is pre-formed to appropriate lengths, and while the stick-handles
disclosed are shown as being of generally circular shape in trans-
verse section, it will be appreciated that any desired shape may
be employed.
As seen in Figure 2, a tube of heat-shrinkable material~
such as polyester fîlm, of indefinite length is employed in the
metho~ of ~anufacturing the handles according to the invention.
The tube 12 of Figure 2 also includes an interior tear strip 14.
--2--

73~9~
Pre--formed tube 12 has an interior diameter substantia.lly la.rger
than the exterior diameter of stick handle 12, to make insertion
of pre-formed edible sticks 10 within tubes 12, eit.her manua.ll.y, ~'
or by machine.
The polyester film of which tube 12 is pre-formed may
be of any type of heat-shrinkable polyester film approved for
shrink wrapping of' edible materials. One such polyester,
heat-shrinkable film is available from Gilbreth International
Corporation, Bensalen, Pennsylvania 19020, U.S.A., under the
trade mark P2~0.
A section of heat-shrinkable polyester tube 12, of
indefinite length is illustrated in Figure 3, with a plurality of
stick handles 10 inserted therein.
The polyester film tube, containing a plurality of handles
in slïghtly spaced-apart relati.onship is then passed through a
heat tunnel in order to effect shrinking of the -fiim 12 around
handles 10, the temperature of: the heat tunnel being that prescribed
by the manufacturer of the film being employed. I:ndividual handle
secti.ons are then separated by appropriate knie nleans as will be
evident to those skilled in the art, providing individual,
shrink-wr.apped handle secti.ons as illustratecl i.n ~igure ~. Also
seen in Figure ~ is tear strip 1~, and :E'or purposes of illustration
tear strip 1~ is shown projec:ting from handle 10.
As seen i.n Fi~ure 5, a froz.en confection 16 is i.llustrated
~ith hanale 10 projecting from one ena thereo, following wrapping
and insertion therein, as is well kn.own to those skilled in the
prior art when w-ooden sti.ck handles or the like are employed.
~ hen heat shrinking of polyester ilm 12 occurs, the
ends of indi:~idual stick handles 10 are also e-fecti~ely covered,
as the heat-shrin.kabie film in fact shri'nks closely therearound.

;~ 17369 ~
rhus, handle 10 .is provided wi-th a sanitary cove-r:, ~hile .Eroz.en
confection 16 is being con.sumed, and is readily unwrapped~ by
means of tear strip 1~, when it is desired to consume the lic.orice
or bubble gum handle itsel-f.
The provision of a shrink-wrap film on c.onfection handles
such as bubble gum, licorice, or the like, ha.s been found to lend
relatively great rigidi.ty to the licoric.e, bubble gum, or the like.
In automatic handle insertion apparatus for use with confections,
stresses are exerted on the sti.ck handle. Bubble gum or li.corice
sticks without the reinforcing shrink-wrap film therearound has
tended to bend, and/or break, while being mechani.cally manipuIated
in stick insertion apparatus, and s.ubsequently-. The tendency to
~reak is emphasized when handles made of c:onfectionery ma.terial
are being inserted in c.onfections i.n a. frozen or semi frozen state,
a.s the lowered temperature of the confecti.on handles themselves
leads toward bri.ttleness.
The provision. o-f a polyester film, c.losely bound to
confecti.on handles through shrin.k-~rapping has been found to
elimin.ate the tendency of confection h.andles to break, and also
to Tesist bending, so as. to conorm with the rcqu;rements of the
mechanic.al mani.pulators found in stick insertion apparatus and in
related mechanical handling apparatus used in the man-u.facture of
frozen confections.
The ~oregoing is by way of example and the i.nvention
should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.