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Container with preapplied appliqueRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Product With Added Inedible Feature Other Than That Which Constitutes A PackageContainer with preapplied applique description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070092612, Container with preapplied applique. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to beverage containers with an applique applied thereto. More specifically, the present invention relates to beverage containers having an edible applique applied thereto, the applique being applied at a time that is significantly prior to the time of consumption. BACKGROUND [0002] Many types of drinks are served in a glass having a rimmer that adds a flavor dimension and/or eye appeal. For example, a margarita is served in a glass having a salt rimmer, a daiquiri is served in a glass having a sugar rimmer, a bloody mary may be served in a glass having a spice rimmer, etc. Rimmers are also considered a way to add flavor to: bellinis, martinis, cosmopolitans, and pina coladas; non-alcoholic cold drinks, such as iced tea, lemonade and milk; and hot drinks such as coffee and cocoa. Typically, the rimmer is applied to the glass or cup at the location where the drink is served. More specifically, the rimmer is generally applied to the glass when the drink is being mixed and just before it is served. Thus, the rimmer is applied at approximately the time of consumption and is not "pre-applied" to the container. [0003] Traditionally, the margarita-type rimmer is applied by wetting the rim with a lime wedge and immediately placing it in a bed of salt. The wet lime juice provides sufficient adhesion to retain the salt, at least temporarily. Alternately, the rim may be wet with water and then placed in a bed of salt. The salted rim resulting either from lime juice or water wetting of the rim is typically not durable and may fall off as the drink is handled and the juice or water dries. For other drinks, fruit juice or water provides the wetting, and a wide variety of salt, sugar, spice and flavor particle mixes are used for the bed in which the wetted rim is placed. [0004] In a commercial setting, glass rimming adds steps to a drink preparation process that may already be complex. In a busy bar or at hotel receptions and similar functions with large numbers of people to serve, rimming glasses may slow service time unacceptably. Moreover, the materials and equipment used for rimming provide another set of sanitation issues. In a non-commercial setting, rimming glasses is often considered burdensome and overly time-consuming. It is best done with a special tray for holding wetting and rimming material. A host of a party may not rim the glass of each margarita served because of the time associated with setting up the rimming materials and performing the rimming. Further, a sponge is typically used to apply the wetting agent (e.g., juice, water) to the rim of the glass. Such sponge is typically not sanitized over the course of a day (or a party) and microbiological contaminants may become of concern. After several usages, the bed of salt or other rimming material may also be degraded by clumping, and any wetting agent present in the bed may make that material a further possible source of microbiological contaminants. [0005] Plastic cups are not generally considered suitable for rimming. Most plastics used for beverage containers are hydrophobic. Thus, plastic has a low affinity for water, does not wet well, and repels water-based liquids such as lime juice. When lime juice or water is applied to plastic, the liquid forms discontinuous droplets. These droplets retain very little salt when the rim is placed in a bed of salt. Additionally, the dried liquid/salt residue does not typically adhere well to the surface of plastic. One manufacturer has addressed this with a rimming syrup (under the trademark RoxiSpice) which the seller claims "keeps the salt or spice on your plastic glasses for a more attractive presentation." The rimming syrup and salt or spice are applied approximately at the time of consumption. Listed ingredients for the RoxiSpice product are: high fructose corn syrup, water, propylene glycol, polysorbate 60, xathan gum, malic acid, sodium benzoate, propylene glycol alginate, potassium sorbate. [0006] When a rimmed beverage glass is served, the rimmer is typically functional for flavoring and provides limited eye appeal unless very carefully done. An improved method for providing attractive rimmed beverages would be desirable. BRIEF SUMMARY [0007] A container having a preapplied applique is provided. The container has an applique that is applied thereto at a time that is significantly prior to the time of consumption. In one embodiment, a container having a preapplied edible applique at the rim of the container is provided. The applique is applied to the rim of the container by applying an edible adhesive to the rim of the container and applying the applique to the adhesive. Alternatively, the applique is applied to a portion of the container other than the rim of the container. In other embodiments, the applique itself has sufficient adhesion qualities and is applied to the container directly without use of an adhesive. Further, the adhesive and applique may be mixed and applied to the container concurrently. [0008] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate in cross-sectional side and top views, respectively, a container having an applique pre-applied to the rim thereof in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0010] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a container having an applique pre-applied to a portion thereof in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIGS. 2a-2f illustrate various embodiments of suitable containers with rim appliques applied using the present invention. [0012] FIGS. 3a-3e illustrate various embodiments of rims of a container for receiving a pre-applied applique in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate schematically methods for placing appliques in two parts in accordance with the present invention. [0014] FIGS. 5a-5b illustrate schematically manufacturing methods for placing appliques on a container (only partially shown) in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a container with a patterned applique of two colors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Overview. A container having a pre-applied edible applique is provided. The container, thus, has an applique that is applied thereto at a time that is significantly prior to the time of consumption. [0017] FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c illustrate embodiments wherein the applique is pre-applied and bonded to the rim 24 at or around the upper edge of side wall 22 of the container 20. This embodiment may be useful, for example, in the beverage industry. The applique 10 may encircle the entire rim 24 or be present on only a portion of it, to offer the user sipping without encountering the applique. In alternative embodiments, the applique may be applied to other portions of the container in lieu of or in addition to the upper rim 24 of the container 20. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1c, the applique 10 may coat a portion of the interior and the exterior of the container and may extend over a portion of the container greater than the upper rim, for example extending 0.5 to 1 inch away from the upper rim of the container. [0018] Containers. As shown in FIGS. 1a-1c, the container 20 is a beverage container. The beverage container 20 may be formed of any suitable material, and the material may be determined based on the purpose of the beverage container. For example, the container 20 may be formed of glass or ceramic material such that the container may be used after an initial use. Thus, for example, the container may be purchased with a rimmer applique 10 pre-applied. Initial use of the container, thus, includes usage with the pre-applied rimmer. After this use, the container 20 may be washed and used as a container without a rimmer. [0019] The container may be formed using any suitable process. For example, the container may be formed by conventional glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal manufacturing methods, with the applique added as a food processing step after or during manufacture of the container. The applique is added at a time and location other than the time and location of consumption. Continue reading about Container with preapplied applique... Full patent description for Container with preapplied applique Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Container with preapplied applique patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Container with preapplied applique or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Container for sliced and fluffed food products Next Patent Application: Method of roasted coffee beans treatment and steam-treated roasted coffee beans Industry Class: Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Container with preapplied applique patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1128 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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