Chocolate Picker as an Integral Part of the Chocolate Packaging

The subject of the invention is a specific type of packaging for chocolate, chocolate candies or cookies, more specifically, an addition to this packaging. Chocolate can be in the form of block that can be broken into individual pieces before consumption, in the form of a chocolate bar or in the form of separate pieces that are not attached to each other. The packaging includes a picker (a holder) which functions as tongs, a tool or utensil with two movable arms joined at one end that are used for picking up and holding things, therefore, a device that can be used to pick and hold a piece of chocolate, candy or cookie and carry it to the mouth.

This invention addresses the issue of hygienic consumption of chocolate, which can be in the form of a classic bar, e.g. weighing 100 or 300 grams, or any other form. Chocolates can be of different types: cooking, bitter, dark, milk, white. These various types differ in the amount of cocoa butter and solid cocoa (cocoa mass) they contain and, of course, in the amount of sugar and other additives such as milk and flavorings. Common chocolate typically contains 30% sugar, about 38% cocoa butter and 32% cocoa mass.

Regardless of the type of chocolate, the temperature at which chocolate begins to melt is around 34 degrees Celsius. We usually eat chocolate with our hands which have a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius. This means that the piece of chocolate torn from the bar melts slightly between fingertips before it is brought to the mouth. In the case of milk chocolates, which have less cocoa mass, this is even more apparent. When consuming chocolate, some of its fat, sugar or cocoa substances remain on the fingers, which those who consume it then try to clean by washing their hands, wiping or licking their fingers. If there is no water nearby, this can be quite annoying. This problem can be quite common since the chocolate bar, due to its nutritional value, is ideal for taking with us on a trip, when running, traveling, or hiking. An additional problem with hygienic chocolate consumption is the need to offer it to others nearby due to social customs. If we had the opportunity or desire to eat a whole bar of chocolate at once, the problem of breaking its parts and eating each piece separately may not even arise.

The technical problem solved by the invention is how to design such a packaging of a chocolate bar that will include one or more pickers (holders or tongs), which can be used to pick a piece of chocolate in a way that the chocolate itself will not come into direct contact with the user's fingers.

State of the art. The packaging of the chocolate bar has remained the same for many years, but two types predominate: chocolate bar which is first wrapped in aluminum foil which is then inserted into paper/paperboard packaging, and chocolate bar wrapped in plastic foil. The first option is more often used by products of a higher price range. In both cases, the chocolate is consumed by first partially or completely unwrapping it from the packaging, then breaking it into smaller pieces and offering it, or breaking it into smaller pieces while being still wrapped up in the packaging and after that opening it. Some chocolate bars have a paperboard plate inserted, which protects the chocolate bar from damage during transport and additionally can serve as an aid when serving the chocolate. Typical packaging is designed as foldable packaging and in the case of plastic foil it is sealed on the back (bottom) side, as well as on both shorter sides. A number of patents can be found on the topic of chocolate packaging or similarly packaged food.

Patent application AU201716183 describes a design that is supposed to be novel in how colors that form shading and pattern of flowers are assembled to form a packaging. From the description we can conclude that this is rather an example with a new graphic design solution than a new function. Quite simple solution appears also in the patent (industrial design) CN203410834 (U) which is also a design which describes a box of chocolate which is designed in such a form that after consuming the chocolate the packaging can be kept to store earrings or other small things.

Patent family EP3380404 describes packaging for a product which could be chocolate. The wrapper is opaque, but there is a transparent window on the top through which graphic images are visible. As in the previous example, the key purpose of the invention with this original packaging is to attract the attention of customers. A solution with a window at the top, into which a picture can be inserted, was also previously disclosed in the patent family WO2010040592.

Patent CN104843329 describes a wallet-shaped chocolate packaging where each individual chocolate bar is stored in a separate portion. The purpose of this packaging is practicality in the sense that even after opening it, the packaging can be easily closed and uneaten chocolate blocks can be saved for later. A similar method of separating individual chocolate blocks is also implemented in the solution described in patent US2015136642, although it looks more like a book rather than a wallet. In contrast, patent family US2010044263 describes packaging for multiple chocolate bars or similar products lying on top of each other. Patent (industrial design) DE1981252U describes a classic-shaped chocolate bar, which differs only in the fact that its pieces are not stuck together but are separated.

Patent (industrial design) U.S.D594323 describes chocolate packaging in the form of an envelope (a letter), which is certainly practical solution as the unused part of the chocolate bar can be easily closed. A similar solution is described also in patent CH701734. In the patent family EP2132110, a packaging solution for chocolate is described, which is already in the form of a letter or greeting card, so that a chocolate bar can be sent to the recipient without the need for additional wrapping—what we usually do when we ship packages.

Patent RU2520009 describes a robust packaging that is suitable for chocolate or other products and protects them from damage during transport, and it has also an option to insert a valve for multiple openings and closings. Furthermore, the patent application DE102009014245 describes an invention of a tubular food packaging for flat or block shaped food, which can be hermetically sealed and at the same time designed in such a way that the user can open it without damaging the product. The patent family WO2010121731 describes regular chocolate packaging with the addition of a practical dividing cut which allows for easier opening of the plastic foil. Patent US20160152406 describes packaging that precisely fits to the shape of the chocolate, which enables that the chocolate is safely held and opened while also allowing the user to see the shape of the chocolate.

None of the solutions listed above explicitly addresses the problem of hygienic consumption of chocolate which would be related to the shape of the packaging, except the invention described in the patent KR20190134405, which refers to a plastic wrap for chocolate that can be peeled off in pieces with several strips sewn into the foil. This way it is avoided getting your hands dirty with chocolate when opening the packaging. The solution is more useful and probably intended for chocolates that are not in the form of a plate, but rather in a higher and narrower block shape where the user after the opening of packaging directly bites off a part of the block avoiding direct contact between the chocolate and hands, as in the case of products such as Mars and Snickers brands.

There are also special dining utensils specifically designed for eating chocolate. For example, the Finger Play cutlery designed by Qiyun Deng is intended for eating chocolate candies of higher quality. It is a sophisticated accessory that enables easy gripping and lifting the individual candy. The device is made in gold-colored metal, it works like a pair of tweezers or pliers, and has rounded plates for squeezing the candies. In addition, patent EP2845700, for example, describes a device intended primarily for separating the triangles of the Toblerone chocolate bar. Different sophisticated solutions for utensils for enjoying chocolate candies in the form of special tweezers or pincers, designed for this purpose, are actually very old and differ mainly in their design. They all work on the same principle: basically, they consist of two metal handles joined together, which enables the chocolate candy to be gripped with.

The invention described in this patent application actually solves the problem of how to incorporate the function of such a dedicated dining tool for chocolate, which must be purchased separately, into the chocolate packaging itself, so that it is immediately available to the user when purchasing a chocolate bar or a box of chocolates.

shows the simplest concept of the picker, which has one single crease(), which divides the picker into two armsA andB. Suitable material for the picker would be thicker paper, which is sometimes already a part of the packaging of chocolates of a higher price range—cheaper ones are usually packed with plastic foil or aluminum foil wrapped by thinner paper which is less suitable for a picker. With this version of the picker it is important that the paper has such properties that it allows the picker to open automatically while we open the fingers of the handholding the picker. This allows a “tweezers” like grip of individual piece of chocolateby holding the pickerwith the fingers of your hand, as shown in, grabbing a piece of chocolateand carrying it to the mouth.

The picker() is quite similar to picker, it only differs in this feature that it has a double crease() instead of a single crease. Its use is shown in.

The picker can also be made with an additional tabwhich is connected to one of the arms of picker. This pickeris shown in. The additional tabis placed between the index finger and the middle finger on the arm() which enables better stabilization of the pickerin the hand, which significantly improves the handling of the picker and consequently holding a piece of chocolate.

Next version of the picker is shown in. This pickeris slightly more complex, as two finger holesare provided and a cut-outis designed for this purpose. Pickertherefore has two finger openingsthrough which the user inserts their thumb and index finger on handfor its use. Its advantage is that, for the reason of good grip due to better stabilization of the picker with two fingers of the handwhich are put through finger holes, thus it can also be made of thinner paper or other similar materials.

These are just a few examples of possible designs. Of course, different shapes are also possible—with various designs which have rounded, triangular or otherwise shaped individual parts—this however does not change the essence of the invention.

Different versions of the pickers,,andand their variations, can be integrated into the chocolate packaging itself, as shown in. Specificallyshows the outer packaging of chocolatemade of paperboard or thicker paper with the pickerswith double creaseas an integral part of packaging, the pickers are separated from each other by a perforation. There may be a single pickeron the packaging, or there may be numerous pickers. The user simply tears them out of the packagingand can start using them. In a similar way, the pickeror the picker with the additional tabcan be located on the top or bottom (back) of the package. The user also tears them off, as they are separated by a perforation, folds them at the creaseand starts using them. This option is shown in. Of course, these are not the only options for integrating the grippers into the outer packaging; for example, they could also be located at the sides of packaging for thicker chocolates.

The pickers can also be added to the packagingon extra surface for the pickerswhich is attached to the back of the packagingvia perforation, as shown in. They can also be added in other ways, e.g. on the top. The advantage of this version is that the basic envelope or the packagingis not ruined from tearing-off the pickersfrom the packaging. In this way, when the pickersare torn-off, the basic shape and function of the packagingremains intact, even when the pickersare torn-off from the packaging.

However, all variations of pickers (e.g.,,and) can also be designed and manufactured separately from the packagingand supplied individually within the packaging. Such attached pickers can already be set apart of each other or made in the form of a picker-set where individual pickers are separated by perforation (). Pickers can be perforated in different ways depending on the design or other factors, e.g. depending on the structure and shape of the chocolate. Such solutions can be more user-friendly, but are less environmentally efficient than the version where the pickers are already integrated into the packaging.

In this sense, it is also possible to provide pickers for single use, which are shown in. In these designs, each chocolate pieceor chocolate candy or cookiehas a pickerattached, which is already prepared for immediate use, being wrapped around chocolate piece, chocolate candy or cookie. This version is preferably made of thinner food grade paper suitable for contact with food or other appropriate material. The option inalso shows the trayon which the chocolate piecesare placed. Each chocolate piece/candy/cookiehas its own attached picker, which is discarded after eating a chocolate piece, candy or cookie. This version is the least environmental friendly, but is suitable for more luxurious chocolates.