Lollipop with fluid reservoir handle and method of making same

Abstract

Liquid candy is molded into a body of hard candy HC with a tubular portion 24 of a holder 22, 24 anchored therein. The tubular portion 22 extends into close proximity to an outer surface of the hardened candy HC. A cup-shaped portion 22 of the holder is snapped onto a reservoir cap 70. The holder 22, 24 is snapped into a fully engaged position. When a consumer wishes to consume the candy product, the consumer pulls up on the holder 22, 24 to move it upwardly relative to the reservoir cap into a second engaged position. A break-away portion 74 of the cap 70 breaks away to open fluid communication between the reservoir 62 and a passageway 36 through the holder 22, 24.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a candy product, comprising: 
 providing a holder having a cup-shaped portion, and a tubular portion projecting from said cup-shaped portion;    inserting a pin into said holder through said cup-shaped portion and said tubular portion to an outer end of said tubular portion opposite said cup-shaped portion;    dispensing liquid candy into a cavity in a mold;    inserting said tubular portion with said pin inserted therein into said liquid candy in said cavity;    allowing said candy to harden to anchor said tubular portion in said candy;    removing the hardened candy from said mold, and removing said pin from said holder to leave a passageway extending through said holder;    providing a reservoir sized and shaped to be gripped by a consumer's hand, and a reservoir cap configured to close an open end of said reservoir and having a break-away portion;    filling said reservoir with an edible fluid;    closing said reservoir by securing said cap over said open end; and    snapping said cup-shaped portion of said holder onto said cap, including engaging said cap in a manner that permits a subsequent consumer to pull up on said holder without removing said holder from said cap, to detach said break-away portion and open fluid communication between said reservoir and said passageway.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting said pin into said holder includes snapping an enlarged width portion of said pin into releasable engagement with an inner surface of said cup-shaped portion and maintaining an outer portion of said pin projecting outwardly from said holder opposite said tubular portion; and removing said pin from said holder includes engaging said outer portion of said pin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting said tubular portion into said liquid candy comprises moving said tubular portion into a position in which said outer end of said tubular portion is in close proximity to, but spaced from, an inner wall of said mold defining said cavity.  
     
     
         4 . A candy product comprising: 
 a solid body of candy having a passage extending at least substantially therethrough;    a holder including a cup-shaped portion having an open end, and a tubular portion projecting from said cup-shaped portion opposite said open end; said tubular portion extending from said cup-shaped portion into said passage and being anchored in said passage, and said holder having a passageway extending through said cup-shaped portion and said tubular portion;    a reservoir sized and shaped to be gripped by a consumer's hand and having an open end;    an edible fluid at least substantially filling said reservoir; and    a reservoir cap secured to said reservoir and closing said open end of said reservoir;    said cup-shaped portion of said holder being snap fit onto said cap; said cup-shaped portion and said cap having interengaging portions that allow a consumer exerting a pulling force on said holder to move said holder upwardly relative to said cap without removing said holder from said cap; and said cap having a break-away portion that is sufficiently frangible to break away when said holder is moved upwardly relative to said cap, to open fluid communication between said reservoir and said passageway.    
     
     
         5 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein said reservoir is compressible to allow a consumer to squeeze said edible fluid into said passageway.  
     
     
         6 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein said reservoir is made at least partially from a flexible material to allow a consumer to squeeze said edible fluid into said passageway.  
     
     
         7 . The candy product of  claim 6 , wherein an end of said passage is closely proximate to, but spaced from, an outer surface of said body of candy, leaving a thin layer of candy blocking an end of said passageway adjacent to said end of said passage.  
     
     
         8 . The candy product of  claim 5 , wherein an end of said passage is closely proximate to, but spaced from, an outer surface of said body of candy, leaving a thin layer of candy blocking an end of said passageway adjacent to said end of said passage.  
     
     
         9 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein an end of said passage is closely proximate to, but spaced from, an outer surface of said body of candy, leaving a thin layer of candy blocking an end of said passageway adjacent to said end of said passage.  
     
     
         10 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein said holder is integrally formed.  
     
     
         11 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein said tubular portion extends into said passage to an end of said passage.  
     
     
         12 . The candy product of  claim 9 , wherein said tubular portion extends into said passage to said end of said passage.  
     
     
         13 . The candy product of  claim 4 , wherein said interengaging portions include a ridge on a side inner surface of said cup-shaped portion spaced longitudinally below an upper inner surface of said cup-shaped portion, and a projection on a top portion of said cap positioned to engage said ridge when said holder is moved upwardly relative to said cap.  
     
     
         14 . The candy product of  claim 13 , wherein said holder is integrally formed.