Motor vehicle shaped mint and gum containers

Abstract

A container has mating top and bottom portions that fit together to exteriorly provide an overall shape of a motor vehicle, and to interiorly define a cavity that contains a plurality of unwrapped food pieces. Preferred containers have appropriate colors, logos, entrant identifying numerals and so forth for a racing car. The top and bottom sections can be hinged, and can include a quick-release mechanism that assists in opening the cavity. The cavity preferably contains at least 25, or more preferably 50, 75 or even more pieces of substantially fungible mint or gums. Mints are especially preferred pieces, as are automobile shaped pieces. The mint or gums can be freely movable within the cavity, as opposed for example, to being contained within a bag, or individually sealed such as would be the case with taffy or other sticky products.

1 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a container having distinct top and bottom sections, matingly engageable to define a cavity;    a plurality of food pieces disposed unwrapped inside the cavity; and    the container having an overall shape of a motor vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the container has a coating comprising a plurality of colors.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the container has a coating that includes a racing-related company logo.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the racing-related company logo comprises a trademark of at least one of an automobile, oil and fuel company.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the racing-related company logo comprises NASCAR®.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot coupling the top and bottom sections.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the container has a coating that includes a numeral.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the container has a coating that includes a racing-related company logo and a prominently displayed numeral.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the coating defines wheels and doors.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the shape approximates that of an automobile.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 8  further comprising a pivot that couples the top piece and the bottom piece.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 8  further comprising a quick-release mechanism that assists in opening the cavity.  
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of food pieces numbers at least 25.  
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of food pieces numbers at least 50.  
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the food comprises a gum.  
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the food comprises a gum.  
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the food comprises a mint.  
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 8  wherein at least some of the plurality of food pieces are automobile shaped.  
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 8  wherein at least some of the plurality of food pieces are shaped to define a numeral.  
   
   
       20 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a sheath disposed between the plurality of food pieces and an inner wall of the cavity.