System of storing and dispensing ice cream including method of increased use of capacity of refrigerated retail display cases

Abstract

A sliceable cream container system includes a carton having a cap and a ratio of a height of a lateral surface of a carton to the diameter of the carton, defining a range of about 2.5:1 to about 3.5:1, in which the base defines a cross-sectional dimension in a range of about 50 to about 100 millimeters (mm). The carton container possesses a volume of at least 900 milliliters (ml), the cross-section of which may be circular, oval, square, rectangular or heart-shaped. Completely filling the carton is a volume of ice cream or related comestible product. On the carton is provided a plurality of equidistant curved lines or line segments that indicate the caloric content of a portion of ice cream cut along such lines.

1 . A sliceable ice cream container system, comprising:
 (a) a substantially cylindrical carton having a cap and a base, each of substantially like diameter, a ratio of a height of a lateral surface of said carton to said diameter of said carton, defining a range of about 2.5:1 to 3.5:1, in which said base defines a dimension in a range of about 50 to about 100 millimeters (mm), said carton container defines a volume of at least 900 milliliters (ml); and   (b) within said carton, a volume of ice cream or related comestible product provided therein.   
   
   
       2 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said ratio of height-to-diameter defines a range of 2.5:1 to 3:1. 
   
   
       3 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said diameter defines a range of about 90 mm to about 100 mm. 
   
   
       4 . The container system as recited in  claim 2  in which said volume of said container defines a range of about 800 ml to 1400 ml. 
   
   
       5 . The container system as recited in  claim 1  in which said lateral surface of said cylindrical carton includes a plurality of axially equi-distantly spaced parallel lines, the distance between successive lines corresponding to a volumetric or caloric quantity of said ice cream. 
   
   
       6 . The container system as recited in  claim 3  in which said equi-distant lines comprise scored or perforated lines. 
   
   
       7 . The container system as recited in  claim 5 , in which said cap includes lateral sidewalls, an axial length of which is congruent with said distance between said successive scored lines. 
   
   
       8 . The container system as recited in  claim 7 , in which said axial length of said sidewalls define a multiple of said distance between scored lines. 
   
   
       9 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said cap possesses sidewalls having edges of sufficient width and density to provide a guide to a blade of a cutting implement to transversely cut said lateral surface and said ice cream. 
   
   
       10 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said cap possesses sidewalls having edges of sufficient width and density to provide a guide to a blade of a cutting implement to transversely cut said lateral surface and said ice cream, along equidistant scored lines on said lateral surface. 
   
   
       11 . The container system as recited in  claim 9  in which said cap includes imprint means provided upon an inner base thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , said cap including lateral recesses proportioned to the size of a human finger. 
   
   
       13 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for stabilization of said carton base. 
   
   
       14 . The container system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a second cap comprising said carton base. 
   
   
       15 . The container system as recited in  claim 10 , in which said cap possesses sidewalls having edges of sufficient width and density to provide a guide to a blade of a cutting implement to transversely cut said lateral surface and said ice cream, along equidistant scored lines on said lateral surface. 
   
   
       16 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said carton defines an oval cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . An ice cream container system comprising:
 (a) a solid rectangular carton having a cap and an integral base, a ratio of a height of said carton, to a smaller edge of the bottom of said carton, defining a range of about 2.0:1 to 3.5:1, in which said bottom edge defines a dimension in a range of about 50 to about 100 millimeters (mm), said carton container defining a volume of at least one liter; and   (b) within said carton, a volume of ice cream or related comestible product provided therein.   
   
   
       18 . The container system as recited in  claim 17 , in which said ratio of height-to-smaller edge of the bottom defines a range of 2.5:1 to 3:1. 
   
   
       19 . The container system as recited in  claim 17 , in which said smaller edge defines a range of about 90 mm to about 110 mm. 
   
   
       20 . The container system as recited in  claim 2  in which said volume of said container defines a range of about 900 ml to 1500 ml. 
   
   
       21 . The container system as recited in  claim 17  in which said lateral surface of said carton includes a plurality of axially equi-distantly spaced parallel lines, the distance between successive lines corresponding to a volumetric or caloric quantity of said ice cream. 
   
   
       22 . The container system as recited in  claim 19  in which said equi-distant lines comprise scored or perforated lines. 
   
   
       23 . The container system as recited in  claim 21 , in which said cap includes lateral sidewalls, a length of which is congruent with said distance between said successive scored lines. 
   
   
       24 . The container system as recited in  claim 19 , in which said cap possesses sidewalls having edges of sufficient width and density to provide a guide to a blade of a cutting implement to transversely cut said lateral surface of the carton and said ice cream along said scored lines. 
   
   
       25 . The container system as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising a second cap comprising said carton base. 
   
   
       26 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which a base of said cap is transparent. 
   
   
       27 . The container system as recited in  claim 1 , in which said volume of ice cream defines, in transverse cross-section, a shape of a heart. 
   
   
       28 . A sliceable ice cream container system, comprising:
 (a) a substantially cylindrical carton having a cap and a base, each of substantially like dimension, said carton defining a substantially heart-shaped transverse cross-section, a ratio of the greatest cross-section of said carton to a length of said carton, defining a range of about 0.3:1 to 0.6:1, in which said cap and base each define an area in a range of about 50 to about 90 square centimeters, said carton container defining a volume of at least 1400 milliliters (ml); and   (b) within said carton, a volume of ice cream or related comestible product provided therein.   
   
   
       29 . The container system as recited in  claim 28 , in which said cross-sectional width defines a range of about 70 mm to about 130 mm. 
   
   
       30 . The container system as recited in  claim 29 , in which said volume of said container defines a range of about 1400 ml to 1900 ml. 
   
   
       31 . The container system as recited in  claim 28  in which a lateral surface of said cylindrical carton includes a plurality of axially equidistantly spaced parallel lines, the distance between successive lines corresponding to a volumetric or caloric quantity of said ice cream. 
   
   
       32 . The container system as recited in  claim 31 , in which said cap includes lateral sidewalls, an axial length of which is congruent with said distance between said successive scored lines. 
   
   
       33 . The container system as recited in  claim 32 , in which said cap possesses sidewalls having edges of sufficient width and density to provide a guide to a blade of a cutting implement to transversely cut said lateral surface and said ice cream. 
   
   
       34 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , said cap including lateral recesses proportioned to the size of a human finger.