No-drip frozen dessert packaging

Abstract

A no-drip frozen dessert package is provided, wherein a sealed containment envelope made of a flexible, lightweight material, has first and second lengthwise sections that are engaged at an interface disposed along a circumference of the package. A release actuator disposed along the interface disengages the first section from the second section to allow access to the frozen dessert for consumption, while the second section remains engaged with and disposed around a portion of the frozen dessert. A retainer integral to the second section is configured to catch drops of melted ice cream by maintaining a lateral separation distance between the ice cream itself and an aperture periphery defined by the circumference of the second section's open end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A no-drip frozen dessert package comprising:
 a sealed containment envelope made of a flexible, lightweight material, the containment envelope comprising:
 a first section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening to accommodate a frozen dessert and the distal end remaining sealed; 
 a second section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening to accommodate a frozen dessert and the distal end remaining sealed, 
 wherein the respective proximal ends of the first and second sections are adjacent to one another and the respective distal ends are each disposed at a respective lengthwise extreme of the containment envelope; 
   an interface where the respective proximal ends of the first and second sections are engaged;   a release actuator disposed at the interface to disengage the first section from the second section to allow access to the frozen dessert for consumption, wherein the second section remains disposed around a portion of the frozen dessert; and   a retainer configured to maintain the proximal end of the second section in an open, drip-catching configuration after disengagement of the first section.   
     
     
         2 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , wherein the release actuator comprises a flexible elongate member that is affixed to the interface about the circumference of the containment envelope, such that the application of a small-amplitude force to a pull tab disposed at a non-affixed free end of the release actuator is effective to disengage the first section from the second section. 
     
     
         3 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sections are engaged at the interface by an adhesive, and wherein the release actuator is affixed along the interface by an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sections are engaged at the interface by partially melting portions of the respective sections that are in contact at the interface, and wherein the release actuator is affixed along the interface by partially melting the release actuator when in contact with the interface. 
     
     
         5 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sections are engaged at the interface by an adhesive, and wherein the release actuator is affixed along the interface by partially melting the release actuator when in contact with the interface. 
     
     
         6 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sections are engaged at the interface by partially melting portions of the respective sections that are in contact at the interface, and wherein the release actuator is affixed along the interface by an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a projection integral to and extending from the distal end of the second section, wherein a frozen dessert can be frozen about and supported by the projection during consumption of the frozen dessert.   
     
     
         8 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , wherein
 the containment envelope comprises a single piece of flexible, lightweight material; and   the interface comprises a circumferential scoring or perforation dividing the containment envelope into first and second sections, wherein the circumferential scoring or perforation decreases the thickness of the containment envelope along the length of the scoring or perforation to facilitate disengagement of the first and second sections.   
     
     
         9 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a circumferential ring disposed about the proximal end of the second section, wherein the circumferential ring is configured to maintain the proximal end of the second section in a fully open, drip-catching position after disengagement of the first section. 
     
     
         10 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 9 , wherein the circumferential ring is made of a lightweight plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 9 , wherein the circumferential ring is made of a lightweight cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises folded-back extensions formed by folding back extensions of the second section that project from locations about the proximal end of the second section, then affixing the folded-back extensions to a side wall of the second section, and wherein the retainer thus formed is sufficiently rigid and configured to maintain the proximal end of the second section in a fully open, drip-catching position after disengagement of the first section. 
     
     
         13 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 12 , wherein the folded-back extensions are affixed to the side wall of the second section by an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 12 , wherein the folded-back extensions are affixed to the side wall of the second section by partially melting each respective folded-back extension and side wall when brought into contact. 
     
     
         15 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises rolled-back extensions formed by rolling back extensions of the second section that project from locations about the proximal end of the second section, then affixing the rolled-back extensions to a side wall of the second section, and wherein the retainer thus formed is sufficiently rigid and configured to maintain the proximal end of the second section in a fully open, drip-catching position after disengagement of the first section. 
     
     
         16 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 15 , wherein the rolled-back extensions are affixed to the side wall of the second section by an adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The no-drip frozen dessert package of  claim 15 , wherein the rolled-back extensions are affixed to the side wall of the second section by partially melting each respective rolled-back extension and side wall when brought into contact. 
     
     
         18 . A no-drip frozen dessert package comprising:
 a sealed containment envelope made of a flexible, lightweight material, the containment envelope comprising:
 a first section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening to accommodate a frozen dessert and the distal end remaining sealed; 
 a second section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening to accommodate a frozen dessert and the distal end remaining sealed, 
 wherein the respective proximal ends of the first and second sections are adjacent to one another and the respective distal ends are each disposed at a respective lengthwise extreme of the containment envelope; 
   an interface that divides the first section and the second section, the interface being constructed so as to be ruptured for separating the first section from the second section; and   a retainer configured to maintain the proximal end of the second section in an open, drip-catching configuration after disengagement of the first section from the second section so as to define an open drip collection chamber.