Frings (French Fries + Onion Rings) (1979)

Sun Oct 14 06:15:51 UTC 2007

FRINGS + FRIES + ONION RINGS--9,220 Google Hits
...
I just added an entry for "frings" (french fries + onion rings). I'd
noticed "frings" on the menus of several restaurants here in Austin
(such as Shady Grove on Barton Springs' restaurant row).
...
"Frings" was trademarked by Jack in the Box in 1979, but it now
appears to be generic, with a large number of hits all over North
America. OED should consider having "frings." Pre-1980 citations
(check FACTIVA) are welcome.
...
Why is "frings" in my Texas section? Well, "onion rings" were invented
at the Pig Stand drive-ins in Texas. "French fries," as we all know,
were invented at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, when someone from
the New York Tribune asked Fletcher Davis where he got his potato
recipe, and Davis replied "Paris" (Texas), and the reporter thought it
was Paris, France...
...
...
...
http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/frings_french_fries_onion_rings/
...
Entry from October 14, 2007
Frings (French Fries + Onion Rings)
"Frings" are orders of half french fries and half onion rings. The
"frings" name was trademarked by Jack in the Box (a hamburger chain
popular in California and Texas) in 1979, but Jack in the Box
discontinued the item.

Other fast food chains and restaurants (especially in California and
Texas) have "frings" on their menus. Runzia's (of Nebraska) website
claims a trademark on "frings," but trademark records show a first use
of 2002 and a "Dead" trademark status. Ruby's Diner (of California)
has a "frings" trademark claim from 1992.

Jack In The Box: Jack Facts
Gone, but not forgotten, Jack in the Box has a few renowned menu items
that have gone the way of mood rings and shag carpeting, including a
fish sandwich called the Moby Jack, introduced in 1970, and Frings, a
combination of onion rings and french fries, introduced in 1979.

A.Word.A.Day
AWADmail Issue 98
August 27, 2003
(...)
Interesting choice for this week's theme. One in particular that I
remember is one that, thankfully, never caught on in our language.
Several years ago, the fast food chain Jack-in-the-Box started selling
a side order of both French fries and onion rings, together in the
same package. They dubbed this culinary combination "Frings". The idea
did not catch on, and "Frings" went the way of McDonald's' Arch
Deluxe. Thankfully so!
-Dale Roberts (drobertsATcasarino.com)

Wikipedia: Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box (NYSE: JBX) is an American fast-food restaurant
founded in 1951. In total, the chain has 2,100 locations in 17 U.S.
states, mostly in the western half of the country. Most of the outlets
are in California (900), followed by Texas (560), Arizona (165), and
Washington (132)
(...)
In 1999, Foodmaker Inc., the corporate name of Jack in the Box, was
renamed to fit its core brand.

Runza
Frings(r) - Fries and Rings together!

Wikipedia: Harvey's
Harvey's is a fast food restaurant chain that operates in Canada, with
locations concentrated in southern and eastern Ontario, southern
Quebec, the Maritimes, and urban Alberta. It serves hamburgers, hot
dogs, french fries, onion rings, and other traditional fast food fare.
(...)
One of Harvey's most famous promotional menu items was Frings, a
specially designed french fry box that's half-full of french fries and
half-full of onion rings.

Shady Grove (Austin, TX)
Frings
A generous basket of french fries and onion rings.

Lakeway Resort and Spa (Austin, TX)
All sandwich board items come with a choice of:
French Fries, Onion Rings, Frings, Cole Slaw, Homemade Potato Chips or
Potato Salad

EZ's (Austin, TX)
If you get the frings (half fries, half onion rings), you have to be
sure to tell them to include the chipotle sauce. It's delicious,
especially mixed with ketchup.

Freddie's (Austin, TX)
frings (can't decide...get some of both)

Sammie's Bar-B-Q (Fort Worth, TX)
Frings (Combination Fries and Onion Rings) Lg $2.95

Park Classic Diner (PA & OH)
Frings
If one is good, two is better! Classic Park Fries and onion rings
served together! They´re crispy, crispy, and crunchy, crunchy, too!

Ruby's Diner (various states)
FRINGS
A combination basket of our Fit Fries and RubyRings for the very
hungry and indecisive.

Fuddruckers (various states)
Onion Rings or Frings

Cheeburger Cheeburger (various states)
Frings Basket:
the best of both worlds! a combination of our famous fries and rings.

Green Eggs and Ham Cafe (Disneyworld)
Frings (1/2 fries, 1/2 rings) $2.79

Google Groups:alt.tv.star-trek.voyager
Newsgroups: alt.tv.star-trek.voyager
From: "John Ro"
Date: 2000/01/05
Subject: Re: I Love You, Jack In The Box

>I remember their tacos, they were good. Hey, do they still have
>"Frings"? (half French Fries, half onion rings)

Frings may have had a name change.  Curly Fries have been on the menu
for a number of years now - French Fries all curled up to look like
onion rings, but no real onions in them.

Google Groups: rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc
From: Stephen Cooke
Date: 2000/03/24
Subject: Re: OTP: His Finest (Quarter) Hour

Here we go, a Harvey's flame-broiled war…
(...)
Plus, you can get Frings! (A mix of fries and rings)

Google Groups: ba.food
Newsgroups: ba.food
From: a... at bayarea.net (Asya Kamsky)
Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 20:53:14 +0000 (UTC)
Local: Thurs, May 17 2001 4:53 pm
Subject: new burger place in San Mateo

The menu also has salads, and sides like fries, onion rings and frings
(combo of the two).

(Trademark)
Word Mark FRINGS
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: French Fries and
Onion Rings for Consumption On or Off the Premises. FIRST USE:
19790802. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19790802
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 05.11.01 - Beets; Carrots; Parsnips; Potatoes
08.01.09 - Bagels; Doughnuts (donuts)
08.13.25 - Eggroll; Enchiladas; Potato chips; Potato chips; Rice;
Salt; Snack foods; Sugar cubes; Tortilla chips
27.03.05 - Objects forming letters or numerals
Serial Number 73236310
Filing Date October 22, 1979
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition September 22, 1981
Registration Number 1182338
Registration Date December 15, 1981
Owner (REGISTRANT) Foodmaker, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 9330 Balboa
Ave. San Diego CALIFORNIA 92123
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record BABETTE D. KAMM
Disclaimer Applicant disclaims the representation of an onion ring and
a French fried potato apart from the mark as shown; however, applicant
waives none of its common law rights therein.
Description of Mark The stippling in the drawing is for shading only
and does not represent color.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date September 21, 2002

(Trademark)
Word Mark FRINGS
Goods and Services IC 029. US 046. G & S: Onion rings and french fries
for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE: 19920101. FIRST USE
IN COMMERCE: 19920101
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78230704
Filing Date March 27, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition September 18, 2007
Owner (APPLICANT) Ruby's Diner, Inc. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 660
Newport Center DriveSuite 850 Newport Beach CALIFORNIA 92660
Attorney of Record Edward A. Schlatter
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

(Trademark)
Word Mark FRINGS
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: French fries and
onion rings for consumption on or off the premises. FIRST USE:
20020301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20020301
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 76428415
Filing Date July 9, 2002
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition January 28, 2003
Registration Number 2709225
Registration Date April 22, 2003
Owner (REGISTRANT) Runza National, Inc. CORPORATION NEBRASKA 5931
South 58th St., P.O. Box 6042 Lincoln NEBRASKA 68506
Attorney of Record Alan D. Slattery
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date March 6, 2007

(Trademark)
Word Mark WINGS "N" FRINGS
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 043. US 100 101. G & S: RESTAURANT
SERVICES, NAMELY, CHICKEN WINGS, FRIES AND ONION RINGS
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78217774
Filing Date February 21, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Duke, Mike H INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 2731
Whispering Fern Court Kingwood TEXAS 77345
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date February 9, 2004

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