WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: ICE CREAM CONE

Profile America — Friday, September 14th.  All summer long, millions of Americans have been enjoying ice cream cones.  The exact origin of the cone is a subject of controversy.  This month in 1903, an Italian immigrant in New York City — Italo Marchiony — filed a patent for a waffle-like pastry cup to hold ice cream.  But he later lost court cases against makers of devices, which produced cone-shaped holders for ice cream.  Whoever actually invented the ice cream cone, the first ones were hand rolled.  By 1912, a machine had been invented to do the job faster.  In all its forms — regular and low fat ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt — we each eat about 24 1/2 pounds a year of frozen dairy products — much of it in cones.  You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 465
               Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 217

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau