Ring Pop is a brand of fruit flavored lollipops manufactured by Topps. They are in the form of a wearable plastic ring with a large hard candy "jewel" and come in an assortment of flavors. They were invented by Frank Richards in 1979.
Frank Richards, who was a Product Engineer for Topps in Duryea, Pennsylvania wanted to help curtail his daughter's habit of thumb sucking. He designed Ring Pops when he saw a market for providing an alternative.
Variations
Special Ring Pops are made for some holidays. Easter Ring Pops use the traditional plastic ring but replace the gem-shaped hard candy with chicks or bunnies.
In 2011 Bazooka chewing gum issued Ring Pops encrusted with Swarovski Crystal and colored with Maverick Blue to the Dallas Mavericks for their winning of the 2011 NBA Finals.
Topps launched Ring Pop Gummies in 2013, a wearable and edible gummi version of the candy.
In an emerging club drugs trend, the substance with the street name "Molly" is being mixed into Ring Pops.