Bound set therefor of disposable cutlery

• US 5,904,250 A
• Filed: 08/21/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: De STER NV
• Original Assignee: De STER NV
• Inventors: De Schutter, Jef
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US08/637,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 30/142, 30/147-150, 30/340, 7/901, 206/442, 206/553
• US Class Current: 206/553
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/06 Combined or separable sets of table-service utensils; Oyster knives with openers; Fish servers with means for removing bones kitchen equipment A47J
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/00 Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material

Abstract

The invention relates to a bundle (40) of disposable cutlery implements (6) (knives, forks or spoons). The bundle (40) consists of a stable stack of nesting implements (6) secured together by a strip or band (42). The implements have a handle (8) and an operative part (10) (blade, tines or bowl). The handle (8) of each implement (6) has a roughly U-shaped cross section over its entire length. The two arms (14) and (16) of the U-section form a blunt angle with the web (18). At the end of the handle both arms are joined together also to form a blunt angle with the wall section (20) formed by the web. In order to be able to form large stable stacks of nesting implements of the same kind while reducing the volume of packaging material required, the two arms (14) and (16) of the handles (8) are extended beyond the transition (22) to the operative part (10) and gradually taper to merge with the edge thereof.

Claims

1. A stack of stackable knives, each one of said stackable knives comprising:

a) a handle having a front end and a spaced apart rear end;

b) said handle including a substantially U-shaped cross section over substantially the entire length thereof;

c) said U-shaped cross section including a left leg, a spaced apart right leg, and a top wall portion joining said left leg to said right leg;

d) a knife blade disposed at said front end of said handle;

e) a transition zone disposed between and connecting said knife blade to said handle;

f) said knife blade including a cutting edge disposed on the left side thereof, a knife back disposed on the right side thereof, and a tip at the front thereof;

g) an extended portion of said right leg extending through and past said transition zone and defining said knife back, and said knife back tapering leftwardly and terminating substantially at said tip of said knife blade for enhancing stacking stability in said transition zone, for enhancing stacking stability of said knife blade, and for enhancing the strength of said knife blade;

h) an extended portion of said left leg extending through and past said transition zone into said knife blade for enhancing the strength and stackability of said knife blade and said transition zone; and

,

i) an extended portion of said top wall portion extending through and past said transition zone into said knife blade for enhancing the strength and stackability of said transition zone and said knife blade.

2. A stack of stackable knives as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) a clamping member is placed around the handles of the stack of stackable knives.

3. A stack of stackable knives as defined in claim 2, wherein:

a) said clamping member is selected from the group consisting of a banderole, a string, a rubber band, a wire, a clamp, and a clip.

4. A stack of stackable knives as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) a wall part is disposed at said rear end of said handle, and said wall part joins said left leg, said right leg, and said top wall portion.

5. A stack of stackable knives as defined in claim 4, wherein:

a) said wall part extends outwardly downwardly away from said top wall portion and defines an obtuse angle with said top wall portion.

6. A stack of stackable knives as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said handle includes a roughened surface.

7. A stack of stackable spoons, each one of said stackable spoons comprising:

a) a handle having a front end and a spaced apart rear end;

b) said handle including a substantially U-shaped cross section over substantially the entire length thereof;

c) said U-shaped cross section including a left leg, a spaced apart right leg, and a top wall portion joining said left leg to said right leg;

d) a bowl disposed at said front end of said handle;

e) a transition zone disposed between and connecting said bowl to said handle;

f) an extended portion of said right leg extending through and past said transition zone and defining an upper edge of said bowl, and said upper edge tapering upwardly for enhancing stacking stability in said transition zone, for enhancing stacking stability of said bowl, and for enhancing the strength of said bowl;

g) an extended portion of said left leg extending through and past said transition zone and defining an upper edge of said bowl, and said upper edge tapering upwardly for enhancing stacking stability in said transition zone, for enhancing stacking stability of said bowl, and for enhancing the strength of said bowl; and

,

h) a forwardmost portion of said bowl extending upwardly and being disposed above a plane containing said top wall portion for enhancing the stackability of said bowl and for increasing the volume of said bowl.

8. A stack of stackable spoons as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) a clamping member is placed around the handles of the stack of stackable spoons.

9. A stack of stackable spoons as defined in claim 8, wherein:

a) said clamping member is selected from the group consisting of a banderole, a string, a rubber band, a wire, a clamp, and a clip.

10. A stack of stackable spoons as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) a wall part is disposed at said rear end of said handle, and said wall part joins said left leg, said right leg, and said top wall portion.

11. A stack of stackable spoons as defined in claim 10, wherein:

a) said wall part extends outwardly downwardly away from said top wall portion and defines an obtuse angle with said top wall portion.

12. A stack of stackable spoons as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a) said handle includes a roughened surface.