Metallized cutlery and tableware and method therefor
First Claim
1. A metallized plastic food service item, comprising:
- a plastic cutlery article for handling and consuming food, said plastic cutlery article having a display surface and an underside, said plastic cutlery article being adapted for placement on a table surface in a traditional table-setting presentation with said underside facing down towards said table surface and said display surface facing upwards; and
a thin metallic coating deposited on said display surface of said plastic cutlery article, wherein said thin metallic coating is characterized by its suitability for food contact without an overcoat, and wherein said thin metallic coating is of a sufficient thickness to impart a reflective metal appearance to the plastic cutlery article, to simulate genuine metal cutlery, said thickness being less than about 2000 nanometers and wherein said thin metallic coating is deposited by a sputter deposition process.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plastic cutlery item molded from a plastic material, such as polystyrene, having a metallic coating that imparts to this cutlery item the appearance of metal cutlery or silverware. In one embodiment the plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded using injection molding techniques, and subjected to a vacuum metallizing process in an individualized non-contiguous manner, where a thin metallic layer is deposited on at least one of their surfaces. The resultant items simulate the appearance of metal cutlery or tableware. In one embodiment of the invention the plastic cutlery or tableware articles are molded from a clear polystyrene resin and are coated with a thin stainless steel layer through vacuum sputtering deposition on only one of the sides. The abrasion resistance of the metallic coating can be enhanced by subjecting the articles to a post-metallizing holding period or by applying a clear protective overcoat.
43 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A metallized plastic food service item, comprising:
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a plastic cutlery article for handling and consuming food, said plastic cutlery article having a display surface and an underside, said plastic cutlery article being adapted for placement on a table surface in a traditional table-setting presentation with said underside facing down towards said table surface and said display surface facing upwards; and a thin metallic coating deposited on said display surface of said plastic cutlery article, wherein said thin metallic coating is characterized by its suitability for food contact without an overcoat, and wherein said thin metallic coating is of a sufficient thickness to impart a reflective metal appearance to the plastic cutlery article, to simulate genuine metal cutlery, said thickness being less than about 2000 nanometers and wherein said thin metallic coating is deposited by a sputter deposition process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A cutlery article for handling and consuming food, comprising a plastic material and having a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface amongst said plurality of surfaces is deposited with a thin metal layer;
- said thin metal layer being suitable for food contact without an overcoat and having sufficient durability for handling and consuming food;
said thin metal layer being deposited by a sputter deposition process, whereby a reflective metal appearance which simulates genuine metal cutlery is imparted to at least a portion of said cutlery article, and said thin metal layer being less than about 2000 nanometers in thickness. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- said thin metal layer being suitable for food contact without an overcoat and having sufficient durability for handling and consuming food;
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27. A metallized food service item for handling and consuming food, comprising:
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a plastic cutlery article having a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface amongst said plurality of surfaces is deposited with a thin metallic coating, said thin metallic coating being deposited by a sputter deposition process and being characterized by absence of an overcoat on said thin metallic coating; said thin metallic coating being of a sufficient thickness to impart a reflective metal appearance to at least a portion of said plastic cutlery article; and said thin metallic coating being less than 1000 nanometers in thickness. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A metallized food service item for handling and consuming food, comprising:
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a plastic cutlery article having a plurality of surfaces, wherein at least one surface amongst said plurality of surfaces is deposited with a thin metallic coating without an overcoat; said thin metallic coating being of a sufficient thickness to impart a reflective metal appearance to said plastic cutlery article; said thickness being less than 1000 nanometers; and said thin metallic coating being deposited by a sputter deposition process. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification