FLEXIBLE ELEMENT FOR FORMING A PIECE OF DISPOSABLE CUTLERY

Abstract

Flexible element for forming a piece of disposable cutlery, especially a spoon, including an elongated body made from thin, bendable material including a handle and acting portions, each with a free end. A first bending line on the body extends longitudinally from the handle portion free end towards the acting portion, so the body may be bent longitudinally and in the bent position, the working position, the handle portion is V-shaped or U-shaped. The body has an elongated opening including at one side a lip, pointing from the handle portion free end towards the acting portion. A fifth bending line extends transverse to the first bending line, visually dividing the body into the handling and acting portions. The fifth bending line is positioned so when the body is folded along such, a part of the acting portion free end can be inserted into the opening, behind the lip.

Claims

1. Flexible element for forming a piece of disposable cutlery, comprising an elongated body made from thin, bendable material comprising a handle portion with a free end and an acting portion with a free end, wherein at least a first bending line on the body extends in the longitudinal direction of the body from the area of the free end of the handle portion towards the acting portion, facilitating that the body may be bent longitudinally and that in the so bent position, the working position, the handle portion then has a substantially V-shaped or U-shaped cross section, and wherein a fifth bending line extends substantially transverse to the first bending line, visually dividing the body into the handling portion and the acting portion, wherein an elongated opening is arranged in the vicinity of the free end of the handle portion, the opening comprising at one side a lip-shaped means, pointing from the free end of the handle portion towards the acting portion, whereby the position of the fifth bending line is chosen so that when the body is folded along the fifth bending line, a part of the free end of the acting portion can be inserted into the opening, behind the lip-shaped means.

2. The flexible element according to claim 1, wherein the elongated opening has two ends and at each end a lip bending line is situated, extending substantially perpendicular to the first bending line and facilitating bending of the lip-shaped means.

3. The flexible element according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two first bending lines extending substantially in parallel to each other.

4. The flexible element according to claim 1, wherein the material of the body is weakened along the bending lines.

5. The flexible element according to claim 1, wherein the body is marked along the bending lines by prints.

6. The flexible element according to claim 1, further comprising retaining means for retaining the body in the working position.

7. The flexible element according to claim 6, wherein the retaining means is formed integrally with the body.

8. The flexible element according to claim 6, wherein the retaining means comprises a first tongue which in the working position is retainable in a force-locking and/or form-fitting manner in a recess or an opening in the body thereby retaining the body in its the bent position.

9. The flexible element according to claim 8, wherein the retaining element comprises a first tongue formed integrally with one flange of the V-shaped or U-shaped cross-section of the body, which first tongue has a tapered section, that the other flange of the cross-section comprises the recess, whereas the first tongue may be flexed for insertion of the tapered section into the recess in the bent position of the body, thereby engaging the outer wall of the second flange thereby retaining the body in the bent position.

10. The flexible element according to claim 1, wherein the body widens towards the free end of the acting portion.

11. The flexible element according to claim 2, wherein the elongated opening has two ends and at each end a lip bending line is situated, extending substantially perpendicular to the first bending line and facilitating bending of the lip-shaped means.

12. The flexible element according to claim 2, wherein there are at least two first bending lines extending substantially in parallel to each other.

13. The flexible element according to claim 2, wherein the material of the body is weakened along the bending lines.

14. The flexible element according to claim 3, wherein the material of the body is weakened along the bending lines.

15. The flexible element according to claim 2, wherein the body is marked along the bending lines by prints.

16. The flexible element according to claim 3, wherein the body is marked along the bending lines by prints.

17. The flexible element according to claim 4, wherein the body is marked along the bending lines by prints.

18. The flexible element according to claim 2, further comprising retaining means for retaining the body in the working position.

19. The flexible element according to claim 3, further comprising retaining means for retaining the body in the working position.

20. The flexible element according to claim 4, further comprising retaining means for retaining the body in the working position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention shall be described in more detail below in relation to an embodiment shown in the attached drawings in which

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of a flexible element according to the invention in its unbent and unfolded position,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a rearside plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in its folded position in a smaller scale than FIG. 1, and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in its unfolded, use position, having the U-shaped handle portion secured in a bent, use state and the action portion bent along additional bending lines for creating a shape like a spoon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In the drawings a flexible element for forming a piece of disposable cutlery, a spoon, is shown as an example, although a fork or a knife could be equally designed and described, using the invention. The flexible element comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular body 1, having a substantially longitudinal direction and a rim 2, made from thin, bendable material, e. g. cardboard. The body 1 comprises a handle portion 3 and an acting portion 4. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the body 1 is widened towards the free end 5 of the acting portion 4 with the free end 5 of the acting portion being rounded outwardly.

[0021] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 two first bending lines 6 and 7 extend from the free end 8 of the handle portion 3 towards the acting portion 4 such that the body 1 may be bent along the bending lines 6,7 so that in the bent position the handle portion 3 has a substantially U-shaped cross section. This will be more explained below, especially in connection with FIG. 4.

[0022] In the area of the acting portion 4 second bending lines 9 extend from the area of the ends of the first bending lines 6 and 7 towards the free end 5 of the acting portion 4 wherein the second bending lines 9 converge towards each other towards the free end 5 of the acting portion 4. These second bending lines facilitate for the user to form a spoon bowl. In order to make it easier for the user to bend the body 1 the material of the body 1 can be weakened by scratching or cutting it on its surface along the bending lines 6, 7 and 9.

[0023] In order to bring the flexible element into its bent position for forming a spoon, the body 1 of the flexible element is bent along first bending lines 6 and 7 such that in the bent position the handle portion 3 cross profile is formed to a substantially U-shape as can be seen from FIG. 4. Due to the second bending lines 9 in the acting portion 4 it will obtain a shape very similar to the shape of a conventional spoon, forming a small depression. In order to retain the body 1 in its bent position the user preferably manipulates the retaining means 10.

[0024] The retaining means 10 is formed integrally with a first flange 11 of the body 1 and comprises a tongue 12, which is twice bendable relative to the flange 11 and itself along third and fourth bending lines 13 and 14. The tongue 12 has two lateral projections 15 and 16 and between the bending lines 13,14 the tongue 12 comprises a narrowed section 17. Opposite to the tongue 10 the other flange 18 comprises a recess 19 which has a bottom substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body 1. The recess 19 is sized and positioned such that in the bent position, having the U-shaped cross section of the handle 3 portion of the body 1, the narrowed section 17 of the tongue 12 may be inserted into the recess 19. After insertion of the tongue 12 into the recess 19, lateral projections 15,16 engage the outer wall of the flange 18, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The tongue 12 may be bent along the fourth bending line 14 to be positioned flush with the outer wall of the flange 18, as shown in FIG. 4. Thereby the body 1 is retained in a safe and easy manner in its bent position as can be seen in FIG. 4. The recess 19 is designed with second projections 20,21, situated at the entry opening of the recess and pointing substantially towards each other. The second projections 20,21 can with a little force be passed when inserting the narrowed section 17 of the tongue 12 into the recess and will thereafter secure the tongue 12 in the recess 19.

[0025] In FIG. 1 it can be seen that the body 1 has a substantially “smiling mouth”-shaped, elongated opening 22 arranged in the vicinity of the free end 8 of the handle portion 3. The opening 22 comprises at its one side (the right side in FIG. 1) a lip-shaped portion, a lip 23, pointing from the free end 8 of the handle portion 3 towards the acting portion 4. Further, a fifth bending line 24 extends substantially transverse to the first bending lines 6,7, visually dividing the body 1 into the handling portion 3 and the acting portion 4. The position of the fifth bending line is chosen so that when the body 1 is fully flat folded along the fifth bending line, the handling portion and acting portion are so positioned relative to each other that a part of the free end 5 of the acting portion 4 can be inserted into the opening 22, behind the lip 23, as can be seen in FIG. 3, thus ensuring that the full folding position of the body 1 is achieved and kept. In order to facilitate the securing manipulation of the lip 23, sixth bending lines 25 are arranged at the respective ends 26 and 27 of the lip 23, being substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the body 1.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the rearside of the same body 1 as shown and described above in connection with FIG. 1. The same numbers have been used to show the same details of the embodiment. It is possible that a physical example of the invention would show the bending lines more, or less, weakly.

[0027] FIG. 3. shows the body 1 in a folded position, the lip 23 positioned on the outside of the acting portion 4, securing the free end 5 of the acting portion under it so that the spoon body keeps fully folded. The visible parts of the details shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted with the same reference numbers.

[0028] FIG. 4. shows the spoon body 2 in a use position, the body being bent along the bending lines 6 and 7 and 9, and the retaining first tongue and its narrowed section 17 being in the retaining position, with the top of the first tongue being positioned flush with the flange 18.

[0029] The invention, as explained above in the description itself and in connection to the attached figures, is not limited to the described example but is defined by the patent claims. Examples of what can be different from what is described and disclosed are discussed in the following.

[0030] The spoon according to the invention does not have to be sold in connection to any other goods, but can be sold as a single tool for eating, especially for campers. However, one apparent use for the spoon according to the invention is that the spoon body may be received in its folded position in a cavity of e.g. a yoghurt cup cover, for example positioned in a recess of the yoghurt cup lid, secured there by a seal. The invention also works with only one first bending line, even if the manipulation when forming the spoon will be a little different. The opening 22 can be freely designed and the shape of the lip can be of different design as long as a part of the free end of acting portion 4 can be inserted beyond or under it. The lip could for example be split into two or more parts, not necessarily but preferably symmetrically positioned. The opening can be just a cut through as long as there is a lip, free to be put out in a locking position in relation to a part of the free end 5 of the acting portion 4, the end 5 being positioned at the then more visible opening 22. The scale of the figures on the different drawings is not exactly the same all over, since the drawings are meant only for explaining the invention.

[0031] The material used for forming the flexible element could include a coating, e.g. a moisture barrier coating or laminate, of course an environment friendly one, and being usable in connection with food for eating by people. It could also be a coating that is durably (thermo-) formable during the producing process in order to help shaping the acting part, especially when it is part of a spoon.

[0032] The flexible elements are of course suitable for machine manufacturing, e.g. punched from rolls or blanks in state of the art ways.