EP1514497A1 - Plastic cutlery - Google Patents

Plastic cutlery Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1514497A1
EP1514497A1 EP04017314A EP04017314A EP1514497A1 EP 1514497 A1 EP1514497 A1 EP 1514497A1 EP 04017314 A EP04017314 A EP 04017314A EP 04017314 A EP04017314 A EP 04017314A EP 1514497 A1 EP1514497 A1 EP 1514497A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cutlery
handle
engagement means
item
plastic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04017314A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bruno Mastrangelo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sud Service Srl
Original Assignee
Sud Service Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sud Service Srl filed Critical Sud Service Srl
Publication of EP1514497A1 publication Critical patent/EP1514497A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G21/00—Table-ware
    • A47G21/06—Combined or separable sets of table-service utensils; Oyster knives with openers; Fish servers with means for removing bones
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G21/00—Table-ware
    • A47G21/02—Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to the field of plastic cutlery of the disposable type such as, for example, forks, spoons, knives, teaspoons and the like.
  • plastic cutlery obtained by injection moulding of plastic for alimentary use, are available on the market. They have the advantageous property of having a low manufacturing cost and therefore of being for single use or disposable, that is to say they are used only once and then they are sent for disposal.
  • This type of disposable plastic cutlery is widely used both by end users - which spare the inconvenience of having to wash the cutlery after their use - and by catering centres which, through such cutlery, ensure high standards of hygiene for the consumer.
  • the items of plastic cutlery leaving the mould are stacked one on the top of the other so as to obtain piles consisting of about 10-50 items.
  • Each pile of cutlery is bound with a plastic band which serves to keep the cutlery stacked.
  • One or more piles of plastic cutlery, bound with the respective bands, are packaged in a plastic bag ready to be put on the market.
  • the plastic band is an additional element which entails an additional packaging cost and an additional stage of binding in the plastic cutlery packaging process.
  • the plastic band does not ensure adequate holding of the pile of plastic cutlery. In fact, it often happens that said plastic band tears during the handling of the piles of cutlery before the packaging or during the transport of the package. As a result, the plastic cutlery is scattered in a disorderly manner from the pile, complicating packaging operations for the operators, or are scattered in a disorderly manner inside the package, making it unattractive for the end user.
  • the band must be cut in order to remove the cutlery required.
  • the other cutlery of the pile is scattered in a disorderly manner, involving problems for the storage thereof by the end user.
  • An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, providing plastic cutlery that allows easy and safe stacking.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide plastic cutlery that is able to simplify the packaging and storage operations once the package has been opened.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide plastic cutlery that is cheap and simple to produce.
  • An item of plastic cutlery of the disposable type according to the invention comprises a handle designed to be gripped by the user and a part for use disposed in front of the handle.
  • said item of cutlery further comprises first engagement means disposed on the upper surface of the handle and second engagement means disposed on the lower surface of the handle.
  • the coupling of the engagement means allows the cutlery to be stacked without the need for bands to be used to maintain the pile. Furthermore the end user can easily remove the cutlery needed from the pile, whilst keeping other cutlery in the pile tidy.
  • plastic cutlery An item of plastic cutlery according to the invention is described with the aid of the figures.
  • a plastic fork denoted as a whole with reference numeral 1
  • the invention also extends to other types of plastic cutlery such as, for example, knives, spoons, teaspoons and the like.
  • the fork 1 comprises a handle part 2 and a wider part for use 3 disposed in front of the handle 2.
  • the handle part 2 consists of a stem with a substantially elongated and tapered shape.
  • the handle 2 comprises an upper wall 20 having a tapered shape, the width of which decreases towards the rear end 23.
  • a seat 22 having a trapezoid shape when seen in cross section is formed in the lower surface of the handle 2.
  • the part for use 3 has four prongs 30 having a substantially arched shape when seen from the side ( Figure 2). As shown in Figure 3, each prong 30 is made up, in its rear surface, of two side ribs 32 and of a central groove 33.
  • transitional part 4 substantially arched, having the same radius of curvature as the prongs 30.
  • the transitional part 4 has an upper wall 40 that connects the upper wall 20 of the handle to the upper wall of the prongs 30.
  • the transitional part 4 additionally has two sidewalls 41 which connect the sidewalls 21 of the handle to the outer sidewalls of the two outermost prongs 30.
  • the handle 2 starting from its rear end 23, is inclined slightly upwards, the transitional part 4 is curved slightly downwards and the prongs 30 are curved slightly upwards.
  • First engagement means 25 are provided in the front part of the outer surface of the sidewalls 21 of the handle 2, near the transitional part 4.
  • Second engagement means 26 are provided in the inner surface of the sidewalls 21 of the handle 2, in register with the first engagement means 25.
  • the second engagement means 26 are designed to couple, in a mutual coupling engagement, with the first engagement means 25 of another item of cutlery, when two items of cutlery are staked one on the top of the other.
  • the first engagement means 25 may be grooves or inwardly recessed parts, whilst the second engagement means 26 may be pins or inwardly protruding parts or vice versa. In this manner the protruding parts 26 are able to snap engage inside the recessed parts 25, ensuring an adequate stability of the coupling.
  • the recessed parts 25 are about halfway up the outer surface of the side walls 21, whilst the protruding parts 26 are in register with the recessed parts 25, but lower down with respect to the recessed parts 25, that is to say in proximity to the bottom end of the inner surface of the sides 21.
  • the fork 1 can be about 17.5 cm long; in this case the first and the second engagement means (25, 26) are disposed at a distance of about 10 cm from the rear end 23 of the handle.
  • the side walls 21 of the handle must be thin enough to be able to bend elastically outwards during the stacking of one item of cutlery on another and to return elastically to the initial position, once the protruding parts 26 of an item of cutlery snap engage in the recessed parts 25 of the item of cutlery beneath in the pile.
  • engagement means 25 and 26 can differ in number and in shape and that they can be disposed in a different position with respect to that shown in the drawings.
  • piles of a plurality of items of cutlery can be formed without the need for a band to keep the cutlery stacked. Furthermore, the end user can detach the items of cutlery needed from the stack, leaving the others tidily stacked.

Landscapes

  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
EP04017314A 2003-09-11 2004-07-22 Plastic cutlery Withdrawn EP1514497A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20030410U 2003-09-11
ITMI20030410 ITMI20030410U1 (it) 2003-09-11 2003-09-11 Posta di plastica

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1514497A1 true EP1514497A1 (en) 2005-03-16

Family

ID=30012677

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04017314A Withdrawn EP1514497A1 (en) 2003-09-11 2004-07-22 Plastic cutlery

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1514497A1 (it)
IT (1) ITMI20030410U1 (it)

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007049982A1 (en) * 2005-10-28 2007-05-03 Przedsiebiorstwo Produkcyjno Handlowe Zelan Disposable cutlery
WO2007124606A1 (de) * 2006-05-02 2007-11-08 Fostag Holding Ag Stapelbares besteckteil
US8070013B2 (en) 2009-01-06 2011-12-06 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispensing apparatus and method
US8152004B2 (en) 2005-05-05 2012-04-10 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
WO2012021281A3 (en) * 2010-08-12 2012-05-18 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Interlocking cutlery and related methods
US8210364B2 (en) 2005-05-05 2012-07-03 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
US8297473B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2012-10-30 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and method of dispensing cutlery
US8360273B2 (en) 2008-10-08 2013-01-29 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispenser
WO2013095407A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-27 Gadsden Coffee Company, Inc. Disposable stackable forks
US8701932B2 (en) 2008-10-08 2014-04-22 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser trays
US8776379B2 (en) 2010-08-24 2014-07-15 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Removable strip for packaging cutlery and related methods
US9237815B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2016-01-19 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and method of dispensing cutlery
US9266646B2 (en) 2012-09-07 2016-02-23 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispensing package
US9295344B2 (en) 2010-03-19 2016-03-29 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispenser
US9332861B2 (en) 2013-08-19 2016-05-10 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and methods of use
US9345340B2 (en) 2010-12-10 2016-05-24 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispensing mechanism for utensil dispenser and related methods
US9439518B2 (en) 2011-08-19 2016-09-13 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser
US9560920B2 (en) 2014-04-11 2017-02-07 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Forward advancing cutlery dispenser
US9693640B2 (en) 2013-08-08 2017-07-04 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Front loading cutlery dispenser
US9924816B2 (en) 2010-06-08 2018-03-27 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc System and method for holding cutlery together
US9943176B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2018-04-17 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Cutlery dispenser and related methods
US10081095B1 (en) * 2017-03-23 2018-09-25 Kolor Magnetic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Tableware handle
US10220997B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2019-03-05 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Cutlery dispenser and related methods
USD850744S1 (en) 2018-02-19 2019-06-04 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Hand tool
USD851466S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-18 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Spoon
USD852006S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-25 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Knife
USD852007S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-25 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Fork
US10595647B2 (en) 2010-12-14 2020-03-24 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Belt drive for dispensing cutlery and related methods
US10898010B2 (en) 2010-12-10 2021-01-26 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Screw drive for dispensing cutlery and related methods
JP2021511930A (ja) * 2018-01-24 2021-05-13 ジーピーシーピー アイピー ホールディングス エルエルシー 積み重ね用器具
IT202100011195A1 (it) * 2021-05-03 2022-11-03 Claudia Corazzi Posate monouso compostabili resistenti alle sollecitazioni

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2752678A (en) * 1954-12-24 1956-07-03 Arthur R Welch Molded spoon construction
US3400591A (en) * 1967-05-18 1968-09-10 Foley Mfg Company Stacked measuring utensils having releasable snap fastening means in the handles
US4524512A (en) * 1983-04-25 1985-06-25 O Tray Corporation Nestable, stackable cutlery
GB2177894A (en) * 1985-05-31 1987-02-04 Rain & Coat Garment Factory Li Cutlery device
DE9316566U1 (de) * 1993-10-29 1994-01-27 De Ster N.V., Hoogstraten Gebinde aus Teilen eines Einweg-Besteckes
US5845403A (en) * 1995-09-13 1998-12-08 Nivin; Eli Nestable dual-end eating utensil
EP1022107A1 (de) * 1999-01-19 2000-07-26 HEKUMA Herbst Maschinenbau GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Kunststoffteilen

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2752678A (en) * 1954-12-24 1956-07-03 Arthur R Welch Molded spoon construction
US3400591A (en) * 1967-05-18 1968-09-10 Foley Mfg Company Stacked measuring utensils having releasable snap fastening means in the handles
US4524512A (en) * 1983-04-25 1985-06-25 O Tray Corporation Nestable, stackable cutlery
GB2177894A (en) * 1985-05-31 1987-02-04 Rain & Coat Garment Factory Li Cutlery device
DE9316566U1 (de) * 1993-10-29 1994-01-27 De Ster N.V., Hoogstraten Gebinde aus Teilen eines Einweg-Besteckes
US5845403A (en) * 1995-09-13 1998-12-08 Nivin; Eli Nestable dual-end eating utensil
EP1022107A1 (de) * 1999-01-19 2000-07-26 HEKUMA Herbst Maschinenbau GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Kunststoffteilen

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10010195B2 (en) 2005-05-05 2018-07-03 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
US8152004B2 (en) 2005-05-05 2012-04-10 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
US8210364B2 (en) 2005-05-05 2012-07-03 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
WO2007049982A1 (en) * 2005-10-28 2007-05-03 Przedsiebiorstwo Produkcyjno Handlowe Zelan Disposable cutlery
WO2007124606A1 (de) * 2006-05-02 2007-11-08 Fostag Holding Ag Stapelbares besteckteil
US8296957B2 (en) 2006-05-02 2012-10-30 Fostag Holding Ag Stackable pieces of flatware
US9237815B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2016-01-19 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and method of dispensing cutlery
US8297473B2 (en) 2006-11-07 2012-10-30 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and method of dispensing cutlery
US8701932B2 (en) 2008-10-08 2014-04-22 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser trays
US8360273B2 (en) 2008-10-08 2013-01-29 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispenser
US8070013B2 (en) 2009-01-06 2011-12-06 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispensing apparatus and method
US9295344B2 (en) 2010-03-19 2016-03-29 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispenser
US9924816B2 (en) 2010-06-08 2018-03-27 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc System and method for holding cutlery together
US8839522B2 (en) 2010-08-12 2014-09-23 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Interlocking cutlery and related methods
WO2012021281A3 (en) * 2010-08-12 2012-05-18 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Interlocking cutlery and related methods
US8776379B2 (en) 2010-08-24 2014-07-15 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Removable strip for packaging cutlery and related methods
US10898010B2 (en) 2010-12-10 2021-01-26 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Screw drive for dispensing cutlery and related methods
US9345340B2 (en) 2010-12-10 2016-05-24 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Dispensing mechanism for utensil dispenser and related methods
US10595647B2 (en) 2010-12-14 2020-03-24 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Belt drive for dispensing cutlery and related methods
US9439518B2 (en) 2011-08-19 2016-09-13 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser
WO2013095407A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-27 Gadsden Coffee Company, Inc. Disposable stackable forks
US9266646B2 (en) 2012-09-07 2016-02-23 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery utensil dispensing package
US9943176B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2018-04-17 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Cutlery dispenser and related methods
US10220997B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2019-03-05 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Cutlery dispenser and related methods
US10617227B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2020-04-14 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Cutlery dispenser and related methods
US9693640B2 (en) 2013-08-08 2017-07-04 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Front loading cutlery dispenser
US9332861B2 (en) 2013-08-19 2016-05-10 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Cutlery dispenser and methods of use
US9560920B2 (en) 2014-04-11 2017-02-07 Dixie Consumer Products Llc Forward advancing cutlery dispenser
US10081095B1 (en) * 2017-03-23 2018-09-25 Kolor Magnetic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Tableware handle
NL2019258B1 (en) * 2017-03-23 2019-01-16 Kolor Magnetic Shenzen Co Ltd Tableware handle
USD852006S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-25 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Knife
USD852007S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-25 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Fork
USD851466S1 (en) 2018-01-24 2019-06-18 Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc Spoon
JP2021511930A (ja) * 2018-01-24 2021-05-13 ジーピーシーピー アイピー ホールディングス エルエルシー 積み重ね用器具
USD901806S1 (en) 2018-02-19 2020-11-10 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Hand tool
USD850744S1 (en) 2018-02-19 2019-06-04 Tti (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited Hand tool
IT202100011195A1 (it) * 2021-05-03 2022-11-03 Claudia Corazzi Posate monouso compostabili resistenti alle sollecitazioni

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI20030410V0 (it) 2003-09-11
ITMI20030410U1 (it) 2005-03-12

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