GB2264919A

GB2264919A - Chopstick packaging and stand

Info

Publication number: GB2264919A
Application number: GB9204930A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmund Wai-Hung Chow
Original assignee: HINWONG LAND INVESTMENT
Current assignee: HINWONG LAND INVESTMENT
Priority date: 1992-03-06
Filing date: 1992-03-06
Publication date: 1993-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-06
Also published as: AU3642693A; HK6896A; CN1029215C; GB2280101A; WO1993017608A1; GB9417511D0; GB2264919B; GB9204930D0; CN1079440A; CA2131454A1; GB2280101B; HK84096A

Abstract

Chopstick packaging (10) which comprises an elongate envelope (11) for containing therein a pair of chopsticks (16), and guide means (14) on at least part (12) of the envelope (11) for guiding a user to fold said at least part (12) of the envelope (11) into a stand (17) for supporting the front ends of said pair of chopsticks (16) when the chopsticks (16) are removed from the envelope (11) and placed on a surface.

Description

CHOPSTICK PACKAGING AND STAND The present invention relates to a chopstick packaging and stand Chopsticks are widely used for eating, and are usually served in an envelope for hygienic purpose. Chopstick stands are usually used to support the front ends of a pair of chopsticks off the table surface for personal hygiene when the chopsticks are temporarily not in use and placed on the table in the course of a meal. In some restaurants or dining places, chopstick stands are not provided and as a result chopsticks when not in use have to be supported on something else such as a dish or left simply lying on the table surface.

The invention seeks to mitigate or alleviate such a problem by providing a chopstick packaging.

According to the invention, there is provided a chopstick packaging which comprises an elongate envelope for holding therein a pair of chopsticks, a stand for supporting the front ends of a said pair of chopsticks after the chopsticks have been retrieved from the envelope and placed on a surface, and releasable connection means connecting the envelope and the stand together to form a single unit.

The stand may be made of paper or paper material or moulded from plastics.

In a specific arrangement, the connection means is provided by a string or ribbon.

In another specific. arrangement, the connection means is provided by glue or adhesive material.

Preferably, the stand is provided by an integral part of the envelope and is severable therefrom for use as a chopstick stand.

In a preferred embodiment, the stand is provided by an integral longitudinal section of the envelope and serves as a part of the envelope to hold a said pair of chopsticks.

Preferably, the stand is severably connected to the envelope by a perforated portion.

Advantageously, the stand is pre-formed with a folding line or lines.

It is preferred that the stand includes a supporting surface for supporting the front ends of a said pair of chopsticks, which supporting surface has two opposite raised ends between which said chopstick front ends are to be located.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: is Figure 1 is a perspective- view of an embodiment of a chopstick packaging, including an envelope and a stand, in accordance with the invention, when used with a pair of chopsticks; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the chopstick stand; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of a chopstick packaging in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a chopstick packaging in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of a closed end portion of the chopstick packaging of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a chopstick stand formed by the closed end portion of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a chopstick packaging 10 embodying the invention, which comprises an elongate envelope 11 and a stand 12 which are connected together by a ribbon or string 13. The envelope 11 is formed by paper, and has a closed end 14 and an open end 15 at which a flap 16 is provided as an integral extension of one side of the envelope 11 for folding to close the envelope 11 aftdr a pair of chopsticks 17 has . . . . . . ..

been inserted into the envelope 11 through the open end 15.

The stand 12 is formed by a piece of paper which is firstly rolled up to form a tube and each open end of the tube is then partially pushed or folded in, with the unfolded parts at both ends bent slightly upwards.

The string 13 serves to hold the envelope 11 and the stand 12 together in order to form a single unit for convenient handling, and is tied at opposite ends in small holes 18 and 19 provided in the envelope 11 and the stand 12, respectively. In a different arrangement, the ends of the string 13 may be adhered to the envelope 11 and the stand 12, respectively, by glue or other adhesive material.

After the chopsticks 17 have been retrieved from the envelope 11 and the stand 12 is used to support the front ends of the chopsticks 17, the string 13 is cut such that the envelope 11 can be disposed. Alternatively, the string 13 may be torn off from the stand 12.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a chopstick stand 20 which is formed by folding a piece of paper or cardboard as shown, having an inverted V-shaped cross-section. The stand 20 is initially connected to an associated envelope likewise by a string or ribbon.

It will be appreciated that the chopstick stands 12 and 20 may be moulded from plastics.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows a different embodiment of a chopstick envelope 21 having a closed end portion 22. The closed end portion 22 forms an integral part of the envelope 21 and into which a pair of chopsticks will reach when placed inside the envelope 21. A line of small holes 23 is formed transversely in the body of the envelope 21, thereby distinctly defining the closed end portion 22 which is pre-formed with five straight folding lines 24, as shown, such as by pressing. The overall length of the envelope 21 is generally the same as that of the first envelope 10.

In use, the closed end portion 23 is torn off from the rest of the body of the envelope 21 after a pair chopsticks previously contained in the envelope 21 has been retrieved.

The torn-off piece 22 is then folded by a user along the folding lines 24 to form a chopstick stand similar to the stand 20. The remaining body of the envelope 21 can be disposed.

Figures 4 to 6 show a third chopstick envelope 21' embodying the invention, which envelope 21' is of the same general construction as the envelope 21, having like parts designated by like numerals with apostrophe. The folding lines 24' are not straight (as is in the case of the envelope 21) but curved, as best shown in Figure 5. An oblong central region 25 is defined by two of the folding lines 24', which has two pointed ends 25a. When the chopstick stand 22' is formed by folding along the folding lines 24', the central region 25 provides a supporting surface for the front ends of a pair of chopsticks placed thereon. The central region 25 curves up at both ends 25a which are formed in order to avoid the chopsticks front ends located therebetween rolling off the stand 22'.

It is to be understood that the envelopes 21 of Figures 3 and 4 are particularly preferred, in that their closed ends are provided not only for packing a pair of chopsticks but also for forming chopstick stands.

The chopstick package of the invention provides a convenient way of storing, serving and using a pair of chopsticks, and is disposable for personal hygiene with respect to both the envelope and the stand.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A chopstick packaging comprising an elongate envelope for holding therein a pair of chopsticks, a stand for supporting the front ends of a said pair of chopsticks after the chopsticks have been retrieved from the envelope and placed on a surface, and releasable connection means connecting the envelope and the stand together to form a single unit.

2. A chopstick packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stand is made of paper or paper material.

3. A chopstick packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stand is moulded from plastics.

4. A chopstick packaging as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the connection means is provided by a string or ribbon.

5. A chopstick packaging as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the connection means is provided by glue or adhesive material.

6. A chopstick packaging as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the stand is provided by an integral part of the envelope and is severable therefrom for use as a chopstick stand.

7. A chopstick packaging as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stand is provided by an integral longitudinal section of the envelope and serves as a part of the envelope to hold a said pair of chopsticks.

8. A chopstick packaging a claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the stand is severably connected to the envelope by a perforated portion.

9. A chopstick packaging as claimed in any one of claim 6 to claim 8, wherein the stand is pre-formed with a folding line or lines.

10. A chopstick packaging as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand includes a supporting surface for supporting the front ends of a said pair of chopsticks, which supporting surface has two opposite raised ends between which said chopstick front ends are to be located.

11. A chopstick packaging substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.