EP2579746A1

EP2579746A1 - Eating utensil and dispenser for providing eating utensils and use of a sheet structure replicating the "salt cellar" origami game as an eating utensil

Info

Publication number: EP2579746A1
Application number: EP11729939.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yulian Patzelt; Julian Propstmeier; Felix HÄUßINGER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-11
Filing date: 2011-06-09
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Also published as: DE102010029993A1; WO2011154504A1; US20130089636A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser for providing eating utensils (10), which are designed as single-piece gripping elements for picking up food, in particular finger food, and have a three-dimensionally shaped sheet structure having an outside to face the food to be picked up and a finger contact side opposite of said outside and which comprise at least three gripping sections (12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4), which can be accessed from the finger contact side, are shaped as finger protection depressions for accommodating fingers of a user's hand and extend in a pointed manner toward the inside. Said gripping sections are delimited by in particular triangular wall sections (111, 222) having interposed folding lines (18), wherein the gripping sections can be moved in an articulated manner toward and away from each other by means of at least some of the folding lines so as to perform gripping movements. The dispenser comprises at least one stack (20) formed of the eating utensils, wherein in said stack the outsides of the eating utensils (10) are located opposite of the finger contact sides of directly adjoining eating utensils such that, in the stack, the finger contact side of the respective outer eating utensil (10a) faces toward the outside, wherein the dispenser can be set up such that the eating utensil (10a) located on the outside in the stack (20) can be pulled off the stack (20) by a user using the finger engagement in the corresponding gripping sections that is already suitable for the proper use of the eating utensil.

Description

Eating utensil and dispenser for providing eating utensils and using the "Heaven and Hell" folding game

replicated leaf structure as a eating tool

description

The present invention is concerned with eating utensils, in particular disposable eating utensils, for gripping food, in particular finger foods, such as chicken legs or chicken wings, spare ribs, French fries, vegetable sticks or the like, comprising at least three gripping portions into which a respective one of the fingers Hand of a user, for example, thumb, index finger and / or middle finger, is insertable to grasp food with your fingers. In particular, the invention also relates to a dispenser for conveniently providing such utensils to users.

A dining tool of the above type is known for example from WO 2009/023600 A2. The eating utensil shown there has forefingers and middle fingers as well as on the thumb fitting claw-like gripping portions which protect the respective fingers on its inside against contamination. Furthermore, the gripping portions on pointed ends, which are provided inter alia for the separation of pieces of meat. This known eating tool is made of plastic and has a relatively complicated shape. The three gripping portions are connected to each other by a central joint or spring element, so that the gripping portions are biased in their open position, so the force applied by the fingers of one hand force for gripping food are designed counteracting.

Furthermore, a holder for spare ribs is known from US Pat. No. 4,802,704, which is formed by two articulated opposing tooth sections. The known eating tools are rather bulky in their shape and must be provided in the finished molded state, which in particular increases the space required for many such eating tools. Since these known eating tools are pincer-like devices, possibly with claw-like ends for holding or separating food, they are made of solid materials and designed as recyclable articles which must be cleaned after use.

The object of the invention is to provide a way to provide dining tools of the type mentioned in a large number of space-saving, cost-effective, hygienic and convenient for use, the invention is particularly aimed at disposable eating utensils that can be disposed of after a single use.

To achieve this object, a dispenser for providing eating tools is provided, which are designed as one-piece gripping elements for gripping food, especially finger food, and have a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure with an outer facing the food to be taken and an opposite finger touch side and at least three of the finger contact side accessible, formed as finger protection recesses for receiving fingers of a user hand, inwardly tapered gripping portions which are bounded in particular by triangular wall sections with fold lines therebetween, wherein the gripping portions by means of at least some of the fold lines articulated towards each other and away from each other, to carry out gripping movements, wherein the dispenser comprises at least one stack formed from the eating tools, in which the outer sides of the eating tools the finger touch sides directly opposite to each other, so that the dispensing tool, which is located in the stack on the outside, faces outward with its finger contact side, whereby the dispenser can be set up in such a way that the eating utensil lying in the stack is held by a user with the intended use. Use of the eating tool already suitable finger engagement in the respective gripping sections can be deducted from the stack. Such trained eating utensils are in a dense stack lying flat on each other in large numbers to save space in the dispenser for use, the user has to access only the utmost eating utensil in the stack with a handle to pull it from the stack, where he already insert his fingers into the gripping sections so that he grips the eating utensil with the finger gripping already suitable for grasping food. The eating utensils are stored in the stack protected by their respective neighbors so that only the stacking utmost (top vertical stack orientation) utensil is exposed for immediate access on its finger touch side. Thus, the utmost eating utensil of the stack can be grasped with the fingers of one hand without having to touch the exterior of the topmost or any other eating utensil of the stack facing the food in use.

The eating utensils themselves may be made of very inexpensive materials, such as paper or plastic. It is also proposed to fabricate them from biocomposable materials such as poly-bio-calcium carbonate (PBC) or poly-lactic acid (PLA). A suitable material for the production of the eating tools is also siliconized parchment substitute paper.

The dispenser preferably has a frame containing the stack with an access opening for the respective access to the outside in the stack eating utensil. This frame can z. B. a stack receiving, open at the top shaft in a housing, such as a dispenser box.

Additional developments of the dispenser and the dining tools therein are given in the claims 2-9.

A eating utensil of the type considered here can, for. B. starting from a substantially flat sheet, which is made of a suitable material, such as paper, plastic or the like, be made by forming, in particular folding, wherein the gripping portions are formed such that each inserted in a respective gripping portion fingers in the region of his fingertip, in particular Fingertip and fingernail, essentially completely surrounded by the gripping section.

The configuration of the gripping sections in such a way that the inserted fingers are essentially completely surrounded by the gripping section in the region of their fingertips provides better protection for the fingers from contamination and from the heat of the possibly heated food. Furthermore, a hygienic recording of the eating utensil and a hygienic gripping of food is made possible because the fingers do not come into direct contact with the food.

It is preferred that the eating tool is made of an at least partially, in particular coated on one side sheet, preferably a sheet of paper. Such a coating can, for example, improve the heat resistance of the sheet or protect the sheet against moisture absorption or fat absorption. This can be achieved for example by a metallic coating, such as aluminum, or plastic coating. Furthermore, a coating can also serve to improve the tactile sensation for the user of the eating utensil. In particular, it is also contemplated that the sheet may have different coatings on its two sides, so that the food to be gripped parts of the eating utensil are provided with a suitable coating and that those parts of the eating utensil, which with the hand of the User come in, have a suitable for gripping and holding suitable coating. It is further contemplated to use multilayer sheets, for example of two paper layers with interposed layer of other material, preferably a film, in particular aluminum foil. The eating utensil is preferably shaped such that the gripping portions are tetrahedral or pyramid-like, omitting a respective side surface such that each gripping portion is shaped as a tetrahedral or pyramidal hollow body into which a respective finger of a user's hand is insertable. With the peaks formed by the tetrahedral or pyramidal shape food can be taken very well. The tips are also smaller in size than the fingers received therein, so that smaller food pieces can be taken without much difficulty. The gripping by means of the small-sized tips of the gripping portions is also improved compared to the gripping with bare fingers. These inwardly tapering shapes of the gripping portions allow convenient, only roughly targeted access thereto with the fingers and are also important for the dense stacking function, wherein the mutually corresponding gripping portions of adjacent eating tools in the stack are juxtaposed in a flat fit.

As an alternative to folding the sheet into a eating tool, it may also be thought of making the eating tool in a casting or embossing process. By way of example, reference is made to filling corresponding shapes with a type of pulp or plastic.

In a further development, it is proposed that the gripping sections are coated at least on their side facing the food to be gripped or gripped. Furthermore, it is preferred that at least partially structured surfaces are provided on the gripping sections, in particular in the form of grooves, knobs or the like. For this purpose, it is proposed that the structured surface is provided on the outside facing a food to be gripped and / or on the finger-facing inside (finger touch side) of the gripping portions.

Such a surface structure may alternatively or in addition to already be provided coating. Such structured surfaces enable improved gripping or holding food. Furthermore, such surface structures can also support or improve the holding of the eating tool by means of the fingers.

Additionally or alternatively, an adhesive may be provided on the inside of the gripping sections facing the fingers, in which case a biologically compatible adhesive is used, as used, for example, in sticky notes or the like. Such an adhesive improves the connection between the fingers and the eating utensil, so that the reception or the holding of the eating utensil is made easier or improved.

It is further proposed that the tips for gripping a feed of the tetrahedral or pyramid-like gripping sections have a reinforcing element, preferably in the form of a coating or a partial filling of the finger-side internal cavity. Depending on how thick the sheet is, from which the eating tool has been made, the tips can be deformed during prolonged use, so that the seizure of food no longer works optimally. To counteract the deformation of the tips when using the eating tool, these tips can be reinforced. Such a reinforcement serves in particular a kind of stiffening of the tips. Particularly advantageous appears a backfilling of the cavity of the tips. Since such a filling of the tips takes place in an area that can not be reached by the fingers as a rule, because the tip is too narrow, so that you could penetrate with a finger all the way to the top, is a backfilling this Area for the purpose of reinforcing the tip also not hindering when using, so when gripping and holding such a eating utensil.

Preferably, the sheet from which the eating tool is formed, in Shape of the game "heaven and hell" shaped or folded It is particularly preferred that the sheet is a particular square paper sheet, which is formed or folded in the manner mentioned.

In the already mentioned stack of eating utensils, the inner sides of the gripping portions of an uppermost eating tool of the stack are freely accessible to a potential user, so that by inserting fingers into the respective gripping portions, the uppermost eating tool of the stack can be easily grasped and lifted off the stack. The removal of the eating utensil from the stack takes place under hygienic conditions, since the fingers only come into contact with the inner sides (finger contact sides) of the eating utensil but not with the outer sides of the removed eating utensil and also with other eating utensils which are not used by the respective user.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a sheet of paper or plastic, which preferably has a square surface and are predetermined on the folding lines or by embossing the sheet, such that the sheet is foldable along the fold lines according to a predetermined order to form a food tool , For this purpose, it is further proposed that in addition to the fold lines, characters or numbers are provided on the sheet, which symbolize the order and / or the direction of the folding.

According to a further aspect, the invention also provides a packaging unit with at least one sheet just described, wherein the sheet in the packaging unit is preferably contained in a prefolded state. In this case, a prefolded state of the sheet can be such that the sheet is small in terms of its space requirement, in particular its spatial or planar space requirement. Further, the pre-folding can be carried out so that the finished manufacturing of the eating tool is simplified for a user. Finally, the invention also proposes the use of a paper or plastic sheet folded after the game "Heaven and Hell" as a food tool for foods, especially finger foods, chicken legs or chicken wings, spare ribs, French fries, vegetable sticks and the like 10 to 14 referenced.

The eating utensil is preferably provided as a disposable recyclable product. By using an eating utensil as described above, napkins that would otherwise be required to clean the fingers can also be saved. The disposable eating utensil also offers the option of taking along and eating food on the move, especially difficult-to-handle food items such as chicken wings or the like.

The invention also relates to a food tool according to claim 15 and in a preferred embodiment according to claim 16. The eating tool according to the invention is also preferably as a disposable product of a biocomposable material, in particular poly-bio-calcium carbonate (PBC) or poly-lactic acid (PLA ) educated.

A particularly preferred variant of the eating utensil according to the invention consists of a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure, which is modeled on the leaf-folding game "Heaven and Hell". Such a shaped eating tool are particularly suitable as an advertising medium with imprinted advertising messages and is used by many users by nature also in a playful way.

The invention will be described below by way of example and not limitation with reference to the attached figures.

Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dining tool according to the invention facing the outside.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a sheet before forming the eating utensil with thereon shown fold lines and symbols.

3 shows in subfigures a and b stacks of eating tools,

wherein in the partial figure b an example of a dispenser is shown with such a stack.

Fig. 4 shows in the partial figures a and b further embodiments

a dining tool according to the invention, wherein only the flat, unfolded or deformed view is shown.

1 shows a food tool 10 for gripping food in the form of a folded sheet, here a paper sheet folded according to the game of "Heaven and Hell." The eating tool comprises four gripping sections 12-1 to 12-4, each opened or closed in pairs For example, the gripping portions 12-1 and 12-2 or 12-3 and 12-4 may abut one another so that an opening can be formed between these respective gripping portion pairs with which food can be received 12-4 are configured to substantially completely surround inserted fingers such as an index finger 14 and a thumb 16, respectively, in the region of their respective fingertips 14a and 16a, respectively, that is, both the palm-side finger berry 16b and the palm-to-palm side lying fingernails 14c, 16c are respectively the respective gripping portion 12-1 ise 12-4 covered. The fingertip is understood in particular to be the distal end of the fingers 14, 16, which comprises at least part of the third phalanx (phalanx distalis). In the example of FIG. 1, a thumb 16 or an index finger 14 of the left hand of a user are inserted into the gripping sections 12-1 and 12-4, respectively. In the gripping sections 12-2 and 12-3 would then be the usual finger holding a tool 10, the middle finger (Gripping portion 12-3) and the ring finger (gripping portion 12-2) introduced. The illustrated configuration according to FIG. 1 relates, for example, to the left hand of a user, but is of course readily transferable to a right of a user.

Fig. 2 shows a sheet of paper or plastic, which is provided with fold lines 18 in order to produce from the sheet a eating tool according to FIG. 1 by forming or folding. The fold lines 18 are arranged on the square sheet in accordance with the specifications for the game "Heaven and Hell." The folding of the sheet results in the gripping sections 12-1 to 12-4 having the areas designated 111 and 222, respectively, with which feed Specifically, these surfaces of the pyramid-like gripping portions are multi-layered due to folding to the fingers 14, 16. That is, better insulation is provided to the food to be gripped, which increases the user's sense of heat Fingers 16 are also favorably protected and prevent injuries caused by burns or the like Furthermore, the fingers are protected from penetrating liquid (water / fat) As indicated on the sheet 17 or also the finished eating tool 10 according to Fig. 1, on some of the surfaces can also Imprints, imprints or the like may be provided in the form of a logo For example, a logo may be the name of a restaurant in which food can be consumed using eating implements. On the surfaces 111, 222, other characters or symbols could be arranged, such as arrows or the like, for example, to specify folding directions.

Fig. 3 shows in the partial figures a and b stack 20 of Esswerkzeugen 10, wherein the stack 20 in the sub-figure in a z. B. transparent plastic box 22 is shown, which is an embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention with the stack 20. The box 22 has in the example cuboid shape with an upper access opening 23. There are also other embodiments of boxes or frames in question, for. B. also those whose cross-section one of the outer peripheral contour of a eating tool 10 has corresponding contour. The stacks 20 are constructed so that an uppermost eating tool 10a with its tetrahedral or pyramid-shaped gripping portions 12-1a to 12-1d engages an adjacent lower-lying eating tool 10b. In this case, the outer sides of the uppermost eating tool 10a which serve to grasp a food rest against the inner sides of the gripping portions of the eating tool 10b. By this stacking, the uppermost eating utensil 10a can be held by inserting fingers into the gripping portions 12-1a to 12-1d and then taken away from the stack 20 upwardly. The removal of the uppermost eating utensil 10a from the other eating utensils, in particular the immediately underlying eating utensil 10b, takes place hygienically, without the adjacent eating utensil 10b or other eating utensils of the stack having to be held or touched.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 b, logo imprints or imprints are also visible on the lowermost eating utensil 10 c of the stack 20, so that the stack can be identified for a corresponding company. Fig. 3b also illustrates very clearly that the selected shape of the eating tools 10a to c allows a compact storage even in the molded state of the eating tools, as successive eating tools of the stack are almost completely absorbed. An upper eating tool 0a is above the adjacent lower eating utensil 10b possibly with a small edge over. Such a stack 20 is also very stable in itself and can be placed self-supporting on a table or other support without further support. For reasons of hygiene, it may be expedient that the lowest eating utensil 10c is inserted in a holder complementary to the eating utensil, so that this lowermost eating utensil 10c with its gripping portions does not come into contact with, for example, a soiled table surface.

While in Figs. 1 to 3 as a preferred shape a folded sheet has been presented as a dining tool 10 which has been folded according to the folding specifications of the game "Heaven and Hell", the embodiments of Figures 4a and 4b show alternatives thereto starting from a triangular (Figure 4a) or quadrangular and especially square (Fig. 4b) base 24 are formed on each edge 24-1 to 24-4 by cutting, folding and gluing respective tetrahedrons 26-1 to 26-4 which are movable about the respective edge 24-1 to 24-4 relative to the base 24 Also in these alternative embodiments, the operation is performed by inserting fingers into the tetrahedral gripping portions 26-1 to 26-4 and moving them toward and away from those gripping portions 26-1 to 26-4.

As materials for the production of eating implements according to the illustrated embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 are paper, in particular coated paper or plastic in question. A sheet 17 according to FIG. 2 can be provided in a prefolded form in which, for example, the large triangles 19 formed by a field "logo", a triangle 111 and a triangle 222 are folded back relative to the paper plane of FIG. 2, This smaller square could then be provided in a packaging unit with at least one such sheet 17, for example, welded into a plastic film, Of course, several sheets can also be provided as a stack or sales or packaging unit Providing sheets 7 in the unfolded or partially folded state, a user of a eating tool 10 could then remove the sheet 17 from the packaging unit and fold it into the finished eating tool 10. Essue list Esswerkzeug

a top eating tool of the pile

b Underlying eating utensil

c Bottom eating utensil of the pile

Gripping sections 12-1 to 12-4

as well as 12-a to 12-1 d

index finger

a fingertip

thumb

a fingertip

b finger-fur

leaf

fold lines

big triangles

Stack of eating utensils

dispenser

access opening

Base / Edges 24-1 to 24-4

Tetrahedron 26-1 to 26-4

1 faces of the pyramid-like gripping sections / triangle 2 faces of the pyramid-like gripping sections / triangle

Claims

claims

A dispenser for providing eating utensils (10) formed as one-piece gripping members for gripping food, especially finger food, having a three-dimensionally shaped sheet structure with an exterior facing the food to be gripped and an opposite finger touch side and at least three from the finger touch side has accessible, as finger protection recesses for receiving fingers of a user's hand shaped, inwardly tapered gripping portions (12-1, 12-2, 12- 3, 12-4), in particular triangular wall sections (111, 222) with fold lines ( 18) being interposed therebetween, the gripping portions being articulated towards and away from each other by at least some of the fold lines to perform gripping movements, the dispenser comprising at least one stack (20) formed from the eating tools in which the outer sides of the eating utensils (10 ) the finger touch side are opposite to each other immediately adjacent eating tools, so that in the stack each outside eating utensil (0a) is turned outwards with its finger touch side, the dispenser is so erectable that in the stack (20) outside eating tool (10a) by a user with can be deducted from the stack (20) already suitable for proper use of the eating tool finger engagement in the respective gripping portions.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a frame containing the stack (22) with an access opening (23) for the respective access to the outside in the stack eating utensil (10 a).

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the three-dimensional leaf structure of the eating tool (10) of the structure of the game "heaven and hell", in English "cootie catcher" corresponds.

4. A dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the frame is a stack (20) receiving, open-topped shaft in a housing (22).

5. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the eating tools (10) are formed from initially substantially flat, formed by folding according to a particular folding scheme in the three-dimensional structure sheets of paper and / or plastic.

A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the eating utensils (10) are molded, injection molded or deep drawn parts.

7. Dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the eating utensils (10) have on one or both sides a layer, in particular impregnation layer.

8. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the gripping portions (12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4) of the eating tools (10) at least partially structured surfaces are provided.

9. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the eating tools (10) from a biocomposable material, in particular poly-bio-calcium carbonate (PBC) or poly-lactic acid (PLA) are formed.

10. Using a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure, which is the leaffolding game "Heaven and Hell", in English "cootie catcher", modeled as a eating utensil (10) for gripping food.

1 1. Use of a three-dimensionally formed sheet structure according to claim 10, wherein it consists of a folded sheet (17) of paper or Plastic is formed and on one or both sides has a particular impregnating layer.

12. Use of a three-dimensionally formed sheet structure according to claim 10, wherein it is a cast, injection-molded or deep-drawn part.

13. Use of a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure according to claim 10, 1 1 or 12, wherein it is formed from a biocomposable material.

14. Use of a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure according to claim 13, wherein it is in particular formed from poly-bio-calcium-carbonates (PBC) or poly-lactic acid (PLA).

15. Eating tool, which is designed as a one-piece gripping element for gripping food, in particular finger food, has a three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure with an outer side facing the food to be gripped and an opposite finger touch side and at least three accessible from the finger touch side, as finger protection recesses for receiving formed by fingers of a user's hand, inwardly tapered gripping portions (12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4), which are bounded by particular triangular wall sections (11, 222) with fold lines (18) therebetween wherein the gripping portions are articulated towards and away from each other by at least some of the fold lines (18) to perform gripping movements, wherein the eating tool (10) is a molded, injection molded, or deep-drawn part of biocomposable material, particularly poly-biostable material. Calcium Carbonates (PBC) or Pol y-lactic acid (PLA).

16. The eating utensil according to claim 15, wherein the three-dimensionally shaped leaf structure is replicated to the leaf-folding game "Heaven and Hell", in English "cootie catcher".