US20010002673A1

US20010002673A1 - Combined device of a foldable utensil and a container

Info

Publication number: US20010002673A1
Application number: US09/760,845
Authority: US
Inventors: Shou-Li Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-13
Filing date: 2001-01-17
Publication date: 2001-06-07

Abstract

A combined device of a foldable utensil and a container comprises a container and a foldable utensil. The container includes a food can, a cup, a bowl, a box, etc. having a round shape, a rectangular shape or a polygonal shape, or other irregular shape. The bottom of the container has a receiving space for receiving the foldable utensil. The foldable utensil is an integral formed plate and includes a bowl (or a fork, a spoon fork, or an agitating plate, etc) and handle. By the dents having a “

Description

The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,667, filed in Jul. 13, 1998, which are now assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and the contents in the patent is incorporated into the present invention as a reference. [0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container comprising a container and a foldable utensil. The bottom of the container has a receiving space for receiving the foldable utensil. The foldable utensil is an integral formed plate and includes a bowl. By the transversal dents on the handle body, the handle body is foldable so as to be received in the bottom of the container; and by the longitudinal dents, embedding posts and embedding holes, the handle body is foldable and thus is formed as a concrete three dimensional handle. There is needless to concern about that the handle will be broken, and plastic film is unnecessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, a food can, a cup, a bowl or a box has a round shape, a square shape, a polygonal shape, or other shapes. For the shake of convenience, the can has a spoon or a fork, or others which is placed in a plastic cover formed by a cover and a single spoon, or is formed by a cover, a bowl, and a handle which are separated. The bowl and the handle (or a single spoon) are simply buckled to an inner surface of the cover. In using, as the cover is opened, the bowl and handle are taken out and then the two are assembled as a complete spoon (or fork). However, in this prior art design, in the operation of assembly, the volume of the prior art plastic cover is finite so that the whole length of the handle is confined and can not be prolonged effectively. Furthermore, the handle is formed by a single thin plate so that the strength is insufficient. It is easy to break from a buckling portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container comprising a container and a foldable utensil. The bottom of the container has a receiving space for receiving the foldable utensil. The foldable utensil is an integral formed plate and includes a bowl. By the transversal dents on the handle body, the handle body is foldable so as to be received in the bottom of the container; and by the longitudinal dents, embedding posts and embedding holes, the handle body is foldable and thus is formed as a concrete three dimensional handle. There is needless to concern about that the handle will be broken, and plastic film is unnecessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container, wherein the inner groove of the container is installed with a pin, while the foldable utensil is installed with a positioning hole at a respective position for being steadily embedded to the pine at the bottom of the container. Then, plastic film serves to package the foldable utensil so that the foldable utensil does not be polluted before being used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container, wherein the receiving space can be directly formed by the container and the bottom wall, or an inner groove is formed installed at the bottom, or two lateral walls of the inner groove are further formed with finger holes. Thereby, a finger may insert into the hole for fetching the foldable utensil easily.

A yet object of the present invention is to provide a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container, wherein the foldable utensil is installed with at least one set of embedding blocks which are alternatively arranged as a U shape so as to be engaged with the embedding posts at two sides of the handle. Moreover, two U shape embedding block sets are formed as an S shape blocks. Similarly, by the S shape blocks, embedding posts at two sides of the handle are alternatively arranged to be formed as a three dimensional handle.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the foldable utensil of the present invention at a folding condition. [0009]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a combined device of a foldable utensil and a container in the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that the foldable utensil of the present invention is at an opening condition. [0011]
FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view showing that the [0012] foldable utensil 2 of the present invention is assembled at a three dimensional handle.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing that the foldable utensil of the present invention is installed as a spoon fork. [0013]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing that the foldable utensil of the present invention is formed as an agitating plate. [0014]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing that the present invention is in a packaging condition. [0015]
FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of the present invention in a packaging condition. [0016]
FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view showing that the present invention is in another folding condition with a U shape blocks being formed. [0017]
FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view that the present invention is another folding condition with an S shape blocks being formed. [0018]
FIG. 11 is an assembled cross sectional view of FIGS. 9 and 10. [0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is illustrated. The present invention has a [0020] container 1 and a foldable utensil 2.
The [0021] container 1 is a container including a food can, a cup, a bowl a box, etc. having a round shape, a rectangular shape or a polygonal shape, or other irregular shape. A bottom of the container 1 is installed with a receiving space for receiving the foldable utensil 2. The receiving space can be directly formed by the container 1 and the bottom wall 111, or an inner groove 112 is formed at the bottom, or two lateral walls of the inner groove 112 are further formed with finger holes 113. Thereby, a finger may insert into the hole for fetching the foldable utensil easily. The receiving space of the container 1 or the inner groove 112 is installed with a pin 114. Thereby, the foldable utensil 2 is installed with a positioning hole 20 at a respective position for being steadily embedded to the bottom of the container 1.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the [0022] foldable utensil 2 is an integral formed plate and includes a bowl 21, a handle 22 and a neck 23. Transversal dents 221 with a “
” shape are installed at the body of the handle 22 so that it is foldable to be stored in the receiving space at the bottom of the container 1 (or the inner groove 112). By longitudinal dents 222 with a “
” shape and with the positioning of embedding posts 223 and embedding holes 224, the body of the handle 22 is foldable so as to be formed as a concrete three dimensional handle (referring to FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the bowl 21 may be replaced by a fork or a spoon fork 21A (referring to FIG. 5) or an agitating plate 21 B (see FIG. 6), or other utensils, all these modifications are within the scope of the present invention. For aforesaid bowl 21, or fork, or spoon fork 21A, or agitating plate 21A of the foldable utensil, the neck 13 connected to the handle and the body of the handle 22 have an engaging structure at a selecting portion. Referring to FIG. 3, in the engaging structure, an embedding piece 231 is installed at an extending neck 23 of the utensil, while the body of the handle 22 is installed with a respective embedding groove 24 at a respective end. The embedding groove 24 is formed by two straight ribs 241. Thereby, the foldable utensil 2 can be folded and thus is positioned.
In the aforesaid [0023] foldable utensil 2, the embedding posts 223 are installed at two sides of the body of the handle 22, while the embedding holes 224 are formed at the center portion of the body of the handle so that the embedding posts 223 are exactly embedded into the embedding holes 224 and are steadily buckled so as to be formed as a concrete three dimensional handle 22.
By the aforesaid structure, the [0024] foldable utensil 2 can be received in the receiving space at the bottom of the container 1 (or the inner groove 112) so that the foldable utensil 2 can be folded by the longitudinal dent 222 and thus is received to the bottom of the container 1. Then, a proper plastic film 3 is used to package the container 1 (or the bottom of the container 1) so as to assure that the utensil will not be polluted before eating (referring to FIGS. 7 and 8). However, as it is taken out for using, it can be folded along the longitudinal dents 222 so as to be formed as a concrete three dimensional handle.
The [0025] aforesaid embedding posts 223 is installed on the handle 22, and a front end thereof has proper tightening nose portions 225 for generating a further tightening effect as the embedding posts 223 are embedded into the embedding holes 224.
In the foldable utensil of the present invention, the configuration thereof can be modified properly. With reference to FIG. 9, the [0026] foldable utensil 2 is installed with at least one set of embedding blocks 25 which are alternatively arranged as a U shape so as to be engaged with the embedding posts 223 at two sides of the handle 22. Moreover, two U shape embedding block sets are formed as an S shape blocks 26. Similarly, by the S shape blocks 26, embedding posts 223 at two sides of the handle 22 are alternatively arranged to be formed as a three dimensional handle.
The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. [0027]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A combined device of a foldable utensil and a container comprising a container 1 and a foldable utensil 2; the container 1 is a container including a food can, a cup, a bowl a box, etc. having a round shape, a rectangular shape or a polygonal shape, or other irregular shape; the foldable utensil 2 is a bowl 21, or fork, or spoon fork 21A, or agitating plate 21A; characteristic in that:

a container 1 having a bottom installed with a receiving space for receiving the foldable utensil 2;

the foldable utensil 2 is an integral formed plate and includes a bowl 21 at a front end thereof, a handle 22 at a rear end thereof and a neck 23 so that it is foldable to be stored in the receiving space at a bottom of the container 1; and the body of the handle 22 is foldable so as to be formed as a concrete three dimensional handle;

wherein by aforesaid components, the foldable utensil 2 is placed in the receiving space at a bottom of the container 1 so that the utensil is folded and thus is then placed at a bottom of the container 1;

while as the utensil is taken out for being used, it can be folded so as to be assembled as a concrete three dimensional handle.

2. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein transversal dents 221 with a “

” shape is installed at a body of the handle 22 so that it is foldable to be stored in the receiving space at the bottom of the container 1; by longitudinal dents 222 with a “

” shape and with the positioning of embedding posts 223 and embedding holes 224, the body of the handle 22 is foldable so as to be formed as a concrete three dimensional handle.

3. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein the receiving space is directly formed by the container 1 and the bottom wall 111.

4. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein an inner groove 112 is formed at the bottom of the container.

5. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein two lateral walls of the inner groove 112 are further formed with finger holes 113.

6. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein the receiving space of the container 12 is installed with a pin 114, while the foldable utensil 2 is installed with a positioning hole 20 at a respective position for being steadily embedded to the pine 114 at the bottom of the container 1.

7. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein the inner groove 112 of the container 12 is installed with a pin 114, while the foldable utensil 2 is installed with a positioning hole 20 at a respective position for being steadily embedded to the pine 114 at the bottom of the container 1.

8. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein for the bowl 21, or fork, or spoon fork 21A, or agitating plate 21A of the foldable utensil; a neck 13 connected to the handle and the body of the handle 22 have an engaging structure at a selecting portion.

9. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 8

, wherein in the engaging structure, an embedding piece 231 is installed at an extending neck 23 of the utensil, while the body of the handle 22 is installed with an respective embedding groove 24 at a respective end; the embedding groove 24 is formed by two straight ribs 241; thereby, the foldable utensil 2 is folded and thus is positioned.

10. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein in the foldable utensil, the embedding posts 223 are installed at two sides of the body of the handle 22, while the embedding holes 224 are formed at a center portion of the body of the handle so that the embedding posts 223 are exactly embedded into the embedding holes 224 and are steadily buckled therein.

11. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein after the foldable utensil 2 is received in the receiving space at the bottom of the container 1, a plastic film 3 is used to package the container 1 so as to assure that the utensil will not be polluted before eating.

12. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the foldable utensil 2 is installed with at least one set of embedding blocks 25 which are alternatively arranged as a U shape so as to be engaged with the embedding posts 223 at two sides of the handle 22 so as to be formed as a three dimensional handle.

13. The combined device of a foldable utensil and a container as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein at least one set of S shape blocks 26 is installed at a middle portion of the handle; by the S shape blocks 26, the embedding posts 223 at two sides of the handle 22 are alternatively arranged to be formed as a three dimensional handle.