US3586161A

US3586161A - Cutlery cluster

Info

Publication number: US3586161A
Application number: US840699A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gim P Fong; Paul Davis
Original assignee: Sweetheart Plastics
Current assignee: SWEETHEART PROPERTIES Inc; Solo Cup Operating Corp
Priority date: 1969-07-10
Filing date: 1969-07-10
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22

Abstract

A cluster of cutlery formed in a sheet with each of the several items of cutlery having its handle severably joined by tabs to the sheet while the remaining portion of each cutlery item is completely severed from the sheet. Each cutlery item may be separated from the sheet without separating the other items.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Gim P. Fong Auburndale; Paul Davis, Swampscott, both of, Mass. Appl. No. 840,699 Filed July 10, 1969 v Patented June 22, 1971 Assignee Sweetheart Plastics, Inc.

Wilmington, Mas.

CUTLERY CLUSTER 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 206/56AB, 2 l 5/DIG. 5 Int. Cl B65d 83/00 Field ofSearch ..206/56M.56A3.

56 K; 229/l.5 C; 220/85 D; 215/D1G. 5

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,607,864 11/1926 Butler 229/1.5 C 1,607,865 11/1926. Butler 229/1 .5 C 3,136,416 6/1964 Goldrosen 206/56 A3 FOREIGN PATENTS 326,788 3/1930 Great Britain 229/1.5 334,367 9/1930 Great Britain 229/1.5

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney-Wolf, Greenfield, Hieken & Sacks ABSTRACT: A cluster of cutlery formed in a sheet with each of the several items of cutlery having its handle severably joined by tabs to the sheet while the remaining portion of each cutlery item is completely severed from the sheet. Each cutlery item may be separated from the sheet without separating the other items.

PATENTEH JUHZE I97:

IN VIENTOR.

G l M PO NG PAUL DAVIS ATTORNEYS crirsssv cwsrsn This invention relates to plastic cutlery and more particularly comprises a new and improved arrangement for marketing a cluster of cutlery items together.

The demand for disposable tableware including cutlery has increased very substantially in recent years, and this demand not only comes form the home market but from the food packaging industry as well. For example, food processors now propose to sell various food items in a package also containing disposable containers within which the packaged food may be prepared and/or eaten. In accordance with the present invention the cutlery as well as the containers may be packaged with the food at negligible cost to the food manufacturer and provide very great convenience to the customer.

One important object of this invention is to provide a very inexpensive means of marketing a plurality of eating utensils.

Another important object of this invention isto provide a cluster of cutlery in a unitary structure, which enables each item to be separated from the others in the cluster when each is to be used.

Another important object of this invention is to provide means for holding a plurality of cutlery items in a cluster and which allows each to be broken away from the cluster without producing burs or other rough edges on the utensils that could render them unsuitable for use.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a utensil formed from sheet material, which possesses enough rigidity so as to enable the utensil to be used comfortably and effectively without bending.

To accomplish these and other objects, this invention includes a cluster of cutlery vacuum and/or pressure formed in a sheet of material, with each utensil having substantially uniform thickness with the opposite faces of the utensils each being parallel to one another. The utensils formed in the sheet are completely severed from it except for tabs which join the sheet to the handle of the utensil. The remaining portion of the utensil is severed from the sheet by die cutting or some other technique, which leaves the utensil free of sharp edges or burs.

These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet formed with a cluster of spoons, in accordance with this invention, and with one such spoon removed from the sheet;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing one spoon as it appears removed from the sheet;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the spoons shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are cross-sectional views taken along the section lines 44, -5, and M, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 7-7 ofFIG. II; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 3-8 of FIGnl and suggesting that at the location of the section the handle is completely severed from the sheet.

In FIG. )1 a sheet of styrene is shown approximately 0.025 inch in thickness within which are formed four spoons l2. One of the spoons has been removed from the sheet leaving an outline of the spoon as shown at M. The spoons 12 in the sheet are formed in a manner so that each may separately be removed without difficulty. Along the side edges 16 of the sheet as viewed in FIG. I are a plurality of dimples 18 which are used to register the sheet during trimming operations.

In FIGS. 2-6 the spoon 12' which has been severed from the sheet and which has left the opening 14 therein is shown in detail. The spoon includes a handle 20 and bowl 22, both generally trough-shaped in a cross section, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The handle 20 has a uniform cross section from the bowl 22 to its outer end 24, and the cross-sectional shape gives rigidity to the handle so that it can be used for its intended purpose without appreciable bending. THe shape is readily achieved in the process of forming the spoons in the sheet.

Like the handle 20, the bowl 22 of the spoon is U-shaped in longitudinal cross section but the size of the U diminishes toward the end 26. It is evident that the configuration of the bowl 22 achieves stiffness for it, and like the handle 20 it will perform its intended function without bending or otherwise distorting to an appreciable extent.

In FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the handle 20 and bowl 22 are shown to be completely severed from the sheet by the die-cut line 28 that exactly conforms in outline to the outline of the spoon, except for the bridges or tabs 30 that join the handle and sheet together. The bridges 30 are formed by gaps in the cutting tool which severs the spoon from the sheet, and the tabs remain only to be broken after the sheet shown in FIG. 1 is formed when a spoon is to be removed.

In the preferred embodiment shown, tabs 30 are shown only connecting the handle to the sheet, and no tabs are provided in the bowl part of the spoon. The tabs are confined to the handle portions so that any bur or irregularity left in the side edge of the utensil when the tab is broken will not be placed in the mouth when the utensil is used normally, for such burs or irregularities could scratch the mouth. The spoon 12 is shown in FIG. 2 to include four nicks 32 in the handle portion 20 left by the severed tabs in detachment of the spoon from the sheet. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the tabs 30 which formerly connected the spoon 12 to the sheet remain connected to the sheet itself rather than form extension of the spoon which has been removed. It will be recognized that if the tabs 30 projected from the spoon 12 which had been removed, and particularly if those tabs 30 were disposed on the bowl portion of the spoon, when the spoon was drawn between the lips, the tabs could scratch the mouth and lips. In FIG. 7 the handle 20 is shown connected to the sheet, and when the spoon is removed the tabs break in the vicinity of the lines 34. The remaining portion of the periphery of the spoon is presevered as indicated above and as suggested in FIG. 8. Consequently, the bowl 22 of the spoon, for example, can be flexed out of the plane of the sheet 10 even without severing the bridges or tabs 30.

Experience indicates that the tabs ordinarily break in the manner suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the bridge portion remaining attached to the sheet and breaking out of the spoon. This is likely caused by virtue of the fact that the spoon is thickest at the periphery where it emerges from the sheet 10 and the stock gets progressively thinner towards the deepest portion of the drawn plastic. Consequently, the bridge tends to break in the direction of the thinner stock and leaves the tabs or bridges as shown in the periphery of the opening 14 and leaves nicks in the periphery of the spoon handle as shown in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the device shown in FIG. 1 is very suitable for marketing in a package, and a purchaser may break a single spoon from the sheet when required and without disturbing the other spoons. For example, in a package containing four ready-mix foods, the purchaser may open one package at a time and use one disposable plastic container that is also provided and break one spoon from the sheet. When the purchaser wants to make a second mix, he may strip a second spoon from the sheet. The sheet may be packaged very readily in a box with the other materials which comprise the package and use a minimum of space. The customer will easily find the spoon as part of the sheet and will not have to fish at the bottom of the box to find one.

While the foregoing description has been directed to the formation of spoons in a sheet, it will be appreciated that other cutlery items such as forks and knives may be formed in the sheet as well. Spoons most readily lend themselves to this particular type of vacuum forming process because their bowl configuration inherently provides stiffness. Nevertheless, because all utensils can be formed in the manner as described, it is not intended to limit the breadth of this invention to the particular configuration shown. The scope of this invention contemplates the manufacture of a sheet containing a variety of different-cutlery items as well as all of the same kind. By providing the partof each item that goes in the mouth with a clearly severed edge, danger to the mouth is avoided, and the cluster is very convenient for packaging and storing.

What we claim is: l. A cluster of cutlery comprising: a sheet of plastic material, a plurality of cutlery items having handles and portions formed in the sheet, and several tabs joining only the handle to the sheet and the remaining outline of each cutlery item being completely severed from the sheet and with the items lying within the sheet whereby said tabs may be ruptured to separate each of said items from said sheet, said separated items being free of any irregularities about its performing portion. 2. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 1 further characterized by each cutlery item being of substantially uniform thickness with the contours of the opposed faces being parallel, said cutlery item lying in a substantial single plane with the sheet. 3. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 2 further performing characterized by the handle being trough-shaped. 4. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 3 further characterized by each cutlery item being a spoon with the trough-shaped handle extending to the bowl of the spoon. 5. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 4 further characterized by said spoons alternately extending in opposite directions for compact forming in the sheet. 6. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 3 further characterized by said cutlery items alternately extending in opposite directions forcompact forming in the sheet. 7. A cluster of cutlery as defined in claim 1 further characterized by,

said tabs being so constructed and arranged so that when said tabs are ruptured to separate said items from said sheet, the major portion of each of said tabs will tend to remain attached to said sheet.

Claims

1. A cluster of cutlery comprising: a sheet of plastic material, a plurality of cutlery items having handles and performing portions formed in the sheet, and several tabs joining only the handle to the sheet and the remaining outline of each cutlery item being completely severed from the sheet and with the items lying within the sheet whereby said tabs may be ruptured to separate each of said items from said sheet, said separated items being free of any irregularities about its performing portion.

2. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 1 further characterized by each cutlery item being of substantially uniform thickness with the contours of the opposed faces being parallel, said cutlery item lying in a substantial single plane with the sheet.

3. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 2 further characterized by the handle being trough-shaped.

4. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 3 further characterized by each cutlery item being a spoon with the trough-shaped handle extending to the bowl of the spoon.

5. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 4 further characterized by said spoons alternately extending in opposite directions for compact forming in the sheet.

6. A cluster of cutlery as described in claim 3 further characterized by said cutlery items alternately extending in opposite directions for compact forming in the sheet.

7. A cluster of cutlery as defined in claim 1 further characterized by, said tabs being so constructed and arranged so that when said tabs are ruptured to separate said items from said sheet, the major portion of each of said tabs will tend to remain attached to said sheet.