3D Disposable Serving Utensils Created by Folding and Bending 2D Bendable Materials and Boxes Incorporating Disposable Serving Utensils
Disposable three dimensional serving utensils that can be incorporated into a pizza box, a cake box or other container, via incised and scored blanks, from which disposable utensils, such as spatulas and knives, can be formed.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 62537932, filed Jul. 27, 2017.
This application discloses novel 3D serving utensils which can be created out of boxes and containers.
The disclosed embodiments and the methods associated therewith have applicability to any area of food service. They are also applicable to any situation where it would be convenient, desirable or cost effective to dispose of the serving utensils after serving food.
Although the embodiments disclosed in the figures use cardboard, any bendable material could be used that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to or greater than that of cardboard, including, but not limited to corrugated fiberboard, paper, nylon, plastic, foil, aluminum or other metals, paperboard, wood veneer, palm fronds, leaves, compostable paperboard or other composite material without departing from the disclosures contained in and claimed by this application.
This application discloses 14 embodiments of blanks that can be used to create disposable serving utensils that can be incorporated into pizza boxes or other food packaging. Additionally this application discloses exemplary embodiments showing how the embodiments of the disposable serving utensils disclosed can be incorporated into boxes, containers or other items.
Each of the disclosed and claimed embodiments may be used to serve and cut food. In this regard, it is to be understood that the word food is used in its broadest possible meaning and includes foods of all types.
First Exemplary EmbodimentThe right folding handle and the left folding handle fold in the direction indicated by the arrows in
The right folding handle and the left folding handle fold in the direction indicated by the arrows in
The right folding handle (23) and the left folding handle (24) fold in the direction indicated by the arrows in
It is also possible to create primitive embodiments from a plurality of sides (301). Such embodiments are claimed by this application, even though not illustrated in the drawings.
Ninth Exemplary EmbodimentIt is also possible to create curved blade knife embodiments from a plurality of sides (301). Such embodiments are claimed by this application, even though not illustrated in the drawings.
Tenth Exemplary EmbodimentIt is also possible to create pizza machete embodiments from a plurality of sides (301). Such embodiments are claimed by this application, even though not illustrated in the drawings.
Eleventh Exemplary EmbodimentThe right folding handle and the left folding handle fold in the direction indicated by the arrows in
Other possible variants of the disclosed embodiments can be created wherein the bendable material (from which the disclosed embodiments can be formed) is made of materials that are either or both:
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- A. Resistant to liquids, such as hydrophobic paper or cardboard that has self-assembled silicon-oxide nanoparticles with functional silane groups and fluorocarbonated compounds linked directly to cellulose fibers of at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a Cobb value of 8 to 25 g/m2 and water contact angles of 100 to 140 degrees [such as that taught by Marroquin in EP Application 2837736A1 (which is hereby incorporated by reference)] and similar; or
- B. coated with materials that are resistant to liquids, including, but not limited to, waterproof film laminated to cardboard, polyethylene, waxes, fluor-derivatives, biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and polyesters, biopolymer nanoparticles and nanofillers such as nanoclay and nanocellulose.
All such embodiments are claimed by this application.
Other additional embodiments are also possible as to each of the Exemplary Embodiments previously described. All such embodiments are claimed by this application.
Wherever reference is made in this disclosure to separating any portion of the sheet of bendable material from any other portion of the sheet of bendable material along any incised line or any score and fold mark, the separation may be achieved by bending the bendable material back and forth until it breaks along the incised line or the score and fold mark, by tearing the material down the incised line or the score and fold mark, by cutting the bendable material along the incised line or the score and fold mark with any sort of tool or by any other means of separating the bendable material along the incised line or the score and fold mark; all such methods of separation are claimed by this application.
Wherever incised lines are mentioned in this disclosure it is understood that all such incised lines are designed to make it easy for the flexible bendable material of which the flat blank is composed to crease.
In the event that any of the patent documents that are incorporated by reference herein define or use a term in a manner that is inconsistent with either the non-incorporated disclosure of the present application or with any of the other incorporated patent documents, the non-incorporated disclosure of the present application shall control with respect to the present application, and the term or terms as used in an incorporated patent document shall only control with respect to the document in which the term or terms are defined or used.
The various disclosed elements of apparatuses and steps of methods disclosed herein are not required as to all apparatuses and methods set forth in the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, one or more of the various elements and steps disclosed herein may define independent inventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of a disclosed apparatus or method. Accordingly, such inventive subject matter is not required to be associated with the specific apparatuses and methods that are expressly disclosed herein; such inventive subject matter may find utility in future apparatuses and/or methods and may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application.
The specific alternatives, embodiments, and methods thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, as numerous variations are possible. The present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions, properties, methods, and/or steps disclosed herein. The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements, properties, methods, and/or steps may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
While the description of several embodiments has been presented and while the exemplary embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Applicant intends by this application to cover all possible embodiments that are described by the claims, even if such embodiments are not specifically shown or described in the Figures or in the Description of the Embodiments. That is, the claims in their broader aspects are therefore not limited to any of the specific details or to any of the representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described in the Figures and the specification. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general concept as claimed.
Claims
1) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends from the short end to a right handle cut;
- one longer end that is approximately parallel to the one short end and divided bilaterally by one incised center crease line that extends from the longer end to a right handle cut;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to the one longer end; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides defined by the line that would extend across the ends of a left folding handle and a right folding handle if drawn through a right handle cut and a left handle cut; are approximately straight edges from the point on both sides defined by the line that would extend across the ends of a left folding handle and a right folding handle if drawn through a right handle cut and a left handle cut to the point on both sides defined by the line that would extend from one side to the other side drawn through the end of a right handle angling cut that is proximally closer to the right side and a left handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the left side; are approximately straight edges from the point on both sides defined by the line that would extend from one side to the other side drawn through the end of a right handle angling cut that is proximally closer to the right side and a left handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the left side to the longer end;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a left folding handle; extending from the short end to a left handle cut;
- a right handle cut that extends orthogonally from the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut to approximately half the distance to the right side;
- a left handle cut that extends orthogonally from the left side approximately half the distance to the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut;
- a right handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the right side and to the longer end; that is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the right folding handle;
- a left handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the left side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the left folding handle;
- a right incised flex line that extends from the right handle angling cut to approximately the junction of the right side with the longer end; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from the left handle angling cut to approximately the junction of the left side with the longer end.
2) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides farther from the short side than the line defined by the line that would run approximately parallel to the short side and through the end of a right handle cut that is proximally closest to the right side and a left handle cut that is proximally closest to the left side; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a left folding handle; extending from the short end to a left handle cut;
- a right handle cut that extends orthogonally from the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut to approximately half the distance to the right side;
- a left handle cut that extends orthogonally from the left side approximately half the distance to the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut;
- a right handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the right side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the right folding handle;
- a left handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the left side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the left folding handle;
- an incised center crease line that runs from approximately the end of the center handle cut to the junction of the right side with the left side;
- a central point through which all incised lines pass, that lies on the incised center crease line between the line through the end of the right handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the right side and the end of the left handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the left side and the line through the points where the right side and the left side converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically;
- a right embankment that is an incised line that is parallel to the right side from the point where the right side and the left side extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point on the right side; extends from the central point through which all incised lines pass to a point on the right side;
- a left embankment that is an incised line that is parallel to the left side from the point where the right side and the left side extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point on the left side; extends from the central point through which all incised lines pass to a point on the left side;
- a right incised flex line that extends from the central point through which all incised lines pass to a point on the right side that is in between the junction of the right side and the left side and the point where the right embankment reaches the right side; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from the central point through which all incised lines pass to a point on the left side that is in between the junction of the right side and the left side and the point where the right embankment reaches the right side.
3) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides farther from the short side than the line defined by the line that would run approximately parallel to the short side and through the end of a right handle cut that is proximally closest to the right side and a left handle cut that is proximally closest to the left side; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line, except that from the junction of the right side and the left side to before the line formed between the point of the right handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the right side and the point of the left handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the left side, most or all of the left side is comprised of serrated edges suitable for cutting and the right side is comprised of non-serrated edge;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a left folding handle; extending from the short end to a left handle cut;
- a right handle cut that extends orthogonally from the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut to approximately half the distance to the right side;
- a left handle cut that extends orthogonally from the left side approximately half the distance to the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut;
- a right handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the right side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the right folding handle;
- a left handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the left side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the left folding handle;
- a right incised flex line that extends from the right handle angling cut to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side before both sides join with each other;
- a left incised flex line that extends from the left handle angling cut to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side before both sides join with each other; and
- an incised center crease line that extends from the interior end of the center handle cut to the junction of the right side with the left side.
4) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends from the short end to a right handle cut;
- an incised center crease line that extends in an approximately straight line from the interior end of the center handle cut to the most distant point from the interior end of the center handle cut to the arc that connects a right side and a left side;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side at the incised center line; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line, except that from the junction of the right side and the left side at the incised center crease line to before the line formed between the point of the right handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the right side and the point of the left handle angling cut that is proximally closest to the left side, most or all of the left side is comprised of serrated edges suitable for cutting and the right side is comprised of non-serrated edge; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides farther from the short side than the line defined by the line that would run approximately parallel to the short side and through the end of a right handle cut that is proximally closest to the right side and a left handle cut that is proximally closest to the left side; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to a right handle cut;
- a left folding handle; extending from the short end to a left handle cut;
- a right handle cut that extends orthogonally from the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut to approximately half the distance to the right side;
- a left handle cut that extends orthogonally from the left side approximately half the distance to the junction of the incised center crease line and the center handle cut;
- a right handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the right side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the right folding handle
- a left handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the left side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the left folding handle
- a right incised flex line that extends from the right handle angling cut to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side before both sides join with each other; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from the left handle angling cut to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side before both sides join with each other.
5) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends from the short end to an incised handle fold line;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides to the incised handle fold line; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line comprising, a right handle adhesive on both sides of the planar surface;
- a left folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line, comprising a left handle adhesive on both sides of the planar surface;
- an incised handle fold line, extending approximately orthogonally from the right side to the left side, between the right handle adhesive and the left handle adhesive and a right handle angling cut and a left handle angling cut;
- a right handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the right side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the right folding handle;
- a left handle angling cut that has one end that is proximally closer to both the incised center crease line and to the short end; has one end that is proximally closer to both the left side and to the longer end; is capable of receiving the portion of the short end that is part of the left folding handle;
- a right incised flex line that extends from the right handle angling cut to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side before both sides join with each other;
- a left incised flex line that extends from the left handle angling cut to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side before both sides join with each other; and
- an incised center crease line that extends from the interior end of the center handle cut to the junction of the right side with the left side.
6) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by an incised center crease line
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point on both sides to the incised handle fold line; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along the incised center crease line except that the right folding handle and the portion of the right side that is overlapped by the right folding handle when the right folding handle is folded across the incised handle fold line, contains a plurality of tab slots that are conformably configured to receive exterior tabs located on the left side; the left folding handle and the portion of the left side that is overlapped by the left folding handle when the left folding handle is folded across the incised handle fold line, contains a plurality of exterior tabs that are conformably configured to fit into a plurality of tab slots located on the right side;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line;
- a left folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line;
- an incised handle fold line, extending approximately orthogonally from the right side to the left side, between a plurality of tab slots on the right side and a plurality of exterior tabs on the left side;
- a right incised flex line that extends from a point on the incised center crease line that is located between the furthest exterior tab from the short end and approximately the point where the right side begins to diverge away from the left side before both the sides join with each other to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side;
- a left incised flex line that extends from a point on the incised center crease line that is located between the furthest exterior tab from the short end and approximately the point where the right side begins to diverge away from the left side before both the sides join with each other to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side; and
- an incised center crease line that extends from approximately the midpoint of the short end to the junction of the right side with the left side.
7) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by a center handle cut that extends most of the way to an incised handle fold line;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side; contain a right tab that is a mirror image to a left tab; converge toward each other to form the right tab and the left tab and which then diverge away from each other until they reach the approximate end of the center handle cut; are approximately parallel to each other from the approximate end of the center handle cut to the approximate intersection of the incised center line with the right incised flex line and the left incised flex line; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along the incised center crease line and the center handle cut;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line;
- a left folding handle, extending from the short end to the incised handle fold line;
- an incised handle fold line, extending approximately orthogonally from the right side to the left side, between an interior end of the center handle cut and a right interior insertion slot and a left interior insertion slot;
- a right incised flex line that extends from a point on the incised center crease line that is located between the right interior insertion slot and approximately the point where the right side begins to diverge away from the left side before both the sides join with each other to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side;
- a left incised flex line that extends from a point on the incised center crease line that is located between the left interior insertion slot and approximately the point where the left side begins to diverge away from the right side before both the sides join with each other to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side;
- an incised center crease line that extends from the interior end of the center handle cut to the junction of the right side with the left side;
- a right tab, on the short end, conformably made to be inserted into a right interior insertion slot;
- a left tab, on the short end, conformably made to be inserted into a left interior insertion slot;
- a right interior insertion slot located conformably made to receive a right tab and located approximately between the point where the right incised flex line intersects the incised center crease line and the point where the incised handle fold line intersects the right side;
- a left interior insertion slot located conformable made to receive a left tab and located approximately between the point where the left incised flex line intersects the incised center crease line and the point where the incised handle fold line intersects the left side;
- an incised right handle flex line extending from the right tab to a point proximally located to the right interior insertion slot; and
- an incised left handle flex line extending from the left tab to a point proximally located to the left interior insertion slot;
8) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- a box for serving food, such as pizza or cake, comprising a plurality of approximately planar box sides; an approximately planar covering; an approximately planar bottom; one or more box sides as to which every side of the box side is either unconnected to any planar covering or connected to any other planar bottom and planar sides with incised edges thereby allowing said side to be easily removed from the box without tearing.
9) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- a box for serving food, such as pizza or cake, comprising a plurality of box sides; an approximately planar covering; an approximately planar bottom;
- a bladed knife embedded in some or all of one or more of the box sides; an approximately planar covering; an approximately planar bottom; comprising a plurality of incised edges circumscribing a handle comprising two corners of a box side; part of a box side connecting the two corners of a box side; two approximately parallel box sides, one short and one longer; and a blade comprising a cutting surface spanning the distance between the short parallel box side and the longer parallel box side.
10) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard, said apparatus comprising:
- a box for serving food, such as pizza or cake, comprising a plurality of box sides; an approximately planar covering; an approximately planar bottom;
- a pizza machete embedded in some or all of one or more of the box sides; an approximately planar covering; an approximately planar bottom; comprising a plurality of incised edges circumscribing a folding handle comprising two corners of a box side; part of a box side connecting the two corners of a box side; two approximately parallel box sides, one short and one longer; a folding handle that folds across an incised folding edge; and a blade comprising a cutting surface spanning the distance between the short parallel box side and the longer parallel box side.
11) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by an incised center crease line;
- one longer end that is approximately parallel to the one short end and divided bilaterally by one incised center crease line;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to the one longer end; are approximately mirror images of each other along the incised center crease line; initially run parallel to each other to form a handle, but thereafter diverge from each other until they reach the longer end;
- a right folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward a left folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a left folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward the right folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a right incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with a left incised flex line to approximately the junction of the right side with the longer end;
- a left incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with the right incised flex line to approximately the junction of the left side with the longer end; and
- an incised center crease line that extends from the approximate midpoint of the short end to the approximate midpoint of the longer end.
12) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by an incised center crease line;
- an incised center crease line that extends in an approximately straight line from the approximate midpoint of the short end to the most distant point from the interior end of the center handle cut to the arc that connects a right side and a left side;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to a junction of the right side with the left side at the incised center line; are approximately mirror images of each other along the incised center crease line, except that from a point along the left side that is further from the short end than the point where the incised center crease line intersects a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line most or all of the left side is comprised of serrated edges suitable for cutting and the right side is comprised of non-serrated edge;
- a right folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward a left folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a left folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward the right folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a right incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with a left incised flex line to any point on the right side that is located past the final point where the right side and the left side begin to converge; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with a right incised flex line to any point on the left side that is located past the final point where the right side and the left side begin to converge.
13) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by an incised center crease line;
- an incised center crease line that extends in an approximately straight line from the approximate midpoint of the short end to a junction of the right side with the left side;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to the junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point just beyond the ends of the right handle adhesive and left handle adhesive that are farthest away from the short end; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along the incised center crease line;
- a right folding handle, extending from the short end to an intersection of the center crease line with a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line and comprising a right handle adhesive;
- a left folding handle, extending from the short end to the intersection of the center crease line with a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line and comprising a left handle adhesive;
- a right incised flex line that extends from the intersection of the center crease line with a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line to approximately the point where the right side begins to converge toward the left side before both sides join with each other; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from the intersection of the center crease line with a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line to approximately the point where the left side begins to converge toward the right side before both sides join with each other.
14) A disposable serving utensil apparatus comprised of bendable material that can be incised, scored and folded and whose stiffness is approximately equivalent to cardboard and which is approximately planar, said apparatus comprising:
- one short end, divided bilaterally by an incised center crease line that extends in an approximately straight line from the approximate midpoint of the short end to a junction of the right side with the left side;
- an incised center crease line that extends in an approximately straight line from the approximate midpoint of the short end to a junction of the right side with the left side;
- a right side and a left side that extend from the one short end to the junction of the right side with the left side; are approximately parallel to each other from the short end to a point before the intersection of the incised center crease line with a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line; extend away from each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point prior to their junction with each other; converge toward each other bilaterally and approximately symmetrically to a point where they join with each other; are approximately mirror images of each other along both the center handle cut and the incised center crease line, except that from a point along the left side that is further from the short end than the point where the incised center crease line intersects a right incised flex line and a left incised flex line most or all of the left side is comprised of serrated edges suitable for cutting and the right side is comprised of non-serrated edge;
- a right folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward a left folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a left folding handle, conformably made to be able to flex toward the right folding handle along the incised center crease line;
- a right incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with a left incised flex line to any point on the right side that is located past the final point where the right side and the left side begin to converge; and
- a left incised flex line that extends from any point chosen along the incised center crease line that also intersects with a right incised flex line to any point on the left side that is located past the final point where the right side and the left side begin to converge.
15) A box for serving food, such as pizza or cake, comprising
- a plurality of box sides;
- an approximately planar covering;
- an approximately planar bottom;
- and at least one of the apparatuses of claims 1 through 7 or claims 11 through 14.
16) A lid support and blank comprising
- an approximately planar surface comprising a plurality of support pylons defined by an incised punch out line which allows a portion of the planar surface to be punched out and reoriented approximately orthogonally as to the approximately planar surface; and
- at least one of the apparatuses of claims 1 through 7 or claims 11 through 14.
17) The apparatus of claims 1 through 7 or claims 11 through 14 in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material is formed of materials that are resistant to liquids, such as hydrophobic paper or cardboard that has self-assembled silicon-oxide nanoparticles with functional silane groups and fluorocarbonated compounds linked directly to cellulose fibers of at least one of the surfaces thereof, with a Cobb value of 8 to 25 g/m2 and water contact angles of 100 to 140 degrees.
18) The apparatus of claims 1 through 7 or claims 11 through 14 in which any portion of the flat sheet of bendable material is coated with materials that are resistant to liquids, including, but not limited to, waterproof film laminated to cardboard, polyethylene, waxes, fluor-derivatives, biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and polyesters, biopolymer nanoparticles and nanofillers such as nanoclay and nanocellulose.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2018
Publication Date: Jan 10, 2019
Inventors: Brett I Goldberg (Menlo Park, CA), Theo Stewart-Stand (Brooklyn, NY), Frank Ling (Brooklyn, NY), Bruce W. Hamby (Montgomery, TX)
Application Number: 16/046,571