# Patent

## Title
Cutlery utensil dispensing package

## Abstract

The present application provides a dispensing package for a number of articles therein. The dispensing package may include a tub and a reclosable lid enclosing the tub. The reclosable lid may include a dispensing aperture, one or more mating slots, and a spout flap forming a reclosable spout.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to a cutlery utensil dispensing package and more particularly relate to a cutlery utensil dispensing package with a reclosable spout for ease of use, ease of transport, and ease of storage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Eating facilities and other locations often provide disposable cutlery utensils such as a knife, a fork, a spoon, a spork, and the like in dispensing bins for retrieval by a customer. Although such arrangements provide for easy and economical dispensing of the cutlery utensils as compared to sets of utensils being separately wrapped in plastic sleeves, the dispensing bins generally must be manually restocked with the cutlery utensils. Specifically, the cutlery utensils may be packaged and shipped to the facility in one package and then manually transferred to the dispensing bins as needed. Moreover, the dispensing bins may or may not be easy to relocate or suitable for outdoor events or other types of temporary uses requiring the transport of the cutlery utensils.
There is thus a desire for an improved cutlery utensil dispensing package. Such an improved cutlery utensil dispensing package may be suitable for shipping and transporting the cutlery utensils therein while also providing for easy dispensing of the cutlery utensils therefrom. Moreover, such a package may be easily openable and reclosable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present application and the resultant patent thus may provide a dispensing package for a number of articles positioned therein. The dispensing package may include a tub and a reclosable lid enclosing the tub. The reclosable lid may include a dispensing aperture, one or more mating slots, and a spout flap forming a reclosable spout thereon.
The present application and the resultant patent further may provide a method of dispensing articles from a package. The method may include the steps of receiving the package with the articles therein, opening a lid or a spout of the lid on one end of the package, removing one or more articles from the package, reclosing the lid or the spout, and storing the package for future use.
The present application and the resultant patent further may provide a dispensing package for a number of cutlery utensils therein. The dispensing package may include a tub with one or more feet on one or more ends thereof and a lid enclosing the tub. The lid may include a dispensing aperture, one or more mating slots, and a spout flap forming a spout so as to provide access to the cutlery utensils through the dispensing aperture.
These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is perspective view of a cutlery utensil dispensing package as may be described herein.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of several examples of cutlery utensils that may be used with the cutlery utensil dispensing package of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lid for use with the cutlery utensil dispensing package of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the lid of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lid of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the lid of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tub for use with the cutlery utensil dispensing package of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is an end plan view of the tub of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the tub of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the tub of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cutlery utensil dispensing package of FIG. 1 with an open spout.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an example of a cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 as may be described herein. In describing the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “side,” “end,” “first,” “second,” and the like are used for purposes of relative orientation only and not as an absolute position. For example, most of the surfaces of the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be used as the bottom or the top as oriented by the user. The cutlery dispensing package 100 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Any number of cutlery utensil dispensing packages 100 may be used together.
The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be made out of any suitably formable thermoplastic material. Examples of suitable materials may include polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and the like. Other materials such as metals, wood, composites, and the like also may be used herein. The material may be substantially clear or the material may have any type of coloring. Depending upon the nature of the material, the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be manufactured via thermoforming, vacuum forming, and the like. Other types of manufacturing techniques such as an injection molding process also may be used. The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may have graphics or other types of identification and/or marketing indicia thereon.
The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be used with a number of cutlery utensils 110. Any number of the cutlery utensils 110 may be used herein in any size, shape, or configuration. As is shown in FIG. 2, examples of the cutlery utensils 110 may include a knife 120, a fork 130, and a spoon 140. Other types of cutlery utensils 110, such as a spork and the like, also may be used herein. The cutlery utensils 110 may be disposable and/or recyclable. The cutlery utensils 110 may be made out of a thermoplastic material suitable for the purposes disclosed herein. Other materials such as metals, wood, composites, and the like also may be used herein. Although the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 will be described in terms of the cutlery utensils 110, the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 also may be suitable for almost any type of a substantially disposable product 150. Examples include, but are not limited to, condiment packages, drinking straws, paper products, and the like. Moreover, the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 also may be used with almost any type of substantially disposable products 150 outside of the food service industry. The scope of the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 described herein is not limited by the nature of the articles that may be used.
FIGS. 3-6 show a lid 160 that may be used with the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100. Generally described, the lid 160 may include a first side 170 and a second side 180. The lid 160 may include a center panel 190. The center panel 190 may be surrounded by a peripheral lip 200. The peripheral lip 200 may be formed by an undercut 210 extending from the second side 180 and forming a recess 220 in the first side 170. The peripheral lip 200 may be continuous or intermittently shaped. The peripheral lip 200 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The peripheral lip 200 may be surrounded by an outer flange 230. The outer flange 230 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. A number of opening tabs 240 may extend from the flange 230. The opening tabs 240 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.
The center panel 190 of the lid 160 may have a dispensing aperture 250 formed therein. The dispensing aperture 250 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The dispensing aperture 250 may extend from the first side 170 to the second side 180 of the lid 160. The positioning of the dispensing aperture 250 along the center panel 190 may vary. The dispensing aperture 250 may be sized and configured to allow access to the cutlery utensils 110 or other objects therein while reducing unnecessary environmental exposure and possible contamination issues. The center panel 190 also may include a number of mating slots 260 formed therein. The mating slots 260 may be positioned on either side of the dispensing aperture 250 and adjacent to the peripheral lip 200. The mating slots 260 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.
The lid 160 also may include a spout flap 270. The spout flap 270 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The spout flap 270 may be connected to the center panel 190 via a spout hinge 280. The spout hinge 280 may be coined, scored, or otherwise indented so as to allow for folding. The spout flap 270 may include a spout lip 290 formed therein. The spout lip 290 may include a spout undercut 300 extending into the second side 180 and forming a spout recess 310 on the first side 170. The spout lip 290 may be continuous or intermittent. The spout lip 290 may be sized and shaped such that the spout lip 290 accommodates the size and shape of the dispensing aperture 250 and may be removably positioned therein.
The spout lip 290 also may include a pair of guide flaps 320. The guide flaps 320 may be attached to the spout flap 270 via a pair of flap hinges 330. The flap hinges 330 may be coined, scored, or otherwise indented so as to allow for folding. The guide flaps 320 may have a substantially curved shape 340. The guide flaps 320 may be sized and shaped so as to accommodate the mating slots 260 on the center panel 190. The guide flaps 320 may have a protrusion 350 or any suitable retention feature at a far end thereof. The spout flap 270 also may have an opening tab 360 on one end thereof. Other suitable sizes, shapes, and configurations may be used herein. As will be described in more detail below, the spout flap 270 cooperates with the dispensing aperture 250 to form a dispensing spout 365 on the lid 160.
FIGS. 7-10 show an example of a tub 370 that may be used with the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100. The tub 370 is any type of structure that may retain the cutlery utensils 110 therein and may be enclosed by the lid 160. The tub 370 may include an inside surface 372 and an outside surface 374. The tub 370 may include a bottom floor 380, a first sidewall 390, an opposed second sidewall 400, a first end wall 410, and an opposed second end wall 420. Although the end walls 410, 420 are shown as being of lesser length than the sidewalls 390, 400, the end walls 410, 420 may be of equal or greater length. The tub 370, the floor 380, the sidewalls 390, 400, and the end walls 400, 410 may have any suitable sizes, shapes, or configurations.
The sidewalls 390, 400 may include a number of ribs 430 formed therein. The ribs 430 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Any suitable number of the ribs 430 may be used herein. The ribs 430 may provide structural strength and may provide for a grip surface and the like. The end walls 410, 420 may have a number of feet 440 extending on the outside surface 374 thereof. The feet 440 may have a substantially flat configuration 445. Likewise, the end walls 410, 420 may have a number of ramps 450 extending into the inside surface 372. The ramps 450 may have a substantially angled configuration 455. The ramps 450 may be interspersed between the feet 440. Although two feet 440 and three ramps 450 are shown, any suitable number of the feet 440 and the ramps 450 may be used. The feet 440 may have the flat configuration 445 so as to allow the tub 370 and the overall cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 to stand on either end wall 410, 420. The ramps 450 may have the angle configuration 455 so as to feed the cutlery utensils 120 towards the dispensing aperture 250. The feet 440 and the ramps 450 may have any suitable sizes, shapes, or configurations.
The tub 370 also may have a number of corners 460 positioned at the intersections between the sidewalls 390, 400 and the end walls 410, 420. The corners 460 may have a substantially angled configuration 470. The angled configuration 470 may add overall strength to the tub 370. The corners 460 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.
The sidewalls 390, 400 and the end walls 410, 420 of the tub 370 may be surrounded by a raised lip 480. The raised lip 480 may be sized and shaped so as to accommodate the undercut 210 of the peripheral lip 200 of the lid 160. The raised lip 480 may be continuous or intermittent. One or more opening tabs 490 may project from the raised lip 480. The opening tabs 490 may have any suitable size or shape. Other components and other configurations also may be used herein.
In use, the guide flaps 320 may fold about the flap hinges 330. The guide flaps 320 may be positioned within the mating slots 260 such that the spout flap 270 may pivot about the flap hinge 280 so as to enclose the dispensing aperture 250 and form the spout 365. Specifically, the undercut 300 of the spout lip 290 may be positioned within the dispensing aperture 350. The guide flaps 320 may remain positioned at about ninety degrees with respect to the spout flap 270 or the guide flaps 320 may be folded inward along the spout flap 270 at any suitable angle.
The tub 370 may be filled with the cutlery utensils 110 or other types of substantially disposable products 150. The tub 370 then may be enclosed by the lid 160 with the undercut 210 of the peripheral lip 200 of the lid 160 accommodating the raised lip 480 of the tub 370. The cutlery utensils dispensing package 110 may be shrink wrapped or otherwise packaged and shipped to the consumer. The consumer then may remove the lid 160 from the tub 370 via the opening tabs 360, 490 and access the cutlery utensils 110 therein. The consumer may reapply the lid 160 at any time.
Alternatively, the consumer may open the spout 365 by pulling on the opening tab 360 of the spout flap 270. The spout flap 270 may pivot outwardly and downwardly so as to open the dispensing aperture 250. Specifically, the spout flap 270 may pivot along the length of the curved shaped 340 of the guide flaps 320. The rotation of the spout flap 270 may be halted by the protrusions 350 coming into contact with the lid 360. The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be positioned on one end 410, 420 as is shown in FIG. 11. The consumer may then remove the cutlery utensils 110 therein. The spout 365 may be reclosed at any time. The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be stored for future use. The spout flap 270 also may be removed from the lid 160 if desired.
The spout 365 may be opened and closed as often as desired. Likewise, the lid 160 may be removed from and reapplied to the tub 370 as often as desired. The cutlery dispensing package 100 thus may be easy to transport, use, and store. The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may be used in restaurants, in break rooms, at home, at the office, at school, on-the-go, picnics, or almost anywhere. The cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 allows for the transport, the use, and the storage of cutlery utensils 110 and other types of dispensing products 150 in a single easy to use container. Cutlery utensil dispensing packages 100 with different types of cutlery utensils 110 therein may be positioned adjacent to each other or otherwise used together. Alternatively, the cutlery utensil dispensing package 100 may have a number of compartments accessible by a lid 160 with multiple spouts 365.
It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

## Claims

1. A dispensing package for a number of articles therein, the dispensing package comprising:
a tub defining an interior space configured to contain the number of articles; and
a reclosable lid enclosing the interior space, the reclosable lid comprising:
a panel comprising an exterior side, an interior side a dispensing aperture extending from the exterior side to the interior side, and a lip extending along a periphery of the panel and removably engaging the tub; and
a spout flap connected to the panel and movable from a closed position covering the dispensing aperture to an open position spaced apart from the dispensing aperture and forming a spout configured to allow access to the number of articles through the dispensing aperture.

2. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the dispensing package is formed of a thermoplastic material.

3. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the lip extends continuously along the entire periphery of the panel and surrounds the dispensing aperture.

4. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises an undercut extending from the interior side and a recess formed in the exterior side.

5. The dispensing package of claim 3, wherein the panel further comprises an outer flange surrounding the lip, and one or more opening tabs extending from the outer flange.

6. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the reclosable lid further comprises a spout hinge connecting the spout flap to the panel.

7. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises one or more mating slots extending from the exterior side to the interior side, and wherein the reclosable lid further comprises one or more guide flaps connected to the spout flap and movably received within the one or more mating slots and the interior space.

8. The dispensing package of claim 7, wherein the one or more guide flaps comprise a protrusion configured to limit movement of the spout flap relative to the dispensing aperture.

9. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the spout flap comprises a spout lip removably received within the dispensing aperture.

10. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the tub comprises one or more end walls comprising one or more feet extending along an outer surface thereof.

11. The dispensing package of claim 10, wherein the one or more end walls further comprise one or more ramps extending along an inner surface thereof.

12. The dispensing package of claim 11, wherein the one or more feet comprise a flat configuration, and wherein the one or more ramps comprise an angled configuration.

13. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the tub comprises a pair of sidewalls each comprising a plurality of ribs.

14. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the tub comprises a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls, and a raised lip surrounding the sidewalls and the end walls, and wherein the lip of the panel removably engages the raised lip of the tub.

15. A method of dispensing a number of articles from a dispensing package, the method comprising:
receiving the dispensing package comprising:
a tub defining an interior space containing the number of articles; and
a reclosable lid enclosing the interior space, the reclosable lid comprising:
a panel comprising an exterior side, an interior side, a dispensing aperture extending from the exterior side to the interior side, and a lip extending along a periphery of the panel and removably engaging the tub; and
a spout flap connected to the panel;


moving the spout flap from a closed position covering the dispensing aperture to an open position spaced apart from the dispensing aperture and forming a spout;
accessing one or more of the articles through the dispensing aperture; and
removing the one or more articles from the dispensing package.

16. A dispensing package for a number of articles therein, the dispensing package comprising:
a tub defining an interior space configured to contain the number of articles; and
a reclosable lid enclosing the interior space, the reclosable lid comprising:
a panel comprising an exterior side, an interior side, a dispensing aperture extending from the exterior side to the interior side, a pair of mating slots extending from the exterior side to the interior side, and a lip extending along a periphery of the panel and removably engaging the tub;
a spout flap connected to the panel and movable from a closed position covering the dispensing aperture to an open position spaced apart from the dispensing aperture and forming a spout configured to allow access to the number of articles through the dispensing aperture; and
a pair of guide flaps each connected to the spout flap and movably received within one of the mating slots and the interior space.

17. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the dispensing package is formed of a thermoplastic material.

18. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the reclosable lid further comprises a spout hinge connecting the spout flap to the panel.

19. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the reclosable lid further comprises a pair of flap hinges each connecting one of the guide flaps to the spout flap.

20. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the spout flap comprises a spout lip removably received within the dispensing aperture.

21. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the lip extends continuously along the entire periphery of the panel and surrounds the dispensing aperture.

22. The dispensing package of claim 16, wherein the mating slots are separate from and spaced apart from the dispensing aperture.

23. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the dispensing aperture is spaced apart from the periphery of the panel.

24. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the spout flap is larger than the dispensing aperture.

25. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the spout flap is integrally formed with the panel.

26. The dispensing package of claim 1, wherein the lid is removably attached to the tub.

27. The dispensing package of claim 9, wherein the spout lip is spaced apart from a periphery of the spout flap.