FOLDABLE SPOON

Abstract: A foldable spoon (2) comprising a scoop (8, 9, 12, 13) and a handle (3, 4, 5), which scoop (8, 9, 12, 13) comprises a plurality of generally triangular flat scoop segments (8, 9, 12, 13) which are mutually connected by hinge lines (10, 11, 14, 17) and two of which (8, 9) are each connected with convergent straight upper edges to a flat handle portion (4, 5) by a hinge line (6, 7), which two handle portions can be laid in one common principal plane in order to form the handle (3, 4, 5) and simultaneously to form the scoop (8, 9, 12, 13), which spoon (2) is foldable to a flat structure consisting of two layers, each comprising a handle (3, 4, 5) portion and a scoop segment (8, 9) adjacent thereto.

Description: FOLDABLE SPOON The invention relates to a foldable spoon. The invention pertains particularly to a foldable spoon which can be folded out into a spoon from a substantially flat, folded state without the user having to touch with his hands those parts of the spoon coming into contact with foodstuffs, for instance milk powder. In respect of the above the invention provides a foldable spoon comprising a scoop and a handle, which scoop comprises a plurality of generally triangular flat scoop segments which are mutually connected by hinge lines and two of which are each connected with convergent straight upper edges to a flat handle portion by a hinge line, which two handle portions can be laid in one common principal plane in order to form the handle and simultaneously to form the scoop, which spoon is foldable to a flat structure consisting of two layers, each comprising a handle portion and a scoop segment adjacent thereto. The scoop segments, which have a generally triangular shape, jointly converge to one point forming the deepest part of the scoop. In order to provide the scoop with a flat upper edge in which the relevant sides of the triangles are located in one plane, the embodiment is recommended in which all scoop segments are identical. A specific embodiment has the special feature that there is an even number of scoop segments. This embodiment, in which preferably all scoop segments are identical, must be embodied such that groups of scoop segments for placing one on top of another are connected by two hinge lines lying in one plane. Since the sides of the scoop segments converge to one point it is automatically achieved herewith that the scoop can be folded together to a flat structure. A specific embodiment has the special feature that the handle portions are mutually connected by a hinge line and the scoop segments remote from the handle are connected by a hinge line lying in the same plane as the hinge line connecting the handle portions. In this embodiment it suffices to take hold of the flat folded spoon by the handle portions and move them apart until the desired folded-open spoon shape is obtained. The invention further provides the possibility of the spoon being formed from one modelled blank, in which the hinge lines are formed by weakening lines and are hingedly attached to each other by hinge zones for placing against each other. Another embodiment has the characteristic that the handle portions can be placed one on top of the other at least with an overlapping zone in order to form the handle. This embodiment can have the drawback that the user must hold the handle portions pressed one on top of the other during use. In order to obviate this drawback a preferred embodiment can have the special feature that the handle portions can be held one on top of the other by releasable coupling means. This variant can have the particular feature that the coupling means are embodied as a transverse cut formed in at least one handle portion or as a lip which is formed by two transverse cuts and which, together with the rest of the associated handle portion, can clampingly engage the other handle part. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing, In the drawings: figure 1 shows a blank for forming a spoon in a first embodiment of the invention; figure 2 shows a perspective view of the spoon obtained herewith; figure 3 shows a blank for forming a spoon in a second embodiment of the invention; figure 4 is a perspective view of the spoon obtained therewith; and figure 5 shows a packaging with the flat folded spoon of figure 4. Figure l shows a blank 1 for forming the spoon 2 shown in figure 2. The spoon 2 comprises a handle consisting of two handle portions 4, 5 mutually connected via a hinge line 3. Scoop segments 8, 9 respectively are connected to these handle portions via hinge lines 6, 7 respectively. These scoop segments 8, 9 are connected by hinge lines 10, 11 respectively to scoop segments 12, 13 respectively which are mutually connected by a hinge line 14. All said handle portions and scoop segments are substantially flat and consist of a suitable material, for instance plastic, cardboard or robust paper. With upward folding together as according to arrows 15, 16 of handle portions 4, 5, which in the shown flat situation form the handle, the handle portion 4, scoop segment 8 and scoop segment 12 are placed in one plane which is laid against handle portion 5 and the scoop segments 9, 13 which are all likewise brought into one plane. In the blank 1 shown in figure 1 the hinge lines are shown with broken lines. These can be embodied as weakening lines, for instance by arranging perforations, applying a score line or the like. Two triangular elements 18, 19 connect onto the scoop segment 9. The hinge line 17 extends between scoop segment 9 and element 18. The element 18 must be adhered by glueing to the end zone of the handle portion 5 designated with 20. The triangular element 19, which is connected to scoop segment 9 via hinge line 17, is glued to scoop segment 8. The relevant glue zones are shown dotted. Attention is drawn to the fact that it is not strictly necessary for elements 18 and 19 to have the shown triangular shape. In principle it would be sufficient for an adhesive zone to be connected to hinge lines 7 and 17. Figure 3 shows a blank 21 which, after the foregoing extensive discussion of figures 1 and 2 can be discussed more briefly and with reference to the finished spoon 22 of figure 4. The blank 21 comprises two handle portions 23, 24 which are connected by hinge lines respectively 25 and 26 to triangular scoop segments respectively 28, 32. The whole scoop is formed by scoop segments 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. These are formed by identical triangles which are mutually joined via hinge lines which, for the sake of convenience, are all designated with 33 in this embodiment. Connecting onto scoop segment 32 is a triangular element 34 which must be glued to scoop segment 27. The spoon 22 is hereby finished and can be formed into the three-dimensional shape shown in figure 4 by laying the handle portions 23 and 24 one on top of the other as shown in figure 4. Each of the handle portions 23, 24 has a lip 37 formed by two transverse cuts 35, 36. The lips 37 are connected to the rest of the handles 22, 23 with an end zone 38. As shown in figure 4, the lips 37 can be placed one over the other, whereby the handle portions 23 and 24 are mutually connected. Figure 5 shows a packaging 39 for milk powder. The packaging is enveloped by a transparent plastic foil enclosing a flat folded spoon 22. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Foldable spoon comprising a scoop and a handle, which scoop comprises a plurality of generally triangular flat scoop segments which are mutually connected by hinge lines and two of which are each connected with convergent straight upper edges to a flat handle portion by a hinge line, which two handle portions can be laid in one common principal plane in order to form the handle and simultaneously to form the scoop, which spoon is foldable to a flat structure consisting of two layers, each comprising a handle portion and a scoop segment adjacent thereto. 2. Spoon as claimed in claim 1, wherein all scoop segments are identical. 3. Spoon as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is an even number of scoop segments. 4. Spoon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handle portions are mutually connected by a hinge line and the scoop segments remote from the handle are connected by a hinge line lying in the same plane as the hinge line connecting the handle portions. 5. Spoon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoon is formed from one modelled blank, in which the hinge lines are formed by weakening lines and are hingedly attached to each other by hinge zones for placing against each other. 6. Spoon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle portions can be placed one on top of the other at least with an overlapping zone in order to form the handle. 7. Spoon as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handle portions can be held one on top of the other by releasable coupling means. 8. Spoon as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling means are embodied as a transverse cut formed in at least one handle portion or as a lip which is formed by two transverse cuts and which, together with the rest of the associated handle portion, can clampingly engage the other handle part.

Inventors: BRILMAN GERRIT WILLEM, BRILMAN, GERRIT, WILLEM
Applicants: BRILMAN GERRIT WILLEM, THOMASSEN & DRIJVER, BRILMAN, GERRIT, WILLEM, THOMASSEN & DRIJVER-VERBLIFA N.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47G21
IPC codes: A47G21, B65D77