Abstract:
A single use disposable spreading device to be used with pre-attached edible spreadable compounds such as butter, cream cheese, peanut butter and the like. Compounds are attached to spreader and have a protective cover over them to protect them until they are ready to be spread. The device has a snap out handle to grip with fingers for more control when spreading. One or more sides of the device may have a knifelike edge and/or serration to cut food and help spread compounds. The device may be flat or a shape other than flat to conform to the products it is being used on.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/005,624 filed Dec. 6, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of utensils, and more particularly the spreading of edible compounds such as butter, cream cheese, peanut butter and the like without the use of a secondary utensil such as a knife. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently in order to spread an edible compound such as butter or cream cheese one would have to use a secondary utensil such as a knife. Knifes and the edible compounds are not one but separate items and generally the compounds are not meant for singular disposable usage. The problem with this is in the case of carry out food or picnics there may not be a knife or it may have been forgotten in the drive through. There is also a danger for young kids using a knife. Furthermore buttering certain items that are not flat is difficult and messy because the knife is flat. Trying to spread a compound on a round surface is difficult, say for an ear of corn. Spreading butter on corn is very messy and difficult. There is also a lot of wasted butter with this method. 
         [0004]    The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior disposable spreading devices for edible spreadable compounds of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention solves all the problems of the prior method by combining the spreading device with the spreading compound to form a singular disposable device capable of many different spreading compounds and shapes. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment the spreading device would have a snap out handle to hold the device and better control the effort of spreading the compound. One would grip the device with their thumb and forefinger. One would then peel off the protective paper to expose the butter. One would now apply the butter to the ear of corn evenly and without a mess, and then dispose of the thin plastic device. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment the spreading device is flat. In a flat design it allows for application to a flat surface such as a bagel or toast in which you might apply butter, cream cheese or jelly. This device would be taken from its package and then with ones finger nail snap open the snap out handle. One would now grip the device with their thumb and forefinger. One would then peel off the protective cover to expose the edible spreadable compounds. One would now apply the butter or cream cheese to the bagel evenly and without a mess, and then dispose of the thin plastic device. If desired one could then cut the bagel, bread, pancakes or the like with the knifelike edge. 
         [0008]    In an alternate embodiment the spreading device is a shape other than flat and has a curvature meant to conform to an ear of corn or other food and have butter applied to it. This device would be taken from its package and then with ones finger nail snap open the snap out handle. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment the spreading device has a knifelike edge. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention with a handle in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  with the handle in an now open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention with a handle in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 3  with the handle in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0017]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the present invention provides an assembly  100  a plastic body  120  possibly injection molded from polypropylene forms the main structural body of the invention. Attached via a living hinge  130  is a snap out handle  110  that clips to an undercut  140  in the body  120  to catch and hold the snap out handle  110  in the down position when it is manufactured and put into its packaging. In an alternative embodiment, the body  120  may be formed from paper or cardboard that is biodegradable. The purpose of the snap out handle  110  to be held in the down position is to allow for a nesting of numerous units  100  to be better orientated in the package to optimize the number of units in a package. For example, if the invention had a stiff fixed handle then many fewer units would fit in a package with the handle being in the open or up position. The first major surface  150  where the edible spreadable compounds  170  are attached may or may not have a surface that is other than smooth to allow for a better bonding of the edible spreadable compounds  170  to the body  120 . The assembly  100  provides for the disposable singular use of the device. This invention joins the combination of the spreadable compounds with the spreading device forming in essence a single assembled device. This invention may have numerous shapes to conform to the shape of the item it is applying the edible spread to. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, shows the snap out handle  110  in the open position extending from a second major surface  152 ; this now allows the grasping by 2 fingers to comfortably and securely spread the edible compound  170  off the body&#39;s  120  first major surface  150  and onto the surface of the intended food. Because of its contoured arcuate shape one example of the use for  FIG. 2  may be to butter corn. In an embodiment the body  120  may be formed of a flexible material to flex based on the diameter of the corn being buttered. To operate the assembly  100  one would snap out the handle  110 , hold it with their fingers, remove the protective paper  160  and then simply rub the butter up and down along the corn. The volume of the compound  170  and corresponding surface area of the first major surface  150  may have a predetermined size so that a single unit  100  is capable of buttering an overage ear of corn. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, shows the main structural body  320  in a flat version. Attached via a living hinge  330  is a snap out handle  310  that clips to an undercut  340  in the body  320  to catch and hold the snap out handle  310  in the down position when it is manufactured and put into its packaging. The purpose of the snap out handle  310  to be held in the down position is to allow for a nesting of numerous units to be better orientated in the package to optimize the number of units in a package. The surface  350  where the edible spreadable compounds  370  are attached may or may not have a serrated surface, a retention member  390  or a chemical bonding to allow for a better bonding of the edible spreadable compounds  370  to the body  320 . Because of the generally flat shape of the assembly  300  one example of the use for  FIG. 3  may be to spread cream cheese on a bagel. In doing so one would snap out the handle  310 , hold with their fingers and remove the protective paper  360  then simply spread the cream cheese on the bagel without the use of a knife. Other spreadable compounds may include syrup, wax, candy, powdered sugar, syrup, toothpaste, medicinal creams, grease, oil, rosin, gum, balm, polish or ice. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, shows the body  320  in a flat version with the snap out handle  310  in the open up position. Because of its flat shape one example of the use for  FIG. 4  may be to spread cream cheese  370  or butter on a bagel or toast. In doing so one would snap out the handle  310 , hold it with their thumb and forefinger and with their other hand remove the protective paper  360  and then simply apply the cream cheese  370  or butter on the bagel or toast. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, shows the body  320  having a knifelike edge  380  to aid in the spreading of the compounds or to cut through the toast or bagel. In such an embodiment, the body structure  320  is rigid and is preferably formed of a polymer material such as High Density Polyethylene. 
         [0022]    In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the spreadable compound  370  has a protective paper sheet  360  to protect the compound from prematurely touching another surface. 
         [0023]    In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, an edible spreadable compound  370  is pre-attached to the structure body  320 , this compound may include any spreadable edible compound to be applied to another surface. In an embodiment the assembly  300  may be manufactured according to the following steps: 
         [0000]    a) The structure body would be formed utilizing an injection molding process including a handle attached via a living hinge.
 
b) The structure body would then be joined together with the spreadable edible compound in a variety of ways depending on the spreadable compound. One method might be to have a textured surface on the first major surface that would create more surface tension allowing the spreadable compound to adhere better, a second method might be to have a retention member  390  such as one or more than one rib forming a pattern within the spreadable compound area attached to the structured body, these ribs would be small and soft to flex and fold at 90 degrees with the compound as it is being spread to another surface allowing all the compound to be accessed from the first major surface. Still a third method might be a chemical bond between the spreadable compound and the first major surface. The spreadable compound would be of a pre-determined amount to be applied to a certain surface of say an ear of corn.
 
c) The structured body along with the bonded spreadable compound now attached to it would now have the protective sheet applied to protect it from inadvertent contact with another object. The protective sheet may be adhered using the stickiness of the spreadable compound itself. Where the spreadable compound is not sticky, other methods such as adhesives or additional layers of sticky (edible) compounds may be used to attach the protective sheet.
 
d) The last step would be to take the assembled structured body and now place it in a package with more than one of the same.
 
         [0024]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.