# US 2013/0152406 A1 · Disposable stackable forks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152406 A1 - Document ID: US20130152406A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/332,353 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Gadsden Coffee Company Inc. - Inventors: David B. McFarland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152406A1 ## CPC - A47G 21/023: {Forks; Forks with ejectors} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract At least one aspect, a disposable stackable plastic fork is provided. The disposable plastic fork, having a top surface and a bottom surface, comprises a handle portion; a plurality of tines, each tine of the plurality of tines having a curved shaped configuration and a longitudinal concave groove extending at least partially along a horizontal length of the each tine; and a transition portion integrally connected between the handle portion and the plurality of tines. The bottom surface of the fork has a curved profile and the top surface has a corresponding curved indentation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stackable plastic fork, having a top surface and a bottom surface, comprising: a handle portion; a plurality of tines, each tine of the plurality of tines having a curved shaped configuration and a longitudinal concave groove extending at least partially along a horizontal length of the each tine; and a transition portion integrally connected between the handle portion and the plurality of tines; and wherein the bottom surface of the fork has a curved profile and the top surface has a corresponding curved indentation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tines includes a pair of outer tines, each outer tine in the pair of outer tines having a thinned cutting edge on each upper outer side edge of the each outer tine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plastic fork of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tines include a pair of inner tines located between the pair of outer tines and wherein each inner tine of the pair of inner tines is narrower than the each outer tine of the pair of outer tines. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plastic fork of claim 3, wherein the pair of outer tines extend further into the transition portion than the pair of inner tines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The plastic fork of claim 3, wherein the pair of outer tines has outer longitudinal concave grooves and the pair of inner tines has inner longitudinal concave grooves and wherein the outer longitudinal concave grooves are longer than the inner longitudinal concave grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plastic fork of claim 5, wherein the outer longitudinal concave grooves extend further into the transition portion than the inner longitudinal concave grooves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The plastic fork of claim 3, wherein the each inner tine is separated from the each outer tine by an outer gap, and wherein the outer gap has an outer hemispherically rounded end formed at an outer integration point of the each inner tine, the each outer tine and the transition portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plastic fork of claim 7, wherein the pair inner tines are separated from each other by an inner gap, wherein the inner gap has an inner hemispherically rounded end formed at an inner integration point of the pair of inner tines and the transition portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The plastic fork of claim 6, wherein the outer hemispherically rounded end are located within different horizontal and vertical planes than the inner hemispherically rounded end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tines project outwardly along parallel axes from the transition portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the plastic fork is integrally formed from a non-metallic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein each tine of the plurality of tines has a V-shaped configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein each tine of the plurality of tines has a U-shaped configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal concave groove of each tine in the plurality of tines corresponds to a shape and size of an outer bottom surface of the each of the plurality of tines such that the outer bottom surface of the each tine in the plurality of tines is adapted to fit and be received in a corresponding longitudinal concave groove of an identical fork. ### Claim 15 A stackable plastic fork, having a top surface and a bottom surface, comprising: a handle portion; a plurality of tines having a curved shaped configuration and a pair of outer tines and at least one inner tine, each outer tine in the pair of outer tines having an outer longitudinal concave groove and the at least one inner tine have an inner longitudinal groove, the outer and inner longitudinal concave grooves extending at least partially along a horizontal length of the plurality of tines; and a transition portion integrally connected between the handle portion and the plurality of tines; and wherein the bottom surface of the fork has a curved profile and the top surface has a corresponding curved indentation; and wherein the outer longitudinal concave grooves in the pair of outer tines plurality of tines correspond to a shape and size of outer bottom surfaces of the pair of outer tines such that the outer bottom surfaces of the pair of outer tines are adapted to fit and be received in corresponding outer longitudinal concave grooves of an identical fork. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the each outer tine in the pair of outer tines has thinned cutting edge on each upper outer side edge of the each outer tine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the pair of outer tines extend further into the transition portion than the at least one inner tine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the at least one inner tine is narrower than the each outer tine of the pair of outer tines. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the inner longitudinal concave grooves in the at least one inner tine corresponds to a shape and size of outer bottom surfaces of the at least one inner tine such that the outer bottom surface of the at least one tine is adapted to fit and be received in a corresponding inner longitudinal concave groove of the identical fork. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the outer longitudinal concave grooves are longer than the inner longitudinal concave groove.