Collapsible spoon
AssigneeContinental Can Company, Inc.
InventorBrett E. Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This relates to a utensil such as a spoon which is collapsible to occupy a minimum of space. The utensil preferably has a handle formed in two parts joined together by a hinge with there being a releasable interlock between the two handle parts adjacent the hinge for maintaining the handle parts in longitudinal alignment and as an extension of one another. The handle parts may also be provided with cooperating interlocking structure for maintaining the handle parts in longitudinally aligned overlapping relation when the utensil is collapsed. This abstract is not to be constructed as limiting the claims of the application.
Claims13
A utensil comprising a product handling part and a one-piece handle, said handle having an intermediate transverse bendable hinge dividing said handle into two parts and forming means for facilitating folding of said handle back upon itself to a stored position, and cooperating interlocking means on said handle parts adjacent said hinge for releasably retaining said handle parts as rigid extensions of one another, said cooperating interlocking means being disposed entirely to one side of said hinge.
A utensil comprising a product handling part and a one-piece handle, said handle having an intermediate transverse bendable hinge dividing said handle into two parts and forming means for facilitating folding of said handle back upon itself to a stored position, and cooperating interlocking means on said handle parts adjacent said hinge for releasably retaining said handle parts as rigid extensions of one another, said cooperating interlocking means including a tongue carried by one of said handle parts and a socket carried by the other of said handle parts, and there being a snap interlock between said tongue and said socket.
A utensil comprising a product handling part and a handle, said handle having an intermediate transverse hinge dividing said handle into two parts and forming means for facilitating folding of said handle back upon itself, and cooperating interlocking means on said handle parts adjacent said hinge for releasably retaining said handle parts as rigid extensions of one another, said cooperating interlocking means including a tongue carried by one of said handle parts and a socket carried by the other of said handle parts, and there being a snap interlock between said tongue and said socket, said handle having longitudinal stiffening ribs along side edges of at least said other handle parts, and portions of said ribs forming portions of said socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.