The present invention generally relates to a rest for eating utensils.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a disposable rest for supporting eating utensils in a dining setting.
In view of the increase of diseases caused by bacteria in recent years, people are concerned with table hygiene in public and private places. Utensil rests are often used on many dinner tables to provide a raised surface for the eating utensil to prevent the eating utensil from touching the table. Unfortunately, because of manufacturing cost, these utensil rests are often reused and if proper care is not taken, the utensils can become contaminated.
As can be seen, there is a need for a disposable utensil rest that is economical and easy to manufacture.
In one aspect of the present invention, a disposable utensil rest includes a unitary piece blank, at least one folding line pre-form on the unitary piece blank, a plurality of cutting lines pre-cut on the unitary piece blank, the folding lines and the cutting lines form a pattern, the utensil rest is shaped by cutting the unitary piece blank by following the cutting lines and folding the unitary piece blank and by following the folding lines, the utensil rest is disposable.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a utensil rest comprises the steps of forming a blank, pre-forming at least one folding line on the blank, pre-cutting a plurality of cut cutting lines on the blank, cutting the blank by following the cutting lines, folding the blank by following the folding lines, and shaping the utensil rest by following the folding lines, the utensil rest is disposable.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a disposable utensil rest that helps keeping eating utensils from direct contact with a table or counter top.
The utensil rest 10 may include a unitary piece blank 15 made of a sturdy and flexible material. The unitary piece blank 15 may be of, for example, plastic, paperboard, or cardboard. The unitary piece blank may be made, for example, by molding, injection molding, or machining. The size and shape of the unitary piece blank 15 may depend on the user's requirements. The unitary piece blank 15 may have a geometrical shape for example a rectangle, a square, a circle, or a triangle.
A support element 14 may be secured to the ends of the unitary piece body in order to keep the mechanical structure of the utensil rest 10. The support element 14 may prevent the unitary piece body from going from a folded working position to an unfolded non working position. The support element 14 may be a strip of, for example, a strong adhesive tape, plastic, paperboard, or cardboard.
Cutting lines 16 may be pre-cut on the unitary piece blank 15. The cutting lines 16 may be used as a guide to cut the unitary piece blank 15 in order to form cutouts 17 on the utensil rest 10. The cutouts 17 may be used to rest the eating utensil 12. The shape and number of cutouts 17 may depend on the user's preferences.
The unitary piece blank 15 may include a printing area 20. The printing area 20 may be used to print for example advertising materials, holiday motives, decorations, art, poems, and logos.
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The user (not shown) may cut the unitary piece blank 15 as indicated by the cutout lines 16. Then, the user may fold the blank 15 as indicated by the folding lines 18. If required, the user may secure the adhesive area or strip of adhesive material to the opposite end of the blank. If required, the user may secure the opposite ends of the unitary piece blank 15 with the support element 14, the strip of adhesive tape 22, or the adhesive area 23.
The utensil rest 10, 26, 28, 30, 32 may be used to support any eating utensil for example, spoons, knives, forks, chopsticks, serving utensils.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.