U.S. patent application number 13/332353 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-20 for disposable stackable forks.
This patent application is currently assigned to GADSDEN COFFEE COMPANY, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is David B. McFarland. Invention is credited to David B. McFarland.
Application Number | 20130152406 13/332353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48608676 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130152406 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McFarland; David B. |
June 20, 2013 |
DISPOSABLE STACKABLE FORKS
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.
Inventors: |
McFarland; David B.;
(Rainbow City, AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McFarland; David B. |
Rainbow City |
AL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GADSDEN COFFEE COMPANY,
INC.
Attalla
AL
|
Family ID: |
48608676 |
Appl. No.: |
13/332353 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/322 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/023
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
30/322 |
International
Class: |
A47G 21/02 20060101
A47G021/02 |
Claims
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The plastic fork of claim 3, wherein the pair of outer tines
extend further into the transition portion than the pair of inner
tines.
5. 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.
6. The plastic fork of claim 5, wherein the outer longitudinal
concave grooves extend further into the transition portion than the
inner longitudinal concave grooves.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tines
project outwardly along parallel axes from the transition
portion.
11. The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein the plastic fork is
integrally formed from a non-metallic material.
12. The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein each tine of the plurality
of tines has a V-shaped configuration.
13. The plastic fork of claim 1, wherein each tine of the plurality
of tines has a U-shaped configuration.
14. 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.
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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. The plastic fork of claim 15, wherein the outer longitudinal
concave grooves are longer than the inner longitudinal concave
groove.
Description
FIELD
[0001] Various embodiments of the invention pertain to stackable
plastic forks.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Plastic forks are widely used around the world for
disposable use. Such disposable use include the use outdoors, such
as for camping and barbeques, at fast-food restaurants and on
airplanes. In addition to the benefits of being disposable, plastic
forks may be preferable for use over metal forks or other cutlery
for weight and safety reasons.
[0003] However, despite the widespread use of disposable plastic
forks, there are many problems inherent with conventional
disposable plastic forks. First, conventional disposable plastic
forks are not designed to be stacked so when the forks are shipped,
they are merely placed randomly in a container without any
particular order resulting in wasted space in the container. As a
result, additional containers are needed to ship the forks which
add to the shipping costs which then in turn are passed on to the
consumer resulting in a more expensive fork.
[0004] Second, conventional disposable plastic forks must be strong
enough so that the forks, especially the tines of the fork, do not
break in the consumer's mouth or elsewhere harming the consumer. If
a tine is accidentally swallowed but a consumer, sever injury may
result to internal organs of the user. Conventional disposable
plastic forks are made strong by maximizing the thickness of the
forks. Maximizing the thickness comes as the detriment of cost as
more material is needed making the forks heavier. Additionally, the
thicker the forks the less that can be fit into a container.
[0005] What is needed is needed are disposable plastic forks having
registerability (i.e. securely stacking on top of each other) so
that a first fork may be registered within a second fork allowing
for more forks to be placed in a container for shipping maximizing
the space inside the shipping container and saving on shipping
costs. Furthermore, disposable plastic forks are needed that are
thinner so as to minimize material usage yet are strong enough to
prevent the forks from easily breaking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to 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.
[0007] The plurality of tines may project outwardly along parallel
axes from the transition portion and include a pair of outer tines
and a pair of inner tines located between the pair of outer tines.
The inner tines may be narrower than of outer tines. Each of the
outer tines may have a thinned cutting edge on each upper outer
side edge of the each outer tine.
[0008] In one aspect, the pair of outer tines extend further into
the transition portion than the pair of inner tines. The pair of
outer tines may include outer longitudinal concave grooves and the
pair of inner tines has inner longitudinal concave grooves and the
outer longitudinal concave grooves may be longer than the inner
longitudinal concave grooves. Additionally, the outer longitudinal
concave grooves extend further into the transition portion than the
inner longitudinal concave grooves.
[0009] In one aspect, each inner tine is separated from the each
outer tine by an outer gap and the outer gap may have an outer
hemispherically rounded end formed at an outer integration point of
the each inner tine, the each outer tine and the transition
portion. Additionally, the 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. The outer
hemispherically rounded end are located within different horizontal
and vertical planes than the inner hemispherically rounded end.
[0010] In one aspect, the plastic fork may be integrally formed
from a non-metallic material or any other material known in the
art.
[0011] In one aspect, the plurality of tines may have a V-shaped
configuration or a U-shaped configuration.
[0012] In one aspect, 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.
[0013] According to yet another aspect, a stackable plastic fork
having a top surface and a bottom surface is provided. The
stackable plastic fork comprises 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.
[0014] In one aspect, each of the outer tines has thinned cutting
edge on each upper outer side edge of the each outer tine.
[0015] In one aspect, the pair of outer tines extend further into
the transition portion than the at least one inner tine.
[0016] In one aspect, the at least one tine inner tine is narrower
than the each outer tine of the pair of outer tines.
[0017] In one aspect, 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.
[0018] In one aspect, the outer longitudinal concave grooves are
longer than the inner longitudinal concave groove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The features, nature, and advantages of the present aspects
may become more apparent from the detailed description set forth
below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like
reference characters identify correspondingly throughout.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a stackable fork
according to one example.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the stackable fork of
FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom plan view of the stackable fork
of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the stackable fork of
FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the stackable
fork taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates side plan view of a first fork and a
second identical fork being stacked together according to one
example.
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the stackable
forks taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the first fork and
the second identical fork of FIG. 6.
[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the stackable
forks taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a pair of stackable forks
illustrating the shape of the tines near transition portions of the
pair of stackable forks according to one example.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the pair of stackable forks
of FIG. 10 illustrating the shape of the end portions of the
tines.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a stackable fork
illustrating the shape of the tines near a transition portion of
the fork according to one example.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of the fork of FIG. 12
illustrating the shape of the end portions of the tines.
[0033] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of a stackable fork
illustrating of a handle portion according to one example.
[0034] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of a pair of stackable forks
illustrating the hand portions according to one example.
[0035] FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of the stackable fork of FIG.
1 illustrating a thin cutting edge feature.
[0036] FIG. 17 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the
tines of the fork of FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the tines
of the fork of FIG. 1.
[0038] FIG. 19 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tines of the
fork of FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 20 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of tines of the
fork of FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 21 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the
bottom of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1 shown in an upside down
position.
[0041] FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the fork of FIG. 1
shown in an upside down position.
[0042] FIG. 23 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the bottom
of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1 shown in an upside down
position.
[0043] FIG. 24 is a back perspective view of the fork of FIG. 1
shown in an upside down position.
[0044] FIG. 25 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the front
of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1.
[0045] FIG. 26 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the
bottom of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1 shown in an upside down
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] In the following description numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, one skilled in the art would recognize that the
invention might be practiced without these specific details. In
other instances, well known methods, procedures, and/or components
have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily
obscure aspects of the invention.
[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a stackable fork
according to one example. FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the
stackable fork of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom plan view of
the stackable fork of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view
of the stackable fork of FIG. 1. The following discussion refers
interchangeably to FIGS. 1-4.
[0048] The stackable fork 100 may have a top surface 102 and a
bottom surface 104. To facilitate stacking of multiple forks, the
bottom surface 104 may have a curved profile and the top surface
102 may have a corresponding curved indentation such that the
bottom surface of a first fork may be designed to fit, and be
received within a top surface of an identical second fork, as
described in further detail below. That is a first fork may be
registered within a second fork. The registrability of the forks
allows for more forks to be placed in a container for
transportation or shipping, as compared to conventional forks,
maximizing the space inside the shipping container and saving on
shipping costs as a result.
[0049] As shown, the stackable fork 100 may include a handle
portion 106, a plurality of tines 108a-108d and a transition
portion 110 integrally connected between the handle portion 110 and
the plurality of tines 108a-108d. The plurality of tines 108a-108d
may include a pair of outer tines 108a, 108d and a pair of inner
tines 108b, 108c. Each of the plurality of tines 108a-108d may have
a curve shaped configuration and project outwardly along parallel
axes from the transition portion 110 and be separated by gaps 111
having hemispherically rounded ends 109 formed at the integration
point of the plurality of tines 108a-108d and the transition
portion 110. As shown, a center hemispherically rounded end 109a
may be located between a pair of outer hemispherically rounded ends
109b and the center hemispherically rounded end 109a may located
within different horizontal and vertical planes than the outer
hemispherically rounded ends 109b such that the center
hemispherically rounded end 109a extends into the transition
portion 110. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, each inner tine
may be separated from the each outer tine by an outer gap 11b and
the inner tines may be separated from each other by an inner gap
111a. As less stress is placed on the inner tines during use, the
inner gap 111a may have a longer length than the outer gaps 111a.
In one example, the width of the inner 111a and outer gaps 111b may
be the same.
[0050] Alternatively, the center hemispherically rounded end 109a
and the outer hemispherically rounded ends 109b may be located
within the same planes.
[0051] Although the stackable fork 100 is shown having two outer
tines 108a, 108d and two inner tines 108b, 108c, this is by way of
example only and the stackable fork 100 may have less than two
inner tines or more than two inner tines.
[0052] A plurality of longitudinal concave grooves 112a-112d may be
located within the plurality of tines 108a-108d. To facilitate
stacking of multiple forks, the plurality of longitudinal concave
grooves 112a-112d may correspond to the shape and size of an outer
bottom surface 113 of the plurality of tines 108a-108d such that
the outer bottom surface 113 of each tine may be designed to fit,
and be received within a corresponding longitudinal concave groove
on an identical second fork.
[0053] The outer tines 108a, 108d may have longitudinal concave
grooves 112a, 112d extending from a first point 116 on the outer
tines 108a, 108d to a second point 118 located on the transition
portion 110. The inner tines 108b, 108c may have longitudinal
concave grooves 112b, 112c extending from a third point 120 on the
inner tines 108b, 108c to a fourth point 122 located on the
transition portion 110. In one example, the first point 116 and the
third point 118 may be in the same plane and located approximately
in the middle of the respective outer tines 108a, 108d.
[0054] In one example, the distance D1 between the first point 116
and the second point 118 may be greater than the distance D2
between the third point 120 and the fourth point 122 such that the
longitudinal grooves 112a, 112d in the outer tines 108a, 108d are
longer than the longitudinal grooves 112b, 112c of the inner tines
108b, 108c. (See FIG. 19)
[0055] In one example, the longitudinal grooves 112a, 112d in the
outer tines 108a, 108d may extend outwardly from the first point
116 to approximately the outer hemispherically rounded ends 109b
and then extend along and correspond to the shape of the outer
edges 115 of the transition portion 110 of the fork 100 and then
converge inwardly to the second point 118. In other words, the
outer edges of the longitudinal grooves 112a, 112d correspond to
the shape of the outer edges 1115 of transition portion 110.
[0056] In one example, the longitudinal grooves in the inner tines
108b, 108c may extend outwardly from the third point 120 to the
outer hemispherically rounded ends 109b and then converge inwardly
to the fourth point 122.
[0057] The placement of the longitudinal concave grooves 112a-112d
within the plurality of tines 108a-108d allows for the material
needed for each fork to be minimized which in turn allows for a
reduction in the cost of materials for each fork and as a result
increases the profits that can be made on each fork. Additionally,
as each fork is made from less material each fork weighs less which
decreases the overall weight of the packaging when shipped
resulting in a savings on shipping and transportation costs. Also,
as the fork is thinner more forks may be stacked within a
container. Furthermore, the placement of the longitudinal concave
grooves 112a-112d in the plurality of tines 108a-108d may increase
the strength of the tines preventing the tines from breaking off in
the mouth of a user and causing injury to the user.
[0058] In one example, the outer tines 108a, 108d may include a
thinned cutting edge 124 on each upper outer side edge of the outer
tines 108a, 108d enabling a user to cut food with the fork 100.
(See FIG. 16)
[0059] The fork 100 may be made from any plastic or non-metallic
material or any other material known in the art.
Stacking
[0060] As discussed above, to facilitate stacking of multiple
forks, the bottom surface of a first fork may be designed to fit,
and be received within a top surface of an identical second fork.
FIG. 6 illustrates a first fork 602 and an identical second fork
604 being stacked together according to an embodiment of the
invention and FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
stacked forks taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6. To facilitate
stacking of multiple forks, the bottom surface of each fork may
have a curved profile and the top surface of each fork may have a
corresponding curved indentation such that the bottom surface of
the first fork 602 may be designed to fit, and be received within
the top surface of the identical second fork 604. Furthermore, as
discussed above, the plurality of longitudinal concave grooves in
the tines may correspond to the shape and size of an outer bottom
surface of the tines such that the outer bottom surface of each
tine of a first fork may be designed to fit, and be received within
a corresponding longitudinal groove on an identical second fork to
facilitate stacking of multiple forks.
[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the first fork 602
and the second identical fork 604 of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 illustrates a
cross-sectional view of the stackable forks taken along line 9-9 of
FIG. 8.
Tines
First Example
[0062] FIGS. 10-11 are fragmentary views of a pair of stackable
forks illustrating the shape of the tines according to one example.
FIG. 10 illustrates the shape of the tines near transition portions
of the forks while FIG. 11 illustrates the shape of the end
portions of the tines. The pair of stackable forks may include a
first fork 1002 having a bottom surface designed to fit, and be
received within a top surface of an identical second fork 1004.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of stacked tines 1006
extend outwardly from transition portions 1008 of the first and
second forks 1002, 1004. Each of the tines may have a generally
V-shaped configuration comprising a pair of lower sidewalls 1010a,
1010b extending outwardly from a lower point 1012 to a pair of
lower walls 1014a, 1014b. A pair of end walls 1016a, 1016b may be
integrally connected to and extend perpendicularly upward from the
pair of lower walls 1014a, 1014b. A pair of upper walls 1018a,
1018b may be integrally connected to and extend perpendicularly
from the pair of end walls 1016a, 1016b so that the pair of upper
walls 1018a, 1018b and the pair of lower walls 1014a, 1014b are
parallel. A pair of upper side walls 1020a, 1020b may be integrally
connected to and extend inwardly from the pair of upper walls
1018a, 1018b to an upper point 1022. The lower point 1012 and the
upper point 1022 may be located within the same vertical plane and
the lower point of the first fork 1002 may be received into the
upper point of the second fork 1004. In one example, the lower and
upper points 1012, 1022 may have a slightly rounded configuration.
In one example, the width W1 of the outer tines may be greater than
the width of the inner tines.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 11, the farther the tines extend outwardly
from the transition portion the slope of the upper side walls
1020a, 1020b decrease.
Tines
Second Example
[0065] FIGS. 12-13 are fragmentary views of a stackable fork
illustrating the shape of the tines according to one example. FIG.
12 illustrates the shape of the tines near a transition portion of
a fork while FIG. 11 illustrates the shape of the end portions of
the tines. The fork 1200 may include a handle portion 1202, a
plurality of tines 1204 and a transition portion 1206 integrally
connected between the handle portion 1202 and the plurality of
tines 1204.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 12, the plurality of tines 1204 may extend
outwardly from the transition portion 1206 of the stackable fork
1200. Each of the tines may have a generally U-shaped configuration
comprising a bottom wall 1208, having a generally curved or
U-shaped configuration, extending outwardly and integrally
connected to a pair of lower walls 1210a, 1210b. A pair of end
walls 1212a, 1212b may be integrally connected to and extend
perpendicularly upward from the pair of lower walls 1210a, 1210b. A
pair of upper walls 1214a, 1214b may be integrally connected to and
extend perpendicularly from the pair of end walls 1212a, 1212b so
that the pair of upper walls 1214a, 1214b and the pair of lower
walls 1212a, 1212b are parallel. A top wall 1216 may be integrally
connected to the pair of upper walls 1214a, 1214b. The bottom wall
1208 and the curve wall 1216 may be located within the same
vertical plane. In one example, the width W3 of the outer tines may
be greater than the width W4 of the inner tines. The top wall 1216
may have a generally curved or U-shaped configuration near the
transition portion 1206 and the farther the tines extend outwardly
from the transition portion the more the slope of the top wall 1216
decreases.
[0067] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of a stackable fork
illustrating of a handle portion according to one example. FIG. 15
is a fragmentary view of a pair of stackable forks illustrating the
hand portions according to one example. As shown in FIG. 14, the
handle portion 1402 of a fork may have a top surface 1404 and a
bottom surface 1406. To facilitate stacking of multiple forks, the
bottom surface 1406 of the handle portion 1402 may have a curved
profile and the top surface 1404 may have a corresponding curved
indentation such that the bottom surface of a handle portion of a
first fork 1402 may be designed to fit, and be received within a
top surface of an identical handle portion of a second fork 1408.
(See FIG. 15)
[0068] FIGS. 16-26 illustrate various views of the fork of FIG. 1.
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of the stackable fork of FIG. 1
illustrating a thin cutting edge feature 124. FIG. 17 is a
fragmentary bottom perspective view of the tines of the fork of
FIG. 1. FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the tines
of the fork of FIG. 1. FIG. 19 is a fragmentary top plan view of
the tines of the fork of FIG. 1. FIG. 20 is a fragmentary bottom
plan view of tines of the fork of FIG. 1. FIG. 21 is a fragmentary
front perspective view of the bottom of the tines of the fork of
FIG. 1 shown in an upside down position. FIG. 22 is a front
perspective view of the fork of FIG. 1 shown in an upside down
position. FIG. 23 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the
bottom of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1 shown in an upside down
position. FIG. 24 is a back perspective view of the fork of FIG. 1
shown in an upside down position. FIG. 25 is a fragmentary side
perspective view of the front of the tines of the fork of FIG. 1.
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view.
[0069] One or more of the components and functions illustrated in
the previous figures may be rearranged and/or combined into a
single component or embodied in several components without
departing from the invention. Additional elements or components may
also be added without departing from the invention.
[0070] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on
the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since
various other modifications are possible. Those skilled, in the art
will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the
just described preferred embodiment can be configured without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it
is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims,
the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein.
* * * * *