DE3151268C2 - Cutlery - Google Patents

Abstract

In cutlery, especially disposable cutlery made of plastic, the cutlery parts of which are each molded in one piece with the handle and tool part, preferably injection-molded from plastic and have a stiffening profile over the length of the handle, a substantial improvement in the stability of the handle in the main bending stress direction is to be achieved as well as transversely to the main bending stress direction. At the same time, grip and hold security as well as the comfortable position of the handle in the hand are to be improved. For this purpose, the cutlery items are designed over the length of their handle to form an essentially S-shaped profile with a central wall strip and two outer wall strips. At least one of these wall strips is arranged essentially in a plane parallel to the main bending stress device of the stem. In the case of the spoon and fork, the central wall strip is preferably arranged in a plane parallel to the main bending stress direction of the handle, and in the knife the central wall strip is arranged in a plane at right angles to the main bending stress direction of the handle, while the outer wall strips then lie in a plane parallel to the main bending stress direction. However, another choice of the wall strips lying in a plane parallel to the main bending stress direction of the post is also conceivable and may be preferred in special applications.

Description

The invention relates to eating utensils, in particular disposable eating utensils made of plastic, the cutlery parts of which are each molded in one piece with handle and tool part, preferably injection-molded from plastic and have a stiffening profile with a central wall strip and two outer wall strips over the length of their handle, at least one of these wall strips is arranged essentially in a plane parallel to the main bending stress direction of the stem.
From DE-GM 70 33 238 a cutlery of this type is known in which the handle is designed to stiffen it with an H-shaped cross section or C-shaped cross section. It is also known from FR-PS 22 66 432 to form cutlery of the type specified at the beginning on a stick with a C-shaped cross section. In all of these known cross-sections, however, the stiffening, flange-like ribs are on the side edges of the handle and thereby impair the comfortable, secure holding of the cutlery item in the hand. In addition, only a limited stiffening effect is achieved by these lateral stiffening ribs of the handle with an H-shaped or C-shaped cross section.

In contrast, it is the object of the invention to provide cutlery of the type mentioned at the outset improve that on the one hand the stiffening effect on the handle increases significantly and on the other hand the handle with its stiffening parts also have an improved, comfortable and safe position in the hand of the user. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the profile is S-shaped. Through the invention the handle of the cutlery is given an open, yet spatial, physical cross-section that can be gripped with practically the same security and strength as a solid handle. As a result, an inventive Cutlery on its handle higher grip than a cutlery with the known Η-profile or C-profile. In addition, the invention makes it even more secure than cutlery with a known from DE-GM 7Ί 44 056 hollow

profile handle achieved because in contrast to hollow profile handles also by the S-profile formed according to the invention by the central wall strip and the outer wall strip when gripping firmly, compression of the handle is barely noticeable Cutlery through the spatial and physical design of the handle and the stabilization of the handle The combination of middle wall strips and outer wall strips makes it much more convenient and safer hold in the hand as cutlery with a flat handle stiffened in the middle of the sides.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central wall strip is on the spoon, fork and coffee spoon of the S-shaped profiled handle arranged in a plane which is essentially at right angles to the spoon recess or the prong arrangement is thus formed in this embodiment with spoon, fork and coffee spoon the middle wall strip that wall strip that is in a direction of main bending stress of the Stalk's parallel plane is thus the stiffening made of the stem with respect to the main bending stress direction inside the stem. she can can therefore be made strong in accordance with the requirements, without affecting those of the outer surfaces the handle dependent grip comfort and grip strength exercise.

According to the invention, it is possible to use the outer wall strips that form the S-profile together with the central wall strip to be arranged as a stabilizing strip essentially in planes that are perpendicular to the Main bending stress direction of the stem lie. This gives the handle additional stabilization against lateral bending and against twisting.

In this preferred embodiment, the knife together with the central wall strip are the S-profile forming outer wall strips essentially in planes parallel to the knife blade, during the Central wall strip lies essentially in a plane at right angles to the knife blade. Hereby lie with the knife the outer wall strips parallel to the main bending stress direction of the handle, while the central wall strip stabilizes the knife handle against lateral bending and twisting takes over. This modified division of functions between the central wall strip provided for the knife handle and the outer wall strip is especially the one placed on the knife handle Requirements, namely increased stiffening against twisting and lateral bending, while the Power transmission in the main bending stress direction, i.e. in the cutting direction, through the application a fingertip, in particular the index finger, easily supported by the user on the back of the knife can be.

In the context of the invention, they can be used to form the S-profile essentially at right angles to the central wall strip arranged outer wall strips in the region of their free longitudinal edges to be convexly curved Side edge strips which at least partially cover the central wall strip. Through this Curvature becomes an additional reinforcement on the outer wall strips that is effective parallel to the central wall strip evoked. At the same time, the handle on its outer surface is even more comfortable to hold shape adapted to the user.

In a modified embodiment of the knife, the central wall strip is essentially in the Level of the knife blade and goes un-

ter formation of the S-shaped profile in convex outer wall strips, which are in the area of their free Longitudinal edges are parallel to the central wall strip. The knife handle stands out in this form of carrion through an even more comfortable position in the user's hand, although the lateral stabilization of the The knife handle may not be able to achieve as high a degree as in the first embodiment.

In order to allow the user to place a finger on the back of the knife in both embodiments of the knife To facilitate the transition from the knife handle to the knife handle on the upper side of the handle, a trough-shaped Be formed finger rest.

In order to significantly improve the stability of the cutlery at the transition from the handle to the tool part, can within the scope of the invention, the S-profile of the handle with flattening and tapering into the tool part be extended into it. With the spoon and coffee spoon there is the possibility of using the handle-side End area of the spoon recess the lower outer wall strip the handle can merge into a reinforcing rib on one side edge of the spoon cavity, while the median wall strip and the upper outer wall strip of the stem with flattening and narrowing be transferred into a reinforcement rib on the second side edge of the bucket recess. These Reinforcing ribs are preferably only located on the handle-side end area of the spoon recess. It but is achieved in that the spoon recess is stiffened and reinforced in this area and above all has a stiffened transition to the dipperstick.

The same principle can be used for the fork by moving between the tine arrangement and the handle forms a fork trough, the lower one in the handle-side end region of this fork trough The outer wall strip of the handle merges into a reinforcing rib on one side edge of the fork recess, while the median wall strip and the upper outer wall strip flattening and narrowing in a reinforcing rib are transferred to the second side edge of the fork recess.

With the knife, this stiffening at the transition from the knife handle to the knife handle can be achieved by that in the siielseiten end area of the knife blade the lower outer wall strip of the stem into a rearward stretching to the cutting edge, The lower reinforcement rib of the knife blade passes over, while the middle wall strip and the upper one Outer wall strip of the handle with flattening and narrowing into one along the back of the knife extending reinforcing rib are transferred.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows 1 shows the spoon of an embodiment of the invention in plan view;

F i g. 2 the spoon according to FIG. 1 in side view;

F i g. 3 the spoon according to FIG. 1 and 2 in section 3-3 of FIG. 1;

4 shows a section through the dipper stick accordingly 4-4 of Figure 1;

F i g. 5 shows a section through the dipperstick corresponding to 5-5 of FIG. 1 enlarged;

6 shows the fork of cutlery of the same embodiment like fig. 1 in plan view;

F i g. 7 the fork according to FIG. 6 in side view;

F i g. 8 the fork according to FIG. 6 in section 8-8;

F i g. 9 shows a section through the fork handle according to 9-9 of FIG. 6;

Fig. 10 shows a section through the fork handle according to 10-10 of FIG. 6, enlarged;

F i g. 11 a coffee spoon in the embodiment of the cutlery according to FIG. 1 to 10 in plan view;

F i g. 12 the coffee spoon according to FIG. 11 in side view;

13 shows the coffee spoon in section along 13-13 of FIG. 11;

14 shows a section through the dipperstick accordingly 14-14 of Fig. 11;

15 shows a section through the dipperstick according to FIG 15-15 of Fig. 11;

F i g. 16 shows a side view of a knife belonging to the embodiment of the cutlery according to FIGS. 1 to 15;

FIG. 17 shows the knife according to FIG. 16 in a plan view; FIG.

F i g. 18 the knife according to FIG. 16 in its other Side view;

19 shows sectional views through the knife blade and the transition area from the knife handle to the knife blade corresponding to the sections a, b, c and d in FIG. 16;

20 shows a section through the knife handle according to 20-20 of FIG. 16, enlarged;

F i g. 21 is a plan view of the knife corresponding to 21-21 of FIG. 16;

22 shows the knife in a modified embodiment in side view;

Fig. 23 the knife according to Fig. 22 in the other Side view;

F i g. 24 shows a section according to 24-24 of FIG. 23, enlarged;

25 shows a section according to 25-25 of FIG. 23, enlarged, and

Fig. Figure 26 is a front view of the knife of Figures 26-26 the F i g. 23

In the case of the FIG. The spoon 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is the spoon 31 having the spoon recess 32 with the spoon handle 33 molded in one piece from plastic. The dipperstick has what is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 reproduced S-shaped Profile with a central wall strip 34 and two outer wall strips 35 and 36. The central wall strip is - apart from an inclined position provided for better demolding - essentially in one Plane 38, which extends at right angles to the bowl 31. The outer wall strips of the dipperstick 33 lieger, about parallel to one another and in planes which are perpendicular to plane 38. The outer wall strips 35 are here and 36 convex and merge at their side edges into side edge strips 37a and 37ö, which are almost lie parallel to plane 38. Since the main bending stress on the dipperstick 33 lies in the plane 38, are in this S-profile formation of the dipperstick 33 of the Central wall strips 34 and the side edge strips 37a and 376 essentially parallel to the main bending stress direction arranged As in particular from FIG. 2 and 3, the lower outer wall strip goes 35 of the dipper stick into the bottom of the spoon recess 32, with the side edge strip 37a of the lower Outer wall strip 35 in a the rear part of the spoon recess 32 delimiting reinforcing rib 39a The middle wall strip 34, the upper outer wall strip 36 and its side edge strips 376 go over into a reinforcement rib 396 on the other side of the rear part of the scoop.

In the case of the FIGS. 6 to 10 reproduced fork 40 is an analogous arrangement and training thereby given that the tine arrangement 41 is made in one piece with the fork handle 43 via a fork recess 42 is. The fork handle 43 is designed with the same S-shaped profile as the dipperstick 33. With this S-shaped one In profile, the fork handle has a central wall strip 34 which is essentially in the plane of the main bending load direction lies. Furthermore, the fork handle has the two outer wall strips 35 and 36, which are in the side edge strips 37a and 37i> skip. The transition of the fork handle 43 into the fork recess 42 is analogous Designed like the transition of the dipperstick 33

ίο in the bowl 31. The side wall strip 35 goes into the Bottom wall of the fork trough 42 over, wherein the side edge strip 37a of the outer wall strip 35 is a lateral Reinforcing rib 49a of the fork recess 42 forms. As with the dipper stick 33, the fork stick 43 the center wall strip 34, the upper outer wall tire 36 and its side margins 37i> in the / wide lateral reinforcement rib 49ö of the fork recess 42 over.

The in the F i g. 11 to 15 illustrated coffee spoon has practically the same structure as the tablespoon according to FIG. 1 to 5 with an S-shaped profile of the dipperstick 33 and transition into the lateral reinforcing ribs 39a and 39b> on the rear part of the scoop 31. In addition, FIGS. 11 to 15 use the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 5. In the knife 50 according to FIGS. 20 shows a similar S-shaped profile as the dipperstick 33 or the fork handle 43. However, as shown in FIG. 19 and 20 show the central wall strip 54 of the knife handle 53, apart from a slight inclined pitch provided for better demolding, in a plane 58 which extends at right angles to the knife blade 51. The outer wall strips 55 and 56 are again curved concavely at their side edges and merge into side edge strips 57a and 57b , which are approximately parallel to the plane 58. This arrangement stiffens the knife handle with its outer wall strips 55 and 56 parallel to the main bending stress direction of the knife that occurs during cutting, while the middle wall strip 54 and the side edge strips 57a and 57> significantly reinforce the knife handle 53 across the cutting direction. This results in a particularly advantageous stiffening of the knife handle for the "lubricating" function of the knife.

The arrangement of the central wall strip 54 and the side edge strips 57a and 57b in planes lying transversely to the main bending stress direction during cutting is easily possible with the knife according to FIGS. that when cutting he places a finger on the back of the knife and thereby transfers a substantial portion of the pressure necessary for cutting with the finger directly on the back of the knife. For this purpose, a finger rest recess 52 is formed on the knife according to FIGS. 16 to 21 at the transition between the knife handle 53 and the knife blade 51

As shown in Fig. 19, the knife back is with a Reinforcing rib 59Λ fitted while at the transition from the underside of the knife handle 53 to the cutting edge a reinforcing rib 59a is formed. In the example shown, the one outer wall strip 55 extends with its side edge strip 57a and the adjacent half of the central wall strip 54 in this to the knife edge leading reinforcing rib 59a over (see. Fig. 19d). The other outer wall strip 56 goes with it

its side edge strip 57b and the second half of the central wall strip 54 into the reinforcing rib 596 on the back of the knife.

In the example of FIGS. 22 to 26, the knife 60 is designed on its knife handle 63 with an S-profile, the middle wall strip 64 of which lies essentially parallel to the knife blade 61. The outer wall strips 65 and 66 in this example are relatively narrow, but arched and solid. They merge into relatively wide side margins 67a and 67b . With the middle wall strip 64 and the side edge strips 67a and 676, the knife handle is particularly strongly stiffened in the main bending stress direction during cutting in this example. The massive outer wall strips 65 and 66 form a stiffening of the knife handle in a lateral direction, in particular for the knife function "lubricating". However, in this embodiment of the knife it is assumed that the user will place a finger on the knife blade 61 to assist with "smearing" and will thereby exert direct pressure on the knife blade 61.

In the example shown, the cutlery items are injection-molded from plastic. However, you could also choose from other things Material and be manufactured in another way, for example - with appropriate structural changes - be formed from sheet metal.

In addition 5 sheets of drawings

30th

Claims (10)

Patent claims: 1. Cutlery, in particular disposable plastic cutlery, its cutlery parts with handle and tool part each molded in one piece, preferably injection-molded from plastic, and over the length their stem have a stiffening profile with a central wall strip and two outer wall strips, at least one of these wall strips essentially in a direction of the main bending stress of the stem is arranged paraüelen level, characterized in that the Profile is S-shaped 2. Cutlery according to claim 1, characterized in that the spoon (30), fork (40) and coffee spoon (3G) of the Mittelwandstre ^: fen (34) of the S-shaped profiled handle (33; 43) in a plane (38) is arranged, which is substantially at right angles to the spoon recess (32) or the tine arrangement (41) 3. Cutlery according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spoon (30), fork (40) and Coffee spoon (30) the outer wall strips forming the S-profile together with the central wall strip (34) (35, 36) are arranged as stabilizing strips essentially in planes which are at right angles to the main bending stress direction of the stem (33,43). 4. Cutlery according to claim 1, characterized in that the knife (50) together with the central wall strip (54) the S-profile forming outer wall strips (55, 56) substantially in the Knife blade (51) lie parallel planes, while the central wall strip (54) is essentially in one to the knife blade (51) is perpendicular plane. 5. Eating cutlery according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer wall strips (35,36; 55,56) arranged to form the S-profile essentially at right angles to the central wall strip (34; 54) are too convex in the region of their free longitudinal edges curved side edge strips (37a, 37b; 57a, 57b) are formed which at least partially cover the central wall strip (34; 54). 6. Eating cutlery according to claim 1, characterized in that the knife (60) of the central wall strip (64) lies essentially in the plane of the knife blade (61) and on both sides with the formation of the S-shaped profile in convexly curved outer wall strips (65, 66, 67a, 67b) , which in the region of their free longitudinal edges lie parallel to the central wall strip (64). 7. Cutlery according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the S-profile of the Handle (33,43; 53; 63) extends with flattening and tapering into the tool part of the cutlery. 8. Eating cutlery according to claim 7, characterized in that the spoon (30) and coffee spoon in the handle-side end region of the spoon recess (32) of the lower outer wall strip (35, 37a ^ of the handle (33) in the trough bottom and in a reinforcing rib (39a) at one side edge of the spoon recess (32), while the central wall strip (34) and the upper outer wall strip (36, 37b) of the handle (33) are flattened and narrowed into a reinforcing rib (396,) on the second side edge of the spoon recess (32 ) are transferred. 9. cutlery according to claim 7, characterized shows that a fork trough (42) is formed in the fork (40) between the tine arrangement (41) and the handle (43), with the lower outer wall strip (35,37a,) in the atielside end region of this fork trough (42) of the handle (43) merges into the trough bottom and a reinforcing rib (49a) on one side edge of the fork trough (42), while the middle wall strip (34) and the upper outer wall strip (36, 37b) are flattened and narrowed into a reinforcing rib (49b) are transferred to the second side edge of the fork recess (42). 10. Eating cutlery according to claim 7, characterized in that the knife (50) in the handle-side end region of the knife blade (51) one half of the Mittelwandstre'fens (54) and the lower outer wall strip (55,57a,) of the handle (53) into a rear and lower reinforcing rib (59a) of the knife blade (51) extending up to the cutting edge, while the second half of the central wall strip (54) and the upper outer wall strip (56, 57 b) of the handle (53) are flattened and Narrowing are converted into a reinforcing rib (59b) extending along the back of the knife.