WO1992017386A1

WO1992017386A1 - Utensil with incorporated substance

Info

Publication number: WO1992017386A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/002592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lewis Barton; Robert B. Mccloskey; Jonathan Hoffman
Original assignee: Drake and DiPello Inc
Current assignee: Drake and DiPello Inc
Priority date: 1991-04-02
Filing date: 1992-03-30
Publication date: 1992-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1993-10-02
Also published as: AU1695992A; JPH06121653A

Abstract

A substantially flat utensil (10) incorporating a material (16) which interacts with a fluid or moist environment. The utensil incorporating the material has at least one depression or aperture (20) which contains a quantity of the material which is intended to react with the fluid or moisture so as to enable the dispensing of larger quantities of such material into a fluid with which it reacts with the use of only a single utensil.

Description

UTENSIL WITH INCORPORATED SUBSTANCE

The present invention relates to a substantially fl utensil, and in greater particularity, relates to a utensil o packaged arrangement which incorporates a substance which is interactable with a fluid or moist environment.

Moreover, the utensil in the form of the packaged arrangement may also provide for a protective sheath structur which; in essence, will shield the substance on or in the utensil from external influences and/or possible contaminatio prior to the intended use thereof.

In the disclosure of Hoffman, et al. U. S. Patent 4,061,783, a thin, substantially flat packaged unit incorporates a generally flat thin utensil which is largely contained within a protective sheath. In that instance, the protective sheath is constituted of a flat rigidifying member of substantially the same thickness as the utensil and extending about the side edges of the utensil, and with a flexible sheet material, such as a plastic film or cellophane overlying the utensil and being adhesively fastened to the rigidifying member. Pursuant to an aspect of the Hoffman, et al. U. S. patent, in a preferred embodiment thereof the utens includes a substance adhesively applied to a surface thereof and which is interactable with a fluid, with the protective sheath encasing at least the portion of the utensil with the substance. Hereby, the substance may be a powder, granulate dried emulsion, such as an artificial sweetener, which when t utensil is withdrawn from the sheath in which it is contained and immersed in a fluid, such as hot coffee or tea, will be readily dissolvable therein, with the utensil being adapted t be employed as a stirring implement and thereafter discarded. A considerable number of patents which were cited during the prosecution of the above-mentioned Hoffman, et al. U. S. Patent 4,061,783 also disclose various stirrers and uni of the type considered therein; at least some incorporating a material applied thereto in an adhesive manner and being interactable with a fluid or the like.

Other publications of interest appear to be Spee U. S. Patent 4,849,231 which discloses a beverage stirrer having apertures formed therein adapted to receive tablets consistin of artificial sweeteners or the like, and which are adapted t be dissolved when immersed in a liquid when the latter is stirred by the beverage stirrer.

Tsa U. S. Patent 4,816,268 discloses a straw formi a stirring device having a powder-like flavorant product contained therein adapted to dissolve in a liquid to impart flavoring to the latter.

Lowe, et al. U. S. Patent 4,860,929 disclose a generally tubular dispensing device having a soluble powder, such as an artificial sweetener or flavoring, contained therei which is adapted to be dissolved when the dispensing device is immersed in a liquid and employed as a stirrer.

Dodd, Jr. U. S. Patent 4,215,628 pertains to a stirrer having a lattice work formed proximate one end thereof which is adapted to receive and store a compressed granular material in the interstices of the lattice work, and wherein the granular material, which may be a flavoring agent, artificial sweetener or the like, is intended to be dissolved in a liquid into which it is immersed and stirred by means of the stirrer being swirled in the liquid. Although the foregoing patents all disclose various types of stirrers and utensils adapted to provide supports for solids or substances in which the latter are to be immerse_d in the liquid or fluid and interact therewith so as to be dissolved therein to impart some characteristic to the fluid, such as a flavoring or the like, none of the prior art structures are of the functional nature and structural diversity contemplated by the inventive utensil incorporating material which is reactable with a fluid or moist environment Furthermore, although the packaged unit of Hoffman, et al. U. S. Patent 4,061,783 is generally satisfactory in its utilization, the adhesive application of the fluid-reactable material to the surface of the utensil, in which the surface normally generally flat and smooth-surfaced so as to be devoi of any recesses or indentations, only allows for relatively small quantity of such reactable material to be adhered to th utensil. However, upon occasion it may be desirable to be ab to dissolve larger quantities of material than that which is able to be adhesively fastened to the utensil disclosed in th Hoffman, et al. U. S. patent, or without having to employ relatively complex and expensive constructions such as are generally disclosed in the various other patents, especially since the utensil construction contemplated by the present invention is generally of a disposable and/or non-reusable nature and consequently is designed to be inexpensive to produce and commercialize. Hereby, the inventive utensil incorporating the material which is reactable with the fluid or moist environme has at least one and preferably a plurality of depressions, apertures or the like formed therein, and resultingly enablin without appreciably increasing the thickness of the utensil, the receipt in the at least one depression or aperture of a quantity or quantities of the material which is intended to react with the fluid or moisture so as to enable the dispensi of larger quantities of such materials into a fluid with whic it reacts then theretofore possible with the use of only a single utensil.

In connection with the foregoing, the utensil is adapted to receive the most varied types of materials which i interactable with a fluid; for example, such as artificial sweeteners, flavoring agents, spices, fragrances, chemicals, vitamin complexes, pharmaceuticals of the most varied scope, seedlings and the like. Moreover, pursuant to specific aspec of the invention, the utensil, or at least the portion thereo containing the reactable material, may be encased in a protective sheath which, might be either a thermoplastic overwrap film laminated to a suitable rigidifying member for the utensil, or may be covered with a cellophane film, paper paperboard structure, of which the latter may be an integral component of the utensil. Hereby, the utensil itself may be also constituted of the paperboard, or any other suitable inexpensive material imparting a certain degree of rigidity thereto, such as a wood, plastic material or paperboard.

In essence, the overall dimensions and thicknesses contemplated by the utensil pursuant to the invention may be quite similar to those of the above-mentioned Hoffman, et al. σ. S. Patent 4,061,783. Furthermore, the utensil, and a sheath arrangement when employed in conjunction with the utensil, may also be formed by any suitable method; for example, as is described in the Hoffman, et al. U. S. patent, although numerous other manufacturing methods also readily lend themselves to the inventive structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present inventio to provide a thin substantially flat utensil which is adapted to be employed in conjunction with a material which is reactable with a fluid or moist environment, and in which the material is arranged in at least one recess, plurality of recesses or one or more apertures provided in a portion of the utensil. These recesses, in various of the embodiments, are either longitudinal indentations on one or both sides of the generally flat utensil; or alternatively, consist of longitudinally extending rib structures forming grooves, adapted to receive the fluid or moisture-interactable materials.

However, because of manufacturing reasons; in essence, for purposes in ease of production of the utensils; o possibly to produce utensils imparted with aesthetically pleasing appearances, it may be advantageous to provide the material-receiving recesses in widely differing orientations and/or configurations on the utensils.

Thus, the recesses may consist of indentations, ri and grooves which, rather than longitudinally, extend latera or transversely across the width of the utensils on either o or both sides thereof. Moreover, the recess may also extend various angles or inclined orientations across the utensils, may criss-cross each other, or may be of different decorativ shapes forming circles, loops or any variety of geometric patterns, as may be desired.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a thin substantially flat utensil which adapted to be employed in conjunction with a material which reactable with a fluid or moist environment, in which the material is arranged in at least one recess or aperture provided in a portion of the utensil, and wherein the at leas one recess extends in different orientations relative to the longitudinal extent of the utensil and/or is of various geometrical patterns or designs. Furthermore, it is a more specific object of the invention to provide a utensil of the type described herein which enables the receipt of a relatively large quantity or quantities of material reactable with a fluid or moisture without appreciably increasing the thickness of the utensil. Another more specific object of the invention resid in the provision of a utensil of the type described herein in which the portion of the utensil housing the material which i reactable with a fluid or moisture is protected by a suitable sheath or protective covering structure from which the material-containing utensil portion may be readily removed or exposed in order to be able to effectuate the intended use thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a utensil of the type described, which is adapted to employed as a stirrer and in which the material reactable wit a fluid may be selected from a wide range of different types materials commensurate with the intended use of the utensil. Reference may now be had to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventive utensil, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a utensil pursuant to the invention incorporating a plurality of longitudinal ridges adapted to receive material which is reactable with a fluid;

Figure 2 illustrates a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 2 - 2 in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the utensil of Fig. 1, equipped with a rigidifying member and sheath structure for the protection of the fluid-reactable material on the utensil; Figures 4 through 8 illustrate the utilization of th inventive utensil as a paint applicator;

Figures 9 through 12 illustrate the utensil as a flavor concentrate applicator for freezing purposes;

Figures 13 through 15 illustrate the employment of the utensil utilized in connection with the dissolution of spices, fragrances, flavoring agents, chemicals, vitamin complexes, pharmaceuticals or the like in a fluid;

Figures 16 through 18 illustrate the inventive utensil in another embodiment thereof; Figures 19 through 23 illustrate a further embodimen of the utensil in various operative positions;

Figures 24 through 28 illustrate still another embodiment of the inventive utensil in different operative positions thereof; Figures 29 through 31 illustrate a further embodimen of the utensil in different operative positions thereof;

Figures 32 through 34 illustrates another embodiment of the inventive utensil in another physical utilization; Figure 35 illustrates a front view of a utensil pursuant to the invention which is similar to Fig. 1, but incorporating a plurality of ridges transversely extending across the utensil and forming recesses adapted to receive material which is reactable with a fluid;

Figure 36 illustrates a transverse sectional view, o an enlarged scale, taken along line 36 - 36 in Fig. 35; Figure 37 illustrates a perspective view of the utensil of Fig. 35, equipped with a rigidifying member and sheath structure for the protection of the fluid-reactable material on the utensil;

Figure 38 illustrates a view to Fig. 35, in which th recesses in the utensil extend in mutually crossing arrays; an Figure 39 illustrates a view similar to Fig. 35, in which a recess extends in a substantially loop-shaped configuration.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, the utensil 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 essentially consist of a thin, substantially flat component having a first portion 12 forming a gripping member and a second, preferably elongated flat portion 14 forming the actua utensil portion including a solids material 16 which is retained therein, which material is adapted to be soluble in a fluid, such as water or the like, or reactive in a moist environment. Hereby, in this particular embodiment, the utensil portion 14 is an elongated flat-surface member having plurality of raised ribs 18 forming grooves 20 therebetween which adhesively receive the material 16. The material 16 may as desired by the particular application and intended use of the utensil 10, be constituted of an artificial sweetener, flavoring agent, spices, fragrances, vitamin complex, pharmaceutical, chemical preparate, water-soluble paint, seedling, or any other similar composition or active agent, as described in more specific detail hereinbelow.

The utensil 10 may be formed in any suitable manner; for example, similar to the method in the Hoffman, et al. U. S Patent 4,061,783; and having reference to Fig. 3 of the presen drawings, may incorporate a rigidifying member 22 surrounding the longitudinal edges or sides of the utensil portion 14, and if desired, with a pull member 24 being integrally formed wit the rigidifying member 22 at the end of the portion 14 of the utensil 10 which is distant from portion 12. The surfaces of the utensil portion 14 may be covered by a suitable sheathing material so as to protect the material contained in the groov 20 or any recess or aperture formed therein, from environment or exterior influences. Hereby, the sheathing material may b a thermoplastic film, either opaque or transparent, which is adhesively fastened to the rigidifying member 22 and, whereve provided, the pull tab 24.

Alternatively, rather than being constituted of a thermoplastic film, the sheath 26 may be formed from a metall foil, cellophane film or similar cellulose material, or preferably from a thin paper or filter material which, when t utensil portion 14 is immersed in a fluid, for example, such a hot water, will allow the hot fluid to filter through the pape and dissolve the material carried by the utensil 14; for instance, such as tea, coffee, spices or other flavoring agents. Naturally, when it is desired to directly contact the material 16 with fluid, it is merely necessary to pull the utensil 10 by gripping the gripping member 12 and to pull the portion 14 and material 20 out of the rigidifying member 22 an the encompassing sheath material or film 26, and to thereafter employ the utensil as a stirrer or the like while dissolving the reactant material 20 in the fluid.

In the embodiment pursuant to Figs. 4 through 8, in which similar or identical components are identified with the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiment, the material contained in the recessed center portion of the elongate utensil portion 14, may be a water-soluble paint 28 which, when contacted by water, forms a coloring adapted for painting or the like. Thus, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a pain brush P may have the brush part thereof moistened by being dipped into a container C containing a quantity of fluid, such as water, and thereafter, as shown in Fig. 6, moved in contact across the color 28 which is present in the recess portion of the portion 14 of the utensil 10, thereby depositing some of the wet paint 28 onto the brush bristles and enabling the implementation of water painting therewith.

If employing a sheath arrangement for the utensil produce a packaged unit, as shown in Fig. 3, the utensil 10 simply be reinserted into the sheath material and the rigidifying member 22, as illustrated in Fig. 7, for subsequ reuse. A plurality of such sheath arrangements and utensils may be provided as a connected assembly, as shown in Fig. 8, each being provided with a differently colored paint, whereb each paint component 28 of the respective utensil 10 may be either red, blue, yellow, green, orange, etc. paint. Consequently, the entire set of plurality of utensils and sheath arrangements may be sold in multi-color sets or as separated single paint refills.

Pursuant to the embodiment of the invention as sho in Figs. 9 through 12, the utensil 10 has a recess or recess 30 formed on either one or possibly both sides of the utensi portion 14, and filled with a suitable variety of flavoring concentrates which, when immersed into a liquid, such as wat as shown in Fig. 10, will impart the flavoring to the water enable the utensil 10 to be frozen into the water when store in a freezer arranged within an ice cube tray 32. This will enable the formation of frozen "popsicle" sticks in which a block of flavored ice encompasses at least the lower portion the utensil portion 14, and with the gripping member 12 extending therefrom so as to provide a manual gripping area during the consumption of the frozen confectionary product fr the utensil portion 14. In the embodiments of Figs. 13 through 15, in which similar or identical components are given.identified by the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiments; and with specific reference to Fig. 13, the recess 40 in the component 14 of the utensil 10 may be provided with a mouthwa concentrate which is soluble in water contained in a suitable cup C, so as to enable the utensil 10 being employed as a stirrer, and thereafter discarded, with the mouthwash formed the cup 30 adapted to be used by a consumer in a mouth-rinsin manner.

As shown in Fig. 14, in lieu of a mouthwash concentrate filling the recess 40, the utensil 10 may contain vitamin concentrate which can be dissolved in a glass containing a suitable liquid, such as fruit juice, milk, chocolate milk or the like.

Pursuant to another application, the material in th recess may be a fragrance, and upon moistening thereof may be applied to the body to impart a perfume or cologne¬ like olfactory fragrance to the wearer.

In Fig. 15, the concentrate contained in the recess 40 may consist of a chemical substance for testing the ph of swimming pool, which when dipped into the swimming pool, and compared with matching colors on a card 44, enables informati to be obtained regarding the ph level of the pool contents, s as to allow for any necessary adjustment thereof.

Referring to Figs. 16 through 18, in this instance the utensil 10 has both surfaces of portion 14 covered by a plastic sealing film 46 which is adhesively attached to the rigidifying member 22 so that a deflection of the portion 14 o the utensil 10 relative to the gripping part 12 along partial score lines 48 will enable the utensil portion 14 to pop through the upper film layer, as shown in Fig. 17, and to concurrently permit the lower film layer to remain intact, while enabling grasping of portion 14 for employing the utensi as a stirring element.

In the embodiment pursuant to Figs. 19 through 23, the utensil 50 is formed from a single cardboard element which is foldable in half along a central transverse score line 52, and having complementary elongate halves 54 and 56 of which th extreme distant ends terminate in oppositely directed and facing hook portions 58 and 60. The surfaces of the utensil portions 54 and 56 are each provided with recesses 62 enabling the latter to receive quantity of material which is reactable with a fluid, and up the folding together of the utensil 50 along the score line 5 as shown in Fig. 20, a low-tack adhesive material 64 on portion 56 contacts the surface on portion 54 to maintain the utensil 50 in a folded-together condition as shown in Fig. 21 with the tabs 58, 60 being basically an interengaging positio as shown in this drawing figure.

In order to employ the foregoing utensil 50, as sho in Fig. 22, it is merely necessary to disengage the locking tabs 58, 60 to disengage the adhesive 64, and to fold the portions 54 and 56 outwardly through about 360° so as to expo the material contained in the recesses 62 to the fluid into which it is immersed, with the locking tabs 58, 60 again engaged, and thereafter the utensil 50 may be employed as a stirrer to enhance the dissolving of the material in the flui in which it is immersed and produce the desired results as described hereinbefore.

As illustrated shown in Figs. 24 through 28, in thi instance rather than providing the interengaging members 58 a 60, the extreme ends of the utensil portions 72 and 74 of utensil 70, which are foldable relative to each other along a central score line 76, include enlarged-size end portions 80, 82 which are integrally formed therewith and are also foldabl relative to portions 72, 74 along score lines 78. The end portions 80, 82 are wider than the portions 72, 74 which contain the fluid-reactable material in the recesses 84, and low-tack adhesive 88 applied in strips proximate the side edg of the end portion 80 is adapted to engage the surface of the component 82 subsequent to accordion-folding the entire utens 70 into its flat condition, as shown in Fig. 25, to provide a closed and sealed structure as shown in Fig. 26, with the utensil portions 72, 72 sandwiched between end portions 80, 8 In order to employ the utensil 70, as shown in Fig. 27 and 28 it is merely necessary to unfold the various components and release the adhesive 88 from contact with end portion 82, as shown in Fig. 27, then fold these backwardly so as to be coplanar and extending from the portions 72, 74, thereby exposing the material in the recesses 84 to a fluid and to employ the entire structure as a stirrer aiding in dissolving the material in the fluid. Similarly, in the embodiment of Figs. 29 through 31 a utensil 10 is arranged within a rigidifying member 90 so as to have the gripping portion 12 project somewhat therefrom, a with outer portions 92 and 94 integrally formed with member 9 and foldable relative thereto along score lines 98. glue stri 100 are provided on portions 92 and 94, such that, upon foldi of the portions 92, 94, as shown in Fig. 30, the glue strips 100 sealingly contact the facing surfaces on the member 90 to form a so-called envelope or sheath structure allowing for th pulling out of the utensil 10 when it is required to be employed, as shown in Fig. 31.

In the embodiment of Figs. 32 through 34, the reces in the portion 14 of the utensil 10 may be an aperture or pocket adapted to contain a seedling or the like and various nutrients. The utensil 10 may be planted in the ground, as shown in Fig. 33, or in a suitable planter 110 containing othe suitable seed-carrying utensils so as to be exposed to a growth-propagating moist environment, and with the gripping portion 12 of the utensil 10 having legends thereon identifyin the type of seedling and possibly providing instructions for the cultivation thereof.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 35 through 39 are similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, said elements which are identical or similar thereto are identified by the same reference numerals. Referring now Figs. 35 to37 of the drawings, the utensil 10 as illustrated essentially consists of a thin, substantially flat component having a first portion 12 forming a gripping member and a second, preferably elongated flat portion 14 forming the actual utensil portion including solids material 16 which is retained therein, which material is adapted to be soluble in a fluid, such as water or the like, o reactive in a moist environment. In general, this embodiment is similar to Fig. 1, but as shown in Figs. 35 to 37, the rib 118 forming the grooves or recesses 120 extend generally transversely of the longitudinal extent of the elongated utensil portion 14. Although shown as being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of utensil portion 14, the ribs and recesses 118, 120 may also extend at some angula orientation relative thereto intermediate the side edges of t utensil portion 14. This orientation of the ribs and recesse may also impart an aesthetically pleasing and decorative appearance to the utensil.

The utensil 10 may be formed in any suitable manner for example, similar to the method in the Hoffman, et al., U. S. Patent 4,061,783; and having reference to Fig. 37 of the present drawings, may incorporate a rigidifying member 22 surrounding the longitudinal edges or sides of the utensil portion 14, and if desired, with a pull member 24 being integrally formed with the rigidifying member 22 at the end o the portion 14 of the utensil 10 which is distant from portio 12. The surfaces of the utensil portion 14 may be covered by suitable sheathing material so as to protect the material contained in the grooves 20 or any recess or aperture formed therein from environmental or exterior influences, or in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In the embodiments of the utensil as illustrated in

Figures 38 and 39 of the drawings, elements and features whic are identical with or similar to those in the embodiment of Figures 35 to 37 are identified by the same reference numeral Thus, in the construction of the utensil portion 14 as shown in Figure 38, the ribs or ridges 130 which form the recesses 132 for receiving fluid or moisture-interactive material therein, extend in a diagonally crossing or intersecting pattern so as to essentially produce a latticework-like pattern of ribs and recesses or grooves. In variation of the foregoing pattern, the diagonally extending ribs may converge in V-shaped patterns towards the longitudin centerline from the opposite side edges of the utensil porti 14, although modifications of the patterns readily suggest themselves within this particular concept.

As shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 39 of the drawings, the ribs 134 are i an essentially loop-shaped configuration so as to form a groo 136 therebetween for the receipt of the fluid or moisture- interactive material. Although only two parallel extending ribs 134 are shown, three or more may be provided on the utensil portion 14 in order to produce a plurality of grooves or recesses 136 therebetween. The loop-shaped ribs 134 may b in circular, elliptical or even rectangular configurations, a numerous other shapes suggest themselves in conformance with aesthetic and practical requirements within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing, it readily becomes apparent tha the entire construction, which may be formed either completel from plastic, paperboard or the like, and in which the sheath material may also be a thermoplastic film, cellophane, foil paper, filter paper, or a cardboard the latter of which is integral with the remaining portion or portions of the utensi is of an extremely simple construction and has practically unlimited versatility and usefulness in its physical applications and types of materials it contains which are reactable to fluids or moisture.

While there has been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will of course be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed as hereinafte claimed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A thin, substantially flat utensil having a first end portion forming a gripping member and a second end portion having a configuration differing from said first end portion, said second end portion being integral with and long than said first end portion; recess means being formed in sai second end portion; and means interactable with a fluid or moist environment being arranged in said recess means.

2. A utensil as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said recess means comprises at least one longitudinally extending indentation in at least one surface of said second end portio

3. A utensil as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said recess means includes portions which are oriented in directions deviating from the longitudinal extent of said second elongate portion.

4. A utensil as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said recess means comprises at least one transversely extending indentation in at least one surface of said second end portion

5. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said recess means comprises rib structure forming at least one groove in at least one surface of said second end portion.

6. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said recess means comprises dimpling formed in at least one surface of said second end portion.

7. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said second end portion is corrugated to form said recess means for receiving said luid-interactable material.

8. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said recess means comprises at least one through-extending aperture, said fluid-interactable material being contained in said aperture.

9. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said recess means comprises a ribbed surface structure formed in said second end portion.

10. A utensil as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said recess means comprises a plurality of recesses forming a lattice pattern.

11. A utensil as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said recess means has a generally loop-shaped configuration.

12. A utensil as claimed in Claim 11, wherein sai loop-shaped configuration forms an elliptical shape.

13. A utensil as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said least one transversely extending indentation is at an oblique orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of said second elongate end portion.

14. A utensil as claimed in Claim 13, wherein a plurality of said obliquely orientated indentations are arranged to form a criss-cross lattice pattern.

15. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedi claims, wherein said integral first and second end portions a constituted from a paperboard material.

16. A utensil as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein said integral first and second end portions are constituted from a substantially rigid plastic material.

17. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedi claims, wherein a flat rigidifying member of substantially th thickness of said second end portion encloses the sides and t end of said second end portion which is remote from said gripping member so as to constitute a protective sheath; and sheet material adhered to the opposed flat surfaces of said rigidifying member to enclose said recess means and said seco end portion of said utensil.

18. A utensil as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said sheet material comprises paperboard.

19. A utensil as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said sheet material comprises paper.

20. A utensil as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said sheet material comprises a thermoplastic film, cellophane fil or metallic foil.

21. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedin claims, wherein said material in said recess means comprises artificial sweetener, flavor concentrate, spices or a fragrance.

22. A utensil as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 20, wherein said material in said recess means comprises a vitamin concentrate or pharmaceutical preparate.

23. A utensil as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 20, wherein said material in said recess means comprises a water-soluble chemical composition.

24. A utensil as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to

20, wherein said material in said recess means comprises a seedling and nutrients.

25. A utensil as claimed in any one of the precedi claims, wherein said first and second end portions are foldab along a common central hinge line, said material being arrang in said recess means intermediate the contacting surfaces of said folded end portions.

26. A utensil as claimed in Claim 25, comprising a low-tack adhesive for normally maintaining said end portions their folded condition.

27. A utensil as claimed in Claim 25, comprising complementary tab means at the distal ends of said first and second end portions, said tab means being engageable in the folded condition of said end portions.

28. A utensil as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second end portion has first and second foldable sections having said material arranged therebetween in the folded condition thereof, said gripping member being at the free end of said first foldable section; a second gripping member bein integrally formed at the free end of said second foldable section and adapted to be in surface contact with said first- mentioned gripping member in the folded condition of said utensil.

29. A utensil as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said gripping members are wider than said foldable sections; and adhesive means for fastening said gripping members to each other exteriorly of the side edges of said foldable sections.

30. A thin, substantially flat utensil having a first flat member; a second flat member hingedly joined to on end of said first flat member; a third flat member hingedly joined to an opposite end of said first flat member, said fir flat member having a cutout extending towards said third flat member; a flat segment dimensioned in conformance with said cutout and being located therein, said flat segment including recess means having a material reactant with a fluid or moisture arranged therein; and a gripping portion being integrally formed at an end of said flat segment protruding from said cutout such that, upon folding flat of said first, second and third flat members, said gripping portion extends outwardly thereof.

31. A utensil as claimed in Claim 30, wherein an adhesive on the surfaces of said second and third flat members is contactable with the facing surfaces of said first member externally of said cutout so as to maintain said members in th folded condition thereof.