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.

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.