Reconfigurable food container and eating utensil

Abstract

A selectively reconfigurable apparatus includes a body defining, in a first stable configuration, an enclosed space operable to retain a food item, and configured, once the food item is expelled, to be manually caused to achieve a second stable configuration, wherein the body presents at least one eating utensil, such as a spoon, scoop, and/or spreading knife. In a preferred embodiment, the body is planar and defines a plurality of fold and/or cut lines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus selectively reconfigurable from a container adapted to house a food item, to an eating utensil adapted for use by a user, said apparatus comprising:
 a body defining, in a first configuration, an enclosed space operable to retain the food item, and manually transformable to a second configuration, once the food item is expelled,   said body, in the second configuration, presenting an eating utensil manually manipulable and operable to facilitate the preparation or consumption of food by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed of a pliable material selected from the group consisting essentially of cardboard, organic composite, and foil. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exterior layer fixedly attached to the body, intermediately disposed between the body and space in the first configuration, and cooperatively configured with the food item, so as to be non-reactive therewith.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the exterior layer is selected from the group consisting essentially of a coating, film, and sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the eating utensil is selected from the group consisting essentially of a spoon, scoop, knife, spatula, fork, cup, straw, and bowl. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the body, in the second configuration, presents a spreading knife having a handle section, and a flat food engaging section defining a curvilinear edge. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the body, in the second configuration, presents a spoon or scoop defining a partially enclosed cavity operable to retain a quantity of food when oriented upright. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said body being planar, and defining at least one fold line, and portions adjacent said at least one fold line, wherein said at least one fold line and portions are geometrically configured such that the body
 defines the first configuration by folding a first subset of the portions first predetermined degrees, and 
 defines the second configuration when a second subset of the portions are folded second predetermined degrees, 
   said first and second subsets and/or degrees being incongruent.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the first and/or second subsets are caused to form superjacent layers, and bonded, when in the first or second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said at least one fold line presents at least one perforated cut line, and is further configured to cause the body to define a second configuration when at least one portion adjacent said at least one cut line is separated from the remaining portions by detaching the body along said at least one cut line. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the body defines a symmetric planar shape. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the shape presents a central conical region, and laterally adjacent wings. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the wings presents parallel sides, and sector and half-circle parts at opposite ends. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus selectively reconfigurable from a container adapted to house a food item, and to a select one of a plurality of eating utensils adapted for use by a user, said apparatus comprising:
 a planar body defining at least one fold line, and portions adjacent said at least one fold line, wherein said at least one fold line and portions are geometrically and cooperatively configured such that the body
 defines an enclosed space in a first configuration, by folding a first subset of the portions first predetermined degrees, 
 defines a second configuration, when a second subset of the portions are folded second predetermined degrees, and 
 defines a third configuration, when a third subset of the portions are folded third predetermined degrees, 
   said first, second, and third subsets and/or degrees being incongruent,   said body, when in the second and third configurations, presenting a different eating utensils manually manipulable and operable to facilitate the preparation or consumption of food by the user.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the body, in the second configuration, presents a spreading knife having a handle section, and a flat food engaging section defining a curvilinear edge, and in the second configuration, presents a spoon or scoop defining a partially enclosed cavity operable to retain a quantity of food when oriented upright.