Cover for an eating utensil

Abstract

A cover and a method for covering an eating utensil having a head opposite a handle. The cover has a sleeve with a closed end and an open end for receiving the head of the eating utensil. A tab extends from the open end of the sleeve. The tab may have an adhesive on an inner side for adhering the tab to a portion of the handle when the head is positioned in the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover for an eating utensil, the eating utensil having a head opposite a handle, the cover comprising:
 a sleeve having a closed end and an open end for receiving the head of the eating utensil; and   a tab extending from the open end of the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the table is semi-circularly shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the tab has an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the tab has an adhesive disposed on the inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein the table is semi-circularly shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the tab are formed of a flexible, polymeric sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible, polymeric sheet material is formed of melt-blown micro-fibers and nano-fibers. 
     
     
         7 . A cover in combination with an eating utensil, the eating utensil having a head opposite a handle, the cover comprising:
 a sleeve having a closed end and an open end, the head of the eating utensil disposed in the sleeve with the handle extending from the open end; and   a tab extending from the open end of the sleeve, a portion of the handle extending over the tab.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the table is semi-circularly shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the tab has an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the tab has an adhesive disposed on the inner surface so the tab is adhered to the portion of the handle extending over the tab. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the eating utensil is a spoon. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the eating utensil is a fork. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the eating utensil is a knife. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the table is semi-circularly shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the tab are formed of a flexible, polymeric sheet material. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible, polymeric sheet material is formed of melt-blown micro-fibers and nano-fibers. 
     
     
         16 . A method of covering an eating utensil, the eating utensil having a head opposite a handle, the method comprising:
 providing a cover comprising:
 a sleeve having a closed end and an open end; and 
 a tab extending from the open end of the sleeve; 
   holding the tab of the cover;   holding the handle of the eating utensil;   sliding the head of the eating utensil in the open end of the sleeve until the head of the eating utensil reaches the closed end of the sleeve and a portion of the handle is positioned over the tab.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 holding the tab;   holding the handle of the eating utensil;   removing the head from the sleeve;   positioning the sleeve on a surface; and   positioning the head of the eating utensil on the sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adhering the tab to the portion of the handle positioned over the tab. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 holding the tab;   holding the handle of the eating utensil;   removing the handle from the tab and the head from the sleeve;   positioning the cover on a surface; and   positioning the head of the eating utensil on the cover.