Utensil

Abstract

Unitary blank for forming a utensil includes a scoop portion and a handle portion. The scoop portion has a distal edge and a proximal neck region. The handle portion has opposing first and second lateral edges extending from the proximal neck region of the scoop portion and a proximal tail edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, and first and second concave recesses. The proximal tail edge has a center notch. The handle portion further has a center fold line defining a first body segment including a slot and a second body segment including a tab. The tab can be configured to be engaged and locked into the slot when the first and second body segments are folded toward each other along the center fold line. A pattern for a plurality of blanks for forming utensils and a utensil formed from the unitary blank are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A unitary blank for forming a utensil, comprising:
 a scoop portion having a distal edge and a proximal neck region; and   a handle portion having opposing first and second lateral edges extending from the proximal neck region of the scoop portion and a proximal tail edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, the handle portion further having a first concave recess defined between the first lateral edge and the proximal tail edge and a second concave recess defined between the second lateral edge and the proximal tail edge, and the proximal tail edge has a center notch defined therein;   the handle portion further having a center fold line defining a first body segment and second body segment, the first body segment including a slot and the second body segment including a tab, wherein the tab is configured to be engaged and locked into the slot when the first and second body segments are folded toward each other along the center fold line.   
     
     
         2 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the distal edge of the scoop portion is linear. 
     
     
         3 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second lateral edges is linear. 
     
     
         4 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is defined by a score line in the second body segment. 
     
     
         5 . The unitary blank of  claim 4 , wherein the score line of the tab is at least partially arcuate. 
     
     
         6 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the tab has a width dimension and outer edges that extend about 0.0156 to 0.0625 inch greater than a corresponding width dimension of the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is defined by a score line in the first body segment. 
     
     
         8 . The unitary blank of  claim 7 , wherein the score line of the slot is at least partially arcuate. 
     
     
         9 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the center notch is concave and substantially arcuate. 
     
     
         10 . The unitary blank of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary blank has a thickness of about 0.018 inch. 
     
     
         11 . A web pattern for a plurality of blanks for forming utensils, comprising:
 a first blank, a second blank and a third blank, each blank comprising
 a scoop portion having a distal edge and a proximal neck region, and 
 a handle portion having opposing first and second lateral edges extending from the proximal neck region of the scoop portion and a proximal tail edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, the handle portion further having a first concave recess defined between the first lateral edge and the proximal tail edge and a second concave recess defined between the second lateral edge and the proximal tail edge, and the proximal tail edge has a center notch defined therein; 
   wherein the distal edge of the first blank is mated with the center notch of the proximal tail edge of the second blank; and   wherein the third blank is in an inverted orientation relative the second blank with the first lateral edge of the handle portion of the second blank aligned with the first lateral edge of the handle portion of the third blank, and further wherein the neck region of the second blank is mated with the first concave recess of the third blank and the neck region of the third blank is mated with the first concave recess of the second blank.   
     
     
         12 . A utensil formed from a unitary blank, comprising:
 a scoop portion having a distal edge and a proximal neck region; and   a handle portion having opposing first and second lateral edges extending from the proximal neck region of the scoop portion and a proximal tail edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, the handle portion further having a first concave recess defined between the first lateral edge and the proximal tail edge and a second concave recess defined between the second lateral edge and the proximal tail edge, and the proximal tail edge has a center notch defined therein;   the handle portion further having a center fold line defining a first body segment and second body segment, the first body segment including a slot and the second body segment including a tab, wherein the first and second body segments are folded toward each other along the center fold line and the tab is configured to be engaged and locked into the slot.