Utensils with extended handles

Abstract

An article of manufacture comprising a planar utensil element fabricated of an elongated foldable paperboard-like material and having a plurality of scores indicating where the planar utensil element is to be folded in order to become a usable utensil. Folding the planar utensil element about the scores produces a handle and a bowl. In some embodiments, elongated handle elements are formed in a plane and are separated by a V-shaped groove or a slit in a region where the handle elements are coupled to a bowl element. To construct the usable utensil, the handle elements are brought together, forming a three dimensional utensil having a handle and a bowl. The bowl may be conically shaped. In some embodiments, one of the handle elements is folded upon itself before being coupled to the other handle element. In some embodiments, an element of a food container, which may be fabricated of the same material as the planar utensil element, covers at least a portion of the planar utensil element. The food package may have the shape of a regular or irregular parallelepiped.

1 . A planar utensil element fabricated of a foldable paperboard-like material, comprising:
 first and second elongated handle elements disposed generally symmetrically about a midline of the planar utensil element, each handle element comprising an open first end and an opposing second end; and   coupled to the second end of each of the two handle elements, a first end of a bowl element, said bowl element having a rounded shape at an end opposite the first end of the bowl element; wherein   the handle elements are connected to and merge into each other at their second ends;   the handle elements are spaced apart from each other at their first ends; and   joining the handle elements together forms a non-planar utensil having a handle and a bowl, corresponding to the joined handle elements and to the bowl element, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein a V-shaped notch is formed in the planar utensil element in a region between the second ends of the two handle elements. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein a slit is cut through the paperboard-like material in a region between the second ends of the two handle elements. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein the bowl has a substantially conical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein the length of each of the two handle elements is greater than the diameter of the bowl element. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein each handle element comprises a longitudinal score, and each handle element is bent around its longitudinal score as the handle elements are joined together to form the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein one of the handle elements comprises a tab and the other handle element comprises a slit, whereby the tab fits into the slit when the handle elements are joined to form the handle, thus keeping the handle together. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein the handle elements are joined together by a tacky adhesive or glue, thus keeping the handle together. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein the outer edge of each handle element is curved in a region where the second end of the handle element couples into the bowl element. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein one handle element is longer than the other handle element. 
     
     
         11 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein the first ends of the handle elements are curved. 
     
     
         12 . The utensil element of  claim 1  wherein one of the handle elements is folded upon itself before being joined with the other handle element to form the handle. 
     
     
         13 . A food container comprising:
 a plurality of flat surfaces joined together so as to form a cavity for holding food;   a planar utensil element having a plurality of scores indicating where the utensil element is to be folded in order to become a usable utensil, wherein folding the utensil element about the scores produces a handle and a bowl; and   a planar covering element covering at least a portion of the utensil element; wherein   the utensil element is positioned under the covering element and is coplanar with and attached to a surface of the container; and   the covering element provides physical and hygienic protection to the utensil element during transportation of the container.   
     
     
         14 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the container is fabricated of a paperboard-like foldable material. 
     
     
         15 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the container is fabricated of a plant-based substitute for Styrofoam. 
     
     
         16 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein wherein the container has the shape of a regular parallelepiped. 
     
     
         17 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the container comprises a circular bottom surface and a rectangular top surface. 
     
     
         18 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the covering element is fabricated of the same material as the utensil element. 
     
     
         19 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the utensil element is fabricated of the same material as the surfaces of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the utensil element is attached to an underside of an upper lid of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein:
 the utensil is indirectly attached to the surface of the container via the covering element; 
 the utensil element and the covering element are pivotally attached to the surface of the container about a pivot line; and 
 the utensil element is released from the container by unfurling the utensil element and the covering element about the pivot line, and then separating the utensil element from the covering element. 
 
     
     
         22 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the covering element has the same shape as the utensil element. 
     
     
         23 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the covering element is larger than the utensil element in the plane of the utensil element. 
     
     
         24 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the utensil element is attached to the surface of the container by a series of perforations. 
     
     
         25 . The food container of  claim 24  wherein the utensil element comprises a bowl precursor, and the perforations do not extend along the entirety of the bowl precursor, whereby a smooth transition is made between the bowl and the handle in the usable utensil. 
     
     
         26 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the utensil element comprises a perpendicular score, and the utensil element is folded about the perpendicular score prior to being attached to the container. 
     
     
         27 . The food container of  claim 13  comprising a first surface terminating in a tab that fits into a corresponding slit in a second surface, whereby the tab and slit provide a secure closure to the container during transit. 
     
     
         28 . The food container of  claim 13  wherein the utensil element comprises:
 first and second curved scores positioned generally symmetrically about a longitudinal midline running along the length of the utensil element, and indicative of where the utensil element is to be folded in order to become a usable utensil; wherein: 
 the first and second curved scores each curve outwardly away from the longitudinal midline in a concave manner with respect to the longitudinal midline, and then curve inwardly towards the longitudinal midline in a convex manner with respect to the longitudinal midline as the utensil element is traversed from a handle end to a bowl end.