Tab locking mechanism

Abstract

An eating utensil fabricated of a paperboard-like material, comprising a first elongated planar portion having first and second generally parallel sides, a third side shorter than the first and second sides and generally perpendicular to the first and second sides, and a fourth side opposite the third side; and a second elongated planar portion having first and second sides generally aligned with the first and second sides of the first portion, a third side aligned with the third side of the first portion along a single shared fold connecting the first and second portions, and a slit proximate a fourth side into which the fourth side of the first portion fits; whereby the combination of the single shared fold and the fourth side of the first portion fitting into the slit serves to keep the first and second portions held flat together during transport of the utensil.

1 . A planar utensil element fabricated of a foldable material, wherein:
 said element is generally circular and contains a plurality of scores dividing the element into three regions;   a first region comprises a tab;   a second region comprises a slit; and   folding the element about the scores produces a generally conically shaped object in which the tab locks into the slit.   
     
     
         2 . An eating utensil fabricated of a paperboard-like material, comprising:
 a first elongated planar portion having first and second generally parallel sides, a third side shorter than the first and second sides and generally perpendicular to the first and second sides, and a fourth side opposite the third side; and   a second elongated planar portion having first and second sides generally aligned with the first and second sides of the first portion, a third side aligned with the third side of the first portion along a single shared fold connecting the first and second portions, and a slit proximate a fourth side into which the fourth side of the first portion fits; whereby   the combination of the single shared fold and the fourth side of the first portion fitting into the slit serves to keep the first and second portions held flat together during transport of the utensil.   
     
     
         3 . The utensil of  claim 2  wherein the second portion further comprises a pair of colinear scores, said scores positioned on two opposing sides of the slit and extending to the first and second sides of the second portion, respectively; whereby:
 bending the second portion along the two colinear scores facilitates fitting the fourth side of the fourth portion into the slit.