PATTERNING FOR CONSTRUCTABLE UTENSIL

摘要

A system and method for reducing manufacturing costs of patterned constructible utensils and improving their constructability. One constructible utensil includes a set of scores (e.g., a quad of scores including an outer pair and an inner pair, a single such pair, or other number of scores) that are shaped to converge when moving from a bowl-region towards the handle portion. The scores do not intersect but stop and produce various alterations in the converging score pattern. These alterations in the converging pattern help with propagation of a bowl-forming fold responsive to a constructing manipulation of the handle portion (e.g., folding, bending, and other operation on the handle portion and one or more scores on the handle portion).

主权项

1. A constructible utensil, including:
a deformable generally planar rigid paperboard sheet defining a blank, said blank including: a handle portion having: a handle length extending from a first proximal end to a first distal end opposing said proximal end along a first longitudinal axis, said first distal end including a first distal end width perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis; and a free edge at said first proximal end; and a terminal portion having: a terminal portion length extending from a second proximal end to a second distal end opposing said second distal end along a second longitudinal axis aligned with said first longitudinal axis, said aligned axes forming a central fold axis about which said handle portion and said terminal portion are generally symmetric wherein said second proximal end is coupled to said first distal end and wherein said second distal end includes a curvilinear free edge; and a terminal portion width perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis equal to said first distal end width; and a bowl-forming score pattern including a first continuous score disposed on said blank and extending from a first point spaced away from said fold axis on said handle portion towards a second point on said blank at a first lateral edge proximate said first distal end and a second continuous score disposed on said blank and extending from a third point spaced away from said fold axis on said handle portion towards a fourth point on said blank at a second lateral edge proximate said first distal end, said second continuous score symmetric with said first continuous score about said fold axis; wherein said scores generally curve away from said fold axis and wherein said score pattern does not include intersecting scores; and wherein said blank is configured with an arrangement of said scores such that a folding of said blank about said fold axis introduces a bowl in said blank by distortion of said blank along said score pattern.