US5261560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Utensil receptacle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-11-25
•
Granted: 1993-11-16
•
Expires: 2012-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A receptacle for a spoon and fork; The spoon and the fork are pivotally mounted to the underside to the top of the receptacle, and the top is hinged to the bottom of the receptacle so that it may be opened to permit the spoon and fork to be turned to a position in which they protrude through the ends of the receptacle, and the top may then be closed down to a snap fit with the bottom of the receptacle to hold the spoon and fork in place, and enable the receptacle to serve as a handle for the spoon and fork.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:29
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/06; B; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An elongated receptacle having a bottom portion and a top portion hinged to said bottom portion, each of said top and bottom portions having an inside surface, a first utensil mounted to said top portion adjacent to one end of the receptacle, said first utensil being angularly movable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said top portion between a first position in which it extends along the inside surface of said top portion toward the other end of the receptacle, and a second position in which it protrudes beyond said one end of the receptacle, and which includes a second utensil pivotally mounted to said top portion at the other end of the receptacle and angularly movable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said top portion between a first position in which it extends over the first utensil toward said one end of the receptacle and a second position in which it protrudes beyond the other end of the receptacle to permit the top portion to be closed down on the bottom portion to hold the utensils in place in their second position to enable the receptacle to serve as a handle for the utensils.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
An elongated receptacle having a bottom portion and a top portion hinged to said bottom portion, each of said top and bottom portions having an inside surface, a first utensil mounted to said top portion adjacent to one end of the receptacle, said first utensil being angularly movable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said top portion between a first position in which it extends along the inside surface of said top portion toward the other end of the receptacle, and a second position in which it protrudes beyond said one end of the receptacle, and which includes a second utensil pivotally mounted to said top portion at the other end of the receptacle and angularly movable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said top portion between a first position in which it extends over the first utensil toward said one end of the receptacle and a second position in which it protrudes beyond the other end of the receptacle to permit the top portion to be closed down on the bottom portion to hold the utensils in place in their second position to enable the receptacle to serve as a handle for the utensils.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The receptacle defined in claim 1 in which said utensils respectively comprise a spoon and a fork.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The receptacle defined in claim 1, and which includes snap-fit fastener means mounted on said top and bottom portions to enable the top portion to be snapped closed on the bottom portion to trap the utensils in their protruding positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-05-17 | 1997-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-15 | 2001-05-17 | 2001-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-15 | 2005-05-17 | 2005-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |