Cutlery and container with cutlery

Abstract

To provide cutlery with a structure which is easy to attach to and detach from a container repetitively.SOLUTION: A spoon 1 as one aspect of cutlery comprises: a spoon part 10 which supports an object; a handle part 20 which is connected to the spoon part 10; and a fitting part 30 which has a tubular peripheral wall 31 and is provided on the handle part 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to cutlery used to dispense the contents of a container, and also to a cutlery container to which the cutlery is attached. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART It is known that food, medicine, etc. sealed in a container is provided with cutlery such as a spoon and a fork for taking out the contents so that the contents can be used immediately after purchase.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes a container with a spoon for removing the contents, which has a structure in which a spoon for removing the contents is held by being clamped and fitted between two arm-shaped receiving devices provided on the container side, such as the back of the lid or the bottom of the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-49173 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The structure described in Patent Document 1 is suitable for disposable containers where the contents are consumed in one go. However, it does not take into consideration the need to consume the contents little by little over a long period of time, and the operability when repeatedly attaching and detaching the spoon is not good.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide cutlery having a structure that allows it to be easily attached to and detached from a container repeatedly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is cutlery. This cutlery includes a support portion for supporting an object, a handle portion connected to the support portion, and a fitting portion having a cylindrical peripheral wall and provided on the handle portion.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is a cutlery container comprising the cutlery according to the first aspect and a container having an attachment portion into which the fitting portion can enter and fit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The cutlery according to the present invention has a structure that allows it to be easily attached to and detached from a container repeatedly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a spoon according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cutlery container with the spoon attached thereto. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cutlery container with a spoon attached. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a recess in which a spoon is attached. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a spoon according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a spoon 1, which is a cutlery according to this embodiment. Spoon 1 comprises a spoon part (support part) 10 that supports a scooped object, and a handle part 20 connected to spoon part 10.

[0012] A fitting portion 30 for attaching the spoon to a container (described below) is provided at a position on the handle 20 corresponding to the longitudinal center of the spoon 1. The fitting portion 30 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 31 that rises from the handle 20 and a top surface (reinforcing surface) 36 connected to the peripheral wall. The axis of the cylindrical shape formed by the peripheral wall 31 and the top surface 36 form a substantially right angle. In the handle 20, the front side 20a connected to the spoon part 10 and the rear side 20b are not directly connected, but are connected by the fitting portion 30.

[0013] The upper side of Fig. 2 is a view of spoon 1 as seen from the side, and Fig. 3 is a view of spoon 1 as seen from above. As shown in Fig. 2, fitting portion 30 of this embodiment protrudes upward, opposite to the downward side from which spoon portion 10 protrudes.

[0014] 3, a plurality of protrusions 32 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 31. In this embodiment, three protrusions 32 are provided at equal intervals around the axis of the cylindrical shape of the peripheral wall 31. 3, three arc-shaped slits 37 are formed in the top surface 36 of the peripheral wall 31. In terms of the phase around the axis of the peripheral wall 31, each protrusion 32 is located within the range in which the slits 37 are formed. In other words, the protrusions 32 and the slits 37 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0015] Due to the above-described structure, each protrusion 32 is arranged so that it does not face any other protrusion across the axis of the peripheral wall 31. In the direction directly opposite the axis of the peripheral wall 31, there are bridges 38 located between adjacent slits. The bridges 38 also function to connect the central portion, which will be described later, to the peripheral wall 31.

[0016] A central portion 39 of the top surface 36 surrounded by the slits 37 is recessed in a spherical shape. In other words, the central portion 39 protrudes and curves in a spherical shape downward, which is one side of the axial direction of the peripheral wall 31.

[0017] Each part of the spoon 1 can be manufactured by injection molding using a resin. There are no particular restrictions on the resin, and various known resins can be selected, but if polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), etc. are used, the present invention can also be suitably applied to pharmaceutical containers.

[0018] When manufacturing spoon 1 by injection molding, it is preferable to position the resin injection port (gate) into the mold at fitting portion 30, as this ensures that the resin flow path lengths at the front and rear are roughly the same. Resin injected from fitting portion 30 flows to the front and rear through the bridge 38 and peripheral wall 31, ensuring a sufficient supply of resin to each portion and smooth molding. Positioning the gate at center portion 39 prevents the gate residue from coming into contact with the user's fingers after molding, preventing discomfort during use.

[0019] 4 is a diagram showing a cutlery container 100 equipped with a spoon 1. The cutlery container 100 comprises the spoon 1 and a container 50 for containing contents, and the spoon 1 is removably attached to a lid 51 of the container 50.

[0020] 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cutlery container 100 with the spoon 1 attached. The spoon 1 is attached to the container 50 by inserting the fitting part 30 into the recess (attachment part) 52 provided in the lid 51 and fitting with the lid 51. In this embodiment, the upper edge of the spoon part 10 is at the same height as the handle part 20, and is shaped so that the spoon part 10 does not interfere when attached to the container 50.

[0021] 6 is an enlarged view showing the inside of recess 52 in the attached state. Recess 52 has a substantially cylindrical internal space into which fitting portion 30 can enter, and has engaging ridges 53 that protrude around the entire circumference on the inner circumferential surface. The inner diameter of the portion where engaging ridges 53 are provided is slightly smaller than the radial dimension (dimension passing through the axis of peripheral wall 31) of the portion of fitting portion 30 where protrusions 32 are provided.

[0022] When the fitting portion 30 enters the recess 52, the protrusion 32 comes into contact with the engaging ridge 53. When the user lightly presses the fitting portion 30, the peripheral wall 31 deforms, and the protrusion 32, which has come into contact with the engaging ridge 53, is displaced so as to approach the axis of the peripheral wall 31. As a result, the protrusion 32 climbs over the engaging ridge 53, allowing the fitting portion 30 to enter further inside.

[0023] Since the protrusion 32 that has climbed over the engaging ridge 53 returns to its original position, the fitting part 30 is held in the recess 52 in a state where it is difficult to remove, and the spoon 1 remains attached to the container 50. When the user lightly pulls the fitting part 30, the protrusion 32 climbs over the engaging ridge 53 again, and the spoon 1 can be removed from the container 50.

[0024] The top surface 36, which connects the peripheral wall 31 horizontally, suppresses excessive deformation of the peripheral wall 31 when the protrusion 32 rides over the engaging ridge 53, preventing damage to the fitting portion 30, while also suppressing displacement of the protrusion 32. In this embodiment, the top surface is provided with a slit 37, which coincides with the phase in which the protrusion 32 is formed, so that the protrusion 32 can be displaced by narrowing the width of the slit 37. In other words, the fitting portion 30 according to this embodiment achieves both damage prevention and smooth displacement of the protrusion 32.

[0025] 6 is preferably at least twice the protrusion length P1 of the protrusion 32. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of suitably preventing damage to the fitting portion 30, the width W1 is preferably no more than 10 times the protrusion length P1.

[0026] As explained above, in the container with cutlery 100 according to this embodiment, the spoon 1 can be easily attached to the container 50 by inserting the fitting portion 30 of the spoon 1 into the recess 52 of the container 50. It is also easy to remove, and the attached state is stably maintained even after repeated attachment operations. Therefore, it can be suitably used even in a configuration in which the contents stored in the container 50 are taken out little by little and used continuously for a long period of time.

[0027] The engaging ridges 53 provided in the recess 52 are provided along the entire circumference, so that no matter what position the spoon 1 is attached in, they will reliably come into contact with the protrusions 32. Therefore, even if the spoon 1 rotates relative to the container 50 after attachment, the engaging ridges 53 will stably function as a stopper.

[0028] Furthermore, since the central portion 39 of the top surface 36 is curved downward, it is more likely to be compressed and deformed in the radial direction of the fitting portion 30 than if it were flat. This also contributes to the smooth displacement of the protrusion when attached.

[0029] As mentioned above, in the fitting portion 30 of the spoon 1, the multiple protrusions 32 are arranged so that two protrusions 32 do not face each other across the axis of the peripheral wall 31. This prevents the accumulation of size variations in the protrusions during molding, making it less likely that the yield will decrease during manufacturing. Furthermore, since there is no direction in which two directly opposing protrusions must overcome the engaging ridge 53, they can be attached without requiring a great deal of force.

[0030] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. In the following description, components common to those already described will be assigned the same reference numerals and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0031] 7 to 12 show spoon 101, which is cutlery according to this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front view of spoon 101. FIG. 8 is a left side view of spoon 101. FIG. 9 is a right side view of spoon 101. FIG. 10 is a rear view of spoon 101. FIG. 11 is a plan view of spoon 101. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of spoon 101.

[0032] Many parts of the spoon 101 are similar to the spoon 1 according to the first embodiment, but spoon 101 differs in that the peripheral wall 31 of the fitting portion 30 is not provided with a protrusion. The operation of spoon 101 when in use is also generally similar to that of the first embodiment, and spoon 101 can be attached to the container by inserting fitting portion 30 into an attachment portion provided corresponding to the container. Since spoon 101 does not have a protrusion on fitting portion 30, it has the advantage that it can be removed from the container with a relatively small force after being attached.

[0033] In this embodiment, the mounting portion such as recess 52 provided in the container may or may not have an engaging ridge on its inner surface, as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, there is no engagement between the protrusion and the engaging ridge, so the effect of maintaining a stable mounting state is not as good as in the first embodiment, but there is an advantage in that when an external force acts on the mounted spoon 101 and the fitting portion is about to unintentionally come out of the recess, interference with the engaging ridge prevents unintentional deviation.

[0034] Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and configuration changes and combinations within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included. Some examples of changes are shown below, but these are not all inclusive, and other changes are also possible. Two or more of these changes may be combined as appropriate.

[0035] The shape of the peripheral wall at the fitting part is not limited to the cylindrical shape described above, but can be set as appropriate, such as a polygonal cylindrical shape. A cylindrical shape has the advantage that the orientation of the cutlery when attached is not restricted, so it can be attached without considering the orientation. On the other hand, if the peripheral wall is not rotationally symmetrical, the cutlery will always be attached in a specific orientation, which is useful when you want to determine the orientation when attached.

[0036] In the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the size relationship between the fitting portion and the handle portion. Therefore, although the above embodiment shows an example in which the fitting portion protrudes on both sides of the handle portion in the width direction, the fitting portion may be provided so as to fit within the width of the handle portion.

[0037] If the number of slits and protrusions in the mating portion is odd, it is easier to achieve an arrangement in which two protrusions do not face each other across the axis of the peripheral wall, but an even number can also be achieved by arranging them unequal intervals. Furthermore, since the amount of force required for installation tends to increase as the number of protrusions increases, the number of slits and protrusions shown in the embodiment is three, which is the most preferable. By adjusting the rigidity of the mating portion, it is also possible to achieve the same effect even when two protrusions face each other across the axis of the peripheral wall. The shape of the slit is not limited to an arc shape, but may be other shapes such as a straight line.

[0038] The protruding direction of the fitting part is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, and may be, for example, protruding in the same direction as the protruding spoon part. However, the embodiment shown in the drawings has the advantage that the inside of the spoon part 10 dries easily even if a spoon washed with water is attached as is, allowing for hygienic storage of the spoon, and that when the spoon is attached to the top of the lid, dust and dirt are less likely to get inside the spoon part, allowing for hygienic storage of the spoon.

[0039] The relationship between the longitudinal dimension of the cutlery and the dimensions of the container can be set appropriately depending on the usage mode, etc. Making the longitudinal dimension less than the height of the container has the advantage that cutlery can be stored inside the container after use, and the cutlery will not pop out vertically when packaged along the container during distribution. Making the longitudinal dimension longer than the inner diameter of the container has the advantage that the cutlery will not lie completely flat when placed inside the container, making it easier to take out the next time it is used. If the longitudinal dimension is equal to or less than the width or radial dimension of the container, the cutlery will not protrude horizontally when attached as shown in FIG. 4, which is advantageous in that it is easy to store in the attached state.

[0040] The location of the attachment part in the container is not limited to the lid, but may be, for example, the side of the body sealed by the lid. However, providing it on the lid has the advantage that the attachment part is easily visible when opening and closing the container, and that it is easier for the user to intuitively understand how to attach and detach the spoon. The shape of the engaging portion is not limited to the engaging ridge described above, and may be, for example, a groove into which the protrusion can enter.

[0041] The cutlery according to the present invention is not limited to the spoon described above, but may be a fork, knife, chopsticks, etc. In the case of chopsticks, each of the two chopsticks may be provided with a structure that functions as a fitting portion when the two chopsticks are put together. The container with cutlery may include multiple pieces of cutlery, and the container may be provided with multiple attachment portions.

[0042] There are no particular restrictions on the contents stored inside the container, and it can be used to store a wide range of items, including medicines, food, detergents, and various industrial materials. There are also no particular restrictions on the type of contents, and anything that can be taken out with cutlery, such as powders, granules, liquids, and gels, can be used.

[0043] The container with cutlery according to the present invention may be distributed without any contents contained in the container. By distributing it in this manner, it can be used as a container for eating and drinking outdoors. When distributed in this manner, the cutlery may be attached to the container or may be packaged without being attached. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 spoon (cutlery) 10 Spoon part (support part) 20 Handle 30 Fitting part 31 Peripheral wall 32 Protrusion 36 Top surface (reinforced surface) 37 Slit 38 Bridge 39 Central part 50 Containment Unit 51 Lid 52 Recess (mounting part) 53 Engagement ridge (engagement portion) 100 cutlery containers

Claims

1. a support portion that supports an object; a handle connected to the support; a fitting portion having a cylindrical peripheral wall and provided on the handle portion; Equipped with Cutlery.

2. The fitting portion has a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall.

2. The cutlery of claim 1.

3. The fitting portion has a reinforcing surface connected to the peripheral wall.

3. Cutlery according to claim 2.

4. The reinforcing surface is The center and a plurality of slits spaced apart around the central portion and extending through the reinforcing surface; a bridge provided between adjacent slits, 4. Cutlery according to claim 3.

5. The central portion protrudes in the axial direction of the peripheral wall and is curved.

5. Cutlery according to claim 4.

6. The fitting portion is provided in an area including the longitudinal center of the cutlery.

2. The cutlery of claim 1.

7. Each of the protrusions faces one of the bridges across the axis of the peripheral wall.

5. Cutlery according to claim 4.

8. three of the protrusions and three of the bridges are provided; 8. Cutlery according to claim 7.

9. The peripheral wall is cylindrical.

2. The cutlery of claim 1.

10. A cutlery according to any one of claims 1 to 9; a container having a mounting portion into which the fitting portion can enter and fit; Equipped with Container with cutlery.

11. The cutlery according to claim 2; a container having a mounting portion into which the fitting portion can enter and fit; Equipped with The mounting portion has an engaging portion that engages with the protrusion. Container with cutlery.

12. The container has a lid, The mounting portion is provided on the lid. The container with cutlery according to claim 10.

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