266 results about "Cutlery" patented technology

The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to banded packets of disposable cutlery that can be used in the cutlery dispenser of the present invention, as well as other cutlery dispensers that do not use a cartridge therein. The present invention also relates to disposable cutlery that has been adapted to make it better suited to stacking, such as for use in cutlery dispensers that do not include a cartridge.

A cutlery utensil dispenser having at least one utensil compartment and a dispensing mechanism is disclosed. Each utensil compartment is so dimensioned and configured to house a stack of utensils. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive member in operable communication with at least one driven member, each driven member being associated with a respective one of the compartments. Actuation of the drive member causes simultaneous actuation of each driven member that causes a utensil to be dispensed from each compartment in repeatable succession one at a time. Also disclosed is a cutlery utensil dispenser having an electric motor in operable communication with the dispensing mechanism, and a controller in operable communication with the motor. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to computer executable instructions which when executed on the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of a utensil from the utensil compartment by operation of the motor on command.

A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.

A cutlery utensil dispenser has a housing that includes a first zone for holding a utensil to be dispensed, a second zone for receiving the utensil during dispensing, and a third zone for delivering the dispensed utensil to a user. The first, second and third zones are cooperatively configured and adapted to maintain, and present to the user, one end of the utensil ahead of an opposing end of the utensil during a dispensing operation.

A cutlery utensil dispenser having at least one utensil compartment and a dispensing mechanism is disclosed. Each utensil compartment is so dimensioned and configured to house a stack of utensils. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive member in operable communication with at least one driven member, each driven member being associated with a respective one of the compartments. Actuation of the drive member causes simultaneous actuation of each driven member that causes a utensil to be dispensed from each compartment in repeatable succession one at a time. Also disclosed is a cutlery utensil dispenser having an electric motor in operable communication with the dispensing mechanism, and a controller in operable communication with the motor. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to computer executable instructions which when executed on the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of a utensil from the utensil compartment by operation of the motor on command.

A stackable cutlery element having a handle and a functional element shaped onto the handle. To achieve maximum stability, the handle of the cutlery element is designed as a wall with longitudinal ribs arranged on the edge of both sides, so that an essentially H-shaped cross-section is formed. For additional stabilization, an end rib is arranged on the longitudinal end of the handle opposing the functional element on both sides of the wall. The end rib and the two longitudinal ribs on both sides are designed so that when the cutlery elements of this invention are stacked, the end rib and the longitudinal ribs of the first side of a cutlery element engage positively in the end rib and longitudinal ribs of the second side of the further cutlery element to connecting to them in the stacking direction.

In order to reuse dishes, cutlery, glassware and other food service utensils onboard an aircraft, a washing apparatus is provided as a part of the food service system onboard the aircraft. The apparatus includes a service trolley and a washing unit that may be coupled together to form a washing chamber within the trolley. The washing unit is installed within a trolley parking bay in a galley of the aircraft and is connected to a water supply and a power supply. The trolley is equipped with racks for receiving the dirty utensils, and the washing unit is equipped with water spray arms that reach into the trolley into clearance spaces between the racks. The dirty utensils are collected from passengers directly into the service trolley, which is then wheeled into position in the trolley parking bay, and coupled to the washing unit. Thereby, the utensils may be collected, cleaned, stored, and reused, with only minimal handling, cost, and space requirements.

Plastic cutlery and tableware made in at least two parts joinable to form a unitary utensil, serving piece, beverage container or non-food contacting tableware in which the two parts are made of different materials. The materials of the two parts differ in at least one of the following: color, type of plastic, grade of plastic, source of plastic, and additives such as the presence of an anti-microbial agent, transparency, or reflectivity. Food-grade resins, for example, can be used for the heads of cutlery and recycled resins are used for the handles. Heads can be separately metalized and then joined to non-metalized handles. Handles may be made to fit to different types of heads. The two parts of the cutlery may be joined by inserting a tang extending from one into a cavity formed in the other. The two parts of tableware may be joinable by a snap-fit configuration.

A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.

A cutlery implement includes a blade, a handle and a bolster. The bolster is positioned at a balance point, in front of the back edge of the blade. The bolster has a tapered thickness to create a smooth transition from the blade to the handle. The bolster provides a more comfortable gripping portion, such that user may safely grip the cutlery implement at its balance point.

Contoured articles formed in a mold from a fiber slurry are provided. The articles comprise a blend of cellulose fibers and cellulose ester, such as cellulose ester staple fibers. The articles are suitable in a wide array of end uses, including as cups, lids, boxes or pouches, storage containers, trays, plates, food trays, cutlery, coffee cups, coffee cup lid, packaging, bowls, clam shells, bottle caps, straws, covers, and packaging inserts.

A cutlery implement includes a blade, a handle and a bolster. The bolster is positioned at a balance point, in front of the back edge of the blade. The bolster has a tapered thickness to create a smooth transition from the blade to the handle. The bolster provides a more comfortable gripping portion, such that user may safely grip the cutlery implement at its balance point. A cutlery block is configured to store a cutlery implement having a bolster with a tapered thickness such that the blade is safely concealed.

A dishwasher cutlery tray comprises a frame which is withdrawably mounted in a wash-tub and a plurality of inserts arranged in a movable manner on the frame and on which tableware items to be washed can be arranged. At least one first insert and one second insert are arranged on the frame in a horizontally displaceable manner. The cutlery tray further comprises first coupling means for coupling in a releasable manner the first insert to the second insert in such a way that, in a condition of coupling of the first coupling means, the first insert is horizontally displaceable on the frame together with the second insert and in a condition of release of the coupling means the first insert and the second insert are horizontally displaceable on the frame independently to each another.

The tableware of the present invention comprises Ti or a Ti alloy, and has a surface hardened layer comprising a first hardened layer formed in a region from the surface to an arbitrary depth in which nitrogen and oxygen diffuse to form a solid solution, and a second hardened layer. The hardened layer is formed in any region deeper than the first hardened layer. The tableware surface treatment method of the present invention is to form a hardened surface layer. The base material with hard decorative coating of the present invention contains Ti or Ti alloy, and has an internal hardened layer comprising first and second hardened layers on its surface, wherein a hard decorative coated film is formed on the surface of the internal hardened layer. The cutlery of the present invention includes an operating portion and a handle having floating means such as a hollow portion. The invention can obtain the titanium tableware with good long-term scratch resistance and good appearance quality, and increase the decorative value of the tableware. A surface treatment method for obtaining titanium tableware with high productivity is also provided. The invention can provide a base material with a hard decorative coating film with good scratch resistance and high surface hardness and a production method thereof. Since the cutlery and tableware of the present invention can float in water, the cutlery and tableware are unlikely to touch each other. Therefore, the cutlery is not easy to scratch. Plus, the utensils are lightweight and easy to hold.

A plastic cutlery item, fabricated primarily from a plastic material, such as polystyrene, having a metallic coating that imparts to this cutlery item the appearance of metal cutlery or silverware. The plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded using traditional injection molding techniques, and subjected to a vacuum metallizing process in an individualized non-contiguous manner, where a thin metallic layer is deposited on at least one of their surfaces. The resultant items simulate the appearance of solid metal cutlery or tableware. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded from a light-transmitting grade of Polystyrene resin and are coated with a thin stainless steel layer through vacuum sputtering deposition on only one of the surfaces.

A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.

A cutlery tray having a peripheral wall adjoined to a bottom surface, fixed compartments defined by at least a portion of the peripheral wall, an additional wall section and the bottom surface, divider position slots within the fixed compartment, and a removable divider configured to engage and be retained within the fixed compartment at a divider position slot, is disclosed. The removable divider separates utensils within the fixed compartment. A series of divider position slots within at the fixed compartment allow the removable divider to be retained at a plurality of positions. Further, an expandable compartment defined by a second peripheral wall and a second bottom surface which extends from beneath the first peripheral wall and first bottom surface may also be provided. The expandable compartment may include a permanent knife block and, optionally, a removable knife block which attaches to the permanent knife block.

A plastic cutlery dispenser having a base and a cartridge is described. The cartridge may be slideable relative to the base. In some embodiments, the base has a base dispensing mechanism and the cartridge has a cartridge dispensing mechanism configured to mate with the base dispensing mechanism. In some embodiments, when the base and cartridge dispensing mechanisms mate, the cutlery dispenser is configured to dispense cutlery located within the cartridge one piece of cutlery at a time.

This invention relates to new style alloy high-speed steel, especially relates to new style chrome steel system high-speed steel and its heat treatment technique. The weight percentage of the elements is that carbon 0.85-1.05%, silicon 0.2-0.4%, manganese 0.2-0.4%, chrome 9.0-11.0%, tungsten2.5-3.5%, molybdenum 0.6-1.2%, vanadium 0.4-2.0%, nickel 0.1-0.3%, cobalt 0.2-5.0%, niobium 0.8-1.2%, sulfur not more than 0.015%, phosphor not more than 0.02%, the rest is iron. Compared to home made die steel, the toughness and wear resistance of the high-speed steel in this invention is enough, it can be used to make all kinds of cold die, cutting tool, cutlery, and the production cost is low. This invention also provides the heat treating technique of the high-speed steel.

A sink drain utensil catch is provided that is adapted to organize utensil items while cleaning dishes. The device comprises an elongated body structure and an upper flange portion. The body structure comprises a sidewall having a substantially cylindrical profile and a closed lower end. Perforations through the sidewall allow for water to drain therethrough, while the interior is open to accept utensil items therein in a substantially upright manner. The upper flange portion comprises a surface that flares outward and includes an upper rim. The flange portion bears against the sink drain periphery to support the assembly in the sink drain, while one or more notches in the upper rim allow water to bypass the assembly and enter into the sink drain interior when the assembly is deployed. Overall, the device supports utensil items to avoid cuts and jabs from pointed utensil items loosely positioned in the sink water.

Conventional multi-tined implements such as cutlery and serving forks, pitchforks and front-end loader machine forks, all have smooth tine surfaces from which the respective items being picked up and transferred by a user may unintentionally slip off and cause harm. All such implements are provided enhanced ability to retain their respective loads during their intentional transfer by a user by the provision of a plurality of topographic discontinuities on selected load-contacting surfaces of their tines. These topographic discontinuities include small barb-like elements generated by wedge-shaped recesses extending into the tines and / or by barb-like projections extending from the tines into inter-tine gaps between adjacent tines. On thus improved food-handling implements all intersections, corners, edges and points incidental to formation of any topographic discontinuities are smoothed out to prevent physical harm to users.

The present invention is directed to a method of producing a thermoformable composite by crosslinking PHA and PLA together in the presence of an additive to produce PHA and PLA blend and resins having: (a) a Ts value of up to about 180° C.; and (b) a heat distortion index of up to about 160° C. The thermoformable composite is used to make a food or beverage cup, lid, cutlery item, foodservice item, molded tray, or food storage container. The thermoformable composite comprises from about 5% to about 95% by weight of polylactic acid (PLA), from about 5% to about 95% by weight polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer, and from about 0.01% to about 60% additives wherein the PLA and PHAs being crosslink together by intermolecular means to enhance performance and processability.

The invention discloses an anti-jolt take-out-food delivering case easy to clean. The anti-jolt take-out-food delivering box easy to clean comprises an outer shell of the take-out-food delivering case, a cutlery box and meal box holding grooves, wherein the top end of the outer shell of the take-out-food delivering case is provided with an upper cover of the take-out-food delivering case; the front surface of the upper cover of the take-out-food delivering case is provided with hasp mounting bases; the hasp mounting bases are provided with hasp grooves; and two sides of the hasp mounting basesare provided with hasp fixing screws. A plurality of areas are arranged in the take-out-food delivering case and separated by insulation boards, so the taste of dishes is prevented from tainting by each other; cushioning springs are arranged at the lower part of a heat-preserving inner container, so the interior of the take-out-food delivering case is maintained stationary when a take-out-food delivering worker encounters a bumpy road during food delivering; a cover plate is arranged on the meal box holding groove in each area to prevent shaking of a meal box in the case; each meal box holding groove is internally provided a drain outlet, and if soup is sprinkled out, a seal cover of the drain outlet can be opened to discharge the soup in the case; and the take-out-food delivering case isconvenient, fast and time-saving.

The present invention relates to a cutlery rack (21; 41) for a dishwasher (10). The cutlery rack comprises: a support frame (23; 43) surrounding a storage area for the cutleries; a rack bottom (25; 45) with a first and a second side; a first support arrangement (29; 48) for cutleries arranged on said first side of the rack bottom; and a second support (49) arrangement for cutleries arranged on said second side of the rack bottom, wherein the cutlery rack is arranged with either the first or second side of the rack bottom facing upwards. The invention furthermore relates to a dishwasher (10) comprising at least one cutlery rack (21; 41) as defined above.

Plastic cutlery and tableware made in at least two parts joinable to form a unitary utensil, serving piece, beverage container or non-food contacting tableware in which the two parts are made of different materials. The materials of the two parts differ in at least one of the following: color, type of plastic, grade of plastic, source of plastic, and additives such as the presence of an anti-microbial agent, transparency, or reflectivity. Food-grade resins, for example, can be used for the heads of cutlery and recycled resins are used for the handles. Heads can be separately metalized and then joined to non-metalized handles. Handles may be made to fit to different types of heads. The two parts of the cutlery may be joined by inserting a tang extending from one into a cavity formed in the other. The two parts of tableware may be joinable by a snap-fit configuration.

A knife for cutting food products comprises a blade portion, a handle portion, and a bolster. The blade portion has a cutting edge and a spine. The spine is disposed on a top side of the blade portion. The bolster has at least a first thickness and is positioned between the blade portion and the handle portion. The bolster comprises a first generally curved-shape proximal boundary and a second generally curved-shaped distal boundary. The bolster has a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall. A surface depression is disposed between the first generally curved-shape proximal boundary and the second generally curved-shape distal boundary of at least one of the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall. The first generally curved-shape proximal boundary is spaced a distance from the second generally curved-shape distal boundary to receive a thumb of a user on the bolster.

A cutlery support includes first and second upright standards, a blade support, a handle support, and a plurality of separators defining an open area therebetween. Cutlery such as knives are placed on the cutlery support to engage the blade support and the handle support with the blade lying within the open area. The blade support is preferably configured with a blade stopper and cutting edge support, each of which engage the blade at only one point. Smaller pieces of cutlery, such as shears and small knives, may be carried by a cutlery receiver with their blades in an upright orientation lying within the open area. Additional knives having ferromagnetic blades may be held for temporary use by magnets in the upright standards. The standards, blade support, handle support and separators are preferably of a non-porous, transparent and corrosion-resistant material.

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a cutlery basket (2) which is utilized for cutlery such as fork and spoon to be disposed in an effective washing position, and which has a main body (3) wherein the cutlery are disposed, and an auxiliary body (4) that is fitted inside or outside the main body (3) such that the auxiliary body (4) and the main body (3) will be within each other.