Author: Northstar Maintenance Management Inc. DBA CompostitALL.com
Date of Publication: July 03, 2025
This disclosure documents the functional geometry of a tapered cutlery handle that enables reliable stacking and dispensing in tab-friendly or gravity-fed cutlery dispensers. The handle narrows to approximately 3.2 mm at the insertion end, which supports proper nesting and release.
This functional geometry is known to be in use in the industry, including by the Preserve brand, and has not, to our knowledge, been the subject of a granted utility or design patent. This document is not intended to claim original invention of the taper geometry. Rather, it is published to serve as prior art and prevent future patent attempts on the taper's functionality.
We developed our version of this design to meet the needs of customers requiring certified compostable cutlery and dispenser compatibility, including the integration of BPI certification and branded ornamentation. This taper is functional in nature and should not be considered protectable by patent. This tapered handle design has been in commercial use in the compostable cutlery industry since approximately 2017, including by brands such as Preserve. The image to the right and above in the viewable PDF shows representative examples of cutlery incorporating this taper and overall design.
This defensive publication is not a patent application. It serves as public prior art only.