1. A method of compacting a door-mounted airbag, the airbag having a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel, the method comprising:
folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the first edge to create a first set of folds so that the first set of folds has a last fold, wherein the last fold in the first set of folds defines a pivot point proximate the vertex; and
subsequently radially folding the airbag about the pivot point proximate the vertex to create a second set of folds.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the pivot point is positioned at the first edge.
3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the pivot point is positioned at the vertex.
4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the pivot point is positioned at a vertex of the airbag.
5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first set of folds is comprised of more than one fold.
6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the second set of folds is comprised of more than one fold.
7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the folds used to form the first set of folds may be an accordion fold, a roll fold, a compression fold, or any combination thereof.
8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the radial fold used to form the second set of folds may be an accordion fold, a compression fold, or any combination thereof.
9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the airbag lacks a fold that has a direction parallel to a compacted length.
10. A door-mounted airbag comprising a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel, wherein the airbag is folded along an axis that is substantially normal to the first edge to create a first set of folds, wherein a last fold in the first set of folds contacts the vertex, the airbag also being radially folded about a pivot point to create a second set of folds.
11. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the pivot point is positioned at the first edge.
12. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the pivot point is positioned at the vertex.
13. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the first set of folds is comprised of more than one fold.
14. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the second set of folds is comprised of more than one fold.
15. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the folds used to form the first set of folds may be an accordion fold, a roll fold, a compression fold, or any combination thereof.
16. An airbag as in claim 10 wherein the radial fold used to form the second set of folds may be an accordion fold, a compression fold, or any combination thereof.
17. A method of compacting a door-mounted airbag, the airbag having a first edge, a first interior angle with a vertex, the airbag having a top edge and bottom edge that are substantially parallel and an overall length greater that the length of the bottom edge, the method comprising:
folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to an ideal first edge to create a first set of folds, wherein a last fold in the first set of folds is proximate the vertex, wherein the ideal first edge is the edge that would exist if the airbag had the first edge parallel to a second edge; and
subsequently radially folding the airbag about a pivot point proximate the vertex to create a second set of folds, thereby reducing the overall length of the airbag as folded to approximately the length of the bottom edge.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A configuration of disposable cutlery comprising:
a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces suitable for loading in a disposable cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, and wherein the plurality is in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading of the plurality into a cutlery dispenser, wherein each piece comprises a solid handle.
2. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the plurality is constrained by a band prior to loading into the cutlery dispenser.
3. The configuration of claim 2, wherein the band comprises paperboard and a flexible polymeric material.
4. The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the lower side of the piece comprises a raised portion at an end portion.
5. The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the upper side of the piece is substantially smooth, thereby providing a plurality that exhibits reduced interlocking when loaded in the cutlery dispenser.
6. The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the upper side of the piece is substantially smooth, thereby providing a plurality that exhibits reduced interlocking when loaded in the cutlery dispenser.
7. A disposable cutlery piece comprising:
a) a food contact portion;
b) a handle having an upper side and a lower side and a handle end portion, wherein the lower side of the handle end portion comprises a protuberance suitable to provide a plurality of at least 10 cutlery pieces in a substantially unfanned orientation, and where the handle upper side is substantially smooth.
8. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
a housing;
at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery disposed in the housing, the banded stack comprising:
a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed adjacent one another to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and
at least one band disposed about the stack, the band having a tearable portion disposed therein.
9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing has a vertically oriented opening to allow user access to the stack of cutlery disposed therein.
10. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing has at least one door configured to allow access to the banded stack.
11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing has a top configured to load the banded stack therein.
12. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing has at least one handle disposed thereon, wherein the handle is configured to release the cutlery from the housing.
13. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing is vertically oriented.
14. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises a dispensing portion disposed on a lower portion thereof, and the banded stack is loaded within the housing at an upper portion thereof.
15. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the band is configured to allow the band to be removed from the stack of disposable cutlery in the housing without substantially disturbing the alignment of the other stacked utensils in the dispenser.
16. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
a housing;
at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery disposed in the housing, the banded stack comprising:
a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed adjacent one another
to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and
at least one band disposed about the stack, the band having at least one perforated portion disposed therein.
17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the housing has a vertically oriented opening to allow user access to the stack of cutlery disposed therein.
18. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the housing has at least one handle disposed thereon, wherein the handle is configured to release the cutlery from the housing.
19. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a dispensing portion disposed on a lower portion thereof, and the banded stack is loaded within the housing at an upper portion thereof.
20. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the band is configured to allow the band to be removed from the stack of disposable cutlery in the housing without substantially disturbing the alignment of the other stacked utensils in the dispenser.