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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to food utensils and, in particular, to utensils having portions configured for pushing, grasping and otherwise manipulating food.

2. Description of the Related Art Specialized food utensils have long been used for cooking, handling and eating food.

Tongs are food utensils that comprise two arm members joined by a hinge. Chopsticks are food utensils that are traditionally an independent arm used in pairs when cooking, handling and eating food. Conventional tong arms and chopsticks have proximal and distal ends, and are held by a user at a handling portion of the arm or chopstick near the proximal end thereof. A food-grabbing portion of the tong arm or chopstick is located at or near the distal end thereof. Typically, chopsticks are smooth sticks or members used in pairs, held in one hand at the handling portions such that the food-grabbing portions may be used to push, grasp and/or carry food from a bowl or plate to the user's mouth. During cooking, the tongs or chopsticks may be used to stir, turn or otherwise manipulate food. Many new users find traditional chopsticks difficult to use. Some of the difficulty arises from the fact that the sticks are not connected to each other and can be difficult to position within and manipulate in one hand to push, grab or carry food. To address this difficulty, it is known in the art to provide a mechanical hinge at or near the proximal ends of the chopsticks, so that the chopsticks resemble a miniature set of tongs. However, providing a hinge adds significantly to the cost of manufacturing chopsticks, and the use of hinged chopsticks may be looked down upon by users of traditional chopsticks. Another difficulty in the use of chopsticks and tongs is that once food is caught between the sticks or arms, the food may easily slide or slip from the grasp due to the generally smooth surface of the distal or food grabbing portion of the sticks or arms. One approach to address this problem in a hinged chopstick utensil is shown in United States Patent Number 6,454,328, where cross-wise serrations in ends of the two chopsticks of the utensil are provided. The serrations are formed on flattened, mutually-facing (i.e., "inside") surfaces of the chopsticks, and the serrated surfaces remain facing each other by virtue of the hinge formed by enlarged portions 25 and 28 and the axle 24. The inventor has discovered that serrations and other food-grabbing surface textures on conventional chopsticks meant to facilitate gripping food, such as grooves or dimples, have short-lived effectiveness because the serrations, grooves and dimples are typically sized such that they become impacted with food and then fail to provide a textured gripping surface. Accordingly, the inventor has discovered that a need exists for an improved food utensil that overcomes the shortcomings of conventional food utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in one aspect in a food utensil including a first part and a second part. The first part has a receiving end and a gripping end. The receiving end includes a bore. The gripping end includes a textured portion configured for pushing, grasping, carrying, stirring, turning and manipulating food. The second part has an extending end and a handling portion. The extending end including a tenon. The tenon and the bore selectively provide a connection of the first part and the second part.

In one embodiment, the textured portion of the first part includes a plurality of protrusions disposed circumferentially around a longitudinal surface of the gripping end. The protrusions are each formed by a plurality of intersecting grooves in the longitudinal surface. In one embodiment, the intersecting grooves have varying widths in relation to the longitudinal surface. In one embodiment, the intersecting grooves have varying depths in relation to the longitudinal surface.

In one embodiment, the utensil further includes a carrying case. The carrying case includes a tray portion and a lid coupled to the tray portion. The tray portion defines an inner volume and has a floor. Seating projections extend upwardly from the floor and are configured to engage and secure the first part and the second part of the utensil with the inner volume of the carrying case. In one embodiment, the carrying case is configured to secure one or more pairs of the utensil in parallel, side-by side relation.

In one embodiment, a pair of tongs including two of the food utensils hingedly coupled at respective handling portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a food utensil according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of one end of the food utensil of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is cross-sectional view of the food utensil of Fig. 2 taken at line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevational view of a portion of the food utensil of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is schematic partial elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a food utensil as described herein;

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, of another embodiment of a food utensil as described herein;

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of a pair of food utensils including a food utensil similar to the utensil of Fig. 1 ;

Fig 8 is an elevational view of a pair of hinged food utensils according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is an end view of the food utensil of Fig. 2 taken along line 9-9;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view of a food utensil according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the utensil of Fig. 10 in a carrying case according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a novel configuration of an elongate member for use individually or in pairs as food utensils. It should be appreciated that, in accordance with the present invention, a food utensil broadly includes a device for pushing, grasping, carrying, stirring, turning and otherwise manipulating food whether from a bowl, plate or the like, when eating, or in a pot, pan, wok, or the like, when cooking. The elongate member has two ends, a longitudinal axis that extends from one end to the other, and a longitudinal surface extending from the first end to the second end. In one embodiment, the longitudinal surface has a textured configuration at one end, to facilitate manipulating, grabbing and holding food, and a smooth end opposite the textured end. In one embodiment, the smooth end is tapered.

Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a food utensil 10 including an elongate member having a textured end configured as, for example, a chopstick. The chopstick 10 has a longitudinal axis A, a first end 12, a second end 14, an intermediate portion 15 between the first end 12 and the second end 14, and a longitudinal surface 16 extending from the first end 12 to the second end 14. A portion 17 of the longitudinal surface 16 of the chopstick 10 at the first end 12 is textured over an axial length T as described further herein. In one embodiment, the second end 14 has a smooth surface and is tapered in its width from a larger width proximate the intermediate portion 15 to a smaller width terminating at the second end 14. As such, the second end 14 resembles a food-handling end of a traditional chopstick.

In one embodiment, the intermediate portion 15 includes at least one surface portion 15a having indicia 30 affixed to, or made a part of the surface portion 15a by means of, for example, a label, direct printing, etching, carving, molding, or the like. The indicia 30 may include, for example, advertising information, source or event designation identification, and the like, such that the food utensil 10 may serve as a gift or memento of an event of interest or special occasion celebrated by the source or at the event designation.

As is illustrated in Fig. 2, the textured surface portion 17 at the first end 12 comprises a plurality of protrusions 18 disposed circumferentially around the first end 12 of the elongate member 10. In one embodiment, a plurality of intersecting grooves 20, 22 define the protrusions 18. For example, the protrusions extend upwardly from the grooves 20, 22 in a direction toward the longitudinal surface 16. One method for forming such protrusions 18 is to start with a chopstick having a generally smooth longitudinal surface 16 that extends a length of the chopstick, and then forming (by cutting, machining or any other method known in the art) a plurality of longitudinal grooves 20 and a plurality of circumferential grooves 22 that intersect the longitudinal grooves 20. The intersecting grooves 20, 22 define the protrusions 18. As can be appreciated, it is within the scope of the present invention to employ other methods of forming the protrusions 18. For example, the chopstick 10 including the protrusions 18 may be molded from a suitable material such as, for example, plastic, polypropylene, polyphenylene, polystyrene or like thermoplastic material.

If the exterior surfaces of the protrusions 18 are not further processed (e.g., machined or sanded down), the longitudinally aligned exterior surfaces of the protrusions are co-planar with each other and with the longitudinal surface 16 of the chopstick 10. In one embodiment, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9, the protrusions 18 extend a same length PL from a core 40 portion of the chopstick 10 in a direction of the longitudinal surface 16. In one embodiment the length PL is about 0.078 inch (0.2 cm). The core portion 40, however, is tapered from a larger width or diameter proximate the intermediate portion 15 of the chopstick 10 at, for example, a longitudinal position 40a, to a smaller width or diameter of the first end 12 at, for example, a longitudinal position 40b. In one embodiment, the larger width is about 0.188 inch (0.5 cm) and the smaller width is about 0.125 inch (0.3 cm). Accordingly, the protrusions 18 appear tapered from the larger width down to the smaller width.

Optionally, as shown, the core 40 may be asymmetric by, for example, varying a depth of the grooves 20, 22. For example, the longitudinal grooves 20 each have a same depth DL (Fig. 3) from the longitudinal surface 16, and the circumferential grooves 22 each have a same depth DC (Fig. 4) from the longitudinal surface 16. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the depths DL of the longitudinal grooves 20 are the same as the depths DC of the circumferential grooves 22. However, the present invention is not limited to grooves of uniform depth, and in other embodiments within the scope of this invention, the depths DC of the circumferential grooves 22 may be different from each other (e.g., DC vs. DC", Fig 5) and/or different from the depths DL of the longitudinal grooves 20, which may also differ from each other (e.g., DL' vs. DL", Fig. 6). As illustrated in Fig 6, the widths of the grooves may vary as well (see, e.g., WL vs. WL', Fig 6). It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to protrusions whose exterior surfaces are co- planar with the longitudinal surface 16 of the chopstick 10, as the exterior surfaces of one or more of the protrusions 18 may be ground down (see surface 18a, Fig 6), or augmented, to vary from the longitudinal surface 16. For example, in one embodiment, each edge or corner of a protrusion is chamfered or includes a radius. Similarly, edges or corners of the intermediate portion 15 and second end 16 may be chamfered or include a radius. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention to form the protrusions in a variety of other ways, for example, by forming two oppositely winding spiral grooves in the surface of the chopstick, or by molding the chopstick from a moldable material, using a mold that is configured to provide protrusions on an outer surface of the molded chopstick. Alternatively, the chopstick may be provided with protrusions by attaching protrusion members around the end of a chopstick having a smooth end.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the protrusions are spaced so that when the chopstick 10 is used to manipulate food, the food does not accumulate in the grooves between the protrusions. In a particular embodiment, the longitudinal spacing of the protrusions 18 (e.g., a width WC (Fig. 4) of the circumferential grooves 22) and the circumferential spacing between adjacent protrusions 18 (e.g., a width WL (Fig. 9) of the longitudinal grooves 20) may each be about 0.062 inch (0.2 cm). Optionally, an axial length LP (Fig. 2) of protrusions 18 may be about 0.062 inch (0.2 cm) as well. However, the invention is not limited in this regard, as these various dimensions DL, DC, WC, and WL may be varied without departing from the invention. In one embodiment, upper portions 18a of the protrusions 18 are each of uniform width along the longitudinal surface 16. In another embodiment, one or more of upper portions 18a of the protrusions 18 have a wider width along the longitudinal surface than remaining upper portions. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9, the intersecting grooves define four (4) protrusions at predetermined longitudinal points about the length of the chopstick 10 and a first pair of protrusions is of a first width LPl and a second pair of protrusions is of a second width LP2, where the first width LPl is wider than the second width LP2. In one embodiment, LPl is about 0.046 inch (0.1 cm) and LP2 is about 0.039 inch (0.1 cm).

In Fig. 7, two chopsticks 10 are shown as a pair for use as, for example, eating utensils, wherein food is grasped between mutually facing food-grabbing inside surfaces 16a of the chopsticks. One advantage of having protrusions 18 disposed circumferentially around a chopstick is that even if one or both chopsticks are rolled axially in the user's hand, mutually facing food-grabbing surfaces 16a will always have protrusions on one chopstick facing protrusions on the other. If protrusions were provided only on one side of a chopstick, as are the serrations shown in aforesaid United States Patent Number 6,454,328, the food-gripping function of the protrusions would be dependent upon a specific orientation of the chopsticks in the user's hand. That is, the protrusions could only cooperate to grab food if the chopsticks were oriented in the user's hand such that the protrusions on each chopstick faced towards the other chopstick. In the absence of a retaining device such as a hinge between the chopsticks, a new user may find it difficult to avoid rolling one or both chopsticks in his or her hand, and so may easily loose the benefit of the protrusions formed only on one side of a chopstick. Therefore, an advantage resulting from having protrusions disposed circumferentially around the end of the chopstick is that the user is assured of the food-gripping benefit of the protrusions regardless of the orientation of the chopstick in the hand and without the need for a hinge or other orientation-fixing device.

Another advantage attained by some embodiments of the present invention relates to the fact that certain foods, when grabbed between the mutually facing, inside grabbing surfaces of the elongated members, drape over the food- grabbing ends 12 of the elongate members 10 from between the mutually-facing inside surfaces 16a and rest against one or both of outside surfaces 16b. This occurs, for example, with noodles and certain vegetable leaves (cabbage, spinach, seaweed, etc.). By providing protrusions on both the inside grabbing surfaces 16a and the outside surfaces 16b, a utensil according to embodiments of the present invention provides additional traction with which to hold such food, even when the utensil is used in a hinged pair, e.g., as hinged chopsticks or as tongs 20 (Fig. 8). Moreover, by providing in some embodiments utensils 10 that are textured at one end (e.g., the first end 12) and smooth and optionally tapered at the other end (e.g., the second end 14) (see Fig. 1), the invention provides a utensil that is appropriate for users of chopsticks who wish to take advantage of the food-gripping textured surface and also appropriate for those comfortable with traditional, smooth-ended chopsticks.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited with regard to the material from which the utensil is formed, and that any material suitable for the manufacture of a traditional chopstick or tong (wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, etc.) may be used to make a utensil as described herein. Similarly, it should be understood that the utensil and, in particular, the elongate member may be comprised of a member having a round, square, rectangular or like, cross-section. In another embodiment, an elongate member useful individually or in pairs as a food utensil such as chopsticks comprises separably interconnected and/or substitutable parts. For example, a chopstick indicated at 60 in Fig. 10 comprises a first part 62 and a second part 64. The first part 62 and the second part 64 are configured so that they can be selectively assembled for use and disassembled for storage and/or transport. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the first part 62 has a receiving end 62a in which a central bore or void 62b is formed. The central bore 62b serves, for example, as a mortise. The second part 64 has an extending end 64a from which extends, for example, a tenon 64b. The mortise 62b and the tenon 64b cooperate to selectively provide a press fit connection of the first part 62 and the second part 64. The tenon 64b is inserted into the mortise 62b by hand, as indicated by arrow 66. While the receiving end 62a and the extending end 64a are configured to be joined in a mortise and tenon connection, the invention is not limited in this regard, and in other embodiments other types of joinery configurations may be used, e.g., the receiving end 62a and the extending end 64a may engage each other in a screw- thread engagement so that the first part 62 (e.g., having internal, female threads) and the second part 64 (e.g., having external, male threads) can be screwed together and unscrewed apart, as desired. In another embodiment, the receiving end 62a and the extending end 64a may be configured for a bayonet mount engagement (e.g., where the receiving end 62a has one or more slots and the extending end 64a has one or more pins mating to the slots), or any other suitable joinery configuration. In one embodiment, one or more projections 64c protrude from a surface of the tenon 64b and are received by corresponding recesses 62c within a surface of the mortise 62b. The projections 64c and mating recesses 62c cooperate to further ensure a secure coupling of the tenon 64b and the mortise 62b in the press fit connection. The first part 62 further includes a first or gripping end 68 and the second part 64 further includes a second handling end 70. In one embodiment, the first gripping end 68 has a textured portion 72 formed on a longitudinal surface 68a which is configured in a similar way as the portion 17 of the food utensil 10 described above. For example, the textured portion 72 includes a plurality of protrusions 118 disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal surface 68a of the first gripping end 68. In one embodiment, a plurality of intersecting grooves 120, 122 define the protrusions 118. For example, the grooves include a plurality of longitudinal grooves 120 and a plurality of circumferential grooves 122 that intersect the longitudinal grooves 120 (similar to grooves 20 and 22 of Fig. T). Moreover, it is within the scope of the present invention to vary length, width and depth of the protrusions 118 and the grooves 120 and 122, as is described above with respect to the protrusions 18 and the grooves 20 and 22 of Figs. 2-6. In one embodiment, the second handling end 70 is tapered and has a smooth longitudinal surface 70a similar to the second end 14 of the food utensil 10. However, the invention is not limited in this regard, and in other embodiments either or both of the first gripping end 68 and the second handling end 70 may be configured and/or textured differently.

In one embodiment, one or both of the first part 62 and the second part 64 may include a plurality of optional configurations such that, for example, different configurations of protrusions and grooves (e.g., varying length, width and depth of protrusions 118 and grooves 120 and 122) of the first part 62, or the handle or handling portion 70 of the second part 64 such that different configurations may be selectively substituted and used depending on, for example, an intended use or a nature of foods to be cooked and/or eaten. For example, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide one embodiment of the first part 62 having relatively large protrusions 118 that may facilitate cooking and to provide another embodiment of the first part 62 having relatively small protrusions 118 more suitable for eating. In one embodiment, the plurality of optional configurations may be provided in a form of a kit such that the food utensil 60 may be utilized in a plurality of differing situations, for example, as a larger general cooking and/or serving utensil as well as a smaller personal eating utensil.

In one embodiment, the chopstick 60 may be stored and/or transported in a disassembled state, either individually or in one or more pairs, in a carrying case indicated at 74 in Fig. 11. The carrying case 74 has a tray portion 76 defining an interior volume 76b which is sized to receive therein the first part 62 and the second part 64, for example, in a parallel, side-by side relation. In one embodiment, the carrying case 74 includes seating projections 78 extending upwardly from a floor 76a of the tray portion 76. The seating projections 78 configured to engage and secure the first part 62 and the second part 64 with the tray portion 76 in a releasable press or snap fit, so that the user can remove the first part 62 and the second part 64 from the projections with minimal force for use and then replace them in the case 74 afterward. While shown and described as projections 78 extending upwardly from the floor 76a of the tray portion 76, it should be appreciated that in another embodiment the projections 78 may be recesses in the floor 76a of the tray portion 76 and include pins or projections within the recesses for retaining the first part 62 and the second part 64 within the recesses.

The case includes a lid 80 connected to the tray portion by a hinge 82 on one edge of the lid 80. The tray portion 76 and the lid 80 include mutually-engaging snap-fit fasteners 84 and 86, respectively, which serve to keep the lid closed until released by the user. In one embodiment, the lid 80 may be comprised of a clear plastic such that the interior of the tray portion 76 is visible when the lid 80 is closed. In one embodiment, an exterior surface 80a of the lid 80 includes indicia affixed to, or made a part of the exterior surface by means of, for example, a label, direct printing, etching, carving, molding, or the like. The indicia may include, for example, decorative writing or graphics, advertising information, source or event designation identification, and the like, such that the food utensil 60 may serve as a gift or memento of an event of interest or special occasion celebrated by the source or at the event designation.

The terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms "a" and

"an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, upon a reading and understanding of the foregoing disclosure, that numerous variations and alterations to the disclosed embodiments will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention and of the appended claims.