AU2009101057A4 - Skewer stick - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 920800 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Cordina Chicken Farms Pty Ltd, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 003 058 428, of 55 Mandoon Road, Girraween, New South Wales, 2145, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Mario Camilleri Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: Skewer stick The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(234361 I _I) 1 SKEWER STICK Technical Field The present invention relates to a skewer stick. 5 Background of the Invention Traditional skewer sticks are long round cross-section sticks having a pointed end typically made from bamboo. The sticks are inserted through food items such as meat or vegetables for cooking same on any suitable cooking appliance, such as a barbecue, frypan, skillet, grill or oven. While generally satisfactory, such skewer sticks 10 do not provide additional features for a user. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the prior art disadvantages or at least provide a useful is alternative. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a skewer stick having: a head portion, and an elongated shaft extending from the head portion and having a pointed distal 20 end; wherein the shaft has a longitudinal length and a maximum transverse width, with the head portion having a transverse width greater than the transverse width of the shaft. The head portion preferably includes an end surface and the shaft extends from the end surface. 25 Preferably, the shaft is square or rectangular in cross-section so as to have four longitudinally extending surfaces, and the head portion has a side surface which is aligned with one of the side surfaces of the shaft.

2 The head portion and the shaft preferably include respective front and rear surfaces which are respectively co-planar with each other. The head portion and the shaft are preferably formed as a single integral unit. The skewer stick is preferably formed from bamboo, wood, plastic or metal. 5 The skewer stick can be between 12cm to 25 long and the head portion is about 3 cm long. Other dimensions of the skewer stick and the head portion are also possible. Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of to example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a skewer stick in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a first side view of the skewer stick of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a second side view of the skewer stick of Figure 1; is Figure 4 is a first perspective view of the skewer stick of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a second perspective view of the skewer stick of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a photograph showing a plurality of the skewer sticks of Figure 1 in use. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 20 Figures 1 to 4 show a skewer stick 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The skewer stick 10 has an elongated body 11 having a first end 12 and a second end 13. The body II includes a head portion 14 at the first end 12 and an elongated shaft 15 extending from the head portion 14 to the second end 13. The second end 13 of the body I1 is shaped to include a sharp point 16. 25 The shaft 15 has a generally rectangular, preferably square, cross-section. The shaft 15 includes opposing side surfaces 17 and 18 and opposing front and rear surfaces 19 and 20.

3 The head portion 14 is flat and generally rectangularly shaped and includes opposing side surfaces 21 and 22 and opposing front and rear surfaces 23 and 24. The head portion also includes a first end surface 25 and a second end surface 26. The first end surface 25 forms the first end 12 of the body 11. The shaft 15 extends from one side 5 section of the second end surface 26. The side surface 22 of the head portion 14 is aligned with the side surface 18 of the shaft 15. The other side surface 21 is spaced from the other side surface 17 of the shaft 15, such that the head portion 14 has a transverse width greater than that of the shaft 15. The head portion front and rear surfaces 23 and 24 are co-planar with the front and rear surfaces 19 and 20 of the shaft 14 such that the head 1o portion 14 and the shaft 15 are of the same thickness. In the preferred embodiment, the head portion 14 and the shaft 14 of the body 11 are formed as a single integral unit, from bamboo, wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material. Typically, the body 11 is about 15cm long with the head portion 14 being about 3 cm long and the shaft 15 being about 12 cm long. Other dimensions of the head is portion 14 and shaft 15 are possible. Figure 5 shows a plurality of the skewer sticks 10 in use. In the photograph shown, each shaft 15 of the skewer sticks 10 has been inserted into chicken meat 30 via the sharp point 16 to hold the chicken meat 30 thereon. The rectangular cross-section of the shaft 15 provides a more firm hold onto the meat 30 to prevent same from sliding off 20 the skewer stick 10 when compared to conventional round cross-section skewer sticks. The head portion 14 also provides a number of advantages. The head portion 14 acts as a broad surface handle for a user when inserting the shaft 15 into food items such as the meat 30. The head portion first end surface 25 also provides a broad surface area for pushing the shaft 15 into the meat 30. The user can also use the head portion 14 for 25 easily turning the skewer stick 10 during cooking and as a handle when eating the meat 30. The head portion second end surface 26 acts as a stop, for substantially preventing the meat 30 from moving beyond the second end surface 26. Thus, the second 4 end surface 26 substantially ensures that a user's fingers gripping the head portion 14 are protected from the meat 20 during cooking or eating. Further, the flat front and rear surfaces 23 and 24 of the head portion 14 can be imprinted with advertising material, such as the trade mark of the meat product used 5 therewith or the trade mark of a food retail outlet. These advantages are not provided by conventional skewer sticks. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been discussed, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiment shown. For example, the head portion 14 can be shaped as desired such as a spherical 1o shape or a rectangular prism.

Claims (8)

1. A skewer stick having: a head portion, and an elongated shaft extending from the head portion and having a pointed distal 5 end; wherein the shaft has a longitudinal length and a maximum transverse width, with the head portion having a transverse width greater than the transverse width of the shaft.

2. The skewer stick of claim I or 2 wherein the head portion includes an end surface and the shaft extends from the end surface. 10

3. The skewer stick of claim I or 2 wherein the shaft is square or rectangular in cross-section so as to have four longitudinally extending surfaces, and the head portion has a side surface which is aligned with one of the side surfaces of the shaft.

4. The skewer stick of any one of the preceding claims wherein the head portion and the shaft include respective front and rear surfaces which are respectively co-planar is with each other.

5. The skewer stick of any one of the preceding claims wherein the head portion and the shaft are formed as a single integral unit.

6. The skewer stick of any one of the preceding claims wherein the skewer stick is formed from bamboo, wood, plastic or metal. 20

7. The skewer stick of any one of the preceding claims wherein the skewer stick is shaft is between 12cm to 25cm long and the head portion is about 3 cm long.

8. A skewer stick substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 16 October, 2009 25 Cordina Chicken Farms Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON