EP0521931A1 - Eating utensil for the manually impaired and general public. - Google Patents
Eating utensil for the manually impaired and general public.Info
- Publication number
- EP0521931A1 EP0521931A1 EP91906339A EP91906339A EP0521931A1 EP 0521931 A1 EP0521931 A1 EP 0521931A1 EP 91906339 A EP91906339 A EP 91906339A EP 91906339 A EP91906339 A EP 91906339A EP 0521931 A1 EP0521931 A1 EP 0521931A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- handle part
- utensil
- main handle
- eating utensil
- rear end
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/02—Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G1/00—Handle constructions
- B25G1/10—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G1/00—Handle constructions
- B25G1/10—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape
- B25G1/102—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
Definitions
- This invention relates to eating utensils for the arthritic, neuromuscular impaired, individuals with loss of fingers as well as the general public.
- the present invention allows for the use of the eating utensil with a minimal clasping motion.
- the location of the tip of the index finger to the forward most part of the handle of the eating utensil, such as a knife or fork, provides the user with complete control.
- the utensil may be grasped by individuals possessing any one of the five fingers.
- the configuration of the 25 handle which may or may not be flared and grooved, provides for maximum contact between the eating utensil, the index finger and the middle of the palm beggining at the metacarpal bone of the index finger and ending at the rear of the palm nearest the wrist. This contact between the utensil and index finger and palm allows for maximum arm weight to be applied to the utensil.
- the utensil can be constructed of lightweight material in as much as it does not depend on the weight of the utensil to apply maximum pressure to the forward most part of the utensil to facilitate the cutting of forking motion.
- the present invention contemplates an eating utensil to be used by the manually impaired and non-manually impaired person to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
- the present invention is a great improvement over prior art as it facilitates eating for both the manually impaired and non-manually impaired while maintaining the aesthetic qualities associated with finer flatware. It is an object of the invention to provide an eating utensil which when setting a table for numerous persons in a dining situation will be easy to use by all individuals, whether arthritic, neuromuscular impaired, lacking fingers or unimpaired.
- the present invention requires no special place setting considerations for the manually impaired. It is another object of the present invention to provide a utensil which is inexpensive to manufacture and will enable a homogeneous construction to be used by people afflicted with various disabilities.
- the utensil includes a fork or knife forward most part which is connected to a handle or curvilenear form.
- the width of the handle is sufficient to allow the tip of the index finger to rest comfortably.
- the handle then flares out to guide and cradle the index finger along its entire length.
- This portion of the handle may or may not be flared and grooved as illustrated, but it is understood to represent the preferred embodiment as here described.
- the handle then passes through the palm of the hand beginning at the metacarpal of the index finger and passing diagonally through the middle of the palm and ending at the base of the palm near the wrist.
- the upwardly curved bottom portion of the handle allows any or all of the remaining fingers to apply the minimum amount of pressure necessary thereto clasp the utensil.
- fig. 1 is a perspective view of the curved eating utensil in use;
- fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the utensil shown in fig. 1;
- fig. 3 is a top plan view of the utensil shown in fig. l;
- fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the utensil.
- Fig. 1 shows the utensil in use. Held in the proper manner, the arm and wrist remain generally parallel with the horizon.
- the index finger 20 rests on the forward end 13 of the handle 12 where the fork, knife or spoon are joined thereto.
- the forward end portion 13 of handle 12 is sufficiently wide, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to comfortably support the tip of the index finger.
- the index finger 20 is cradled by the flared portions 14 and 17 which guide and support it.
- the grooved area 15 flanked by the flared portions 14 and 17 which cradle the index finger is best shown by the dotted line 15 in FIG. 2 and the elongated eliptical area 15 denoted in FIG.3.
- the downwardly curved rear portion 16 of handle 12 passes through the center of the palm being squeezed by the two parts of the hand located at the base of the thumb and rearend side of the hand, hereafter referred to as the base of the palm
- Downwardly curved rear portion 16 of handle 12 extends beyond the base of the palm 18 a distance which varies in relation to the hand size and best illustrated in FIG. 1.
- the upwardly curved, bottom portion 19 of handle 12 allows fingers 21, 22, 23, and 24, to apply pressure thereto.
- the clasping of the utensil and consequently its use can be achieved with the index finger and any combination of fingers 21, 22, 23, and 24, individually or toghether.
- the utensil can be used equally as well with the middle finger 21 replacing the function of the index finger 20.
- a person lacking all but one finger may grasp the utensil by applying presssure to the downwardly curved rear portion 16 with the palm of the hand while applying pressure to the upwardly curved bottom portion 19 of handle 12 with the remaining finger.
- FIG. 2 shows the side elevation view of the utensil. Since the utensil is symetrical about the long axis, the opposite side elevation is identical to FIG. 2.
- Handle 12 has attached to the forward end therof a food supporting portion 25 in the form of a fork, spoon bowl or knife, which is adapted to hold, support or cut food.
- FIG. 4 shows the bottom plan view, illustrating the flared portions 14 and 17, which are sufficiently rounded to accomodate the side of any finger making contact therewith.
- the upwardly curved portion 19 is sufficiently rounded on the bottom side to accomodate the clasping motion thereupon, as best indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Table Equipment (AREA)
- Knives (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
- Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US49537490A | 1990-03-19 | 1990-03-19 | |
PCT/IT1991/000022 WO1991014542A1 (en) | 1990-03-19 | 1991-03-19 | Eating utensil for the manually impaired and general public |
US495374 | 2000-02-01 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0521931A1 true EP0521931A1 (en) | 1993-01-13 |
EP0521931B1 EP0521931B1 (en) | 1996-01-17 |
Family
ID=23968395
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP91906339A Expired - Lifetime EP0521931B1 (en) | 1990-03-19 | 1991-03-19 | Eating utensil for the manually impaired and general public |
Country Status (11)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0521931B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH05507855A (en) |
KR (1) | KR0175644B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE133101T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69116554T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0521931T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2089203T3 (en) |
GR (1) | GR3019662T3 (en) |
HU (1) | HUT67157A (en) |
PL (1) | PL166778B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1991014542A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4415974A1 (en) * | 1994-05-06 | 1995-11-09 | Dickhaus & Partner Gmbh | Device for performing handicrafts |
JPH114716A (en) | 1997-06-17 | 1999-01-12 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Grip member, toothbrush and western tableware utilizing this |
RU172662U1 (en) * | 2017-01-24 | 2017-07-18 | Сергей Вильямович Иоффе | FORK |
KR20190051359A (en) | 2017-11-06 | 2019-05-15 | 최원석 | Universal cuff for hand |
KR102407025B1 (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2022-06-13 | 성결대학교 산학협력단 | Multifunctional hand assist device |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2725631A (en) * | 1953-03-16 | 1955-12-06 | Renke Gus | Double pronged fork |
US3224093A (en) * | 1965-06-01 | 1965-12-21 | Joel C Huck | Training utensil |
US4035865A (en) * | 1976-01-19 | 1977-07-19 | Mcrae Lucy Theresa | Implements usable by persons afflicted with arthritis |
GB2058648B (en) * | 1979-09-17 | 1983-01-19 | Little People Ltd | Cutlery |
-
1991
- 1991-03-19 PL PL91296092A patent/PL166778B1/en unknown
- 1991-03-19 AT AT91906339T patent/ATE133101T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-03-19 JP JP91505846A patent/JPH05507855A/en active Pending
- 1991-03-19 HU HU9202980A patent/HUT67157A/en active IP Right Revival
- 1991-03-19 DE DE69116554T patent/DE69116554T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-03-19 WO PCT/IT1991/000022 patent/WO1991014542A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-03-19 ES ES91906339T patent/ES2089203T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-19 DK DK91906339.6T patent/DK0521931T3/en active
- 1991-03-19 EP EP91906339A patent/EP0521931B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-09-18 KR KR1019920702247A patent/KR0175644B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1996
- 1996-04-17 GR GR960401043T patent/GR3019662T3/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9114542A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0521931B1 (en) | 1996-01-17 |
DE69116554T2 (en) | 1996-09-19 |
ES2089203T3 (en) | 1996-10-01 |
DE69116554D1 (en) | 1996-02-29 |
WO1991014542A1 (en) | 1991-10-03 |
KR930700260A (en) | 1993-03-13 |
KR0175644B1 (en) | 1999-02-18 |
HUT67157A (en) | 1995-02-28 |
DK0521931T3 (en) | 1996-06-10 |
ATE133101T1 (en) | 1996-02-15 |
GR3019662T3 (en) | 1996-07-31 |
JPH05507855A (en) | 1993-11-11 |
PL166778B1 (en) | 1995-06-30 |
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