EP1359830A1 - Choptstick of the pincers type - Google Patents

Choptstick of the pincers type

Info

Publication number
EP1359830A1
EP1359830A1 EP02729586A EP02729586A EP1359830A1 EP 1359830 A1 EP1359830 A1 EP 1359830A1 EP 02729586 A EP02729586 A EP 02729586A EP 02729586 A EP02729586 A EP 02729586A EP 1359830 A1 EP1359830 A1 EP 1359830A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chopsticks
support
grip
contact
present
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02729586A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1359830A4 (en
Inventor
Suk-Soo Yoon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1359830A1 publication Critical patent/EP1359830A1/en
Publication of EP1359830A4 publication Critical patent/EP1359830A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • A47G21/10—Sugar tongs; Asparagus tongs; Other food tongs
    • A47G21/103—Chop-sticks
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G2400/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A47G19/00-A47G23/16
    • A47G2400/02—Hygiene
    • A47G2400/025—Avoiding contact with unclean surfaces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to chopsticks of pincers type, and more particularly, to chopsticks of pincers type, wherein the upper ends are connected with each other, and the grips are formed on the sides in protrusion, so that the chopsticks are closed by the pressure on the grips and are returned to their original position by restoring force.
  • a pair of chopsticks consist of two individual sticks each of which is used to pick up food. But using the chopsticks proficiently requires some level of dexterity, and it is very difficult to use them for persons who are unfamiliar with the use of chopsticks, such as foreigners, the aged, those with physical handicaps, and especially such patients with tremulous hands.
  • the chopsticks can be contaminated by contact with the surface of the table since the chopsticks are usually put down on the table when not in use, thus invoking the feeling of a bad appearance and poor sanitation.
  • the Utility Model of the present applicant is characterized in that the chopsticks are made in a body; their upper ends being connected with each other by means of a support 120 in the shape of a ring bent downward and their bottom parts being formed in a body together with grips 140; the outer side of them embossed or knurled.
  • the chopsticks in said utility model have the effect of possibly preventing their contacts (food-contacting parts) 130 from contacting the table top due to the grips 140 and the support 120, there is still a problem in that when the grips 140 are pressed to grasp food, the pressure is applied to the support 120, viz. the tension to its outer side and the compression to its inner side; whereupon, the support 120 can be weakened or, worse still, fractured. If the support 120 is reinforced to overcome these shortcomings, then, it invariably occurs that the support 120 gets too tough to bend with sufficient elasticity for easy grasp of food.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide clean and sanitary chopsticks, in which the support will not fracture, nor the contacts intercross, while coming into no contact with the table surface.
  • the present invention can be attained by bestowing an elastically deformable shape on the part between support and grip, and thus the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a support connecting the upper ends of chopsticks; grips enlarged to have a bigger surface area than the adjacent parts and positioned between support and contact; and an intermediate part, which, positioned between grip and support, is wider and thinner than the part between contact and grip.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional pincers-type chopsticks ;
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention;
  • Fig. 3 is a plane view of the -type chopsticks of the present invention;
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another example of pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another example of pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another pincers-type example chopsticks of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chopsticks of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is its plane view.
  • the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention comprise a support 20, which joins the upper ends of chopsticks in a body, and, bent downward, keeps contacts 30 of the chopsticks from coming into contact with the table top;
  • grips 40 which are formed in a protuberance between the said support 20 and the said contacts 30, and, having their bottom parts in contact with the table top, do support, together with the said support 20, the chopsticks to keep the said contacts 30 from getting into contact with the table top;
  • intermediate parts 50 which, positioned between the said grips 40 and the said support 20, are formed wide and long so as to bestow an elastic transformative property on the chopsticks.
  • the said support 20 and grips 40 may not necessarily swell downward, but can rise upward or both fall downward and rise upward. And also, if the side face is formed with linear symmetry, the use of the chopsticks may be rendered more convenient, because there is no need to differentiate the upper and lower sides of chopsticks.
  • the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention When the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention are used for grasping food, force is applied to the said grips 40, and the chopsticks are bent inward from the said support 20, and then the said intermediate parts 50 between the said grips 40 and the said support 20, shaped thinner than other parts, prove elastic and easier to bounce, wherefore, the chopsticks with thus improved elasticity modulus can recover their original position easily enough for re-use if the force applied to the said grips is abated a little.
  • the chopsticks of the present invention are endowed with elasticity of their own to function, and in the present invention the said support only serve firmly to connect the two sticks and support the chopsticks but prevent the said contacts 30 from getting intercrossed and getting into contact with the table top.
  • the said contacts 30 which get in touch with food can be given either the shape of a fork with prongs, or of a wide flat, or else, an uneven surface, all to help grasp food with greater ease.
  • the present invention has effects of preventing the possible fracture of the support and helping grasp food with ease, since both contacts of the chopsticks can be brought together with small force, kept from intercrossing, while both the support and the grips, themselves in contact with the table top, can support the contacts and keep them from contact with the table top.

Landscapes

  • Table Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

This invention provides chopsticks of pincers type which are connecte in upper ends and have grip, wherein the lower ends close to each other by pressing the grip and return to original position by the restoring force. This invention includes the support connecting each of upper ends of chopsticks and grip enlarged to have bigger surface area than adjacent part and positioned between the support and the contact of the lowwer ends, wherein intermediate part between the support and the grip is wider and thinner than the part between the contacts and the grip.

Description

CHOPSTICK OF THE PINCERS TYPE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to chopsticks of pincers type, and more particularly, to chopsticks of pincers type, wherein the upper ends are connected with each other, and the grips are formed on the sides in protrusion, so that the chopsticks are closed by the pressure on the grips and are returned to their original position by restoring force.
Background of the Invention
In general, a pair of chopsticks consist of two individual sticks each of which is used to pick up food. But using the chopsticks adeptly requires some level of dexterity, and it is very difficult to use them for persons who are unfamiliar with the use of chopsticks, such as foreigners, the aged, those with physical handicaps, and especially such patients with tremulous hands. In addition, the chopsticks can be contaminated by contact with the surface of the table since the chopsticks are usually put down on the table when not in use, thus invoking the feeling of a bad appearance and poor sanitation.
To solve these problems, some restaurants employ a separate chopstick-rest on which the chopsticks can be set down when not in use, so that the portion of the chopsticks that contacts with food will not touch the table surface. This practice, however, has its own drawbacks; provision of a chopstick-rest means extra work, time, and cost; it is also troublesome for diners who must set down the chopsticks on the rests every time.
Another solution is to be found in a Korean Utility Model, Registration No. 145841, which the present applicant obtained earlier. The Utility Model of the present applicant is characterized in that the chopsticks are made in a body; their upper ends being connected with each other by means of a support 120 in the shape of a ring bent downward and their bottom parts being formed in a body together with grips 140; the outer side of them embossed or knurled.
However, although the chopsticks in said utility model have the effect of possibly preventing their contacts (food-contacting parts) 130 from contacting the table top due to the grips 140 and the support 120, there is still a problem in that when the grips 140 are pressed to grasp food, the pressure is applied to the support 120, viz. the tension to its outer side and the compression to its inner side; whereupon, the support 120 can be weakened or, worse still, fractured. If the support 120 is reinforced to overcome these shortcomings, then, it invariably occurs that the support 120 gets too tough to bend with sufficient elasticity for easy grasp of food.
Of course it may be possible to remedy such a problem simply by making the said ring of the support much bigger, but then the chopsticks must look unbalanced thereby damaging the appearance and making it hard for both contacts, remote from the central sections, to be brought together without intercrossing, since the pressing force needed to grasp food has to act mostly on the support.
Summary of the Invention
Now the object of the present invention is to provide clean and sanitary chopsticks, in which the support will not fracture, nor the contacts intercross, while coming into no contact with the table surface.
The above object of the present invention can be attained by bestowing an elastically deformable shape on the part between support and grip, and thus the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a support connecting the upper ends of chopsticks; grips enlarged to have a bigger surface area than the adjacent parts and positioned between support and contact; and an intermediate part, which, positioned between grip and support, is wider and thinner than the part between contact and grip. Brief description of the drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the conventional pincers-type chopsticks ; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plane view of the -type chopsticks of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another example of pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another example of pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention; and, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another pincers-type example chopsticks of the present invention.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
One of the embodiments of the present invention is described below, referring to the drawings thereof.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chopsticks of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is its plane view.
As shown in the above drawings, the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention comprise a support 20, which joins the upper ends of chopsticks in a body, and, bent downward, keeps contacts 30 of the chopsticks from coming into contact with the table top;
grips 40, which are formed in a protuberance between the said support 20 and the said contacts 30, and, having their bottom parts in contact with the table top, do support, together with the said support 20, the chopsticks to keep the said contacts 30 from getting into contact with the table top; and,
intermediate parts 50, which, positioned between the said grips 40 and the said support 20, are formed wide and long so as to bestow an elastic transformative property on the chopsticks.
Of course, the said support 20 and grips 40 may not necessarily swell downward, but can rise upward or both fall downward and rise upward. And also, if the side face is formed with linear symmetry, the use of the chopsticks may be rendered more convenient, because there is no need to differentiate the upper and lower sides of chopsticks.
Only, the said support 20 and the said grip 40 have to get into contact with the table top and so they must support the chopsticks, preventing the said contacts 30 from getting in touch with the table top, and provide enough areas for grip with a hand.
The functions of the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention are as follows:
When the pincers-type chopsticks of the present invention are used for grasping food, force is applied to the said grips 40, and the chopsticks are bent inward from the said support 20, and then the said intermediate parts 50 between the said grips 40 and the said support 20, shaped thinner than other parts, prove elastic and easier to bounce, wherefore, the chopsticks with thus improved elasticity modulus can recover their original position easily enough for re-use if the force applied to the said grips is abated a little.
Accordingly, while conventional chopsticks function by the elasticity of the support alone, the chopsticks of the present invention are endowed with elasticity of their own to function, and in the present invention the said support only serve firmly to connect the two sticks and support the chopsticks but prevent the said contacts 30 from getting intercrossed and getting into contact with the table top.
And also the said contacts 30 which get in touch with food can be given either the shape of a fork with prongs, or of a wide flat, or else, an uneven surface, all to help grasp food with greater ease. Industrial Applicability
The present invention has effects of preventing the possible fracture of the support and helping grasp food with ease, since both contacts of the chopsticks can be brought together with small force, kept from intercrossing, while both the support and the grips, themselves in contact with the table top, can support the contacts and keep them from contact with the table top.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:
1. Chopsticks of pincers type comprising: a support by which upper ends of the chopsticks are connected; a grip enlarged to have larger surface area than the adjacent part and positioned between said support and contact of the lower ends of the chopsticks; and an intermediate part positioned between the grips and the support which is wider and thinner than the part between the contact and the grip.
2. The chopsticks according to claim 1, wherein said contact is in the shape of a fork.
3. The chopsticks according to claim 1, wherein the side face of the said chopsticks is in line symmetry.
4. The chopsticks according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner side of the said contact is embossed.
EP02729586A 2001-01-10 2002-01-07 Choptstick of the pincers type Withdrawn EP1359830A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR2001000563U 2001-01-10
KR2020010000563U KR200235635Y1 (en) 2001-01-10 2001-01-10 Chapstick of the Pincers type
PCT/KR2002/000022 WO2002054921A1 (en) 2001-01-10 2002-01-07 Choptstick of the pincers type

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1359830A1 true EP1359830A1 (en) 2003-11-12
EP1359830A4 EP1359830A4 (en) 2004-06-02

Family

ID=19704295

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02729586A Withdrawn EP1359830A4 (en) 2001-01-10 2002-01-07 Choptstick of the pincers type

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20040051327A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1359830A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2004520114A (en)
KR (1) KR200235635Y1 (en)
CN (1) CN100401956C (en)
WO (1) WO2002054921A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8278652B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2012-10-02 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Semiconductor material for an organic diode

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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KR200380042Y1 (en) * 2004-11-18 2005-03-28 윤석수 Tool for catching and supporting food
JP2007014714A (en) * 2005-07-06 2007-01-25 Nan-Hee Lee Single-body of sanitary spoon and chopsticks
US7905021B2 (en) * 2005-08-10 2011-03-15 Kamran Shirazi International dining kit
US20070033809A1 (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-15 Kamran Shirazi Combination eating utensil
US8672377B2 (en) * 2007-03-12 2014-03-18 Michel Ina Eating utensil
JP5224952B2 (en) * 2008-07-14 2013-07-03 Ｈｏｙａ株式会社 Endoscope balloon mounting aid, endoscope balloon mounting kit, and endoscope system
WO2013073988A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-23 Titov Andrey Mikhailovich Eating utensil
US8782907B2 (en) * 2012-12-20 2014-07-22 Edward Chong All-in-one multipurpose eating utensil adapted to be separated into pieces
CN103284553A (en) * 2013-06-26 2013-09-11 严红利 Chopsticks for tender food
DE102014003607A1 (en) * 2014-03-13 2015-09-17 Thomas Grubert Particle holder for gripping and grabbing pastry particles or similar foods to then lead them to the mouth without getting your hands dirty. It can vary in size, shape, material and color.
US9192258B2 (en) * 2014-03-23 2015-11-24 Jon Parks Serving utensils
JP5605886B1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2014-10-15 悠梨香 前田 Ladle
US9987764B2 (en) * 2015-07-29 2018-06-05 Paul Harvey Woodworks, Llc Tube insertion tool
US9808104B1 (en) * 2016-05-17 2017-11-07 Tam P. Tran One-piece construction chopsticks
US10136745B1 (en) * 2017-12-25 2018-11-27 Vista Mountain Gear, Llc Eating utensil
US20200069093A1 (en) * 2018-09-05 2020-03-05 Angela Knight Eating utensil
JP7374493B2 (en) * 2020-10-16 2023-11-07 株式会社ワクワクック tongs
USD933436S1 (en) * 2020-10-19 2021-10-19 Vaso Nastovski Adjustable tongs

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CH124499A (en) * 1927-03-11 1928-02-01 Friedrich Wymann Tweezers, especially for grasping prepared asparagus.
CH133750A (en) * 1928-11-15 1929-06-30 Mettler Anny Device for removing fish bones.
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FR893203A (en) * 1942-12-18 1944-06-02 Mussel clamp
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DE4335206A1 (en) * 1993-10-15 1995-04-20 Manfred Dipl Ing Ortwein Eating device for holding food
JP2000308560A (en) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-07 Yoshida Kinzoku Kogyo Kk Auxiliary pinching tool

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE558322C (en) * 1932-09-06 Ach Klein Asparagus grapple
CH124499A (en) * 1927-03-11 1928-02-01 Friedrich Wymann Tweezers, especially for grasping prepared asparagus.
CH133750A (en) * 1928-11-15 1929-06-30 Mettler Anny Device for removing fish bones.
FR893203A (en) * 1942-12-18 1944-06-02 Mussel clamp
DE4021022A1 (en) * 1990-07-02 1992-01-16 Ortwein Manfred Dip Ing Device for picking up objects, such as food - consists of two parallel arms joined at one end to form one piece, with weight
DE4335206A1 (en) * 1993-10-15 1995-04-20 Manfred Dipl Ing Ortwein Eating device for holding food
JP2000308560A (en) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-07 Yoshida Kinzoku Kogyo Kk Auxiliary pinching tool

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 14, 5 March 2001 (2001-03-05) -& JP 2000 308560 A (YOSHIDA KINZOKU KOGYO KK), 7 November 2000 (2000-11-07) *
See also references of WO02054921A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8278652B2 (en) 2007-06-20 2012-10-02 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Semiconductor material for an organic diode

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1484506A (en) 2004-03-24
JP2004520114A (en) 2004-07-08
WO2002054921A1 (en) 2002-07-18
CN100401956C (en) 2008-07-16
US20040051327A1 (en) 2004-03-18
KR200235635Y1 (en) 2001-09-25
EP1359830A4 (en) 2004-06-02

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