EP1388312B1 - Essbesteck aus Verbundwerkstoff - Google Patents

Essbesteck aus Verbundwerkstoff Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1388312B1
EP1388312B1 EP03023435A EP03023435A EP1388312B1 EP 1388312 B1 EP1388312 B1 EP 1388312B1 EP 03023435 A EP03023435 A EP 03023435A EP 03023435 A EP03023435 A EP 03023435A EP 1388312 B1 EP1388312 B1 EP 1388312B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
utensil
bowl
spoon
food
handle
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03023435A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1388312A1 (de
Inventor
Nouri E. Hakim
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
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/353,904 external-priority patent/US6453562B1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1388312A1 publication Critical patent/EP1388312A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1388312B1 publication Critical patent/EP1388312B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B3/00—Hand knives with fixed blades
    • B26B3/02—Table-knives
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to an improved utensil made of a composite of materials of different hardness.
  • the present invention relates to a spoon which is made of a hard material forming a skeleton of the spoon and located at the center of its bowl; and a soft material located along the circumference of the spoon's bowl.
  • the present invention relates to a method of manufacture of the combination-material utensil.
  • US 4 203 213 relates to a knife which has a plastic member which forms both a handle and a supporting body for a metal blade which is provided in the supporting body.
  • US 2 295 847 relates to an infant feeding spoon which is made entirely from rubber except for a handle reinforcing or stiffening element.
  • GB 392,877 relates to a spoon for babies which has a metallic skeleton which is covered with an elastic material.
  • GB 2 319 416 also relates to a safety spoon for babies which has a bowl which comprises two internal projections and a soft deformable plastic fitted over these projections.
  • the present invention provides a combination-material food utensil comprising:
  • the present invention provides a manufacturing process, comprising:
  • the present invention is directed to an improved utensil constructed of a combination of different materials having different relative hardness.
  • the invention is directed to a spoon for babies or children which is constructed of a combination of hard and soft materials.
  • a composite or combination-material utensil having at least two materials of different hardness incorporated therein.
  • the invention is a baby spoon.
  • the spoon preferably includes a soft material component and a hard material component.
  • the spoon includes Kraton as the soft material component.
  • the soft material component is a comfortable material which is preferably used on portions of the spoon which are in close contact with the baby's gums, mouth and skin.
  • the spoon also preferably includes a hard material component.
  • the spoon includes polypropylene as the hard material component.
  • the hard material component preferably provides the backbone of the spoon and preferably provides structural rigidity.
  • the hard material can also be incorporated into other specific portions of the spoon, including, for example, the underside of the spoon's bowl. In one such embodiment, the hard material can make it relatively easy to slide the spoon across a bowl or other dish. This facilitates scooping food into the bowl of the spoon and portion control.
  • use of the the hard material as the backbone prevents the undesirable bending of the spoon which is often found in soft spoons of the prior art. Accordingly, incorporation of the harder material into the spoon can add structural rigidity to the handle and/or to the bowl.
  • spoon 7 is a composite of two separate materials, a first, harder, material and a second, softer, material.
  • the harder material is polypropylene, although in accordance with the invention, other materials such as other plastics or metals can be used, as well.
  • the softer material is Kraton, although silicone or other elastomers or flexible materials can also be used consistent with the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view and Figure 3 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the spoon or utensil of the present invention.
  • spoon 7 includes a bowl or dish 18 having a center 24, which is composed of a hard material such as polypropylene or so forth, as discussed above.
  • the construction of the bowl from this hard material allows the spoon to be easily slid across a dish such as a bowl or a plate and prevents undue bending of the spoon during use.
  • Bowl or dish 18 further includes a circumferential section 26.
  • the circumferential section 26 is preferably constructed from a relative soft material such as Kraton or silicone.
  • the soft material is molded around the center 24 of the bowl 18 to protect the child's teeth and gums, and provides greater comfort to the baby's mouth than a spoon entirely constructed out of the hard material.
  • the hard component of the spoon protrudes through and is surrounded by the soft component of the spoon.
  • the hard component of the spoon preferably forms the backbone, or skeleton and infrastructure of the entire spoon, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5.
  • This hard material provides the entire spoon with a rigid structural component and prevents the spoon from bending during use.
  • handle 38 of spoon 7 includes an upper inner section 42 made of the hard material described above. Handle 38 is preferably provided for gripping comfort with the soft material covering the bottom of the spoon. The hard material forms the edges of the spoon. Handle 38 further includes ribs 48 made of a soft material. Ribs 48 are preferably located on the inside edge of handle 38 and are applied to grooves 52 of the spoon, shown in Figure 5. The ribs extend through the entire handle to protrude through its top and bottom surfaces and provide for easy gripping.
  • Figure 6 further shows the spoon of the present invention in cross-sectional views.
  • Figure 6(A) is a cross-sectional view of the bowl or dish portion 18 and
  • Figure 6(B) is a cross-sectional view of the handle 28 of the spoon of the present invention, both showing the preferred juxtaposition of the hard and soft materials of the present invention.
  • the utensil or spoon is constructed using insert molding.
  • the hard polypropylene component of the spoon is molded first to form the skeleton or backbone of the spoon. Following molding of the hard component, this backbone is taken out either mechanically or by hand. The hard component backbone is then placed into a mold where the Kraton, or relatively softer component, is injected onto and through the hard plastic to form the finished spoon.
  • any desired modifications can be made to the bowl or to the handle of the spoon consistent with the invention, including modification of the relative positions of the hard and soft components and/or the number of different sections and types of hard and soft components and/or the specific identities of the hard and soft components utilized.
  • other composite hard/soft utensils can be constructed consistent with the invention, such as knives or forks.
  • other manufacturing processes can be used, if desired, to construct the products disclosed herein.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)

Claims (25)

  1. Essbesteck (7) aus Verbundmaterial, das aufweist:
    ein Griffelement (38); und
    ein Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement (18), das mit dem Griffelement (38) verbunden ist;
    und wobei das Essbesteck mindestens zwei verschiedene Konstruktionsmaterialien aufweist, wobei die zwei verschiedenen Konstruktionsmaterialien ein erstes relativ hartes Material und ein zweites relativ weicheres Material aufweisen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Oberfläche des Nahrungsmittelkontaktelementes (18) sowohl das erste Material als auch das zweite Material aufweist, und dass die Oberfläche des Griffes (38) sowohl das erste Material als auch das zweite Material aufweist.
  2. Besteck (7) nach Anspruch 1, bei dem sich eines der zwei Materialien durch das andere der zwei Materialien erstreckt.
  3. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem sich eines der zwei Materialien im Griff (38) durch das andere der zwei Materialien erstreckt.
  4. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das erste Material ein Material ist, das dem Besteck (7) eine Steifigkeit verleiht.
  5. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das erste Material ein Material ist, das leichter über einen Teller gleitet als das zweite Material.
  6. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das zweite Material ein Material ist, das eine Behaglichkeit am Mund eines Babys bewirkt.
  7. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das erste Material Polypropylen ist.
  8. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das zweite Material Kraton ist.
  9. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei dem das zweite Material Silikon ist.
  10. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei dem das zweite Material ein Elastomer ist.
  11. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das zweite Material elastisch ist.
  12. Besteck nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement (18) eine oder mehrere Zinken einer Gabel aufweist.
  13. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, bei dem das Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement (18) einen Schneidabschnitt eines messerähnlichen Besteckes aufweist.
  14. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, bei dem das Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement (18) eine Höhlung eines Löffels ist.
  15. Besteck nach Anspruch 14, bei dem die Höhlung (18) einen Umfang (26) aufweist und das zweite Material am Umfang der Höhlung (18) vorhanden ist.
  16. Beteck nach entweder Anspruch 14 oder 15, bei dem der Löffel ein Löffel für ein Baby ist.
  17. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 14 bis 16, bei dem das erste Material und das zweite Material nebeneinander auf der Oberfläche der Höhlung (18) angeordnet sind.
  18. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 14 bis 17, bei dem die Oberfläche der Höhlung (18) die obere Fläche der Höhlung (18) des Löffels ist.
  19. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 14 bis 18, bei dem die Oberfläche der Höhlung (18) die untere Fläche der Höhlung (18) des Löffels ist.
  20. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 14 bis 19, bei dem der Löffel Flüssigkeit innerhalb der Höhlung (18) aufnehmen kann.
  21. Besteck nach einem der Ansprüche 14 bis 20, bei dem die Höhlung eine Mitte (24) aufweist, und bei dem die Höhlung (18) das erste Material auf der Oberfläche der Höhlung in der Mitte der Höhlung aufweist.
  22. Herstellungsverfahren, das die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
    Formen eines Essbesteckes (7) aus Verbundmaterial aus mindestens zwei Materialien, einem ersten Material und einem zweiten Material, wobei das zweite Material weicher ist als das erste Material, wobei das Besteck einen Griff (38) und ein Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement (18) aufweist; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Besteck so geformt wird, dass die Oberfläche des Nahrungsmittelkontaktelementes (18) teilweise aus dem ersten Material und teilweise aus dem zweiten Material geformt wird; und dadurch, dass das Besteck außerdem so geformt wird, dass die Oberfläche des Griffes (38) ebenfalls aus dem ersten Material und dem zweiten Material geformt wird.
  23. Verfahren nach Anspruch 22, bei dem
    das Besteck ein Löffel und das Nahrungsmittelkontaktelement die Höhlung (18) des Löffels ist, wobei die Höhlung (18) einen Umfang aufweist, und wobei das zweite Material am Umfang (26) der Höhlung (18) angeordnet ist.
  24. Verfahren nach entweder Anspruch 22 oder 23, das die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
    Giessen des ersten Materials in einer ersten Giessform, um ein Skelett des Besteckes zu formen; und
    Einspritzen des zweiten Materials durch das geformte Skelett, um das Besteck aus Verbundmaterial zu formen.
  25. Verfahren nach Anspruch 24, das außerdem den folgenden Schritt aufweist:
    Herausnehmen des geformten Skelettes aus relativ hartem Material aus der ersten Giessform und Anordnen dieses in einer zweiten Giessform vor dem Einspritzen des zweiten Materials.
EP03023435A 1998-08-24 1999-08-24 Essbesteck aus Verbundwerkstoff Expired - Lifetime EP1388312B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9757198P 1998-08-24 1998-08-24
US97571P 1998-08-24
US353904 1999-07-15
US09/353,904 US6453562B1 (en) 1998-08-24 1999-07-15 Baby spoons and method of manufacture
EP99943878A EP1115319B1 (de) 1998-08-24 1999-08-24 Verbesserte babylöffel und verfahren zur fertigung desselben

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99943878A Division EP1115319B1 (de) 1998-08-24 1999-08-24 Verbesserte babylöffel und verfahren zur fertigung desselben

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1388312A1 EP1388312A1 (de) 2004-02-11
EP1388312B1 true EP1388312B1 (de) 2007-01-03

Family

ID=30448855

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03023435A Expired - Lifetime EP1388312B1 (de) 1998-08-24 1999-08-24 Essbesteck aus Verbundwerkstoff

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EP (1) EP1388312B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2502793A (en) * 2012-06-05 2013-12-11 Bb Ipr Ltd Spoon for attachment to a food package
FR3095113B1 (fr) * 2019-04-17 2022-06-17 Stefano Mastrantonio Applicateur pour l'application d'un produit fluide sur le corps

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB392877A (en) * 1933-02-17 1933-05-25 Wilhelm Busch Improvements in spoons
US2295847A (en) * 1941-02-26 1942-09-15 Gertrude B Hume Infant feeding spoon
IT1092776B (it) * 1978-02-17 1985-07-12 Mollica Francesco Struttura di coltello
CA2190711A1 (en) * 1996-11-19 1998-05-19 Tzu-Yu Chen Safety spoon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1388312A1 (de) 2004-02-11

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