EP1895877B1

EP1895877B1 - Chopstick holder

Info

Publication number: EP1895877B1
Application number: EP05755026A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Gunnar BJÖRLUND
Original assignee: Chopstickface International AB
Current assignee: Chopstickface International AB
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2005-06-30
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-30
Also published as: EP1895877A1; DE602005022501D1; US20100164242A1; CN101212920A; CN101212920B; WO2007004920A1; ATE474479T1

Abstract

At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a resilient connecting element for connecting together a pair of chopsticks. The resilient connecting element includes a resilient flexible plate and two pairs of breakthrough portions, each pair of breakthrough portions including a first and a second breakthrough portion. Each second breakthrough portion is positioned at a unidirected distance perpendicularly from an imaginary line extending between each first breakthrough portion. The distance (a) between the second breakthrough portions is equal or shorter than the distance (b) between said first breakthrough portions. At least one embodiment of the present invention also relates to a chopstick arrangement including a resilient element and one pair of chopsticks and to the use of the resilient connecting element in combination with chopsticks for eating food.

Description

Technical Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a resilient connecting element for connecting together a pair of chopsticks. It furthermore relates to a chopstick arrangement comprising a resilient element and one pair of chopsticks which are resiliently connected together by means of said resilient element.

Technical background

Every day all over the world plenty of portions of Chinese food, Sushi and other oriental food are served at restaurants and take-away's. These kinds of food are often served and eaten with chopsticks, and it is common today even in the Western World to eat with chopsticks. But all people can not operate or use the chopsticks, especially when they are not yet used to it. The people in the Western World have instead been learning to eat with a fork and a knife. In this operation you are using both of your hands and therefore you do not need a very good dexterity. When you are using chopsticks, you have both chopsticks in the same hand and this operation does need a good dexterity. Therefore, some kind of device to facilitate or allow the use of chopsticks is sometimes desired, at least as a learning tool. Furthermore, in the Asian countries, where eating with chopsticks is an everyday occurrence, the younger people and children are beginners as well and have to learn to operate the chopsticks. Thus, in those situations, some kind of device to facilitate or allow the using of chopsticks, is desirable as well.
Chopstick holders are previously known. These chopstick holders are often rather large devices and some of them tend to not give necessary stability to the chopsticks. In addition, known chopstick holders can often be considered as aids to disabled persons and can therefore also be considered as negative devices. A way of helping a user at least to practice holding chopsticks is disclosed in JP-A-2002 229443 . The practicing sheet disclosed therein is however not intended for actually using together with the chopsticks during eating, but rather only for the initial practicing step. Furthermore, some users find the chopstick holders to be complicated to assemble with the chopsticks, even necessitating an elaborate user's guide. In addition, today, it is not always easy for the users to get hold of a chopstick holder. However, it should be noted that it is important for users not to loose their face, especially when the user are sitting among strangers, such as at a restaurant. Therefore, a chopstick holder, easy to assemble and easy to use, is desirable. Accordingly, it is desirable that the chopstick holders are found where the needs are and it is desirable that the chopstick holders are not being considered as negative devices, such as only for disabled persons.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved resilient connecting element which at least partly eliminates at least some of the above mentioned problems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, this and other objects are achieved by a resilient connecting element as defined in claim 1. When the distance between said second breakthrough portions is equal to the distance between said first breakthrough portions, the chopsticks are in a parallel relationship to one another, when the resilient connecting element are assembled with the chopsticks. When the distance between said second breakthrough portions is shorter than the distance between said first breakthrough portions, a desirable angle between the chopsticks is achieved when the resilient connecting element is assembled with the chopsticks and the assembly is used. The combination of the resilient flexible plate and the position of the two pairs of breakthrough portions on the resilient flexible plate, through which breakthrough portions the chopsticks at usage are passed, will achieve a gripping action with the chopsticks to be more stable for the users, as well as provide the resilient connecting element to be easy to assemble with the chopsticks. The combination of the resilient flexible plate and the position of the two pairs of breakthrough portions also create the desirable stiffness between the chopsticks, when they are used. The stiffness is helping the user to keep the chopsticks in an adequate position for eating and to separate them again after the release of a gripped food product. Accordingly, a suitable path for the gripping part of the chopsticks, between an initial position and a food gripping position, is achieved. Hence, this helps the user to grip the food and to keep the food between the chopsticks, without the need for the necessary dexterity.
According to an embodiment of the invention, said distance between said second breakthrough portions is shorter than said distance between said first breakthrough portions.
According to an embodiment of the invention, said second breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions are equally distanced from said imaginary line.
Further, said two pairs of breakthrough portions are through holes.
According to the invention, said second breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions are interconnected to form one continuous breakthrough portion. By providing a continuous breakthrough portion in this way, it will be easier for the users to assemble the chopsticks with the resilient connecting element, especially when the chopsticks are formed conically. By interconnection the two breakthrough portions this way, it is also possible to give the resilient connecting element a contour that resembles for example a happy face in order to limit the experience of using an aid for disabled.
Preferably, said resilient connecting element is made of resilient plastic material. By using a resilient plastic material, the resilient connecting element is provided with an improved back spring effect. Accordingly, the element will strive to achieve its initial position, when the resilient connecting element is assembled with the chopsticks and the assembly is used. Furthermore, by using a resilient plastic material, the invention could be produced by for example punching at a very low price.
According to an embodiment of the invention, said resilient connecting element is detachably connected to a food package. By providing the resilient connecting element in this way to a food package, the resilient connecting element is easily available for the users. Hence, all of the chopstick users who are receiving the packages, will also receive the resilient connecting element. Thus, the users that have a need for the resilient connecting element, can have them close at hand. Accordingly, the users do not have to loose their face, since the users do not, for example, have to ask separately for the resilient connecting element. Further on, a connecting element easy and inexpensive to distribute such as to take-away restaurants and users, is achieved. An easy user's manual can also be printed on the packages, and therefore there is no need for extra or separate guidance.
According to an embodiment of the invention, said resilient connecting element is integrated with said package suitable for food. By providing the resilient connecting element in this way to a food package, the resilient connecting element is formed by the food package.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the contour of said resilient connecting element is formed of an indication of fracture in said package suitable for food, whereby said connecting element can be broken out of said package. By providing the resilient connecting element in this way to a food package, the connecting element can be supplied to the users easily and naturally. Hence, the users can easily press the resilient connecting element out of the package, with no need for extra tools.
According to another aspect of the present invention the chopstick arrangement comprises a resilient element and one pair of chopsticks as defined in claim 10.
By providing the chopstick arrangement in this way, a desirable angle between the chopsticks is achieved. Thus, the desirable stiffness between the chopsticks is created. The stiffness is helping the user to keep the chopsticks in an adequate position for eating and to separate them again after the release of a gripped food product. Accordingly, a suitable path for the gripping part of the chopsticks, between an initial position and an food gripping position, is achieved. Hence, this helps the user to grip the food and to keep the food between the chopsticks, without the need for the necessary dexterity.
According to an embodiment of the invention, said resilient element is bent against the resiliency of its material into said essentially U-shaped form. When the resilient element is bent against the resiliency of its material, the spring action in the element maintaining the desirable position of the chopsticks. Accordingly, the chopsticks are connected steadily to the resilient element and the chopstick arrangement will be more stable for the user.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions that are positioned closest to an end of said chopsticks for gripping food have a larger distance in relation to one another than the distance between the other breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions, wherein said chopsticks diverge towards said ends for gripping food. By providing the chopstick arrangement in this way, a suitable and stable handle position for gripping pieces of food, is achieved.
Another aspect of the present invention is the use of a resilient connecting element in combination with chopsticks for eating food, as defined in claim 14.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in the following in more detail by means of one embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 a is a front view showing a chopstick arrangement, when the chopsticks are in a food gripping position, according to the present invention
Fig. 1b is a side view showing a chopstick arrangement, when the chopsticks are in an initial position, according to the present invention.
Fig. 2a is a front view showing a chopstick arrangement, when the chopsticks are in a food gripping position, according to the present invention.
Fig. 2b is a side view showing a chopstick arrangement, when the chopsticks are in a food gripping position, according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a resilient connecting element, not being a part of the invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in the following. The examples described should not be regarded as restricting but merely as illustrative examples.
Fig 1 a and 1 b illustrate a chopstick arrangement 1 according to the present invention, when the chopsticks 3 are in a initial position. The chopstick arrangement 1 comprises a chopstick holder 2 and a pair of chopsticks 3. The chopstick holder 2 exemplifies a resilient connecting element for connecting together a pair of chopsticks 3, according to the present invention. The chopstick holder comprises two pairs of holes, a first pair of holes 4 and 8, and a second pair of holes 5 and 8. Each pair of holes comprises a first hole, 4 and 5, and a second hole 8. The second hole 8 of each pair of holes is interconnected to form one continuous hole 8. For a further description of the holes, consult fig 3. The chopsticks 3 comprise two ends, the first end is the end for gripping food and the second end is the opposite end of the food gripping end. The chopstick holder 2 is assembled with the chopsticks 3 by way of inserting the food gripping end of one chopstick 3, first through the ingoing hole 8 and then through the outgoing hole 5, and as a second step inserting the food gripping end of the other chopstick 3, first through the ingoing hole 8 and then through the outgoing hole 4. The chopsticks are often conically formed. By providing the chopstick holder 2 according to this embodiment, it will be easy for the user to assemble the chopstick holder 2 with the chopsticks 3, since the hole 8 is larger than the cross sectional area of the chopstick 3. In the preferred embodiment the diameter of the outgoing holes 4, 5 is larger than the smallest diameter of the chopsticks 3 but smaller than the largest diameter of the chopsticks 3. This way a natural "stop" is created in order to help the user during the assembly to find a good position for the chopsticks 3 relative the holder 2. By choosing a suitable length which the food gripping ends of the chopsticks 3 are inserted in the chopstick holder 2, the user can adjust the distance between the ends for food gripping of the chopsticks 3, and thereby also adjust the resistance which generates when operating the chopsticks 3 from the initial position to the food gripping position. Accordingly, it is easy for the user to adjust the chopstick arrangement 1 and thus the distance between the end for gripping of the chopsticks 3, depending on what kind of food the user is eating and the size of the food.
Fig 2a and 2b illustrate a chopstick arrangement 1 according to the present invention, when the chopsticks 3 are in a food gripping position. When the user is holding the chopsticks 3 in his or her hand 9 and pushes the chopsticks 3 towards each other from the initial position, the chopsticks 3 get into the gripping position. Thus, the distance between the ends for food gripping of the chopsticks 3, is smaller than in the initial position and thereby adjusted for gripping food. During this operation, the chopstick holder 2 bends between the hole 5 and 4 and this creates a buckling deformation of the material. Thus, the outgoing holes 4, 5 are compressed in their inner part, i.e. the part of the holes 4, 5 that are located towards one another. Furthermore, during this operation, the outer parts of the hole 8 are expanded, i.e. the parts facing away from one another. Thus, desirable stability of the movement of the chopsticks, is created since the deformation of the material, i.e. the back spring effect of the holder 2 is at all times working to resume the initial position of the holder 2 and thereby of the chopsticks 3. Then, when the user stops pushing the chopsticks 3 together, the distance between the ends for food gripping of the chopsticks 3 becomes larger again due to the back spring effect of the chopstick holder 2. During this operation, the chopsticks 3 are following the desirable path of motion and are still being stable in the hand 9 of the user.
Fig. 3 is only used for illustrative purposes. It shows a chopstick holder 2 with two pairs of holes 4, 6; 5, 7. According to this illustration, the second holes of each pair of holes constitute two separate holes 6 and 7, instead of the single hole 8 according to the invention. Each second hole 6, 7 are ingoing holes, when inserting the ends for gripping food of the chopsticks 3 through the chopstick holder 2. The first pair of holes 4 and 6 comprise a first hole 4 and a second hole 6. The second pair of holes 5, 7 comprise a first hole 5 and a second hole 7. Each first holes 4, 5 are outgoing holes, when inserting the ends for gripping food of the chopsticks 3 through the chopstick holder 2. Between the centres of the first holes 4 and 5 of each pair of holes, an imaginary, i.e. not visible line extends, with a length b. The second hole 6 is positioned at a distance c' from the imaginary line. The second hole 7 is positioned at a distance c" from the imaginary line. Each second hole 6, 7 is positioned at a unidirected distance perpendicularly from the imaginary line extending between each first hole 4, 5. The meaning of unidirected distance is, according to the present invention, that each second hole 6, 7, 8 lie on the same side of the above mentioned imaginary line. A distance a is the distance between the centres of the holes 6 and 7. The distance a between the second holes 6 and 7 of each pair of holes is, according to this embodiment, shorter than the distance b between the holes 4 and 5. Accordingly, the desirable angle between the chopsticks 3 is achieved, when assemble the chopstick holder 2 with the chopsticks 3. Thus, the chopsticks 3 diverge towards the ends for gripping food. Chopsticks 3 have usually a length of 15-25 cm and they are preferably inserted in the chopstick holder 2 so as to provide an angle between the chopsticks 3 when assembled with the holder 2 that is 15° - 25°.
The chopstick holder shall be considered as a disposable article, i.e. a single use article that can be produced at low costs. For this reason and to make an environmentally friendly product at the same time as giving the holder 2 above described characteristics, it is advantageous to produce it from a plastic material by injection moulding and by punching the contour out of a larger thin plate. The plate is preferably approximately 0,5 - 2 mm thick and the diameter of the round holder 2 is preferably 35-50 mm, with a suitable diameter of 40 mm in the preferred embodiment. The dimensions of the holder 2 is however dependent on the length of the chopsticks 3 and of the material used for the holder 2. Any other outer contour than rounded may be used, for example that of a heart, in combination possibly with a colour of red for use at Valentines day, to create a specific effect or reaction.
The preferred embodiment described above is to be understood as exemplary only and the scope protection of the claims should not be limited by those teachings. There are many other embodiments that lie within the protection sought. As an example the distance c' and c" could be unequal in length. In addition, the distance a and b could be equal, positioning the chopsticks 3 in a parallel relationship to one another. Furthermore, the chopstick holder 2 could also be decorated in different ways. For example, the hole 8 could be formed as a happy mouth and the holes 4, 5 could represent eyes in a happy face. Accordingly, the invention is intended to not be considered as an aid for helping disabled persons, rather a humorous chopstick holder and the users would not have to loose their face when using it. Furthermore, the resilient connecting element can be attached to the food package by glue or adhesive tape. Furthermore, the breakthrough portions could have the cross sectional form of for example a triangle or a polygon.

Claims

Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3), wherein said resilient connecting element (2) comprises a resilient flexible plate (2) and two pairs of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) wherein each pair of breakthrough portions consist of a first and a second breakthrough portion, wherein each second breakthrough portion (6, 7) is positioned at a unidirected distance perpendicularly from an imaginary line extending between each first breakthrough portion (4, 5), wherein the distance (a) between said second breakthrough portions (6, 7) is equal or shorter than the distance (b) between said first breakthrough portions (4, 5), characterised in that second breakthrough portions (6, 7) are interconnected to form one continuous breakthrough portion (8).
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to claim 1, wherein said second breakthrough portions (6, 7) form the outer portions of said one continuous breakthrough portion (8).
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said distance (a) between said second breakthrough portions (6, 7) is shorter than said distance (b) between said first breakthrough portions (4, 5).
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second breakthrough portions (6, 7) of each pair of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) are equally distanced from said imaginary line.
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said two pairs of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) are through holes.
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said resilient connecting element (2) is made of resilient plastic material.
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said resilient connecting element (2) is detachably connected to a food package.
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to claim 7, wherein said resilient connecting element (2) is integrated with said package suitable for food.
Resilient connecting element (2) for connecting together a pair of chopsticks (3) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the contour of said resilient connecting element (2) is formed of an indication of fracture in said package suitable for food, whereby said connecting element can be broken out of said package.
Chopstick arrangement (1) comprising a resilient element (2) and one pair of chopsticks (3) which are resiliently connected together by means of said resilient element (2), wherein said resilient element (2) comprises a plate of flexible material, comprising two pairs of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) of which each pair is penetrated by one of said chopsticks (3), wherein said resilient element (2) is bent into an essentially U-shaped form, wherein one of the breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) is arranged to be positioned at one side of the bend and the other one of the breakthrough portions of each pair of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) is positioned at the opposite side of said bend, characterised in that said second breakthrough portions (6; 7) are interconnected to form one continuous breakthrough portion (8).
Chopstick arrangement (1) according to claim 10, wherein said resilient element (2) is a resilient connecting element (2) according to any one of the claims 1-9.
Chopstick arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 10-11, wherein said resilient element (2) is bent against the resiliency of its material into said essentially U-shaped form.
Chopstick arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the breakthrough portions (4, 5) of each pair of breakthrough portions (4, 6) and (5, 7) that are positioned closest to an end of said chopsticks (3) for gripping food have a larger distance (b) in relation to one another than the distance (a) between the other breakthrough portions (6, 7) of each pair of breakthrough portions (4, 6; 5, 7) wherein said chopsticks (3) diverge towards said ends for gripping food.
Use of a resilient connecting element (2) according to any of the preceding claim 1 - 9 in combination with chopsticks (3) for eating food.