GB2202426A

GB2202426A - Disposable chopsticks

Info

Publication number: GB2202426A
Application number: GB08806792A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Soon-Suk Ahn
Original assignee: Seong-Do Moon
Current assignee: Seong-Do Moon
Priority date: 1987-03-24
Filing date: 1988-03-22
Publication date: 1988-09-28
Also published as: GB8806792D0; JPS63159571U

Abstract

Disposable chopsticks of the resiliently biased type having a split line (4) on the longitudinal axis thereof with a joint portion (3), wherein the improvement comprises a positive pressure means (2) urging the tip ends of the chopsticks to spread apart in opposed spaced relation. Means (2) comprises an elastic band (2) in cooperation with reverse conically tapered portions defined on the upper ends of the chopsticks. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS OF RESILIENTLY BIASED TYPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement of disposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type and more particularly, to improved chopsticks which have a positive pressure capable of spreading the tip ends apart, thereby allowing westerners and children to bring the tip ends together so that a piece of food can be easily grasped.

The chopsticks have been used for long time especially in Asian countries for instance, Korea, Japan and China, but in recent years Asian cuisine has rapidly spread over western countries, thus being necessary for westerners to use chopsticks when having it.

However, westerners. and children would not get accustomed to using the chopsticks, and therefore it is very difficult for westerners and children to hold the chopsticks with optimal position so as not to slip out of their fingers.

In this connection, the present invention represents improved chopsticks according to my Korea Serial No. 86-13695, and my prior art chopsticks are seated in opposite sides of a wedge fulcrum provided on the upper portion thereof whereon inclined portions are defined and whereon a holding member is covered, and the holding member has a pair of the grooves formed immediately above and below the wedge fulcrum respectively. An upper elastic band more stronger than a lower elastic band surrounds the upper groove of the holding member while the lower elastic band surrounds the lower groove thereof so that the tip ends of the chopsticks are resiliently biased apart by the different elastic modulus of two elastic bands.

Moreover, other elastic ring is inserted to the tip ends of the chopsticks for preventing from biasing apart and the elastic ring will be eliminated when using the chopsticks.

Therefore, above-mentioned chopsticks can be manually drawn together during usage and then, the resiliently biased means will yield to permit the necessary tong-like action to grasp a piece of food.

Consequently, aforementioned chopsticks can be conveniently used by westerners and children.

However, above-described chopsticks comprise a plurality of attaching members such as the holding member forming the grooves, the wedge fulcrum, two elastic bands having different elastic modulus and the elastic ring for joining the tip ends of the chopsticks together, and due to foregoing construction of the chopsticks, the manufacturing process is so complicated that production cost will be increased.

Hence, above-mentioned chopsticks are not economical and practical in view of the fact that disposable chopsticks are use and waste type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With a view to solving the above-described problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide disposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type for westerners and children who would not get accustomed to using the chopsticks.

It is other objective of the present invention to provide disposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type that are easy to make and inexpensive to use.

To accomplish the above objectives, there is provided, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an improvement of disposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type having a split line provided on the longitudinal axis thereof with a joint portion, wherein the improvement comprises reverse conically tapered portions defined on the upper ends thereof, an elastic band surrounded on the outer surface of the reverse conically tapered portions, and a positive pressure means resiliently biased by the elastic band in cooperation with the tapered portions.

The chopsticks according to the present invention, in normal state before usage, are integrally joined by the joint portion immediately below the tapered portions defined on the upper ends thereof.

In use, the tip ends of the chopsticks are forced to open by normal manner, thus being split the joint portion of the chopsticks into two arms while at the same time the tapered portions are abutted with each other by the elastic band surrounded on the outer surface thereof, and accordingly the upper ends of the- chopsticks have a biasing.force urging the tip ends of the chopsticks to spread apart in opposed spaced relation.

The tip ends are moved towards a piece of food to be grasped so that food is located between the tip ends, and then two arms of the chopsticks are brought together by pressure caused by fingers and thumb of the user, to thereby facilitate to grip and pick up a piece of food.

Thus, the present invention is improved chopsticks adapted to westerners and children who are too cumbersome to use the chopsticks.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process of the chopsticks according to the present invention is so simple that the production cost will be reduced, and as the result, it will be possible to provide inexpensive and convenient biased chopsticks of use and waste type.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of chopsticks embodied in the present invention; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the chopsticks in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tip ends of the chopsticks to spread apart in opposed spaced relation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 - 3 inclusive is chopsticks.

Chopsticks having a split line 4 provided on the longitudinal axis thereof with a joint portion 3 comprise a reverse conically tapered portions 1 and 1' defined on the upper ends thereof and an elastic band 2 surrounded on the outer surface of the reverse conically tapered portions 1 and 1'.

The chopsticks in normal state before usage are integrally joined by the joint portion 3 immediately below the tapered portions 1 and 1 defined on the upper ends of the chopsticks.

When the chopsticks will be used by the user, the tip ends of the chopsticks are forced to open by normal manner.

Thus, the joint portion 3 of the chopsticks are easily split into two arms while at same time the tapered portions 1 and 1' are abutted with each other by the elastic band 2 surrounded on the outer surface thereof, and accordingly the upper ends of the chopsticks have a positive pressure urging the tip ends of the chopsticks to spread apart in opposed spaced relation.

The next time, the tip ends are moved towards a piece of food to be grasped so that food is located between the tip ends and then, two arms of the chopsticks are brought together by force caused by fingers and thumb of the user to facilitate to grip and pick up a piece of food.

Accordingly, the grasped food will be released into the mouth of the user by releasing the squeezing pressure of the fingers and thumb of the user.

Thus, the chopsticks of the present invention can be easily and conveniently used by westerners and children who would not get accustomed to using the chopsticks.

Furthermore, from the simple construction of the chopsticks, the manufacturing process can be shortened to reduce the production cost, thus being possible to provide inexpensive and convenient biased chopsticks of use and waste type.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangements, color and detail of the various elements of the invention without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An improvement of disposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type having a split line provided on the longitudinal axis thereof with a joint portion, wherein the improvement comprises reverse tapered portions defined on the upper ends thereof, an elastic band surrounded on the outer surface of said tapered portions, and a positive pressure means resiliently biased by said elastic band in cooperation with said tapered portions.

2. nisposable chopsticks of resiliently biased type as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

3. Chopsticks of the resiliently biased type having a split line provided on the longitudinal axis thereof with a joint portion, wherein each chopstick includes a reverse tapered portion defined on its upper end and wherein a positive pressure means resiliently biases said tapered portions together.