GB2406036A

GB2406036A - Resilient connector for chopsticks

Info

Publication number: GB2406036A
Application number: GB0322021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Craik-Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-19
Filing date: 2003-09-19
Publication date: 2005-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-19
Also published as: GB2406036B; GB0322021D0

Abstract

A chopstick connector comprising resilient means 17, a first chopstick holding means 7, and second chopstick holding means 8, in which the connector is adapted to hold a first and a second chopstick 5,6 with which it is to be used at a location adjacent an area at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use. The resilient means 17 may be a coil spring and, when neither compressed nor extended, may hold the chopsticks parallel. The connector may be integral with the chopsticks, Figure 4.

Description

Chops.: k Connector This Invention relates to a novel connector for use

particularly, but not exclusively, with a pair of chopsticks.

Although chopsticks come in many sizes, shapes and designs, and can be constructed from different materials, the method of using them is the same. The method Is quite different to the method of using a knife and fork. A pair of chopsticks are held In one hand, and are used to grasp food so it can be lifted to the mouth. This technique requires some dexterity and skill and can be difficult to learn, In particular when chopsticks are not regularly used.

Chopsticks are conventionally held between the middle finger, fore finger and thumb. It can be difficult to hold both sticks level in order to maintain a good grip on the food. It has therefore been suggested to provide a pair of chopsticks which are Joined together at one end, to form a pair of tongs. With this arrangement it Is simply necessary to push the sticks together to hold the food.

However, the inability to use a pair of chopsticks, can become a source of embarrassment, In particular if they are to be used In a polite restaurant. The use of an unsightly pair of tongs readily betrays the fact that the user does not possess the requisite skills to use chopsticks.

In addition, such an arrangement does not constitute an effective training tool for those learning to use chopsticks, for example young children. When a pair of chopsticks are used In the traditional manner, the user rotates one or both of the sticks about a point approximately level with their thumb. If the sticks are attached together at their ends, as with a pair of tongs' then they rotate about a point at their outer ends, which does not create the same effect. Therefore, the user does not learn how to manipulate a pair of chopsticks In the correct manner.

The present Invention is Intended to overcome some of these problems.

Therefore, accordng to a frst aspect of the present nvention a chopstck connector comprises resilient means, first chopstick holding means, and second chopstick holding means, In which the connector is adapted to hold a first and a second chopstick with which it Is to be used at a location adjacent an area at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use.

In a preferred construction the connector can comprise a coil spnng, provided with a first substantially straight end portion and a second substantially straight end portion, in which the first and second end portions can extend In substantially the same direction from the coil.

The first and second chopstick holding means can be resilient sockets provided on the first and second end portions, such that a first chopstick can be held on one side of the coil, and a second chopstick can be held on the opposite side of the coil, In a snap-ft arrangement.

However, In a preferred construction the first and second chopstick holding means can be sleeves provided with resilient protrusions, or teeth on their interior surface which are adapted to grip a chopstick in use. With this arrangement a square, round or any other shape of chopstick can be used with the same connector.

The chopstick mounting means can be disposed substantially In line with one another so the ends of chopsticks contained therein can meet in use.

The coil spring can be dimensioned to fit In the space which exists between a pair of chopsticks and under the thumb, when they are held in the hand in the conventional manner. With this arrangement, the connector can be obscured from view In use. It will be appreciated that this space may vary from person to person, therefore a number of connectors with different coil sizes can be provided. Preferably three sizes varying from child, medium to large can be provided.

ln a preferred constructon the coil spnng can be formed such that when t s under no compression, chopsticks held by the first and second chopstick holding means can be approximately parallel. With this arrangement the ends of the chopsticks can be far apart enough to surround most food to be gripped without the need to place the spring under extension.

The connector can be constructed from any suitable resilient material, for example a plastics material or a metal, for example stainless steel. In addition, the connector can be provided In any colour.

It will be appreciated that a pair of chopsticks could also be provided with an integral connector as described above.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present Invention, a pair of chopsticks Is provided with a connector extending between them comprising resilient means, In which the connectoms disposed adjacent an area at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use.

Preferably the pair of chopsticks are provided with a connector composing resilient means, a first chopstick holding means, and second chopstick holding means, In which the connectoms adapted to releasably hold a first and a second chopstick with which it Is to be used at a location adjacent the location at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use.

The Invention can be performed in various ways, but two embodiments will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, In which: Figure 1 Is a side view of a chopstick connector according to the present invention, in which one portion Is shown In cross-secton; F'gure 2 s a front view of the chopstck as shown n figure 1; figure 3 is a side view of the chopstick connector as shown In Figure 1, In use; and, figure 4 Is a side view of a pair of chopsticks according to the second aspect of the present invention.

In the figures chopstick connector 1 comprises resilient means, In the form of coil spring 2, a first chopstick holding means, in the form of sleeve 3 (which Is shown In cross-secton), and second chopstick holding means, In the form of sleeve 4.

The connector 1 Is adapted to hold a first 5 and a second 6 chopstick with which it Is to be used at a location 7 and 8 adjacent the areas 9 and 10 at which a user's thumb (not shown) contacts said sticks 5 and 6 In use.

The coil spring 2 is provided with a first substantially straight end portion 11 and a second substantially straight end portion 12, which extend in substantially the same direction from the coil 2.

Resilient sockets 3 and 4 are carried on the end portions 11 and 12, such that the first chopstick 5 is held on one side of the coil 2 and the second chopstick 6 Is held on the other side of the coil 2, as shown in Figure 3.

The chopsticks 5 and 6 are of a traditional shape, which tapers to a point 13 and 14.

The sleeves 3 and 4 are provided with resilient triangular shaped protrusions 15, on themnteror surface 16 which are adapted to grip chopsticks In use. With this arrangement a square, round or any other shape of chopstick can be inserted into the sleeves 3 and 4 and held in place.

As s shown in Fgure 2, the sleeves 3 and 4 are mounted n an off-set postion on the end portions 11 and 12, such that they are substantially In line with one another so the ends 13 and 14 of the chopsticks 5 and 6 can meet In use.

In use the chopsticks 5 and 6 are placed In the sleeves 3 and 4, and the protrusions 15 grip the chopsticks at the locations 7 and 8. As such the connector 1, and the portions of the chopsticks 5 and 6 which extend forward from the connector 1, define a pair of tongs.

The user holds the chopsticks 5 and 6 in the conventional manner In the hand, with their thumb (not shown) disposed over the areas 9 and 10.

It Will be appreciated that the coil 2 is dimensioned to fit in the space 17 which would exist between the areas 9 and 10 if the chopsticks 5 and 6 were held in the traditional way.

With this arrangement, the connector 1 is obscured from view In use, because it Is under the thumb (not shown).

As Is shown in Figure 3, the coil spring 3 Is formed such that when it Is under no compression the chopsticks 5 and 6 are held approximately parallel. With this arrangement the ends of the chopsticks 13 and 14 are far apart enough to surround most food to be gripped without the need to place the spring under extension.

The chopsticks 5 and 6 are therefore held level, and the areas 9 and 10 are held at a fixed relationship. The user can force the ends 13 and 14 of the chopsticks and 6 together, therefore compressing the coil spring 2, or the user can force the ends 13 and 14 further apart, therefore extending the coil spring 2. Therefore, with ready manipulation of the chopsticks 5 and 6, they can be used In the normal way, by means of rotation about points approximately within areas 9 and 10.

The connector 1 s constructed from a reslent plastics matenal.

It Will be appreciated that a chop stick connector could be constructed In a number of other ways, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the coil spring is replaced with a single piece of resilient material bent through 180 degrees. In a further alternative embodiment, the chopstick sockets are replaced with tapered tubes, through which the tapered chopsticks can be passed, and which are dimensioned to prevent further passage once the connector is in the correct position on the chopsticks.

Alternatively, in a further embodiment knot shown) the sleeves can be adjustable In size such that a chopstick of any dimension can be placed inside them and held fast by adjusting the interior dimensions of the sleeve.

The second aspect of the present invention provides a pair of chopsticks provided with a connector extending between them comprising resilient means, in which the connector is disposed adjacent the location at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks In use.

Therefore, In Figure 4 a pair of chopsticks 20 and 21, are provided with a connector 22 extending between them. The connector 22 is a constructed from a resilient material, and is disposed adjacent areas 23 and 24 at which the user's thumb contacts the sticks in use.

Chopsticks 20 and 21 function in the same way as chopsticks 5 and 6 In use.

Thus a chopstick connector is provided which can be used discreetly, which can provide an effective training tool, and which can be used with any conventional chopsticks. In addition a pair of chopsticks are provided with an integral connector which functions in the same way.

Claims

Claims 1. A chopstick connector composing resilient means, a first

chopstick holding means, and second chopstick holding means, in which the connector is adapted to hold a first and a second chopstick with which it is to be used at a location adjacent an area at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use.
2. A chopstick connector as claimed in Claim 1 In which the resilient means comprises a coil spnng.
3. A chopstick connector as claimed In Claim 2 in which the coil spring Is provided with a first substantially straight end portion and a second substantially straight end portion, In which the first and second end portions extend in substantially the same direction from the coil.
4. A chopstick connector as claimed In Claim 3 in which the first and second chopstick holding means are resilient sockets provided on the first and second end portions, such that a first chopstick can be held on one side of the coil spring, and a second chopstick can be held on the opposite side of the coil spring.
5. A chopstick connector as claimed In Claim 3 in which the first and second chopstick holding means are sleeves provided on the first and second end portions, such that a first chopstick can be held on one side of the coil spun", and a second chopstick can be held on the opposite side of the coil spring, In which the sleeves are provided with resilient protrusions on their interior surface adapted to grip a chopstick In use.
6. A chopstick connector as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the connector is dimensioned to fit in the space which exists between said pair of chopsticks and under the user's thumb in use
7. A chopstok connector as clamed in Claim 6 n whch the chopstck mounting means can be disposed substantially in line with one another such that the ends of the first and the second chopsticks can meet, In use.
8. A chopstick connector as claimed in any of the preceding Claims In which when the spring Is placed under no compression or extension, the first and the second chopsticks mounted in the chopstick mounting means in use are substantially parallel.
9. A chopstick connector as claimed in any of the preceding Claims In which the connector Is constructed from a plastics material.
10. A chopstick connector as claimed in any of Claims 1-8 in which the connector Is constructed from a metal.
11. A chopstick connector substantially as claimed herein and as shown In figures 1- 3.
12. A pair of chopsticks provided with a connector extending between them comprising resilient means, in which the connector Is disposed adjacent an area at which a user's thumb contacts said sticks in use.
13. A pair of chopsticks substantially as described herein and as shown In Figure 4.