GB2500404A

GB2500404A - A spoon engageable with a food package

Info

Publication number: GB2500404A
Application number: GB1204870.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aviruth Sachdev
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-20
Filing date: 2012-03-20
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: GB201204870D0

Abstract

A spoon 1 which is engageable with a food package through a push-fit arrangement has a shallow bowl portion 2 and a handle 3. The spoon and handle are integrally formed from a flexible plastics material such as silicone rubber. The spoon further comprises a bore 4 which runs through the handle from one end to the other. The bore terminates in a first opening 41 adjacent to the bowl portion and a second opening 42 having a larger cross sectional area than the first is on the opposite end of the handle. In use the spoon is engaged with an opening of a food package through a push or friction fit mechanism at the second opening. Food can then be squeezed through the bore and onto the spoon directly.

Description

CUTLERY

The present invention relates to cutlery suitable for attachment to a food package and is especially, but not exclusively, related to cutlery, such as spoons, foi feeding babies, s infants or young children.

As used herein the term spoon is intended to mean a utensil having a shallow bowl, oval or round at the end of a handle. The term spoon is also intended to encompass variants such as spoon-like shallows having fork tines, commonly referred to as sporks io or foons.

It is becoming increasingly common to teed babies or young children from flexible packages containing semi-solid food, such as pureed fruit, vegetables, meals or combinations theieof.

Such packages geneially come in the form of a pouch having an opening protected by a sciew cap. In order to feed the baby oi child the user may squeeze the food diiectly onto or into a plate or bowl for the purposes of feeding a child or squeeze the contents into the mouth of the child. Alternatively, to ieplicate feeding from cutlery, the user may transfer food from the package onto a utensil such as a spoon and then feed the child in a conventional mannel.

Feeding spoons having a screw thread to engage the opening of pouches aie known.

Such spoons are adapted to be received on the opening of the package, the package and spoon being releasably engageable by a sciew mechanism. With the spoon received upon the package via the screw arrangement, the food product is deliverable to the spoon portion via an internal bore providing a flow path for the food between the package and the bowl or spoon. Once the food is presented on the spoon it may be fed to the baby or child.

s In order to achieve a reliable screw thread the spoon must be formed of a hard material, typically a plastics material such as a thermoplastic polymer, e.g. polypropylene.

As a consequence, the spoon, and in particular the internal bore, may be difficult to clean. For instance, food that gets lodged between the ridges of the screw thread can be difficult to access. As will be appreciated, bacteria and/or other harmful germs may concentrate in regions that are not accessible to clean.

It is a desideratum for the spoons to be kept clean because they are designed for re-is use. In particular, if the spoons are used when the user is traveling and does not have access to means to rigorously clean and/or sterilise re-use of the spoon may be problematic from a cleanliness point of view.

Another disadvantage of forming the spoon of a hard material is that it may be uncomfortable for a baby, particularly one who is being weaned from a bottle having a flexible nipple.

A further disadvantage is that the orientation of the bowl is restricted by the screw thread. Once the spoon has been tightly screwed onto the package the bowl may end up facing an awkward angle for feeding. One way in which to adjust the angle is to partially unscrew the spoon from the packaging, however this may have undesirable consequences such as leakage and so on.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spoon which mitigates or alleviates at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides an item of cutlery, such as a spoon, s for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery being engageable with a package by a push-fit arrangement.

The push fit arrangement may be provided by an interference, push or friction fit between the parts. The push-fit arrangement may alternatively be provided by a io bayonet-type fitting or other fitting relying on a limited (e.g. less than 270, say less than e.g. less than 110 degree) amount of rotation.

Preferably, the item of cutlery, e.g. spoon, comprises a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end, e.g. for conveying food from the item of cutlery, e.g. spoon.

Preferably at least the proximal end of the cutlery is flexible to facilitate said push-fit engagement.

In a preferred embodiment the item of cutlery is a spoon comprising a bowl or dish-shaped portion, preferably at the end of a handle.

Preferably, the item of cutlery, e.g. spoon, comprises a bore running from a proximal end towards a distal end.

Preferably, the bore comprises at least one open end. For instance, the bore may comprise an opening at the distal end at or approximate to the or a bowl or dish-shaped portion.

Preferably, the bore is open-ended at the proximal end.

Preferably, the item of cutlery comprises means to engage a complementarily shaped member such as a rim, e.g. an annular rim, provided on a package, at the proximal end s thereof.

Preferably, said means comprises a lip, e.g.an annular lip.

Preferably, the item of cutlery may be deformed such that the lip can extend over and io around a rim of a spout of a food package.

Preferably, the item of cutlery comprises an annular rebate, e.g. to retain in use a complementarily shape rim.

is Preferably, the item of cutlery comprises a flange, e.g. an annular flange located within the bore.

Preferably, the flange defines an annular gap between the flange and at least a portion of a wall of the bore.

Preferably, the flange extends towards the proximal end of the item of cutlery, and preferably tapers inwardly towards a periphery thereof.

Alternatively, the flange may terminate in an edge having a bevelled outer. In such embodiments the flange need not necessarily taper.

In use, a portion of the flange abuts or at least partially enters an opening of a food package.

Preferably, the item of cutlery comprises gripping means, for example to enable the s user to attach and/or detach the item of cutlery to and/or from a food package.

Preferably, the gripping means comprises one or more raised projections or indentations. Alternatively, the gripping means may comprise one or more secondary handles.

Preferably, the gripping means is arranged on the or a handle. Preferably, the gripping means comprises a pair of secondary handles, e.g. diametrically opposed from each other about the or a handle.

is Preferably, the proximal end comprises a substantially oblate or oval cross sectional profile. However, the proximal end may comprise a spherical or rectangular or other shaped cross sectional profile without departing from the scope of the invention.

In a second aspect the invention provides an item of cutlery, such as a spoon, for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery having a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end, a bore for conveying food from a package and running from the proximal end towards the distal end, at least a portion of the item of cutlery comprising a flexible plastics material, e.g. silicone rubber.

In a further aspect the invention provides an item of cutlery, such as a spoon, for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery having a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end, a bore for conveying food from a package and running from the proximal end towards the distal end, wherein the item of cutlery comprises a flange, e.g. an annular flange located within the bore.

The subsequent aspects of the invention may comprise any of the optional features of s the first aspect of the invention.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of cutlery in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a spoon according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an alternative perspective view of the spoon of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an elevation view from the underside of the spoon of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an elevation view from the side of the spoon of Figure 1; is Figure 5 shows an elevation view from an end of the spoon of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the spoon of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the line L-L of Figure 6; Figures 8 to 14 show corresponding views of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 15 shows a view of the spoon of Figure 1 attached to a flexible food package and Figure 16 shows a view of the spoon of Figure 8 attached to a flexible food package.

Referring first to Figures ito 5 there is shown a spoon, indicated generally by 1, having a shallow bowl 2 attached to a handle 3.

The bowl 2 and handle 3 are integrally formed from a flexible plastics material such as silicone rubber.

The spoon 1 comprises a bore 4 running through the handle 3 from one end to the s other.

The bore 4 terminates in a first opening 41 adjacent to the bowl 2. As best shown in Figure 2, the other end of the bore 4 is also open-ended in the form of a second opening 42. The second opening 42 has a larger cross sectional area than that of the io first opening 41. As will be appreciated from Figure 5 the second opening 42 has an oval shaped cross section. Other cross-sectional shapes are also envisaged such as circulai, oblate, rectangular and so on.

Referring back to Figure 1, the spoon 1 comprises secondary handles 6 for a user to is grip the spoon 1, in use. The secondary handles 6 are diametrically opposed from each other on the handle 3.

In Figure 6 the spoon 1 is shown in plan and having a line L-L extending longitudinally through a central axis thereof.

From Figure 7 (a cross sectional view along the line L-L of Figure 6) it will be appreciated that the second opening 42 is defined by an annular lip 5. Extending from the lip 5 in a direction towards the bowl 2, the spoon 1 comprises an annular rebate 43 and successive first 44, second 45 and third 46 chambers, the rebate 43 and chambers 44 to 46 constituting various portions of the bore 4.

The spoon 1 further comprises an annular flange 47 located within the bore 4. The flange 47 terminates in an edge having a bevelled outer. In alternative embodiments, the flange 47 may taper inwardly towards a periphery thereof. Annular space 48 is provided between the flange 47 and side wall of second chamber 45.

Figures 8 to 14 show a spoon 1' according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein parts of the spoon 1' similar to those of the first embodiment are assigned the same number but are denoted with a prime ().

io As will be appreciated, the spoon 1' comprises gripping means 6' formed of a plurality of projections 61'. In the embodiment shown four projections 61' are provided on each side of the handle 3'. Of course, any number of projections 61' may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

is Figures 15 and 16 show the respective spoons 1, 1' engaging a conventional food package 100. The package 100 comprises a body 101 holding food and a spout 102 extending from the body 101. The spout 102 comprises annular rim 103 extending about the spout 102 towards the base thereof.

In use, the spout 102 is receivable by the second aperture 42' of the spoon 1, 1'.

Because the spoon 1, 1' is formed from silicone rubber the lip 5, 5' is deformable such that it may extend over and around the annular rim 103 of the package 100.

Accordingly, the annular rim 103 fits snugly within the rebate 43'. Further, the flange 47, 47' abuts or partially enters an opening of the spout 102. In embodiments where the flange 47, 47' partially enters the opening of the spout 102 the terminal edge thereof fits snugly within the annular space 48, 48'.

It will be appieciated that such an arrangement is more reliable than that of the priol ait spoons, Le. less prone to leakages and so on. Moreover, because the spoon 1, 1' is freely rotatable about the spout 102 the angle of the feeding bowl 2, 2' may be easily adjusted to suit the user, La to make feeding easier.

Also, because the bore 4, 4' is free from thread and, further, because the spoon 1, 1' is flexible it is easy to keep the spoon 1' clean and/or keep free from bacteria or othei potentially harmful germs. Moreover, the spoon 1, 1' of the invention is cheaper and/or moie ieliable to manufacture since it does not require the foimation of an inner thread.

However, it is to be clear that just because the spoon 1, 1' has no thread does not mean the spoon 1, 1 cannot be used with packaging having a threaded spout 102.

The spoon 1, 1' of the invention may simply be push-fitted to a thieaded spout 102.

Thus, the spoon 1, 1 of the present invention is more versatile than those already is known in the art, for example the spoon 1, 1' is not restricted by the diameter of a spout. The flexible nature of the inventive spoon 1, 1' allows it to be fitted to food packaging having spouts of various diameters. Also, the fabrication of the spoon 1, 1' in a resilient silicone rubbei mateiial ensures that the spoon 1, 1' is suitable for repeated steam sanitation as is often used by parents to sterilise children's feeding equipnient.

The push-fit arrangement can be used with other pieces of cutlery or other utensils.

The utensils may have utility in fields other than child care, for example, feeding of the elderly, disabled or infiimed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An item of cutlery for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery being engageable with a food package by a push-fit arrangement.
2. An item of cutlery according to Claim 1, wherein the item of cutlery comprises a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end for conveying food from the item of cutlery.

0
3. An item of cutlery according to Claim 2, wherein at least the proximal end of the item of cutlery is flexible to tacilitate said push-fit engagement.
4. An item of cutlery according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, comprising a bore running from the proximal end towards the or a distal end.
5. An item of cutlery according to Claim 4, wherein the bore comprises an opening at the distal end at or approximate to a bowl or dish-shaped portion of the item of cutlery.
6. An item of cutlery according to any preceding Claim comprising means to engage a complementarily shaped member such as a rim, e.g. an annular rim, provided on a package, said means being provided at the or a proximal end of the item of cutlery.
7. An item of cutlery according to Claim 6 wherein said means comprises an annular lip.
8. An item of cutlery according to Claim 6 of Claim 7, wherein the item of cutlery is deformable such that said means can extend over and around a rim.
9. An item of cutlery according to any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein said means further comprises an annular rebate.
10. An item of cutlery according to any preceding Claim, wherein the item of cutlery s comprises a flange.
11. An item of cutlery according to Claim 10, wherein the flange defines an annular gap between the flange and at least a portion of a wall of the or a bore.io
12. An item of cutlery according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the flange extends towards the or a proximal end of the item of cutlery, and preferably tapers inwardly towards a periphery thereof.
13. An item of cutlery according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the flange terminates is in an edge having a bevelled outer.
14. An item of cutlery according to any preceding Claim, comprising gripping means.
15. An item of cutlery according to Claim 14, wherein the gripping means comprises one or more raised projections or indentations.
16. An item of cutlery for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery having a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end, a bore for conveying food from a package and running from the proximal end towards the distal end, at least a portion of the item of cutlery comprising a flexible plastics material, e.g. silicone rubber.
17. An item of cutlery for attachment to a food package, the item of cutlery having a proximal end for attachment to a package and a distal end, a bore for conveying food from a package and running from the proximal end towards the distal end, wherein the item of cutlery comprises a flange, e.g. an annular flange located within the bore.
18. An item of cutlery, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the s accompanying drawings.