GB2594469A

GB2594469A - Spill resistant feeding device

Info

Publication number: GB2594469A
Application number: GB2006167.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicola Haberman Mandy
Original assignee: Haberman Global Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Haberman Global Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-27
Filing date: 2020-04-27
Publication date: 2021-11-03
Also published as: GB202006167D0

Abstract

A spill resistant item of cutlery 100 comprises a longitudinally extending elongate member having a tubular retaining portion 101 proximate a first end of the elongate member and a gripping portion proximate a second end of the elongate member. The tubular retaining portion comprises an interior retaining surface 104 defining a retaining portion cavity 103 and the tubular retaining portion further comprises a food inlet F in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity. The interior retaining surface may comprise a plurality of elevations comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs. The device may further comprise an air vent 102 proximate a posterior end of the tubular retaining portion. The gripping portion may comprise inner 105 and outer 106 gripping portions. The gripping portion may further comprise a food retaining cavity having a cavity volume, anterior end and posterior end. The inner handle portion may comprise the food retaining cavity and the food retaining cavity and retaining portion cavity may be in fluid communication. The tubular retaining portion may be detachable from the gripping portion. The device aims to provide assisted feeding of a child or an individual having limited dexterity.

Description

SPILL RESISTANT FEEDING DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an item of cutlery that can be used for assisted feeding of a child, such as a toddler, or an individual having limited dexterity.

Background to the Invention

For individuals with limited dexterity or difficulty with fine motor skills, eating semi liquid food (e.g. purees) with a conventional spoon can be challenging as the food easily falls from the spoon before it reaches the mouth. For example, infants in the early stage of weaning will want to grab the loaded spoon but are likely to wave it around, causing food to fly off in all directions and limiting the food reaching the mouth. As a result, carers tend to prevent the child from grabbing the spoon. This slows down the child's development of independent self-feeding skills. Even when the carer is holding the spoon, the child often knocks it and food falls off. Similarly, for many elderly people, or people with limited dexterity, spoon feeding can be frustrating and messy, necessitating intervention from the carer, which can be damaging to the individual's sense of independence and self-respect.

Current solutions include using food pouches to feed, for example, young children. These food pouches are provided with a shod straw mouthpiece, through which the semi-liquid food is sucked out of the pouch. The pouch can be squeezed to help the child's suckling efforts, allowing for a feeding method that has very little mess.

However, such food pouches do not solve the issue of developing the child's dexterity in addition to normal self-feeding spoon skills. Furthermore, the food is delivered to the back of the child's mouth, thus skipping the crucial steps of the child opening its mouth to accept the spoon into the oral cavity, closing the lips to draw the bolus of food from the spoon and transmitting the bolus form the front to the back of the mouth, further inhibiting the child's development of self-feeding skills.

Another solution involves straw spoons, wherein a straw has an open spoon element as a result of a longitudinal cut. However, when waved around, food loaded on to the spoon element will readily spill. Therefore, there remains an issue with the mess caused by the lack of appropriate feeding instruments.

It is therefore desirable to provide a solution which overcomes the disadvantages of the current feeding implements.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spill resistant item of cutlery, the spill resistant item of cutlery comprising: a longitudinally extending elongate member having; a tubular retaining portion proximate a first end thereof; and a gripping portion proximate a second end opposing the first end. The tubular retaining portion comprises an interior retaining surface defining a retaining portion cavity. The tubular retaining portion further comprises a food inlet in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity.

The spill resistant item of cutlery will be further understood as being any implement suitable for feeding.

The tubular retaining portion of the present invention preferably defines the retaining portion cavity such that the retaining portion cavity is tubular in shape. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the tubular description describes the present invention only. In additional embodiments, the tubular retaining portion comprises a cross sectional shape that is any of square, rectangular, ovular, circular or any shape that is appropriate for the functionality of the present invention. It is preferable that the tubular retaining portion cavity is of adequate volume so as to fit a food item in. If the tubular retaining portion were too small, then the food items would not be able to enter the retaining portion cavity. On the other hand, if the tubular retaining portion were too large, then food items would easily exit the retaining portion cavity.

In preferable embodiments, the tubular retaining portion comprises a tubular retaining portion material that allows for adequate compression such that food items are able to exit the retaining portion cavity when the tubular retaining portion is compressed. Preferably, the tubular retaining portion material is a flexible material.

More preferably, the tubular retaining portion material is a flexible material that will return to its original shape after compression. Still more preferably, the tubular retaining portion material comprises a resiliently deformable material. In some embodiments, the tubular retaining portion material comprises silicone. Further embodiments will be appreciated by the skilled addressee wherein the tubular retaining portion material comprises any flexible material that allows for the compression of the tubular retaining portion. Advantageously, such an arrangement allows for greater ease of extracting food items as, in addition to suction, the tubular retaining portion can be squeezed (compressed) in order for food items to leave the retaining portion cavity.

In preferable embodiments, the interior retaining surface comprises a plurality of elevations. The plurality of elevations will be understood by the skilled addressee to be any suitably shaped elevation extending from the interior retaining surface into the retaining portion cavity. Preferably, the plurality of elevations is arranged to maximise surface tension between a food item present in the tubular retaining portion and the interior retaining surface. A requirement for greater surface tension will require a greater surface area of the interior retaining surface, the surface area being proportional to the surface area of the plurality of elevations. It is preferable for the surface tension to be of sufficient magnitude such that the food items present in the tubular retaining portion are biased towards remaining within the tubular retaining portion. It is also preferable that the surface tension is not too great as to inhibit any attempt to remove the food item from the tubular retaining portion via, for example, suction.

In preferable embodiments, the plurality of elevations or protrusions comprises a plurality of longitudinal protrusions or ribs. In preferable embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal protrusions will be understood to extend along the interior retaining surface longitudinally. In other embodiments, the plurality of protrusions comprises a plurality of protrusions extending in any direction along the interior retaining surface.

Preferably, the food inlet is proximate an anterior end of the tubular retaining portion.

In preferable embodiments, the anterior end opposes an anterior end longitudinally.

Preferably, the food inlet is arranged such that fluids and/or semi-fluids are able to enter or exit the retaining portion cavity via the food inlet. In preferable embodiments, the food inlet forms part of the tubular retaining portion and maximises fluid communication between the tubular retaining portion cavity and an area beyond the food inlet. The physical shape of the food inlet may preferably match the cross section of the retaining portion cavity which, in preferable embodiments, is ovular. However, other embodiments exist wherein the food inlet has a circular, square, rectangular or any other shape that allows for food items to enter the tubular retaining portion. Preferably, the food inlet is arranged to minimise protrusions from the cavity wall proximate the food inlet. Advantageously, such an arrangement reduces the build-up of food items that may occur if a lip protruded from the tubular retaining portion surface.

In preferable embodiments, the food inlet may be planar and may be chosen to extend at an angle longitudinally, the angle being, for example, 30 degrees. As a result, the food inlet may have a varying offset along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, such a shape may assist in transmitting the food items into the tubular retaining portion.

Preferably, the spill resistant item of cutlery further comprises an air vent. In preferable embodiments, the air vent or hole is arranged to allow air to exit the retaining portion cavity as food is entering. Advantageously, the air vent reduces the potential build-up of pressure that would that would otherwise oppose food items entering the retaining portion cavity. In further preferred embodiments, the air vent is arranged in fluid communication with the tubular retaining portion cavity. Advantageously, such an embodiment allows for the tubular retaining portion cavity to be easily cleaned as cleaning fluids are able to enter the retaining portion cavity via the food inlet and exit via the air vent or vice versa.

Preferably, the air vent is proximate the posterior end of the tubular retaining portion such that the air vent opposes the food inlet. The air vent can be located at other locations along the gripping portion or handle of the feeding device or spoon.

In some embodiments, the shape of the air vent is ovular. In further embodiments, the shape of the air vent is circular, square, rectangular or any other shape that suitably allows for the air vent's function.

Preferably, the gripping portion further comprises an inner handle gripping portion and an outer gripping portion.

Preferably, the outer gripping portion encompasses the inner gripping portion.

Preferably, the gripping portion further comprises: a food retaining cavity comprising: a cavity volume; an anterior end; and a posterior end.

Preferably, the inner handle portion comprises the food retaining cavity. In this way, the food retaining cavity may be encompassed by the inner handle portion.

In a preferable embodiment, the food retaining cavity and the tubular retaining portion are provided in fluid communication. In this way, food stuff stored in the food retaining cavity may be transported to the retaining portion cavity.

Preferably, the tubular retaining portion further comprises a first connection portion proximate the anterior end of the tubular retaining portion. Further preferably, the food retaining cavity further comprises a second connection portion proximate the anterior end of the food retaining cavity. In this way, the first connection portion and the second connection portion connect to facilitate the fluid communication between the tubular retaining portion and the food retaining cavity.

Preferably, the tubular retaining portion comprises an attachment means, wherein the attachment means is configured to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the tubular retaining portion from the gripping portion.

In some embodiments, the attachment means may be a screw closure. In this way, the tubular retaining portion may be attached to the gripping portion by twisting the tubular retaining portion about the screw closure.

Further embodiments exist wherein the attachment means is any attachment means suitable for facilitating the attachment of the tubular retaining portion to the gripping portion.

In some embodiments, the gripping portion further comprises a food loading conduit proximate the posterior end of the food retaining cavity, arranged to facilitate the loading of food into the food retaining cavity. In this way, food may be added to the food retaining cavity without detaching the tubular retaining portion.

Further embodiments exist wherein the food loading conduit is proximate any suitable part of the food retaining cavity suitable for facilitating the loading of food into the food retaining cavity.

Preferably, the food loading conduit is sealable. In this way, the food stuff may be loaded into the food retaining cavity and may be unable to exit the food retaining cavity via the food loading conduit.

In preferable embodiments, the inner handle portion is made of a rigid material such that the inner handle portion comprises a first material and the outer gripping portion comprises a second material, wherein preferably the rigidity of the first material is greater than the rigidity of the second material.

Preferably, the first material is compressible. In this way, the cavity volume may be altered and as a result, the food stuff present in the food retaining cavity may be expelled into the tubular retaining portion via the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

Preferably, the second material comprises a flexible material. In some embodiments, the second material is the same as the tubular retaining portion material. Additional embodiments will be appreciated by the skilled addressee wherein the second material comprises a different material to that of the tubular retaining portion material. Advantageously, the gripping portion is resistant to shear stress that may be introduced by a user of the spill resistant item of cutlery accelerating or decelerating the spill resistant item of cutlery.

In an embodiment the spill resistant item of cutlery is arranged such that the tubular retaining portion terminates adjacent to the inner handle portion for a compact arrangement and ease of grip location for the user, whether the user is a carer or an infant or adult self-feeding.

Detailed Description

Specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a side sectional view of a spill resistant item of cutlery in accordance with a first embodiment the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of the spill resistant item of cutlery in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1, showing the detail of the air vent; FIG 3 shows a side view of the spill resistant item of cutlery of Figure 1; FIG. 4 shows an end on view of the spill resistant item of cutlery in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the opening into the device and cavity; FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view of a spill resistant item of cutlery in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention comprising a food retaining cavity; and FIG. 6 shows a side sectional view of a spill resistant item of cutlery comprising a detachable tubular retaining portion in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown, in side sectional view of a spill resistant item of cutlery, or spoon, 100. The spill resistant item of cutlery 100 having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and as illustrated in Figure 1. The device 100 comprises a housing, a tubular retaining portion 101 proximate a first end of the housing or longitudinally extending elongate member. The elongate member having a gripping portion 106 proximate a second end opposing the first end. The device features the tubular retaining portion 101 comprising an interior retaining surface 104 defining a retaining portion cavity 103. The tubular retaining portion further comprises a food inlet F in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity 103.

The spoon or spill resistant item of cutlery 100 includes an air vent 102 located in the vicinity of the tubular retaining portion 101 and foodstuff retaining portion of the device, at an angle providing air flow communication in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spill resistant item of cutlery 100. In the illustrated embodiment the air vent 102 is a circular hole of substantially equal diameter through the material comprising the tubular retaining portion 101 to the interior retaining surface 104 and through to the retaining portion cavity 103.

Turning now to Figure 2, the gripping portion 106 comprises the components of a central inner handle gripping portion 105 surrounded and enveloped in an outer gripping portion 106 in Figure 2. The combined apparatus of the inner handle gripping portion 105 surrounded and encompassed by the outer gripping portion 106 should be of one body such that the user can operate and manipulate the handle as one tool. In the embodiment shown the inner handle gripping portion 105 is made of a rigid material such as a metal or hard plastic or PPE, with the outer gripping portion 106 comprising a softer, less rigid second material, such as a flexible plastic or rubber. The outer gripping portion 106 may feature an ergonomic design and shape for ease of operation and handling. There may be alternative sizings and shapings for different skills and sizes of user. In addition, and as illustrated in Figure 3, the second end of the spill resistant item of cutlery 100 is rounded and smoothed to provide a safe and non-damage inflicting surface. The rounded end is arranged to provide an ergonomic handle that is inviting to use and also provides no sharp edges or end which could cause damage whilst being used and operated at a table or feeding area.

With reference to Figure 1 and also to Figure 4 the interior of the tubular retaining portion 101 will now be described.

The tubular retaining portion 101, as illustrated, is broadly cylindrical in shape. The tubular retaining portion 101 is open at one end, the so called food inlet F. The tubular retaining portion 101 is such that it defines a retaining portion cavity 103 bounded by an interior retaining surface 104. The material of the entire portion 101 in the example here is silicone, durable, safe and flexible. The material should be food safe, suitable for cleaning and drying, suitable for human and animal contact and durable and hard wearing, suitable for repeated use, wear and cleaning. For institutional settings and mass use, the requirements for the material and the structure to withstand industrial cleaning and drying should also be considered.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 4, the interior retaining surface 104 can be seen to comprise a plurality of elevations or ribs 104. As set out previously the rib structures are arranged so as to maximise surface tension between a food stuff or puree present in the tubular retaining portion and the interior retaining surface 104.

The illustrated example in Figures 1 and 4 is for a series of abutting parallel longitudinal protrusions or ribs, extending along the interior retaining surface 104 in a direction parallel and longitudinal relative to the longitudinal axis of the spill resistant item of cutlery 100. In other embodiments, the plurality of protrusions comprises a plurality of protrusions extending in any direction along the interior retaining surface.

The protrusions or elevations may be set alongside or abutting each other, or may be spaced apart from the next elevation or rib.

In use the spill resistant item of cutlery 100 is held and gripped by the user at the gripping portion 106 and the tubular retaining portion is dipped into a bowl or other container of food stuff, or is otherwise loaded with a food stuff (for example a puree or a soft food). The food stuff enters the retaining portion cavity 103 at F and the air previously occupying the volume of the cavity 103 is expelled and urged out of the air vent 102. The food stuff adheres and surrounds the interior retaining surface 104.

In particular, the food stuff sticks to and engages with the ribs 104 of the interior retaining surface 104. The surface tension of the ribs and the food stuff is sufficient to retain the food stuff, within the tubular retaining portion 101, as the user moves the spill resistant item of cutlery 100 from the bowl towards the mouth. The surface tension of the ribs and the food stuff is sufficient to retain the food stuff, within the zo tubular retaining portion 101, during any sudden movement such as a jerking or playing movement or a distracted movement. Once the user places the spill resistant item of cutlery 100 to their mouth or the mouth of the subject, the person or animal to be fed, then the food is released into the mouth by a sucking or suckling action or otherwise mouthing at the tubular retaining portion 101. The food stuff previously occupying the volume of the cavity 103 moves into the mouth of the subject and air replaces the volume removed through incoming air in through the air vent 102. The loading and feeding operation can then be repeated. When in the mouth and squeezed by the lips and or tongue, food may be evacuated from the cavity 103 via both the open end and via the air vent 102, thus the bolus of food is released into the front of the mouth.

After use the tubular feeding portion can be cleaned and washed. In some embodiments (not illustrated) the spill resistant item of cutlery 100 can be separated into its component parts for washing, deep cleaning or sterilising.

In an alternative embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a side sectional view of a spill resistant item of cutlery 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is substantially similar to an embodiment shown in FIGs. 1 to 4 but differs in that the gripping portion 202 is a pouch 202 comprising food retaining cavity 204. The food retaining cavity 204, which is substantially cylindrical in shape, comprises a cavity volume, a posterior end 206 and an anterior end 208. Proximate the posterior end 206 of the food retaining cavity 204, there is a second connection portion 210. Proximate the anterior end 208 of the food retaining cavity 204, there is a food loading conduit 212, configured to facilitate the loading of food stuff into the food retaining cavity 204. The food loading conduit 212 is sealable such that it does not allow food stuff to escape the food retaining cavity 206 via the food loading conduit 212. In the present embodiment, the pouch 202 is made of a compressible material.

Further, in the embodiment shown on FIG. 5, a tubular retaining portion 220 is shown, substantially similar to the tubular retaining portion 101 shown in FIGs. 1 to 4. The tubular retaining portion 220 comprises a first connection portion 222 proximate a retaining portion cavity 224. Both connection portions 222, 210 are substantially tubular in shape and extend along the longitudinal axis of their respective housings 202, 224. The first connection portion 222 is aligned with the second connection portion 210 such that a channel is formed between the connection portions 210, 222 so as to facilitate fluid communication between the retaining portion cavity 224 and the food retaining cavity 204.

In use, the food retaining cavity is filled with food stuff (for example a puree or a soft 30 food) via the food loading conduit 212 by, for example, pouring the food stuff into the food loading conduit 212. The food loading conduit 212 is then sealed such that the food stuff cannot escape the food retaining cavity 204 via the food loading conduit 212. The gripping portion 202 is then squeezed, resulting in the compression of the food cavity 204. Said compression leads to the cavity volume of the food retaining cavity 204 decreasing, thereby reducing the volume to surface area ratio of the food retaining cavity 204. As a result, a volume of food stuff is ejected from the food retaining cavity 204 equal to the reduction in food retaining cavity volume (assuming the food stuff occupied the full volume of the food retaining cavity). The food stuff is ejected via the second connection portion 210 and the first connection portion 222, into the retaining portion cavity 224, due to the fluid communication between the food retaining cavity 204 and retaining portion cavity 224.

The food stuff enters the tubular retaining portion 220 and the air previously occupying the volume of the cavity 224 is expelled and urged out of an exit hole 226 and an air vent 228. The food stuff adheres and surrounds the interior retaining surface of the cavity 224. In particular, the food stuff sticks to and engages with the ribs 230 of the interior retaining surface. The surface tension of the ribs 230 and the food stuff is sufficient to retain the food stuff, within the tubular retaining portion 220, as the user moves the spill resistant item of cutlery 200 towards the mouth. The surface tension of the ribs 230 and the food stuff is sufficient to retain the food stuff, within the tubular retaining portion 220, during any sudden movement such as a jerking or playing movement or a distracted movement. Once the user places the spill resistant item of cutlery 200 to their mouth or the mouth of the subject, the person or animal to be fed, then the food is released into the mouth by a sucking or suckling action or otherwise mouthing at the tubular retaining portion 220. The food stuff previously occupying the volume of the cavity 224 moves into the mouth of the subject and air replaces the volume removed through incoming air in through the air vent 228. The loading and feeding operation can then be repeated. When in the mouth and squeezed by the lips and or tongue, food may be evacuated from the cavity 224 via both the exit hole 226 and via the air vent 228, thus the bolus of food is released into the front of the mouth.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown an example embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, wherein the tubular retaining portion 220 is detachable from the pouch 202. In the embodiment shown, the pouch 202 and the tubular retaining portion 220 are separated. Within the first connection portion 222 of the tubular retaining portion 220, there is an internal helical thread 302. Surrounding the second connection portion 210 of the pouch 202, there is an external screw thread 304 configured to engage with the internal helical thread 302.

In use, the second connection portion 210 is positioned inside the first connection portion 222 and a torque is applied by twisting the tubular retaining portion 220 (or by twisting the pouch 202). The internal helical thread 302 engages with the external screw thread 304, causing the tubular retaining portion 220 to attach to the pouch 202.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the gripping portion comprises a seal proximate the second connecting portion. In this way, the seal stops any food stuff contained within the food retaining cavity escaping via the second connecting portion when the gripping portion and the tubular retaining portion are unattached. The tubular retaining portion comprises a piercing member proximate the first connecting portion, configured to pierce the seal of the gripping portion following the attachment of the tubular retaining portion to the gripping portion. In this way, the attachment process may allow fluid communication between the tubular retaining portion and the gripping portion.

It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are given by way of example only and that various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the embodiments described relate to a particular structure as illustrated however, additional embodiments will be appreciated wherein the feeding device is another channel arrangement with various shapes, novelty or shaped structural features so as to encourage infant and assisted feeding. The embodiment described relating to the helical thread and screw thread attachment means may be any attachment means suitable for facilitating the attachment of the pouch to the tubular retaining portion. Any other threads or fits such as a push fit or a friction fit are possible.

Additional embodiments exist wherein the first connection portion comprises the external helical screw thread and the second connection portion comprises the internal helical thread. The embodiment discussed is related to one type of infant feeding but other age groups or functions or clinical or indeed veterinary uses may be found for the feeding device. The shape and structure may be modified for different grips, needs and foodstuffs. The invention may comprise the tubular retaining portion 101 only such that the tubular retaining portion 101 alone could be used independently of the handle and gripping portion.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A spill resistant item of cutlery, the spill resistant item of cutlery comprising: a longitudinally extending elongate member having; a tubular retaining portion (1) proximate a first end thereof; and a gripping portion (2) proximate a second end opposing the first end; wherein the tubular retaining portion (1) comprises an interior retaining surface defining a retaining portion cavity, and wherein the tubular retaining portion further comprises a food inlet in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity.
2. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior retaining surface comprises a plurality of elevations (6).
3. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of elevations (6) is arranged in a rib-like pattern.
4. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the plurality of elevations (6) comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs.
5. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the food inlet is proximate an anterior end of the tubular retaining portion (1).
6. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the food inlet is arranged to facilitate loading of food or removal of food.
7. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the food inlet extends at an angle along the tubular retaining portion (1).
8. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the food inlet comprises a circumference.
9. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spill resistant item of cutlery further comprises an air vent (3).
10. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed claim 9, wherein the air vent (3) is proximate a posterior end of the tubular retaining portion (1).
11. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the air vent (3) comprises a circular, ovular or slit shaped opening.
12 The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 9, claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the air vent (3) is arranged to allow air to exit the tubular retaining portion (1).
13. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping portion (2) comprises: an inner handle portion (7); and an outer gripping portion (2).
14 The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping portion further comprises: a food retaining cavity comprising: a cavity volume; an anterior end; and a posterior end.
15. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the inner handle portion comprises the food retaining cavity.
16.The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 13, wherein the food retaining cavity and the retaining portion cavity are provided in fluid communication.
17. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the tubular retaining portion further comprises a first connection portion proximate the anterior end of the tubular retaining portion.
18. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the food retaining cavity further comprises a second connection portion proximate the anterior end of the food retaining cavity.
19 The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tubular retaining portion comprises an attachment means, wherein the attachment means is configured to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the tubular retaining portion from the gripping portion.
20. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the gripping portion further comprises a food loading conduit proximate the posterior end of the food retaining cavity, arranged to facilitate the loading of food into the food retaining cavity.
21. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inner handle portion (7) is such that the inner handle portion (7) comprises a first material and the outer gripping portion (2) comprises a second material, wherein the rigidity of the first material is greater than the rigidity of the second material.
22. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first material is compressible.
23. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular retaining portion (1) is made of a flexible material.
24 The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any of claims 13 to 23, wherein the outer gripping portion (2) is made of a flexible material.
25. The spill resistant item of cutlery as claimed in any claims 13 to 24, wherein the tubular retaining portion (1) terminates adjacent to the inner handle portion (7).