JP2012005751A - Chopstick aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chopstick aid having structure variable stepwise according to skillfulness of using chopsticks of a user and allowing the user to learn the way of using chopsticks, almost without incompatible feeling compared to a general method of using chopsticks.SOLUTION: A chopstick 11a is inserted into a connection member 12 at first, another chopstick 11b is inserted into a holder 13, the holder 13 is turnably attached to the connection member 12, and then a spring member 14 is fit on the chopstick 11a to bring them into a first step where the chopsticks 11a, 11b are separable from each other for use by the spring member 14. When a user becomes capable of picking up food with the chopsticks to some extent, the spring member 14 is removed to apply a second step. In the second step, though motion to close the chopstick tips is supported, an operation to open the two chopsticks is performed by fingers of user. When the user becomes to pick up food to some extent in the second step, a state moves to a third step where only the chopsticks 11a, 11b are used.

Description

  The present invention relates to a chopstick aid used when a person who is not familiar with how to use chopsticks, such as an infant or a foreigner, uses chopsticks or learns how to use chopsticks correctly.

  Conventionally, various chopstick assisting tools for learning how to use chopsticks are known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a connecting portion 2 made of an elastic material is attached between two chopsticks 1a and 1b as shown in FIG. 10, and an appropriate interval is provided between the rear ends of the two chopsticks 1a and 1b. However, a chopstick assisting tool that can open and close the tips of the chopsticks 1a and 1b is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, two chopsticks 1a and 1b are connected using an adapter 3 as shown in FIG. 11, and a supporter 4 is provided on the adapter 3 to be applied to the base of the user's finger. There are known chopstick aids for learning how to use the chopsticks 1a and 1b.

JP 2003-275085 A JP 2005-177183 A

  The chopstick assisting tool in Patent Document 1 can hold the two chopsticks 1a and 1b at appropriate intervals by correctly holding the chopstick assisting tool, and can naturally master the interval. However, after this proficiency, there is a problem that the process of using two normal chopsticks without using this chopstick aid is too much and the learning process is too much.

  In the auxiliary tool for chopsticks in Patent Document 2, the adapter 3 is provided with a supporter 4 that is supported at the base of the finger between the thumb and the index finger. Therefore, when the supporter 4 is gripped, two adapters are naturally positioned at the correct positions. Can have chopsticks 1a, 1b. Further, the adapter 3 of the chopstick assisting tool is provided with a spring for elastically separating the tips of the two chopsticks 1a and 1b, so that the chopsticks 1a and 1b can be used by the biasing force. It is easy.

  However, this spring is provided so as not to be attached to and detached from the adapter 3, and the user's usage of the chopsticks 1a and 1b is often improved, and the two chopsticks 1a and 1b are moved to a certain extent by the movement of their own fingers. At the stage where it can be operated, the presence of the spring becomes an obstacle.

  Furthermore, the user supports the chopsticks 1a and 1b by using the supporter 4 that is in contact with the base of the finger, but the user can now pick up food with the aid for chopsticks to which the supporter 4 is attached. However, if the supporter 4 is removed from the adapter 3, it becomes a completely different chopstick aid and cannot pick up food well.

  Normally, the correct way to use chopsticks is to rotate the movable chopsticks on the upper side, that is, the side with the index finger, and draw them toward the fixed chopsticks on the lower thumb side. The center of rotation is near the rear end.

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the center of the connecting portion of the two chopsticks 1a and 1b becomes the rotation center of the chopsticks 1a and 1b, which is different from the rotation state during normal use, and may give an unnatural feeling. Absent.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a chopstick assisting tool that solves the above-mentioned problems, can change the structure step by step according to the user's proficiency in using chopsticks, and has less discomfort than normal chopstick usage. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a chopstick assisting device according to the present invention has a first chopstick insertable insertable insertion member, a connecting member having a first chopstick insertion portion for fixing the first chopstick, and a second And a second chopstick insertion portion for fixing the second chopstick so that the second chopstick insertion portion is rotatable with respect to the connection member. And a spring member for detachably attaching to the first or second chopsticks and separating the first and second chopsticks from each other.

  According to the chopstick assisting device according to the present invention, the structure can be changed step by step according to the user's proficiency in using chopsticks in accordance with the movement of the human hand, so that the correct usage of chopsticks can be shortened in a short period of time. It is possible to learn with.

It is a block diagram of the chopsticks auxiliary tool which inserted the chopsticks. It is an exploded view of a chopstick auxiliary tool. It is the side view and XX sectional drawing of a connection member. It is the front view and side view of a holder. It is the front view and side view of a spring member. It is action explanatory drawing of the state which closed the front-end | tip of chopsticks. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the state in which the chopstick tip was different. It is a perspective view of the use condition of a chopstick assistance tool. It is a block diagram of the chopstick assistance tool which inserted the chopstick in the 2nd step. It is a block diagram of the conventional chopstick assistance tool. It is a block diagram of the conventional chopstick assistance tool.

The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.
As shown in the front view of FIG. 1, the chopstick assisting tool is constructed by assembling parts of the first chopstick 11a, the second chopstick 11b, the connecting member 12, the holder 13, and the spring member 14, and is an exploded view of FIG. As shown in Fig. 1, each part can be disassembled.

  3A is a side view of the connecting member 12, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3A. The connecting member 12 made of a synthetic resin material is provided with two spaces A and B sandwiched between two plate-like members 12a and 12b by joining two substantially disk-like plate-like members 12a and 12b with partition walls 12c. It has been.

  The partition wall 12c is offset from the space A side without passing through the center of the connecting member 12. The side wall 12d is provided outside the space A, and the space A is inserted into the first chopstick having a substantially rectangular tube cross section. The chopsticks 11a having a quadrangular cross section can be inserted. The side wall 12d is provided with a slit 12f so that the width of the side wall 12d increases in accordance with the thickness of the chopsticks 11a inserted into the first chopstick insertion portion 12e. On the other hand, a pair of shaft portions 12g and 12h are provided to face each other at an eccentric position on the upper side sufficiently away from the space A inside the plate-like members 12a and 12b in the space B.

  4A is a front view of the holder 13, and FIG. 4B is a side view. The holder 13 made of a synthetic resin material is composed of a second chopstick insertion portion 13a and a fulcrum portion 13b, the second chopstick insertion portion 13a is closed to the upper end, and the upper end portion of the chopstick 11b is composed of an insertable rectangular tube. Similar to the first chopstick insertion portion 12e, a slit 13c whose width is expanded corresponding to the thickness of the chopstick 11b is provided on the outer surface. The outer diameter of the second chopstick insertion portion 13a is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting member 12 in the thickness direction, and an abutting portion 13d along the outer shape of the connecting member 12 is provided at the boundary with the fulcrum portion 13b. The second chopstick insertion portion 13a is prevented from rotating more than necessary.

  Further, the fulcrum part 13b that enters the space B of the connecting member 12 is formed along the inserted chopsticks 11b, and the both sides of the fulcrum part 13b are engaged with the shaft parts 12g and 12h provided on the connecting member 12. And receiving parts 13e and 13f for connecting pivot point part 13b so that rotation is possible are formed. Then, the center of rotation by the receiving portions 13e and 13f is in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the chopsticks 11b, as in the correct usage of chopsticks. Note that the tip of the fulcrum portion 13b is gradually thinned in a tapered shape toward the tip so that the shaft portions 12g and 12h can be easily fitted to the receiving portions 13e and 13f.

  In the embodiment, from the viewpoint of hygiene, the holder 13 is separable from the connecting member 12 for cleaning. However, the holder 13 may be non-removable as long as it can rotate with respect to the connecting member 12. . Moreover, although the upper end of the 2nd chopstick insertion part 13a is closed, you may enable it to insert the chopsticks 11b like the 1st chopstick insertion part 12e without closing.

  5A is a front view of the spring member 14, and FIG. 5B is a side view. The spring member 14 is made of an elastic synthetic rubber or synthetic resin material for separating the two chopsticks 11a and 11b, and has an insertion hole 14a for detachably inserting the chopsticks 11a. Adjacent to the insertion hole 14a, a resilient portion 14b having a semicircular arc shape is formed on the inside, and a finger hooking portion 14c for a user to attach a ring finger is integrally formed on the outside. Further, an abutting portion 14d is formed at the upper end of the insertion hole 14a along the outer diameter of the connecting member 12 so as to come into contact with the connecting member 12 when the spring member 14 is moved to the connecting member 12 side. .

  Then, in the assembled state shown in FIG. 1, the chopsticks 11 a from above in the first chopstick insertion portion 12 e of the connecting member 12 in a state where the fulcrum portion 13 b of the holder 13 is rotatably attached to the connecting member 12. Is inserted with the tip of the chopsticks as the tip. At this time, since the chopsticks 11a are gradually thickened from the tip of the chopsticks, the slit 12f of the side wall 12d is expanded as the chopsticks are inserted, and the chopsticks 11a are fixed at a predetermined position by the elastic force. Next, when the rear end portion of the chopsticks 11b is inserted to the back of the second chopstick insertion portion 13a of the holder 13, the chopsticks 11b are fixed by the resilient force of the slit 13c.

  Subsequently, the spring member 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 14a from the tip of the chopsticks 11a with the finger hooking portion 14c on the outside and the semicircular arc-shaped convex portion of the elastic portion 14b facing upward, and the elastic portion 14b Is inserted into the space B of the connecting member 12 and attached so that the tip of the elastic portion 14b contacts the inside of the chopsticks 11b. In this case, since the elastic portion 14b is sandwiched between the plate-like members 12a and 12b of the connecting member 12, the tip thereof does not come off from the chopsticks 11b, and always exerts a biasing force on the chopsticks 11b. Furthermore, since the spring member 14 is made of an elastic body, even if the position is slightly shifted, the spring member 14 is in close contact with the chopsticks 11a. Therefore, the finger hook 14c is adjusted to an appropriate position according to the size of the user's hand. it can.

  In the first step applied to a person who is least skilled in using chopsticks, the chopsticks are used in an assembled state as shown in FIG. When the two chopsticks 11a and 11b are to be closed, the chopstick 11b rotates with respect to the connecting member 12 about the shaft portions 12g and 12h and the receiving portions 13e and 13f. Since this rotation center is decentered toward the first chopstick insertion portion 13a, it operates in a state close to how to use two normal chopsticks.

  Further, since the tip side of the movable chopstick 11b from the second chopstick insertion portion 13a is sandwiched between the plate-like members 12a and 12b and the movement is restricted, the chopstick 11b rotates in parallel with the fixed chopstick 11a. In addition, the chopstick tips of the chopsticks 11a and 11b are not easily displaced, and food can be easily picked.

  The chopsticks 11b is urged by the elastic portion 14b of the spring member 14 in a direction in which the tips of the two chopsticks 11a and 11b are separated from each other. Therefore, when the chopsticks 11a and 11b are opened, the urging force facilitates this operation, so that the chopsticks 11a and 11b can be opened easily. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when closing the two chopsticks 11a and 11b, the chopsticks 11b may be closed against the urging force generated by crushing the elastic portion 14b of the spring member 14.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the tip of the chopsticks slips and the chopsticks 11b may rotate greatly, the abutting portion 13d of the second chopstick insertion portion 13a hits the outside of the connecting member 12, and the first It is possible to prevent the second chopstick insertion portion 13a, that is, the chopsticks 11b, from rotating extremely greatly.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view in a first step in which the user uses the chopstick assisting tool in the state of FIG. Since this chopstick assisting tool has a spring member 14 having a finger hooking portion 14c, if the ring finger is attached to the finger hooking portion 14c, it is possible to learn how to properly hold the chopsticks. There is no need to know if it should be supported in position.

  If you only need to use chopsticks temporarily like a foreigner, you can use it in this first step, but in order to learn how to use chopsticks, you need to go through the second step. . That is, in the first step, even if the position where the chopsticks 11a and 11b are held and how to move the chopsticks 11a and 11b can be imagined, the chopstick tips of the two chopsticks are used using ordinary chopsticks without chopstick aids. It is difficult to repeat the operation of closing the two together and the operation of opening the two chopsticks.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the food can be picked with the chopstick tip to some extent in the first step, the spring member 14 is removed as shown in FIG. 9 and the process proceeds to the second step. . In this second step, the chopsticks 11a and 11b are connected by the connecting member 12 and the holder 13, and the operation of closing the chopstick tips together by the two plate-like members 12a and 12b of the connecting member 12 is assisted. However, since there is no biasing force of the spring member 14, the two chopsticks 11a and 11b must be opened by operating their fingers.

  In this second step, when the user learns to open the two chopsticks 11a and 11b and can pick up food with the tip of the chopsticks to some extent, the connecting member 12 and the holder 13 are further removed from the chopsticks 11a and 11b. Is moved to the third step of only the chopsticks 11a and 11b and used as a normal chopstick.

  In this way, the chopstick assisting tool of the present embodiment is the first step shown in FIG. 8 according to the proficiency of using chopsticks, even for an infant or a foreigner who can hardly use chopsticks, as shown in FIG. The configuration can be easily changed to the second step shown in FIG. 3, the third step including only the chopsticks 11a and 11b. Thereby, the optimal state according to the skill level of how to use chopsticks can be learned sensuously, and the correct usage of chopsticks can be learned without a sense of incongruity in a short period of time.

  In the embodiment, the chopsticks 11a and 11b have been described as having a square cross section. However, the present invention can also be applied to circular chopsticks. In particular, in the case of circular chopsticks, the cross sections of the first chopstick insertion portion 12e and the second chopstick insertion portion 13a. Is preferably circular. In the connecting member 12, the chopsticks 11 a can be attached by adopting a structure in which the upper end is closed like the second chopstick insertion portion 13 a of the holder 13.

  Further, the spring member 14 may be attached not to the chopsticks 11a but to the chopsticks 11b when the finger hooking portion 14c is not used.

  In addition, the chopstick assisting tool according to the present invention can be used by both right and left handed hands, and it is not necessary to manufacture a chopstick assisting tool dedicated to the left and right.

11a, 11b Chopsticks 12 Connecting member 12a, 12b Plate member 12c Partition 12d Side wall 12e First chopstick insertion part 12f, 13c Slit 12g, 12h Shaft part 13 Holder 13a Second chopstick insertion part 13b Support point part 13d, 14d Part 13e, 13f Receiving part 14 Spring member 14a Insertion hole 14b Elasticity part 14c Finger hook part

Claims (6)

  A connecting member having a first chopstick insertion portion for inserting the first chopsticks so that the first chopsticks are fixed, and a second member for inserting the second chopsticks so that the second chopsticks are fixed. A holder that is attached to the connecting member so that the second chopstick inserting portion is rotatable with respect to the connecting member, and is detachable from the first or second chopsticks. A chopstick assisting device comprising: a mounting member and a spring member for separating the first and second chopsticks from each other.   The chopstick assisting device according to claim 1, wherein a rotation center of the holder with respect to the connecting member is provided near the second chopstick insertion portion.   The connecting member is composed of two plate-like members joined via a partition wall. One side of a space sandwiched between these plate-like members is the first chopstick insertion portion, and the holder is the fulcrum on the other side. The chopstick assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the chopstick assisting device is rotatably attached via a portion.   The chopstick assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a slit is formed in a side wall of the first and second chopstick insertion portions.   2. The spring member according to claim 1, wherein the spring member has an insertion hole to be inserted into the first or second chopsticks, and a semi-arc-shaped elastic portion for separating the first and second chopsticks from each other. The chopstick assisting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The chopstick assisting device according to claim 5, wherein the spring member has a finger hooking portion for hooking a finger.

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