JPH0522141Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a chopstick support for facilitating the manipulation of chopsticks when eating.

[Prior Art] Some people with disabilities in their fingers or the nervous system that moves them are able to hold chopsticks.
Although it is possible to move the chopsticks in a direction that narrows the distance between the tips of the two chopsticks, many people find it difficult to move them in a direction that widens them.

Furthermore, recently, there has been an increase in the number of people who are unable to use chopsticks properly, even if they do not have any handicap. These people use what is called ``grip chopsticks,'' so it is difficult to move the two chopsticks in the direction of spreading them apart.

Although it is possible for these people to eat with a spoon, it is customary for Japanese people, especially when eating Japanese food, to use chopsticks to eat with other utensils. It gives you an irreplaceable taste and feel.

The chopstick support device disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 51-164679 (Utility Model Application No. 53-82483) is designed to help people with disabilities in their fingers or the nervous system that moves them, as well as people who do not have the habit of using chopsticks properly. This makes it possible to easily operate the

This chopstick support uses a springy U-shaped main body to hold the chopsticks, and even if the user grasps food with the tips of the chopsticks, the chopsticks will return to their original state if the force of the hand is weakened.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The chopstick support of Utility Model Application No. 164679/1983 (82483/1983) has a constant biasing force on the U-shaped main body having spring properties, so that the user If the force of the fingers is too small, it is difficult to bring the two chopsticks closer together, and if it is too large, it is difficult to successfully remove the force and separate the two chopsticks. As one aspect of Utility Model Application No. 51-164679 (Utility Model Application No. 53-82483), a stabilizer is provided separately from the U-shaped main body, but this stabilizer is fixed to the main body with rivets. Therefore, the biasing force of the chopstick support as a whole remains constant.

The object of this invention is to provide a chopstick support whose biasing force can be adjusted according to the strength of the user's fingers.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the chopstick support of the present invention includes the following members.

A U-shaped band spring 12 B Chopstick holding members 16, 16 protruding from the outer surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band spring 12, in which a vertical through hole 18 for inserting chopsticks is formed. Item C Projections 26, 26 arranged on the inner surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band-shaped spring 12, in which a vertical insertion hole 28 is formed D. The band-shaped piece arranged inside the band-shaped spring 12 A U-shaped auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the spring 12
The lower end of the leg is located at the insertion hole 28.
In addition, the chopstick support of the present invention may be made of the following members.

A U-shaped band spring 12 B Chopstick holding members 16, 16 protruding from the outer surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band spring 12, in which a vertical through hole 18 for inserting chopsticks is formed. C A U-shaped auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the band spring 12 and is removably arranged inside the band spring 12.D An auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the band spring 12 and has the same U-shape. Male and female members 30, 3 of the hook-and-loop fastener attached at positions corresponding to the outer surfaces of both legs of the
2, whereby the auxiliary spring 24 can be freely attached to and detached from the band spring 12 [Function] Select chopsticks whose thickness near the center of the chopsticks matches the inner diameter of the through hole of the holding member. and insert the chopsticks into the through hole. In this state, hold the two chopsticks and narrow the gap between them against the biasing force of the band spring.
Relax your fingers and use the biasing force to widen the distance between the chopsticks. Repeat the above actions to operate the chopsticks.

To increase the biasing force of the chopsticks, attach an auxiliary spring, and to decrease the biasing force, remove the auxiliary spring.
To install the auxiliary spring, either insert the ends of the legs of the auxiliary spring into the insertion holes provided on the protrusions on the inner surface of both legs of the strip spring, or insert the inner surface of both legs of the strip spring and the outer surface of both legs of the auxiliary spring. This is done by joining the male and female members of hook-and-loop fasteners placed in corresponding positions.

[Example] Reference numeral 10 is a chopstick support of this invention, which is integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as Teflon. The chopstick support 10 includes an inverted U-shaped band spring 12 and chopstick holding members 16 and 1 disposed on the outer surfaces of the lower ends of both legs 14 of the band spring 12.
6, and another pair of holding members 20, 20 disposed above these holding members 16, 16. The upper holding member 20 has a slightly larger protrusion width from the leg portion 14 than the lower holding member 16,
Further, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the holding member 20 when viewed from a plane are also slightly larger than those of the holding member 16.
The holding members 16 and 20 are formed with vertical through holes 18 and 22 through which chopsticks are inserted. The through holes 18 and 22 are formed to have a rectangular, circular, or other cross-sectional shape depending on the shape of the chopsticks to be inserted therethrough. The through hole 22 of the holding member 20 is the same as the through hole 1 of the holding member 16.
It has a larger diameter than No. 8, and is placed slightly outward. Upper and lower holding members 16, 16, 20, 2
Since the chopsticks are configured in this way, the chopsticks can be held securely and firmly at two points in the longitudinal direction. And, since the through holes 18 and 22 are slightly misaligned,
The two chopsticks are held in a tapered position with their lower ends slightly close together.

Since ordinary chopsticks are formed in a tapered shape that becomes slightly smaller in diameter from the upper end to the lower end, the inner diameter of the through holes 18 and 22 is should be formed to be approximately equal to the diameter of the center of the chopsticks. Note that the center of the chopsticks here refers to a wide area excluding both the top and bottom ends.

Although not shown, the through holes 18 and 22 may be formed into a tapered shape that matches the taper of chopsticks.

Inside the U-shaped band spring 12, a smaller U-shaped auxiliary spring 24 is removably arranged. By attaching and detaching the auxiliary spring 24, the outward urging force between the legs 14, 14 of the chopstick support 10 can be adjusted depending on the strength of the fingers of the chopstick user.

In order to make the auxiliary spring 24 detachable, a protrusion 26 is provided on the inner surface of the leg 14 of the U-shaped band spring 12.
26 is provided, and the lower end of the leg of the auxiliary spring 24 is inserted into an insertion hole 28 formed in the protruding piece 26.

Each holding member 16, 20 of such a support 10
FIG. 3 shows the state in which chopsticks A are inserted into each of the holes.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the chopsticks A, A inserted through the support 10 in this manner are held by hand, and the distance between the two chopsticks A, A is narrowed. At this time, the chopsticks A, A are brought closer together against the biasing force of the band spring 12.

When trying to spread out the chopsticks from this state, by removing the pressing force applied to the two chopsticks with fingers, the two chopsticks A, A are moved by the biasing force of the band spring 12. Return to the state shown in Figure 3.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which chopsticks A and A supported by the chopstick support 10 are held in a so-called grip chopstick shape. In the case of gripping chopsticks, it is extremely difficult to widen the distance between the two chopsticks with your fingers.
Compared to the normal gripping state of the chopsticks shown in FIG. 4, the function of the chopstick support is more remarkable.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in place of the attachment/detachment means in the embodiment shown in FIG. Male and female members 30 and 32 are attached, and the auxiliary spring 24 can be attached and detached by these male and female members.

[Effect of the invention] When using chopsticks attached to the chopstick support of the present invention, when trying to move the chopsticks in a direction to widen the distance between their tips, the biasing force of the support will cause
Since the chopsticks can be unfolded without applying any force to the fingers, it is extremely easy to operate the chopsticks, especially for people who have disorders in their fingers or the nervous system that moves them, and people who do not have the habit of using chopsticks correctly. , it becomes possible to use chopsticks easily and correctly. Since the auxiliary spring is detachably arranged, the biasing force of the chopstick support can be adjusted, and it can be applied to both people with strong and weak fingers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chopstick holder according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chopsticks attached, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the chopstick holder according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the chopsticks being held in a grip shape and the distance between them is narrowed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the chopsticks being held in a grip shape;
FIG. 7 is a front view showing another embodiment. Explanation of symbols, 10...Chopstick support, 12...Biasing means, 14...Legs, 16...Holding member, 18...
...Through hole, 24...Auxiliary spring, 26...Protrusion piece, 2
8...insertion hole, 30, 32...male and female members of hook-and-loop fastener.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A chopstick support made of the following members: A U-shaped band spring 12 B Chopstick holding members 16, 16 protruding from the outer surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band spring 12, in which a vertical through hole 18 for inserting chopsticks is formed. Item C Projections 26, 26 arranged on the inner surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band-shaped spring 12, in which a vertical insertion hole 28 is formed D. The band-shaped piece arranged inside the band-shaped spring 12 A U-shaped auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the spring 12
and the end of the leg is inserted into the insertion hole 28.
2. A chopstick support consisting of the following members: A U-shaped band spring 12 B Chopstick holding members 16, 16 protruding from the outer surfaces of both legs 14, 14 of the band spring 12, in which a vertical through hole 18 for inserting chopsticks is formed. C A U-shaped auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the band spring 12 and is removably arranged inside the band spring 12.D An auxiliary spring 24 that is smaller than the band spring 12 and has the same U-shape. Male and female members 30, 3 of the hook-and-loop fastener attached at positions corresponding to the outer surfaces of both legs of the
2, which allows the auxiliary spring 24 to be detachably attached to the strip spring 12.