JPH08280516A - Chopsticks - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide chopsticks allowing a person to learn the correct holding and using method without requiring an auxiliary tool separately and capable of securing safety. CONSTITUTION: A pair of chopstick main bodies 1, 1 of chopsticks 2 are formed out of an elastic material or a synthetic resin, and the chopstick main bodies 1, 1 are integrally connected by a connecting piece 1d diagonally extended in the longitudinal direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a child who is unfamiliar with handling,
Or about chopsticks suitable for foreigners.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For children and foreigners who are not accustomed to using chopsticks, it seems that picking food and carrying it in their mouths are not satisfactory and they have a hard time eating. In order to help such a person to learn how to properly hold and use chopsticks, various kinds of auxiliary tools have been proposed in the past.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-109478 proposes a structure in which a pair of cylindrical members are rotatably supported by hinges and both members are biased in the opening direction by springs.
In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-102465, there is proposed a leaf spring bent in a U shape, which is formed by cutting and bending a bending piece, and forming a square hole into which the chopstick is inserted. There is. Further, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-20391, a sandwich plate is attached to the ends of the chopsticks, a rubber band is wound around the ends of the chopsticks to press the chopsticks together, and the tip of the chopsticks is opened on the sandwich plate. It has been proposed to arrange a distribution piece for holding the state.

[0004]

However, in each of the above-mentioned prior art publications, there is a problem in that it is troublesome and difficult for infants and children to handle because the work of attaching and detaching the auxiliary tool to and from the chopsticks is required. In addition, each of the above-mentioned devices requires an auxiliary tool in which a plurality of parts are combined, and there is a problem that the cost increases as the number of parts increases.

On the other hand, conventional chopsticks are generally made of wood or plastic, and there is a concern about injuries or the like when used by infants and children.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and it is possible to learn proper holding and usage at a low cost without the need for auxiliary tools, and further to secure safety against injury or the like. The purpose is to provide chopsticks.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pair of chopstick bodies are made of an elastic material or a synthetic resin, and the chopstick bodies are integrally formed by connecting pieces extending obliquely in a longitudinal direction thereof. The chopsticks and chopsticks are characterized in that they are connected and formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the center portion of the connecting piece is approximately 7/10 to 9/1 from the tip with respect to the entire length of the chopstick body.
It is characterized in that it is formed in the region of 0.

The material used in the present invention is determined from the viewpoint of food hygiene and safety from injury and the like, or its application (for example, for infants or the elderly). As the elastic material, for example, perylene, which is a polyester-based elastomer manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., can be used, and as the synthetic resin having an appropriate hardness, for example, U polymer manufactured by Unitika Co., Ltd. can be used. The hardness and elasticity of the above elastomer, the hardness of synthetic resin, etc.
It is appropriately changed according to the age of the user.

The chopsticks of the present invention are manufactured by a method of integrally molding a pair of chopsticks by injection molding using the above elastic material or synthetic resin, or a method of joining a pair of integrally molded chopstick bodies and a connecting piece. However, a method of integrally molding the pair of chopsticks as a whole is preferable. In the case of joining, either a method using an adhesive or a method using melting may be used, but a method using melting joining is more preferable.

[0011]

According to the invention of claim 1, since the chopstick bodies are integrally connected by the connecting piece extending obliquely, the connecting piece holds the grip portion of the chopstick in an open state. They will always be in line and the food will be easier to pick.
This makes it easy for children and foreigners to handle, and it becomes possible to learn how to properly hold and use it while eating. Further, in the present invention, since the connecting piece is inclined, it is easy to elastically deform in a swingable manner in response to the movement of the chopsticks, and when connecting at a right angle to the chopstick body or when connecting the upper ends of the chopsticks. Compared to this, it is easier to use and is easy to handle from this point as well. That is, when tilted, a longer connecting piece can be used and the connecting portion becomes an acute angle than in the case of a right angle, so even if a thicker and harder material is used, elastic deformation easily occurs and the chopsticks can be smoothly operated with a weak force. Yes, it is stable and stable.
However, in the case of a right angle, since the connecting piece is short, elastic deformation is difficult, and a thin and flexible material must be used to ensure smooth movement of the chopsticks. Be stable.

Further, when the connecting piece is formed integrally with the chopstick body, the attaching / detaching work by the conventional auxiliary tool can be eliminated, and the increase of the manufacturing cost due to the increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

Further, when the chopsticks are made of an elastic material, the safety can be secured without being injured for some reason during eating.

In the invention of claim 2, since the central portion of the connecting piece is formed at a position of about 7/10 to 9/10, preferably about 8/10 from the tip of the chopstick body, the connecting piece holds the chopsticks. The portion, that is, the central portion of the connecting piece is located at or near the center of the index finger and the thumb, which makes it easier to handle the chopsticks when swinging.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are views for explaining an infant chopsticks according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chopsticks of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of chopsticks.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 is a chopstick consisting of a pair of chopstick bodies 1 and 1. The chopstick 2 is made of an elastic material having a proper elasticity (for example, pelprene), which is ejected by a mold. It is manufactured by molding.

The chopstick body 1 is composed of a top portion 1a, a grip portion 1b and a tip portion 1c, and the grip portions 1b are connected to each other by a thin plate-like connecting piece 1d which is a feature of this embodiment. This connecting piece 1d is integrally formed at the time of the above-mentioned mold molding, the connecting piece 1d extends obliquely in the longitudinal direction of the chopstick body 1, and the central portion 1e of the chopstick body 1 is formed. It is formed approximately 8/10 from the tip of this with respect to the entire length.
Here, the inclination angle of the connecting piece 1d and the chopstick bodies 1, 1
The distance between them will be set appropriately according to the child or adult to be used.

Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described. To use the chopsticks 2 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), one side of the chopstick body 1 is supported by the ring finger and the little finger while being sandwiched by the base of the thumb, and the other side of the chopstick body 1 is supported by the index finger and the middle finger and supported by the thumb. In this state, the tips of the chopstick bodies 1, 1 are opened and closed to pick food. In this case, the gripping portions 1b of the chopstick bodies 1 and 1 are held in an open state by the connecting piece 1d without overlapping, and the connecting piece 1d is elastically deformed so as to be swingable by the movement of the chopsticks 2 and the center of the connecting piece is held. Since the portion 1e is almost at the center of the forefinger and the thumb, the tip portions 1c of the chopsticks 2 can be opened and closed in a state where they are always aligned, and the food can be picked easily and surely.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the gripping portions 1b of the chopstick body 1 are integrally connected to each other by the connecting piece 1d extending obliquely, the tip portions 1c are always aligned as described above. Can be easily handled by infants and children,
It is possible to learn how to hold it properly and how to use it while eating.

Further, since the chopsticks 2 of this embodiment are made of an elastic material, it is possible to prevent injuries due to mischief and pranks during meals, and it is possible to use them with confidence.

Further, since the connecting piece 1d is formed integrally with the chopstick body 1, it is possible to eliminate the laborious attachment and detachment work by the auxiliary tool as in the prior art publication, and further, since it is not necessary to separately manufacture the parts, the manufacturing cost is reduced. Yes, it can be offered at a low price.

By the way, depending on the age and grip strength of the user, stronger chopsticks 2 may be required. In this case, the chopstick 2 may be manufactured by making the elastic material harder or integrally molding it with a synthetic resin having a proper hardness (for example, the U polymer). It is also possible to join the chopstick body 1 and the connecting piece 1d with an adhesive or melting.

[0023]

As described above, according to the chopsticks of the present invention,
Since the pair of chopstick bodies are made of an elastic material or synthetic resin and the chopstick bodies are integrally connected to each other by a connecting piece extending in a longitudinal direction of the chopstick bodies, the chopstick bodies are stable without wobbling and the operation of the chopsticks is easy. It's easy. Further, it is possible to manufacture the chopsticks at a lower cost, especially when the entire chopsticks are integrally formed without requiring any auxiliary tool. In addition, even an infant or a foreigner can learn how to hold and use it properly, and when it is made of an elastic material, it has the effect of ensuring safety against injury or the like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the connecting piece is formed at a position approximately 7/10 to 9/10 from the tip of the chopstick body, there is an effect that the chopsticks can be easily handled when rocked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chopstick according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a use state of the chopsticks of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Chopstick body 1d Connecting piece 1e Connecting piece central part 2 Chopsticks

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 8, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chopstick according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a use state of the chopsticks of the above embodiment (a state in which a tip of the chopsticks is closed).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a use state (a state in which a tip of the chopstick is opened) of the chopsticks of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 chopstick body 1d connecting piece 1e connecting piece central part 2 chopsticks ───────────────────────────────── ─────────────────────

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 15, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are views for explaining an infant chopsticks according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chopsticks of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show a usage state of the chopsticks. It is a perspective view.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described. In order to use the chopsticks 2 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, while holding one side of the chopstick body 1 with the base portion of the thumb and supporting it with the ring finger and little finger, the chopstick body 1 on the other side is held. Hold it with your thumb while pinching it with your index and middle fingers. In this state, the tips of the chopstick bodies 1, 1 are opened and closed to pick food. In this case, the gripping portions 1b of the chopstick bodies 1 and 1 are held in an open state by the connecting piece 1d without overlapping, and the connecting piece 1d is elastically deformed so as to be swingable by the movement of the chopsticks 2 and the center of the connecting piece is held. Since the portion 1e is almost at the center of the forefinger and the thumb, the tip portions 1c of the chopsticks 2 can be opened and closed in a state where they are always aligned, and the food can be picked easily and surely.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of chopstick bodies, wherein the pair of chopstick bodies are made of an elastic material or synthetic resin, and the chopstick bodies are integrally connected to each other by connecting pieces extending obliquely in a longitudinal direction thereof. 2. The center portion of the connecting piece according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the chopstick body is approximately 7/10 to 9/1 from the tip end with respect to the entire length of the chopstick body.
Chopsticks characterized by being formed in the 0 part.