US20160249756A1

US20160249756A1 - Spoon

Info

Publication number: US20160249756A1
Application number: US14/572,394
Authority: US
Inventors: Hyman Kramer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-12-16
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2016-09-01

Abstract

A spoon having a spoon head and a handle, the head including a large arcuate portion, a small arcuate portion that is located opposite to the large arcuate portion and formed as a serving end, and two arcuate connecting portions for connecting the small arcuate portion with the large arcuate portion at both ends thereof respectively. The spoon handle connects with either of the two arcuate connecting portions and inclines to the large arcuate portion of the spoon head.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a spoon. A spoon has been widely used as a serving utensil in humans' daily life for thousands of years. In a traditional spoon, the spoon head is typically configured as a small shallow bowl having a concave surface for containing food, with a cross section of an approximately circular or oval shape. The spoon head generally includes a large arcuate portion, and a small arcuate portion which is located opposite to the large arcuate portion and functions as the serving end. The spoon handle extends from the large arcuate portion in such a manner that the spoon head in its entirety is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the spoon handle.
In use, a user holds the spoon handle by hand, and has to turn around the spoon handle to put the small arcuate section of the spoon head near the mouth of the user. Then, the user can feed the food on the spoon head into the mouth properly. However, this movement of the spoon handle requires a certain skill of manipulation, thus causing inconvenience for the user, in particular the elderly or children. In addition, since a spoon is always used for eating soup or other liquid food, the movement of the spoon handle also increases the risk of food spilling.

SUMMARY

In view of the above-mentioned defects, the present invention aims to provide a spoon which can be used in a more convenient, comfortable, and stable manner. In particular, this spoon can be suitable for use by the elderly or children.
According to the present invention, a spoon is provided, which comprises a spoon head and a spoon handle. The spoon head includes a large arcuate portion, a small arcuate portion that is located opposite to the large arcuate portion and formed as a serving end, and two arcuate connecting portions for connecting the small arcuate portion with the large arcuate portion at both ends thereof respectively. The spoon handle connects with either of the two arcuate connecting portions. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the spoon handle extends outwards from the arcuate connecting portion along a line passing through the gravity center of the spoon head and inclining to the large arcuate portion.
In a preferred embodiment, when viewed from a top view of the spoon, the line forms an angle with the horizontal axis passing through the gravity center O of the spoon head in a range from about 2° to about 15°. Said angle is preferably in a range from about 7° to about 8°.
In another preferred embodiment, an upward curved section is provided in the area of the spoon handle connecting with the spoon head.
In a further preferred embodiment, the spoon handle has a width gradually increased from its base end toward its fee end. The free end of the spoon handle can be in shape of a smooth curve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the present invention will be discussed based on non-restrictive embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be used for limiting the scope of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a spoon according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the spoon according to the present invention.

In the drawings, like reference signs are used for like components. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be further explained based on the accompanying drawings.
A spoon 100 according to the present invention comprises a spoon head 30 and a spoon handle 50. The spoon head 30 is formed as an oval shallow bowl, and includes a large arcuate portion 31, a small arcuate portion 32 that is located opposite to the large arcuate portion 31, and two arcuate connecting portions 33, 34 for connecting the small arcuate portion 32 with the large arcuate portion 31 at both ends thereof respectively. The small arcuate portion 32 constitutes the serving end of the spoon 100. Thus a user generally puts the small arcuate portion 32 near his/her mouth for eating food contained in the spoon head 30.
The spoon handle 50 connects with either of the two arcuate connecting portions. As shown in FIG. 1, with a spoon designed for right-handed users as an example, the spoon handle 50 connects with the arcuate connecting portion 34 located at the right side. As shown in this preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the spoon handle 50 extends from the arcuate connecting portion 34 outwards along an axis a, which passes through the gravity center O of the spoon head 30 and inclines to the large arcuate portion 31.
It can be easily conceived that if the spoon 100 is intended to be used by left-handed users, it can be configured with a structure that is in a mirror relationship with that shown in FIG. 1.
According to the present invention, the spoon head 30 of the spoon 100 consists of the large arcuate portion 31, the small arcuate portion 32, and the two arcuate connecting portions 33, 34 arranged between the large arcuate portion 31 and the small arcuate portion 32. Therefore, the spoon head 30 is formed as having a spooning body defined by four different arcuate segments. Therefore, food can be easily picked up by the spoon 100 in different directions.
In addition, the spoon handle 50 connects with the arcuate connecting portion 34, and extends from the arcuate connecting portion 34 along the axis a which inclines to the large arcuate portion 31. In this case, an obtuse angle is formed between the small arcuate portion 32, i.e., the serving end, and the spoon handle 50. Therefore, a user can directly feed the food contained in the spoon head into his/her mouth through the small arcuate portion 32, without the need of turning around the spoon 100. This particularly brings about great convenience for the elderly and children. Since no turning movement is necessary, liquid food can be stably contained in the spoon head 30, with little possibility of its being spilled out of the spoon head.
Moreover, since in a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the spoon handle 50 extends from the arcuate connecting portion 34 along the axis a passing through the gravity center O of the spoon head 30, on which the weight of food on the spoon head 30 concentrates, the force exerted on the spoon handle 50 will be in a balanced condition. Therefore, the spoon 100 will be more stable when being held by a user, so that the user can experience a comfortable holding status in use.
In a further preferred embodiment, the axis a of at least a portion of the spoon handle 50 forms an angle a with the horizontal axis b passing through the gravity center O of the spoon head 30, as shown in FIG. 1. This angle a is preferably in a range from about 2° to about 15°, more preferably about 7° to about 8°. With such an angle formed, the elderly and children can easily and comfortably manipulate the spoon 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, according to the present invention, an upward curved section 70 may be provided in the area of the spoon handle 50 connecting with the spoon head 30. This upward curved section 70 can allow the spoon 100 to be placed at the edge of a bowl, a disk, or a plate, without sliding of the spoon.
Preferably, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the spoon handle 50 is structured to have a width gradually increased from its base end toward its free end 51. With such a spoon handle having a varied width, a user can hold the spoon handle 50 in a more stable manner, reducing the possibility that the spoon would slide out of the user's hand during use. The edge of free end 51 of the spoon handle 50 can be formed in an arc shape, so as to avoid damage to the user.
In a comparison test conducted between the spoon 100 according to the present invention and a traditional spoon, a group of users including elderly persons, children, and adults all confirmed that the spoon 100 according to the present invention was superior to the traditional spoon in respect of convenience, comfort, and efficiency.
While specific embodiments have been described above, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented otherwise than as described. Moreover, specific items discussed with reference to any of the isolated drawings may freely be interchanged supplementing each other in any practical manner. The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the present invention as described in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

Claims

1. A spoon, comprising:

a spoon head and a spoon handle, the spoon head comprising a first arcuate portion, a second arcuate portion that defines a serving end of the spoon, the first arcuate portion being located opposite to the second arcuate portion, the spoon head further comprising a third arcuate portion that connects a first end of the first arcuate portion to a first end of the second arcuate portion, and a fourth arcuate portion that is opposite the third arcuate portion and connects a second end of the first arcuate portion to a second end of the second arcuate portion;

wherein the spoon handle connects with one of the third or fourth arcuate portions;

wherein the spoon head is further defined by a first axis that bisects the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and passes through the third arcuate portion and the fourth arcuate portion;

wherein the third arcuate portion and the fourth arcuate portion are symmetrical about the first axis;

wherein the spoon handle extends out from the spoon head inclining away from the second axis along a line passing through a gravity center of the spoon head, the gravity center being located at an intersection of the first axis and the second axis; and

wherein the first arcuate portion comprises a first radius of curvature and the second arcuate portion comprises a second radius of curvature, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature.

2. (canceled)

3. The spoon of claim 1, wherein the spoon handle inclines away from the second axis along a line that forms an angle of from about 2° to about 15° with the second axis.

4. The spoon of claim 3, wherein said angle is in a range of from about 7° to about 8°.

5. The spoon of claim 1, wherein an upward curved section is provided in the area of the spoon handle connecting with the spoon head.

6-8. (canceled)