WO1982001500A1

WO1982001500A1 - Cutting-eating utensil for disabled hands or one-handed person

Info

Publication number: WO1982001500A1
Application number: PCT/AU1981/000154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney E Malcolm
Original assignee: Rodney E Malcolm
Priority date: 1980-10-29
Filing date: 1981-10-26
Publication date: 1982-05-13
Also published as: EP0063585A1; AU7683781A

Abstract

An utensil for one-handed person, post-apoplectic rehabilitees, arthritics and children with hand deformities to enable them unassisted to cut meat, toast, etc; the food is held stable while cutting and can be used by either hand. This invention is more fully described aided by reference to the accompanying drawing, it comprises:- a pair of identical knife-blades (5) with holes (6) and slots (7), spring-linked (2, 3, or 8) to an appropriate size and shape handle (1), pivoted by rivets or pins (4) so that when a perpendicular pressure is applied to the handle, the blades reciprocate/contra-oscillate thus providing the cutting-sawing action and upon the release of the downward pressure the blades spring back, ready for the next cutting procedure. This utensil may be joined to a fork and/or spoon handle for multi-purpose use.

Description

CUTTING-EATING UTENSIL FOR DISABLED HANDS OR ONE-HANDED PERSON

The object of this invention is designed to provide a cutting and eating utensil fox one-handed person and post-apoplectic rehabilitees also for arthritic persons and children with hand disabilities or deformities, so that they can feed themselves unassisted to cut meat, toast, etc.

This invention of a pair of serrated knife-blades, spring-linked to a handle and upon application of a perpendicular pressure on the handle the blades reciprocate/contra-oscillate thus providing a saving-cutting action and when the downward pressure is released the blades spring back -again cutting while retracting- ready for the next cutting procedure.

As this utensil can be utilized by either hand, a handle can be shaped to suit the individual's capabilities of the deformed hand, or alternatively the utensil can be joined to a fork and/or spoon handle for multipurpose use.

Food is held stable while cutting which is a great advantage over other utensils of this class now available.

For durability, hygiene and sterilization the manufacture of this utensil is preferred to be of stainless steel. Suggested international size for the blades to be of 22 gauge cutlery stainless steel, 70 mm wide by 20 mm deep with serrations or plus serration depth of scalloping.

The invention is more fully described aided by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig.1 is a plan view of the utensil,

Fig.2 is a sectional view of Fig.1, Fig.3 is an inverted view of the utensil, Fig.4 is another embodiment of the invention. As is shown in Fig.1-3 the utensil comprises: a handle marked (1), an appropriate coil spring marked (2), a pair of links with holes at both ends marked (3), rivets or pins marked (4), and a pair of serrated blades marked (5).

Assembly details:- Tension spring (2) is fixed to handle (1), then the base of handle is centred between the links (3) and joined by a movable rivet or pin (4). The blades (5) are identical and have a hole (6) at one end and a slot (7) at the other, when the blades are assembled back to back the hole of one blade lines un with the slot of the other, here the blades are pivoted to the other ends of the links by pins or rivets, so that the blades can reciprocate when the handle is pushed down. One end of the spring is fixed to the handle and the other is tensioned on the links, thus the spring-loaded links provide the retractive action of the blades. The slots on the blades provide the required reciprocating/contra-oscillating movement, preferrably 1-J to 2 serrations each way per reciprocation, A housing for the spring may be provided.

In the second embodiment Fig.4 the combined spring-link (8) is centred and fixed to the handle (1) either spot-welded or screwed depending on the material of the handle. The blades are then assembled to the ends of the appropriate tensioned spring-link either through holes at the arms of the spring-link: by means of manouvrable pin-rivets or alternatively if the blades are required to be readily dismantled for cleaning purpose, the pins can be fixed to the ends of the spring-link and the other ends of the pins can be grooved to take circlips (or other means) so that the blades are held firm together yet allowing for their reciprocating movement.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A cutting utensil comprising a pair of serrated blades, springlinked to a handle.

2. A cutting utensil as defined in Claim 1, wherein the blades are put into reciprocating (sawing) motion by movement of the handle in the direction perpendicular to the motion of the blades.

3. A cutting utensil as defined in Claims 1 and 2 wherein the blades and handle are linked by a spring and links.

4. A cutting utensil as defined in Claims 1 and 2 wherein the blades and handle are linked by one spring-link, so that various shapes and sizes of handles can be attached.

5. A cutting utensil as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.