WO1993003626A1

WO1993003626A1 - Means for holding and manipulating a pair of chopsticks

Info

Publication number: WO1993003626A1
Application number: PCT/SE1992/000550
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tore SJÖDIN
Original assignee: Sjoedin Tore
Priority date: 1991-08-19
Filing date: 1992-08-17
Publication date: 1993-03-04
Also published as: SE9102388D0; SE469871B; AU2470492A; SE9102388L

Abstract

The invention relates to a chopsticks holder (1). The holder (1) includes on each side of its centre (C) a first channel (2) and a second channel (12) which accommodate a section of the rear part of a respective chopstick (30). The positions of the centre lines (C2 and C12) of respective channels (2, 12) deviate from coincidence. The holder further includes a section (3a) which mutually connects the channels (2, 12) and which has such resiliency that as respective chopsticks (30) are fitted to the holder (1), the mutual positions of the centre lines (C2 and C12) are forcibly changed in accordance with the shape and size of a chopstick (30), therewith causing the holder (1) to exert a holding force on the chopstick. The two rear channels (2) are mutually connected by an intermediate part (20) and the holder (1) includes two spring-force exerting means (17) which fix the two chopsticks (30) in a common plane. The holder (1) is a one-piece structure suitably made from an elastic plastic material. The holder (1) enables the chopsticks (30) to be manipulated with one hand without difficulty, even by people who are totally unfamiliar with the use of chopsticks.

Description

f

MEANS FOR HOLDING AND MANIPULATING A PAIR OF CHOP¬ STICKS

The present invention relates to a holder for holding and manipulating a pair of chopsticks, in accordance with the preamble of claim l.

So-called Chinese chopsticks are found difficult to handle by people who are not used to them. There is therefore a need to make eating with the aid of chop¬ sticks easier to accomplish, so that people who are unfamiliar with chopsticks can adapt to the eating customs of countries in which chopsticks are the coirtmon form of "cutlery". This also applies to Orien- tal restaurants and Oriental airlines where chopsticks are also used as the main eating implements.

The object of the present invention is to provide an effective and simple chopsticks holder which will enable food to be eaten more easily with the aid thereof. This object is achieved by a chopstick holder having the characteristic features set forth in the respective characterizing clauses of the following claims.

The inventive holder can be used with chopsticks of varying sizes and cross-sectional shapes.

The holder has a neutral position in which the chop- sticks extend essentially parallel with one another for instance, and from which the chopsticks can be moved apart or brought together.

The holder also has a flat surface suitable for the affixation of advertisements.

The holder is a one piece structure which incorporates spring characteristics that are utilized to hold the chopsticks and to achieve chopstick-mobility. The inventive holder enables chopsticks to be used with one hand, even by people who are quite unfamiliar with chopsticks, and is easy to clean and has a long useful life.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure l is a perspective view of an inventive chop¬ sticks holder, shown obliquely from the front;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inventive chop- sticks holder, shown obliquely from the back;

Figure 3 is a front view of the chopsticks holder;

Figure 4 is a side view of the chopsticks holder;

Figures 5 and 6 show the holder with chopsticks fitted thereto; and

Figure 7 shows an alternative method of using the holder.

The inventive chopsticks holder l is preferably made of an elastic plastic material which possesses good spring characteristics, although other highly elastic materials may be used of course.

The holder 1 is constructed symmetrically about a centre line C and includes two first channels 2, each of which is defined by an inner wall 3, a front wall 4, an outer wall 5 and a rear wall 6. The holder l also includes two second channels 12, each of which is defined by an inner wall 13, a front wall 14, an outer wall 15, and a rear wall 16. Each of the inner walls 3 of the first channels 2 is connected to a respective inner wall 13 of the second channels 12 by means of a connecting section 3a.

The walls 3-6 of the first channels 2 have mutually different dimensions and are also mutually offset, as evident from the drawings. The same applies to the walls 13-16 of the second channels 12.

Each of the second channels 12 includes a resilient tongue 17, which has a raised portion 18 on the free end 19 thereof, this free end 19 of the tongue 17 facing towards a corresponding first channel 2. The tongues are joined to the rear wall 16 of a respective second channel 12, with the raised portions 18 facing towards the centre of said respective second channel

12.

Each of the first channels 2 has a centre line C2, and each of the second channels 12 has a centre line C12. The centre lines C2 and C12 of mutually corresponding channels, i.e. of channels 2 and 12 disposed on the same side of the centre line C, are not coincidental and together define therebetween an angle α which differs from 180^°. According to one alternative, the centre lines C2 and C12 may extend parallel with one another.

The first channels 2 are mutually connected by means of an intermediate member 20 which includes a front piece 21 and a cross-stif ener 22. The front piece 21 and the stiffener 22 are connected to the inner walls 3, as shown in the drawings. The front piece 21 in¬ cludes a surface 23 onto which an advertisement can be affixed.

As before mentioned, the holder l is made in one piece and is therefore attractive from the aspect of manu¬ facturing costs. The Banner in which the holder l is used and functions will now be described in more detail.

Figure 5 and 6 show two chopsticks 30 fitted to the holder l. when fitting the chopsticks 30 into the channels 2 and 12, the resiliency of primarily the section 3a between the inner walls 3 and 13 of resp¬ ective channels forces the channels to be aligned in an essentially upwardly facing direction in relation to one another, as seen in the Figures. Naturally, the yielding resilience of remaining parts of the holder 1 will also assist in fixing the chopsticks 30 to the holder l. The tongues 17 assist in fixing the chop¬ sticks 30 to the holder l, by springing slightly outwards as the chopsticks are fitted to the holder, such that the raised portion 18 will press against the chopsticks 30 and therewith close the gap between the chopsticks 30 and the front channel walls 4 and 14 and ensure that the chopsticks are positioned in one and the same plane. The magnitude of this forced upward relative alignment of the channels 2 and 12 will depend, of course, on the size and shape of the chop¬ sticks 30. The original positions, or starting posi¬ tions, of the second channels 12 have been shown in broken lines in Figure 5. Thus, the inherent springi¬ ness of the inventive holder l ensures that the chop¬ sticks 30 are firmly held in a correct position in the holder l, irrespective of the shape and size of the chopsticks within those variations which occur normal- ly among chopsticks of different manufacture.

As the chopsticks 30 are fitted to the holder l in the aforedescribed manner, the holder adopts a neutral position, shown in Figure 5. The tips 31 of the chop- sticks 30 can now be brought together,into contact with one another, and eating commenced, simply by appropriate movement of the thumb and selected fingers of one hand. This manoeuvering of the chopsticks is extremely simple to achieve, even by people who have never used chopsticks before, among other things because the holder 1 has an intrinsic spring force which continuously strives to return the chopsticks 30 automatically to their neutral position shown in Figure 5.

The magnitude of the force that must be applied by the thumb and other fingers of the hand when in abutment with respective chopsticks such as to bring the tips 31 of the chopsticks 30 together, is determined by the dimensioning of the inner walls 3, the connecting sections 3a, and the inner walls 13, among other things.

The inventive chopsticks holder 1 also permits the tips 31 of the chopsticks 30 to be moved apart, out¬ wardly of the illustrated neutral position if so desired, wherein the chopsticks automatically return to their neutral position when the force exerted on the chopsticks is removed.

It should be mentioned that the inventive holder 1 need not necessarily be symmetrical about the centre line C, and an asymmetrical structure is conceivable within the scope of the present invention.

The neutral position of the holder can be varied, by changing the configuration of the holder l. However, it is convenient to select the neutral position of the holder so that the chopsticks will be essentially parallel with one another in the neutral position of the holder 1.

It is also conceivable to form the channels 2 and/or the channels 12 with the aid, for instance, of a slit or slot in one of the channel defining walls, so that the channels are open instead of closed. It will be understood that the cross-sectional shape of the channels can also be varied, as can also the shape and mutual positions of the channel walls.

It also lies within the scope of the invention to change the position of the intermediate part 20, for instance by placing the intermediate part closer to the second channels 12.

Furthermore, the tongue 17 carrying the projecting portion 18 which assist in ensuring that the chop¬ sticks 30 will be positioned in one and the same plane, so that the tips 31 will meet when the chop¬ sticks 30 are brought together, may also be replaced with functionally equivalent means.

As shown in Figure 7, the chopsticks 30 can be applied so that the first channels 2 and the second channels 12 change places.

It will therefore be understood that the invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated em¬ bodiment thereof and that changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

c CLAIMS 1. A chopsticks holder, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holder (1) includes on each side of its centre (C) a first channel (2) and a second channel (12) which accomodate a section of the rear part of a respective chopstick (30); in that the positions of the centre lines (C2 and C12) of the channels (2,12) deviate from coincidence; an in that the holder further includes a section (3a) which mutually connects the channels (2,12) and which has such resiliency that as respective chopsticks (30) are fitted to the holder (1), the mutual positions of the centre lines (C2 and C12) are forcibly changed in accordance with the shape and size of a chopstick (30), therewith causing the holder (1) to exert a holding force on the chopstick.

2. A holder according to Claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d in that the two first channels (2) are mutually connected by means of an intermediate part (20).

3. A holder according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holder further includes two spring-force exerting means (17) which function to affix the two chopsticks (30) in a common plane.

4. A holder according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre lines (C12) of the second channels (12) mutually converge in a direction towards the intermediate part (20).

5. A holder according to any one of Claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre lines (C2) of the first channels (2) are essentially parallel with one another.

6. A holder according to any one of Claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the centre lines (C2,C12) of mutually corresponding first (2) and second (12) channels define therebetween an angle («.) which differs from 180 degrees.

7. A holder according to any one of Claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first channel (2) is defined by four walls (3-6).

8. A holder according to any one of Claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second channel (12) is defined by four walls (13-16).

9. A holder according to any one of Claims 3-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spring-force exerting means has the form of a resilient tongue (17) which has a raised portion (18) on the free end (19) thereof.

10. A holder according to any one of the Claims 1-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holder is a one-piece structure made from a plastic material.