WO1999049764A1

WO1999049764A1 - Spoon

Info

Publication number: WO1999049764A1
Application number: PCT/FI1998/000953
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markku KÄRKKÄINEN
Original assignee: Kaerkkaeinen Markku
Priority date: 1998-03-31
Filing date: 1998-12-09
Publication date: 1999-10-07
Also published as: FI103473B; FI980720A0; AU1489699A; FI103473B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a spoon which comprises a handle stem (1), on the end of which is a spoon dish (2), and a cover (3) which moves in relation to the spoon dish in order to cover over the spoon dish. A spoon formed in accordance with the invention comprises a second handle stem (4), on the end of which is a cover (3), and the second handle stem being movable in relation to the first handle stem (1) in order to move the cover over and away from the spoon dish.

Description

SPOON

The invention relates to a spoon which comprises a handle stem, on the end of which is a spoon dish, and a cover which moves in relation to the spoon dish in order to cover over the spoon dish.

Disabled and elderly people and other people whose hands shake excessively, in particular in connection with eating, have difficulty eating and raising the eating utensil with the food to their mouths. If the hands shake so much that the food falls out of the spoon, these people are not able to eat. Assistance from other people or from personnel within an institution is necessary in order for patients or institutional residents to be able to eat. It is important for the individual's own activity, that he or she be able to carry out different daily tasks, such as eating, on his or her own for as long as he or she is capable, even if the task must be accomplished slowly. A person becomes passive when he or she is being fed, and it is important that a person be able to get through a meal by him or herself as best as he or she can.

There are different spoons, to the handle stem of which is attached a turning or moving cover which pivots or moves over the spoon dish, such that it protects the food while the spoon is being used and prevents the food from falling. At present, spoon covers are attached to the handle stem of the spoon, either pivotally, or turning otherwise, or sliding lengthwise along the spoon, and are moved using different mechanisms and using the help of a finger or other hand. It is relatively difficult to use these utensils, they have complicated structures and they require manual dexterity.

The present invention seeks to provide a spoon in which the disadvantages associated with present-day spoons will be eliminated. In particular, the invention seeks to provide a spoon which has a simple structure, but which works dependably and reliably, which is easy to use and only requires the use of one hand.

The object of the invention is accomplished by means of a spoon, the characteristics of which are set forth in the claims .

A spoon formed in accordance with the invention comprises a second handle stem, on the end of which is a cover. This second handle stem moves in relation to the first handle stem in order to move the cover over and away from the spoon dish. Thus, the separate handle stem and the cover on the end of the stem are easy to manipulate, for example, by pushing the stems against one another, whereupon the stems will move in relation to one another. Only a squeezing grip is necessary to do this. Neither the use of the other hand, nor the use of a finger is necessary. Thus, this kind of spoon is easy and simple to use and people with little strength in their hands or defective motor skills can use this spoon to carry the food.

In one advantageous application of the invention, the cover's handle stem is attached to the back part of the first handle stem, at a distance from the spoon dish. In this case, the spoon is easy to use and it can even be used without the use of the second handle stem.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cover's handle stem is attached to the first handle stem with a flexible joint and it moves in relation to the first handle stem by pressing the two handle stems against each other. In this case, the cover covers over the spoon dish. When the handle stems are released, they move back to their original position, a distance from one another, and the cover is a distance from the spoon dish. In this position, food can be put on the spoon. After food has been put on the spoon, the handle stems are pressed against each other and the cover covers over the spoon dish. In this position, the spoon is raised to the mouth, or near the mouth, and the handle stems are released from the pressing grip and the food can fall into the mouth.

In a certain advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spoon dish is positioned at an approximate 90° angle to the handle stem of the spoon dish. In this embodiment, eating is made easy for the person using the spoon, because the spoon dish is aimed towards the user's mouth when the spoon is brought to a horizontal position towards the user's mouth.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a certain embodiment of a spoon formed in accordance with the invention^ as viewed from above.

A spoon formed in accordance with the invention, and as illustrated in the figure, comprises handle stems 1 and 4. The handle stems are attached to each other from the back with a flexible joint. On the end of the first handle stem 1 is a spoon dish 2 and on the end of the other handle stem is an essentially dish-shaped cover 3. The handle stem and other parts are made of a flexible material suitable for the purpose, so that the attachment and the handle stems withstand use. The spoon can be made entirely of the same material, so that it can be produced as one piece. The spoon dish 2 is attached to the handle stem at an approximate 90° angle. In another embodiment of the invention, the handle stems and their method of use is reversed. In other words, on the end of the first handle stem there is a cover and on the end of the second handle stem there is a spoon dish.

The invention is not limited to the advantageous embodiments set forth in this patent application. The invention is versatile and its form can vary within the frame of the idea of the invention put forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A spoon, which comprises a handle stem (1), on the end of which is a spoon dish (2), and a cover (3) which moves in relation to the spoon dish in order to cover over the dish, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the spoon comprises a second handle stem (4), on the end of which is a cover (3) and the second handle stem being movable in relation to the first handle stem (1) in order to move the cover over and away from the spoon dish.

2. A spoon as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the handle stem (4) of the cover (3) is attached to the back of the first handle stem (1) at a distance from the spoon dish.

3. A spoon as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i^┬¼ s e d in that the handle stem (4) of the cover (3) is attached with a flexible joint to the first handle stem (1) and moves in relation to it by pressing the two handle stems against each other, whereupon the cover moves over the spoon dish, and by releasing the handle stems, whereupon the handle stems move to their original position, a distance apart from one another, and the cover is a distance away from the spoon dish.

4. A spoon as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the spoon dish (2) is positioned at an approximate 90┬░ angle to the handle stem (1) of the spoon dish.