WO2005104915A1

WO2005104915A1 - An apparatus and method for using chopsticks

Info

Publication number: WO2005104915A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2005/000067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lazaro Dorian
Original assignee: Lazaro Dorian
Priority date: 2004-05-03
Filing date: 2005-04-05
Publication date: 2005-11-10

Abstract

An apparatus for using a pair of chopsticks including: A bridge (1) for releasably coupling the pair of chopsticks (3,3`), said bridge including a biasing means, wherein by squeezing the bridge, a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends (5,5`) are moved inwardly together for grasping food, and thereafter, by releasing the bridge, the biasing means causes the first pair of corresponding chopsticks ends away from each other.

Description

AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING CHOPSTICKS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to eating utensils, and in particular, an apparatus and method for using chopsticks.

Background of the Invention

Chopsticks are widely used throughout the world, and particularly in Asian cultures, as utensils for eating food.

Typically, to use the chopsticks, a user must tediously support the pair of chopsticks in one's hand whilst at the same time, being able to pivot one of the chopsticks around a finger wedged between the chopsticks in order to clasp a morsel of food. This can often be a difficult skill to learn, especially for a beginner, and consequently, the effective use of the chopsticks may be limited. Moreover, certain users may be disabled or simply lack sufficient hand-coordination to use a pair of chopsticks in the manner described above and this may ruin the users eating experience.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to alleviate at least one of the above-discussed problems associated with the prior art.

In a first broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for using a pair of chopsticks including: a bridge for releasably coupling the pair of chopsticks, said bridge including a biasing means, wherein by squeezing the bridge, a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved inwardly together for grasping food, and thereafter, by releasing the bridge, the biasing means causes the first pair of corresponding chopsticks ends away from each other.

Preferably, the bridge includes an elastic material. More preferably, the elastic material forms the biasing means. Typically, the elastic material may include rubber.

Preferably, the bridge is releasably coupled to a second pair of corresponding chopstick ends. Also preferably, the bridge includes a pair of recesses for releasably housing the second corresponding ends of the pair of chopsticks. More preferably, the pair of recesses include substantially similar cross-sections to the second corresponding ends of the pair of chopsticks to allow for a relatively snug-fit.

Preferably, the present invention includes a means of releasably attaching an ornament to the bridge. Typically, the ornament includes a representation of a sporting theme. Also typically, the sporting theme includes a representation of a sportsman. The sporting theme may also include an item of sporting equipment such as a football, baseball, basketball, or the like. Alternatively, the ornament may relate to a non-sporting theme such as an animal character, a cartoon character and so on. Advantageously, the ornament is releasably attachable to the bridge such that a user may selectively interchange different ornaments representing alternative themes to accommodate the changing interests of the user.

Preferably, the present invention includes an adhesive surface for releasably attaching the ornament to the bridge.

Preferably the present invention includes a light emitter. Also preferably the light emitter is housed in at least one of the pair of recesses.

Typically, the present invention includes a means of actuating the light emitter to emit light when the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved substantially together. Typically, the means of actuating the light emitter may include a sensor and a switching circuit wherein, when the sensor detects that the bridge is being deformed, the switching circuit closes to allow power from a power source to drive the light emitter.

Preferably, the light emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED). Also preferably, the light emitter includes an optical fibre. Preferably, the optical fibre is housed in a hollow core of at least one of the chopsticks. Also preferably, the chopsticks include apertures. Also preferably, the present invention includes a means of allowing light to be emitted transversely from the optical fibre and through an aperture disposed in a chopstick.

Preferably, the present invention includes a power source for powering the light emitter. Typically the power source includes a battery. Preferably, the present invention includes a battery housing for releasably storing the battery. Typically, the battery housing is disposed in the bridge.

In a second broad form, the present invention provides a method of using a pair of chopsticks including the steps of: (i) releasably coupling the pair of chopsticks with a bridge; (ii) thereafter, squeezing the bridge wherein a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are substantially brought together for clasping an item of food; and (iii) thereafter, releasing said bridge wherein the bridge is biased to force the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends away from each other.

In a third broad form, the present invention provide a pair of chopsticks in accordance with the first broad form of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention including a bridging member having an ornament attached, wherein the bridging member is detached from a pair of chopsticks.

- Figure 2 shows the first embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 wherein the bridge is releasably coupled to a second pair of corresponding chopstick ends, and, the bridge is not squeezed. Figure 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention wherein the bridge is squeezed and a first pair of chopstick ends are brought together for grasping food.

Figure 4 shows another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention including a pair of LEDs and corresponding optical fibres for emitting light along a portion of the chopsticks.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention including a bridge (1) for releasably coupling a pair of chopsticks (3,3'). The bridge (1) includes an elastic material such as rubber. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that the elastic properties of the rubber which forms the bridge (1) may be variable.

The bridge (1) further includes a pair of cups (2,2') with recesses (6,6') for releasably coupling a second pair of corresponding chopstick ends (4,4'). The dimensions of the recesses (6,&) are selected so as to snugly receive the second pair of corresponding chopstick ends (4,4').

Figure 2 shows the second ends (4,4') of the chopsticks snugly-fitted to the cups (2,2') of the bridge (1). The bridge (1) is biased in to a substantially non-flexed arrangement such that a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends (5,5') are substantially separated form one another as shown in Fig. 2.

When the bridge (1) is squeezed, it flexes as shown in Fig. 3, such that the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends (5,5') are substantially brought together to enable the grasping of food in a pincer-like manner. When the bridge (1) is released, the biasing means forces the bridge (1) to return to the substantially non-flexed arrangement shown in Fig. 2 and the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends (5,5') are again substantially separated.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a figurine (13) is able to be releasably mounted to a portion of the bridge (1). The means of mounting the figurine (13) includes an adhesive surface (14) on the bridge (1) with a removable protective sheet. When a figurine (13) is to be mounted, the protective sheet is removed, and a flat base of the figurine (13) is fastened to the adhesive surface (14) to effect attachment.

Figure 4 shows another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention including a pair of LEDs (7,7') disposed in the recesses (6,&) of the cups (2,2'). The LEDs are powered by a battery (11) which is housed in a battery housing (12) in the bridge (1).

The pair of chopsticks (3,3') include hollow cores for housing optical fibres (9,9'). The optical fibres (9,9') are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The optical fibres (9,9') are positioned such that when the bridge (1) is releasably coupled to the second ends (4,4') of the chopsticks, light which is emitted from the LEDs (7,7') will be transmitted through the optical fibres (9,9').

A plurality of light-transmitting apertures (10) are selectively disposed along the lengths of the chopsticks (3,3') to allow light from the optical fibres (9,9') to be emitted outwardly through the apertures (10) in the chopsticks (3,3'). The hollow cores and apertures (10) are able to be formed at the time of manufacture of the chopsticks (3,3').

A portion of the light which passes longitudinally along the optical fibres (9,9') are able to be emitted substantially transversely of the optical fibres (9,9') and thereafter, out of the chopsticks apertures (10) by selectively altering the internal reflective characteristics of the optical fibres (9,9') in accordance with techniques commonly used by the person skilled in the art. For instance the surface of the optical fibres (9,9') may be selectively roughened to decrease the internal reflection of any light which strikes the roughened surface of the optical fibre (9,9'), thereby allowing light to be transmitted transversely outwardly of the optical fibre (9,9') walls.

The second aspect also shows a sensor actuated switching circuit (8) for switching the LEDs (7,7') on or off, wherein a pressure sensor detects when the bridge (1) is being squeezed. When the bridge (1) is being squeezed, the pressure sensor triggers the switching circuit to a closed state thereby closing the circuit between the power source (11) and the LEDs (7,7'). The light emitted from the LEDs (7,7') is channelled along the optical fibres (9,9') and a portion of this light is emitted transversely of the optical fibres (9,9') and outwardly through the apertures (10) in the chopsticks (3,3*).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described without departing from the scope of the invention. All such variations and modification which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps and features, referred or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

Claims:

1. An apparatus for operating a pair of chopsticks including: a bridge for releasably coupling the pair of chopsticks, said bridge including a biasing means, wherein by squeezing the bridge, a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved substantially together for pinching an item of food, and thereafter, by releasing the bridge, the biasing means causes the first pair of corresponding chopsticks ends away from each other.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bridge includes an elastic material.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the said elastic material forms the biasing means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the elastic material includes rubber.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bridge is releasably coupled to a second pair of corresponding chopstick ends.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bridge includes a pair of recesses for releasably housing the second corresponding ends of the pair of chopsticks.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the pair of recesses include substantially similar cross-sections to the second corresponding ends of the pair of chopsticks to allow for a relatively snug-fit.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a means of releasably attaching an ornament to the bridge.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ornament includes a representation of a sporting theme.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein, the sporting theme includes a representation of at least one of: a sports person; - an item of sporting equipment; a mascot associated with a sports team; a sports team.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 including an adhesive surface for releasably attaching the ornament to the bridge.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a light emitter.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the light emitter is housed in at least one of the pair of recesses.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 or 13 including a means of actuating the light emitter to emit light when the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved substantially together.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein, the means of actuating the light emitter may include a sensor and a switching circuit wherein, when the sensor detects that the bridge is being deformed, the switching circuit closes to allow power from a power source to drive the light emitter.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein, the light emitter includes a light emitting diode.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein, the light emitter includes an optical fibre.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein, the optical fibre is housed in a hollow core of at least one of the chopsticks.

19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, the chopsticks include apertures.

20. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a means of allowing light to be emitted transversely from the optical fibre and through an aperture disposed in a chopstick.

21. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a power source for powering the light emitter.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the power sources includes a battery.

23. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claimed 21 or 22 including a battery housing for releasably housing the battery.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the battery housing is disposed in the bridge.

25. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, when the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved substantially together for pinching an item of food, the pair of chopsticks are adapted to move substantially in alignment with a common plane.

26. A method of using a pair of chopsticks including the steps of: (i) releasably coupling the pair of chopsticks with a bridge; (ii) thereafter, squeezing the bridge wherein a first pair of corresponding chopstick ends are moved substantially together for pinching an item of food; and (iii) thereafter, releasing said bridge wherein the bridge is biased to force the first pair of corresponding chopstick ends away from each other.