Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Ear-corn holders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-26
2001-08-07
Cherry, Johnny D (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Ear-corn holders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270132
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to eating utensils and the like. More particularly, it relates to a corn cob holding device which is electrically actuable to rotate a cob of corn without the need to manually do so. It also relates to such a corn cob holding device which provides a novelty sound generating means contained within the holding device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The human animal is an omnivorous one. Meat, fruits and vegetables all provide major food sources for most people the world over. Among those vegetables most revered is the humble cob of corn. Unlike many vegetables which are enjoyed when served either hot or cold, the cob of corn seems to be best eaten when it is served piping hot. It is also a vegetable which seems to be best eaten when served with melted butter and a sprinkling of salt. All of this makes holding and eating the venerable favorite of the summer picnic a rather tricky and messy affair. The device of the present invention is one which was designed to deal with this situation.
And for those small persons who have ever heard the admonishment of “eat your vegetables,” all sorts of tricks and gimmicks have been devised to entice little ones to do just that. From using toy shaped plates and utensils to encourage youngsters to clean their plates, adults have come up with all sorts of solutions to picky eaters. The device of the present invention is also one which fits within this category.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to confidently eat a cob of corn without the aid of any special eating utensil or device, one must allow the corn cob to cool sufficiently to allow firm handling of it. This, however, still does not avoid the problem of mess. In an attempt to avoid butter and salt covered fingers, man has devised corn cob skewers which, in their simplest form, may consist of nothing more than a pair of sticks which are stuck into each end of the corn cob. More sophisticated skewers have been devised which consist of a pair of wooden or plastic holders each having a pair of metal spikes protruding from one end of each holder and which likewise stick into the cob ends, again from opposite sides. Yet another configuration utilizes a pair of plastic holders each of which has an integrally formed screw which is rotated and twisted into the opposing corn cob ends.
While each of these cob holders is acceptable in allowing handling of the corn cob and avoiding some of the mess associated with that, the short coming of each is that the corn cob must still be manually rotated to allow the user to eat each row of corn as the cob is consumed. Furthermore, these cob holders do nothing to entice a picky eater to find corn as something which is fun to eat.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new, useful and uncomplicated corn cob holder which is easily used by youngsters of all ages. It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a corn cob holder which is electrically actuable so as to allow rotation of the corn cob without the need to manually do so. It is still another object of the device of the present invention to provide such corn cob holder which is easily cleanable and reusable. It is yet another object of the device of the present invention to provide a sound generating mechanism within the device. It is still another object of the device of the present invention to provide such a corn cob holder which is fun to use.
The present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a pair of handle grip-like holders which are intended to be used in tandem in opposing ends of a cob of corn. The holders have removable skewer members, each of which is insertable into the ends of a corn cob. A first holder member is insertable within a first end of the cob of corn. This first holder member is adapted to allow rotation of the cob about the holder. The second holder member includes a torsion member having a pair of spikes which are insertable within the other end of the corn cob and about which the corn cob can rotate when the handle member is actuated by means of an actuating button. The corn cob holder member which is rotatable is controllable both as to speed and amount of rotation. This allows for rotation of the corn cob as such is desired or required and incrementally so as to allow for eating of consecutive rows of corn as the corn cob is advanced for that purpose. The handle end about which the corn cob rotates includes an electrically actuable sound generating device which, in the preferred embodiment, simulates the noise of a motorcycle engine. The foregoing and other features of the device of the present invention will be further apparent from the detailed description which follows.
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Cherry Johnny D
Heino Joseph S.
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