Cutlery – Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature – With material-holder or disposal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-08-28
Watts, Douglas D. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature
With material-holder or disposal
C030S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279233
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a device for feeding. Specifically, the invention is a spoon which allows controlled dispensation of soft foods and liquids to the person being fed. More specifically, the invention is a self contained spoon which includes a food storage tank and a manually operable food dispensation valve allowing soft foods and to be controllably dispensed into the bowl of the spoon conveniently and without spillage.
Human babies begin to eat soft solid foods at about the age of three months old, but are not physically capable of self feeding with a spoon until about 12 months of age or older. Thus babies must be spoon fed several times a day. Typically, a baby is held in a sitting position near the person who is feeding it, and a bowl or jar of food and a spoon are arranged close by. The spoon is dipped into the bowl or jar of food, food is scooped into the bowl of the spoon, the underside of the spoon is dragged across the lip of the food bowl or jar to remove any possible excess, and then the spoon is carefully lifted to the baby's mouth. After the food is placed in the baby's mouth, the spoon is returned to the food bowl or jar and the process is repeated. Also typically, a hungry baby is upset by the delay in eating caused by the time required to re fill the bowl of the spoon. Some babies can become so upset by the delay that they begin to cry, extending the delay and aggravating the problem. Thus, there exists a need for a device which will allow feeding of babies in a manner which prevents this stop and go feeding so as to prevent a baby from becoming fussy during feedings.
Parents of babies are also very interested in feeding devices which accommodate modem active and busy lifestyles. A need exists for a feeding device which is easily cleaned, reduces the number of items which must be carried when feeding a baby away from home, and can be prepared ahead of the time.
Improved feeding devices are also important for adults who have special needs. Adults having permanent or temporary impairments which prevent them from feeding themselves would also benefit from a larger version of the self contained feeding spoon.
Many devices are found in the prior art which attempt to address these needs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,612,358 to Massa, 4,830,222 to Read, and 4,880,409 to Winblad et al. are among patents which disclose a spoon combined with a chamber within the spoon handle for dispensation of liquids and foods. However, many of these devices require the handle of the spoon to be compressed to transfer food from the chamber within the handle to the spoon of the bowl. Additionally, many of these devices are difficult to clean because of their complexity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive self contained feeding spoon is designed to provide a means to feed a fussy baby in an efficient manner since the device allows continual feeding of a baby without having to pause in feeding while moving the spoon away from the baby to fill the spoon from a bowl or jar. The self contained feeding spoon is simple in design so that it is easy to use and easy to clean. It can hold several ounces of soft food when filled. The feeding spoon can be filled ahead of time, and stored until needed. When traveling, the previously filled feeding spoon is compact and efficient since only the feeding spoon need be packed, rather than a bowl, a spoon, and the food itself.
The inventive self contained feeding spoon is transparent or semi-transparent and has a flattened bowl at one end for supporting soft foods or liquids as they are placed into the mouth. The other end of the spoon is branched to form two completely separated structures, the handle and the food storage tank. The handle is linearly aligned with the bowl of the spoon, and the food storage tank extends upwardly from the handle at an angle. The food storage tank is hollow, and has an increased diameter relative to the handle so as to accommodate several ounces of soft food or liquid. By mounting the food storage tank at an upward angle relative to the bowl of the spoon and handle, gravity is used to urge the food material into the bowl portion and complicated mechanical parts are not required to compress the food toward the bowl of the spoon. A channel extends within the interior of the spoon to allow transfer of the soft food or liquid from the food storage tank to the bowl of the spoon.
A manually operated valve is placed within the channel between the bowl of the spoon and the food storage tank to allow user controlled dispensation of the food material into the bowl of the spoon. A finger tab extends upward from exterior of the spoon, allowing easy control of the valve by both right-handed and left handed users.
A recloseable cap is provided over an opening at the upper end of the food storage tank to allow easy filling and sealing of the storage tank. This opening is large to making filling the tank as easy and neat as possible.
A tab is provided on the outer surface of the food storage tank to accommodate a carrying strap. This strap can be worn by the parent to allow hands-free transport of the feeding spoon. It can also be worn by an older baby who may only be able to hold a spoon for a short time before dropping it. By preventing the spoon from falling to the ground, contamination of the spoon during use is avoided.
By designing the spoon so that the handle is separate from the tank, several positive results are obtained. First, the user does not support the spoon by grasping the tank. Thus, monitoring of the food level through the transparent wall of the spoon is not obstructed the hand. The temperature of the food within the tank is also not altered by the presence of the hand on the tank. By including a separate handle, the tank can be angled upward relative to the bowl, allowing gravity to urge the food material into the bowl while the bowl is maintained at a comfortable angle relative to the mouth.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 371491 (1996-07-01), Stein
patent: 646734 (1900-04-01), Hansen
patent: 1000178 (1911-08-01), Kahl
patent: 1155802 (1915-10-01), Dennis
patent: 1317691 (1919-10-01), Fields
patent: 1754973 (1930-04-01), Walch
patent: 2698996 (1955-01-01), Hickerson
patent: 2795043 (1957-06-01), Fleischer
patent: 2837822 (1958-06-01), Wille
patent: 3473221 (1969-10-01), Flanders
patent: 3612358 (1971-10-01), Massa
patent: 4830222 (1989-05-01), Read
patent: 4880409 (1989-11-01), Winblad et al.
patent: 4888188 (1989-12-01), Castner, Sr.
patent: 5305928 (1994-04-01), Verdaguer
patent: 5462101 (1995-10-01), Mouchmouchian
patent: 5491895 (1996-02-01), Lee
patent: 5682931 (1997-11-01), Mouchmouchian
Meroni & Meroni P.C.
Meroni, Jr. Charles F.
Tran Kim Ngoc
Watts Douglas D.
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