Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Resilient jaws
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-08-21
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Resilient jaws
C294S003000, C030S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276734
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to eating utensils, and more particularly to a utensil that is a combination tweezer, tong and chopstick.
2. Description of Prior Art
A majority of “traditional” tableware utensils actually contain a plethora of structural and design flaws. These flaws range from something as surreal as their lack of universal compatibility, down to their profound inability to function in other multi-tasking ways. As such, these traditional designs call into question many troubling consequences. Among those, are the differing types of materials they use; their lack of ease-of-use, non-ergonomic features; and finally, various considerations for consumer's usages and culinary safety itself In summary, there are a host of “elements” that comprise egregiously flawed, inherently problematic, and injury prone utensils. Ultimately, hindering the consumer's need to efficiently manage tableware utensils.
Today, consumers engage in a broad range of culinary activities. Most of our needs have been met in striking ways by an overabundance of gizmos and gadgets already in the marketplace. In this group, are the familiar arrays of traditional kitchenware utensils, which include: tongs, skewers, forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks. As alluded to above, these “traditional” devices are not without their faults, including their inability to satisfactorily manage their basic functional tasks, much less more specialized missions from which they were intended.
It is strongly believed that current tableware utensils have categorically failed to please the discerning consumer in several specific ways. Areas that correspond to seven separate categories we call “preferred utensil characteristics”, which are essentially categorized attributes that are critical to identifying universal compatibility among a majority cross-section of the population. These varieties will be examined and evaluated as we proceed.
Inasmuch as design flaws in prior art attempts can be compared and categorized against preferred design features, weighing the relative strengths and weakness of each prior art attempt, a comprehensive list of preferred utensil categories becomes evident. They are: universal compatibility, morsel management, multi-tasking functions, use of a flexible material, safety, a single-piece design, and lastly, the utensil's ability to provide a high degree of ergonomic objectivity during meals. These seven categories will be examined in the following section, and scrutinized against a select grouping of prior art designs.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART (CONTINUED)
The first category is “universal compatibility”. Whether you're using a skewer, tong, spoon, fork, knife, or chopsticks, the message is still the same. That being, each one of them has a specific purpose. Obviously, able-bodied and handicapped individuals have dramatically different abilities. Of which neither group necessarily “owns” the correct balance of dexterity or inherent skill to take advantage of each utensil's specific features. This being as it may, a dilemma develops when a consumer is presented with any particular utensil for which he/she is unfamiliar. Case in point? Chinese chopsticks. Chopsticks are especially troubling for people in North America and other non-Asian influenced countries around the world. Thus, it can therefore be inferred, that a utensil's design, must reflect a universal sensitivity to a plurality of diverse skill levels. While at the same time, containing an appropriate amount of attributes (preferred utensil characteristics) to satisfy the broadest possible cross-section of humanity.
It is commonly known that significant numbers of people cannot adequately feed themselves with chopsticks. Many find that using chopsticks is a frustrating experience. Probably because of their background experiences and skills. Lacking the cultural background necessary to proficiently master Chinese chopsticks ranks highest on the list. Inasmuch as Western utensil designers are partially to blame, they continue to stay the course with edgy, sharp, stainless steel, plastic and wood materials' while, overlooking simpler, more intuitive innovations.
In contrast, non-metallic, FDA-grade materials provide viable substitutes, as they comply with the preferred utensil characteristics. These utensils can be especially useful for individuals who suffer from varying forms of physical disabilities and dexterous anomalies. Perfect examples of these people are found in the young, the old, and the disabled. Prior art designers have over-looked and neglected this vast segment of our population. Except for their physical limitations, these are people who are normal in every way, including accident victims, the blind and the informed. In short, people who are challenged by their inability to effectively grasp, retain, and take advantage of traditional utensil designs; people who are involuntarily resigned—by virtue of their disabilities, to depend on caregivers or costly institutional programs for a simple bite of food.
More importantly, what these people all have in common is a fundamental right to feed themselves. A well-known humanitarian once said that, “all people must be allowed equal access to the freedoms of this nation.” And in this case, a simple utensil can liberate their most basic of eating conditions. Freedom to get off of institutional programs can be as close as choosing to use a “correct” eating utensil. A tool of the new millennium.
“Universal compatibility” bridges the gap between traditionally diverse groups of people, through the use of a “one-size-fits all” utensil, without the exclusion of anyone. The universal compatibility objective supplies the needs of the mass markets while being intuitively bonded with the human condition, where ergonomic comfort and compatibility is the key. By achieving universal acceptance in a single tableware utensil, this effectively invites the chopstick-challenged and other “disenfranchised” consumers into an expanding community; one that celebrates and reveres the condition of being handicapped, and those “assisted living” individuals with that of the mainstream, able-bodied society. Thereby the product supplies the overall needs to one global village—through the use of one universally compatible utensil. Thus, in the end, solving the universal compatibility issue and once and for all.
A second category is “morsel management.” A majority of prior art designers have not adapted nor refined their utensils to provide for a multi-tasking range of uses. In order to achieve satisfactory management of food, a utensil must be designed for efficient hand-control over food morsels of varying sizes, shapes, densities, and “wetness.” The tool should be nimble and light, having the ability to perform multi-use pursuits.
This dilemma can easily be solved by incorporating a plurality of piercing prong tips, and crimping/grasping members. For example, employing at least one pair of primary crimping members per utensil will greatly improve a utensil's carrying capacity, by which each crimping member clamps against objects and morsels. Whereas, employing the proven attributes of meat skewers, piercing prong tips may substantially improve the task of retaining oversized, hardened morsels.
Piercing through and clamping against food morsels then becomes a utensil's primary method of morsel collection. In effect, prongs act like skewers, which are very effective at piercing into sizable morsels, while offering the consumer outstanding control. Whereby, open crimping members may be used to clamp against the balance of lesser-sized morsels. As primary grasping members, prongs and crimping jaws may be used independently, or combined.
Used together, prongs and crimping jaws have the potential to make food gathering easier and more efficient than without. Clearly, this arrangement is a quantum leap beyond the narrow, hardened, squared-off tips that are found on a chopstick, much less, the steely tines common to the tradition
Kramer Dean J.
Krieger Rory Farlan
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