Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CURVED EATING UTENSIL
BACKGROUND
f000I] The time that children transition to a diet of solid foods, from breast
or bottle-feeding,
which typically occurs between 9 and 12 months of age, is an extremely
important time in a
child's development because it has the potential to set them on a course for a
life of healthy
habits. But when young children are first learning to eat solid foods they
have not yet
developed the gross or fine motor skills necessary to use adult-sized or
shaped utensils, Yet
even with toddler-sized utensils, there are disconnects between how children
hold (and use)
their utensils and how those utensils are designed. As a result, children are
often frustrated
using them and will tend to reject the utensil in favor of their hands.
Furthermore, trying to
use a poorly designed utensil often leads to significant mealtime mess that
frustrates parents
or caregivers (heretofore caregivers). In an effort to reduce the frustration
and mess,
caregivers often take over at mealtime: feeding their children instead of
allowing them to
remain in control of that process.
100021 Over the last 10-15 years, however, a growing body of research on child
health and
nutrition has revealed the importance of letting children feed themselves:
when they remain
in control and experience the success of self-feeding they are more willing to
try new foods,
express less "picky eating" behavior, and retain their innate ability to
listen to internal signals
of hunger and fullness. These outcomes have long-term implications for a
child's health and
well-being. Specifically, it has been shown that children who retain their
ability to listen to
their own internal hunger cues have fewer issues with overeating or eating in
the absence of
hunger -- which can lead to overweight, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes
in children as
young as 5 years old. Similarly, children who are willing to taste new foods
have less food
neophobia, more varied diets, and are more likely to meet the United States
Department of
Agriculture recommendations for a healthy diet all of which are positively
associated with
health,
[0003] Other products have made slight adjustments to the shape or functioning
of toddler-
sized utensils in an effort to get more food into children, but few of these
adaptations have
been made for the purpose of supporting self-feeding to promote long-term
health and food
habits, and, to our knowledge, none have tackled both the size and shape of
the handle AND
the location (curve) of the spoon/fork head. As a result, previous
modifications --even to
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appropriately sized utensils ¨ do not sufficiently accommodate a child's
developing grip, do
not support their fine motor development, or have been designed to distract
children while
eating, which ultimately does not promote healthy habits.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an
improved set of child
utensils specifically designed to work with the way children hold utensils,
making self
feeding easier.
[0005] it is also the object of the present invention to provide an improved
set of child
utensils that are designed to promote self-feeding by being specially curved
to support
children's fine and gross motor development during self-feeding.
[0006] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an
improved set of child
utensils that are designed to support life-lung healthy eating habits and long-
term health.
[0007] A set of utensils, according to this invention, provides a handle that
is wider at the
base and which narrows through the neck toward the bowl of the spoon and fork.
The utensils
are also designed such that the base sits flush on the table resulting in a
neck and bowl that
are properly positioned for appropriate use; for appropriate grip and use.
Furthermore, the set
of utensils according to this invention have a neck that dips off of a linear
plane, resulting in a
bowl (of the spoon and fork) that is situated on a plane that is lower than
the handle and thus
positioned around the child's thumb. In addition, the bowl of the spoon/fork
are further
turned at an angle off of the 1800 plane of the handle, resulting in a bowl
that is facing the
user when being held. A set of utensils according to this invention is made of
the highest-
grade FDA-approved non-toxic and child-safe materials.
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference is
made to the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG 1, is a top perspective embodiment of the curved utensil of the
present
invention.
[00010] FIG 2, presents a top front view of the bowl and transition of the
utensil of the
present invention.
[00011] FIG 3. is the same top plain view perspective as FIG I, with
specific.
reference to the angles, widths, and lengths of the spoon in the present
invention. =
[00012] FIG 4. is a front perspective view of the utensil bowl and
transition.
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[00013] FIG 5. is a side perspective view describing the shape and size of
the bowl,
transition, and handle.
[00014] FIG 6. is the same front perspective view of the utensil bowl and
transition
describing the plane of the transition from bowl to handle.
[00015] FIG 7, is the back perspective view of the handle and top view of
the
transition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION
[00016] The present invention provides a set of utensils specifically
designed to
promote self-feeding comprised of a handle, curved neck transition from handle
to howl, and
a bowl of a spoon and fork,
[00017] As noted above, the goal of the present invention is to promote and
encourage
self-feeding through design that works with a child's grip and developing fine
and gross
motor skills such that self-feeding- is made easier.
[00018] With reference to the drawings, and in particular FIG. I, one
embodiment of
the utensil is generally indicated at 22 and comprises a handle 23 and a bowl
25 of the spoon
and fork, heretofore bowl, which is connected to the handle by the transition,
generally
indicated at 24, and having a concavity 27 formed herein suitable to holding
food during use,
[00019] As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the bowl 25 suitably comprises
transversely
spaced, longitudinally extending from the side edges 31 and 32, a front edge
33 extending
transversely between the side edges at a front end 35 of the spoon, and a back
edge $6
(indicated by the dashed line 36 in FIG, 2) extending transversely between the
side edges in
longitudinally spaced relationship with the front edge 33 of the spoon 22. As
used herein, the
"back edge" of the bowl 25 refers to an actual or imaginary (as illustrated)
line extending
from one side edge to the other at the rearward most extent of the concavity
27. That is, if the
spoon 22 were filled with liquid to full capacity of the bowl 25, the back
edge 36 of the bowl
would extend transversely between the side edges 31 of the bowl at the
rearward most extent
of the liquid in the bowl. Thus, given that the handle 23 and the howl 25 are
designed to have
a smooth transition into one another, from the handle to the bowl, as
illustrated in the
embodiment in FIG 2, the bowl still has what is referred to herein as a back
edge 36.
[00020] However it is understood that the handle need not be connected to
the back
edge of the bowl, nor must extend from the bowl 25 to remain within the scope
of this
invention.
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[000211 In one particularly suitable embodiment, the bowl 25 of the
utensil extending
from the back edge 36 to the front 33 edge of the bowl and laterally from the
side edges 31 to
32, as illustrated in FIG 3 is curved away from the 180 degree plane
(indicated by the dashed
line 26) of the utensil neck, or transition 24 (heretofore transition) and
utensil handle 23. One
suitable embodiment has the bowl 25 of the utensil turned at an angle that is
not less than 20
degrees (as suggested by the dashed line 28 in FIG 3) from the plane of the
neck transition 24
beginning at the back edge of the bowl 36. More suitably, the angle of offset
of the bowl 25
from the transition point 24 of the handle 23 is approximately 25 degrees or
even 30 or 40 or
45 degrees. Even more suitably it is offset at an angle of 50, 55, or 60
degrees, and even more
suitably at an angle of 65, 70, or 75 degrees. in still other embodiments the
angle of offset if
the bowl 25 from the handle 23 at the point of transition 24 shall not be more
than 90 degrees
(as suggested by the dashed line 29 in FIG 3) but could be 80 or 85 degrees
and remain
within the scope of this invention.
[000221 The effect of this turn of the bowl 25 off the plane of the
handle 23 can
perhaps best be seen when viewed from the front as in FIG 4 where the front
edge 33 of the
bowl 25 is oriented (in this particular embodiment of the right-handed spoon)
on a different
plane (as suggested by the dotted line 20) and extends beyond the back left
edge of the handle
23 as indicated by 42,
[000231 The sides 31 and 32 of the bowl 25 thus define the width of the
bowl 25 along
its length from the back edge 36 to the front edge 33 of the bowl 25. With
particular reference
= to FIG 3, the bowl 25 has a maximum width of WI measured intermediate the
back 36 and
front 33 edge of the utensil bowl. In one suitable embodiment, the width of
the bowl 25
tapers inward or otherwise decreases as the side edges 31 and 32 extend
forward from the
maximum width WI of the bowl to the front edge 33 to and tapers inward or
otherwise
decreases along: the sides 31 and 32 from the maximum width W1 to the back
edge 36 of the
bowl, In one suitable embodiment the bowl 25 is configured so that the maximum
width WI
of the bowl is spaced longitudinally from a forward most extent 49 of the howl
a distance DI
(FIG 3) of 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 inches. As used herein the "forward most extent of
the bowl" 49
refers to the apex of the front 33 of the bowl 25 where the front edge could
either be straight
or curved slightly inward or curved slightly outward. It is understood that
each of these
configurations would remain within the scope of this invention,
[000241 In another suitable embodiment, the bowl 25 of the utensils is
uniform in
width extending from the back edge 36 to the front edge 33 of the bowl equally
along the
sides 31 and 32 having little or no curvature or inflection points. In this
particular
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embodiment, the maximum width of the bowl 25 would be at a distance of a
maximum of W
and at a minimum of W2. WI and W2 shall measure no less than 0,75 inches but
could also
be 0.80, U5.'0.90, 1.00, 1,25, 1.5, or 1.75 inches and remain within the scope
of this
invention. This range is width is necessary to ensure proper configuration and
design for the
intended audience.
[00025] For reference, the length Li (shown in FIG 3) of the bowl 25 (from
the back
edge 36 to the forward most extent 49 of the bowl along the front edge 33
thereof) is suitably
not more than 2.5 inches, even more suitably not more than 2.00 inches and
still more
suitably not more than 1.75 inches. In another embodiment, the length Li of
the bowl 25 is
not more than 1,5 inches, more suitably not more than 1.25 inches, and still
more suitably not
more than 1.00 inches.
[00026] in one embodiment the utensil is molded from a food-safe
thermoplastic
polymer or coated with an elastomeric coating. A utensil molded from
thermoplastic
polymers may provide more strength and rigidity, making it easier to scoop
foods that are not
pureed and thus facilitating child self-feeding. An elastomeric coating,
however, particularly
of the bowl 25, may resiliently yield to a surface, making it easier to scrape
soft or pureed
foods from a hard (i.e. a plate) or soft (i.e. a child's face) surface. Some
types of coatings
may also provide more comfort in the handle 23 when held by a child. Suitable
thermoplastic
polymers include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or
other copolymers.
Suitable elastomeric coatings include thermoplastic eiastomer (TIT) and
silicone, among
others. it is understood that molds using other thermoplastic polymers or
elastomers are also
within the scope of this invention, Other embodiments of the utensils are also
possible,
besides molding. Stamping (from metal) and milling (from wood) are also
possible
production methods (materials) for the utensils and it is understood that such
methods and
utensils resulting from this production are also within the scope of this
invention.
[000271 As seen in FIG 5 the concavity 27 of the bowl 25 extends from
generally the
back edge 36 of the bowl 25 to generally adjacent the front edge 33 of the
bowl 25. In one
suitable embodiment, the concavity 27 of the bowl 25 is arcuate continuously
along the entire
length of concavity extending from the back edge 36 to the front edge 33 of
the bowl and
transversely from generally one edge 31 of the bowl to the opposite side of
the bowl 32. In
one suitable embodiment, the transverse section of the bowl is also arcuate
extending the full
distance from one side 31 of the bowl to the other running along the full
width W1 of the
spoon. Used herein, the "concavity" 27 of the bowl 25 refers to the concave
portion of the
upper or inner surface of the bowl of the utensil (spoon and fork). It is
understood that the
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convex outer surface, or lower portion 52, of the bowl 2.5 may be differently
shaped from the
upper or inner surface of the concave portion of the bowl. It is also
understood that the
curvature of the concave portion of the upper or inner surface of the bowl 25
may be
differently concave along its length and width without departing from the
scope of this
invention.
[000281 The neck, or transition 2.4 and handle 23 of the illustrated
embodiment is
curved in two dimensions (as best shown in FIG 5) so that at least a portion
of the transition
and handle are offset from a plane 53 that includes the bottom lower portion
52 of the bowl
25. This curve begins at the base of the transition 24, which is adjacent to
the back edge 36 of
the howl 25. The transition extends from the two side edges 31 and 32 of the
bowl and
continues along to the point of maximal inflection, which can be seen at both
the top 53 and
bottom 54 edge of the transition 24,
[000291 The top plane, or surface PI (as best seen in FIG 6), of the
transition begins
where it is adjacent to the back edge 36 of the bowl 25 at which point has a
roughly width
W1 from side 64 to side 65 to the back edge. Moving up the transition 24 to
the point of
maximal inflection 53, however, the distance WI of the transition decreases
slightly and then
increases again until it reaches the point of maximal inflection 53 at which
point the width of
the plane is at its largest width W2. This width W2 shall be no more than the
width of the
back edge 36 of the bowl and no less than half of that width and remain within
the scope of
this invention. As best viewed in FIG 5, the point of maximum inflection is
suitably spaced
longitudinally from the outer most edge of the bowl $1 at a distance of 2.
to 3 inches and
more suitably a distance of 1 to 2 inches, But this distance could be no less
than 0.5 inches
and no more than 3,5 inches without departing from the scope of this
invention. It is
understood that measurements of 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, 2,5, 2.75, and 3,0 are also
covered under the
scope of this invention.
[00030] In this suitable embodiment, the width W2 of the transition 24,
best viewed in
FIG 6, is approximately equally thick from the imaginary lines 64 and 65
adjacent to the back
edge 36 of the bowl to the point of maximal inflection 53. At the point of
maximal inflection
53 the width W3 of the handle 23 begins to increase to its maximum width W4 as
measured
between the two points 72. and 71 at the bottom of the handle 23 as best
viewed in FIG 7.
This width is suitably in the range of 0.25 to 1.50 inches and more suitably
in the range of
0.5, 0.75, or 1.00 inches. It is understood that a final width of the
transition 24, (FIG 4, 5, and
6) that falls within the full range of heretofore outlined suitable widths
(0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0,
and 1,25 inches) remains within the scope of this invention.
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[00031] In one particular suitable embodiment the side planes of the
surface of both
the transition 2.4 and handle 23 (as best seen in FIG 5), are differently
curved, with a radius of
curvature, as indicated by the point of maximum inflection 54 of the bottom
portion of the
transition 24 and handle 23. This differential curve of the two side planes
results in a handle
that appears slightly tipped toward one side plane 73 (FIG 7). In this
particular embodiment,
the result of these differential radii of curvature also results in a greater
amount of the handle
present on the right 75 compared to left (73) side of the handle (as viewed in
FIG 7), Drawing
an imaginary line 74 through the center of the maximum inflection point 53, it
is clear that
the distance D75 is greater than the distance D73. As used herein, the radius
of curvature for
the transition and handle refers to the arch that is created with an imaginary
line 53 is drawn
along the plane that connects the bowl 25 at its far most back edge 36 to the
farthest back
points 71 and 72 of the handle 23 as indicated in FIG 5. In another suitable
embodiment, the
ratio of the radii of curvature is smaller or larger than the illustrated
embodiment and it is
understood that these changes fall within the scope of this invention.
[00032] As shown in FIG 7 the handle 23 generally refers to the section of
the utensil
that extends from the maximum inflection point 53 of the transition 24 (FIG 6)
to the back
edge of the handle 42 which is defined by point of contact with a solid
surface (i.e. table), In
one particularly suitable embodiment this point of contact is defined by two
singular points
71 and 72 (as seen in FIG 7) that are connected laterally by an arched line 42
having the
smallest radius of curvature of not less than 0.25 inches but not more than
3.00 inches such as
to approach an infinite radius of curvature, or a straight line, without
departing from the
scope of this invention. Similarly, the distance between the two distal most
edges 71 and 72
of the handle 23 that sit on a surface is, in one particular embodiment,
suitably within the
range of 0.75 inches to 3.0 inches and even more suitably within the range of
1,0 inches and
2.0 inches without departing from the scope of this invention. In one
particular suitable
embodiment, the underside of the handle 23 is concave such that the fingers of
the user can
be culled underneath to assist with grip and hold of the utensil.
[00033] It is understood that in one suitable embodiment outlined in this
invention and
as described in [00013] through [00030] result in a right-handed spoon. IN
another suitable
embodiment of this invention, each of the specifics outlined above in [00013]
through
[00030] can also be made in mirror images such as to result in a left-handed
version of the
invention. it is understood that both the right- and left-handed versions are
fall within the
scope of this invention.
s, 7
