| DE10100532A1 | 2002-07-11 | |||
| DE202007007068U1 | 2007-08-16 |
10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding materials, which includes a detachable and/or integrally formed and/or clipped-on amusement member, which includes advertising and/or artistic drawings.
5 11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is a collectors' item.
12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the detachable amusement member is a collectors' item.
13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, in which the food io engagement member is clipped onto the finger engagement member.
14. A device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the detachable amusement member is clipped onto the finger engagement member.
15. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes 15 advertising, branding and/or drawings.
16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the finger engagement member is made of a precious metal.
17. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member is made of a precious metal.
20 18. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the interior of the finger engagement member is roughened and/or provided with gripping means assisting a finger to grip the finger engagement member.
19. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the 25 finger engagement member is short enough to allow free movement of the finger for operating the food engagement member.
20. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member is made of a soft-like material preventing injury to a person's mouth.
21. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to be used as a board game item .
22. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to be connected to another food engagement device adjacent thereto and adapted to be operated by way of an adjacent finger.
23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is made of an edible material.
24. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which either the food engagement member and/or the detachable amusement member is made of an edible material
25. A device as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, which is made of potato and/or rice.
26. A device as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, which includes a colourant and/or a flavourant.
27. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member is adapted to be inserted from the finger side of the finger engagement member and protrude the finger engagement member.
28. A device as claimed in claim 27, in which the food engagement member is kept in position by the finger.
27. A food engagement device operable by way of a single finger, which includes
(a) a finger engagement member adapted to engage a single human finger and being adapted to be operable by such a finger; and (b) at least one food engagement member integrally formed with the finger engagement member.
28. A device as claimed in claim 27, which is made of plastics material and/or paper and/or mulch and/or wood .
5 29. A device as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28, in which the finger engagement member has a pyramidal, conical and/or thrust-conical shape.
30. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29, which is made of recyclable material and/or disposable material .
io 31. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 30, in which the finger engagement member and the food engagement member are integrally formed .
32. A device as claimed in any one claims 27 to 31, which is injection moulded.
15 33. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 32, in which the food engagement member is at least one selected from the group consisting of a fork, a spoon, a knife, and a fondue-fork.
34. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 33, in which the food engagement member includes at least one spike and/or gripping
20 member and/or barbed means adapted to grip food.
35. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 34, which includes an integrally formed amusement member, which includes advertising and/or artistic drawings.
36. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 35, which is a collectors' 25 item.
37. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 36, which includes advertising, branding and/or drawings.
38. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 37, which is made of a precious metal.
39. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 38, in which the interior of the finger engagement member is roughened and/or provided with
5 gripping means assisting a finger to grip the finger engagement member.
40. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 39, in which the finger engagement member is short enough to allow free movement of the finger for operating the food engagement member.
io 41. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 40, in which the food engagement member is made of a soft-like material preventing injury to a person's mouth.
42. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 41, which is adapted to be used as a board game item.
15 43. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 42, which is adapted to be connected to another food engagement device adjacent thereto and adapted to be operated by way of an adjacent finger.
44. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 43, which is made of an edible material.
20 45. A device as claimed in claim 44, which is made of potato and/or rice.
46. A device as claimed in claim 44 or claim 45, which includes a colourant and/or a flavourant.
47. A device as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 46, in which the food engagement member is adapted to be inserted from the finger side of
25 the finger engagement member and protrude the finger engagement member.
48. A method of engaging food by way of a single finger, includes the steps (a) of receiving and operating a finger engagement member by way of a single human finger; and
(b) of engaging food by way of a food engagement member connected to the finger engagement member.
49. A food engagement device substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
50. A method of engaging food substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
Food engagement device
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a food engagement device.
More particularly, the invention relates to a food engagement device operated by way of a single human finger.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
Various types of eating devices are known including the common fork, spoon and knife. Disposable eating utensils are very common with fast food meals and are predominantly made of plastics material. For example, when eating French fries or potato chips these are often gripped or engaged by means of a small disposable plastic fork that is provided with the meal.
As an example, United States Patent 5,709,423 Romero discloses an eating utensil for gripping food such as chicken drumsticks. The utensil has a pair of jaws which are shaped and dimensioned to accommodate two of the fingers and the thumb of a user enabling it to be manually closed. The utensil has a springy, hinge which acts to open the jaws upon release of finger pressure there from. The jaws have pairs of opposing rows of teeth, and the rows are outwardly curved to form a gap there between to accommodate the shape of the foods and provide more secure gripping thereof. The pairs of rows of teeth are laterally and longitudinally oriented enabling the food to be gripped from either the front or side of the utensil. The pairs of rows of teeth are also positioned laterally and longitudinally adjacent each other and separated by recessed portions of the utensil enabling the good to be gripped at two portions thereof and thus more securely and firmly held.
Disadvantages of the known eating or food engagement utensils are that they need to be operated by way of at least two fingers.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a food engagement which will assist in overcoming the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention, a food engagement device operable by way of a single finger, which includes
(a) a finger engagement member adapted to engage a single human finger and being adapted to be operable by such a finger; and
(b) at least one food engagement member adapted to be connected to the finger engagement member.
Also according to the invention, a method of engaging food by way of a single finger, includes the steps
(a) of receiving and operating a finger engagement member by way of a single human finger; and
(b) of engaging food by way of a food engagement member connected to the finger engagement member.
Yet further according to the invention, a food engagement device operable by way of a single finger, includes
(a) a finger engagement member adapted to engage a single human finger and being adapted to be operable by such a finger; and
(b) at least one food engagement member integrally formed with the finger engagement member.
The device may be made of plastics material and/or paper and/or mulch and/or wood.
The finger engagement member may have a pyramidal, conical and/or thrust- conical shape
The device may be made of disposable material.
The device may be made of recyclable material.
The finger engagement member and the food engagement member may be integrally formed.
The device may be injection moulded.
The food engagement member may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a fork, a spoon, a knife, and a fondue-fork.
The food engagement member may include at least one spike and/or gripping member and/or barbed means adapted to grip food.
The food engagement member may be detachable from the finger engagement member.
The device may include a detachable and/or integrally formed and/or clipped- on amusement member, which includes advertising and/or artistic drawings.
The device may be a collectors' item.
The detachable amusement member may be a collectors' item.
The food engagement member may be clipped onto the finger engagement member.
The detachable amusement member may be clipped onto the finger engagement member.
The device may include advertising, branding and/or drawings.
The finger engagement member may be made of a precious metal.
The food engagement member may be made of a precious metal.
The interior of the finger engagement member may be roughened and/or provided with gripping means assisting a finger to grip the finger engagement member.
The finger engagement member may be short enough to allow free movement of the finger for operating the food engagement member.
The food engagement member may be made of a soft-like material preventing injury to a person's mouth.
The device may be adapted to be used as a board game item.
The device may be adapted to be connected to another food engagement device adjacent thereto and adapted to be operated by way of an adjacent finger.
The device may be made of an edible material.
Either the food engagement member and/or the detachable amusement member may be made of an edible material
The device may be made of potato and/or rice.
The device may include a colourant and/or a flavourant.
The food engagement member may be adapted to be inserted from the finger side of the finger engagement member and protrude the finger engagement member.
The food engagement member may be kept in position by the finger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
In the drawings there is shown in :
Figure 1 : an exploded perspective view of a food engagement device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2: an assembled perspective view of the a food engagement device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3: a perspective view of a first food engagement member in accordance with the invention, and depicting a fork;
Figure 4: a perspective view of a second food engagement member in accordance with the invention, and depicting a fondue fork;
Figure 5 : a perspective view of a third food engagement member in accordance with the invention, and depicting spike gripping means;
Figure 6: a perspective view of a fourth food engagement member in accordance with the invention, and depicting a spatula;
Figure 7 : a side view of a food engagement device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and depicting a rotating spiked wheel and having a rounded finger engagement member;
Figure 8: a side view of a food engagement device in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, and depicting a rotating spiked wheel and having a rectangular finger engagement member;
Figure 9 : a front view of a food engagement device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, having an amusement member depicting a ghost;
Figure 10 : a front view of a food engagement device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, and depicting wording thereon;
Figure 11 : a front view of a food engagement device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, and being adapted to be used as a board game piece;
Figure 12 : a board game showing how the food engagement device as shown in Figure 11 is used thereon; and
Figure 13 : a side view of a food engagement device in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention showing a human finger operating the food engagement device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a food engagement device in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown.
The food engagement device 10 operable with a single finger, includes
(a) finger engagement member 12 adapted to receive a single human finger and being adapted to be operable by the finger; and
(b) at least one food engagement member 14 adapted to be connected to the finger engagement member 12.
The food engagement device 10 is made of plastics material.
The food engagement device 10 is made of disposal material.
The food engagement device 10 is made of recyclable material.
The food engagement device 10 is injection moulded.
The food engagement member 14 is detachable from the finger engagement member 12. The finger engagement member 12 and the food engagement member 14 in another embodiment are integrally formed.
The food engagement member 14 includes a fork 16, a fondue-fork 18, a spike gripping means 20, a knife (not shown), or a spoon or spatula 22.
The food engagement member 14 includes three spikes or gripping members 24, 26 and 28 adapted to grip food.
The food engagement device 10 furthermore, includes a detachable amusement member 26 which includes advertising or artistic drawings.
The food engagement device 10 is a collectors' item. The detachable amusement member 26 is also a collectors' item.
The food engagement member 14 is clipped onto the finger engagement member 12 by means of clipping means 28.
The detachable amusement member 26 is also clipped onto the finger engagement member 12.
The food engagement device 10 includes advertising, branding or drawings.
In some embodiments, the finger engagement member 12 and/or the food 5 engagement member 14 are made of a precious metal.
The interior of the finger engagement member 12 is roughened or provided with gripping means assisting a finger to grip the finger engagement member 12.
The finger engagement member 12 is short enough to allow free movement io of the finger operating the food engagement device 10.
The food engagement member 14 is made of a soft-like material preventing injury to a person's mouth.
The food engagement device 10 in particular the finger engagement member 12 are adapted to be used as a board game item.
15 The food engagement device 10 is adapted to be connected to another food engagement device 10 adjacent thereto and adapted to be operated with an adjacent finger.
The food engagement device 10 can be made of an edible material. The food engagement member 14 and/or the detachable amusement member 26 can 20 be made of an edible material. Any component of the food engagement device 10 can be made of potato and/or rice. The eating device 10 may include a colourant and/or flavourant.
In a further embodiment (not shown), the food engagement member 14 is adapted to be inserted from the finger side of the finger engagement member 25 12 and protrude the finger engagement member 12 on the other side. The food engagement member 14 is then kept in position by the finger.
Referring to Figure 7, a food engagement device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 30, is
shown. The food engagement device 30 includes a rotating spiked wheel 32 and a rounded finger engagement member 34.
Referring to Figure 8, a food engagement device in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, is shown. The food engagement device 40 includes a rotating spiked wheel 42 and a rectangular finger engagement member 44.
Referring to Figure 9, a food engagement device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 50, is shown. The food engagement device 50 includes a finger engagement member 52 and an amusement member 54 depicting a ghost.
Referring to Figure 10, a food engagement device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 60, is shown. The food engagement device 60 includes wording depicted thereon.
Referring to Figures 11 and 12, a food engagement device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 70, is shown. The food engagement device 70 is adapted to be used as a board game piece on board 72 for a game.
Referring to Figure 13, a food engagement device in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 80, is shown. Figure 13 shows a human finger 82 operating the food engagement device 80.
The food engagement devices 10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 according to various embodiments of the invention, thus provide for a method of eating food with one finger, which includes the steps
(a) of receiving and operating a finger engagement member with a single human finger; and
(b) of working food with the a food engagement member connected to the finger engagement member.
PATENT CLAIMS
1. A food engagement device operable by way of a single finger, which includes
(a) a finger engagement member adapted to engage a single human finger and being adapted to be operable by such a finger; and
(b) at least one food engagement member adapted to be connected to the finger engagement member.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, which is made of plastics material and/or paper and/or mulch and/or wood.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the finger engagement member has a pyramidal, conical and/or thrust-conical shape.
4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is made of recyclable material and/or disposable material.
5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the finger engagement member and the food engagement member are integrally formed.
6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is injection moulded.
7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member is at least one selected from the group consisting of a fork, a spoon, a knife, and a fondue-fork.
8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member includes at least one spike and/or gripping member and/or barbed means adapted to grip food.
9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the food engagement member is detachable from the finger engagement member.