US20030042746A1

US20030042746A1 - Table accessory

Info

Publication number: US20030042746A1
Application number: US10/231,852
Authority: US
Inventors: Dusan Prodanic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-29
Filing date: 2002-08-28
Publication date: 2003-03-06
Also published as: FR2829007A1; ATE541487T1; FR2829007B1; EP1287770A1; EP1287770B1

Abstract

A table accessory of the cutlery or stick type is composed of an A-shaped member formed from two branches and a cross bar. The branches consist of chopstick-type rods of the normal length and size of these sticks, joined at one of their ends to form the vertex of the A-shaped member. The cross bar forms the intermediate rod of the A so as to subdivide each branch into two parts which are kept apart by the cross bar. In use, the branches are elastically deformed by a pinching force exerted on the free parts of the two branches to grasp some food by the ends of the branches.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a table accessory similar to a piece of cutlery such as a set of chopsticks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of sticks necessitates a certain amount of skill for holding food, particularly if the food has a more or less rounded shape or if its surface is slippery.

This type of cutlery is useful for removing food from a portion of food placed, for example, in a food box.

The object of the present invention is to develop a cutlery-type accessory that is easy to use, in particular in the fast food industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention relates to a table accessory of the cutlery or stick type that is composed of an A-shaped member formed from two branches consisting of chopstick-type rods of the normal length and size of these sticks, joined at one of their ends to form the vertex of the A-shaped member and having a cross bar forming the intermediate rod of the A so as to subdivide each branch into two parts which are kept apart by the cross bar and are elastically deformed by a pinching force exerted on the free parts of the two branches to grasp some food by the ends of the branches.

This accessory is preferably produced from integrally moulded plastics material.

The A-shape with the cross bar enables the flexibility/rigidity of the plastics material to be used advantageously while having a relatively long accessory which can be held conveniently in the hand without having to hold and manipulate this accessory in a very precise manner as with chopsticks.

On either side of the cross bar, each branch deforms in two opposing directions. The part of the rod between the cross bar and the joint of the two branches deforms convexly whereas the part between the cross bar and the free end of each branch is compressed using the overall elasticity of each branch. At a certain moment, if the product needs to be held firmly between the two ends of the branches, this part can deform concavely, each branch then assuming an S shape.

Advantageously, the branches have a semi-round cross-section with the flat sides facing one another. This facilitates the gripping of the products while making the accessory comfortable to hold owing to its rounded contour.

However, it is also possible to give the rods different cross-sections, for example square or rectangular or even polygonal cross-sections.

Advantageously, the free end of the branches in the food gripping zone comprises, on the internal surface, a roughened area in the form of knurling or transverse grooves creating a non-slip gripping zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: [0012]
FIG. 1 is perspective view of the accessory according to the invention, [0013]
FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1.[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to FIG. 1, the invention relates to a table accessory of the cutlery or stick type. This accessory is composed of a generally A-shaped member with two branches consisting of the control rods of the [0015] chopsticks 1, 2. These branches are joined at their common end 3, and the other ends of the branches 4, 5 are spaced apart.
Between the two [0016] branches 1, 2 there is a cross bar 6 situated at some distance from the ends 3 or 4, 5.
The position of the [0017] cross bar 6 depends on the mechanical strength of the raw material used for the gripper. The cross bar 6 as illustrated has the form of a small rod. This cross bar may also be thicker.
Finally, the [0018] ends 4, 5 of the branches 1, 2 are slightly reduced in a conical shape. The plane faces 7, 8 of the branches 1, 2 are turned toward one another whereas the convex part thereof is directed outwardly.
Finally, in the region of the [0019] ends 4, 5, the face 8 of each branch comprises a knurled surface or a surface comprising roughness, for example transverse ribs or grooves 9, 10.
Finally, the cross-section of the two branches is preferably semi-circular or semi-elliptical, but may also be square or rectangular or even polygonal. [0020]
The accessory according to the invention is easily produced integrally by injection moulding of plastics material, as it comprises no undercuts. This considerably simplifies production. [0021]
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the [0022] thinned end 4, 5 of each rod and the non-slip regions 9, 10.
To produce a [0023] product 11 sketched in FIG. 2, the two branches 1, 2 are compressed (P) beyond the cross bar 6; each branch 1, 2 assumes a generally concave shape but, with more pronounced compression, the end of the branches beyond the cross bar 6 can even assume a concave shape. The course (T) of the shape assumed by the two branches 1, 2 is shown in broken lines.
To grip an item of [0024] food 11, pressure is applied to the branches 1, 2 between the cross bar 6 and the free ends 4, 5, as shown by the arrows P in FIG. 2. Under moderate pressure, the accessory adopts the shape shown by the broken lines T in FIG. 2. This shape is generally convex between the vertex 3 and the points of application of pressure P. If greater pressure is applied, the parts of the branches 1, 2 between the cross bar 6 and the free ends 4, 5 may assume a concave shape.
Although one or more specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. [0025]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Table accessory of the cutlery or stick type, comprising an A-shaped member formed from two branches consisting of chopstick-type rods of the normal length and size of these sticks, joined at one of their ends to form the vertex of the A-shaped member and having a cross bar forming the intermediate rod of the A so as to subdivide each branch into two parts which are kept apart by the cross bar and are elastically deformed by a pinching force exerted on the free parts of the two branches to grasp some food by the ends of the branches.

2. Accessory according to claim 1, produced from an integrally moulded plastics material.

3. Accessory according to claim 1, wherein the branches have a semi-round or semi-elliptical cross-section with the flat sides of the branches facing one another.

4. Accessory according to claim 1, wherein the branches have a rectangular, square or polygonal cross-section.

5. Accessory according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the branches in the food gripping zone comprises, on the internal surface, a roughened area in the form of knurling or transverse grooves intended to create a non-slip gripping zone.

6. Table accessory, comprising:

two branches in the form of rods of the normal length and size of chopsticks, joined at one of their ends to form a vertex; and

a cross bar extending between the two branches that keeps the two branches apart and subdivides each branch into a part ending at the vertex and a free part ending at a free end;

whereby the two branches and the cross bar form generally the shape of an A in an unstressed condition of the accessory; and

wherein in use the branches may be elastically deformed by a pinching force exerted on the free parts of the two branches to grasp some food by the free ends of the branches.

7. Accessory according to claim 6, formed of integrally moulded plastics material.

8. Accessory according to claim 6, wherein the branches have a semi-round or semi-elliptical cross-section with the flat sides of the branches facing one another.

9. Accessory according to claim 6, wherein the branches have a rectangular, square or polygonal cross-section.

10. Accessory according to claim 6, wherein the free ends of the branches comprise, on the side facing one another, a gripping zone comprising knurling or transverse grooves.