초록 ▼

The present invention relates to eating utensils, such as spoons, forks and knifes that include a riser configured to elevate the distal end of the utensil when the utensil is placed in an upright or inverted position on a planar surface to avoid contamination. The riser includes a riser member havi

The present invention relates to eating utensils, such as spoons, forks and knifes that include a riser configured to elevate the distal end of the utensil when the utensil is placed in an upright or inverted position on a planar surface to avoid contamination. The riser includes a riser member having a lower curvature end integrally formed with a handle and an upper curvature end integrally formed with the working end of a spoon, fork or knife A plurality of eating utensils can be stacked one on top of the other for storage or packaging.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A stackable eating utensil that is placeable on top of a planar surface in a first functional position and a second functional position, the eating utensil comprising: a handle;a working end;a planar elongated riser body extending from said handle and terminating at said working end, the planar e

1. A stackable eating utensil that is placeable on top of a planar surface in a first functional position and a second functional position, the eating utensil comprising: a handle;a working end;a planar elongated riser body extending from said handle and terminating at said working end, the planar elongated riser body extending from said handle at a forward angle tilted towards the working end to space the working end away from the handle in a longitudinal direction of the handle; whereinsaid handle, said riser body and said working end are formed as one integral piece such that a center of gravity of said utensil lies along said handle; whereinsaid riser body comprises a lower, downward curvature end integrally formed with said handle and an upper, upward curvature end integrally formed with said working end; whereinsaid riser body is configured to elevate said working end above the planar surface a first predetermined distance due to a length of the riser body when said utensil is placed in the first functional position on the planar surface and a second predetermined distance when said utensil is placed in the second functional position on said planar surface; whereinthe riser body is configured to mate with a riser body of another one of the eating utensil such that a riser body of a first one of the eating utensil is matedly stackable on top of a riser body of a second one of the eating utensil while the second one of the eating utensil is adopting either the first functional position or the second functional position; and whereinin adopting the first functional position: the lower curvature and the handle contact the planar surface and an intermediate portion between the lower curvature and the upper curvature extends upwards from the lower curvature towards the upper curvature and extends away from the planar surface, anda first nap is defined between the planar surface and a first curved planar surface of the handle, the first curved planar surface facing the planar surface,in adopting the second functional position: the upper curvature and the handle contact the planar surface and an intermediate portion between the lower curvature and the upper curvature extends downwards from the lower curvature towards the upper curvature and extends downwards towards the planar surface, anda second gap is defined between the planar surface and a second curved planar surface of the handle, the second curved planar surface being on an opposite side of the handle with respect to the first curved planar surface and facing the planar surface. 2. The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the length of said riser body defines said first predetermined distance and the upper curvature defines said second predetermined distance in the second functional position, the first predetermined distance being a distance between the planar surface and a lowest point of the working end in the first functional position, and the second predetermined distance being a distance between the planar surface and a highest point of the working end in the second functional position, where the first predetermined distance is greater than the second predetermined distance. 3. The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein said working end includes any one of a bowl forming a spoon, a plurality of tines forming a fork, and a blade forming a knife. 4. The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein said handle defines a curvature along a length thereof extending from one end of said handle to said lower, downward curvature end of said riser body, the curvature causing the first gap to form when the eating utensil adopts the first functional position and causing the second gap to form when the eating utensil adopts the second functional position, the first nap being lesser than the second gap. 5. The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein said upper, upward curvature end of said riser body is configured to elevate said working end above said planar surface when said utensil is placed in the second functional position on said planar surface. 6. The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein said handle, said riser body, and said working end are constructed from any one of plastic, ceramic, wood, or metal. 7. Stackable flatware for manipulating food and liquid, the flatware placeable on top of a flat surface in a first, upright, functional position and a second, inverted, functional position, said flatware comprising: an elongated body forming: a handle,a planar riser body, anda distal operating end,said planar riser body extending from said handle and terminating at said distal operating end, the planar riser body extending from said handle at a forward angle tilted towards the distal operating end to space the distal operating end away from the handle in a longitudinal direction of the handle such that a center of gravity of said flatware lies along said handle; whereinsaid planar riser body comprises a lower, downward curvature end integrally formed with said handle and an upper, upward curvature end integrally formed with said distal operating end; whereinsaid riser body is configured to elevate said distal operating end above the flat surface a first predetermined distance due to a length of the riser body when said flatware is placed in the first functional position on the flat surface and a second predetermined distance when said flatware is placed in the second functional position on said flat surface; and whereinthe riser body is configured to mate with a riser body of another one of the flatware such that a riser body of a first one of the flatware is matedly stackable on top of a riser body of a second one of the flatware while the second one of the flatware is adopting either of the first functional position and the second functional position; and whereinin adopting the first functional position: the lower curvature and the handle contact the flat surface and an intermediate portion between the lower curvature and the upper curvature extends upwards from the lower curvature towards the upper curvature and extends away from the flat surface, anda first gap is defined between the flat surface and a first curved planar surface of the handle, the first curved planar surface facing the flat surface,in adopting the second functional position: the upper curvature and the handle contact the flat surface and an intermediate portion between the lower curvature and the upper curvature extends downwards from the lower curvature towards the upper curvature and extends downwards towards the flat surface, anda second gap is defined between the flat surface and a second curved planar surface of the handle, the second curved planar surface being on an opposite side of the handle with respect to the first curved planar surface and facing the flat surface. 8. The flatware of claim 7, wherein the length of said riser body defines said first predetermined distance and the upper curvature defines said second predetermined distance when the upper curvature contacts the flat surface in the second functional position, the first predetermined distance being a distance between the flat surface and a lowest point of the distal operating end in the first functional position and the second predetermined distance being a distance between the flat surface and a highest point of the distal operating end in the second functional position, where the first predetermined distance is greater than the second predetermined distance. 9. The flatware of claim 7, wherein said distal operating end includes any one of a bowl forming a spoon, a plurality of tines forming a fork, and a blade forming a knife. 10. The flatware of claim 7, wherein said handle defines a curvature along a length thereof extending from one end of said handle to said lower, downward curvature end of said riser body, the curvature causing the first gap to form when the flatware adopts the first functional position and causing the second gap to form when the flatware adopts the second functional position, the first gap being lesser than the second gap. 11. The flatware of claim 7, wherein said upper, upward curvature end of said riser body is configured to elevate said distal operating end above said flat surface when said flatware is placed in the second functional position on said flat surface. 12. The flatware of claim 7, wherein said handle, said riser body, and said distal operating end are constructed from any one of plastic, ceramic, wood, or metal. 13. The flatware of claim 7, wherein said riser body comprises an S-shape configuration. 14. A stackable eating utensil that is placeable on top of a planar surface in a first functional position and a second functional position, the eating utensil comprising: a handle comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a center of gravity of said eating utensil lies along the handle;a planar riser portion extending from said distal end of said handle, the riser portion comprising a downwardly curved section including an upward concave surface and a downward convex surface, an upwardly curved section including an upward convex surface and a downward concave surface, and a riser section between the downwardly curved section and the upwardly curved section; anda working end extending from said riser portion such that the riser section extends from said handle and terminates at said working end, the riser section extending from said handle at a forward angle tilted towards the working end to space the working end away from the handle in a longitudinal direction of the handle; whereinsaid riser portion is configured to elevate said working end above the planar surface a first predetermined distance due to a length of the riser portion when said eating utensil is placed in the first functional position on the planar surface and a second predetermined distance when said utensil is placed in the second functional position on said planar surface; whereinthe riser portion is configured to mate with a riser portion of another one of the eating utensil such that a riser portion of a first one of the eating utensil is matedly stackable on top of a riser portion of a second one of the eating utensil while second one of the eating utensil is adopting either the first functional position or the second functional position; whereinthe downward convex surface and the downward concave surface of the first one of the eating utensil is configured to mate with an upward concave surface and an upward convex surface of the second one of the eating utensil, respectively when the first one of the eating utensil is stacked on top of the second one of the eating utensil while the second one of the eating utensil is adopting the first functional position; whereinthe upward concave surface and the upward convex surface of the first one of the eating utensil is configured to mate with the downward convex surface and the downward concave surface of the second one of the eating utensil, respectively when the second one of the eating utensil is adopting the second functional position; whereina bottom planar surface of a riser section of the first one of the eating utensil is configured to mate with a top planar surface of a riser section of the second one of the eating utensil while the second one of the eating utensil is adopting the first functional position; and whereinin adopting the first functional position: the downwardly curved section and the handle contact the planar surface and the riser section extends upwards from the downwardly curved section towards the upwardly curved section and extends away from the planar surface, anda first gap is defined between the planar surface and a first curved planar surface of the handle the first curved planar surface facing the planar surface,in adopting the second functional position: the upwardly curved section and the handle contact the planar surface and the riser section extends downwards from the downwardly curved section towards the upwardly curved section and extends downwards towards the planar surface, anda second gap is defined between the planar surface and a second curved planar surface of the handle, the second curved planar surface being on an opposite side of the handle with respect to the first curved planar surface and facing the planar surface. 15. The eating utensil of claim 14, wherein said working end includes any one of a bowl forming a spoon, a plurality of tines forming a fork, and a blade forming a knife. 16. The eating utensil of claim 14, wherein said handle defines a curvature along a length thereof extending from said proximal end of said handle to said downwardly curved portion of said riser portion, the curvature causing the first gap to form when the eating utensil adopts the first functional position and causing the second nap to form when the eating utensil adopts its the second functional position, the first gap being lesser than the second gap. 17. The eating utensil of claim 14, wherein said handle, said riser portion, and said working end are constructed from any one of plastic, ceramic, wood, or metal. 18. The eating utensil of claim 14, wherein the riser portion is S-shaped.