Combination of spoon and clip

• US 20060174493A1
• Filed: 02/05/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Hsu
• Original Assignee: James Hsu
• Inventors: Hsu, James
• Application Number:
  US11/052,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/324
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/28 Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1675 Hinged clips

Abstract

A spoon includes a bowl and a handle extending from the bowl. The handle includes first and second bars. The first bar has a proximal end connected to the bowl and forming a resilient projection having an barbed free end and a distal end forming a hinge with a distal end of the second bar whereby the second bar is rotatable with respect to the first bar between a closed position and an open position to realize a clip for clamping for example a food storage bag. The second bar has a proximal end forming an extended flange releasably engageable with the barbed end of the projection of the first bar to releasably secure the second bar to the first bar in the closed position.

Claims

1. A spoon comprising:

a bowl; and

a handle connected to the bow, the handle comprising;

a first bar having a proximal end connected to the bowl and a distal end forming a hinge, and a second bar having a distal end connected to the distal end of the first bar by the hinge to allow the second bar to selectively rotate with respect to first bar whereby the second bar is movable between a first position where the second bar overlaps the first bar to form the handle and a second position where the second bar is separate from the first bar to serve as a clip for clamping an external object between the first and second bars.

2. The spoon as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for securing a proximal end of the second bar thereby releasably retaining the second bar in the first position.

3. The spoon as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a resilient barb formed on the first bar and releasably engageable with the proximal end of the second bar.

4. The spoon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the proximal end of the second bar forms an extended flange engageable with the resilient bar.

5. The spoon as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for tightly clamping the external object between the first and second bars.

6. The spoon as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for tightly clamping the external object comprises a rib formed along one of the bars and a corresponding slot defined along the other one of the bars for receiving the rib therein.

7. The spoon as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib has a convex configuration.

8. The spoon as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than cross-sectional area of the slot.

9. The spoon as claimed in claim 3 further comprising means for tightly clamping the external object between the first and second bars.

10. The spoon as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for tightly clamping the external object comprises a rib formed along one of the bars and a corresponding slot defined along the other one of the bars for receiving the rib therein.

11. The spoon as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rib has a convex configuration.

12. The spoon as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rib has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than cross-sectional area of the slot.