Eating utensil for indicating when food may be eaten therewith and a method for using the utensil
First Claim
1. An eating utensil for indicating when food may be eaten therewith, comprising:
- an instrumentality for engaging said food; and
a handle for manipulating said instrumentality and including an elongated chamber for viewing a visible signal at a predetermined position along said chamber for indicating when said food may be eaten, said chamber having first and second ends for containing first and second immiscible fluids having different densities, one of said fluids forming said visible signal and moveable to said predetermined position when one of said ends is elevated above the other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dietary control eating utensil is disclosed for indicating when food can be eaten therewith. The handle of the utensil includes a gravity-powered timing device. The device includes an elongated transparent material chamber for containing immiscible fluids having different densities such as air and mineral oil. The lighter density fluid forms a visible signal within the chamber that is moveable between the distal and proximal ends. The period associated with the movement of the visible signal depends on the different elevations of the chamber ends. The shape of the chamber along with the density of the two fluids also contributes to the time period the visible signal takes to move between the two ends of the chamber. When the air bubble moves to a predetermined position within the chamber, this indicates when the utensil may be used for consuming food.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An eating utensil for indicating when food may be eaten therewith, comprising:
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an instrumentality for engaging said food; and a handle for manipulating said instrumentality and including an elongated chamber for viewing a visible signal at a predetermined position along said chamber for indicating when said food may be eaten, said chamber having first and second ends for containing first and second immiscible fluids having different densities, one of said fluids forming said visible signal and moveable to said predetermined position when one of said ends is elevated above the other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An eating utensil wherein a timer is provided comprising:
first and second immiscible fluids having different densities and an elongated chamber having first and second ends for containing said fluids, one of said fluids forming a visible formation moveable to a predetermined position about one of said ends for timing said interval of time when said one end is elevated above the other, said interval of time comprising the amount of time for said formation to move from said first end to said predetermined position.
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14. A dietary control fork, comprising:
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a plurality of prongs for engaging said food; and a handle for manipulating said prongs, said handle including an elongated cylinder having first and second ends and comprised of a transparent material for viewing a bubble at a predetermined position about said first end for indicating when said food may be eaten and also including mineral oil and air contained in said chamber, said air forming said bubble in said mineral oil, said bubble being moveable to said predetermined position at a predetermined rate, when said first end is elevated above said second end a predetermined distance, said bubble being moveable to a start position about said second end when said second end is elevated above said first end, said bubble moving from said start to said predetermined position in a predetermined period of time dependent on said first end being elevated above said second end a predetermined distance, a diameter of said cylinder, and the density of said mineral oil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. Method of indicating with an eating utensil when food may be eaten, said utensil having a visible formation moveable between proximal and distal ends of an elongated chamber included in a handle thereof, said utensil also including an instrumentality for manipulating said food, comprising the steps of:
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positioning said utensil with said instrumentality resting on a dish and said handle resting next to said dish with said distal end of said chamber elevated above said proximal end, and waiting until said visible formation moves toward said distal end and to a predetermined position along said elongated chamber before using said utensil to engage said food.
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Specification