Diet eating utensil

• US 5,299,356 A
• Filed: 04/12/1993
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralph Maxwell III
• Original Assignee: Ralph Maxwell III
• Inventors: Maxwell, Ralph III
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYRANA, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/044,753
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 30/129, 30/150, 30/147, 30/322, 377/112, 377/114, 377/118
• US Class Current: 30/322
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/10 Devices for counting or marking the number of consumptions on beverage-dispensing apparatus B65D, B67D; counting in general G06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0006 Diet or mouth appliances

Abstract

The invention relates to an eating utensil for counting the number of bites the user consumes in accordance with a specific diet plan regulating the fat intake by the user. The eating utensil has an illuminated display which changes depending on the number of bites consumed by the user. A push button is activated each time the user lifts up a fork full of food from the plate. An associated set of cards carries the names of the food items and the particular number of bites allowed to be taken depending on the fat content of that food item.

Claims

1. An eating utensil, comprising:

a first portion for conveying food to the mouth;

a second substantially hollow portion detachably secured to the first portion, said second portion adapted for engagement by a hand of a user;

a first display means for displaying a total number of bites allowed to be consumed by the user of a particular type of food item, depending on the fat content of the food item, said first display means being mounted on the second portion;

a second display means for displaying the specific number of the bites being consumed in sequence of the total number of bites, said second display means being positioned on the second portion; and

a means for programming the first and second display means mounted on the second portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said programming means comprises means for activating the second display means.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said activating means comprises a depressible push button located on a side of the second portion and being accessible by a finger of the user.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an independent power source for energizing the first and the second display means, and the programming means, said power source being carried by the second portion.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch carried by the second portion.

6. An eating utensil, comprising:

a first portion for conveying food to the mouth of the user;

a second substantially hollow portion detachably secured to the first portion, said second portion adapted for engagement by a hand of the user;

a display means for displaying the number of bites consumed by the user of a particular food item;

means for programming the display means mounted on the second portion, for programming the total number of bites allowed to be consumed by the user depending on the fat content of the food item, said programming means being mounted on the second portion;

depressible means for activating the display means located on a side of the second portion; and

an on/off switch carried by the second portion.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising an independent power source for energizing the display means and the programming means, said power source being carried by the second portion.

8. An eating utensil and dietary guide set, comprising;

an eating utensil for conveying food to the mouth, said utensil comprising a first portion, a second portion detachably secured to the first portion, a display means for displaying a number of bites allowed to be consumed by the user of a particular food item depending on a fat content of that food item, said display means being mounted on the second portion, means for programming the display means mounted on the second portion; and

a set of charts, each divided into a number of vertical and horizontal rows and having indicia thereon indicating the particular type of food to be consumed and a number of bites to be allowed from the selection of that particular type of food.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said programming means comprises means for activating the display means.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said activating means comprises a depressible push button located on a side of the second portion.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising an independent power source for energizing the display means and the programming means, said power source being carried by the second portion.

12. The device of claim 8, further comprising an on/off switch carried by an outer most end of the second portion.