Nestable dual-end eating utensil

• US 5,845,403 A
• Filed: 09/13/1995
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nancy L. Linday
• Original Assignee: Nivin, Eli
• Inventors: Nivin, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/527,483
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 30/142, 30/147-150, 30/322, 30/324
• US Class Current: 30/147
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/06 Combined or separable sets of table-service utensils; Oyster knives with openers; Fish servers with means for removing bones kitchen equipment A47J

Abstract

A nestable set of two, selectively-detachable,, dual-end eating utensils having a temporal clipping mechanism to hold the eating utensils in a secure position during non-use periods.

Claims

1. A combination eating utensil 1 comprising:

a first dual-end implement having a first food engagement portion and a second food engagement portion formed at opposing ends of a first handle portion, said first handle portion having a first part of a clip locking mechanism formed therein comprising first and second clip locking slots formed in opposing sides of said first handle portion, and

a second dual-end implement having a third food engagement portion and a fourth food engagement portion formed at opposing ends of a second handle portion, said second handle portion having a second part of the clip locking mechanism comprising first and second clip locking arms extending from said second handle portion, said first and second clip locking arms including first and second clip locking fingers cooperably engageable to prevent displacement of said first dual-end implement and said second dual-end implement when the combination eating utensil is disposed in a nested storage position.

2. A combination eating utensil comprising:

a first dual-end implement having a first food engagement portion and a second food engagement portion formed at opposing ends of a first handle portion, said first handle portion having a first part of a clip locking mechanism formed therein,

a second dual-end implement having a third food engagement portion and a fourth food engagement portion formed at opposing ends of a second handle portion, said second handle portion having a second part of the clip locking mechanism formed therein,

said clip locking mechanism comprising at least one arm projecting from one of said handle portions and cooperably engageable with at least one slot formed on the other of said handle portions to prevent displacement of said first dual-end implement and said second dual-end implement when the combination eating utensil is disposed in a nested storage position.

3. A combination eating utensil as in claim 2 wherein said first food engagement portion comprises a first spoon bowl, said second food engagement portion comprises a knife blade, said third food engagement portion comprises a plurality of fork tines and said fourth food engagement portion comprises a second spoon bowl.

4. A combination eating utensil as in claim 3 wherein said first spoon bowl is formed having a different size than said second spoon bowl.

5. A combination eating utensil as in claim 3 wherein said first spoon bowl is formed having the size of a teaspoon and said second spoon bowl is formed having the size of a tablespoon.

6. A combination eating utensil as in claim 2 wherein the first part of said clip locking mechanism comprises an upright clipping arm that extends from the first handle portion.

7. A combination eating utensil as in claim 6 wherein the second part of said clip locking mechanism comprises a longitudinal slot formed in the second handle portion, said upright clipping arm being cooperably engageable in the longitudinal slot.

8. A combination eating utensil as in claim 2 wherein the first part of said clip locking mechanism comprises a male clipping mechanism and the second part of said clip locking mechanism comprises a female clipping mechanism.