Eating utensil for holding pieces of food and dispenser assembly containing such utensils

• US 5,899,356 A
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Huisman
• Original Assignee: Ronald Huisman
• Inventors: Huisman, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/776,118
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 294/1.3, 294/3, 294/8.5, 294/11, 294/16, 294/33, 294/99.2, 221/33, 221/45, 221/61, 221/63
• US Class Current: 221/63
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/10 Sugar tongs; Asparagus tongs; Other food tongs

Abstract

An eating utensil is provided for holding pieces of food. The eating utensil is provided in the form of gripping tongs (1) with gripper arms (2-3) which can be moved towards each other against a restoring force from an open position into a gripping position. Also provided is a dispenser for the eating utensil. The dispenser holds a plurality of such eating utensils in a stacked relationship within the dispenser. A lowest one of the eating utensils in the dispenser is held in place by the combination of stop elements on the dispenser and catch devices on the utensils. While held in this manner, the lowest eating utensil protrudes partially from the dispensing shaft of the dispenser. The lowest eating utensil therefore can be pulled out of the dispenser for use. The next eating utensil, which was above the lowest eating utensil, then falls to the position of the lowest eating utensil. The combination of the eating utensil and the dispenser thus provides a convenient way of storing and dispensing eating utensils.

Claims

1. A combination of a dispenser and eating utensils stored therein, wherein:

each eating utensil is intended for picking up larger bits of food, and is designed as a set of tongs having gripping arms that can be pressed together, against a certain restoring force, from an opened position into a gripping position; and

the dispenser contains a dispensing shaft that is designed to hold a number of said tongs stacked one on top of the other, the dispensing shaft and the tongs being designed to complement one another, so that the tongs are slidable downward through the dispensing shaft, the dispensing shaft being equipped at a lower end thereof with stop elements which operate in conjunction with the lowest set of tongs so that it is possible to pull this lowest set of tongs out of the dispenser while preventing this lowest set of tongs from falling out on its own;

the stop elements being designed to catch catch devices on the tongs, wherein the catch devices and stop elements complement one another so that one fits inside the other in a position in which the tongs protrude partially from the dispensing shaft.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tongs are comprised principally of the gripping arms and a connecting piece that joins these two arms at one end.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the connecting piece is designed to function as a bending joint.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the connecting piece is designed as an arc-shaped connecting joint.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the gripping arms are flexible.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tongs are designed so that several tongs may be stacked inside one another in an open position.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the gripping arms diverge in a V-shape.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tongs are made from a single strip that is even in its width and thickness.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the gripping arms are equipped on their outer surface with recessed grips.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the recessed grips are positioned approximately halfway down the length of the gripping arms.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each of the gripping arms has an open end and the gripping arms are provided with said catch devices, positioned in the area of the open ends of the arms, on their outer surface.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the catch devices are designed as grooves.

13. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the gripping arms have open ends which are curved inward.

14. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the tongs are comprised of plastic.

15. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each stop element is comprised of a protruding ridge, and each catch device is comprised of a groove into which the ridge fits.

16. The combination in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that each ridge projects into the dispensing shaft and each groove is formed in an outer surface of one of the gripping arms.

17. The combination in accordance with claim 16 characterized in that the gripping arms have open ends, and the stop elements that are on the side of the tongs are positioned in the area of the open ends of the gripping arms.

18. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing shaft has opposing broad and narrow sides.

19. The combination in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that the stop elements are positioned on the narrow sides of the dispenser.

20. The combination in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the gripping arms are laid, under a certain amount of tension, against the opposing inner sides of the dispensing shaft.

21. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said gripping arms diverge in a V-shape at an angle of approximately 60°

.

22. A combination of a dispenser and eating utensils stored therein, wherein:

each eating utensil is intended for picking up larger bits of food, and is designed as a set of tongs having gripping arms that can be pressed together, against a certain restoring force, from an opened position into a gripping position;

the dispenser contains a dispensing shaft that is designed to hold a number of said tongs stacked one on top of the other, the dispensing shaft and the tongs being designed to complement one another, so that the tongs are slidable downward through the dispensing shaft, the dispensing shaft being equipped at a lower end thereof with stop elements which operate in conjunction with the lowest set of tongs so that it is possible to pull this lowest set of tongs out of the dispenser while preventing this lowest set of tongs from falling out on its own; and

the gripping arms have open ends and the dispensing shaft is equipped with opposing positioning grooves into which the open ends of the gripping arms are placed.