Utensil for children

• US 6,134,790 A
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Play It Safe Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Play It Safe Incorporated
• Inventors: Watson, Curtis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLORES SANCHEZ, OMAR
• Application Number:
  US09/108,630
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 30/149, 30/146, 30/147, 30/148, 30/150, 30/322, 30/323, 30/324, 30/325, 30/326, 30/327, 30/328, 30/295, 54/12, D 7/150, D 7/656, 128/9
• US Class Current: 30/326
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers

Abstract

A utensil for infants and toddlers it includes a planar flexible handle portion and a semi-rigid utensil portion. The utensil portion includes a ridge and a handle which engages the handle portion. A mouth guard is included and is disposed at the junction of the handle and handle portion. Included among the utensils are a spoon, fork and toothbrush. A kit of utensils is, also, disclosed.

Claims

1. A utensil for use by infants and toddlers, comprising:

(a) a substantially flat planar flexible handle portion, having a longitudinal axis,

(b) a semi-rigid utensil portion,

(1) an elliptical basin element, the basin having a major axis and a minor axis, the element having a peripheral ledge therearound,

(2) an upstanding ridge disposed on and which extends upwardly from the periphery of the ledge and partially about the periphery of the ledge, the ridge tapering from a high point and merging into the ledge, the ridge defining a splash guard,

(3) a handle extending from the basin element and disposed proximate the high point of the ridge, the handle having a longitudinal axis, the handle engaging the flexible handle portion at a junction thereof, the handle having a longitudinal axis;

(c) an arcuate planar mouth guard dispose at the junction, and rearwardly of the ridge the mouth guard conforming to the curvature to the mouth of an infant or toddler, and

wherein, the flexible handle portion, the handle and the major axis are coaxial.

2. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the utensil portion is removably mounted to the handle portion.

3. The utensil of claim 2 wherein:

(a) the handle portion has a first end and a second end, one end having an elongated slot formed therein which defines a partial bore extending into the interior of the handle, and

(b) the utensil portion comprising a handle, the handle projecting into and being frictionally retained within the partial bore.

4. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the mouth guard comprises:

(a) a substantially planar member having a slot formed therein, the mouth guard being slidably mounted onto the flexible handle by projecting the handle portion through the elongated slot.

5. The utensil of claim 2, wherein the utensil portion comprises a spoon.

6. The utensil of claim 5 wherein:

the upstanding ridge tapers from a peak downwardly to the ledge, the ridge defining a splash guard.

7. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the utensil portion is a fork.

8. The utensil of claim 7 wherein the fork comprises a plurality of tines formed in the basin, each of the tines having a curved end.

9. The utensil of claim 1 wherein further comprises:

a plurality of tines cut-out from the basin, each of the tines having a longitudinal axis which intersects the major axis of the basin at an angle greater than 0°

.

10. The utensil of claim 9 wherein the utensil portion is a brush.

11. A utensil kit for use by an infant or toddler comprising:

(a) a substantially flat planar flexible handle portion, the handle portion including a utensil receiving end,

(b) a plurality of interchangeable utensil portions, each utensil portion having a member which is removably received by the utensil receiving portion of the handle, at least one of the utensil portions of the kit comprising;

(1) an elliptical basin element, the basin having a manor axis and a minor axis, the element having a peripheral ledge therearound,

(2) an upstanding ridge disposed on and which extends upwardly from the periphery of the ledge and partially about the periphery of the ledge, the ridge tapering from a high point and merging into the ledge, the ridge defining a splash guard,

(3) a handle extending from the basin element and disposed proximate the high point of the ridge, the handle having a longitudinal axis, the handle engaging the flexible handle portion at a junction thereof, the handle having a longitudinal axis;

(c) an arcuate planar mouth guard disposed at the junction, and rearwardly of the ridge the mouth guard conforming to the curvature of the mouth of an infant or toddler, and

wherein, the flexible handle portion, the handle and the major axis are coaxial.

12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the mouth guard comprises a substantially elongated planar member having a slot formed therein, the slot enabling the mouth guard to be slid onto the handle.