US5058279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wedged handle eating utensil for the physically disabled
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-04-17
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Granted: 1991-10-22
•
Expires: 2010-04-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an eating utensil set for the physically disabled. The invention comprises a handle, a shaft and an eating utensil head. The handle is in the shape of a multi-sided geometric solid five surfaces: a flat bottom surface adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface such as an eating table, a back surface; a first side surface; a second side surface; and a front surface, preferably curved. The upper portion of the back surface serves as the point of attachment for the shaft. The shaft terminates in the eating utensil head. In addition, the utensil head may be modified to increase the surface area available for the food and to increase the stability of the food on the eating utensil. The new and improved eating utensil is capable of being used by individuals having a variety of disabilities, particularly those individuals with limited wrist movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Suzanne P. Mars
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:08
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An eating utensil for use by persons with limited wrist movement, comprising: a handle, the handle including a base adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface, the base having a front edge, a back edge, and opposed side edge, the handle being in the shape of a geometric solid, the handle including a back surface, opposed side surfaces, and a front surface, the handle having a vertical dimension when the base is resting on the horizontal surface adequate to permit the handle to be grasped by the fingers of a user's hand; a shaft connected to the handle, the shaft projecting from the front surface of the handle at a location in the vicinity of the base; and a utensil head connected to the shaft, the utensil head projecting laterally from the shaft to lie in a generally horizontal plane when the base is resting on the horizontal surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An eating utensil for use by persons with limited wrist movement, comprising: a handle, the handle including a base adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface, the base having a front edge, a back edge, and opposed side edge, the handle being in the shape of a geometric solid, the handle including a back surface, opposed side surfaces, and a front surface, the handle having a vertical dimension when the base is resting on the horizontal surface adequate to permit the handle to be grasped by the fingers of a user's hand; a shaft connected to the handle, the shaft projecting from the front surface of the handle at a location in the vicinity of the base; and a utensil head connected to the shaft, the utensil head projecting laterally from the shaft to lie in a generally horizontal plane when the base is resting on the horizontal surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, further comprising: a tang projecting from the end of the shaft opposite the utensil head; and a receptacle included as part of the handle into which the tang is inserted and retained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The eating utensil of claim 2, wherein the tang is secured within the receptacle by means of an interference fit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the front surface is curved outwardly from the front edge of the base to the upper portion of the back surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The eating utensil of claim 4, wherein the shaft is in substantial surface-to-surface contact with the front surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The eating utensil of claim 5, further comprising: a tang projecting from the end of the shaft opposite the utensil head, the tang being bent back upon itself so as to be generally parallel with the shaft; and a receptacle included as part of the handle into which the tang is inserted and retained, the receptacle extending into the handle from a location in the vicinity of the upper portion of the back surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The eating utensil of claim 6, wherein the front surface and the receptacle diverge so that the tang is urged away from the shaft when the tang is inserted into the receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the opposed sides of the handle are parallel and are spaced a distance approximately equal to the distance between a user's thumb and fingers when the user's thumb and fingers are parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the utensil head is in the shape of a conventional fork.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the utensil head is in the shape of a spork.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The eating utensil of claim 1, wherein the utensil head is in the shape of a spoon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
306 words
An eating utensil for use by persons with limited wrist movement, comprising: a handle, the handle including a base adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface, the base having a front edge, a back edge, and opposed side edges, the handle being in the shape of a geometric solid, the handle including a back surface, opposed side surfaces, and a front surface, the front surface being curved outwardly from the front edge of the base to the upper portion of the back surface, the opposite sides of the handle being parallel and spaced a distance approximately equal to the distance between a user's thumb and fingers when the user's thumb and fingers are parallel to each other, the handle having a vertical dimension when the base is resting on the horizontal surface adequate to permit the handle to be grasped by the fingers of a user's hand; a shaft connected to the handle, the shaft projecting from the front surface of the handle at a location in the vicinity of the base, the shaft being in substantial surface-to-surface contact with the front surface; a tang projecting from the end of the shaft opposite the utensil head, the tang being bent back upon itself so as to be generally parallel with the shaft; a utensil head connected to the shaft, the utensil head projecting laterally from the shaft to lie in a generally horizontal plane when the base is resting on the horizontal surface; a receptacle included as part of the handle into which the tang is inserted and retained, the receptacle extending into the handle from a location in the vicinity of the upper portion of the back surface; and wherein the front surface and the receptacle diverge so that the tang is urged away from the shaft when the tang is inserted into the receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
306 words
An eating utensil for use by persons with limited wrist movement, comprising: a handle, the handle including a base adapted to rest upon a horizontal surface, the base having a front edge, a back edge, and opposed side edges, the handle being in the shape of a geometric solid, the handle including a back surface, opposed side surfaces, and a front surface, the front surface being curved outwardly from the front edge of the base to the upper portion of the back surface, the opposite sides of the handle being parallel and spaced a distance approximately equal to the distance between a user's thumb and fingers when the user's thumb and fingers are parallel to each other, the handle having a vertical dimension when the base is resting on the horizontal surface adequate to permit the handle to be grasped by the fingers of a user's hand; a shaft connected to the handle, the shaft projecting from the front surface of the handle at a location in the vicinity of the base, the shaft being in substantial surface-to-surface contact with the front surface; a tang projecting from the end of the shaft opposite the utensil head, the tang being bent back upon itself so as to be generally parallel with the shaft; a utensil head connected to the shaft, the utensil head projecting laterally from the shaft to lie in a generally horizontal plane when the base is resting on the horizontal surface; a receptacle included as part of the handle into which the tang is inserted and retained, the receptacle extending into the handle from a location in the vicinity of the upper portion of the back surface; and wherein the front surface and the receptacle diverge so that the tang is urged away from the shaft when the tang is inserted into the receptacle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |