U.S. patent application number 09/742802 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for arm and plate support self-feeding device.
Invention is credited to Palmer, Edna H..
Application Number | 20020078866 09/742802 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24986282 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020078866 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palmer, Edna H. |
June 27, 2002 |
Arm and plate support self-feeding device
Abstract
A self-feeding device is presented which includes a height
adjustment mechanism, a cut-out to place the eating hand arm, and a
detachable plate support. The device is designed to be easily
portable and light-weight, collapsing into a shoe-box-size
shape.
Inventors: |
Palmer, Edna H.; (Encinitas,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven W. Webb
Attorney at Law
655 Second Street
Encinitas
CA
92024
US
|
Family ID: |
24986282 |
Appl. No.: |
09/742802 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/145 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/08 20130101;
A47B 23/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/145 |
International
Class: |
A47B 009/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A self-feeding device and support mechanism comprising a
rectangular upper portion (hereafter upper portion), a rectangular
lower portion (hereafter lower portion), an upper portion cut-out,
a lower portion cut-out, a scissors support mechanism (hereafter
scissors support), a cup holder upper portion, a cup holder lower
portion, a locking bracket upper portion, a locking bracket lower
portion, and a plate support, wherein said upper portion is
adjustably attached to said scissors support mechanisms by brads,
said brads attached to said scissors support mechanisms at the ends
of said scissor support mechanism arms, said brads fitted into a
slide cut into said upper portion with dimples, said dimples
capable of retaining said brads in a sliding fashion, said lower
portion adjustably attached to said scissors support mechanisms by
said brads, said brads attached to said scissors support mechanism
at the ends of said scissor support mechanism arms, said brads
fitted into a slide cut into said lower portion with dimples, said
dimples capable of retaining said brads in a sliding fashion, said
upper portion possessing two plate support holes passing through
surface of said upper portion, said upper portion possessing an
upper portion cut placed on one end of said upper portion and
capable of fitting to a human arm, said lower portion possessing a
lower portion cut out in the same shape and on the same end of the
device as said upper portion cut out, a cup holder upper portion
attached fixedly to said upper portion on the side of the device
opposite said upper portion cut out, a cup holder lower portion
attached fixedly to said lower portion on the side of said device
opposite to said lower portion cut out, a locking bracket upper
portion attached fixedly to said upper portion on the same side of
said device as said cup holder upper portion, a locking bracket
lower portion attached fixedly to said lower portion on the same
side of said device as said cup holder lower portion, said locking
bracket lower and upper portions positioned such that when said
device is closed and said upper portion and lower portion are in
contact, said locking bracket lower and upper portions can be
locked to each other, a plate support in the shape of a rectangle,
said plate support possessing a top and a bottom side, said plate
holder bottom side possessing two snaps, said snaps aligned in such
a manner as to engage said plate support holes in said upper
portion.
2. A self-feeding device and support mechanism as in claim 1, such
that said plate support can be folded in half and is sized such
that said plate support mechanism could be contained within the
cavity formed by said upper portion and said lower portion.
3. A self-feeding device and support mechanism as in claim 1, such
that all components are made of plastic except said locking bracket
upper portion and said locking bracket lower portion, said locking
bracket upper portion and said locking bracket lower portion made
of metal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention is a device for use by handicapped persons
who have trouble feeding themselves due to lack of muscle control
or coordination in their arms and hands.
[0003] 2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art
[0004] There are several known devices for aiding disabled persons
in eating or in self-feeding. These devices propose fairly
complicated mechanical devices that have many moving parts and
components. These devices all possess more complicated features
than does the present invention.
[0005] Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,677 by Tucker (May 1, 1979)
teaches an adjustable noisemaker with contact arms of varying
length, thickness and width. U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,261 by Morewood
(Aug. 6, 1991), for example, proposes a spoon support that fills
the spoon from a plate below with a series of levers and
wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This eating and self-feeding mechanism is designed to be
easy to use and portable. The present invention is particularly
designed to aid persons who are relatively mobile and who have some
difficulty eating by themselves, but can control their head
position and can sit up at a table. This invention can be easily
carried by a person in a large purse or bag and can be adjusted in
height to fit any eating surface.
[0007] The present invention will be made out of light-weight
plastic, will have a scissors-like height adjustment, an upper
surface where a plate support can be placed, a cut-out where the
eating arm can be supported, and a cup holder for a standard-sized
cup.
[0008] The present invention has six (6) basic parts:
[0009] 1. An upper portion where a plate support can be
attached.
[0010] 2. A plate support.
[0011] 3. A scissors-like height adjustment mechanism.
[0012] 4. A lower portion that rests on the eating surface.
[0013] 5. a cup holder.
[0014] 6. A clasp that will hold the upper and lower portions
together
[0015] This invention is superior to previous inventions because it
is specifically designed for slightly handicapped persons who have
most of their physical faculties. It is specifically designed to be
easily portable, sturdy, and easy to set up by a physically
challenged person.
[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a portable
eating aid device for partially handicapped persons.
[0017] Another object of this invention is to provide a low-cost
eating aid.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide an easily
adjustable device that can be manipulated by even physically
challenged persons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The drawings provided can be understood by reading the
accompanying description for one embodiment of the invention..
[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention showing how a person
would sit and use it, holding a spoon and eating off of a plate on
top of the device.
[0021] FIG. 2 is top view drawing of the device, assembled, showing
the main features.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side view drawing of the invention and its
components, showing how a cup would be held.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an end-on view from the cup holder end, showing
the clasp.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the invention fully
closed and the clasp locked.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the invention opened
with the plate support attached to the top portion.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the other corner showing
the arm support cut-out.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, the upper portion of the device is
indicated by 101 and the lower portion by 105. The upper and lower
portions will be made of plastic to minimize cost and weight.
Attached to the upper and lower portions are the scissors supports,
102a and 102b, made of metal or plastic, attached to the upper and
lower portions at the indicated, movable positioning brads, 103a,
103b, 103e, and 103f. There are positioning brads attached to
scissors support 102b identified by 103c, 103d, 103g, and 103h. The
positioning brads are fixedly attached to the ends of the scissors
supports, and the positioning brads can be moved to fit on the
slide dimples, 104, as shown.
[0028] This arrangement permits the distance between the upper and
lower portion to be adjusted. Also in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4, a cup
support bracket upper portion, 106, and lower portion, 107, is
fixedly attached to the respective upper and lower portions of the
device. As in FIG. 4, locking mechanism upper and lower parts, 108
and 109, respectively, are fixedly attached to the respective upper
and lower portions of the device, and can be latched when the upper
and lower portions are brought together.
[0029] Perforating the upper portion of the device are two plate
support holes, 111, as in FIG. 5. FIGS. 2, 6, and 7 show views of
the invention with the plate support, 112, attached to the upper
surface of the upper portion of the device. The attachment is made
by snaps attached to the lower surface of the plate support, which
snaps fit into the two plate support holes, 111.
[0030] The end of the device away from the cup holder and the
locking mechanism is cut out in a semi-circular shape. This arm
support indentation, 110, is designed to permit the eater to rest
his/her eating arm in said indentation and steady it.
[0031] The above description was provided to illustrate and not
limit this invention. Various modifications obvious to one skilled
in the art are within the scope of the claims appended to this
specification.
* * * * *