U.S. patent application number 17/144295 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-15 for chopsticks.
The applicant listed for this patent is CHIN-CHOU YANG. Invention is credited to CHIN-CHOU YANG.
Application Number | 20210212489 17/144295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005342441 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210212489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANG; CHIN-CHOU |
July 15, 2021 |
CHOPSTICKS
Abstract
A chopsticks has two sticks and two resilient elements. The
sticks are arranged next to each other. Each of the two sticks has
a serving end portion, an eating end portion, and a picking portion
formed on the serving end portion. Each of the two resilient
elements has two ends connected to the two sticks respectively. A
user can pick up dishes from common plates to their personal plates
with the picking portion and would not carelessly put the picking
portions into his/her mouth. The chopsticks can be used as a
serving chopsticks and a private chopsticks at the same time for
the convenience of dining and waiting time for queuing to use
serving chopsticks can be saved. Moreover, with the resilient
elements fixing the two sticks on a first imaginary plane, the
chopsticks does not roll on and fall off the table.
Inventors: |
YANG; CHIN-CHOU; (NEW TAIPEI
CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YANG; CHIN-CHOU |
NEW TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005342441 |
Appl. No.: |
17/144295 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/103
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 21/06 20060101
A47G021/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 15, 2020 |
TW |
109200559 |
Claims
1. A chopsticks comprising: two sticks arranged next to each other
and both disposed on a first imaginary plane, and each of the two
sticks having: a serving end portion; an eating end portion, and
the serving end portion and the eating end portion defined
oppositely on the stick; and a picking portion formed on and
protruding from the serving end portion; and two resilient element,
and each of the two resilient elements having two ends connected to
the two sticks respectively.
2. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two resilient
elements are disposed on the first imaginary plane like the two
sticks; each of the two resilient elements has two elastic bodies,
each of the two elastic bodies is elongated in shape and has a
first end and a second end, the first end and the second end are
defined oppositely on the elastic body, the two first ends of the
two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements are connected
with each other, and the two second ends of the two elastic bodies
of each of the resilient elements are connected to the two sticks
respectively; and an angle between the two elastic bodies of each
of the resilient elements is less than 180 degrees.
3. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the
elastic bodies is arced, and the two elastic bodies of each of the
resilient elements are convex toward each other.
4. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the
elastic bodies extends straight.
5. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the
elastic bodies is arced and the two elastic bodies of each of the
resilient elements are convex toward the two sticks
respectively.
6. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two first ends
of one of the resilient elements are connected with the two first
ends of the other resilient element.
7. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
resilient elements is a coil spring.
8. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eating end
portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the
holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face
towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also
has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking
portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding
surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the
sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
9. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the eating end
portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the
holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face
towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also
has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking
portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding
surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the
sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
10. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein the eating end
portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the
holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face
towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also
has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking
portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding
surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the
sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
11. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein the eating end
portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the
holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face
towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also
has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking
portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding
surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the
sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
12. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picking
portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to
define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first
imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
13. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the picking
portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to
define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first
imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
14. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein the picking
portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to
define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first
imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
15. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein the picking
portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to
define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first
imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
16. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two
sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient
elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two
opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the
serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the
sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
17. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two
sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient
elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two
opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the
serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the
sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
18. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the two
sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient
elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two
opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the
serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the
sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
19. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the two
sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient
elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two
opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the
serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the
sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. 119 from Taiwan Patent Application No. 109200559 filed on
Jan. 15, 2020, which is hereby specifically incorporated herein by
this reference thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an eating utensil,
especially to a chopsticks.
2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
[0003] Chopsticks are traditional eating utensils in many Asian
countries, especially in China, and have been invented for over
four thousand years. Currently, there are about two billion people
in the world using chopsticks as main eating utensils. Accordingly,
it is conservatively estimated that there are about 5 billion pairs
of chopsticks circulating in the market normally.
[0004] Generally, the way to use the chopsticks is to pick up food
with tapered ends of the chopsticks, put the food into the mouth of
a user, hold the chopsticks and the food with the mouth, and then
draw the chopsticks out of the mouth and leave the food in the
mouth for the user to chew and swallow. Thus, the chopsticks
definitely contact with the user's saliva. Furthermore, it can
often be seen that someone would lick or bite the chopsticks.
Therefore, considering to dining etiquette and food hygiene, some
serving chopsticks would be prepared for everyone to pick up dishes
from common plates to their personal plates, and then people may
eat the dishes on their personal plates with their private
chopsticks. In addition, the food hygiene has also be taken into
consideration when eating hot pot and shabu-shabu. Usually, people
may prepare two pairs of chopsticks--one for picking up raw food
and one for picking up cooked food. Among the above-mentioned
situations, people have to constantly replace the chopsticks
according different purpose, which is very inconvenient. Moreover,
since people have to wait in line for using the serving chopsticks
or the chopsticks for picking up the raw food, it would take too
long to pick up the dishes and the dishes would lose their original
taste.
[0005] Furthermore, a pair of conventional chopsticks includes two
independent sticks. When the conventional chopsticks is temporarily
placed on a table that tilts or is unstable, each of the sticks may
roll on and fall off the table, which is troublesome during meal
times.
[0006] In addition, in order to increase friction between the
chopsticks and food, ends of the sticks of the conventional
chopsticks may be embossed with anti-slip patterns. However, since
each of the sticks of the conventional chopsticks does not touch
the food with a same side, the anti-slip pattern is formed
completely around the ends of the sticks. Consequently, when
drawing the conventional chopsticks out of the mouth, the anti-slip
patterns rub against lip or teeth of the user and the user feels
uncomfortable.
[0007] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides
a chopsticks to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
chopsticks that has two sticks and two resilient elements. The two
sticks are arranged next to each other and are both disposed on a
first imaginary plane. Each of the two sticks has a serving end
portion, an eating end portion, and a picking portion. The serving
end portion and the eating end portion are defined oppositely on
the stick. The picking portion is formed on and protrudes from the
serving end portion. Each of the two resilient elements has two
ends connected to the two sticks respectively.
[0009] With the serving end portion and the eating end portion
formed oppositely on each of the sticks, a user can pick up dishes
from common plates to their personal plates with the picking
portion formed on the serving end portion. Moreover, since the
picking portions allow the user to distinguish the serving end
portions and the eating end portions, the user would not carelessly
put the picking portions into his/her mouth. Thus, the chopsticks
of the present invention can be used as a serving chopsticks and a
private chopsticks at the same time for the convenience of dining
and waiting time for queuing to use serving chopsticks can be
saved. Moreover, with the resilient elements that are connected to
the two sticks fixing the two sticks on the first imaginary plane,
the two sticks do not move back and forth relative to each other or
be misaligned left and right during use. The chopsticks of the
present invention does not roll on and fall off the table.
[0010] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
chopsticks in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the chopsticks in
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the chopsticks in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a
chopsticks in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of a chopsticks
in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of a
chopsticks in accordance with the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of a chopsticks
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a
chopsticks in accordance with the present invention is shown. The
chopsticks comprises two sticks 10 and two resilient element
20.
[0019] The two sticks 10 are arranged next to each other and are
both disposed on a first imaginary plane. Each of the two sticks 10
has a serving end portion 11, an eating end portion 12, and a
picking portion 13. The serving end portion 11 and the eating end
portion 12 are defined oppositely on the stick 10. The picking
portion 13 is formed on and protrudes from the serving end portion
11. In the first preferred embodiment, the picking portion 13 of
each of the sticks 10 is formed as a plate and spreads to define a
second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary
on which the two sticks 10 are disposed. In other words, the
picking portion 13 is formed as a paddle.
[0020] With the paddle-like picking portions 13, it can be easier
for a user to pick up food that is place far away, or food that is
round and slippery such as birds' eggs, meat balls, sea cucumbers,
cellophane noodles and the like. Moreover, since the paddle-like
picking portions 13 is difficult to be put into the mouth of the
user due to their special shape, it is easy to distinguish the
picking portions 13 and the eating end portions 12 and the user
would not carelessly put the picking portions 13 into his/her
mouth. However, the shape of the picking portion 13 is not limited
to the paddle and may be any shape that is suitable for picking up
the food with ease.
[0021] In the first preferred embodiment, each of the two sticks 10
includes a main stick portion 14 and two end stick portions 15. The
two end stick portions 15 are detachably mounted to two opposite
ends of the main stick portion 14 respectively. The serving end
portion 11 and the eating end portion 12 of each of the sticks 10
are formed on the two end stick portions 15 respectively.
[0022] Moreover, in the first preferred embodiment, the eating end
portion 12 of each of the sticks 10 has a holding surface and the
picking portion 13 of each of the sticks 10 also has a holding
surface. The holding surfaces of the eating end portions 12 of the
two sticks 10 face towards each other. The holding surfaces of the
picking portions 13 of the two sticks 10 face towards each other.
The holding surfaces of the eating end portions 12 and the picking
portions 13 of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns 16.
Thus, friction between the chopsticks and the food can be increased
for the convenience of picking the food. Furthermore, since the
anti-slip patterns 16 are formed on inner sides of the two sticks
10, the anti-slip patterns 16 do not rub against lip or teeth of
the user, which allows the user to feel more comfortable in
use.
[0023] In addition, each of the sticks 10 is provided with multiple
holding recesses 17. With the holding recesses 17, the user can
stably hold the sticks 10 and the sticks 10 do not slip off the
user's hand easily. Accordingly, the chopsticks of the present
invention is especially suitable for westerners or people who are
not good at using traditional chopsticks.
[0024] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the two
resilient elements 20 has two ends connected to the two sticks 10
respectively. Specifically, the two ends of each of the resilient
elements 20 are connected to the main stick portions 14 of the
sticks 10 respectively. The two resilient elements 20 are disposed
on the first imaginary plane like the two sticks 10. Each of the
two resilient elements 20 has two elastic bodies 21. Each of the
two elastic bodies 21 is elongated in shape and may be, but is not
limited to, rectangular of circular in cross-section. Each of the
two elastic bodies 21 has a first end 211 and a second end 212. The
first end 211 and the second end 212 are defined oppositely on the
elastic body 21. The two first ends 211 of the two elastic bodies
21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are connected with each
other. The two second ends 212 of the two elastic bodies 21 of each
of the resilient elements 20 are connected to the two sticks 10
respectively. An angle between the two elastic bodies 21 of each of
the resilient elements 20 is less than 180 degrees.
[0025] In other words, the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the
resilient elements 20 are connected with each other in a V shape.
The two first ends 211 of the two elastic bodies 21 are disposed at
a tip of the V-shaped resilient element 20, and an opening is
formed between the two second ends 212 of the two elastic bodies
21. Moreover, the openings of the two resilient elements 20 may
turn away from each other or may face each other.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, in the first preferred embodiment, each
of the elastic bodies 21 is arced, and the two elastic bodies 21 of
each of the resilient elements 20 are convex toward each other.
[0027] With further reference to FIG. 4, in a second preferred
embodiment, each of the elastic bodies 21A extends straight.
[0028] With further reference to FIG. 5, in a third preferred
embodiment, each of the elastic bodies 21B is arced and the two
elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are convex
toward the two sticks 10B respectively.
[0029] With further reference to FIG. 6, in a fourth preferred
embodiment, the two resilient elements 20C are disposed on the
first imaginary plane like the two sticks. The two first ends of
one of the resilient elements 20C are connected with the two first
ends of the other resilient element 20C. In other words, the two
resilient elements 20C are connected to each other at the tip, such
that the two resilient elements 20C are connected with each other
in an X shape.
[0030] However, specific structures of the resilient element 20D
are not limited to the above-mentioned structures. With further
reference to FIG. 7, in a fourth preferred embodiment, each of the
resilient elements 20D may be a coil spring rather than a leaf
spring. Specifically, each of the resilient elements 20D is a
torsion spring. The two ends of each of the coil-spring-shaped
resilient elements 20D may be formed as two collars respectively,
such that the resilient element 20D may be mounted to the two
sticks 10 via the two collar-shaped ends. Otherwise, the two ends
of each of the coil-spring-shaped resilient elements 20D may be
inserted in slots or holes that are formed in the two sticks
10.
[0031] With the serving end portion 11 and the eating end portion
12 formed oppositely on each of the sticks 10, the user can pick up
dishes from common plates to their personal plates with the picking
portion 13 formed on the serving end portion 11. Moreover, since
the picking portions 13 allow the user to distinguish the serving
end portions 11 and the eating end portions 12, the user would not
carelessly put the picking portions 13 into his/her mouth. Thus,
the chopsticks of the present invention can be used as a serving
chopsticks and a private chopsticks at the same time for the
convenience of dining and waiting time for queuing to use serving
chopsticks can be saved. Moreover, with the resilient elements 20
that are connected to the two sticks 10 fixing the two sticks 10 on
the first imaginary plane, the two sticks 10 do not move back and
forth relative to each other or be misaligned left and right during
use. The chopsticks of the present invention does not roll on and
fall off the table.
[0032] In addition, since the two sticks 10 are fixed by the two
resilient elements 20, the two sticks 10 do not spin. Accordingly,
the anti-slip patterns 16 can be disposed on the inner sides of the
sticks 10 while other sides of each the sticks 10 are smooth. The
anti-slip patterns 16 do not rub against the lip or the teeth of
the user, which allows the user to feel comfortable in using the
chopsticks of the present invention.
[0033] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and features of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *