U.S. patent number 3,664,020 [Application Number 05/125,568] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for combination spoon and toothpick.
Invention is credited to Arthur W. Hammond, Marie E. Miller.
United States Patent |
3,664,020 |
Hammond , et al. |
May 23, 1972 |
COMBINATION SPOON AND TOOTHPICK
Abstract
A toothpick and spoon combination includes a handle portion with
a separatable toothpick member for use after eating. The
combination utilizes support members from which the toothpick may
be broken away.
Inventors: |
Hammond; Arthur W. (Miamisburg,
OH), Miller; Marie E. (Kettering, OH) |
Family
ID: |
22420343 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/125,568 |
Filed: |
March 18, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/142; 132/323;
D7/644 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
15/02 (20130101); A47G 21/12 (20130101); A47G
21/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
21/00 (20060101); A47G 21/12 (20060101); A47G
21/02 (20060101); B25f 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/89,90,93
;30/1,142,150,324,325,328 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Condon; Theron E.
Assistant Examiner: Peters; J. C.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A combination spoon and toothpick, comprising a concave portion
for lifting food, a handle portion carried by said concave portion
with a toothpick suspended therein, web portions carried by said
handle providing rigidity for said device in combination with cross
members supporting said toothpick.
2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said handle member
of said device is provided with bead means for aiding in the
rigidity of said handle and stringer means in combination with said
bead members provides handle frame means for carrying said
toothpick, said toothpick being suspended within said handle by
cross members molded integral with said stringers and said
toothpick.
3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said web portions
and said cross membersprovide rigidity for said handle when it is
in use for eating purposes and said toothpick is separatable from
said handle of said device by pulling upon said toothpick and
twisting said cross members so that they separate from said
stringer portions and said toothpick in order that said toothpick
may be used effectively without it being uncomfortable.
4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein scored areas at
said toothpick in the immediate areas of said cross members and
scored portions in the immediate area of said stringer portions
adjoining said cross members provides an easy means for separating
said toothpick from said stringers and said cross members.
Description
This invention relates to spoons, and more particularly to a
combination spoon and toothpick.
It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a
combination spoon and toothpick which will afford the user a
separatable toothpick which will be readily available for use after
eating.
Another object of this invention is to provide a combination spoon
and toothpick which will have the toothpick portion molded integral
with the handle portion of the spoon, the device also being
attractive as well as serving as a dual purpose.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the
type described which will have cross members molded integral of the
handle which may be easily separated from the toothpick with a
minimum of effort by the user in order to use the toothpick in an
unencumbered fashion.
Other objects of this invention are to provide a combination spoon
and toothpick which is simple in design, inexpensive to
manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in
operation.
These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the
following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an enlarged top plan view of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toothpick portion shown removed from
the handle portion of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified
form of the invention.
According to this invention, a combination spoon and toothpick 10
is shown to include a concave portion 11 for lifting food. Molded
with the concave portion 11 is the handle 12 which is composed of
spaced apart stringer portions 13 which extend into beaded portions
14 which edge web portions 15 and 16. The stringer portions 13 of
handle 12 define an opening 17 in which is centered and rendered
stationary, a toothpick 18 by means of cross members 19 molded
integral with handle 12.
In use, device 10 is used in the well known manner for eating
purposes, however, afterwards a toothpick 18 may be separated from
within opening 17 of handle 12 by lifting upon one end and breaking
the cross members 19 away from the stringer portions 13. After
toothpick 18 has been released, the cross members 19 may be quickly
bent and separated from the toothpick 18 body.
It shall be noted that a slight scoring of the cross members 19 at
the stringer portions 13 and the toothpick 18 may be produced in
handle 12 during the molding operation, thus allowing the cross
members 19 to be easily separated from stringer portions 13 and the
toothpick 18.
Looking now at FIG. 3 of the drawing, one will see a modified form
of combination spoon and toothpick 20. Device 20 includes a concave
portion 21 for lifting food and integral handle 22 having beaded
edges 23 which edge the web portions 24, 25 and 26. The toothpick
27 is carried within the recessed side 28 of handle 22 and is
supported by a pair of spaced apart cross members 29.
It shall be noted that the arrangement of toothpick 27 is such,
that it conforms with the geometric shape of handle 22 and the
cross members 29 attached thereto are separated from toothpick 27
by using a twisting motion upon toothpick 27.
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