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(11) | EP 2 347 683 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Chopsticks kit |
| (57) A chopsticks kit comprising two sticks (2), a spacer fitting (3) with a divergent
shape to be inserted between said sticks to maintain the front ends of sticks (2)
spaced, and elastic rings to keep the sticks in contact with spacer fitting (3) by
a set elastic load.
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[0001] The present invention refers to a chopsticks kit. To bring food from a plate to our mouth when we are sitting at a table we normally use specific and dedicated tools.
[0002] To this respect it must be underlined that, whereas in the Western culture the use of cutlery, namely of the fork, is commonly widespread, the use of two sticks is still deep-rooted in the Eastern culture. These two sticks are generally approximately 30 cm long and are held with one hand in so that it is possible to coordinate the movement between an open position, wherein the stick tips are far-off to allow the insertion of food between the tips, and a grip position wherein said tips are at close range, if not in contact, to hold the food, be it a meat bit, a salad leaf or some rice grains.
[0003] Particularly the use of these sticks is much widespread in the Eastern Asia countries, namely in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.
[0004] Regarding the use of chopsticks, it must be enhanced that using said sticks is totally accepted and cause no problems for those populations using them since their childhood.
[0005] Differently, for a person not being accustomed to using said sticks, the operation of bringing food from the plate to the mouth by using sticks is an extremely complicated act to be coordinated by the fingers of one hand, since it requires control and coordination of joints and relative muscles not only of the hand fingers, but also of the palm and the arms.
[0006] The use of chopsticks is therefore substantially out of reach for an untrained person, for instance a European citizen being accustomed to use a fork who, only once in a while, eats at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant.
[0007] The above said highlights today's strong demand for chopsticks to be used in a traditional way by a practised person and, at the same time, in a simpler and immediate way without need for practising by a person not being accustomed to hold said sticks and move them in a coordinate way.
[0008] The object of this invention is to devise and make available a chopsticks kit sticks for eating, particularly of sticks suitable to be held and used with one hand only to take food from the plate and bring it to the mouth, this kit being suitable to meet the aforementioned need by solving the above mentioned drawbacks due to the use of chopsticks as for the prior art.
[0010] Further features and advantages of the chopsticks kit according to the present invention will enhance from the description detailed hereinafter of a preferred example embodiment thereof, given for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:
- figure 1 represents a schematic perspective view of the kit according to the invention in an open rest configuration;
- figure 2 represents a perspective view of the kit of figure 1 in a closed grip configuration while the sticks are held by the user's hand (represented in a sketched manner);
- figure 3 represents a view of a detail of the kit of figure 1 represented with its parts partially detached one from another;
- figure 4 represents a perspective view of the fitting of figure 1 kit;
- figure 5 represents a perspective view of the fitting of figure 4 according to a different point of sight;
- figures 6 and 7 represent top flat views and, respectively, bottom flat views of the figure 4 fitting.
[0011] With reference to the figures 1 to 3, 1 generally indicates a chopsticks kit according to the present invention.
[0012] Particularly kit 1 comprises:
- two sticks 2 extended according to a prevailing axial direction between a rear end (the top one in figure 1) identifying the head of the stick, and a front end (the bottom one in figure 1) shaped as a tip,
- a spacer fitting 3 comprising a body extending according to a prevailing longitudinal direction along which are defined at least two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d and
- holding means 5 to keep sticks 2 coupled to spacer fitting 3.
[0013] As shown in the figures, spacer fitting 3 is positioned in so that it interposes between the sticks 2 and keeps the front ends of sticks 2 spaced between them. For some reasons to be better explained in the following part of the present description, spacer fitting 3 is positioned between sticks 2 in a position closer to the head rear end of the sticks themselves rather than at the front end indentifying the tip of sticks 2.
[0014] Figure 1 shows kit 1 when free, i.e. when not operated by the user to have it in a close grip configuration as per figure 2.
[0015] With reference to the sticks 2, it is sufficient to underline that they are standard type as used in Oriental restaurants. The shape of the sticks 2 and their dimensions may vary according to the type of stick required (for instance Chinese sticks rather than Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese) or to the specific needs.
[0016] Particularly it is underlined that, as a general rule, the sticks 2 have a length sufficient to be easily held between the thumb and the index of one hand and, at the same time, to protrude by a set portion from the back of the hand itself, substantially as shown in figure 2. Just as an indication, the sticks 2 are between 18 and 30 cm long, without excluding the possibility of using longer sticks, as is for example the case of some sticks in Japanese restaurants.
[0017] The sticks 2 have a spindle shape, at least at the axial portion leading to the front end, in order to form a tip. The possibility must not be excluded of having sticks 2 with a progressive tapering, in a substantially even way, proceeding axially from the head rear end towards the tip front end.
[0018] Generally the sticks 2 have a circular transversal section or, as an alternative, a slightly squashed section, assuming in this way an oblong configuration, with two sharp-cornered vertexes.
[0019] In kit 1, the positioning and orientation of spacer fitting 3 has been chosen in so that said two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d are extended parallel to the axis of the sticks 2 (see figure 1). In this way, each longitudinal side 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting identifies a stable support surface for a set axial section of its respective stick 2.
[0020] Preferably, this stable support surface identified by each of said two longitudinal sides 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting 3 defines a flat support surface having a longitudinal length of at least the double, preferably at least the triple, of the maximum transversal dimension of sticks 2 at the section of sticks 2 where spacer fitting 3 is positioned.
[0021] Preferably, the length of said longitudinal sides 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting 3 and, as a consequence, the support surface they define, is at least 1,8 cm, preferably a value between 2,5 and 4,5 cm, even more preferably 3,5 cm.
[0022] In accordance with a preferred example embodiment pictured in the figures, the spacer fitting body is a prismatic body with a thickness equal to the transversal width of said longitudinal sides 3c, 3d.
[0023] Preferably, the prismatic body has a transversal section substantially rectangular with a decreasing dimension when proceeding along said longitudinal direction from a bottom end 3b towards a top end 3a (see figure 4). The two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting 3 identify the short sides of the rectangle, while opposite larger flat sides identify the long sides of the rectangle.
[0024] Therefore, the thickness of the prismatic body of spacer fitting 3 corresponds substantially to the transversal width of the opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d.
[0025] The decreasing shape of the transversal section of the spacer fitting 3 body is a direct consequence of the fact that, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, said body has a divergent shape along the longitudinal direction, thanks to the fact that the two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d are inclined between them, for instance by an angle within 16° and 25°, preferably by 20°. The fitting 3 is positioned between sticks 2, as previously described, in so that it diverges towards the front ends of the sticks 2 which identify the tips, i.e. in so that they have the top 3a and the bottom 3b faced towards the rear ends and, respectively, towards the front ends of sticks 2.
[0026] Preferably, each longitudinal side 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting identifies a concave housing 6, preferably semicircular, extending longitudinally along all the side length. The housing 6 being shaped in order to house at least one portion of the section of said axial portion of its respective stick 2.
[0027] The housings 6 prevents each stick to move transversally with respect to the longitudinal side 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting. The housings 6 help maintaining sticks 2 in the correct position while using the kit 1, i.e. when the user is operating the sticks 2 to pass from the normally open configuration (figure 1) to the closed configuration (figure 2), and vice-versa.
[0028] As already mentioned, the kit 1 comprises holding means 5 to keep the sticks 2 coupled to the spacer fitting 3.
[0029] Advantageously, said holding means are elastic holding means 5 able to keep, with a set elastic load, sticks 2 in their respective housings when the kit 1 is in the normally open rest position of figure 1.
[0030] In this condition, the holding elastic means 5 contrast and prevent with their predetermined elastic load any possible axial movements of the sticks 2 with respect to the housings 6.
[0031] At the same time, the holding elastic means 5 allow sticks 2 to be brought, in contrast with the set elastic load, in a closed configuration where the front ends of sticks 2 get in contact between them.
[0032] It is useful to know that the movement of the sticks 2 from the normally open configuration (fig. 1) towards the closed configuration (fig. 2) is possible through a rotation of the sticks 2 with respect to their respective longitudinal side 3c, 3d of spacer fitting 3. More in detail it is evident how the rotation centre of each stick 2 with respect to the spacer fitting body 3 is positioned substantially at the point where each of the two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting 3 radiuses to the longer base 3b.
[0033] In order to make easier said rotation turning freely without jamming, each of the two opposite longitudinal sides 3c, 3d of the spacer fitting 3 radiuses to the longer base 3b through a round convex portion.
[0034] The spacer fitting 3 comprises engagement means to keep the holding elastic means 5 close to its body.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, said engagement means are formed by two parallel grooves 4, spaced between them and extending transversally, preferably in a perpendicular way, in longitudinal sides 3c, 3d all along the length of said flat larger sides. Said grooves identify some housings, more precisely furrows, where it is possible to housing the holding means 5, at least partially, to be held inside.
[0036] Advantageously, the elastic holding means 5 wrap both the spacer fitting 3 and the sticks 2 coupled to their longitudinal sides 3c, 3d. To that aim, the elastic holding means 5 take the shape of elastic rings 5.
[0037] Preferably, the transversal length of sides 3c, 3d of spacer fitting 3 is at least equal (preferably longer by 10%) to the maximum transversal dimension of the sticks 2 at the axial portion where the spacer fitting 3 is positioned.
[0038] Advantageously, one or both said flat larger sides of the spacer fitting define a support for an element such as a logo, a trademark, a writing, a decorative element, a sticker or similar, and allow to use the kit itself as an advertising gadget. To that aim it is also possible to foresee a through hole to use the spacer fitting 3 as a pendant.
[0039] Advantageously, both the sticks and the spacer fitting 3 can be made of a variety of materials, such as for instance bamboo, plastic, wood, bones, metals, jade and ivory, since it is possible to use the same material for both or different materials according to the needs.
[0040] While using the kit 1, starting from the configuration illustrated in figure 1, a user, even an untrained user, will hold the two sticks and control their movement (as shown in figure 2) in a way as to make it possible to take food with them and bring it to the mouth, after that the user will release sticks and let the food fall into his mouth.
[0041] It is useful to know that, the holding means 5 and the spacer fitting 3, suitable shaped and positioned with respect to the sticks 3, make the two sticks 2 maintain steadily their position, by guiding the sticks during their approaching/moving-away movement through a rotation lying in the geometric plane passing through the sticks and spacer fitting 3.
[0042] At the same time, should the kit be used by an expert user, it is enough for the latter to remove the elastic holding means 5, tin order to also remove the spacer fitting coupled to the sticks, being thus in a condition to use the two sticks in a free way.
[0043] As it may be appreciated from the above, the chopsticks kit according to the invention allows to meet the aforementioned need while avoiding the already mentioned inconveniences connected to the prior art.
[0044] As a matter of fact, as already appreciated, the chopstick kit according to the present invention may be used both by an untrained user in holding and coordinating the movement of two simple sticks and by an expert user who will prefer removing the spacer fitting and the elastic holding means.
[0045] A further benefit of the chopsticks kit according to the present invention is the possibility of being used as a commercial and/or advertising mean, or as a gadget, since the larger flat walls of the spacer fitting define a support for an element such as a logo, a trademark, a writing, a decorative element, a sticker or similar.
[0046] A further benefit of the chopsticks according to the present invention is the possibility of making the spacer fitting with the same material used for the sticks.
[0047] A technical expert may apply several modifications, arrangements and replacing of elements with other elements having an equivalent function to the preferred example embodiment of the chopsticks, in order to satisfy contingent and specific needs but without exceeding the range of the following claims
1. Chopsticks kit comprising:
- two sticks (2) extending along an axial prevailing direction between a rear end and a front end which identify a tip,
- a spacer fitting (3) comprising a body extended in a prevailing longitudinal direction along which are defined at least two longitudinal opposite sides (3c, 3d) and
- holding means (5) to hold said sticks (2) coupled to spacer fitting (3),
said spacer fitting (3) being positioned between said sticks (2) to maintain spaced between them the front ends of said sticks (2), wherein:- said spacer fitting (3) is positioned in so that said longitudinal sides (3c, 3d) extend parallel to the sticks axis (2),
- each longitudinal side (3c, 3d) of said spacer fitting (3) identifies a stable support surface for an axial portion of the respective stick (2),
- said holding means (5) comprise elastic holding means (5) to keep by a set elastic load said sticks (2) coupled and leaning on the respective longitudinal side (3c, 3d) of the spacer fitting (3), in an open and rest configuration wherein the front ends of sticks (2) are spaced between them,
- said holding elastic means (5) avoid with a set elastic load a relative axial movement of the sticks (2) with respect to the spacer fitting body (3) and
- said holding elastic means (5) allow said sticks to assume, by counteracting said set elastic load, a closed configuration where the front end of sticks (2) get in contact between them,
the sticks (2) movement from said rest open configuration towards said closed configuration includes a rotation of sticks (2) with respect to the respective longitudinal side (3c, 3d) of the spacer fitting (3).2. Kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body has a divergent shape in said longitudinal
direction, in so that said longitudinal sides (3c, 3d) are divergent between them,
the sense of direction of said body with respect to the sticks being so that said
body is divergent towards the front ends of the sticks (2) identifying the tips.
3. Kit in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said longitudinal sides (3c,
3d) identifies a concave housing extending longitudinally inside which at least one
portion of said prearranged axial portion of the stick is inserted.
4. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said spacer fitting body
(3) includes engagement means (4) to hold said elastic holding means (5) with respect
to said body.
5. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said engagement means (4)
of said body comprise at least one groove (4) extending transversally to said longitudinal
sides (3c, 3d), said groove identifying a housing to hold at least one portion of
said holding elastic means (5).
6. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said spacer fitting (3) has
a prismatic body where the thickness is substantially determined by the transversal
width of said opposite longitudinal sides (3c, 3d).
7. Kit in accordance with claim 6, wherein said prismatic body has a transversal section
substantially rectangular with decreasing dimensions along said longitudinal direction
from a bottom base to a top base, wherein:
- said two opposite longitudinal sides (3c, 3d) identify said short sides of said transversal section and
- opposite flat larger walls identify the long sides of said transversal section.
8. Kit in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of the two opposite longitudinal sides
(3c, 3d) of said body is radiused to said body by a curved portion.
9. Kit in accordance with claim 5 and 7, wherein said groove (4) extends along the whole
width of said larger flat walls.
10. Kit in accordance with claim 5 and 7, wherein said prismatic body includes two grooves
(4) parallel and spaced between them and extending transversally all along the width
of said larger flat walls.
11. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said elastic holding means
(5) wrap both said spacer fitting body (3) and said sticks (2) coupled to its longitudinal
opposite sides (3c, 3d).
12. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said elastic holding means
(5) are elastic rings.
13. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of said longitudinal
sides (3c, 3d) of spacer fitting (3) defines a stable support surface for a set axial
portion of the respective stick, said support surface being long twice, preferably
at least three times, the maximum transversal dimension of sticks (2) at the sticks
(2) portion where spacer fitting (3) is positioned.
14. Kit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the transversal width of
said longitudinal sides (3c, 3d) of spacer fitting (3) is at least equal to the maximum
transversal dimension of the sticks (2) at sticks (2) portion where spacer fitting
(3) is positioned, preferably larger by 10%.
15. Kit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said larger flat walls of the body of said
spacer fitting (3) identifies a support for a chosen element of the group comprising:
a logo, a trademark, a writing, a decorative element, a sticker.