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US 2011/0298236 A1Published application
Training chopsticks
OwnerRobin O. Kellerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Chopsticks are provided including a first chopstick and a second chopstick which have been modified to be readily coupled together. Bores are formed in each of the chopsticks. A pin is supplied which passes through each of the bores. The pin has a friction fit within the bores such that the chopsticks are held together. The pin resiliently flexes when distal ends of the chopsticks are brought together, so that the pin provides a return force to the chopsticks. The bores and pin preferably have a non-circular cross-section so that the chopsticks are held within a common plane. The pin can have at least one tip that is pointed so that the pin can double as a toothpick.
Claims20
1:
- A pair of chopsticks featuring ease of use, the chopsticks comprising in combination:
- a first elongate chopstick extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
- a second elongate chopstick extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
- said first chopstick having a first bore extending at least into said first chopstick at a location between said proximal end and said distal end and along a line transverse to a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
- said second chopstick having a second bore extending at least into said second chopstick at a location between said proximal end and said distal end and along a line transverse to a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
- and
- an elongate pin, said pin having a first tip sized to fit within said first bore and a second tip sized to fit within said second bore, said pin located extending at least into both said first bore and said second bore.
4 more elements
2:
- The chopsticks of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first bore and said second bore extends entirely through at least one of said chopsticks.
3:
- The chopsticks of claim 2 wherein said elongate pin extends through at least one of said bores.
4:
- The chopsticks of claim 1 wherein said pin is adapted to flex about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pin and substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes of said first chopstick and said second chopstick.
5:
- The chopsticks of claim 1 wherein said pin is non-circular in cross-section.
6:
- The chopsticks of claim 5 wherein said pin and said bores each have an at least somewhat square cross-section.
7:
- The chopsticks of claim 5 wherein said pin and said bores each have an elliptical cross-section.
8:
- The chopsticks of claim 7 wherein each of said bores has a major diameter and a minor diameter, with said major diameter longer than said minor diameter, said major diameter oriented substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis of said first chopstick and said longitudinal axis of said second chopstick.
9:
- The chopsticks of claim 1 wherein said pin includes at least one tip that is at least somewhat pointed.
10:
- The chopsticks of claim 1 wherein said chopsticks and said pin are each formed of a cellulosic material.
11:
- The chopsticks of claim 10 wherein said chopsticks and said pin are each formed of shaped wood.
12:
- The chopsticks of claim 11 wherein said pin is formed of a wood that is different from a wood forming said chopsticks, said wood forming said pin being harder than said wood forming said chopsticks.
13:
- The chopsticks of claim 12 wherein said pin is formed of bamboo.
14:
- A pair of training chopsticks, consisting of:
- a first elongate chopstick extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
- a second elongate chopstick extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
- said first chopstick having a first bore extending through said first chopstick at a location between said proximal end and said distal end and along a line transverse to a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
- said second chopstick having a second bore extending through said second chopstick at a location between said proximal end and said distal end and along a line transverse to a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
- and
- an elongate pin, said pin having a first tip sized to fit within said first bore and a second tip sized to fit within said second bore, said pin located into both said first bore and said second bore.
4 more elements
15:
- The pair of training chopsticks of claim 14 wherein said pin is sized to exhibit a friction fit within said bores.
16:
- The pair of training chopsticks of claim 14 wherein said pin is pointed on an end.
17:
- The pair of training chopsticks of claim 14 wherein said pin has a non-circular cross-section.
18:
- A method for holding a pair of elongate chopsticks together, including the steps of:
- identifying a pair of elongate chopsticks each having a bore extending at least into a side of each of the chopsticks;
- and
- placing an elongate pin into each of the bores, the pin having a tight fit within the bores.
1 more element
19:
- The method of claim 18 including the further step of restricting the chopsticks to motion within a single plane by identifying the bores as having a non-circular cross-section and the pin as having a non-circular cross-section, and orienting the pin to fit within the bores before said placing step.
20:
- The method of claim 18 wherein said identifying step includes identifying the bores as extending through each chopstick;
- and
- wherein said placing step includes placing the elongate pin through each of the bores in each of the chopsticks.