# US 4,398,857 A · Self-feeding appliance

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- Number: US 4,398,857 A
- Document ID: US4398857A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/323,741
- Filed: 1981-11-23
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-11-23
- Inventors: Frank D. Layman, Sr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398857A

## CPC

- A47G 21/08: Serving devices for one-handed persons
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)

## Abstract

A self-feeding appliance for use by persons who have lost the use of both arms is disclosed. A turntable carrying one or more food dishes is mounted for rotation on a carriage panel. The carriage panel is mounted on a service platform for movement from a retracted position overlying a service deck portion of the service platform to an extended position forward of the service deck. A spoon is mounted on the carriage panel and projects laterally over the service deck. The lateral position of the spoon and the elevation of the service platform is adjustable to accomodate wheel chair service, bedside service, or table service. After the appliance is set up on a bed tray or on a table, a food dish is selected by rotating the turntable until the selected dish is brought into alignment with the spoon. This is accomplished entirely by head and neck movements, in conjunction with minimal upper torso control, by manipulating a scraping utensil secured to a headband, whereby a disabled person can select and eat food without assistance or supervision.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-feeding appliance for use by persons who have lost the use of both arms comprising, in combination:
a support platform having a service deck;
a service platform movably mounted for vertical displacement in elevation above said support platform;
a carriage panel mounted on said service platform for movement from a retracted position overlying said service deck to an extended position forward the service deck;
a spoon mounted on said carriage panel and projecting laterally over said service deck;
a turntable mounted for rotation on said carriage panel;
a food dish carried by said turntable; and,
an open channel member mounted on said carriage panel having an elevated open end adjacent said turntable and a lower open end overlying said spoon for guiding food scraped from said dish into said spoon.