US 6,584,692 B1 · Easy release fork

Abstract

A food handling fork having a plurality of elongated tines having an upper surface, a lower surface, a base end, and a point and a release plate forming a plurality of tine openings through which said tines extend. The release plate has a proximal end positioned above the upper surface of the tines, a curved portion positioned below the bottom surface of the tines, and a distal end terminating in at least one tongue having a tip extending upwardly to at least the lower surface of the tines. The present invention further comprises a means for slidably advancing the release plate along the tines from an initial position where the tongue is a predetermined distance between the base end and point of the tines to a release position where at least a portion of the tongue is forward the point of the tines. In the preferred embodiment, the mechanism for slidably advancing comprises a first handle pivotally mounted to the proximal end of the release plate, a second handle connected to the base ends of the tines, and a resilient element for connecting the handles to allow the selective engagement therebetween. The present invention can be used with one hand to pick up, place, and release food in a highly controlled manner that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An easy release fork assembly comprising:

a) a first elongated handle having a forward end and a back end;
b) a second elongated handle having a forward end and a back end;
c) resilient means for connecting said first handle and said second handle with said first handle being spaced a predetermined distance from said second handle;
d) a plurality of tines extending longitudinally from said forward end of said second handle, said tines having an upper surface and a lower surface,
e) a release plate having a plurality of tine openings defined therein through which said tines extend, said release plate terminating in at least one tongue having a portion positioned below said lower surface of said tines and a tip extending upwardly to at least said upper surface of said tines, wherein said at least one tongue is positioned between said tines and,
f) means for pivotally connecting said release plate to said forward end of said first elongated handle so that said release plate is selectively advanced along said tines as said first handle and said second handle are pressed together.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Easy release fork

Life of this patent

Easy release fork

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33