EP1051937B1 - Cutlery - Google Patents

Abstract

The spoon dish (1) and the handle are each formed in two parts whereby the first dish part (2) of the spoon is connected to first part (4) of the handle and the second part of the spoon is rigidly connected to the second part (5) of the handle. The han shafts are connected together for scissors movement about a scissors joint and the dish parts of the spoon each have scissors-li cutting edges.

Description

The invention relates to a cutlery according to the preamble of claim 1.

Cutlery of the generic type are known for example from DE-A-40 40 730 and US-A-4 521 964.
With the one-hand usable eating device of DE-A-40 40 730 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), cooked pastries, in particular spaghetti, pasta or the like, are to be shortened to a length which allows these dishes to be easily and safely consumed when consumed to mouth. There are no cutting edges, and therefore no cutting process can be generated, as is the case with scissors, for example. The cooked pastries can only be squeezed. Cutting z. B. meat or harder vegetables is not possible with this known eating device.

Among the scissors-like eating devices disclosed in US-A-4,521,964 there is also a two-part spoon which can be used with one hand and whose spoon shell is divided in the middle (see FIGS. 16-19). The two shell halves of the spoon shell, each provided with a cutting edge, are each attached to a shear shaft which is connected to the other shear shaft by a scissor joint. The two scissor shafts are equipped with grip eyelets, as is common with normal paper and fabric scissors.
Because of these grommets and because of the longitudinal center division of the spoon bowl and the resulting position of the cutting edges, such an eating device cannot be handled easily and simply. The spoon bowl is interrupted and leaking, so that liquid food can flow between the non-tight cutting edges and drip onto clothes while eating.

To disabled people who only have a usable hand is available, an independent shredding of To enable pieces of food are other cutlery developed with multiple functions.

So is a one-handed operated cutlery for one-armed people and disabled people known from DE-86 19 103.9 U1, one fork and one on one side of the fork to this arranged knife, which in the longitudinal direction the fork is slidable and approximately perpendicular to the Knife edge running axis due to load on the back of the knife is tiltably supported against spring pressure. there are the knife and the fork in a common, handle-like Cutting edge stored. This cutlery is said to Allow disabled people a locked with the fork Dining piece by extending the knife edge and relative movement to shred itself. This way of handling is extremely complicated and therefore for one-handed use Operation of the cutlery is only suitable to a limited extent.

From DE 27 49 685 Al is also a fork knife cutlery known for one-handed, where on one Stem a fork body is arranged. On this stalk is an axially movable, approximately U-shaped Knife body arranged, the front edge of the fork is designed as a knife edge. By means of this cutlery is supposed to be a piece of food, which by means of the fork body is held by a forward movement of the knife body are "punched out". This one too Known cutlery is extremely difficult to handle. Since the knife body is essentially U-shaped is necessary to completely separate a piece of food this cutlery is rotated at least twice by 180 ° on Pieces of food are set so that the complete Cutting is extremely expensive.

With another cutlery for the disabled (DE 85 27 734.7 U1) is also a fork on a handle provided which assigned a cutting device is. The cutting device has one in the area of the fork tines arranged knife with a cross to the forks trimmed cutting edge on which in the direction the fork tines can be moved longitudinally and pivoted is. To make the actual cutting movement easier, an electric motor is also provided in the housing, which cuts the knife via a gear Swiveling movement mediated. With this cutlery is an energy supply for the electric motor is always necessary, which is the disadvantage, particularly in battery operation has that replacement batteries must always be available to maintain the functionality of this cutlery to be able and that the batteries increase the weight and shape the shape of the cutlery bulky.

Accordingly, the invention is based on the object Cutlery with a spoon bowl attached to a handle to design such that this with one hand is operable and that with this also a cutting function for crushing pieces of food in a simple way can be executed.

The task is according to the invention in the generic cutlery solved by moving the spoon bowl along a ring line is divided so that a self-contained Edge ring with the first stem shaft and an inner one Shell part is connected to the second stem shaft.

The inventive design provides a cutlery with which the functions of dividing, picking up the food and feeding it to the mouth can be carried out easily and safely for disabled people. The scissor-like movement of the two parts of the spoon bowl provides an extremely simple cutting method in which it is not necessary to fix the piece of food in any way by means of a second set of cutlery. Above all, however, it is easily possible for the user to also cut dishes such as meat, tough or hard vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
The actual cutting edge lies in the crushing of a food essentially in a plane running parallel to the edge of the spoon, so that when the scoop-like closing of the spoon bowl and at the same time keeping the cutlery horizontal, the separated food part automatically comes to rest in the spoon bowl and can be easily passed to the mouth , This configuration in particular enables extremely simple and easy handling.

The arrangement of the scissors joint near the edge of the Spoon bowl according to claim 2 are extremely large Shear forces or cutting forces when crushing food parts applicable what the cutlery of the invention especially suitable for people, such as for example disabled children who do not have appropriate have great hand strength.

By the spreading spring provided according to claim 3, by which the two stem shafts and spoon bowl parts are spreadable, the manageability is further improved.

The arrangement of the spreading spring between the two stem shafts according to claim 4 allows easy assembly and a variable configuration of the spreading spring.

Due to the lockability of the bucket shell parts according to Claim 5 in its closed position by means of one Handle shaft arranged securing element is the inventive Cutlery with locked spoon bowl parts as safe as a conventional one-piece tablespoon usable. The claims 6 to 9 relate to this advantageous configurations of a locking device, the embodiment according to claim 9 being preferred is because both locking and unlocking the locking is particularly easy to accomplish to let.

Due to the interchangeable arrangement of the stem shafts on the Spoon bowls according to claim 10 can the invention Cutlery for the individual needs of a disabled person can be easily adjusted. That's what stem stems are different shapes and sizes with the Spoon shell parts connectable, so that the invention Cutlery, for example, according to the size of the hand or the type of disability of the operator by simply replacing the stem shafts can be chosen.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung eines nicht erfindungsgemäßen Eßbesteckes;

Fig. 2

die Bauteile aus Fig. 1 in zusammengebauten Zustand;

Fig. 3

das Eßbesteck der Fig. 2 in geschlossenem Zustand;

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt IV-IV aus Fig.3;

Fig. 5

ein Eßbesteck der erfindungsgemäßen Art mit einer erfindungsgemäß geteilten Löffelschale in geschlossenem Zustand in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 5a

einen Schnitt Va-Va aus Fig. 5;

Fig. 6

das Eßbesteck der Fig. 5 in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 6a

eine Spreizfeder als Einzelteil;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt VII-VII aus Fig. 5;

Fig. 8

ein Eßbesteck mit einer gemäß den Fig. 5 und 6 geteilten Löffelschale in geschlossenem Zustand mit zwei austauschbaren Stielschäften;

Fig. 9

einen in Längsrichtung geschnittenen Stielschaft aus Fig. 8;

Fig. 10

in längsgeschnittener Darstellung ein Eßbesteck gemäß Fig. 6 mit einer anderen Spreizfeder und einer anderen Verriegelungsvorrichtung in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 11

das Eßbesteck der Fig. 10 in geschlossenem Zustand;

Fig. 12

ein Eßbesteck nach Fig. 8 in geschlossenem Zustand mit einem Verriegelungsbügel;

Fig. 13

das Eßbesteck der Fig. 12 in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 14

in perspektivischer Ansicht ein Eßbesteck mit einer gemäß Fig. 5 und 6 geteilten Löffelschale mit auch in geschlossenem Zustand des Löffels gespreizten Stielschäften;

Fig. 15

das Eßbesteck der Fig. 14 in geöffnetem Zustand;

Fig. 16

ein der Fig. 12 entsprechendes Eßbesteck mit auswechselbaren, jedoch gebogenen Stielschäften.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective exploded view of a cutlery not according to the invention;

Fig. 2

the components of Figure 1 in the assembled state.

Fig. 3

the cutlery of Figure 2 in the closed state.

Fig. 4

a section IV-IV of Figure 3;

Fig. 5

a cutlery of the type according to the invention with a spoon bowl divided according to the invention in the closed state in a perspective view;

Fig. 5a

a section Va-Va of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6

the cutlery of Figure 5 in the open state.

Fig. 6a

an expansion spring as a single part;

Fig. 7

a section VII-VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8

a cutlery with a divided according to Figures 5 and 6 spoon bowl in the closed state with two interchangeable stem shafts.

Fig. 9

a longitudinally cut stem shaft of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10

in longitudinal section, a cutlery according to FIG 6 with another spreading spring and another locking device in the open state.

Fig. 11

the cutlery of Figure 10 in the closed state.

Fig. 12

a cutlery according to Figure 8 in the closed state with a locking bracket.

Fig. 13

the cutlery of Figure 12 in the open state.

Fig. 14

in a perspective view a cutlery with a divided according to Figures 5 and 6 spoon bowl with stalks spread even when the spoon is closed;

Fig. 15

the cutlery of Figure 14 in the open state.

Fig. 16

one corresponding to FIG. 12 cutlery with exchangeable but curved stem shafts.

The cutlery not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a in the longitudinal direction on two-part spoon bowl 1. The two shell parts 2 and 3 are each in one piece and rigidly provided with a stem shaft 4 or 5. These two Stem shafts 4 and 5 form in that shown in Fig. 3 closed state of the cutlery a spoon handle 6 and the two shell parts 2 and 3 the closed Spoon bowl 1.

The two stem shafts are near the edge of the spoon bowl 1 4 and 5 by a scissor joint 7 with each other connected and thus movable against each other like scissors.

To open as a scissor-like cutting tool To be able to be used are the two shell parts 2 and 3 each with scissors interacting Provide cutting edges 8 and 9, which are in the closed Mutually grasp the condition of the spoon bowl 1, as shown in Fig. 4, so that with this spoon bowl 1 or with this cutlery in closed Condition also led to liquid food can be.

It can also be useful to use the subordinate To provide cutting edge 9 with a sealing strip 9 '.

The scissor joint 7 consists of two bearing bores 11 and 12, each in one-piece molded bearing eyes 13 and 14 arranged and by a common cylindrical Bearing pin 10 connected to each other in a coaxial position are.

A U-shaped is between the two stem shafts 4 and 5 curved, consisting of a flat strip material Spreading spring 15 arranged with an extended Shaft part 16 on the stem shaft 4 is fastened on the inside and with the bent end portion 17 on the inside of the opposite stem shaft 5 is supported.

This spreading spring 15 has the task of the two stem shafts apart and the two shell parts Keep 2 and 3 in the open shear state, so at using this cutlery as a cutting tool only the closing and thus the cutting movement by manual Force must be brought about.

To, if necessary, the two shell parts 2 and 3 and the Shaft parts 4 and 5 in the closed shown in Fig. 3 To keep the condition, the stem shaft 5 is with a slidable latch 20 provided with a Locking lug 21 in the swivel range of a locking edge 22 of the shell part 2 protrudes when it is in the in Fig. 3 shown locking position is.

In Fig. 2, in which both the shell parts 2 and 3 as also the stem shafts 4 and 5 each in the open The spreading position is shown, the bolt 20 in its ineffective, removed from the locking edge 22 Position so that the locking lug 21 does not align with the locking edge 22 can work together.

This locking option is required to Lock spoon bowl 1 when closed can, if the eating tool is only used as a spoon.

In the eating tools according to the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 16 inclusive is also a two-part spoon bowl 31 available, but which is not divided longitudinally, like the spoon bowl 1, but along a ring line 47, such that a self-contained edge ring 32 and an inner shell part 33 are formed.

The edge ring 32 is in one piece and rigid with one Handle shaft 34 connected and the shell part 33 also integral and rigid with a stem shaft 35.

The two stem shafts 34, 35 are close to the edge the scissor joint 37 lying together with the spoon shell 31 connected and therefore also scissors-like against each other movable. So that these two components of the spoon bowl 31 used as a scissor-like cutting tool can be both the edge ring 32 and that Shell part 33 each with a cutting edge 48 or 48/1 provided, which work together like scissors to the Compressing the spreadable by an expansion spring 45 Stem shafts 34 and 35 food in between, for example pieces of meat, vegetables, pastries or the like. to shred.

Here too, the spreading spring 45 consists of a U-shaped one Bracket between the two stem shafts 34 and 35 is arranged to exert a spreading effect.

1 to 4, the swivel axis 18 of the scissors joint 7 perpendicular to the plane of the Spoon bowl edge 19 extends in the cutlery according to the invention 5 and 6, the pivot axis 36 of the scissor joint 37 parallel to the plane of the spoon bowl rim 49 and each transverse to the longitudinal direction of the two stem shafts 34 and 35.

Around the two spoon bowl parts also with this cutlery Lock 32 and 33 in a closed position to be, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 is a locking device 43 is also provided here.

This locking device consists of a locking pin 44, in the longitudinal direction of the stem shaft 35 in an elongated hole 38 of this stem shaft 35 slidably stored and provided with a locking lug 39, the one Locking shoulder 40 of a recess 46 of the opposite Handle shaft 34 engages behind when locking takes the locked position shown in Fig. 5a.

The locking pin can be actuated by means of an actuating button 41 44 in slot 38 so far that the Locking nose 39 leaves the locking shoulder 40 and the two Stalk shafts 34 and 35 can be spread like that is shown in Fig. 6.

Moving the locking pin 44 from the release position and in the locked position shown in FIG. 5 and vice versa is manual, e.g. B. with the thumb or another suitable finger.

5, the two shell parts form namely the edge ring 32 and the shell part 33, when closed, a closed spoon bowl 31 that easily as a normal spoon to eat of liquid dishes from a plate or another Container can be used.

8 are the two parts the spoon bowl 31, namely the edge ring 32 and that Shell part 33 each in one piece with shaft stubs 50 and 51 provided, on which differently executed, straight or curved stem shafts 52 or 53 interchangeable can be attached.

Such an exchangeable stem shaft 53 is shown in FIG. 9 shown cut. You can recognize it by its front End of a recess 54 which is used to receive the Shaft stub 51 is used. For fixing the two stem shafts 52 and 53 on the shaft stubs 50 and 51 can Cross pins, not shown, may be provided can be easily detached and fixed.

The cutlery shown in Figs. 12 and 13 differs differs from that of FIGS. 5 and 6 only in that another locking device is provided is. This consists of a, at the front end of the Handle shaft 34 pivotally attached, U-shaped Wire bracket 55, which is as shown in Fig. 12, over the front end of the stem shaft 35 are pivoted can counteract this against the spreading movement that is also in prevent this case from being caused by an expansion spring.

10 and 11 is cut in the longitudinal direction a cutlery shown, which is essentially the cutlery 5 and 6 in the open and closed Condition corresponds.

While the spoon bowl 31 is completely identical as with the cutlery of FIGS. 5 and 6, the cutlery 10 and 11 another locking device 43/1 and a differently designed spreading spring 45/1.

The locking device 43/1 consists of a pivotable pawl 56, which is on a journal 57 pivotable in a recess 58 of the stem shaft 34 is stored and under the influence of a torsion spring 59 stands. The handle shaft is for receiving the pawl 56 35 also provided with a recess 60 which on the inside an oblique deflection surface 61 for the Pawl 56 has.

11, overlaps the Pawl 56 with its locking lug 62 the outer edge 63 the recess 60 of the stem shaft 35, so that the two Stick shafts 34 and 35 held together and the spoon bowl 31 is kept in the closed state.

To release the locking device 43/1 the Pawl 56 against the action of the torsion spring 59 in Direction of arrow 67 pivots to the stem shaft 35 to release, so that the spreading spring 45/1 the cutlery Open like a scissors in the manner shown in FIG. 10 can.

The expansion spring 45/1 provided here consists of a essentially S-shaped curved spring steel strip, the with one end 64 in an inside longitudinal groove 65 of the Handle shaft 35 is attached and with the other end 66 loose and thus movable in the longitudinal direction on the Bears inside of the stem shaft 34.

14 and 15 are the edge ring 32 and the shell part 33 of the spoon bowl 31 each provided with shaft shafts 34/1 and 35/1, which also in the closed state of the tray 31 (see Fig. 14) an acute angle α of approximately 15 ° to 20 ° with one another form so that their two are bent against each other End portions 74 and 75 a greater distance from each other have as close in the closed state straight stem shafts 34 and 35 of the previous described embodiments. For automatic opening the spoon bowl 31 is also between these stem shafts 34/1 and 35/1 a two-part in this case Spreading spring 45/2 arranged.

Because of this greater distance, it is for an operator or user easier, a higher manual clamping force on the two stem shafts 34/1 and 35/1 and therefore also on the cutting edges 48 and 48/1 of the tray 31 exercise.

In order also in this embodiment the spoon bowl 31 in the closed position To be able to lock the state are the bent ones End sections 74 and 75 of the two stem shafts 34/1 and 35/1 with a locking device 43/2 Mistake.

This essentially consists of one at the end section 74 attached pawl 76 with a locking lug 77 with a ratchet tooth 78 of the opposite end section 75 of the stem shaft 35/1 in latching engagement can be brought, as shown in Fig. 14.

By further squeezing the two style shafts 34/1 and 35/1 this locking connection can be released again so that the spreading spring 45/2 the tray 31 can open again, as shown in Fig. 15.

With such a locking device known per se 43/2 this cutlery can be very easily both use for cutting and chopping food as this shredded or other food with the to lead closed spoon bowl 31 to the mouth.

Finally, in Fig. 16 is an embodiment of the invention Cutlery shown, the essentially corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 8, in which however, the two interchangeable stem shafts 52/1 and 53/1 have a curved shape. This curved shape of the Handle shafts 52/1 and 53/1 can be used by one-handed users with motor arm and / or hand disabilities a special one Kind of have an advantage. If necessary, too Handle shafts with any other shape used become.

The application and operation of these shown in Fig. 16 Embodiment is otherwise the same as in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9.

Claims (10)

1. Item of cutlery with a bowl of the spoon fastened to the handle, in which the bowl (31) and the handle are each constructed in two parts and form a first and second bowl part (32, 33) and a first and second handle shaft (34, 34/1, 35, 35/1), the first bowl part (32) being rigidly connected to the first handle shaft (34; 35/1) and the second bowl part (33) being rigidly connected to the second handle shaft (35; 34/1), and the two handle shafts (34 to 35/1) are connected to one another by a scissor joint (37) and can be moved relative to one another in a scissor-like manner, the two dish portions (32, 33) each having cutting edges (48, 48/1) cooperating in a scissor-like manner, characterised in that the bowl of the spoon (31) is divided along an annular line (47), so an edge ring (32) which is closed on itself is connected to the first handle shaft (34, 35/1) and an inner dish portion (33) is connected to the second handle shaft (35, 34/1).
2. Item of cutlery according to claim 1, characterised in that the scissor joint (37) is arranged near the edge of the bowl of the spoon (31).
3. Item of cutlery according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two handle shafts (34, 34/1, 35, 35/1) and bowl portions (32, 33) can be spread by means of a bracing spring (45, 45/1, 45/2).
4. Item of cutlery according to claim 3, characterised in that the bracing spring (45, 45/1, 45/2) is arranged between the two handle shafts (34, 34/1; 35, 35/1).
5. Item of cutlery according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the bowl portions (32, 33) can be locked in their closed position by means of a locking device (43, 43/1, 43/2, 55) acting on the two handle shafts (34, 34/1, 35, 35/1).
6. Item of cutlery according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking device consists of a bolt which is movably guided on a handle shaft, and in its locking position engages, with a locking nose, behind a locking edge of the other handle shaft or bowl portion.
7. Item of cutlery according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking device (43) has a bolt pin (44) displaceably mounted in a handle shaft (35) which, in the locking position, engages with a locking nose (39), behind a locking shoulder (40) of the other handle shaft (34).
8. Item of cutlery according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking device (43/1) has a locking pawl (56) held resiliently in the locking position.
9. Item of cutlery according to claim 5, characterised in that the locking device consists of a locking pawl (76) provided on the end portion (74) of the one handle shaft (34/1) and brought into locking engagement by a locking nose (77) with a locking tooth (78) of the opposing end portion (75) of the handle shaft (35/1) and can be released again by further squeezing of the two handle shafts (34/1, 35/1).
10. Item of cutlery according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the handle shafts (52, 53; 52/1, 53/1, 34/1, 35/1) are mutually fastened to the bowl portions (32, 33) and can be replaced with handle shafts of a different shape.

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