GB2086211A - A combined article of cutlery and a dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to avoid the inconvenience of laying down cutlery between each mouthful of food to pick up a condiment dispenser, there is provided a combined article of cutlery and dispenser. This article comprises a handle 12 from one end of which the operative portion such as a spoon bowl 14, extends and that handle houses the material such as salt to be dispensed, the handle having a salt outlet 30 adjacent its end from which the spoon bowl extends, and a sleeve is provided which is operable by hand whilst the user is holding the handle to open and close the outlet 30. Preferably the spoon bowl or the like is removably joined to the handle so that it can be cleaned separately or alternatively discarded and replaced after use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A combined article of cutlery and a dispenser This invention relates to a combined article of cutlery and a dispenser for particulate materials such as salt.

I have noticed that when, for example, eating boiled eggs, no very satisfactory way exists for flavouring with salt each mouthful of the egg removed from the shell. Thus it is possible to lay down one's spoon between each mouthful and sprinkle condiment on the remaining portions of egg but that is obviously inconvenient. Equally, one can dip each portion of egg into a supply of salt but the amount of salt which then adheres to the egg and spoon is very erratic.

The invention has been made therefore with these points in mind and it is an object of the invention to simplify the dispensing of salt and the like whilst eating boiled eggs.

According to the invention there is provided a combined article of cutlery and dispenser comprising a handle from one end of which extends the operative portion of the article of cutlery, for example, a spoon bowl, a knife blade or fork prongs, the handle housing a container for material to be dispensed, the container having an outlet adjacent the end of the handle joined to the operative portion, and means operable by the hand of the user whilst the user is holding the handle to open and close the outlet.

When using the article of cutlery according to the invention, therefore, it can be an easy matter to sprinkle the required amount of salt or the like onto each portion of egg before it is lifted up by the spoon and it is not necessary for the user to set down the spoon or in any way release his grasp on the spoon whilst dispensing the salt.

Although I have referred above to the particular problem which exists in eating boiled eggs, the use of the article according to the invention is not limited to this situation. Thus, the operative portion of the piece of cutlery could be a knife blade or fork prongs since there are many circumstances where it is convenient for a user to be able to flavour his food without having to lay down his piece of cutlery'. Further, although the invention has been and will be described with particular reference to the dispensing of salt, it would equally apply to the dispensing of other condiments such as pepper or other particulate flavourings such as sugar or sugar substitutes whether in particulate or small tablet form.

It would not usually be convenient for the handle to be soaked in water since this could deleteriously affect salt or the like within the container in the handle. In addition, washing the handle could lead to difficulties in drying the container within the handle even if the container were empty. Accordingly, it is preferred that the operative portion, such as the spoon bowl of the piece of cutlery be removably attached to the handle so that it can be removed and washed separately or alternatively discarded. Thus, a spoon bowl can be made very cheaply from synthetic plastics material which will be hygienic for a onetime use and then it can be discarded so as to save the housewife the problem of washing the spoon portion and trying to remove egg stains and the like which can often be a difficult and tedious problem.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the handle has a socket into which a spigot portion extending from the bowl of the spoon or other operative portion can enter, the socket having an inwardly directed lip near its open end and the spigot portion having a resiliently mounted detent into which the lip will snap as the spigot portion enters the socket and so retain the spoon or other operative portion in place. The detent can be moved clear of the lip when the operative portion is to be removed from the handle.

It is in general preferred that the article according to the invention be made from synthetic plastics material in view of the fact that the article can then be relatively cheaply produced and can also be hygienic to use.

The handle is preferably made hollow so that the container for the salt or the like can comprise the hollow interior of the handle. The end of the handle adjacent the operative portion is closed and joined, preferably detachably, to the operative portion. The other end of the handle is preferably in the form of a scoop so that fresh salt or the like can be added to the container by scooping up from a supply followed by covering the scoopshaped end of the handle with a closely fitting cover to retain the salt within the container.

The outlet from the handle can be one or more small holes or perforations. In the case where the operative portion is a spoon, it is preferred that this outlet be in that edge wall of the housing which would normally face downwards when the user grasps the handle in the normal way'for use.

In the case for example of a spoon for a righthanded user, this would mean that when looking at the spoon and facing the concave face of the spoon bowl, the outlet would be on the left-hand side of the handle.

The opening and closing of this outlet is preferably achieved by means of a sleeve slidable over an outside surface of the handle between two positions in one of which the sleeve covers the hole and the other of which the hole is left open.

The sleeve should be a close fit with the outside surface of the handle in the region of the outlet so as to prevent the trapping of any salt particles between the sleeve and the handle. In addition it is a preferred feature of the invention that the sleeve be provided with an inclined knife edge blade which in effect scrapes over the outside surface of the handle around the hole so as to clean that surface as the sleeve is moved from the open to the closed position of the hole.

The movement of the sleeve can conveniently be controlled by means of a small projection integrally formed with the sleeve which can be engaged by one of the user's fingers.

An example of a combined spoon and salt dispenser according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an underneath view of the combined spoon and dispenser with an end cover removed; Figure 2 is a plan view of the spoon and dispenser in a position similar to Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the spoon portion alone; Figure 4 is a part-section/part underneath view of the combined spoon and dispenser, the handle portion being in section; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the spoon and dispenser with the outlet from the dispenser in the open position; Figure 7 is an elevation similar to Figure 6 with the outlet closed; and Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cover for the outlet.

The article 10 shown in the drawings is a combined spoon and salt dispenser. The article comprises a handle 12 and a spoon 14.

The handle 12 is formed in two parts from separate synthetic plastics material mouldings 1 2a and 1 2b (see Figure 5) which are thereafter united along their longitudinal mating surfaces.

The handle 12 is hollow and within its hollow interior is a container region 1 6 (see Figures 4 and 5) for salt or other condiment. The lower end 17 of the handle is covered with a removable end cap 18 and this lower end is formed into the shape of a scoop which opens into the container region 1 6 through an inlet 20 (see Figure 5). Thus, when fresh salt is to be added to the container region 16, the end cap 18 is removed to expose the scoop-shaped lower end 17 which scoops up fresh salt which enters into the container region 1 6 through the inlet 20 when the handle is inverted. When the region 1 6 has been filled the end cap 1 8 is replaced to close the container region.

Over the end of the handle adjacent to the spoon is a sliding sleeve 24. This sleeve is slidable between an open position shown in Figures 1,2, 4, 5 and 6 and a closed position shown in Figure 7 as will be explained in more detail below.

The sleeve 24 as best shown in Figure 8 also includes an integrally formed longitudinally extending guide portion 26. This portion is received in a longitudinal recess 28 in the side wall of the handle and longitudinal ledges 30 extending on either side of the guide portion 26 are received in longitudinal guides in the recess 28. The mating of these ledges in their guides ensures that the sleeve 24 moves accurately longitudinally of the axis of the article 10 as it moves between the open and closed positions.

Along the surface of the guide portion 26 are serrations 80 and near where the guide portion 26 joins the main body of the sleeve 24 is provided a small projection 82. The serrations 80 and the projection 82 can be engaged by the thumb of the user to move the sleeve between its limit positions without the user having to release his grasp on the handle.

Through the side wall of the handle is an outlet 30 from the container region 1 6 and salt within the container region 1 6 can be dispensed through this outlet. The sleeve 24 closely covers this outlet 30 and the surface around it when the sleeve is in the closed position shown in Figure 7. When, however, the sleeve 24 is moved to the open position shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 4 to 6, the outlet 30 is not covered and then salt can be dispensed.

The lower end 32 of the sleeve 24 is inclined to the longitudinal direction of the handle and mates with a corresponding inclined abutment 34 on the handle portion. As a result, the side of the sleeve 24 has an inclined blade portion which scrapes over the surface of the handle portion around the outlet 30 so that as the sleeve is moved to the closed position, salt or the like adhereing to that surface is scraped off so as to clean that surface.

The handle in addition has an oppositely inclined surface 40 adjacent the outlet 30 and as a result when the sleeve is in the closed position, a V-shaped notch is formed in the side wall of the handle portion. Therefore, any salt particles removed from around the hole 30 by the blade 36 do not become trapped between the sleeve and handle so preventing full closing of the sleeve and outlet 30.

In the end of the handle is provided a socket 50 which opens in the direction of the spoon. The spoon 14 has a spigot 52 which is received within that socket 50 to enable the spoon to be joined to the handle portion.

Within the spigot 52 is a central region 54 separated by a slit 56 so that it is resiliently movable relative the remainder of the spigot 52.

That central region 54 includes a transverse detent 58 and a projecting button 60.

Within the socket is a transverse inwardly projecting ledge 62 and when the spigot of the spoon 14 is received within the socket, the ledge 62 engages with the transverse detent 58 to retain the spoon securely.in place. The portion 54 has an inclined cam surface 64 so that when the spigot is pushed into the socket the portion 54 is resiliently depressed to allow the spigot to enter and then the ledge 62 snaps into the detent 58 so trapping the spoon in place. When however the spoon is to be removed the button 60 is depressed so as to disengage the detent 58 from the ledge 62 and so allow the spoon to be withdrawn from the handle portion.

By making the spoon 14 readily removable and replaceable, it is a simple matter to clear or replace the spoon with a fresh spoon so with some other operative portion such as a knife blade. In addition, the spoon can be washed without problems of wetting the handle and so causing salt in the region 1 6 to cake.

As best seen in Figure 8, the sleeve 24 has an opening 70 which surrounds the opening to the socket 50 so that the spoon can enter through the sleeve. In addition a cutaway portion 72 is provided in the sleeve so that operating button 60 does not interfere with the movement of the sleeve. In the region where the spigot 52 of the spoon portion 14 joins the bowl of the spoon a number of outwardly directed projections 90 are provided. These engage with the end 94 of the sleeve and prevent the sleeve moving beyond its open position and so retain the sleeve over the end of the handle during normal usage.

The article 10 is relatively simple to produce in synthetic plastics material by injection moulding techniques and in addition the spoon or other operative portion can be produced sufficiently cheaply to be discarded after use. The article is, however, hygienic and very simple and effective to use.

Claims (14)

1. A combined article of cutlery and dispenser comprising a handle from one end of which extends the operative portion of the article, the handle comprising a container for material to be dispensed and having an outlet adjacent the end of the handle from which the operative portion extends, and means being provided with are operable by the hand of the user whilst the user is holding the handle to open and close the outlet.

2. An article as claimed in Claim 1 in which the operative portion comprises a spoon bowl.

3. An article as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the operative portion is removably attached to the handle.

4. An article as claimed in Claim 3 in which the end of the handle has a socket into which a spigot extending from the operative portion can enter and be retained in place.

5. An article as claimed in Claim 4 in which the socket has an inwardly directed lip near its open end and the spigot has a resiliently mounted detent into which the lip will snap as the spigot enters the socket so retaining the operative portion in place.

6. An article as claimed in any preceding claim which has been made from synthetic plastics material.

7. An article as claimed in any preceding claim in which the handle is hollow.

8. An article as claimed in Claim 7 in which the end of the handle away from the operative portion is in the form of a scoop for assisting in filling the hollow handle and a closely fitting removable cover is provided to cover that end and the scoop.

9. An article as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said outlet is in that side of the housing which would normally face downwardly when the user grasps the handle in the normal way for use.

10. An article as claimed in any preceding claim in which a sleeve is provided which is slidable over a part of the outside surface of the handle between two positions, in one of which it covers the outlet and in the other of which the outlet is left open.

11. An article as claimed in Claim 10 in which that portion of the sleeve which slides over the outlet is in the shape of an inclined knife edge blade.

12. An article as claimed in Claim 11 in which the handle has a surface oppositely inclined to the knife edge blade to mate with that surface when the outlet is closed.

13. An article as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 in which the sleeve has an integrally formed projection which can be engaged by the user's finger whilst grasping the handle to move the sleeve.

14. A combined article of cutlery and dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.