The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2002
Filed:
May. 04, 2000
David Tompkins, Morgan City, LA (US);
Gerard D. Byrne, Jr., Berwick, LA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A self-leveling eating utensil having a handle and a food carrier rotatably coupled to the handle. The food carrier may be coupled to a shank which is, in turn, rotatably coupled to the handle. The food carrier is positioned offset from the handle and the shank to weight itself into a self-leveling position with the food-carrying surface thereof positioned to carry food without spillage. A weight is preferably provided on the shank to further weight the food carrier into the self-leveling position. The weight may be formed at the free end of the shank opposite the food carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the weight is formed as a bend in the free end of the shank in a direction toward the food carrier. Preferably, the handle is formed to permit decoupling to clean the interior thereof and recoupling to use the eating utensil once again after cleaning. Such handle is formed from first and second handle halves which are readily coupled, decoupled, and recoupled. In a preferred embodiment, the handle halves are directly coupled together at at least first ends which engage each other directly for coupling together. The second ends of the handle halves may be coupled together either directly or with the assistance of a separate coupling element, such as an end cap fitted over the second ends.