A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers and other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removed either before, during, or after installation, depending on the dispenser configuration. In a first aspect, the cutlery handles are nested and the retaining structure includes a single adhesive strip applied to only one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure comprises a band extending around the stack, removal of the band from the stack being facilitated by breaking of a frangible section of the band. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

Various embodiments for a knife having a bolster angle assist bevel that eliminates the need for an external jig are disclosed herein. The knife includes a blade extending from a bolster in which the blade defines first and second blade ends with a spine that extends between the first blade end and the second blade end. The blade forms a primary bevel that transitions into a secondary bevel that forms a cutting edge. In addition, the bolster forms an integral bolster angle-assist jig portion having a flat, beveled angled surface configured for establishing a sharpening angle relative to a sharpening stone when sharpening the cutting edge of the blade.

Various embodiments for a knife having a bolster angle assist bevel that eliminates the need for an external jig are disclosed herein. The knife includes a blade extending from a bolster in which the blade defines first and second blade ends with a spine that extends between the first blade end and the second blade end. The blade forms a primary bevel that transitions into a secondary bevel that forms a cutting edge. In addition, the bolster forms an integral bolster angle-assist jig portion having a flat, beveled angled surface configured for establishing a sharpening angle relative to a sharpening stone when sharpening the cutting edge of the blade.

A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers or other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removable either before, during, or after installation, depending on the configuration of the dispenser. In a first aspect, the retaining structure includes nested cutlery handles and a single adhesive strip applied to one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure is a band extending entirely around the stack and equipped with a pull-tab for opening and removing the retaining structure. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

A knife with an extended handle includes one side of the handle, either as part of the original structure or bonded or welded to that original structure, that projects or extends forward onto the base of the knife blade on one side thereof, thereby providing a gripping surface for the user's thumb, and onto or alongside the spine of the knife blade to provide a proximal phalanx platform for the user's forefinger. The spine may have a notch formed therein proximal, and wherein the finger platform rests in or alongside the notch. The finger platform may have a concave surface contour, and the concave surface contour may be coextensive with the notch.

Implementations of an adaptive assisted grip apparatus are provided. In some implementations, the adaptive assisted grip apparatus comprises a holder and a wrist strap.

In some implementations, a method of using the adaptive assisted grip apparatus comprises inserting a makeup applicator or other suitable item into the holder, placing the wrist strap around a user's wrist, grasping and holding the makeup applicator or other suitable item using the holder, and using the wrist strap to prevent the makeup applicator or other suitable item inserted in the holder from falling to the floor/ground or otherwise being dropped if/when the user loses grip of the holder.

Provided are an apparatus and method for acquiring information designating a plurality of menu items provided in a meal; reading a characteristic of each of the plurality of menu items provided in the meal, from a menu item database that stores a characteristic for each menu item; generating an classification model for classifying a specified menu item from among the plurality of menu items, based on characteristics of the menu items; acquiring measurement data measured by a sensor attached to a utensil during the meal; and classifying a menu item corresponding to the measurement data, from a characteristic corresponding to the measurement data, using the classification model.

Provided are an apparatus and method for acquiring information designating a plurality of menu items provided in a meal; reading a characteristic of each of the plurality of menu items provided in the meal, from a menu item database that stores a characteristic for each menu item; generating an classification model for classifying a specified menu item from among the plurality of menu items, based on characteristics of the menu items; acquiring measurement data measured by a sensor attached to a utensil during the meal; and classifying a menu item corresponding to the measurement data, from a characteristic corresponding to the measurement data, using the classification model.

This application relates to a method of manufacturing a knife using a multilayer material. In one aspect, the method includes preparing a multilayer material for manufacturing a knife, and heating and then forging the multilayer material to form a knife-shaped structure including a blade part and a handle part. The method also includes grinding the blade part to form a sharpened knife-edge and applying mud, including kaolin and white clay, to an entire surface of the knife-shaped structure and removing the mud applied to the blade part. The method further includes heating the knife-shaped structure applied with the mud, and quenching the heated knife-shaped structure through oil-cooling. The method further includes etching a surface of the quenched knife-shaped structure to form a pattern on the surface and grinding the surface-etched knife-shaped structure to form a knife having a final shape.

This application relates to a method of manufacturing a knife using a multilayer material. In one aspect, the method includes preparing a multilayer material for manufacturing a knife, and heating and then forging the multilayer material to form a knife-shaped structure including a blade part and a handle part. The method also includes grinding the blade part to form a sharpened knife-edge and applying mud, including kaolin and white clay, to an entire surface of the knife-shaped structure and removing the mud applied to the blade part. The method further includes heating the knife-shaped structure applied with the mud, and quenching the heated knife-shaped structure through oil-cooling. The method further includes etching a surface of the quenched knife-shaped structure to form a pattern on the surface and grinding the surface-etched knife-shaped structure to form a knife having a final shape.