An eating utensil assembly may include a first eating utensil that may include a first handle having first and second opposing ends and that includes spaced apart sidewalls defining a through-opening therebetween, and an end support member coupled between the spaced apart sidewalls adjacent the first end to define a recessed area relative to the spaced apart sidewalls. The first eating utensil may also include a first eating utensil head coupled adjacent the second end of the first handle. The eating utensil assembly may further include a second eating utensil removably carried by the end support member within the through-opening and that may have a length greater than a length of the through-opening so that the second eating utensil extends through the recessed area and across the end support member. Breakaway tabs may removably couple the second eating utensil to the spaced apart sidewalls within the through-opening.

A utensil may include a utensil body and a handle comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion hingedly coupled to the utensil body, wherein the first portion is movably coupled to the second portion to enable the handle to be configured into an open state and a closed state, wherein the open state permits the utensil body to hingedly move with respect to the first portion between a first position in which the utensil body is operatively usable by a user, and a second position in which the utensil body is stored within the handle, and the closed state comprises the handle enclosing the utensil body.

A utensil configured to interact with food items includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion, and a food manipulating portion extending from the main body portion in a second direction, wherein the food manipulating portion of the utensil is configured to interact with food. The utensil may also include a plurality of legs extending from the main body portion in a third direction to support the utensil on a support surface. The plurality of legs elevate the handle portion, main body portion and food manipulating portion from the support surface such that the handle portion, main body portion, and food manipulating portion are not in contact with the support surface when the utensil is placed on the support surface with the legs supporting the utensil from the support surface.

A compact cutlery set is provided, including a case having at least one recess, each of the at least one recess having two lateral sides extending longitudinally, the two lateral sides defining a plane. At least one collapsible utensil has a handle and a tool member extendibly coupled to the handle between a collapsed configuration and a use configuration. Longitudinally extending lateral sides of each of the at least one collapsible utensil and the lateral sides of a corresponding one of the at least one recess have engagement features inhibit travel of the collapsible utensil out of plane when positioned in the recess in the collapsed configuration.

The present invention relates to tableware and a method of manufacturing the tableware. The method can be performed under a specific weight ratio of konjac powder to an alkaline agent, a specific temperature of a molding process, and a water proofing treatment using oil, resulting in the tableware having good strength, excellent water resistance and thermal stability.

An imaging system captures images of a work surface having articles of cutlery distributed thereon. An end effector, such as a magnetic end effector, may be used to grasp articles of cutlery and place them in a designated location according to the type of the article of cutlery as determined using an image of the work surface and machine vision. A type of articles of cutlery may be classified based on the image such as according to category (knife, fork, spoon), size, or brand. Multiple articles of cutlery occluding one another may be dealt with by stirring or grasping multiple items and releasing them on a separate work surface in order to disperse them. Whether the end effector is grasping multiple articles of cutlery may be determined by capturing an image of the end effector. Machine vision may determine whether an article of cutlery is contaminated or damaged.

An active foodware system includes a mechanical structure supporting a food surface recessed in relation to an area surrounding the food surface; a heating component for heating food received by the food surface; a sensing component for maintaining the heating component at a desired temperature; a wireless communication component; and a visual stimulating component responsive to data from the sensing component or the wireless communication component.

A device for dispensing cutlery utensils individually, having a housing containing a quantity of utensils with the housing having sides and product guides within. The front wall contains an opposing leaf escapement mechanism connected to it, to hold and singulate the utensils such that they dispense seriatim, without a user being required to physically touch or interface with any part of dispenser other than the actual desired utensil.

The invention relates to a mechanical eating utensil which combines the capabilities of a fork, characterized by function for spearing the food and of a knife characterized by function for cutting the food and can be used by handicapped and people with decreased functional ability of one of their upper limbs. The eating utensil consists of a handle and an instrument end with one or more rotating cutting tines.