Spoon Straw Digit Support Utensil

Abstract

A combination spoon and straw utensil that is used for the consumption of food and drink. A combination spoon and straw utensil comprising of a single piece of flexible or nonflexible material. A combination spoon and straw utensil comprising of a solid spoon bowl, a hollow handle, a plurality of holes, and a digit support for stabilizing the utensil during use. The spoon and straw utensil having a textured surface for sensory stimulation. The spoon and straw utensil being brightly colored for making the utensil easy to recognize and more visible for users with cognitive decline and visual impairment.

Claims

1. A spoon straw digit support utensil comprising: a solid spoon bowl, a hollow handle, a plurality of holes, and a digit support; said solid spoon bowl for scooping and eating food; said hollow handle for moving and drinking liquid; said plurality of holes for liquid to enter and to exit said hollow handle; said plurality of holes for sucking liquid through said hollow handle; and said digit support being a means for holding said spoon straw digit support utensil.

2. A spoon straw digit support utensil of claim 1 further comprising: a textured surface; said textured surface for sensory stimulation; said textured surface comprising of a plurality of bumps, lines, wavy lines, or the like.

3. A spoon straw digit support utensil of claim 1 said spoon straw digit support utensil comprising of a single piece of flexible or nonflexible material; wherein said hollow handle thereof adjoining said solid spoon bowl; and wherein said digit support thereof adjoining said hollow handle.

4. A spoon straw digit support utensil of claim 1 said spoon straw digit support utensil being constructed from a heat resistant, slippery, non-stick plastic material, chosen from a group of plastic resins including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, and silicone; said spoon straw digit support utensil being brightly colored for sensory stimulation; said spoon straw digit support utensil being brightly colored for making said spoon straw digit support utensil easy to recognize and more visible.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front side of the spoon straw digit support utensil.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back side of the spoon straw digit support utensil.

NUMBERING OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]

TABLE-US-00001 Spoon Straw Digit Support Utensil 36 Digit support 18 Spoon bowl 28 Hole 26 Hollow handle 16 Material 32 Textured surface 14

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The spoon straw digit support utensil 36 comprising of a single piece of flexible or nonflexible material 32.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the material 32 from which the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 is constructed being furnished preferably by a plastic resin. Where a plastic resin is used, an engineering plastic resin that is heat resistant, and provides a slippery, non-stick surface to the finished product should be chosen.

[0021] The plastic resin should be chosen from a group of plastic resins including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, and silicone.

[0022] Where a plastic resin is used, a brightly colored plastic resin should be chosen. Where a plastic resin is used, a metal mold is needed to manufacture the spoon straw digit support utensil 36. The metal mold should be made using a tool or a machine well known in the art. The metal mold should have specific dimensions necessary to manufacture the spoon straw digit support utensil 36.

[0023] Where a plastic resin is used, plastic resin pellets are preferred. The plastic resin pellets should be poured into a specialized machine well known in the art. The plastic resin pellets should be melted in the specialized machine and molded to manufacture the spoon straw digit support utensil 36.

[0024] The preferred dimensions for the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 will be given for instructional purposes but not as a limitation.

[0025] The spoon straw digit support utensil 36 being about 7.5 inches in length. The material 32 from which the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 is constructed from being about 1/16 inch in thickness.

[0026] The present invention having a solid spoon bowl 28 being about 1.8 inches in length and being about 1.4 inches in width. The solid spoon bowl 28 being about 0.32 inch in depth and having a volume of about 4 grams. The solid spoon bowl 28 being used for scooping and eating food. The solid spoon bowl 28 for accommodating foods such as soups, purees, rice, beans, and cereals.

[0027] The present invention having a hollow handle 16 for moving liquids such as water, juice, broth, and milk. The present invention having a wide, easy to hold, hollow handle 16. The present invention having a wide, easy to hold, hollow handle 16 being in the form of a tube. The hollow handle 16 adjoining the spoon bowl 28. The hollow handle 16 providing a drinking straw. The hollow handle 16 being used for moving and drinking liquid.

[0028] The hollow handle 16 preferably being rectangular. The hollow handle 16 being about inch in width, being about inch in depth, and being about 5.5 inches in length. In another embodiment, the hollow handle 16 being round. Where the hollow handle 16 is round, the hollow handle 16 being about inch in diameter.

[0029] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the hollow handle 16, through which liquid flows, having a hole 26 located at the top end of the hollow handle 16. The hole 26 preferably being rectangular. Where the hole 26 is rectangular, the hole 26 being about inch in length and being about 3/16 in width. In another embodiment, the hole 26 being round. Where the hole 26 is round, the hole 26 being about inch in diameter. The hole 26 being used for sucking liquids through the hollow handle 16.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the hollow handle 16 having a hole 26 at the bottom end of the hollow handle 16 on the front side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36. The hole 26 being used for liquid to enter and to exit the hollow handle 16. The hole 26 being located about inch above the point where the hollow handle 16 is adjoined to the spoon bowl 28. The hole 26 being about inch in diameter.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, the hollow handle 16 having a hole 26 located at the bottom end of the hollow handle 16 on the back side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36. The hole 26 being used for liquid to enter and to exit the hollow handle 16. The hole 26 being located about inch above the point where the hollow handle 16 is adjoined to the spoon bowl 28. The hole 26 being about inch in diameter.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 having a digit support 18. The digit support 18 located on the back side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36. The digit support 18 adjoining the hollow handle 16. The digit support 18 being adjoined about 90 degrees perpendicular to the hollow handle 16. The digit support 18 being located about 2 inches above the end of the spoon bowl 28. The digit support 18 having a flat top side and a flat bottom side. The digit support 18 preferably being rectangular. Where the digit support 18 is rectangular, the digit support 18 being about inch in width and being about inch in length. The digit support 18 being about 1/16 inch in thickness. The digit support 18 having rounded edges. In another embodiment, the digit support 18 being located on the front side of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36.

[0034] The digit support 18 being used for holding the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 steady during use. The digit support 18 may be used as a thumb support when the utensil is being used as a straw, and the digit support 18 may be used as a finger support when the utensil is being used as a spoon.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, the spoon straw digit support utensil 36 having a textured surface 14 comprising of a plurality of bumps, lines, wavy lines, or the like. The textured surface 14 being an embossed surface. The textured surface 14 preferably being located on the spoon bowl 28 but may be located on other areas of the spoon straw digit support utensil 36.

[0036] The above description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be changed or modified by those skilled in the art, to which the invention appertains, without departing from scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims.