ELEVATED UTENSIL

Abstract

An elevated utensil includes a handle, an angled section, and a working section, and is configured to hold the working section in an elevated position, such that it does not contact a working surface. The working section can be any useful device capable of performing tasks.

Claims

1. An elevated utensil, comprising: an elongated member having a first end and a second end; a surface contact section of the elongated member is adjacent the second end and terminates into an angled section; and a working section of the elongated member adjacent the first end that terminates in the angled section and is elevated completely above a center line of the surface contact section wherein the surface contact section is adapted to engage a working surface for an entire length of the surface contact section between the second end and the angled section.

2. The utensil of claim 1 wherein a neck is positioned between the working section and the angled section of the elongated member.

3. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the surface contact section has a flat, planar bottom surface configured to engage with a working surface.

4. The utensil of claim 1 wherein a weight is attached to the surface contact section.

5. The utensil of claim 1 wherein the surface contact section extends from the second end to a transition point between the surface contact section and the angled section.

6. An elevated utensil, comprising: an elongated member having a first end and a second end; a surface contact section of the elongated member having a bottom surface that extends from and is adapted to engage a working surface from the second end to a transition point and then into an angled section of the elongated member; the angled section extending upwardly from the surface contact section to a working section of the elongated member; and the working section extending from the angled section to the first end.

7. The utensil of claim 6 wherein the angled section extends upwardly from the transition point and is completely above the bottom surface of the surface contact section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevated utensil;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of an elevated utensil; and

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of an elevated utensil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Referring to the Figures, an elevated utensil 10 is presented. In the arrangement shown, elevated utensil 10 includes an elongated member 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. For purposes of example only, an eating utensil is described, but the elevated utensil 10 is not limited by this example. The term utensil is defined to mean any useful device used to perform tasks.

[0017] The elongated member 12 is comprised of a surface contact section 18, an angled section 20, and a working section 22. In one embodiment, elongated member 12 is made of a single, homogenous material. Elongated member 12 can be formed from any material that is suitable for its intended purpose.

[0018] The surface contact section 18 is adjacent to the second end 16 and terminates into the angled section 20. Surface contact section 18 is formed of any suitable size, shape, and design and serves to engage the surface, in addition to being grasped and held by a user while the utensil is being used. In one embodiment, surface contact section 18 is a generally elongated shape, such as a rectangle, that gets slightly wider as it extends from angled section 20 towards second end 16. However, any other suitable shape, size, and design is hereby contemplated for use for surface contact section 18.

[0019] Angled section 20 extends upwardly from surface contact section 18 and terminates at neck 24. In one embodiment, angled section 20 is a generally elongated shape, such as a rectangle, that narrows slightly as it extends from surface contact section 18 towards neck 24. However, any other suitable shape, size, and design is hereby contemplated for use for angled section 20.

[0020] Neck 24 connects angled section 20 with working section 22. Neck 24 is formed of any suitable size, shape, and design that serves to connect angled section 20 with working section 22. In the embodiment shown, neck 24 narrows at its middle and is wider at its ends where it connects to angled section 20 and working section 22. However, any other suitable size, shape, and design is hereby contemplated for use for neck 24.

[0021] The working section 22 is adjacent the first end 14 and is of any size, shape, and design that is suitable for its designated function. In one embodiment, the working section is that of an eating utensil, such as a bowl of a spoon, prongs of a fork, a blade of a knife, or the like. The working section 22 terminates into the angled section 20 at a neck 24.

[0022] While the surface contact section 18 is of any size and shape, the surface contact section 18 has a bottom surface 28 that engages a working surface 26. The working surface 26 can be an eating surface such as a table or counter, or any other surface where the utensil 10 is used. The bottom surface 28 extends from the second end 16 to the point where the elongated member 12 transitions from section 18 to angled section 20 at transition point 32. The length of the bottom surface 28 is based on the weight of the surface contact section 18 compared to the weight of the angled section 20 and the working section 22. Based on this weight comparison, the length of the bottom surface 28 need be sufficient to create a center of gravity that creates a down force in the contact surface section 18 that causes the angled section 20 and working section 22 to be held in a raised or elevated position above the center line 30 of the surface contact section 18. If desired, a weight 34 is inserted or attached to the surface contact section 18.

[0023] From the above discussion and the accompanying figures and claims it will be appreciated that the utensil 10 offers many advantages over the prior art. That is, the utensil 10 provides a working section that is capable of remaining elevated after it is placed on surface, as well as many other advantages and improvements over the prior art. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in the light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application.