Serrated fork

Abstract

It occurred to me that we turn to our knife when we cannot cut right thru a food product. My serrated fork will substitute the fork “as is”. My serrated fork will cut thru pastries, cakes, eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, fish, fruit and other edibles with more ease than a regular fork. Step 1, I placed a regular fork tightly onto a vise. Step 2, I used a midget hacksaw with a junior hacksaw blade and I made some small notches on the outer tong of the fork. Step 3, I used a mini-grinder set to smoothen the edges. Lastly, I washed the fork to remove any tiny metal flakes. I made a fork for a right-handed person, another for left-handed user. I used a small fork to model both serrated sides.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a fork, more particularly, to a fork with a serrated edge for ease in cutting several food products such as pastries, waffles, eggs, omelets, fish and pancakes.

2. Prior Art Form

I noticed how we hold our fork to cut thru foods such as eggs, omelets and waffles. We hold our fork tightly and force it down. We sway the fork back and forth until we slice the piece of food before us. We turn to our knife when we cannot cut right thru the food product. The serrated fork is an eating utensil to substitute the fork “as is” nowadays. My fork will cut with more ease than a regular fork. The serrated fork is novel and useful.

There is a need for restaurant innovations. The serrated fork offers an opportunity to restaurants and homes everywhere, worldwide to keep up with innovation and the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. When the “sphork” was created long ago, no one thought of marrying the butter knife and the fork. The serrated fork brings these two together, the butter knife and the fork. I have seen children and adults alike licking a butter knife; this serrated fork will need the help of those skilled in the art to craft a perfect unity between the butter knife and the fork to create a masterful vision of the serrated fork which can be lick able. I can envision a serrated fork in every home! I can picture us cutting easily into a thick piece of Cod with just a wiggle of the wrist as we handle the serrated fork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features of the serrated fork are set forth particularly with the appended claims.

However, the invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. There are serrated forks for the right-handed eater and the left-handed eater, and then there is the variation of this claim which places notches on both sides of the fork. Notches are located on the outer side tong of each fork or on both outside tongs of a fork. The notches are smooth to create an edge like that of a cross between a butter knife and a dull steak knife. Serrated notches are approximately 1-2 mm. at their top and move along the fork's edge. The size of the notch decreases by the end of the fork by a slight mm

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in a more full a manner including reference to the accompanying drawings. The serrated fork however may be embodied in many different ways and should not be construed to the picture set forth herein. This picture is given so that this application will be clear and complete to those skilled in the art.

The fork “as is” is approximately 7½ inches long. The fork is part of our table's silverware, as is the spoon and knife. The fork usually brings four tongs. I refer to the outer most tongs as those to the farthest most side of the fork. The reference is made to the one tong on the right as we face it or to the one tong on the left as we face it. Thus, the invention brings forth the variation of a fork with a serrated edge on one or both outer most tongs as we face it. However, the serrated fork is conveniently available in various sizes in order to suit the needs of all its individual users, right-handed or left-handed, 7½ inches or 6½ inches.

The more important feature of the invention, in order for the detailed description herein to be understood and appreciated by those of masterful skill in the art, are the notches given to the outside tongs. The notches are a skillful design between a butter-knife and a dull steak knife. The features are to be apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.

It is here noted that the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public in general, including the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are NOT familiar with patent or legal terms and/or phrases to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and spirit of the technical disclosure of the application. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to limit the scope and essence of the invention in any way.

Upon aforementioned herein, it will be greatly appreciated that any modifications and/or change made by those skilled in the art be dutifully done without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the serrated fork.

Manufacture

The information submitted within by self, Ivonne Haddock, inventor, describes a concept with clear intent. Drawing on available data the serrated fork design features seem well within the creations of technology. It indicates no unusual features that would complicate the fabrication of the serrated fork. The actual technological production would vary little from the already in-use technology employed worldwide. The serrated fork is a variation to a regular fork already manufactured. Naturally, further design work is necessary to determine the serrated detail along the outer edge of a tong and details in sizes. Nonetheless, the design of the serrated fork taps into existing production processes and techniques and tooling; therefore, there is no need of new or non-existent technologies. There is indeed willingness to partner with any manufacturer interested in entering the product into the market place.

Cost/Cost Estimates

Cost to manufacturers. These figures are all estimates based research done on retail prices at big stores. (Prices vary considerably)

Approximate Production cost by manufacturers would fluctuate from $0.50-2.00. Manufacturers do keep manufacturing cost a secret and this is information is not available to public personnel such as myself.

Approximate Wholesale cost. These prices would also fluctuate from $1.20-3.00.

Retail cost, (Available to self, us) but also fluctuate from $1.50 each to a set of four for $8.00 or from $2.20-8.00. And this is considering a markup between 20-60%. The fixed cost of a regular fork varies according to quality, name brand and style and whether purchased individually or as a set. The serrated fork costs will incur of equipment or retooling materials, labor and overhead, in addition to handling, shipping expenses and product liability insurance. The serrated fork if priced high considering the above would be priced approximately at $4.00 each or priced low considering the above mentioned circumstances would be approximately priced at $2.00 in addition to be retailed by a large retailer such as Walmart. With demand as a novelty suppliers and distributors can price my serrated fork at a low cost margin to attract more quantity and take advantage of bulk.

Estimating a final selling price for my serrated fork is onerous. Its price should relate to the price of similar products: fork, butter knife, steak knife, spoons. These estimates have been made by review of one regular fork at retailers (Kohl's, Walmart, and Kmart) prices. I truly believe this product is priceless and its value is great to me.

Research

With the help of Kristine Lavandero from Arizona as kristine@flyingcoyote.com from Flying Coyote Productions I found a similar gadget made by Amazon. This tool embodies a fork, spoon and knife all-in-one.

Claims

1. A Serrated Fork, a fork with a serrated edge.

2. The fork of claim 1 where the serrated edge is on the outermost right tong of the fork.

3. The fork of claim 1 where the serrated edge is on the outermost left tong of the fork.

4. The fork of claim 1 where the serrated edge is on both outermost tongs of the fork.