Abstract: The invention relates to biodegradable nano-polymer compositions, or nanocomposites, comprising poly(lactic acid) and co-polyester polymer with adipic acid compounded with nanoparticles of a mineral material having a degree of purity of at least 99.9%, preferably 99.99%, selected from the group of silica and magnesium silicate. In addition, the present invention refers to a process for manufacturing the said compositions as well as biodegradable articles made on the basis of such compositions, such as molded, formed and extruded articles.

Abstract: A infant feeding device includes a tube that has a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends is open. A conduit is fluidly coupled to the second end. A spoon head is attached to a distal end of the conduit with respect to the second end of the tube. The spoon head is positioned to receive food material transferred through the conduit from the tube. A container containing food material is couplable to the first end of the perimeter wall to supply the tube with the food material so that the food material can be fed to an infant with the spoon head.

Abstract: Plastic cutlery and tableware made in at least two parts joinable to form a unitary utensil, serving piece, beverage container or non-food contacting tableware in which the two parts are made of different materials. The materials of the two parts differ in at least one of the following: color, type of plastic, grade of plastic, source of plastic, and additives such as the presence of an anti-microbial agent, transparency, or reflectivity. Food-grade resins, for example, can be used for the heads of cutlery and recycled resins are used for the handles. Heads can be separately metalized and then joined to non-metalized handles. Handles may be made to fit to different types of heads. The two parts of the cutlery may be joined by inserting a tang extending from one into a cavity formed in the other. The two parts of tableware may be joinable by a snap-fit configuration.

Abstract: A utensil has first and second arm members of substantially the same size and shape. Each arm member has a head section and a handle section. The head sections are concave or scoop-like in configuration and are connected by a rotatable hinge which permits rotation of the arm members in relation to each other. The head section of the first arm members has elongated openings through which spreadable food can be expelled. The head section of the second arm member is solid. With the first arm member nested within the second arm member, spreadable food is scooped onto the utensil, specifically on the top surface of the first arm member. Rotation of the second arm member around the first arm member such that the second arm member is now nested within the first arm member, causes the food to be expelled from the openings in the first arm member, where the food can be easily spread on bread and or food items.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an eating utensil composed of an elongated element having a first end and a second end. The first end having at least one scooping element. The second end of the elongated element contains a handle. The scooping element may be a flange that is mounted perpendicularly to the elongated element. The retaining surface of the scooping element may be inclined or declined toward the elongated element. A flange guard may separate the handle from the scooping element.

Abstract: An infant feeding system includes a spoon assembly with a scoop and a mount attached to and extending away from the mount. The mount has a distal end with respect to the scoop. An aperture extends into the distal end and into the scoop so that fluid flowing into the aperture is captured by the scoop. A tube has a nozzle thereon extendable in and fluidly couplable with the aperture. The tube has food therein so that food from the tube is ejected onto the scoop when the tube is squeezed.

Abstract: A loopable and wearable dining utensil comprises a rigid function portion for engaging food, a holder for holding the dining utensil, and a flexible connector for connecting the rigid function portion and the holder. One end of the rigid function portion also serves as a male linker and the opposite end has a first linking part. One end of the holder serves as a female linker for linking with the male linker, and the opposite end has a second linking part for linking with the first linking part. When the female linker is linked with the male linker, the dining utensil forms a loop, and when the second linking part is linked with the first linking part, the dining utensil forms a regular utensil. According to various connecting profiles, the multiple dining utensils can form a bracelet, necklace, belt or an ornament of handbag or hand-held mobile device.

Abstract: An ambidextrous spill-resistant spoon includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is rotational relative to the handle portion and depends below the handle portion to self-level rather as a pendulum seeks the vertical. But, the spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon with food. As soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is un-clutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal so as to remain level as a user moves the loaded spoon toward the user's mouth.

Abstract: A handheld tool structure includes a tool member, a handle, a cover and a connecting peg. The handle is barrel-shaped and has an opening at an end of the handle. An end of the tool member is slab-shaped and the tool member has at least one penetrating hole and at least one notch. An end of the connecting peg has a slender groove, and the top of the cover has a slender slot. An end of the tool member is passed through the slot of the cover and inserted into the groove of the connecting peg, and the cover and the connecting peg are connected, and another end of the connecting peg is plugged into the handle from an opening at an end of the handle, and the cover is plugged into the handle until the top of the cover is aligned evenly with a distal surface of the handle.

Abstract: A food-handling utensil has tines with opposing sides that are provided with a plurality of smooth projections spaced along the length thereof adapted to engage and retain food impaled by the tines but only marginally inhibit release of the impaled food during handling of the food. Several exemplary embodiments of the utensil are disclosed in the form of a fork having more than two tines and with various forms of the projections, the provision of projections on other sides of the times, adapting the invention to sporks and also providing the handle of the utensil with an ergonomic grip.

Abstract: A utensil for a manually impaired user includes a utensil insert, such as a fork, spoon, knife, tool or other object, and a handle for receiving the utensil insert so that a portion of the utensil insert extends outwardly from the handle. The handle has first and second handle sections that are removably connected together. The first handle section includes a first receptacle and a first projection spaced from the first receptacle while the second handle section includes a second receptacle and a second projection spaced from the second receptacle. The first receptacle is adapted to receive the second projection and the second receptacle is adapted to receive the first projection when the first and second handle sections are connected together.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processed biodegradable article having excellent water resistance and rigidity, which can be used as a food container, and a biodegradable composition required to produce the processed biodegradable article. The respective components are mixed such that the content of starch is 15% by mass or more and 75% by mass or less, the content of protein is 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, the content of cellulose fiber is 3% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less, the content of polyphenols is 0.5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, and the content of sodium chloride is 0% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less, and then water is added in the amount of 10 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the mixture, followed by kneading the mixture using a mixer. Then, the kneaded mixture is press-molded into a predetermined shape such as a cup or a dish, and heat-treated at 120° C. or higher and 180° C.

Abstract: A plastic cutlery item molded from a plastic material, such as polystyrene, having a metallic coating that imparts to this cutlery item the appearance of metal cutlery or silverware. In one embodiment the plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded using injection molding techniques, and subjected to a vacuum metallizing process in an individualized non-contiguous manner, where a thin metallic layer is deposited on at least one of their surfaces. The resultant items simulate the appearance of metal cutlery or tableware. In one embodiment of the invention the plastic cutlery or tableware articles are molded from a clear polystyrene resin and are coated with a thin stainless steel layer through vacuum sputtering deposition on only one of the sides. The abrasion resistance of the metallic coating can be enhanced by subjecting the articles to a post-metallizing holding period or by applying a clear protective overcoat.

Abstract: The invention relates to dining and/or serving cutlery made of a steel material which is formed from a ferritic core with an essentially martensitic boundary layer. In the dining and/or serving cutlery of the invention, the surface hardness of the boundary layer, determined according to the hardness test according to Vickers HV 3, is thereby greater by 30 to 300% than the lowest hardness of the core, likewise measured according to Vickers HV 3.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fitment, a neck portion, and a mouthpiece. In various embodiments, the fitment may be configured to attach the apparatus substantially permanently with a flexible pouch containing edible material. In one embodiment, the fitment may include a first hole configured to provide an exit point for the edible material from the flexible pouch. In various embodiments, the neck portion may be configured to connect the fitment and a mouthpiece portion. In one embodiment, the neck portion may include a channel configured to transmit the edible material from the hole of the fitment to the mouthpiece. In various embodiments, the mouthpiece may be configured to facilitate eating of the edible material. In one embodiment, the mouthpiece may include a concave portion configured to hold the edible material, and a second hole configured to transmit the edible material from the neck portion to the concave portion.

Abstract: Clip-on utensils and methods of use therefor, wherein the handle end of the utensil incorporates a clip for securing the utensil to the edge of a plate, bowl, glass or cup. The clip portion of the utensil is opened and subsequently positioned over the tableware edge, wherein the clip is subsequently released; thereby, gripping the edge of the tableware and securing the utensil thereon. When at rest, the clip portion forms a planar combination with the handle thereby imparting strength to the combination over that of the handle alone. Various alternative clipping means are described.

Abstract: An eating utensil such as a disposable plastic fork, spoon or knife, or combination thereof, is combined with a dental cleaning device such as a toothpick and/or a dental flosser for personal use after eating in a location where dental hygiene items may not be otherwise available. In some embodiments the dental cleaning device may be permanently attached to the eating utensil, which can serve as a handle for using the dental cleaning device; in other embodiments the dental cleaning device may be removed in a snap-off manner for convenient deployment independent of the eating utensil, optionally configured with a thumb-finger tab.

Abstract: An eating utensil such as a disposable plastic fork, spoon, knife, or combination thereof, is combined with at least one oral cleaning device such as a toothpick, interdental pick, brush, tongue cleaner and/or a dental flosser for personal use after eating in a location where oral cleaning facilities may not be otherwise available. In some embodiments the oral cleaning device may be permanently attached to the eating utensil, which can serve as a handle for using the oral cleaning device. In other embodiments the oral cleaning device may be displaced in a snap-off or bend-away manner at score lines to expose the oral cleaning device for use, either still attached to the utensil or removed for separate use, optionally configured with a thumb-finger grip tab.

Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention relates to a diaphragm (2) for sealing an access opening (5) of a container body (6), the diaphragm being semi-rigid and formed with a shaped cavity (10). The present invention is particularly (but not exclusively) suitable for use with metal cans for packaging foodstuffs. A second aspect of the present invention relates to a reinforcing support (14) for locating over the diaphragm when used to seal an access opening of a container body. A third aspect of the present invention relates to a spoon (26) suitable for use with a container comprising the diaphragm.

Abstract: A method for feeding a child, the child having a mouth, the child having a transition from bottle-to spoon-feeding, the child having a natural swallowing reflex, the method for use during that transition, the method with respect to a spoon having a handle a bowl, the bowl having an end away from the handle thus defining an anterior end, the bowl having an end toward the handle thus defining a posterior end, the method comprising the steps of: covering a front portion of a spoon bowl by an enclosing shield so that that it leaves an opening at a posterior of the spoon bowl and at an anterior of the spoon bowl.

Abstract: A stackable cutlery element having a handle and a functional element shaped onto the handle. To achieve maximum stability, the handle of the cutlery element is designed as a wall with longitudinal ribs arranged on the edge of both sides, so that an essentially H-shaped cross-section is formed. For additional stabilization, an end rib is arranged on the longitudinal end of the handle opposing the functional element on both sides of the wall. The end rib and the two longitudinal ribs on both sides are designed so that when the cutlery elements of this invention are stacked, the end rib and the longitudinal ribs of the first side of a cutlery element engage positively in the end rib and longitudinal ribs of the second side of the further cutlery element to connecting to them in the stacking direction.

Abstract: When an individual goes camping, they need to have lightweight easily assembled utensils for eating. The present invention relates to the assembly of a spoon eating utensil that is stored in a completely flat position, and then can be easily assembled and disassembled, in any desired sequence or order, by an individual into complete reusable eating utensil without the use of any external tools, parts, or fasteners.

Abstract: A plastic set (1) of eating and/or drinking aids, comprising eating and/or drinking aids (3, 4, 5) and connecting pieces (6), wherein the eating and/or drinking aids (3, 4, 5) are breakably inter coupled by means of the connecting pieces (6), preferably wherein the eating and/or drinking aids (3, 4, 5) are included in a relatively flat condition with respect to one another and intersect substantially one imaginary intersecting plane.

Abstract: An articulating eating utensil consists of a utensil head, a shaft, and a handle. The utensil head and the handle are formed of a first material, and the shaft is formed of a second material. The utensil head is provided as the bowl of a spoon, the tines of a fork, a spatula, or any other utensil head useful in handling food for consumption. In a first configuration, the shaft is retracted within an interior cavity of the handle and the utensil head is pivoted toward the handle, such that the eating utensil is a small and lightweight instrument. In a second configuration, the utensil head is pivoted away from the handle and the shaft is extended from the interior cavity of the handle, such that the eating utensil functions like a traditional non-articulating eating utensil.

Abstract: A piece of children's cutlery includes a work unit, a fixing unit, a plastic deformation unit, and a grip unit. The work unit is connected at an end to a front end of the grip unit, the fixing unit is connected at an end to a rear end of the grip unit opposite to the work unit, the plastic deformation unit is connected at two opposite ends to the work unit and the fixing unit, and the grip unit is enclosed around the plastic deformation unit and the ends of the work unit and the fixing unit connected to the grip unit. The grip unit and the plastic deformation unit enclosed therein may be adjusted by bending them to an extending direction and a curvature most suitable for holding by a user in a habitual position.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a feeding apparatus, comprising: a vessel, for storing food; and at least one depression the form of which corresponds to the convex form of a spoon for feeding an infant from the vessel; or an elastic object changeable to the form of the convex side of the spoon. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a kit for feeding an infant, the kit comprising: a spoon; and a vessel (such as a bowl and cup) having an arched depression the form of which corresponds to the contour of the convex side of the spoon. The depression may be a part of the rim of the vessel, a part of the rim of a reed attached to the vessel, a part of a tab of the vessel, and so on.

Abstract: An eating utensil with an integrated construction machine where the functional aspects of the integrated construction machine (front loader scoop, bulldozer blade, fork lift tines, etc.) act as the functional aspects of the eating utensil (spoon, pusher, fork, etc.). The integration of the construction machines in such a manner provides entertainment for the user and encourages the use of the flatware.

Abstract: A food serving utensil includes a body that has a handle located at a proximal end and a food retaining section located at a distal end respectively. A hollow chamber extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the body and is axially seated therein. A linear opening is located adjacent to the proximal end. An actuator switch is housed within the linear opening and linearly displaced parallel to a longitudinal length thereof. The switch has a flange portion protruding outwardly from a top surface of the handle. A shaft is housed within the chamber and extends along a longitudinal length thereof. The shaft has a first end monolithically formed with the switch and a second end intercalated within the food retaining section. A stabilizing mechanism is spaced from the food retaining section and is engaged with the shaft and the body.

Abstract: An instrument for feeding solid nourishment and liquid nourishment by a care giver independently of each other typically to an infant and/or a physically-challenged individual using only one hand if the care giver. The instrument includes a head and a handle. The head is for taking the solid nourishment for the infant and/or the physically-challenged individual. The handle extends from the head and contains a reservoir for containing the liquid nourishment. The handle has an end opposite to the head for feeding the liquid nourishment. By rotating the handle using the one hand, the solid nourishment and liquid nourishment are taken independently of each other.

Abstract: A kitchen utensil comprised of an elongated member and an implement is provided. The elongated member has a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The implement has a proximal edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge of the implement is connected to the distal end of the elongated member. The kitchen utensil also includes a plurality of grooves integrally formed into the elongated member. The grooves are disposed along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and proximate the distal end of the elongated member. Each of the grooves has a groove width and groove depth. The groove width of at least one of the grooves is greater than the groove width of at least one of the other of the grooves.

Abstract: An ambidextrous spill-resistant spoon includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is rotational relative to the handle portion and depends below the handle portion to self-level rather as a pendulum seeks the vertical. But, the spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon with food. As soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is unclutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal so as to remain level as a user moves the loaded spoon toward the user's mouth.

Abstract: An eating utensil includes a food carrier configured to convey food to a mouth, a sensor configured to sense the weight of food carried on the food carrier, a handle attached to the food carrier and configured to be engaged by a hand of an eater, an electric circuit in communication with the sensor and configured to count a bite of food in response to the weight of food carried on the food carrier, and a display device configured to display a number of bites consumed by the eater.

Abstract: An ergonomic training utensil for teaching a user to self feed includes a handle and at least one food accommodating means extending from at least one end of the handle. In a first embodiment, the training utensil has an arc shape when viewed from top and bottom and the handle has a center section which has a transverse cross-section which is one of bulbous or lobular. In a second embodiment, the handle is a parallelogram and is one of a rhombus or a rectangle, and has a center section having a transverse cross-section which has an S-shaped. Ergonomic utility is provided by the arc shape of the utensil and by the bulbous or lobular transverse cross-section of the handle of the first embodiment, and by the S-shape of the transverse cross-section of the second embodiment.

Abstract: An improved spoon apparatus and method includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon bowl with food. At the initiation of the food scooping motion, essentially immediate clutching of the spoon bowl to the handle portion is effected by a fine-dimension ratchet structure of the inventive spoon. However, as soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is unclutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal like a pendulum so as to remain level from side to side irrespective of rotation of the handle portion as a user moves the loaded spoon to the user's mouth. A unique combination of gravitationally induced torque as well as a gravitational force vector are utilized to effect unclutching of the spoon bowl from the handle portion.

Abstract: A container (210) for holding granular/powdered material and formed by a top wall (212), a bottom wall (214), a front wall (216), a rear wall (218), a first side wall (220), and a second side wall (222). A removable lid (D) is interiorly mounted with a scoop (32) and is hinged to a collar (300) that includes a sealing gasket (330). The collar (300) mounts to the walls of the container (210). A sealing wall 240 of the lid (D) cooperates with the gasket (330) to prevent the contents from spilling. The container (210) incorporates sealing features, and a geometry for container wall junctions (50) that can have curvilinear and angled or rectilinear profiles. A scoop 32 is releasably carried in the lid (L, D) and can include a rim portion (36,a,b,c) that can be formed and or flexed to be congruent to the profiles.

Abstract: A single, thin piece of folded material attaches to a single serving container to provide a strong, sanitary spoon. Folding score lines on the handle portion of the spoon give the utensil strength and provide a simplicity of use suitable for children. The disclosed utensil may be attached to existing containers or may be built into containers during the manufacture of the underlying container, or may be available as a stand-alone product. The disclosed utensil may be integrated into packaging material such as overwrap sleeves used to package food containers.

Abstract: A method of wrapping and protecting utensils from being contaminated by dirt and bacteria includes wrapping only that portion of the utensil that is to come in contact with a users mouth. The wrap may include plastic film, foil or paper. By wrapping only that portion of the utensil the comes in contact with the users mouth, the utensils can be held in the unwrapped portion of the utensil that does not come in contact with a user's mouth by automated manufacturing equipment to move, wrap and pack utensils without the need for human handling. The use of significantly less wrapping material greatly reduces the cost of the wrapping while allowing machines to handle the utensils thereby eliminating the possibility of contamination to the utensils caused by human handling. A two-part container is also provided.

Abstract: The illuminated washable spoon includes a main spoon body having a concave distal portion and a handle portion. The handle portion is hollow and has a depressible section adapted to depress when the handle portion is held. An illumination mechanism is located within the handle portion. The illumination mechanism includes a power source, an on/off pressure switch and a light. The on/off pressure switch is located at the depressible section of the handle portion such that when the handle portion is held, force toward the handle portion caused by the holder depresses the depressible section, activating the pressure switch and illuminated the light.

Abstract: An improved spoon apparatus and method includes a handle portion carrying a spoon bowl portion. The spoon bowl is clutched non-rotationally to the handle portion during a scooping motion to load the spoon bowl with food. At the initiation of the food scooping motion, essentially immediate clutching of the spoon bowl to the handle portion is effected by a fine-dimension ratchet structure of the inventive spoon. However, as soon as the scooping motion is completed by clearing of the spoon bowl from the food, the bowl portion is unclutched from the handle portion and becomes freely pivotal like a pendulum so as to remain level from side to side irrespective of rotation of the handle portion as a user moves the loaded spoon to the user's mouth. A unique combination of gravitationally induced torque as well as a gravitational force vector are utilized to effect unclutching of the spoon bowl from the handle portion.

Abstract: A set of cutlery includes a plurality of superimposable cutlery components, which are adapted to be releasably connected so as to form a transportable unit. In order to facilitate the handling of such cutlery, it is suggested that the cutlery components should be accommodated in a protective housing and that they should be releasably secured to the protective housing by a connection element.

Abstract: An eating utensil for consumption of liquid, semi-liquid, semi-solid, and solid foodstuffs through the use of a combination spoon and straw.

Abstract: A magnetic attractable spoon comprises a tie ring having a hole; a spoon combined to the hole of the tie ring; and at least one magnet installed to the tie ring for attracting metal objects. The tie ring is elastic. The tie ring has at least one embedding groove for embedding the magnet. The magnet is enclosed within the tie ring. A plurality of magnets are annularly arranged along an edge of the tie ring. The tie ring is combined to an annular body of the tie ring and the tie ring has an annular attracting surface. The hole of the tie ring is not a penetrating hole. The tie ring has a plane attracting surface or a cambered attracting surface.

Abstract: A plastic cutlery item, fabricated primarily from a plastic material, such as polystyrene, having a metallic coating that imparts to this cutlery item the appearance of metal cutlery or silverware. The plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded using traditional injection molding techniques, and subjected to a vacuum metallizing process in an individualized non-contiguous manner, where a thin metallic layer is deposited on at least one of their surfaces. The resultant items simulate the appearance of solid metal cutlery or tableware. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the plastic cutlery or tableware items are molded from a light-transmitting grade of Polystyrene resin and are coated with a thin stainless steel layer through vacuum sputtering deposition on only one of the surfaces.

Abstract: An ice cream scooper includes a shank having a handle on one end and a scooper member on the other end, and a flexible panel attached to the scooper member and engageable with an ice cream ball scooped and received in the scooper member. An actuator is pivotally attached to the scooper member, and includes an arm engageable with the flexible panel, to move and actuate the flexible panel relative to the scooper member, and to disengage the ice cream ball from the scooper member. The arm includes a protrusion engaged into a slot of the panel, to solidly attach the arm to the panel. The scooper member includes a passage to slidably receive the hand grip of the actuator.

Abstract: An improved utensil for feeding a small child includes a coating of a relatively soft plastic material provided over a rigid base portion that has a relatively high capacity for heat conduction and storage. The relatively soft plastic material is formulated to change color when exposed to a substance, such as food, that is above a predetermined temperature. During use, the presence of the base portion acts as a heat storage reservoir in order to lengthen and delocalize the color change response of the soft plastic material, thereby making the color change response more continuous and more noticeable to the caregiver. Also disclosed is a kit of different utensils that start out as different colors, but that change to a uniform warning color when overheated. The concept of the uniform warning color makes it easier for children and caregivers alike to identify the warning when it occurs.

Abstract: A spoon includes a handle and a bowl disposed on one end of a handle. The bowl includes a curved frame and a pliable section or portion secured to the frame, the pliable section being movable between a first position for containing the food and a second position where the bowl is more shallow than when in the first position. An actuating link extends between the handle and the pliable section. The actuating link is movable by an actuator, and the movement of the actuator causes the actuating link to move the pliable section of the bowl. Food contained within the bowl can be displaced or effectively transferred from the bowl into the mouth of an infant or another person in response to the actuator and actuating link being moved.

Abstract: A process for making a combination food utensil constructed of materials having different relative hardness, particularly a spoon. Portions of the utensil are constructed of a hard material such as polyproplylene to provide structural rigidity and to allow the utensil to easily slide along the bottom of a dish such as a bowl or a plane. Outside edges of the utensil and portions of its handle are constructed of a softer material such as Kraton or silicone to provide for comfortable contact with the inside of the mouth and gums. In the preferred embodiment the spoon is provided for use by a baby.

Abstract: A hand held eating and drinking utensil that is constructed to be used for the dual purpose of serving as a spoon for eating and as a straw for drinking. The utensil is in the form of a spoon having a handle with a bowl for eating food as a spoon and having a handle that is hollow throughout containing a straw or for providing the insertion of a straw to suck liquid or bits of food through the handle into a child's mouth. A decorative figure or design can be attached to the handle of the utensil while providing an amusing device for the child to play with either with or without any food or liquid thereon. The device can be appropriately sanitized by cleaning and replacement with a new straw after each use.

Abstract: A tool is provided for eating strands of food with the function of cutting and a spoon. The tool includes body members having tool portions that form a spoon shaped bowl portion of diverging halves that are separable into an open scissor configuration. The body members are pivotally connected at their central portions, and terminate in handle portions. A first handle portion is angled upwardly from the spoon shaped bowl portion to function ergonomically as a handle of a spoon. A second handle portion includes a ring member oriented downward from the first handle portion, such that the first handle portion and the second handle portion are not in the same horizontal plane. The ring member is oriented outward at an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to a vertical plane through the spoon shaped bowl portion.

Abstract: A process for making a combination food utensil constructed of materials having different relative hardness, particularly a spoon. Portions of the utensil are constructed of a hard material such as polypropylene to provide structural rigidity and to allow the utensil to easily slide along the bottom of a dish such as bowl or a plate. Outside edges of the utensil and portions of its handle are constructed of a softer material such as Kraton or silicone to provide for comfortable contact with the inside of the mouth and gums. In the preferred embodiment the spoon is provided for use by a baby.