Fruit skewer

A fruit skewer having an elongated central shaft for receiving and securing fruit, food or non-food items thereon for display or cooking. The portion of the shaft upon which the fruit or other item is to be situated has a cross-sectional area designed to prevent the object through which the skewer is inserted from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the skewer. In the preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional area is in a cross (“+”) shape, although other shapes are anticipated, including a “Y” shape as well as a star shape having five or more fins (e.g., “*”). In this embodiment, the end of the skewer is tapered or beveled to allow for the easy insertion of the skewer into the fruit or other object, and the fins are chamfered. At least one projection is provided along the length of the skewer, the projection being provided so as to prevent the item through which the skewer is being inserted from sliding too far down the length of the skewer. A second projection may also be provided along the portion of the skewer on which the fruit or other item is not intended to be situated, this portion serving as the handle for the skewer. This second projection serves to prevent the entire skewer from being inserted too far into a display holder. The end of the skewer along the handle portion is also beveled or tapered so as to allow for the easy insertion of the skewer into the display holder. Multiple projections of varying heights may also be provided along the length of the skewer to allow for the insertion and retention of multiple pieces of fruit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of food preparation and display, and more particularly to the use of skewers to secure whole or sections of fruits and other food and non-food items for an ornamental display or for cooking, and even more particularly to a skewer for preventing the fruit, food or non-food items from rotating about the axis of the skewer or sliding along the length of the skewer such that the food or non-food item can be held securely in place for extended periods of time so as to allow for the creation of ornamental displays using fruit or other items, or alternatively for cooking the fruit or food items.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of skewers to pierce and hold fruit and food for cooking or display purposes has long been known. Such skewers may be formed from a variety of materials, both natural, such as bamboo or wood, or man-made, such as plastic or metal. The wooden and metal skewers are used for cooking as well as for display purposes, while the plastic skewers are typically used solely for display purposes, since the plastic can melt when placed in a hot cooking environment, such as a grill or an oven.

The use of specially designed skewers to prevent movement of the items placed thereon has long been known. For example, as early as 1899, skewers having a tapered body with outwardly extending elements that extend the length of the skewer for preventing rotation of the food have been known, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 623,571 for a “Meat Skewer,” which issued to Shipe on Apr. 25, 1899. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,622,268, which issued to Glantzlin on Dec. 23, 1952 for “Wooden Holder or Skewer” claims a flat wooden skewer having tapered edges wherein the fibers of the wood form barb-like elements adapted to engage the article into which the skewer is inserted. In yet another example, a skewer having a squared cross-section having wedge-like projections arranged in a saw-tooth pattern to prevent the food item from sliding off is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,578, which issued to Zinder on Feb. 27, 1979 for “Holder Stick for a Confectionary Product.”

In some cases, end caps or other devices are used for preventing the food item from sliding off the skewer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,362, which issued to H. Wiur on Nov. 15, 1949 for a “Grating Holder for Potatoes, Fruits, and the Like,” discloses a skewer that is polygonal in cross section to prevent rotation of the food and having a removable handle. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,443, which issued to Carney on Mar. 16, 1993 for “Skewer for Barbecuing” discloses a skewer device having a square cross-sectional shape and a pair of slidable support members for elevating the food above the cooking surface. Such slidable elements could also be used to facilitate the removal of the food item, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,418, which issued to Berke et al. on Sep. 11, 2001 for “Barbecue Skewer Structure and Method” which teaches a rod-shaped barbecue skewer having a slidable remover that may be used to remove food from the skewer easily.

Other means for retaining the food item on the skewer have also been tried. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,557,890, which issued on Jun. 19, 1951 to Perry for “Skewer for Holding Rolled Roast,” discloses the use of prongs or pins disposed on a rounded skewer for preventing the rotation of the food item.

Skewers having different cross-sectional shapes are also shown in design patents, including U.S. Pat. No. D208,569, which issued to Novak on Sep. 12, 1967 for “Skewer for Roasting Meat” and U.S. Pat. No. D189,441, which issued to Bonnell on Dec. 13, 1960 for “Meat Skewer.”

However, there are currently no skewers offer the unique advantages of the present invention, namely a skewer having a unique cross-sectional shape designed to prevent even the most fragile of food items from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the skewer and including one or more protrusions of various heights designed to prevent the food item from sliding along the length of the skewer and to prevent the skewer from being inserted too far into the object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the foregoing background, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fruit skewer adapted to securely receive fruit, food or non-food items and prevent movement thereof for display purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer that may be inserted into fruit or other foods and secure such items thereon for cooking.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer having a cross-sectional shape designed to prevent items into which the skewer is inserted from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the skewer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer that includes one or more projections along the length of the skewer to prevent said items from sliding along the length of the skewer.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer in which the projections are further designed to prevent the skewer from being inserted too far into an object.

It is but another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer in which the projections are of various lengths to allow for the passage of certain items while preventing the passage of others.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer that may be manufactured out of plastic.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer that is inexpensive to manufacture

It is but another object of the present invention to provide such a fruit skewer that is easy to use with a variety of food and non-food items.

To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises a fruit skewer of the type having an elongated central shaft, said skewer being designed to receive and secure fruit, food or non-food items thereon for display or cooking. The portion of said shaft upon which the fruit or other item is to be situated has a cross-sectional area designed to prevent the object through which the skewer is inserted from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the skewer. In the preferred embodiment, said cross-sectional area is in a cross (“+”) shape, although other shapes are anticipated, including a “Y” shape as well as a star shape having five or more fins (e.g., “*”). In this embodiment, the end of the skewer is tapered or beveled to allow for the easy insertion of the skewer into the fruit or other object, and said fins are chamfered. At least one projection is provided along the length of the skewer, said projection being provided so as to prevent the item through which the skewer is being inserted from sliding too far down the length of the skewer. A second projection may also be provided along the portion of the skewer on which the fruit or other item is not intended to be situated, said portion serving as the handle for the skewer. This second projection serves to prevent the entire skewer from being inserted too far into a display holder. The end of the skewer along the handle portion is also beveled or tapered so as to allow for the easy insertion of the skewer into the display holder. Multiple projections of varying heights may also be provided along the length of the skewer to allow for the insertion and retention of multiple pieces of fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, toFIGS. 1 and 2thereof, the fruit skewer of the present invention, referred to generally by reference numeral10, is illustrated. The fruit skewer10comprises an elongated skewer rod12for piercing and skewering fruit, food or non-food items. The skewer rod12body is formed in two sections: a handle portion14and a skewer portion16, the latter section being specifically designed to be inserted into a food or non-food item. In order to facilitate the insertion of the skewer portion16into the food or non-food item, a beveled tip18is provided at the end of the skewer portion16, said beveled tip18having a sharp point for piercing the flesh or skin of a piece of fruit or other object. In the preferred embodiment, the angle formed by the beveled tip18is between 45 and 75 degrees, although it should be appreciated that any angle sufficient to create a piercing element would be adequate.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the skewer portion16is in a cross-shaped (“+”) configuration, wherein four longitudinal fins20arranged perpendicularly to each other in a cross pattern run the length of the skewer portion16. These fins20are specifically adapted to engage the body of the object through which the skewer10is inserted to thereby prevent said object from rotating about the axis of the fruit skewer10. Such configuration is far preferable to the traditional rounded or squared skewer cross-sectional shape inasmuch as the fins20are far better suited to engage the object, in much the same way as a Philips' head screwdriver engages the corresponding element on a Philips' head screw. Alternatively, different cross-sectional shapes may be utilized, as illustrated inFIG. 4, which shows the fins20being arranged in a “Y” shape, and inFIG. 5, which shows the fins20being arranged in a star shape.

In the preferred embodiment, the handle portion14, which is designed to allow a user to grip and manipulate the fruit skewer10of the present invention, also includes elements designed to allow the user to maintain a firm and secure grip on the handle portion14. In such embodiment, the handle portion14includes a plurality of chamfered elements22formed as part of the handle portion14and running longitudinally along the surface thereof. Said chamfered elements22may mirror the longitudinal fins20of the skewer portion, although they do not need to be as pronounced. Ideally the chamfered elements22are also configured in a cross-shaped pattern, which shape prevents the fruit skewer10from spinning in a user's hand while the skewer10is being manipulated, such as when a piece of fruit is being skewered.

Inasmuch as the fruit skewer10may be used to create a decorative display of fruit or other items, it may be desired to arrange one or more skewers10on a platform or display base. Accordingly, a separate tapered tip24may be provided at the end of the handle portion14, which tapered tip24is designed to facilitate the insertion of the entire fruit skewer10, with or without a fruit or other object attached to the skewer portion16, into a platform or display base. The platform or display base may be as simple as a half melon. In such embodiment, the chamfered elements22also serve to stabilize the fruit skewer10and prevent it from rotating.

The handle portion14and the skewer portion16of the fruit skewer10are separated by a raised protrusion26, which in the preferred embodiment takes the form of a raised annular shoulder28. The purpose of this annular shoulder28is to separate the handle portion14and skewer portion16, and to prevent an object skewered by the skewered portion16from sliding down the entire length of the skewer rod12. The raised shoulder28also serves to prevent the fruit skewer10from being inserted too far into the platform or display base. In the preferred embodiment, a second raised annular shoulder30is provided between the annular shoulder28and the beveled tip18, which second shoulder30also serves to prevent the fruit from sliding too far down the skewer rod12, while maintaining a distance between the fruit and the platform or display base. Alternatively, this second shoulder30may be situated between the shoulder28and the tapered tip24, along the length of the handle portion14.

The distance between the second shoulder30and the beveled tip18may be varied so as to accommodate different fruits or other objects. For example, smaller grapes require only a small amount of the skewer portion16to be inserted therein, while larger strawberries require larger lengths of the skewer portion16. Similarly, the lengths of the handle portion14and the skewer portion16may be varied depending upon the size of the fruit or objects used, or the design to be created. In the preferred embodiment, the total length of the skewer rod12is between 8 and 8½ inches, the distance between the annular shoulder and the beveled tip is between 2 and 2½ inches, and the distance between the annular shoulder28and the second shoulder30is between ¾ and 1½ inches. In the preferred embodiment, the widths of the annular shoulder28and second shoulder30are both between 0.04 and 0.05 inches and they both extend beyond the outer surface of the fins20and chamfered elements22by at least 0.05 inches. The overall diameter of the skewer rod12in the preferred embodiment is ideally between 0.2 and 0.3 inches.

It should be appreciated that, given the unique shape of the fruit skewer10of the present invention, certain materials are more suited for the manufacturer thereof than others. In the preferred embodiment, the skewer10is made of plastic, which may easily be formed to include the unique elements of the present invention. Unfortunately, since many plastics would melt if the skewer10were used for cooking in an extremely hot environment, such as on a grill, barbecue or in an oven, plastic is not always an ideal choice. Other suitable materials include metal, bamboo or wood.

For the ease of manufacturing, the fruit skewer10of the present invention is configured as a straight elongated skewer rod12, other shapes are anticipated. It should be appreciated that one of the primary uses of the fruit skewer10is as a decorative element. Accordingly, the skewer10may be made in fanciful shapes such as curves or curlicues, or may include one or more angles. In fact, since multiple fruit skewers10may be utilized to create a “bouquet” of flowers made out of fruit, such as melons, grapes, strawberries and pineapples, the skewer may be configured so as to resemble the stem of a flower.

Having thus described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.