Swivel spoon

A swivel spoon of the type having a functional member which rotates in relation to a handle is provided. The swivel spoon comprises: a handle and a stem having an elongated section, an angled section, a spoon bowl end, and a first end. A portion of the elongated section is rotatably connected to the handle in a manner such that the spoon bowl rotates in relation to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The angled section extends at an angle between twenty-five and sixty degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongated section of the stem. The spoon bowl extends from the angled section parallel with the handle and the elongated section of the stem.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to eating utensils and more particularly to 
eating utensils that have a functional member which rotates in relation to 
the handle. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Those with poor hand muscle and/or motor control such as young children or 
those suffering from conditions such as arthritis, general physical 
weakness or post-operative conditions have difficulty in grasping eating 
utensils and bringing the utensil to the mouth without spillage. Attempts 
have been made to weight these utensils or to provide a functional member 
with a straight stem that rotates to accommodate these users. However, 
these attempts have not heretofore been entirely satisfactory. 
It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a swivel spoon that has a spoon 
bowl rotatably connected to a handle by a stem having an elongated section 
and an angled section. It would be a further benefit to have an angled 
stem section which acts as a moment arm. It would be a still further 
benefit to have an oversized handle for easy grasping. 
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION 
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a swivel spoon that has an 
elongated stem section and an angled stem section rotatably connected to a 
handle in a manner such that a spoon bowl rotates in relation to the 
longitudinal axis of the handle maintaining the spoon bowl in a upright 
position. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a swivel spoon that has 
an angle stem section that extends at an angle between twenty-five and 
sixty degrees from the elongated stem section. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a swivel spoon 
that has a spoon bowl that extends from the angled stem section parallel 
with the handle and the elongated stem section. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a swivel spoon 
that has an oversized handle to facilitate grasping. 
Accordingly, a swivel spoon of the type having a functional member which 
rotates in relation to a handle is provided. The swivel spoon comprises: a 
handle and a stem having an elongated section, an angled section, a spoon 
bowl end, and a first end. 
The handle may be made of any material suitable for an eating utensil such 
as plastic, steel or ceramic. The handle is sized to facilitate grasping 
by a young child or a person who has limited dexterity. 
In a preferred embodiment, the handle is constructed in two halves to form 
a cylindrical handle. The handle forming a pathway therein for rotatably 
entrapping a portion of the elongated section of the stem. The pathway 
having a first portion extending along the longitudinal axis of the handle 
and a second portion having an inside diameter larger than that of the 
first portion. 
The stem may be made of plastic, silver, steel or silver plated steel. The 
first end of the stem and a portion of the elongated section are rotatably 
disposed within the pathway. The stem may be retained in the handle by an 
O-ring, snap ring, flange or by any other means for rotatably maintaining 
the stem in the handle known in the art. 
The angled section extends from the elongated section at an angle between 
twenty-five and sixty degrees from the longitudinal axis of the elongated 
section. Preferably, the angled section extends at a forty-five degree 
angle. The spoon bowl end extends form the angled section aligned parallel 
with the handle and the elongated section of the stem. The angled section 
acts as a moment arm such that when the hand is moved the spoon bowl 
rotates about the longitudinal axis of the handle maintaining the spoon in 
an upright position.

EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 is a sectional, side view of an exemplary embodiment of the swivel 
spoon of the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10. 
swivel spoon 10 includes a handle generally designated 12 having a top 
section 14 and a bottom section 16, and a stem generally designated 18 
having an elongated section 20, an angled section 22, a spoon bowl end 24 
and a first end 26. 
Top section 14 and bottom section 16 are individually formed of unitary 
construction from plastic by a molding technique. Each of the handle 
sections are facewise disposed upon each other in marginal registration 
and fastened by glueing to form a cylindrical handle 12 as shown in FIG. 
1. Handle 12 is oversized to facilitate grasping by a young child or by a 
person having limited dexterity or use of a hand. 
Handle 12 defines a pathway therein having a first portion 28 and a second 
portion 30. First portion 28 is formed along the longitudinal axis of 
handle 12 having a end opening 32 defined by a front face 34 of handle 12. 
Second portion 30 is formed at the terminal end 33 of first portion 28 and 
is of a larger inside diameter than first portion 28. 
Stem 18 is formed of steel. A circular flange 36 is formed on first end 26 
of stem 18. Angled section 22 extends from elongated section 20 at a 
forty-five degree angle from the longitudinal axis of elongated section 
20. Spoon bowl end 24 extends form angled section 22 aligned parallel with 
handle 12 and elongated section 20 of stem 18. 
As shown in FIG. 1, swivel spoon 10 is constructed in the following manner. 
Top and bottom section 14,16 of handle 12 are individually molded in a 
manner defining half of first and second pathway portions 28,30. Each of 
the handle sections are facewise disposed upon each other in marginal 
registration and fastened by glueing with elongated section 20 rotatably 
disposed within first pathway portion 28 and flange 36 rotatably entrapped 
within second pathway portion 30. 
FIG. 2 is side view of another exemplary embodiment of the swivel spoon of 
the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10a. Swivel 
spoon 10a includes a handle generally designated 12a (shown in cross 
section) having a top section 14a and a bottom section 16a, and a stem 
generally designated 18a having an elongated section 20a, an angled 
section 22a, a spoon bowl end 24a and a first end 26a. 
Top section 14a and bottom section 16a are individually formed of unitary 
construction from plastic by a molding technique. Each of the handle 
sections are facewise disposed upon each other in marginal registration 
and fastened by glueing to form a cylindrical handle 12a as shown in FIG. 
2. Handle 12a defines a pathway therein having a first portion 28a and a 
second portion 30a. First pathway portion 28a is formed along the 
longitudinal axis of handle 12a having an end opening 32a defined by a 
front face 34a of handle 12a. Second pathway portion 30a is formed about 
the mid-point of first pathway portion 28a. Second pathway portion 30a has 
a larger inside diameter than first pathway portion 28a. 
Stem 18a is formed of steel. A ball bearing assembly 38a is attached in a 
manner rotatably disposing elongated section 20a between first end 26a and 
angled section 22a of stem 18a. Angled section 22a extends from elongated 
section 20a at a forty-five degree angle from the longitudinal axis of 
elongated section 20a. Spoon bowl end 24a extends form angled section 22a 
aligned parallel with handle 12a and elongated section 20a of stem 18a. 
As shown in FIG. 2, swivel spoon 10a is constructed in the following 
manner. Top and bottom section 14a,16a of handle 12a are individually 
molded in a manner defining half of first and second pathway portions 
28a,30a. Each of the handle sections are facewise disposed upon each other 
in marginal registration and fastened by glueing with a portion of 
elongated section 20a rotatably disposed within first pathway portion 28a 
and ball bearing assembly 38a entrapped within second pathway portion 30a. 
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, side view of stem 18a as shown in FIG. 2. 
Elongated section 20a forms a recess 40a between first end 26a and angled 
section 22a defined by shoulders 42a. Ball bearing housing 44a is retained 
within recess 40a by shoulders 42a. Ball bearings 46a contact elongated 
section 20a within recess 40a allowing stem 18a to smoothly rotate along 
its longitudinal axis. 
Use of the swivel spoon 10 is now described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. 
Handle 12,12a may be gripped by the user for dipping spoon bowl 24,24a 
into food. As the spoon bowl is brought to the user's mouth the user's 
hand may be unsteady or as in a child the movement may be uncoordinated. 
Movement or twisting of the handle 12,12a will create a force acting 
through the angled section 22,22a of the stem 18,18a causing the spoon 
bowl 24,24a to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the handle 12,12a 
maintaining the spoon bowl 24,24a in an upright position. 
It can be seen from the preceding description that an eating utensil which 
has an elongated stem section and an angled stem section rotatably 
connected to a handle in a manner such that a spoon bowl rotates in 
relation to the longitudinal axis of the handle maintaining the spoon bowl 
in a upright position, has an angle stem section that extends at an angle 
between twenty-five and sixty degrees from the elongated stem section, has 
a spoon bowl that extends from the angled stem section parallel with the 
handle and the elongated stem section, and has an oversized handle to 
facilitate grasping has been provided. 
It is noted that the embodiment of the swivel spoon described herein in 
detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different 
variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many 
varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the 
inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be 
made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive 
requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein 
are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.