Abstract:
A muddler comprises an elongated member that ends in a head with spikes for crushing fruit pieces or other flavor ingredients. In a reverse mode, the muddler can be used as an ice crusher. Optional side located stirring ribs or formations may be provided to facilitate stirring. A handle comprises an elongated member that ends in a head with a tool interface or working face for performing kitchen or culinary work or work on wood, metal or the like. The head can be removed from the elongated member, and different heads in a set applied with the handle. There can be a finger grip portion at the top to facilitate handling and turning and manipulation.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/545,806, filed Aug. 21, 2009; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/361,252, filed May 7, 2010; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/332,909, filed May 10, 2010. This application also relates and claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/342,334, filed Aug. 21, 2009 and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/361,249, filed May 7, 2010, the contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The disclosure pertains to a muddler and stirrer. Further the disclosure relates to a handle for tools such as kitchen tools, cutlery, other workshop hand tools and other implements that need to be manipulated and used manually. 
         [0003]    A muddler is a bar tool that can be used to extract flavors from beverage ingredients such as citrus fruit pieces, by breaking them up or crushing them. A paddle-type stirrer is good for this purpose but a beverage. The muddler is effective for extracting flavor from fruit and for dispersing fruit pieces into a beverage, but does not serve particularly well as a stirrer, and there is a need to render the muddler more versatile than simply being an extraction device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The disclosure provides a muddler which operates more efficiently and also provides different functions. The device has the attributes of both a muddler and an ice crusher. 
         [0005]    The hand tools in a kitchen environment can be potato mashers, ladles, spatulas, beaters, mixers and blenders. Other such implements can be bottle openers, cork screws and pulls. Additionally the handle can have use on pots and pans, and with knives, forks and spoons. 
         [0006]    In a hand tool environment, the handle can have application on drills, screw drivers, hammers, pliers, spanners and cutters. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a first side view of the muddler of the present disclosure, illustrating the processing of fruit slices in a glass. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a second side view of the muddler of the present disclosure, the view being a 90 degree turn relative to  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is top view of the muddler. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a second use of the muddler as an ice crusher, the perspective view being from the top of the muddler as inserted in a glass. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from the bottom of the muddler. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view from the top of the muddler with parts separated. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view from the bottom of the muddler. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 8A to 8G  are different views of a potato masher. The different aspects of the masher are shown in the drawings. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9A to 9E  are different views of a spoon. The different aspects of the spoon are shown in the drawings. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 10A to 10F  are different views of an ice pick. The different aspects of the ice pick are shown in the drawings. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 11A to 11F  are different views of a chisel. The different aspects of the chisel are shown in the drawings. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 12A to 12D  are different views of a spanner. The different aspects of the spanner are shown in the drawings. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13A to 13C  are different views of separable components of the handle. The different aspects of the spanner are shown in the drawings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    A combination muddler and ice crusher comprises an elongated member terminating in a head; and at a location towards a top of the muddler. The muddler action is with the head operational downwardly, and the ice crusher action being in reverse when the top is located downwardly. Towards the top there is an aperture or formation to facilitate accommodating a finger or thumb of a user. This permit enhanced action of the muddler. The top area is an ice crusher when the top is located in engagement with ice. 
         [0022]    There is provided an elongated element elongated member  10  that terminates in a screw connected and removable head  12 . The head  12  has a lower surface  14  from which extends a plurality of projections  16 , which extend from the surface  14  of the head  12 , namely at the bottom of the elongated member  10 . The projections  16  are spikes, and they are arranged in a particular pattern on the bottom surface  14 . 
         [0023]    The elongated member  10  has an exterior concave type surface that is, in part, relatively flatter at  20  and in other part relatively more curved at  22 , and ends at a handle at the top which is relatively outwardly flared compared to the narrower portion of the shaft  10 . 
         [0024]    A device comprises an elongated member  10  that is adapted to act as a muddler and an ice crusher. The head  12  has three lobes  24 ,  26  and  28  arranged equilaterally around the longitudinal axis of the elongated member  10 . The outside perimeter  30  of the lobes  24 ,  26 , and  28  is such that there are outwardly curved portions  24 ,  26  and  28  and between those portions inwardly ducted portions  32 ,  34 , and  36 . There can be any number of shapes for the head perimeter  30 . 
         [0025]    The central axis  38  of the elongated member  10  passes through the head  12  substantially at right angles to the surface  14 . The surface  14  of the head  12  has projections  16  that extend from it. These projections  16  are small spikes that can assist with breaking apart a fruit such as a slice of citrus fruit commonly found in beverages such as cocktails. The number of projections or spikes  16  from the surface  14  can vary according to the desired use of the muddler. In some circumstances there can be many more than shown in the drawings. The drawings are only illustrative, and the size and shape of the projections can vary. The surface  14  is provided in some circumstances as part of a removable plate element  114 , which has peripheral grooves, lips or the like to so the plate  114  can removable fit on the base of the head  12 . 
         [0026]    The device  10  can be long enough to extend past the rim of a drinking glass when the head  12  is resting on the bottom of the glass. The surface area of the head  12  is designed such that reciprocating the device vertically and/or transversely or a combination of movements creates a stirring or mixing effect in the glass. 
         [0027]    This stirring effect can be enhanced by providing the device  10  with stirring ribs  40 . The stirring ribs  40  may be one or more in number and can be evenly spaced around the circumference of the elongated member  10 . The ribs  40  extend between the head  12  and at least a lower portion  18  of the elongated member  10 . As such, the rotary stirring action of the device is enhanced, and can be turned between the fingers and not just reciprocated vertically. 
         [0028]    There is an aperture  42  in the top of the elongated member  10  for locating a finger or thumb. The action the muddler by hand action can be enhanced and more positively transmitted to the muddler through this ability to grip the muddler more positively. The shape of the muddler shaft  10  also facilitates the positive action. At the top face  44  of the shaft there is an indentation  46  for locating the ball of the thumb. 
         [0029]    The top end  48  of the head  12  is screw connected with the elongated member  10 . The end  48  of the head  12  has a central shaft  50  with screw threads  52  to connect with an internal bore  54  at the end  56  of the elongated shaft  10  and along the axis  38 . Different forms of connection are possible as an alternative to the screw connection. 
         [0030]    The underside surface  14  of the head  12  shows an arrangement of spikes or projections  16 . It is understood that this particular pattern represents only an example and not a limiting feature of the disclosure. The external spike surface  16  of the elongated member  10  may be polyhedral, in this example, relatively on a square base. 
         [0031]    The elongated member  10  varies in cross section from the upper surface of the head  12  to a location adjacent to the upper end  44  of the device. The upper end  44  of the elongated member  10  is round in cross section and has a central indentation  46 . Below the circular top surface  44 , the elongated member  10  has an undercut waist  58  when considered from one side view where the aperture  42  is formed for the finger. When considered, viewed around its axis  38 , the side wall surface  60  of the elongated member  10  gradually curves inwardly between the areas  20  and  22  so that the narrowest part of the overall shaft is about midway along the overall length of the elongated member  10 . The waist  58  where the finger grip is at the top of the muddler may be narrower, when viewed or considered from one side view. 
         [0032]    The trilobal hole in the handle allows the handle of any applicable device requiring certain hand motions to be effectively used as a comfortable effective too using the fingers or part of the hand. Each of the sides of the trilobal structure provides a curved interface and thus is no a straight line. As such enhances comfort, and each intersection of the sides has a rounded corner. Similarly from the outer face of the shaft towards the central axis of the shaft there is a slope towards the central axis, such that the smallest part of the hole is at the central axis and the larger parts of the hole are at the outer extremities. The upper end  44  is relatively larger in overall diameter than the shaft diameter, and is sized in diameter to provide an effective and comfortable location with the palm of a hand. 
         [0033]    There are a series of outwardly extending extraction ribs or lobes  62  which are relatively elliptically formed and circumferentially spaced ribs that extend on the outer surface  64  of the head  12  almost to the top edge  66  of the head  12  and also to the lower surface interface at  68 . The ribs  62  also present an undulated perimeter to allow for fruit to move to either side of the head  12 . These ribs  62  allow juice and oils of the fruit to be extracted on the side of the muddler head  12 . This is in addition to the muddling occurring with the surface  14 . 
         [0034]    Along the side wall surface  64  of the head  12  there are circumferentially spaced indented formations, lobes or ribs  70  positioned on the surface  64 . These formations or ribs  70  are indentations alternating circumferentially with the protrusion ribs  62  on the outer surface  64  of the head  12 . The concave elliptical cuts outs  70  assist in eliminating suctions and drag when the fruit is being crushed and muddled. Different amounts of the side formations or ribs  70  and ribs  62  can be provided. 
         [0035]    When the head  12  is removed, and the muddler  10  is turned upside down, the portion  44  that is normally the area for locating the thumb is used for breaking or crushing ice. The outside surface on the shaft being the elongated member  10 , with the spaced transverse ribs  40  facilitates non-slip handling by the hand or fingers when the device is used for ice crushing. 
         [0036]    In some cases there can be a cover member or shawl  72  for the head  12 . 
         [0037]    While the present disclosure has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In particular, the precise cross sectional shape of the elongated member  10  can be varied. The external configuration may be determined by any number of factors both aesthetic and functional. The centrally narrower or thinner part of the shaft  10  facilitates the operation of the muddler. The shape of the aperture  42  towards the top of the shaft  10  for accommodating a finger can be varied. As shown the shape is essentially triangular, with the flat  74  of the essentially triangular opening being adjacent the top  44  of the device  10  and to the other sides tapering to an apex  76  at a location removed from the top  44 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8G  relate to a potato masher. The different aspects of the masher is that there are arms  101  extending from the elongated member  100  which has a relatively curved portion  122  above a relatively flat portion  120 . There are masher arms  101  connected to the flatter portion  120  of the elongated member  100 , and the arms  101  have a masher head  102  which mashes potatoes or other food products in a bowl  103 . The masher arms  10  may be made of nylon with a polished aluminum masher head  102 . The elongated member  100  may be made of anti-slip material. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 9A to 9E  the spoon. The different aspects of the spoon are that there is an elongated member  200  which has a relatively curved portion  222  above a relatively flat portion  220 . The extension spoon arm  201  is connected to the flatter portion  220  of the elongated member  200 , and the extension spoon arm  201  has a spoon or ladle head  202  for mixing and lifting food products in a bowl  203 . The upper part of the elongated member  200 , being parts  222  and  220  and the extension arm  201  may be made of different materials to each other. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 10A to 10F  the ice pick. The different aspects of the ice pick are that there is an elongated member  300  which has a relatively curved portion  322  above a relatively flat portion  320 . The ice pick  301  is connected to the flatter portion  320  of the elongated member  300 , and the pick  201  has a sharp point for breaking ice  303 . The upper part of the elongated member  300 , being parts  322  and  320  and the pick  301  may be made of different materials to each other. The pick  301  may be threadingly engaged with the upper portion  320  through threads  350  engaging a receiving threaded aperture  352 . As such replaceable picks or other devices can be attached to the member  300 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 11A to 11F  are different views of a chisel. The different aspects of the chisel are that there is an elongated member  400  which has a relatively curved portion  422  above a relatively flat portion  420 . The chisel  401  is connected to the flatter portion  420  of the elongated member  400 , and the chisel  401  has a sharp blade for working a surface when hammered with a mallet  402 . The upper part of the elongated member  400 , being parts  422  and  420  and the chisel  401  may be made of different materials to each other. The chisel blade portion  401  may be threadingly engaged with the upper portion  420  through threads  450  engaging a receiving threaded aperture  452 . As such replaceable chisels or other devices can be attached to the member  400 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 12A to 12D  are different views of a spanner. The different aspects of the spanner are that there is an elongated member  500  which has a relatively curved portion  522  above a relatively flat portion  520 . The spanner  501  is connected to the flatter portion  520  of the elongated member  500 , and the spanner  501  has engaging faces for gripping a bolt  502 . The upper part of the elongated member  500 , being parts  522  and  520  and the pick  501  may be made of different materials to each other. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 13A to 13C  are different views of the separable components of the handle. The different aspects of the separable components are that that there is an elongated member  10  which has a relatively curved portion  22  above a relatively flat portion  20 . The elongated member may be of multiple different components and the upper portion  301  may be threadingly engaged with the lower portion through threads  150  engaging a receiving threaded aperture  152 . As such replaceable picks or other devices can be attached to the member  300 . Different kinds of connectors can be used and some cases there can be a bayonet connector configuration or alternatively a force and variable friction fit engagement. 
         [0044]    It will be understood that the shape of the exterior of the elongated member  10  may be regular, smooth or irregular in cross section, square, or otherwise curved or straight. Elongated shapes of this kind are easier to twirl than flat or paddle shapes. 
         [0045]    The handle may be removable from the remainder of the tool, and in this sense there can be a threaded shank for engagement in a mating internally threaded aperture. Other forms of joinder of the handle shank with the leading and/or working edge/face of the tool are possible. The shank may be of different lengths to suit the tool being used. The hole may be of different sizes and shapes to facilitate the accommodation of the finger or part of the finger or thumb. The waist where the hole is can be of different degrees or shapes of inward pinching, to facilitate different sizes of hands, fingers and anatomical characteristics of a user and the tool itself. The hole is used for assisting in manipulation of the tool, and in that sense should be sufficiently large and/or sized to accommodate one or more parts of the hand anatomy of the user. In some cases the circumferential top may be formed in a shape that is not circumferential, but rather having one or more straight sides. Straight edges can facilitate manipulation and handling of the handle in a positive manner. In a further aspect the disclosure the handle may be a components fashioned with a suitable connector to engage any of multiple tools or implements. The length of the handle can vary as appropriate to be functionally effective with the tool. In some case the length of the handle can have an adjustable feature, such a screw threaded engagement or a pin and hole formation whereby its length can be adjusted as needed. Overall the functional features of the hole in the shank and the broad top provides for effective manipulation of the tool. 
         [0046]    It will also be understood that the size, shape, number and even presence of extending projections on the underside of the head represent design choices over which there is a wide range of latitude. There can be various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.