Abstract:
An improved utensil such as a spatula, spoon, ladle or the like wherein there is provided a lip portion extending outwardly from one of the corners formed where a front edge meets a side edge, the lip portion assisting in the scraping or mixing of contents in a container which has a circular configuration and an arcuate merging section between the side wall and base thereof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an improvement in a utensil and more particularly, relates to an improvement in utensils suitable for use in the culinary arts.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The field of utensils which are suitable for use in the culinary field is replete with many different proposals for different types of utensils. Thus, there are provided spoons and spatulas of different sizes and configurations depending upon the final use of the device. However, to-date, none of the devices known to applicant are able to satisfactorily be used in bowls or pans, or the like which typically have an arcuate configuration and an arcuate or otherwised shaped merging section between the side wall and base thereof.  
         [0003]     A number of different types of utensils are known in the art. Thus, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,411 to Hardy which discloses a conventional type of spatula having a straight front edge. Such spatulas are widely available.  
         [0004]     A modified version of a spatula is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,996 wherein an angled front edge is utilized. The spatula has rounded corners to assist in the manipulation of food.  
         [0005]     Spatulas having pointed portions are also known in for example, U.S. Pat. No. 901,671 which discloses a spatula having a leading edge or point at the center thereof.  
         [0006]     Spoons or like articles having an arcuate corner configuration are known and thus, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. Design 9,204,296 which discloses such a article.  
         [0007]     However, despite the number of utensils which are known, many such devices are not suitable for fully reaching into the corners of a pan or pot to manipulate the food ingredients.  
         [0008]     Thus, when utilizing the utensil with a bowl or a pan or the like which have such a merging arcuate section, it is impossible to fully scrape this portion of the bowl or pan. As will be appreciated, this is often desirable when one is mixing, stirring or otherwise manipulating the contents of the bowl or pan.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved utensil suitable for use in the culinary arts and which utensil has means for removing the material from the corner of a pan, pot, bowl, or the like.  
         [0010]     According to one aspect of the present invention, in an utensil having a food contacting member, there is provided an improvement wherein the food contacting member has a first side edge, a second side edge and a front edge extending between the side edges, a first corner being formed where the first side edge meets the front edge and a second corner being formed where the second side edge meets the front edge; and a lip portion extending forwardly from the front edge substantially adjacent the first corner, the lip portion having an outline comprising a first segment which is substantially a continuation of the first side edge, a second segment comprising a front edge segment and a third side segment which extends from the front edge segment inwardly to meet the front edge of the food contacting member, the lip portion extending forwardly from the front edge a distance greater than any other protrusion on the front edge.  
         [0011]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a utensil comprising a handle, a member connected to the handle, the member having a first side edge, a second side edge and a front edge extending between the side edges, a first corner being formed where the first side edge meets the front edge, and a second corner being formed where the second side edge meets the front edge, and a lip portion extending outwardly, the lip portion being located at one of the corners, the lip portion extending beyond a plane which is substantially tangential to the front edge at a point substantially intermediate the side edges.  
         [0012]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in a utensil having a food contacting member, the improvement wherein the food contacting member has a first side edge, a second side edge and a front edge extending between the side edges, a first corner being formed where the first side edge meets the front edge, and a second corner being formed where the second side edge meets the front edge, and a lip portion extending outwardly, the lip portion being located at one of the corners, the lip portion extending beyond a plane which is substantially tangential to the front edge at a point substantially intermediate the side edges.  
         [0013]     As used in the present application, the term utensil includes within its scope any implement which may be used in the culinary arts for the purpose of mixing, dispensing, lifting, serving, separating, or a like operation. Some of the commonly known implements include, for example, those commonly described as spatulas, different types of spoons, ladles, etc. All of these implements are generally characterized by having a handle portion and a food contacting portion. The handle portion usually comprises an elongated member which may have many different configurations and which is either permanently or temporarily attached to the food contacting portion. The food contacting portion, depending upon the ultimate purpose of the utensil, may have a relatively flat upper and bottom surface as is the case in most spatulas. Alternatively, in the case of ladles and spoons and the like, the upper surface is generally of a concave configuration.  
         [0014]     In all of the above instances, the utensil generally has a pair of side edges and a front edge. In some instances, the side edges and the front edge are substantially linear in configuration while in other embodiments, such as many spoons and ladles, both the front and side edges may have a substantially arcuate configuration with the front edge merging substantially arcuately with the side edges.  
         [0015]     The present invention is designed to be used with all of the aforementioned configurations. In general, as stated above, there are provided a pair of opposed side edges and a front edge, with first and second corners being formed where the front edge meets the first and second side edges.  
         [0016]     According to the present invention, there is provided a lip which extends forwardly from the front edge substantially adjacent the first corner, the lip having an outline which comprises a first segment which is substantially a continuation of the first side edge, a second segment which comprises a front edge, a third side segment which extends from the front edge segment inwardly to meet the front edge of the food contacting member. The lip portion is characterized as extending forwardly from the front edge a distance greater than any other protrusion on the front edge.  
         [0017]     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement wherein the food contacting portion includes a lip which extends outwardly, the lip being located substantially adjacent one of the corners and the lip extending beyond a plane which is substantially tangential to the front edge at a point substantially intermediate the side edges.  
         [0018]     In a greater detail, when reference is had to a plane which is substantially tangential to the front edge at a point substantially intermediate the side edges, it will be understood that this plane is taken at a point which may vary. In general terms, it is generally preferred to take the tangential point at a position which is spaced substantially equidistantly inwardly from the side edges. In the case of a utensil having a straight front edge, such as many spatulas, it is irrelevant at what point the plane is measured at since it would be a common plane at all points (except for the lip portion).  
         [0019]     In the case of a curved front edge, the center point will generally be the most forward extending point (except for the lip) in a conventional spoon or ladle type of implement. It suffices to say that one skilled in the art would be readily able to establish the location of such a tangential plane. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a utensil according to the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a utensil according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a partial detailed view of the food contacting portion of the utensil shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a partial detailed side view of the food contacting portion of the utensil shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the lip portion thereof; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a spatula according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view as seen from the left hand side of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7   c  is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7   d  is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 8   a  is a top plan view of a still further version of a spatula according to the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8   b  is a top plan view of a still further version of a spatula according to the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of a potato masher according to the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10   a  is a top view of a ladle having a lip in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10   b  is an elevational view showing the ladle of  FIG. 10   a;    
         [0036]      FIG. 10   c  is a perspective view showing the ladle of  FIG. 10   a;    
         [0037]      FIG. 10   d  is an elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0038]     Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a  utensil which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 .  
         [0039]     Utensil  10  is comprised of a handle  12  and a food contacting portion generally designated by reference numeral  14 . Food contacting portion  14  includes a base wall  16  which has a first side edge  20 . A first side wall  18  extends upwardly from side edge  20 . Similarly, there is provided a second opposed side edge  24  having an upwardly extending second side wall  22 .  
         [0040]     Extending between side edges  20  and  24  is a front edge generally designated by reference numeral  26 .  
         [0041]     The merger of side edge  20  and front edge  26  provides a first corner  28 , while a second corner  30  is provided where second side edge  24  merges with front edge  26 .  
         [0042]     According to the present invention, there is provided a lip which is generally designated by reference numeral  32 . As may be best seen in  FIG. 5 , lip  32  includes a first segment  38  which is substantially a continuation of side edge  24 . This in turn merges with a second segment which is a front edge segment designated by reference numeral  36 , and a third side segment  34  which extends from the front edge segment  36  inwardly to meet the front edge  26  of the instrument.  
         [0043]     Lip  32  is characterized as extending beyond a plane which is tangential to the front edge of the food contacting portion  14  at a point which is intermediate side edges  20  and  24 .  
         [0044]     The embodiment of  FIG. 2  is substantially the same as that of  FIG. 1  with minor modifications thereto. Thus, there is provided a utensil  110  having a handle  112  and a food contacting portion  114 . A bottom wall  116  is provided with a plurality of apertures  117  therein.  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , there may be provided a spatula generally designated by reference numeral  210 . Reference numerals similar to those previously utilized are employed in this embodiment, but are numbered in the 200&#39;s. Thus, as may be seen, there is provided a lip  232  which extends forwardly of the front edge of the spatula at a first corner thereof. As may be seen, a plurality of elongated slots or apertures  217  are provided therein.  
         [0046]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , utensil  310  is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . However, there are provided a pair of upwardly extending side walls  322  and  318  extending upwardly from the side edges. It is to be noted that side walls  322  and  318  terminate short of the corners.  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 9 , there is shown a utensil  410  which is in the form of a potato masher. In this embodiment, there is again provided a utensil  410  with a food contacting portion  414  which has a lip  432  and which has an outline or configuration which comprises a first segment  438  which is a continuation of the side wall  440 , a front segment  436 , and a second side segment  434  which extends inwardly. It should be understood that the front segment  436  may have any suitable configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the front segment  436  may have a substantially curved or arcuate configuration, a substantially rectilinear configuration or, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 a  substantially pointed configuration defined by segments  438  and  434  meeting at a relatively sharp angle.  
         [0048]     In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 10   a  through  10   d , the utensil is a ladle-type of implement. The ladle includes a substantially concave ladle wall defining a wall peripheral edge.  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c  illustrate an embodiment wherein the food contacting portion defines a generally horizontal reference plane P and wherein the lip  532  protrudes at an angle relative to the reference plane P.  FIG. 10   d  illustrates an embodiment wherein the lip  532  does not protrude from the reference plane P.  
         [0049]     The fact that the lip  532  protrudes from the reference plane P facilitates ergonomical positioning of the lip  532  relative to the corner sections of culinary vessels in certain situations. In the case of a ladle, the reference plane P is defined as coinciding with the wall peripheral edge. It should be understood that the concept of having the lip protrude substantially outwardly or at an angle from a substantially horizontal reference plane could apply to other types of utensils or implements without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the case of a spatula, the reference plane could extend in a coplanar relationship with the food contacting plate. In the case of a spoon the reference plane could extend in a coplanar relationship with the peripheral edge of the spoon.  
         [0050]     In each of the above cases, the lip portion is designed to facilitate the removal of food contents from corners of pans and the like. This is extremely useful when mixing or otherwise manipulating the food while cooking. In the case of the potato masher  410 , lip  432  ensures that the masher reaches right into the corners of the container.  
         [0051]     It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.