Abstract:
A measuring device has one or more vessels with an adjustable capacity. The vessel is made of a flexible material with a peripheral hinge. The peripheral hinge enables the vessel to be reconfigured from one configuration having a first holding capacity to a second configuration having a different holding capacity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a measuring device such as a spoon as might be used in the kitchen to measure ingredients for cooking and might equally be applicable to the oral administration of medicines. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a measuring device having alternatively selectable capacities. 
         [0002]    Known measuring spoons comprise a bowl or vessel having a handle extending therefrom. The vessel is of fixed capacity. Examples of kitchen spoon sizes are “teaspoon”, “desert spoon” and “tablespoon”. Each of these has a bowl or vessel with an internal volume that approximates a standard size. Similarly, spoons used for administering liquid oral medication have standard bowl volumes—usually quoted in cubic centimetres. 
         [0003]    It is difficult with such known spoons to measure out or administer a volume that is somewhat less than that of the standard capacity. For example, “half a teaspoon” can only be roughly estimated. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide an improved measuring device having one or more vessels of adjustable capacity. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    There is disclosed herein a measuring device, comprising:
       a handle made of substantially rigid material,   a vessel made of flexible material and having a peripheral hinge by which the vessel is supported by the handle, the peripheral hinge enabling the vessel to be reconfigured from a first configuration in which it has a first holding capacity, and a second configuration in which it has a second holding capacity that is different to the first holding capacity.       
 
         [0008]    Preferably, the handle comprises a suspension frame to which the peripheral hinge is attached. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the vessel comprises a suspension band attached to the suspension frame. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the suspension band has top and bottom peripheries, and the peripheral hinge is situated closer to one of the peripheries than the other. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the suspension band has a first peripheral retaining lip adjacent to the top periphery and a second peripheral retaining lip adjacent to the bottom periphery, each retaining lip extending about respective first and second edges of the suspension frame. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the handle is made of plastics material. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, the handle is made of metal. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the vessel is made of rubber. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the vessel is made of resilient plastics material. 
         [0016]    The measuring device might comprise a pair of said vessels—one at each respective end of the handle. 
         [0017]    Preferably, each vessel is of mutually different size. 
         [0018]    The invention will advantageously provide a single measuring device capable of being easily reconfigured to provide variable measuring capacities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a measuring device with its vessel in a first configuration in which it&#39;s holding capacity is minimised, 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side elevation of the measuring device in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the measuring device taken at III-III in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional detailed partial elevation of that portion of the measuring device identified at IV in  FIG. 3 , 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective illustration of the measuring device in the configuration of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic plan view of the same measuring device with its vessel in a second configuration in which its holding capacity is maximised, 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side elevation of the measuring device in the configuration of  FIG. 6 , 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the measuring device taken at VIII-VIII in  FIG. 6 , 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional detailed partial elevation of that portion of the measuring device identified at IX in  FIG. 8 , 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a schematic inverted plan view of the measuring device in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 6 , 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a schematic perspective illustration of the measuring device in the configuration of  FIGS. 6 to 10 , and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective illustration of an alternative measuring device having reconfigurable vessels at each end of its handle. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    In  FIGS. 1 to 11  of the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a measuring device or spoon  10 . The spoon  10  comprises a handle  11  which might be made of metal or moulded plastics material for example. The exact material itself is not of critical importance, but it should be substantially rigid. The handle has an eyelet  17  by which the spoon could be suspended from a hook in a cupboard for example. At the opposite end of the handle  11 , there is provided an integral suspension frame  13 . The frame  13  supports a flexible vessel  12 . The vessel  12  is made of flexible material such as rubber, or synthetic plastics material. The exact material itself is not of critical importance. Suffice to say that the material ought to be flexible and resilient. The vessel  12  includes a storage area or “vessel proper” of substantially hemispherical shape although this is not essential. 
         [0033]    As Best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , the suspension frame  13  is shaped somewhat like an egg frame and the vessel  12  comprises features at its periphery enabling it to be firmly attached to the suspension frame  13 . Moreover, the vessel  12  has an integrally formed suspension band  18  which fits snugly inside the suspension frame  13  and comprising first and second continuous (circular) retaining lips  15  and  16  that fit tightly over the respective upper and lower extremities of the suspension frame  13 . The vessel proper is hingedly contiguous with the suspension band  18  by means of a flexible peripheral hinge  14  which is typically slightly thinner than the vessel proper itself. The hinge  14  extends from an upper portion of the suspension band  18 . In the configuration of the vessel proper as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the vessel proper takes on a minimised volume. However, the base of the vessel proper (the convex surface downwardly facing external surface of the vessel as shown in  FIG. 2 ) can be pushed upwardly to “flip” or “inverted” the vessel into the inside-out configuration depicted in  FIGS. 6 to 11 . In the inside-out configuration of the measuring device as shown in these figures, the storage capacity of the vessel is maximised. This is brought about by the fact that the peripheral hinge  14  is positioned more closely to retaining lip  15  than retaining lip  16 . The additional volume is provided by the height of the suspension band  18 . In order to facilitate easy inversion of the vessel proper, it is provided with thinned or otherwise weakened lines  19  which reduce the inherent (albeit slight) rigidity of the vessel proper as brought about by its hemispherical shape. 
         [0034]    In the configuration of  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the capacity of the vessel  12  might be that of a half teadevice, whereas in the configuration depicted in  FIGS. 6 to 11 , the capacity of the vessel  12  might be that of a full teadevice for example. 
         [0035]    An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, measuring device  20  has a vessel at each end. These would typically be a different size. For example, at one end of the handle  11 , there is provided a large suspension frame  13 A supporting a large invertible vessel  12 A. At the opposite end of the handle  11 , a smaller suspension frame  13 B is provided which supports a smaller invertible vessel  12 B. 
         [0036]    It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the depicted embodiment has a moulded plastics handle  11 , the handled could be fabricated predominantly in metallic wire with a loop at one or both ends to form the suspension ring(s)  13 . It should also be appreciated that the vessel can be released from the suspension frame  13  by peeling the retaining lips  15  and  16  away from the upper and lower edges of the retaining frame  13  for cleaning purposes or replacement for example. Furthermore, the vessel need not be substantially hemispherical in shape. It might for example be spherically oval in shape, cylindrical, or polygonal in horizontal cross section if desired.