Patent Publication Number: US-11034011-B2

Title: Camping utensil kit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/560,132, filed Sep. 18, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to camping tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to camping tools used for eating or cooking. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment relates to a camping utensil kit that includes a utensil having a food portion and a handle defining a handle aperture, a tool separate from the utensil and including a tool aperture, and a deformable connector selectively passing through the handle aperture and the tool aperture to maintain the utensil and the tool coupled together. 
     Another embodiment relates to a camping tool including an eating utensil having a handle and a handle coupling feature, a tool including a bent portion arranged at an oblique angle relative to a body portion, and a tool coupling feature, and a deformable connector engaging the handle coupling feature and the tool coupling feature and biasing the tool toward the eating utensil. The utensil has a primary function when disconnected from the tool, and a secondary function when connected to the tool, and the secondary function includes supporting the camping utensil kit on the bent portion to elevate the food portion above a surface and supporting the camping utensil kit on the edge of a container with the bent portion. 
     Another embodiment relates to a method that includes engaging a deformable connector through a handle aperture of an eating utensil, engaging the deformable connector through a tool aperture of a tool, biasing the tool toward the eating utensil with the deformable connector, and removing the tool from the eating utensil via movement perpendicular to a handle of the eating utensil. 
     Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top, left, front perspective view of a camping utensil kit, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom, left, rear perspective view of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom, left, rear perspective view of a utensil of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom, left, rear perspective view of a bonus tool of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom, left, front perspective view of a connector of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1  taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1  in a first use configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the camping utensil kit of  FIG. 1  in a second use configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring generally to the drawings, a camping utensil kit is shown and described that includes a utensil that can be used for eating, a bonus tool that includes a bent portion (e.g., a pry bar, nail puller, etc.) and a serrated hook, and a connector that selectively couples the bonus tool to the utensil. The bent portion of the bonus tool provides at least two secondary functions when the bonus tool is coupled to the utensil. First, the bent portion can elevate a food portion of the utensil above a surface that the camping utensil kit is resting on when not being actively used. Second, the bent portion can engage a side of a pot or cup to act as a rest or holder to hang the utensil from the pot or cup when the camping utensil kit is not being actively used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a camping utensil kit  10  includes a utensil  14  for eating or manipulating food, a bonus tool  18  that can be used for secondary functions (e.g., cutting opening, etc.), and a connector  22  that selectively couples the utensil  14  and the bonus tool  18  together. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connector  22  extends through the utensil  14  and the bonus tool  18  and holds the bonus tool  18  in engagement with the utensil  14 . 
     The utensil  14  includes a food portion  26  in the form of a spoon  30  with fork tines  34 , and a handle  38  that includes grip features in the form of dimples  40  and a rounded shape to make the handle  38  more comfortable to grasp. In other embodiments, the food portion  26  can include a sharpened edge, a knife, a spatula, etc. or the spoon  30  and/or fork tines  34  can be eliminated. Other grip features, such as a textured surface or other dimple/projection shapes are contemplated. In other embodiments, the curvature of the handle  38  defines a different radius or has a different shape (e.g., more elliptical), as desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a handle coupling feature is provided in the form of a handle aperture  42  and two handle tabs  46 . The handle aperture  42  is generally rectangular in profile and the two handle flanges or tabs  46  extend substantially perpendicular from the handle  38  adjacent the handle aperture  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, the handle tabs  46  are cut from the same piece of material as forms the handle  38  and bent into position. In other embodiments, the handle tabs  46  may be formed differently (e.g., welded in place, adhered, fastened, etc.). In other embodiments, the handle tabs  46  may extend from the handle  38  at an oblique angle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bonus tool  18  includes a body  47 , a bent portion  48  that includes a pry bar  50 , a flat head screw driver  54 , a nail puller  58 , and a bottle opener  62 . The bonus tool  18  also includes a can opener  66 , and a gut hook or serrated bag opener  70  ground into the bonus tool  18  for opening or cutting through common food packaging. In the illustrated embodiment, the bent portion  48  is arranged at an angle  72  (see  FIG. 7 ) of about one-hundred forty degrees (140°) relative to the body  47 . In other embodiments, the angle  72  can be between about thirty degrees (130°) and about fifty degrees (150°) relative to the body  47 . The bonus tool  18  may further include other tools as desired. For example, a knife edge, hex opening, box end wrench opening, file, or other tools may be included. Further, some of the tools shown in  FIG. 4  may be eliminated. A tool coupling feature in the form of a tool aperture  74  includes two tool recesses  78  sized to receive the handle tabs  46  of the utensil  14 . The tool aperture  74  is generally rectangular with the tool recesses  78  extending therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connector  22  includes a top cap  82  spaced apart from a handle shoulder  86  by a handle gap  90 , a tool bulb  94  spaced apart from the handle shoulder  86  by a tool gap  98 , and a tab shoulder  102  spaced apart from the top cap  82  by a tab gap  106 . The connector  22  also includes apertures or recesses  110  positioned to increase the flexibility of the tool bulb  94 . In some embodiments, the connector  22  is formed from a rubber or other material with enough flexibility to allow insertion and removal from the handle aperture  42  and the tool aperture  74 , while remaining rigid enough to maintain the utensil  14  engaged with the bonus tool  18  during use. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the connector  22  is engaged with the utensil  14  by positioning the handle  38  within the handle gap  90  of the connector  22  between the top cap  82  and the handle shoulder  86 . The top cap  82  and handle shoulder  86  are shaped to correspond to the curvature of the handle  14  and to frictionally engage the handle aperture  42 . The bonus tool  18  can be coupled to and uncoupled from the assembled utensil  14  and connector  22  by pushing the tool bulb  94  through the tool aperture  74  in a direction perpendicular to the handle  38 . The recesses  110  provide additional flexibility allowing the tool bulb  94  to squeeze through the tool aperture, and then expand again to maintain the bonus tool  18  engaged with the utensil  14 . The rounded shape of the tool bulb  94  biases the bonus tool  22  toward the utensil  14  and into the tool gap  98  so that the bonus tool  22  remains tightly engaged with the utensil  14 . In some embodiments, the bonus tool  22  is maintained in physical contact with the handle  38  of the utensil  14  while engaged. To remove the bonus tool  22 , a user pulls the bonus tool  22  away from the utensil  14  causing the tool bulb  94  to contract or squeeze through the tool aperture  74  and release the bonus tool  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the tab shoulder  102  of the connector  22  is sized to engage and remain engaged with the handle tabs  46  of the handle  38 . The tool recesses  78  of the bonus tool  22  are also shown engaged with the handle tabs  46  of the utensil  14  to inhibit rotation of the bonus tool  18  relative to the utensil  14  via rigid contact. The direct contact of the handle tabs  46  and the tool recesses  78  also inhibits lateral (e.g., front-to-back, side-to-side) movement of the bonus tool  18  relative to the utensil  14 . 
     The utensil  14  and the bonus tool  18  are both structured to be usable independently for specific purposes (e.g., eating, opening food, prying up a nail, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 8 , the camping utensil kit  10  provides a secondary function when the bonus tool  18  and the utensil  14  are assembled. The oblique angle of the bent portion  48  can engage a top portion or lip of a container in the form of a pot or cup  114  and inhibit the camping utensil kit  10  from falling into the pot or cup  114  or getting food onto the handle  38 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the camping utensil kit  10  provides another secondary function when the bonus tool  18  and the utensil  14  are assembled. The oblique angle of the bent portion  48  can rest against a surface  118  and inhibit food portion  26  of the utensil  14  from contacting the surface  118 . Other secondary functions of the assembled camping utensil kit  10  are conceivable and provided by the cooperation of the bonus tool  18  and the utensil  14 . 
     While the detailed drawings and specific examples given describe various exemplary embodiments of the camping utensil kit, they serve the purpose of illustration only. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangements of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.