Abstract:
A culinary whisk comprising an elongate handle, and a generally planar utility portion connected to the handle so as to be pivotably movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a culinary utensil and in particular a culinary whisk.  
         [0002]     Conventional culinary whisks can take a variety of forms the most common form being what is known a balloon whisk. Such a whisk usually comprises a handle and a utility portion formed of a plurality of metallic wire loops spaced angularly about the axis of the handle to define a generally balloon like shape. One disadvantage of this type of culinary whisk is that it is relatively bulky, and mixing or beating foodstuffs thereby is often not satisfactory because the loops at their lower regions often cannot effectively reach into any corners in a container containing the foodstuffs. Another disadvantage is that after use the loops of wire, which are fixed to the handle, are difficult to clean. Yet another disadvantage is that the balloon shape of the wires takes up a lot of storage space for example in a drawer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention seeks to provide a utensil which addresses these problems, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.  
         [0004]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a culinary whisk comprising an elongate handle, and a generally planar utility portion connected to the handle so as to be pivotably movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the handle.  
         [0005]     Preferably, the utility portion may comprise a plurality of wires. The utility portion may suitably comprise a generally planar wire loop and a coil of relatively fine wire extending around the wire loop. The coil of wire may be loosely wound around the wire loop to allow limited movement of the coil on the loop.  
         [0006]     The wire loop may be provided with a crosspiece to which the pivotable connection is made. The handle may be joined to the wire loop by a pair of legs extending from the handle. In particular, the legs may comprise bent over end regions bent around said crosspiece.  
         [0007]     The crosspiece may be provided with lugs preventing lateral movement of the wire loop relative to the legs.  
         [0008]     The wire loop may alternatively be connected to the handle by other means such as a universal joint.  
         [0009]     The crosspiece and the rest of wire loop may substantially be arranged on different planes for connecting the wire loop to the handle. Alternatively, the crosspiece and the rest of the wire loop may substantially be arranged on a same plane.  
         [0010]     The wire loop may be formed with at least one pointed region. Preferably, the wire loop may be of heart shaped. The wire loop may also be of oval shaped. The wire loop may also be of triangular shaped. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a culinary whisk according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an alternative perspective view of the culinary whisk shown in  FIG. 1  in a different configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the culinary whisk shown in  FIG. 1  with a length of wire removed;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the culinary whisk shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a culinary whisk according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative perspective view of the culinary whisk shown in  FIG. 5  in a different configuration; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the culinary whisk shown in  FIG. 7  with a length of wire removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Referring to the figures, FIGS.  1  to  4  show a first embodiment of a culinary whisk according to the present invention. The culinary whisk, generally designated  1 , comprises a handle  2  of cylindrical shape and a utility portion  4 . The handle  2  is provided with a hanging hook  6  at its upper end. A pair of legs  8  extends from the opposite lower end thereof. The handle  2  is connected to the utility portion  4  via the pair of legs  8 . The utility portion  4  comprises an arrangement having a plurality of wires which in use serves to effectively contact the foodstuff over a wide area thereby effectively aerating the foodstuff on beating. In the preferred embodiment there is a main loop  14  of stiff wire having a rod-like crosspiece  12 . The legs  8  have respective fingers  10  at their lower ends which curve around the crosspiece  12  which extends laterally relative to the axis of the handle  2  such that the utility portion  4  of the whisk  1  can pivotably move about the lateral axis of the crosspiece  12 . Lugs  16  are provided at the crosspiece  12  adjacent the curved fingers  10  for confining the relative lateral position of the utility portion  4  and the handle  2  of the whisk  1 . The utility portion  4  is provided with a coil of fine wire  18  spiraling along the loop  14  extending along at least the majority of the loop  14 . The coil of wire  18  is sufficiently fine so that the coil of wire  18  has a degree of resilience and is loosely constructed so that it can move slightly relative to the wire loop. As can be seen in this embodiment, the loop  14  of the utility portion  4  is generally of heart-shaped having a pointed region  20  and two rounded regions  22 .  
         [0020]     For the sake of clarity,  FIGS. 3 and 4  also show the culinary whisk  1  but without the length of wire  18  spiraling along the loop  14 . It is shown in these figures that the crosspiece  12  is welded to and arranged to join the loop  14  on its upper side.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the culinary whisk  1  with the utility portion  4  in a configuration in which the pointed region  20  thereof points upwardly.  FIG. 2  shows the culinary whisk  1  with the utility portion  4  in an alternative flattened configuration in which both the sharper region  20  and the two round regions  22  are at about the same horizontal level. As shown by these two figures, the utility portion  4  of the whisk  1  can pivot about the axis of the crosspiece  12  attached to the loop  22 . This is especially useful in whisking or beating a foodstuff in a bowl as the plane of the utility portion can follow the sides of the bowl.  
         [0022]     The construction of the pointed region  20  of the utility portion and the ability to pivot facilitates the reaching into a narrow corner in a dish or other receptacle.  
         [0023]     FIGS.  5  to  7  show a second embodiment of a culinary whisk  30 . The culinary whisk  30  is generally similar to the culinary whisk  1  except the utility portion  32  and specifically the wire loop is oval-shaped.  
         [0024]     It will be appreciated that a wide variety of other shapes and constructions of the utility portion may be used, for example a triangular-shaped utility portion may be used. Shapes having at least a region of narrowed or pointed form for reaching into tight corners are preferred. It is also to be appreciated that while the wire loop of the utility portion may be a closed loop, a loop with an open region may also be used.