Egg dipper for use in egg decorating kit

Abstract

An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit includes a handle and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion. The handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.

1 . An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit comprising:
 a handle; and   an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion;   wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.   
   
   
       2 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion about a living hinge. 
   
   
       3 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle and holder portion is flexible due to its formation from a plastic material and its thickness. 
   
   
       4 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a plurality of shaped openings formed therethrough along a length thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The egg dipper of  claim 4 , wherein any two adjacent openings along the handle length have different shapes. 
   
   
       6 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a first locking element proximate a location where the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion and the holder portion includes a second locking element proximate the location where the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion, the first locking element being releasably snap-fit with the second locking element to lock the handle in the locked position. 
   
   
       7 . The egg dipper of  claim 6 , wherein the first locking element comprises a protrusion that extends outwardly from the handle and includes a catch at a distal end thereof and the second locking element comprises an arch having an opening formed therein for receiving the catch so as to lock the handle in the locked position. 
   
   
       8 . The egg dipper of  claim 7 , wherein the catch includes a beveled edge that leads to a locking edge that is perpendicular to the protrusion such that in the locked position, the locking edge seats flush against an outer surface of the arch so as to lock the handle in place with respect to the holder portion. 
   
   
       9 . The egg dipper of  claim 8 , wherein an inner surface of the arch includes a section with a beveled surface that leads to the opening and is complementary to the beveled edge so that as the handle is pivoted with respect to the holder portion, the beveled edge rides along the beveled surface into and through the opening of the arch so as to position the locking edge in a facing relationship with respect to the outer surface of the arch. 
   
   
       10 . The egg dipper of  claim 8 , wherein the locking edge is at least substantially parallel to the outer surface of the arch in the locked position, the outer surface facing the opening formed in the holder portion that receives the egg. 
   
   
       11 . The egg dipper of  claim 7 , wherein a width of the opening in the arch is greater than a width of the protrusion and catch. 
   
   
       12 . The egg dipper of  claim 7 , wherein the arch includes a pair of upstanding side walls and a cross wall member extending between the side walls with the opening being defined between the side walls and below the cross wall member, wherein in the locked position, the catch seats against the cross wall member. 
   
   
       13 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein the holder portion includes a plurality of interconnected rails that are arranged according to a predetermined shape to define the opening in the holder portion. 
   
   
       14 . The egg dipper of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined shape is a hexagon. 
   
   
       15 . The egg dipper of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of interconnected walls includes first egg retention features formed as a part thereof and second egg retention features formed as a part thereof for holding the egg in the opening of the holder portion. 
   
   
       16 . The egg dipper of  claim 15 , wherein the first egg retention features comprise a pair of rounded surfaces formed opposite one another on inner edges of the interconnected walls and the second egg retention features comprise a pair of flats formed in two corners of the interconnected walls. 
   
   
       17 . The egg dipper of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is readily bendable and includes indicia formed thereon and stencil openings formed therein linearly along a length of the handle to permit stenciling on the egg. 
   
   
       18 . An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit comprising:
 a handle having a first locking feature; and   an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle about a living hinge and having an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion, the holder portion having a second locking feature that engages the first locking feature in a releasable snap-fit manner to releasably lock the handle in an engaged state;   wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material.   
   
   
       19 . The egg dipper of  claim 18 , wherein the first locking feature includes a catch and the second locking feature comprises an upstanding structure with an opening that receives the catch. 
   
   
       20 . An egg decorating kit comprising:
 a container for holding a coloring solution;   at least one solid dye tablet for mixing with water in the container to form the coloring solution; and   an egg dipper including:
 a handle; and 
 an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion; 
 wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlock position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.