Combined fork and chopstick assembly

Abstract

A pair of chopsticks comprising a first chopstick having a long narrow body, at least one tine on a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a connection means disposed on the first chopstick body; a second chopstick having a long narrow body, at least one tine one a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a connection means disposed on the second chopstick body; and wherein the at least one tine of the first chopstick is proximate the at least one tine of the second chopstick when the connection means of the first chopstick is releasably secured to the connection means of the second chopstick.

1 . A pair of chopsticks comprising:
 a first chopstick having a long narrow body, at least one tine on a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a connection means disposed on said first chopstick body;   a second chopstick having a long narrow body, at least one tine one a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a connection means disposed on said second chopstick body; and,   wherein said at least one tine of said first chopstick is proximate said at least one tine of said second chopstick when said connection means of said first chopstick is releasably secured to said connection means of said second chopstick.   
   
   
       2 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick connection means is at least one protrusion and said second chopstick connection means is at least one receiving hole. 
   
   
       3 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 2  wherein said protrusions are formed integral to said first chopstick body and said receiving holes are formed integral to said second chopstick body. 
   
   
       4 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  further comprising an assembled chopstick including a first end having at least three tines upon connection of said first chopstick connection means and said second chopstick connection means. 
   
   
       5 . The pair of chopstick of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick connection means is at least one first magnet with a first pole facing away from said first chopstick and said second chopstick connection means is at least one second magnet with a second pole facing away from said second chopstick, said second pole having a polarity opposite of said first pole. 
   
   
       6 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick connection means is a dowel pin fixedly secured in a receiving hole and said second chopstick connection means is a receiving hole. 
   
   
       7 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said connection means of said first chopstick is located on a half of said first chopstick proximate said at least one tine and said connection means of said second chopstick is located on a half of said second chopstick proximate said at least one tine. 
   
   
       8 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said connection means of said first chopstick is a plurality of male button snaps and said connection means of said second chopstick is a plurality of female button snaps. 
   
   
       9 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 8  wherein said plurality of male button snaps and said plurality of female button snaps are fixedly secured in a plurality of recessed depressions. 
   
   
       10 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said at least one tine is two tines on each of said first end of said first chopstick and said second chopstick. 
   
   
       11 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick connection means is at least one protrusion extending from said first chopstick body proximate said first end and said second chopstick connection means is at least one receiving slot extending into said second chopstick body proximate said first end. 
   
   
       12 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 11  wherein said first chopstick and said second chopstick are releasably secured upon vertical sliding engagement of said at least one protrusion and said at least one receiving slot. 
   
   
       13 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 12  wherein said first chopstick is secured to said second chopstick upon said vertical sliding engagement to prevent relative movement between said first chopstick and said second chopstick. 
   
   
       14 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said at least one tine of said first chopstick is parallel to and offset from said at least one tine of said second chopstick. 
   
   
       15 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said second ends are movable independent of each other upon releasing said first chopstick connection means and said second chopstick connection means. 
   
   
       16 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick and said second chopstick further comprise finger locating grooves on said first chopstick body and said second chopstick body. 
   
   
       17 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 1  wherein said first chopstick and said second chopstick are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, bamboo, metal, bone, ivory, ceramic, and plastic. 
   
   
       18 . A pair of chopsticks comprising:
 a first chopstick having at least two tines on a first end, a central body with a connection means on a first side, and a second end;   a second chopstick having at least two tines on a first end, a central body with a connection means on a first side, and a second end; and,   wherein said first chopstick connection means is at least two protrusions proximate said at least two tines and said second chopstick connection means is at least two receiving holes proximate said at least two tines.   
   
   
       19 . The pair of chopsticks of  claim 18  wherein said first chopstick farther comprises a smooth second side parallel to and opposite said first chopstick first side and said second chopstick further comprises a smooth second side parallel to and opposite said second chopstick first side. 
   
   
       20 . A pair of chopsticks comprising:
 a first chopstick having at least two tines on a first end, a central body with a connection means on a first side and a smooth second side, a second end opposite said first end, and a finger locating groove on said first side and on said second side of said central body;   a second chopstick having at least two tines on a first end, a central body with a connection means on a first side and a smooth second side, a second end opposite said first end, and a finger locating groove on said first side and on said second side of said central body; and,   wherein said first chopstick connection means is at least two protrusions proximate said at least two tines and said second chopstick connection means is at least two receiving holes proximate said at least two tines.