Utensils with integrated stand

Abstract

A utensil with an integrated stand includes an elongated angular handle having an endpoint for making contact with food products and the mouth of a user. A downward protrusion located on the handle adjacent to the endpoint includes a lower section for making contact with a foreign surface to prevent the endpoint from making contact with the foreign surface while not in use.

1 . A kitchen utensil comprising:
 a handle having a first end, a second end, a middle portion, a top and a bottom, said middle porting including a convex shape to permit grasping by a user; and   a manipulation instrument configured to make contact with food and a mouth of a user, said manipulation instrument including a concave shape having a top and bottom section extending outward from the first end of the handle,   wherein said handle further includes a stand comprising a downward protrusion having a depth that is greater than a depth of the manipulation instrument, said stand being configured to position the endpoint in a manner preventing contact with a foreign surface while not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle and the manipulation instrument are integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         3 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , further comprising a neck interposed between the manipulation instrument and the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 3 , wherein each of said neck and manipulation instrument are constructed from different materials and the neck is a means for securing these elements together. 
     
     
         5 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation unit includes a plurality of tines and a transition shelf. 
     
     
         6 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said manipulation unit includes a generally circular cross-sectional shape with a generally elliptical side elevational shape, forming a bowl configured to retain a food product. 
     
     
         7 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said stand includes a first end, a second end and a middle section, said first and second ends being connected to the bottom of the handle, and said middle section extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         8 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said stand includes a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to the bottom of the handle at a location adjacent to the first end, and said second end extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         9 . The kitchen utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the handle further includes an opening configured to receive a stand, said opening being further configured to allow a plurality of utensils to be stacked in a vertical manner. 
     
     
         10 . A fork comprising:
 a handle having a first end, a second end, a middle portion, a top and a bottom, said middle porting including a convex shape to permit grasping by a user; and   a plurality of tines and a transition shelf configured to make contact with food and a mouth of a user, each of said tines and transition shelf including a concave shape having a top and bottom section extending outward from the first end of the handle,   wherein said handle further includes a stand comprising a downward protrusion having a bottom section located beneath the bottom end of the transition shelf in a vertical direction, said stand being configured to position the endpoint in a manner preventing contact with a foreign surface while not in use.   
     
     
         11 . The fork of  claim 10 , wherein each of the handle, the tines and the transition shelf are integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         12 . The fork of  claim 10 , wherein said stand includes a first end, a second end and a middle section, said first and second ends being connected to the bottom of the handle, and said middle section extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         13 . The fork of  claim 10 , wherein said stand includes a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to the bottom of the handle at a location adjacent to the first end, and said second end extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         14 . The fork of  claim 10 , wherein the top of the handle further includes an opening configured to receive a stand, said opening being further configured to allow a plurality of utensils to be stacked in a vertical manner. 
     
     
         15 . A spoon comprising:
 a handle having a first end, a second end, a middle portion, a top and a bottom, said middle porting including a convex shape to permit grasping by a user; and   a manipulation unit including a generally circular cross-sectional shape with a generally elliptical side elevational shape extending outward from the first end of the handle,   wherein said handle further includes a stand comprising a downward protrusion having a bottom section located beneath the bottom end of the manipulation unit in a vertical direction, said stand being configured to position the endpoint in a manner preventing contact with a foreign surface while not in use.   
     
     
         16 . The spoon of  claim 15 , wherein each of the handle and the manipulation unit are integrally formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         17 . The spoon of  claim 15 , wherein said stand includes a first end, a second end and a middle section, said first and second ends being connected to the bottom of the handle, and said middle section extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         18 . The spoon of  claim 15 , wherein said stand includes a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to the bottom of the handle at a location adjacent to the first end, and said second end extending away from the handle in a direction opposite to the convex shape. 
     
     
         19 . The spoon of  claim 15 , wherein the top of the handle further includes an opening configured to receive a stand, said opening being further configured to allow a plurality of utensils to be stacked in a vertical manner.