Disposable, Single-Use Utensils for Children

Abstract

A disposable, single-use utensil type is provided for use by children and child caregivers while traveling or otherwise away from home, wherein a spoon, knife, and fork are disclosed having features suitable for use by young children and a construction that is disposable after one use. The utensils include rounded edges and wide handles suitable for use by children, while the structure of the utensils is one that is disposable or recyclable after use. The utensils are packaged in sets and distributed as packs of disposable travel utensils, where further a travel pack is provided for storing a plurality of utensils during an outing and thereafter disposing of the utensils once in contact with food items and a child's mouth. The goal is to eliminate the need for parents to travel with permanent utensils, which become messy and are not easily stored after use.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A single-use, disposable, and child-safe utensil item for travel use, comprising:
 a plastic structure having a handle region and a utensil head region;   said utensil head region having a low stiffness tip that readily deforms upon contact;   said handle region comprising a thickened cross section for grip by children having small hands;   said plastic structure being particularly suited for use by small children;   said plastic structure being suitable for single-use and disposal thereafter.   
     
     
         2 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said head region comprises a fork head having a plurality of tines, said tines being deformable and having rounded distal ends. 
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said head region comprises a knife head having an elongated cutting edge and a deformable distal end. 
     
     
         4 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said head region comprises a spoon having a rounded and deformable scooping portion. 
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plastic structure is manufactured in individual plastic wrapping for individual use. 
     
     
         6 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plastic structure is manufactured in plastic wrapping having a plurality plastic structures having different utensil head regions for combined use during a single meal. 
     
     
         7 ) The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plastic structure comprises a recyclable plastic material.