Finger-Mountable Eating Utensils and Related Methods

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of finger-mountable eating utensils and related methods. In an exemplary embodiment, an eating utensil generally includes a handle for supporting a utensil piece. The handle has a distal stem portion and a widened portion proximal to and substantially coaxial with the distal stem portion. The widened portion has an opening configured to receive two or more user fingers to support the handle and utensil piece without the received fingers having to contact the distal stem portion during use of the eating utensil.

1 . An eating utensil comprising:
 a handle for supporting a utensil piece, the handle having a distal stem portion and a widened portion proximal to and substantially coaxial with the distal stem portion, the widened portion having an opening configured to receive one or more user fingers to support the handle and utensil piece without the received one or more fingers having to contact the distal stem portion during use of the eating utensil.   
     
     
         2 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , further comprising the utensil piece. 
     
     
         3 . The eating utensil of  claim 2 , wherein the utensil piece comprises one or more of the following: a fork, a spoon, a spork, and a knife. 
     
     
         4 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined by a sidewall of the widened portion, the sidewall having one or more flat surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the utensil piece are reversibly connected or connectible at a distal end of the distal stem portion of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein a sidewall of the widened portion defines a shape of the opening, the shape comprising one or more of the following: a curve, a straight line, a polygon, a hexagon, an oval, a circle, a rectangle, and a square. 
     
     
         7 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the distal stem portion of the handle is connected or connectible with a utensil piece such that the utensil piece is tilted relative to the widened portion of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The eating utensil of  claim 7 , wherein the utensil piece is oriented at a 45-degree angle relative to the widened portion of the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is connectable with a plurality of different utensil pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , the handle further comprising a proximal stem portion adjacent the widened portion and configured to support a user finger not received in the opening of the widened portion. 
     
     
         11 . A utensil comprising:
 a utensil piece; and   a handle having a distal stem portion connected or connectible with the utensil piece, and a widened portion substantially coaxial with the distal stem portion, the widened portion having an interior sidewall defining an opening in the handle configured to receive one or more user fingers to control the utensil piece without the received one or more fingers being required to contact the distal stem portion.   
     
     
         12 . The utensil of  claim 11 , wherein the utensil piece comprises one or more of the following: a fork, a spoon, a knife, and a spork. 
     
     
         13 . The utensil of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewall comprises one or more flat surfaces forming one or more interior angles of the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The utensil of  claim 11 , wherein the handle further comprises a proximal stem portion proximal to the widened portion. 
     
     
         15 . The utensil of  claim 14 , wherein the proximal stem portion is substantially coaxial with the distal stem portion. 
     
     
         16 . The utensil of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewall defines a shape of the opening, the shape comprising one or more of the following: a curve, a straight line, a polygon, a hexagon, an oval, a circle, a rectangle, and a square. 
     
     
         17 . The utensil of  claim 11 , wherein the utensil piece is connected or connectible with an end of the distal stem portion so as to orient the utensil piece at a predetermined angle of rotation relative to a substantially common axis of the distal stem portion and the widened portion. 
     
     
         18 . The utensil of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined angle of rotation is plus or minus  45  degrees relative to the common axis. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a utensil, the method comprising:
 inserting one or more fingers through an opening defined by a sidewall in a widened portion of a handle of the utensil, the widened portion being substantially coaxial with a distal stem portion of the handle, the inserting performed without having to bend the one or more fingers;   positioning the inserted one or more fingers against the sidewall; and   controlling a utensil piece of the utensil without the inserted one or more fingers having to touch the distal stem portion of the handle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising connecting the handle with the utensil piece before the inserting is performed, and/or wherein the utensil piece comprises one or more of the following: a fork, a spoon, a knife, and a spork.