Reusable eating utensil system configured for rapid assembly, disassembly, and transport in pocket sized cases

Abstract

An eating-utensil-system comprising a plurality of reusable, three-section, eating utensil devices, and a pocket-sized storage container configured to store these utensils in disassembled form. The utensil devices comprise a head portion, bridge portion, and a handle portion all configured to join together to assemble an eating utensil, or to be separated for easy transport. The head portions can be any of a spork, spoon, fork, knife, or chopstick head. The utensils are configured for multiple cycles of assembly, use, cleaning, disassembly, and storage/transport, and are typically made of metal or durable polymer. In some embodiments, the storage containers may be configured for the minimum size needed to store two disassembled chopstick utensils, or the minimum size needed to store a disassembled knife, fork, and spoon. The system is intended to be non-disposable system with a long lifetime, thus minimizing waste.

1 . An eating utensil system comprising at least one utensil device, each at least one said utensil device comprising:
 a head portion configured to assist in processing or retrieving food, said head portion having a head proximal end and a head distal end, said head proximal end configured to interact with food, said head distal end configured to reversibly attach to a bridge proximal end of a bridge portion by a head-to-bridge attachment mechanism;   a substantially linear bridge portion comprising said bridge proximal end configured to reversibly attach to said head distal end of said head portion by a bridge-to-head attachment mechanism;   said bridge portion further comprising a bridge distal end configured to reversibly attach to a handle proximal end of a substantially linear handle portion by a bridge-to-handle attachment mechanism;   said handle portion comprising said handle proximal end configured to reversibly attach to said bridge distal end of said bridge portion by a handle-to-bridge attachment mechanism;   each at least one said utensil device configured to exist in any of an assembled or disassembled configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage container configured with interior size dimensions adequate to completely encase at least one said utensils while at least one said utensils are disassembled; and
 wherein at least one of said storage container interior or exterior size dimensions are inadequate to enable said storage container to completely encase at least one said utensils while any of at least one aid utensils are assembled.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion is configured to interact with food according to the properties of any of a knife, fork, spoon, spork, or chopstick. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment mechanism comprises any of a screw and complementary protruding screw thread and cavity type thread screw receiver, and a snap joint comprising a complementary snap joint receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one utensil device is configured to be capable of multiple cycles of assembly, eating use, cleaning, disassembly, and storage. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said bridge portion is configured to act as an extension of said handle portion while said utensil is assembled. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any of said head portion, bridge portion, or handle portion comprises metal, wood, glass, ceramic, or durable plastic. 
     
     
         8 . An eating utensil system comprising a plurality of utensil devices, each said utensil device comprising:
 a head portion configured to assist in processing or retrieving food, said head portion having a head proximal end and a head distal end, said head proximal end configured to interact with food, said head distal end configured to reversibly attach to a bridge proximal end of a bridge portion by a head-to-bridge attachment mechanism;   a substantially linear bridge portion comprising said bridge proximal end configured to reversibly attach to said head distal end of said head portion by a bridge-to-head attachment mechanism;   said bridge portion further comprising a bridge distal end configured to reversibly attach to a handle proximal end of a substantially linear handle portion by a bridge-to-handle attachment mechanism;   said handle portion comprising said handle proximal end configured to reversibly attach to said bridge distal end of said bridge portion by a handle-to-bridge attachment mechanism;   each said utensil configured to exist in any of an assembled or disassembled configuration, and   a storage container configured with interior size dimensions adequate to completely encase a plurality of said utensils while said plurality of utensils are disassembled; and   wherein at least one of said storage container interior or exterior size dimensions are inadequate to enable said storage container to completely encase said plurality of utensils while any of said utensils are assembled.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said head portion is configured to interact with food according to the properties of any of a knife, fork, spoon, spork, or chopstick. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said attachment mechanism comprises any of a screw and complementary protruding screw thread and cavity type screw receiver, and a snap joint comprising a complementary snap joint receiver. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said utensil device is configured to be capable of multiple cycles of assembly, eating use, cleaning, disassembly, and storage. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said bridge portion is configured to act as an extension of said handle portion while said utensil is assembled. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein any of said head portion, bridge portion, or handle portion comprises metal, wood, glass, ceramic, or durable plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising at least two utensil devices, each with head portions configured to interact with food according to the characteristics of chopsticks; and
 said storage container configured to only completely encase said at least two utensils only when said utensils are disassembled.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising at least three utensil devices;
 a first utensil device with a head portion configured to interact with food according to the characteristics of a spoon;   a second utensil device with a head portion configured to interact with food according to the characteristics of a fork;   a third utensil device with a head portion configured to interact with food according to the characteristics of a knife; and   said storage container configured to only completely encase said at least three utensils only when said utensils are disassembled.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the exterior dimensions of said storage container are configured with size dimensions less than 100 millimeters by 30 millimeters by 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the exterior dimensions of said storage container are configured with size dimensions of less than 70 millimeters by 90 millimeters by 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said storage container further comprises an interior tray, said interior tray comprising sound and shock absorbing material, said interior tray configured to minimize sound generated by said system while said storage container is carrying said utensils in a disassembled configuration, and while said storage container is subjected to shock and vibration while being moved.