Utensil for Eating Snacks

Abstract

The present invention relates to snack-grabbing utensils that assist a user in picking and eating snack items such as potato chips, pretzels, peanuts, etc. More specifically, the snack-grabbing utensil comprises a tong-like or a scissor-like holding end attached to a grabbing portion such as a grabber/scoop structure, that allows users to hold the utensil and pick a snack item using the grabbing portion by maneuvering the tong or scissor arms. The grabbing portion is generally manufactured of foam, and is replaceable once the grabbing portion becomes greasy and/or dirty. The snack-grabbing utensil enables users to easily eat snacks at their homes, workplaces, etc., without their hands getting soiled and/or greasy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An eating utensil device used for handling a food item without acquiring a soil or a grease on a user's hands, the eating utensil device comprising:
 a pair of tongs comprising a first tong arm and a second tong arm; and   a V-shaped grip that joins the first tong arm and the second tong arm together, wherein a user maneuvers the first and the second tong arms together to surround the food item to be handled.   
     
     
         2 . The eating utensil device of  claim 1 , wherein the first tong arm comprises a first terminating outer end and a first gripping inner end, and further wherein the second tong arm comprises a second terminating outer end and a second gripping inner end. 
     
     
         3 . The eating utensil device of  claim 2 , wherein the V-shaped grip is removably secured to the first and the second gripping inner ends to allow inward movement of the first and the second tong arms towards one another. 
     
     
         4 . The eating utensil device of  claim 2 , wherein the V-shaped grip is integrated with the first and the second gripping inner ends to allow inward movement of the first and the second tong arms towards one another. 
     
     
         5 . The eating utensil device of  claim 2 , wherein the first terminating outer end of the first tong arm comprises a first receiving hole to receive a first connecting pin of a first grabber component. 
     
     
         6 . The eating utensil device of  claim 5 , wherein the first grabber component is removably secured to the first tong arm by inserting the first connecting pin into the first receiving hole. 
     
     
         7 . The eating utensil device of  claim 6 , wherein the first grabber component comprises the first connecting pin and a first foam portion. 
     
     
         8 . The eating utensil device of  claim 7 , wherein the first foam portion comprises a scallop shaped foam portion. 
     
     
         9 . The eating utensil device of  claim 8 , wherein the first foam portion is replaceable and can be detached from the first tong arm. 
     
     
         10 . The eating utensil device of  claim 2 , wherein the second terminating outer end of the second tong arm comprises a second receiving hole to receive a second connecting pin of a second grabber component. 
     
     
         11 . The eating utensil device of  claim 10 , wherein the second grabber component is removably secured to the second tong arm by inserting the second connecting pin into the second receiving hole. 
     
     
         12 . The eating utensil device of  claim 11 , wherein the second grabber component comprises the second connecting pin and a second foam portion. 
     
     
         13 . The eating utensil device of  claim 12 , wherein the second foam portion comprises a scallop shaped foam portion. 
     
     
         14 . The eating utensil device of  claim 13 , wherein the second foam portion is replaceable and can be detached from the second tong arm. 
     
     
         15 . An eating utensil device used for handling a food item without dirtying a user's hands, the eating utensil device comprising:
 a pair of tongs comprising a first tong arm and a second tong arm;   a V-shaped grip which joins the first tong arm and the second tong arm together;   a first grabber component comprising a first foam portion and removably secured to the first terminating outer end of the first tong arm; and   a second grabber component comprising a second foam portion and removably secured to the second terminating outer end of the second tong arm, wherein the V-shaped grip is secured to a first gripping inner end of the first tong arm and a second gripping inner end of the second tong arm, wherein the first and the second foam portions comprise a scoop shaped foam portion, and further wherein a user maneuvers the first and the second scoop shaped foam portions together to surround the food item to be handled.   
     
     
         16 . The eating utensil device of  claim 15 , wherein the first grabber component is removably secured to the first tong arm using a first connecting arm of the first grabber component. 
     
     
         17 . The eating utensil device of  claim 16 , wherein the first connecting arm is secured within the first tong arm for a stable connection of the first grabber component with the first tong arm. 
     
     
         18 . The eating utensil device of  claim 15 , wherein the second grabber component is removably secured to the second tong arm using a second connecting arm of the second grabber component. 
     
     
         19 . The eating utensil device of  claim 18 , wherein the second connecting arm is secured within the second tong arm for a stable connection of the second grabber component with the second tong arm. 
     
     
         20 . An eating utensil device used for handling a food item without dirtying a user's hands, the eating utensil device comprising:
 a pair of tongs comprising a first tong arm and a first finger loop and a second tong arm and a second finger loop;   a hinged lock for securing the first tong arm and the second tong arm together in a scissor-shaped configuration;   a first grabber component comprising a first foam portion and removably secured to the first terminating outer end of the first tong arm; and   a second grabber component comprising a second foam portion and removably secured to the second terminating outer end of the second tong arm, wherein the first and the second foam portions comprise a scoop shaped foam portion, and further wherein a user maneuvers the first and the second scoop shaped foam portions together to surround the food item to be handled.