Spill resistant feeding device

Abstract

A spill resistant item of cutlery, the spill resistant item of cutlery being flexible and having a longitudinally extending elongate member that includes a tubular retaining portion proximate a first end thereof and a gripping portion having a rigid inner portion and a flexible outer portion proximate a second end opposing the first end. In the arrangement of the invention, the tubular retaining portion has an interior retaining surface defining a retaining portion cavity, and the tubular retaining portion further includes a food inlet in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity. The spill resistant item of cutlery provides an apparatus and assistance member for assisted and self-feeding.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A spill resistant item of cutlery, the spill resistant item of cutlery comprising:
 a longitudinally extending elongate member comprising;
 a tubular retaining portion proximate a first end thereof; and 
 a gripping portion proximate a second end opposing the first end; 
   wherein the tubular retaining portion comprises an interior retaining surface defining a retaining portion cavity, and   wherein the tubular retaining portion further comprises a food inlet in fluid communication with the retaining portion cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the interior retaining surface comprises a plurality of elevations. 
     
     
         3 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elevations is configured in a rib-like pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elevations comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more of the plurality of elevations comprise a height. 
     
     
         6 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the food inlet is proximate an anterior end of the tubular retaining portion. 
     
     
         7 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the food inlet is arranged to facilitate loading of food or removal of food. 
     
     
         8 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular retaining portion comprises a cross sectional shape having a radius varying along a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the food inlet extends at an angle along the tubular retaining portion. 
     
     
         10 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the food inlet comprises a circumference. 
     
     
         11 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the spill resistant item of cutlery further comprises an air vent. 
     
     
         12 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 11 , wherein the air vent is proximate a posterior end of the tubular retaining portion. 
     
     
         13 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 9 , wherein the air vent comprises a circular, ovular or slit shaped opening. 
     
     
         14 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 9 , wherein the air vent is arranged to allow air to exit the tubular retaining portion. 
     
     
         15 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 9 , wherein the air vent extends at an angle, from the tubular retaining portion to an exterior, along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular retaining portion comprises a longitudinally extending tine. 
     
     
         17 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion comprises:
 an inner handle portion; and   an outer gripping portion.   
     
     
         18 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion further comprises:
 a food retaining cavity comprising:   a cavity volume;   an anterior end; and   a posterior end.   
     
     
         19 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 17 , wherein the inner handle portion comprises the food retaining cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the food retaining cavity and the retaining portion cavity are provided in fluid communication. 
     
     
         21 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular retaining portion further comprises a first connection portion proximate the anterior end of the tubular retaining portion. 
     
     
         22 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 18 , wherein the food retaining cavity further comprises a second connection portion proximate the anterior end of the food retaining cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular retaining portion further comprises an attachment means, wherein the attachment means is configured to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the tubular retaining portion from the gripping portion. 
     
     
         24 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 23 , wherein the gripping portion further comprises a food loading conduit proximate the posterior end of the food retaining cavity, wherein the food loading conduit is configured to facilitate the loading of food into the food retaining cavity. 
     
     
         25 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 17 , wherein the inner handle portion comprises a first material and the outer gripping portion comprises a second material, and wherein the rigidity of the first material is greater than the rigidity of the second material. 
     
     
         26 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 25 , wherein the first material is compressible. 
     
     
         27 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular retaining portion is at least partially made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         28 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 25 , wherein the outer gripping portion is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         29 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 27 , wherein the tubular retaining portion terminates adjacent to the inner handle portion. 
     
     
         30 . The spill resistant item of cutlery of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tubular retaining portions.