Multipurpose Combined Spoon and Knife Utensil

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multipurpose kitchen utensil that has an integrated combination of a spoon and a knife. The utensil is designed to scoop a condiment from a jar using the spoon portion and spread the scooped condiment on bread, a bun, sandwich, and more using the knife portion. The utensil obviates requirement of separate spoons and knives for taking out (i.e., scooping) and spreading condiments or edibles. The knife portion is positioned between the spoon portion and a handle portion of the utensil. The utensil enables users to scoop a desired quantity of condiment from any jar and spread same on a food item without any mess and wastage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multipurpose utensil comprising:
 a spoon portion comprising a scoop having an inwardly concave top surface and a smooth scooping edge;   a knife portion comprised of a blade having a spreader edge and an opposing spine edge; and   a handle portion, wherein said knife portion is positioned between said spoon portion and said handle portion, and further wherein said knife portion merges with said spoon portion at a top end of said knife portion to form a single continuous utensil for scooping and spreading an edible.   
     
     
         2 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said knife portion comprises a first length and said handle portion comprises a second length, and further wherein said first length is from about 70 percent to about 80 percent of said second length. 
     
     
         3 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 2 , wherein said spreader edge is a serrated edge. 
     
     
         4 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 2 , wherein said top end of said knife portion comprises a first width and a bottom end of said knife portion comprises a second width, and further wherein said first width is narrower than said second width. 
     
     
         5 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 2 , wherein said handle portion tapers in width from a terminal end of said handle portion to a connected end of said handle portion and said knife portion. 
     
     
         6 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 1 , wherein a centerline of said handle portion and a major axis of said spoon portion include a common collinear axis. 
     
     
         7 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 6 , wherein said knife portion is asymmetrical about said common collinear axis. 
     
     
         8 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 7 , wherein said multipurpose utensil includes a material selected from a group consisting of a stainless steel and an aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 7 , wherein said multipurpose utensil includes a material selected from a group consisting of a polyethylene, a polyvinylidene chloride, a low-density polyethylene, a polypropylene, a high impact polystyrene and a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 7 , wherein said multipurpose utensil is comprised of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         11 . A multipurpose utensil comprising:
 a spoon portion comprised of a scoop having an inwardly concave top surface and a smooth scooping edge;   a knife portion comprised of a blade having a spreader edge and an opposing spine edge, wherein said knife portion merges with said spoon portion at a top end of said knife portion to form a single continuous utensil for scooping and spreading an edible; and   a handle portion;   wherein said knife portion is positioned between said spoon portion and said handle portion;   wherein a centerline of said handle portion and a major axis of said spoon portion include a common collinear axis;   wherein said knife portion is asymmetrical about said common collinear axis;   wherein said knife portion comprises a first length and said handle portion comprises a second length; and   further wherein said first length is from about 70 percent to about 80 percent of said second length.   
     
     
         12 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said spreader edge is a serrated edge. 
     
     
         13 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said top end of said knife portion comprises a first width and a bottom end of said knife portion includes a second width, said first width is narrower than said second width. 
     
     
         14 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said handle portion tapers in width from a terminal end of said handle portion to a connected end of said handle portion and said knife portion. 
     
     
         15 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said multipurpose utensil comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a stainless steel and an aluminum. 
     
     
         16 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said multipurpose utensil comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a polyethylene, a polyvinylidene chloride, a low-density polyethylene, a polypropylene, a high impact polystyrene and a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The multipurpose utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said multipurpose utensil is comprised of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         18 . A method of scooping and spreading an edible, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a multipurpose utensil comprised of a spoon portion, a knife portion and a handle portion, wherein said spoon portion is positioned at a proximal end and said handle portion is positioned at a distal end, and further wherein said knife portion is positioned between said spoon portion and said handle portion;   holding said handle portion and scooping the edible from a container with said spoon portion;   applying the edible to a food item; and   holding said handle portion and spreading the edible with said knife portion on the food item, wherein said knife portion includes a blade having a spreader edge and an opposing spine edge.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a centerline of said handle portion and a major axis of said spoon portion include a common collinear axis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said knife portion is asymmetrical about said common collinear axis.