Food Serving Finger Guard Device and Dispenser

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of finger guarding devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a food serving finger guard device and dispenser primarily comprised of a body, a finger protection member and a thumb protection member. One embodiment of the invention is also comprised of a dispenser. The finger protection member and thumb protection member cover the fingers and thumb of a user such that a user can grip a plate without risking their fingers or thumb touching the plate or food on the plate. The device also shields the user's thumb and fingers from being burned by a hot bottom surface of a plate. A dispenser may also be used to store and dispense a plurality of devices from the dispenser in a stacked fashion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food serving finger guard device comprising:
 a body:   a finger protection member; and   a thumb protection member.   
     
     
         2 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the body is comprised of a rubber material. 
     
     
         4 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the body is comprised of a heat-resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the finger protection member is textured. 
     
     
         6 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the thumb protection member is textured. 
     
     
         7 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the finger protection member is connected to the thumb protection member via a folding area. 
     
     
         8 . A food serving finger guard device and dispenser comprising:
 a body;   a finger protection member;   a thumb protection member; and   a dispenser comprised of a housing, a continuous opening and a spring.   
     
     
         9 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the body is comprised of a rigid material. 
     
     
         10 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the body is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the thumb protection member is comprised of a set of three sidewalls. 
     
     
         12 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein a top surface of the finger protection member is textured. 
     
     
         13 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein a bottom surface of the thumb protection member is textured. 
     
     
         14 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser is sized and configured to house a plurality of the food serving finger guard devices sequentially. 
     
     
         15 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of food serving finger guard devices are stacked in a vertical manner within the housing of the dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . The food serving finger guard device and dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of food serving finger guard devices are stacked atop the spring within the housing. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a food serving finger guard device and dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing a plurality of food serving finger guard devices within a dispenser, wherein each of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices comprise a finger protection member and a thumb protection member;   placing a hand into the finger protection member and the thumb protection member of a select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices;   partially closing and lifting the hand upward to lift the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices from the dispenser; and   grabbing a plate while the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices is installed on the hand.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step of discarding the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices after the plate has been served. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising a step of washing the select one of the plurality of food serving finger guard devices after the plate has been served. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising a step of returning the select one of the plurality of the food serving finger guard devices to the dispenser after the step of washing.