Flexible Scooping and Scraping Utensil

Abstract

A utensil includes a first portion comprising a scoop having an open end adapted to receive material, the open end having a selected shape in cross section, and a second portion comprising a funnel that is tapered to a neck adapted to discharge material. The scoop has upper edges that define an open area of the scoop, and the upper edges merge together in a V groove at a selected angle at a transition of the scoop to the funnel. The utensil has a selected flexibility allows the utensil to respond to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by a change shape of the utensil, and a selected resiliency that allows the utensil to return substantially to an original shape upon removing the force. The utensil may be used for transferring ground, powdered, particulate, loose, etc., material to and from containers, receptacles, and the like.

1 . A utensil, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a scoop having an open end adapted to receive material, the open end having a selected shape in cross section;   a second portion comprising a funnel that is tapered to a neck adapted to discharge material;   wherein the scoop has upper edges that define an open area of the scoop, and the upper edges merge together in a V groove at a selected angle at a transition of the scoop to the funnel;   wherein the utensil has mechanical characteristics comprising selected flexibility and resiliency;   wherein the selected flexibility allows the utensil to respond to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by a change shape of the utensil and the selected resiliency allows the utensil to return substantially to an original shape upon removing the force.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the selected shape of the open end of the scoop comprises a rounded shape in cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil of  claim 2 , wherein the rounded shape comprises an arc of about 150 to about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprising the scoop has a first substantially longitudinal axis;
 wherein the second portion comprising the funnel has a second substantially longitudinal axis;   wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are not colinear.   
     
     
         5 . The utensil of  claim 4 , wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are offset by a selected angle. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil of  claim 5 , wherein the selected angle is about 5 to about 25 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the selected angle of the V groove comprises an angle of about 30 to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the neck of the funnel is adapted to receive a smoking roll over at least a portion of its outer surface in a friction fit. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the utensil responds to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by at least one of a change in the selected shape of the open end of the scoop and a change in a shape or diameter of the neck of the funnel. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edges that define an open area of the scoop merge together in a V groove at a selected angle at a transition of the scoop to the funnel and the upper edges overlap along an entire length of the neck of the funnel;
 wherein the utensil responds to force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by the overlapping upper edges sliding past each other to change shape of the utensil.   
     
     
         11 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the neck of the funnel is adapted to removably receive a third portion comprising a scraper. 
     
     
         12 . The utensil of  claim 1 , further comprising a third portion comprising a scraper removably received by the neck of the funnel. 
     
     
         13 . A method for implementing a scooping utensil, comprising:
 providing a first portion comprising a scoop having an open end adapted to receive material, the open end having a selected shape in cross section;   providing a second portion comprising a funnel that is tapered to a neck adapted to discharge material;   wherein the scoop has upper edges that define an open area of the scoop, and the upper edges merge together in a V groove at a selected angle at a transition of the scoop to the funnel;   wherein the utensil has mechanical characteristics comprising selected flexibility and resiliency;   wherein the selected flexibility allows the utensil to respond to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by a change shape of the utensil and the selected resiliency allows the utensil to return substantially to an original shape upon removing the force.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion comprising the scoop has a first substantially longitudinal axis;
 wherein the second portion comprising the funnel has a second substantially longitudinal axis;   wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are not colinear.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected angle of the V groove comprises an angle of about 30 to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the neck of the funnel is adapted to receive a smoking roll over at least a portion of its outer surface in a friction fit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the utensil responds to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by a change in the selected shape of the open end of the scoop. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the utensil responds to a force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by at least one of a change in the selected shape of the open end of the scoop and a change in a shape or diameter of the neck of the funnel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper edges that define an open area of the scoop merge together in a V groove at a selected angle at a transition of the scoop to the funnel and the upper edges overlap along an entire length of the neck of the funnel;
 wherein the utensil responds to force applied to a vicinity of the V groove by the overlapping upper edges sliding past each other to change shape of the utensil.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the neck of the funnel is adapted to removably receive a third portion comprising a scraper.