Self-balancing flatware

Abstract

A flatware comprising a head portion, a base, a handle connecting the head portion to the base, and a plurality of supporting elements resting on an outside surface. The handle extends upward and elevates the head portion above the base when the support rest on the outside surface. The flatware is in a weighted state when the head portion is holding a food or a fluid. The flatware is in a relaxed state when the head portion is empty. The base and the plurality of supporting elements hold the head portion in equilibrium and spaced away from the outside surface in both the weighted state and in the relaxed state. When stacked, the plurality of supporting elements and the base hold the flatware kit in equilibrium. When stacked, the head portions are spaced from one another and from the outside surface.

1 . A flatware comprising:
 a head portion;   a base;   a handle connecting said head portion to said base; and   a plurality of supporting elements resting on an outside surface, said plurality of supporting elements coupled to at least one of the handle and the base;   wherein the handle extends upward and elevates the head portion above the base when the support rest on the outside surface,   the flatware is in a weighted state when the head portion is holding a food or a fluid,   the flatware is in a relaxed state when the head portion is empty; and wherein said base and said plurality of supporting elements hold said head portion in equilibrium and spaced away from the outside surface in both the weighted state and in the relaxed state.   
     
     
         2 . The flatware of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion, the base portion, the handle portion, and the plurality of supporting elements are formed of a same material. 
     
     
         3 . The flatware of  claim 1 , wherein the handle connects the supporting elements to the base and includes an arcuate configuration spaced from the outside surface in both the weighted state and the relaxed state. 
     
     
         4 . The flatware of  claim 1  wherein the supporting elements further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion; and wherein the top portion of the supporting elements defines a neck connecting the supporting elements to the head portion. 
     
     
         5 . The flatware of  claim 4  wherein the neck connecting the supporting elements to the head portion is structurally configured to rest ergonomically on a user's hand, an edge of an external dish or a resting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The flatware of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base includes an upper surface and a lower surface structurally configured to be engageable with the outside surface;   the head portion forms a bowl and further comprising a back and an inside opposite the back, and defining tip portion;   the handle forms a curved member having a neck end and a shoulder end opposite the neck end, with the neck end coupled to the head portion and spaced apart from the tip portion, and with the shoulder end coupled to the base; and   wherein at least one of the head portion and the handle is vertically suspended above at least a portion of the upper surface of the base, such that the inside of the bowl portion opens in a direction away from the upper surface of the base.   
     
     
         7 . The flatware of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of supporting elements is coupled to the lower surface of the base and to the shoulder end of the handle such that:
 the lower surface of the base further includes:
 a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom; and 
 a tip terminating in a contact member; and 
 
 the shoulder end of the handle further includes a tab protruding outwardly from the shoulder end and away from the neck end; and 
 wherein the protrusion extending outwardly from the lower surface of the base is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in both the weighted state and the relaxed state, wherein the tip terminating in a contact member is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in the relaxed state, and wherein the tab protruding outwardly from the shoulder end is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in the weighted state. 
 
     
     
         8 . The flatware of  claim 6  wherein the neck end of the handle includes outwardly extending wings configured to rest ergonomically on a user's hand, an edge of an external dish or a resting surface. 
     
     
         9 . The flatware of  claim 6  wherein the curved member of the handle further comprises an arcuate configuration and a stem portion including opposing outwardly extending wings at the neck end and the shoulder end. 
     
     
         10 . The flatware of  claim 9  wherein the stem portion comprises a central region having a substantially planar configuration of substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The flatware of  claim 6  wherein the upper portion of the base includes a cavity, with the cavity being structurally configured to receive the protrusion of the lower surface of the base of another flatware, to, in turn, facilitate stacking thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The flatware of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion remains suspended and at a distance from the outer surface when holding a weight equivalent to one tablespoon of water. 
     
     
         13 . A flatware kit comprising two or more identical flatwares, each comprising:
 a head portion;   a base;   a handle connecting the head portion to the base; and   a plurality of supporting elements resting on an outside surface, said plurality of supporting elements coupled to at least one of the handle and the base;   wherein the handle extends upward and elevates the head portion above the base when the support rest on the outside surface,   the plurality of supporting elements and the base hold the flatware kit in equilibrium and wherein the head portions are spaced from one another and from the outside surface when the flatwares are stacked on one another.   
     
     
         14 . The flatware kit of  claim 13 , wherein for each of the identical flatwares:
 the base further includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion forming a cavity and the lower portion further including a protrusion structurally configured to be engageable with the cavity of another identical stacked flatware.   
     
     
         15 . The flatware kit of  claim 14  wherein two or more identical flatware can be stacked at angle and horizontally spaced away from one another thereby forming a portion of a circle. 
     
     
         16 . The flatware kit of  claim 13  further comprising a flatware plate having a plurality of cavities, wherein the lower portion of each of the flatwares includes a protrusion structurally configured to be engageable with the cavity of the flatware plate. 
     
     
         17 . The flatware of  claim 13 , wherein the handle connects the supporting elements to the base and includes an arcuate configuration spaced from the outside surface in both the weighted state and the relaxed state. 
     
     
         18 . The flatware of  claim 13  wherein the supporting elements further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion; and wherein the top portion of the supporting elements defines a neck connecting the supporting elements to the head portion. 
     
     
         19 . The flatware of  claim 18  wherein the neck connecting the supporting elements to the head portion is structurally configured to rest ergonomically on a user's hand, an edge of an external dish or a resting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The flatware of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of supporting elements is coupled to the lower surface of the base and to the shoulder end of the handle such that:
 the lower surface of the base further includes:
 a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom; and 
 a tip terminating in a contact member; and 
 
 the shoulder end of the handle further includes a tab protruding outwardly from the shoulder end and away from the neck end; and 
 wherein the protrusion extending outwardly from the lower surface of the base is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in both the weighted state and the relaxed state, wherein the tip terminating in a contact member is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in the relaxed state, and wherein the tab protruding outwardly from the shoulder end is structurally configured to engage with the outside surface in the weighted state.