Eating assistive apparatus with magnetic securement strap and thumb guard

Abstract

An assistive eating device for a disabled person includes an elongate handle body. A utensil portion is interchangeably coupled to a front end of the handle body. A thumb guard extends upwardly from the front end for preventing slidable hand motion. The body portion includes a hub rearwardly displaced from the thumb guard. An elongate strap includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to the hub and having a distal end. A strap loop extends from a rear end of the body and is configured to receive the strap. Pluralities of first and second magnets are mounted to the strap, the magnets engaging one another when the strap is folded atop itself as it is cinched tighter and length adjusted. A pull tab defining an aperture is mounted to the distal end of the strap for use by the disabled user either to engage or disengage the magnets, respectively.

1 . An eating assistive apparatus, comprising:
 a handle body portion having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end and a utensil portion releasably coupled to the front end, said handle body portion including:
 an upper section having a pair of lateral ribs defining a channel therebetween and including a lower section having a cylindrical configuration, 
 a thumb guard extending upwardly from said upper section adjacent said front end; and 
 a hub extending upwardly from said upper section and displaced rearwardly from said thumb guard; 
   a strap having a proximal end pivotally coupled to said hub and a distal end having a hook, said strap having an elongate configuration constructed of a flexible and resilient material;   wherein said handle body portion includes a strap loop integrally extending from said rear end, said strap loop being configured to receive said distal end of strap therethrough;   a plurality of first magnets mounted to said strap adjacent said distal end, each first magnet having a first polarity; and   a plurality of second magnets mounted to said strap rearwardly proximate said hub, each second magnet having a second polarity such that said pluralities of said first and second magnets are movable between engaged and disengaged configurations upon a corresponding movement of said strap.   
     
     
         2 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said utensil portion includes a mounting member and an eating utensil operatively coupled to and extending away from said mounting member;   said front end of said handle body portion defines a bore configured to selectively and releasably receive said mounting member.   
     
     
         3 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said mounting member includes a rearwardly extending hub; and   said bore is configured to selectively mate with said mounted member in a friction fit engagement.   
     
     
         4 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said handle body portion defines an imaginary longitudinal axis and said mounting member of said utensil portion is situated along said imaginary longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said channel defined by said upper section of said handle body portion has a planar surface and said pair of lateral ribs are parallel to one another and extend upwardly from opposed side edges of said planar surface. 
     
     
         6 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said channel defines a width that is complementary to a width of said strap such that said strap is selectively nested in said channel and directed by said pair of lateral ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein said channel is sloped downwardly from said hub to said strap loop. 
     
     
         8 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein said strap loop is positioned linearly downstream of said upper section of said handle body portion so that said strap is received through said strap loop when said strap is nested in said channel. 
     
     
         9 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said thumb guard includes a nub having a hemispherical configuration that extends upwardly from said upper section of said handle body portion adjacent said front end thereof, said thumb guard being configured to block hand movement of a user. 
     
     
         10 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said strap includes a pull tab that defines an aperture having a dimension capable of receiving a finger of a user when engaging or disengaging said pluralities of first and second magnets, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . An eating assistive apparatus, comprising:
 a handle body portion having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end and a utensil portion releasably coupled to the front end,   said handle body portion including an upper section that defines a channel situated between a pair of lateral ribs and including a lower section having a cylindrical configuration, wherein:
 said channel has a planar surface and said pair of lateral ribs are parallel to one another and extend upwardly from opposed side edges of said planar surface; 
 said channel defines a width that is complementary to a width of said strap such that said strap is selectively nested in said channel and directed by said pair of lateral ribs; 
   wherein said handle body portion includes (1) a thumb guard extending upwardly from said upper section adjacent said front end and (2) a hub extending upwardly from said upper section and displaced rearwardly from said thumb guard;   a strap having a proximal end pivotally coupled to said hub and a distal end having a hook, said strap having an elongate configuration constructed of a flexible and resilient material;   wherein said handle body portion includes a strap loop integrally extending from said rear end, said strap loop being configured to selectively receive said strap therethrough.   
     
     
         12 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of first magnets mounted to said strap adjacent said distal end, each first magnet having a first polarity; and   a plurality of second magnets mounted to said strap rearwardly proximate said hub, each second magnet having a second polarity such that said pluralities of said first and second magnets are oriented between engaged and disengaged configurations upon a corresponding movement of said strap.   
     
     
         13 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said utensil portion includes a mounting member and an eating utensil operatively coupled to and extending away from said mounting member; and   said front end of said handle body portion defines a bore configured to selectively and releasably receive said mounting member.   
     
     
         14 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said handle body portion defines an imaginary longitudinal axis and said mounting member of said utensil portion is situated along said imaginary longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein said channel is sloped downwardly from said hub to said strap loop. 
     
     
         16 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein said strap loop is positioned linearly downstream of said upper section of said handle body portion so that said strap is received through said strap loop when said strap is nested in said channel. 
     
     
         17 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein said thumb guard includes a nub having a hemispherical configuration that extends upwardly from said upper section of said handle body portion adjacent said front end thereof, said thumb guard being configured to block hand movement of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The eating assistive apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein said strap includes a pull tab that defines an aperture having a dimension capable of receiving a finger of a user when engaging or disengaging said pluralities of first and second magnets, respectively.