Eating utensil that prevents food from dropping during loss of fine motor control

Abstract

An eating utensil that prevents food from dropping during loss of fine motor control by way of a retractable cover is disclosed. The head of the eating utensil is operatively associated with the retractable cover so that the latter is movable relative to the former between an open configuration and a closed configuration preventing food from spilling from the head of the utensil regardless of the head's orientation. An actuated arm engages both the utensil head and an elastic membrane of the retractable cover to effectuate selective control between the open and closed configurations. The actuated arm is operatively associated with system circuitry and electronics housed in a handle of the eating utensil, whereby the user can control power to the retractable cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil comprising:
 a supporting surface;   an actuated arm operatively associated with the supporting surface so the actuated arm is selectively movable between a first perimetral edge of the supporting surface and an opposing second perimetral edge thereof;   a retractable cover is in mechanical communication with both the actuated arm and the supporting surface so that the retractable cover extends along an arc path when the actuated arm moves from the first perimetral edge to the second perimetral edge forming an enclosure of the supporting surface in a closed configuration, whereby items supported by the supporting surface are prevented from moving beyond the perimetral edges of the supporting surface; and   a handle housing a motor for selectively moving the actuated arm.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the actuated arm has an arcuate body that enables said arc path. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil of  claim 2 , wherein the retractable cover comprises an elastic membrane that stretches between a collapsed condition and a stretched condition associated with the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil of  claim 3 , further comprising a head connector that removably attaches to the supporting surface to form a first sealed engagement between a first edge of the elastic membrane and the first perimetral edge of the supporting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil of  claim 4 , further comprising an arm connector that removably attaches to the supporting surface to form a second sealed engagement between a second edge of the elastic membrane and the actuated arm. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil of  claim 5 , where in the closed configuration the second sealed engagement also forms another sealed engagement with the second perimetral edge of the supporting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil of  claim 6 , wherein the arcuate body of the actuated arm extends between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end operatively associates with the motor by way of a shaft coupler. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil of  claim 7 , further comprising a system circuitry electrically associated with the motor, wherein the system circuitry is configured to selectively movement of the actuated arm between the first and second perimetral edges so that the actuated arm is stoppable between the first and second perimetral edges. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil of  claim 8 , wherein the head connector has plate connectors dimensioned and shaped to removably attach to the supporting surface. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the actuated arm is positioned adjacent to the first perimetral edge the utensil is in an open configuration for loading items on to or off of the supporting surface.