Means and Method to Protect Items From Contamination

Abstract

A protective sleeve used to cover and isolate tools such as cooking utensils, medical tools, industrial tools and the like from contaminants. The sleeve comprises an interior portion, an exterior portion, and an exterior trim and is comprised of a malleable material so that it may be crimped and secured to the end of any utensil or tool. The sleeve, being malleable, may also be shaped to supplement the utensil or tool. For example, a sleeve over a spatula could be shaped with lipped edges so as to allow the spatula to more easily hold and maneuver foods. An example of a use of the protective sleeve is to protect foods from cross-contamination of harmful bacteria that may be present on raw or undercooked meats.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Human consumption of raw or undercooked meat can cause serious illness. Escherichia coli (E. coli), cholera, intestinal worms, and various forms of food poisoning are just some of the risks. When preparing food, one must use caution and cleanliness to ensure healthiness.[0002]Meats, red or white, are often cooked over an open flame, such as on a grill. Also, the preparation of meats for cooking often involves marinating and seasoning of the meats. Various tools are used to accomplish these tasks. Spatulas, tongs, elongated forks and similar utensils are used to move the meat from one place to another, such as from a bowl or plate onto a grill. A utensil must also be used to rotate and maneuver the meat as it is cooked. During all of these actions, while the meat is still raw or undercooked, the utensils may become contaminated with potential bacteria and diseases that may be harmful to humans. Once the meat is cooked, these same utensils will cross-c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention is a protective sleeve. It comprises of an interior portion, an exterior portion, and an exterior trim. The sleeve is designed to cover the ends of tools such as cooking utensils, medical tools, industrial tools and the like. It will be understood, however, that the group of tools for which this invention may be utilized is broad, and in general includes any tool which is used to manipulate a product where there is a desire to avoid contamination of either the product itself, the tool, and / or other materials or products. The sleeve is made of a malleable material, such as thin aluminum, so as to allow for it to be crimped to the shape of a cooking utensil, medical tool, industrial tool or the like. The sleeve protects the utensil or tool from contamination, such as when a pair of tongs or spatula comes into contact with raw or undercooked meats. When such contact occurs, only the exterior portion of the sleeve will be potentially contaminated. After use, or when the potential for contamination has passed (i.e. the meat is cooked sufficiently), the sleeve is discarded and the utensil can be used on the meat without any threat of cross-contamination. For example, there is a risk of contaminating meat that has been cooked, such as chicken, with material collected on a utensil used on the meat prior to cooking. By using the present invention during manipulation of uncooked meat and then disposing of the protective sleeve, contamination of the final cooked product can be avoided altogether.

[0008]The exterior trim on the sleeve helps the sleeve to maintain its shape, especially during packaging and storage (i.e. in a cabinet, drawer, etc.). Because of the low costs of manufacturing and producing of a protective sleeve, the sleeves may be sold in large quantities and will be readily affordable and available to all consumers.

[0010]Using a malleable material allows the sleeve to not only take the shape of the utensil or tool it is protecting, but also to be formed into a more desirable shape for the task at hand. For example, a person often uses a spatula to flip and maneuver meats on a grill. When the meats are raw and soft, a person may have difficulty handling the meat with a flat spatula. The malleable sleeve can be adjusted to form a lip or other contour to allow the spatula to more effectively control and maneuver the meats on the grill. This concept can be applied to various cooking utensils, medical tools, industrial tools and the like to better perform various tasks.

Problems solved by technology

When such contact occurs, only the exterior portion of the sleeve will be potentially contaminated.

For example, there is a risk of contaminating meat that has been cooked, such as chicken, with material collected on a utensil used on the meat prior to cooking.

When the meats are raw and soft, a person may have difficulty handling the meat with a flat spatula.

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