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

[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 difficu

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

Images