Viscosity measuring tool and spoon

Abstract

To provide a viscosity measuring tool allowing a user to easily, quickly and repeatedly measuring viscosity of a fluid substance, and a spoon allowing a user to easily, quickly and repeatedly measuring thickness of food and drink and to easily carry and use for eating / drinking as it is.SOLUTION: A viscosity measuring tool according to the present invention includes: a lever that can be held; a measuring part that is provided in a tip end of the lever and scoops up a fluid substance having fluidity; and a guide function part that can tilt the measuring part at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction from a predetermined posture. In an internal surface of the measuring part, a mark for scooping up a specified amount of the fluid substance upon viscosity measuring start, and one or more scales indicating the amount of the fluid substance left in the measuring part are formed. The amount of the fluid substance left in the measuring part after the specific amount of the fluid substance having arbitrarily set viscosity is scooped up to the measuring part and the measuring part is tilted at the predetermined angle in the predetermined direction from the predetermined posture by the guide function part is associated with the scale.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a viscosity measuring device and a spoon, and in particular to a viscosity measuring device capable of easily and quickly measuring the viscosity of a fluid object, and a spoon capable of easily and quickly measuring the thickness of a fluid food or drink, which is easy to carry and can be used for eating or drinking as is. [Background technology]

[0002] Patients with eating and swallowing disorders (hereinafter simply referred to as "dysphagic people" or "patients") are prone to choking when they ingest liquid foods and drinks (hereinafter simply referred to as "food and drink") that are not suited to their swallowing ability. In severe cases, this can cause breathing difficulties. Furthermore, if the food and drink is accidentally aspirated, bacteria in the mouth and throat can enter the lungs along with the food and saliva, causing aspiration pneumonia in some cases. To prevent these problems, thickening agents are generally added to foods and drinks for dysphagic people to increase their thickness (viscosity). Increasing the thickness of the food and drink slows down the speed at which it is sent to the throat, making it easier to swallow the food and drink all at once.

[0003] However, if the food is not thickened appropriately, it may actually increase the risk of aspiration. For example, if the food is thickened too much, it is more likely to stick to the throat and cause pharyngeal residue, which can lead to aspiration. To avoid such a situation, it is important to accurately assess the swallowing ability of patients with dysphagia and then thicken the food and drink to an appropriate level for the patient.

[0004] There are two methods for accurately measuring the viscosity of food and drink: one that uses a precision instrument such as a viscometer, and another that does not use a precision instrument but takes a long time to produce results. However, these methods are not suitable for use in medical or nursing care settings. In view of this issue, a spoon has been invented that uses the difference in fluidity caused by the difference in viscosity of food and drink to easily determine the viscosity (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). The spoon in Patent Document 1 has a notch in the spoon's dish, and is used to scoop up a viscous liquid and measure the amount of liquid remaining on the spoon to check the viscosity of the food and drink. The spoon in Patent Document 2 has two depressions in the spoon's dish for scooping up food and drink, and holes of different sizes are provided at the bottom of each depression. The viscosity is determined by checking whether food and drink flows out from the small hole and the large hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-3437 A [Patent Document 2] Design Publication No. 1672762 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with the viscosity measuring spoons of Patent Documents 1 and 2, if food or drink is attached to the holes or cuts in the bowl from the beginning of the measurement, the food or drink does not flow smoothly and it is difficult to perform a highly accurate measurement. Therefore, these spoons are not suitable for use in cases where repeated measurements are made while adjusting the viscosity.

[0007] In addition, the spoons in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are designed specifically for measuring viscosity, so a separate spoon must be prepared for meals, resulting in more dishes to wash. Furthermore, these spoons have small holes or cuts in them, making them difficult to clean with commonly used kitchen sponges. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention described in claim 1 is a viscosity measuring device for measuring the viscosity of a flowable object having fluidity, comprising a grippable handle, a measuring section at the tip of the handle for scooping up the flowable object, and a guide function section capable of tilting the measuring section at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction from a predetermined posture, wherein the inner surface of the measuring section is formed with a mark for scooping up a specified amount of flowable object at the start of viscosity measurement and one or more scales indicating the amount of flowable object remaining in the measuring section, and wherein the scales correspond to the amount of flowable object remaining in the measuring section after a specified amount of flowable object having an arbitrarily set viscosity is scooped up into the measuring section and the measuring section is tilted at a specified angle in a predetermined direction from a predetermined posture by the guide function section. The invention described in claim 2 is a spoon having a handle that can be held in the hand and a plate at the end of the handle, wherein the plate has a mark for scooping a specified amount of liquid food or beverage and at least one scale indicating the amount of liquid food or beverage remaining on the plate, the handle has a guide that allows the plate to be tilted at a specified angle around the longitudinal direction of the handle, and the scale indicating the amount of liquid food or beverage remaining on the plate corresponds to a pre-specified viscosity. The invention described in claim 3 is a spoon described in claim 2, in which the guide that enables the bowl to be tilted at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction of the handle is a polygonal prism-shaped outer surface provided on at least a part of the handle. The invention described in claim 4 is the spoon described in claim 2, in which a guide that allows the bowl to be tilted at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction of the handle is removably provided on the handle. The invention described in claim 5 is the spoon described in claim 2, in which the surface of the plate is hydrophobic or water-repellent. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a viscosity measuring device that can easily, quickly and repeatedly measure the viscosity of a flowable object, and a spoon that can easily, quickly and repeatedly measure the thickness of food and drink, is easy to carry, and can be used for eating and drinking as is.

[0010] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of a viscosity measuring device according to the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the viscosity measuring tool shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating various landmarks. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an illustrative view showing a scale according to another embodiment. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a cross section of a guide functional part taken along line AA in FIG. 1; [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating different scale patterns. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a photographic illustration showing another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of a viscosity measuring device according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating still another embodiment of a viscosity measuring device according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of a spoon according to the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view of the spoon shown in FIG. 10 . [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating various landmarks. [Figure 13]11 is a schematic sectional view showing a cross section of the guide taken along line AA in FIG. 10; [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating different scale patterns. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a photographic illustration showing another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The viscosity measuring device 10 according to the present invention can easily and quickly measure the viscosity of a fluid object having fluidity. The fluid object to be measured is not particularly limited as long as the viscosity of the object is approximately uniform, and some specific examples include food and drink containing a lot of water such as soup or soft paste-like food, and fluids containing various liquids such as liquid raw materials and slurries for industrial use. Note that powder in a dry state can also be said to be a fluid object having fluidity, but is not included in the subject of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the viscosity measuring tool 10 includes a handle 12 and a measuring part 14 provided at the tip of the handle 12. The handle 12 is for holding the viscosity measuring tool 10 when it is used. The handle 12 is also used when tilting the measuring part 14 in a certain direction when measuring the viscosity. The length, thickness, and shape of the handle 12 are not particularly limited, but it is desirable that the handle 12 has a length that is easy for the user to handle. For example, when measuring the viscosity of a fluid object placed in a large and deep container in a factory or kitchen, the handle 12 is long like a ladle, and when measuring the thickness of a fluid food such as soup at a meal, the handle 12 is short and easy to handle like a dining spoon, so that the length, thickness, and shape are desirable for the user to handle. There are no particular limitations on the material of the handle 12 as long as it is a material that does not easily deform, and specific examples include metal, synthetic resin, pottery, porcelain, glass, wood, etc.

[0014] The measuring unit 14 functions as a measuring device that scoops up a certain amount of the fluid object and measures the amount of the fluid object. As shown in FIG. 2, the measuring unit 14 is formed in a saucer shape like a general spoon or a bowl shape like a ladle. The planar shape of the measuring unit 14 does not need to be a perfect circle or ellipse like a general spoon or ladle, and is not limited to a planar shape as long as the flow of the fluid object is not hindered. For example, the measuring unit 14 may be formed so that a part of the upper edge is protruding to form a teardrop shape in plan, and an outlet for the fluid object is provided, and the measuring unit 14 may be formed in a shape similar to that of a horizontal-mouth ladle or a vertical-mouth ladle in cooking utensils. In this case, the highly viscous fluid object can be smoothly discharged from the measuring unit 14 through the outlet, and the viscosity can be measured quickly. It is not preferable to provide a protrusion or a depression on the upper surface of the measuring unit 14 that is large enough to hinder the flow of the fluid object on the measuring unit 14 during viscosity measurement. Regarding the size of the measuring portion 14, it is desirable that it has a capacity of at least 5 ml, since it is difficult to measure viscosity with a small amount.

[0015] The material of the measuring section 14 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that is not easily deformed and the surface fluidity is not easily changed by the chemical and physical influence of the fluid material. Specifically, metal, synthetic resin, pottery, porcelain, glass, wood, etc. can be used. However, for the upper surface of the measuring section 14, if the fluid material does not stick to the surface of the measuring section 14 and flows smoothly, it is possible to measure the viscosity quickly and accurately. In consideration of this point, it is preferable to use a material having hydrophobic or water-repellent properties among the above-mentioned materials as the material of the measuring section 14, or to use a material whose surface can be given water-repellency by post-treatment such as hydrophobic coating or water-repellent coating.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a mark 16 is provided on the upper surface of the measuring unit 14. The mark 16 is for scooping up a specified amount of the flowable material at the start of measurement. The mark 16 is provided so as to come into contact with the outer edge of the surface of the flowable material when a specified amount of the flowable material is scooped up. The mark 16 comes into contact with the outer edge of the surface of the flowable material when the viscosity measuring tool 10 is held in a specified position at the start of viscosity measurement by the guide function unit 20 described later. The mark 16 is provided by applying fine engraving or printing to the upper surface of the measuring unit 14 so as not to interfere with the smooth flow of the flowable material.

[0017] The shape of the mark 16 is a shape that indicates the position of the entire circumference or a part of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid material of the specified amount. Specific examples include two straight lines that contact both ends of the outer edge of the widest part of the surface of the fluid material as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3(a), an ellipse that indicates the entire circumference of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid material as shown in FIG. 3(b), and a plurality of arcs that indicate a part of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid material as shown in FIG. 3(c). The mark 16 is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and a mark that allows the position of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid material to be grasped may be provided by drawing a dot or a line drawing, or by applying a color. Furthermore, instead of providing the mark 16 with a line drawing or coloring, the maximum amount that the measuring unit 14 can scoop may be set as the specified amount, and the outer edge of the measuring unit 14 may be used as the mark 16.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the mark 16, the upper surface of the measuring unit 14 is provided with scales 18a, 18b, and 18c. Each of the scales 18a to 18c corresponds to the amount of the fluid material remaining in the measuring unit 14 when the measuring unit 14 is tilted at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction from a predetermined attitude by the guide function unit 20 after a specified amount of the fluid material having a viscosity arbitrarily set in advance is scooped up into the measuring unit 14 by the mark 16. This is configured so that when the measuring unit 14 is tilted at a predetermined angle, the position of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid material remaining in the measuring unit 14 coincides with the scales 18a to 18c. The scales 18a to 18c are provided on the upper surface of the measuring unit 14 by fine engraving or printing that does not interfere with the smooth flow of the fluid material, like the mark 16.

[0019] The mechanism for measuring the viscosity of a fluid object using the scales 18a to 18c will be described in detail below. As described above, each of the scales 18a to 18c indicates the amount of fluid object remaining on the measuring section 14 when the viscosity measuring tool 10 is tilted at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction. The scales 18a to 18c are provided based on the amount of fluid object remaining on the measuring section 14 after a predetermined viscosity of a fluid object is tilted at a predetermined angle. This makes it possible to measure the viscosity of a fluid object by measuring the amount of the fluid object remaining on the measuring section 14 using the scales 18a to 18c when the viscosity measuring tool 10 is tilted at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction. The present embodiment will be specifically described below.

[0020] [Table 1]

[0021] The markings 18a to 18c in this embodiment correspond to the three viscosity levels shown in Table 1. First, the markings 18a will be described. The markings 18a are provided so as to correspond to the lower limit of "low viscosity" in the table. In other words, the markings 18a are provided so as to match the outer edge of the fluid object with the lower limit of "low viscosity" remaining on the measuring section 14 after the viscosity measuring tool 10 is tilted in a predetermined direction at a predetermined inclination. Therefore, the shape of the markings 18a is an arc as shown in FIG. 1. The same applies to the markings 18b and 18c.

[0022] Since the lower limit of "low viscosity" is a viscosity of 50 mPa s, when the viscosity of a flowable object with a viscosity of 50 mPa s is measured, the flowable object remains on measuring unit 14 so that the outer edge of the flowable object nearly coincides with scale 18a. This enables the viscosity of the measured flowable object to be determined to be "low viscosity". In contrast, when measuring a fluid object with a viscosity lower than "low viscosity", the fluidity of the fluid object is high, and therefore a larger amount of the fluid object flows out of measuring unit 14. Therefore, the outer edge of the fluid object remaining in measuring unit 14 is located below scale 18a, and it can be determined that the fluid object has a viscosity lower than "low viscosity". On the other hand, when measuring a flowable object having a viscosity higher than "low viscosity", the flowability of the flowable object is low, and therefore less of the flowable object flows out of measuring section 14. Therefore, the outer edge of the flowable object remaining in measuring section 14 will be located above scale 18a.

[0023] Next, the scale 18b will be described. The scale 18b belongs to both "low viscosity" and "medium viscosity" and is provided so as to correspond to the viscosity of the boundary value between "low viscosity" and "medium viscosity". In other words, the scale 18b is a scale provided so as to match the outer edge of a flowable object having a viscosity of 150 mPa·s, which is the boundary value between "low viscosity" and "medium viscosity", when the object is left on the measuring unit 14 during viscosity measurement. Therefore, when the viscosity of a flowable object having a viscosity of 150 mPa·s is measured, the flowable object remains on the measuring unit 14 so that the outer edge of the flowable object and the scale 18b are almost aligned. This allows the viscosity of the measured flowable object to be determined as "medium viscosity". In contrast, when measuring a fluid object with a viscosity lower than "medium viscosity," the fluidity of the fluid object is high, and therefore more of the fluid object flows out of the measuring unit 14. Therefore, the outer edge of the fluid object remaining in the measuring unit 14 will be located below the marking 18b. If the viscosity of the fluid object being measured is within the "low viscosity" range, then for the reasons explained in the lower part of paragraph 0022 and the reasons mentioned above, the upper edge of the fluid object will be located between the markings 18a and 18b, and the fluid object can be determined to be of "low viscosity." On the other hand, when measuring a flowable object having a viscosity of "medium viscosity" or higher, the flowability of the flowable object is low, and less of the flowable object flows out of measuring unit 14. Therefore, the outer edge of the flowable object remaining in measuring unit 14 is located above scale mark 18b, and the flowable object can be determined to be a flowable object having a viscosity of "high viscosity" or higher than "high viscosity."

[0024] Continuing with the description of scale 18c, scale 18c belongs to both "medium viscosity" and "high viscosity" and is set to correspond to a viscosity of 300 mPa·s, which is the boundary value between "medium viscosity" and "high viscosity." The mechanism for measuring viscosity is the same as scales 18a and 18b, so an explanation of scale 18c will be omitted.

[0025] In this embodiment, the scales 18a to 18c are provided to enable measurement in three viscosity ranges, but the number of scales may be appropriately increased or decreased to increase or decrease the measurable viscosity range. The simplest embodiment of the scale is when only one scale is provided. For example, when only the scale 18a of the above-mentioned embodiment is provided on the measuring unit 14, when a fluid object having a viscosity of 50 mPa·s, which is the lower limit of "low viscosity," and a fluid object having a viscosity close to that value are measured, the upper edge of the fluid object is located directly above or in the vicinity of the scale 18a, so that it can be determined that the viscosity of the measured fluid object is 50 mPa·s or a value close to that. On the other hand, when the number of scales is increased, it becomes possible to measure the viscosity more precisely according to the width and number of the viscosity range set in advance.

[0026] 1, the scale is provided so as to extend in the long axis direction of the measuring section 14, but the scale may be provided in the short axis direction or in a diagonal direction of the measuring section 14. When the scale is provided so as to extend in the short axis direction as shown in FIG. 4 so that the upper edge of the flowable object remaining in the measuring section 14 becomes shorter, the upper edge of the flowable object remaining in the measuring section 14 appears relatively straight, making the measurement easier.

[0027] Next, the guide function part 20 will be described. The guide function part 20 is a mechanism for holding the viscosity measuring tool 10 horizontally during viscosity measurement and tilting the viscosity measuring tool 10 at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide function part 20 is provided near the end of the handle 12 near the measuring part 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the guide function part 20 at the cross section AA is a substantially regular nonagon, and the external shape is formed like a regular nonagonal prism lying on its side. The guide function part 20 has a reference surface 20a formed horizontally on the bottom surface. The reference surface 20a is configured so that the upper edge of the measuring part 14 is horizontal when the entire reference surface 20a is placed on a horizontal place. The guide function part 20 also has a transition surface 20b. The transition surface 20b is the side surface adjacent to the reference surface 20a, as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the guide function part 20 has two measurement surfaces 20c. As shown in FIG. 5, the measurement surface 20c is a side surface located immediately above the transition surface 20b.

[0028] The reference surface 20a has a certain length in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the viscosity measuring device 10 in order to hold the viscosity measuring device 10 in a predetermined position so that the upper edge of the measuring part 14 is horizontal when starting the viscosity measurement. When holding the viscosity measuring device 10 in a predetermined position, it is desirable for the viscosity measuring device 10 to be able to stand on its own in a balanced manner even if the measurer does not place his / her hand on it, but this is not necessarily required and the device may be configured so that it cannot be held in the predetermined position unless the hand is placed on it.

[0029] The reference surface 20a, the transition surface 20b, and the measurement surface 20c are provided at equal distances from the central axis (rotation axis) of the handle 12. The respective surfaces are configured to intersect with each other at a predetermined angle for rotating the handle 12. In this embodiment, since the longitudinal section of the guide function part 20 is a regular nonagon, the outer angle of the regular nonagon, 40 degrees, is the predetermined angle for rotating the handle 12. By constructing the guide function part 20 in this manner, it is possible to tilt the viscosity measuring tool 10 (measuring part 14) at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction by placing the reference surface 20a on the upper edge of a horizontally placed container or the top surface of a table, and then rotating the handle 12 around the longitudinal direction so that the bottom surface becomes the transition surface 20b and the measurement surface 20c, respectively. At this time, the upper edge of the longitudinal direction of the measuring part 14 is kept horizontal, and the measuring part 14 is rotated around the longitudinal direction.

[0030] A protrusion 22 is provided on the side edge where the reference surface 20a, the transition surface 20b, and the measurement surface 20c intersect. All of the protrusions 22 are provided slightly higher than the reference surface 20a, the transition surface 20b, and the measurement surface 20c, and are about 1 mm higher in this embodiment. As a result, when the handle 12 is rotated, the guide function part 20 does not contact the upper edge of the container with the reference surface 20a, the transition surface 20b, and the measurement surface 20c, but makes linear contact with the apex of the protrusion 22. This generates a larger friction force between the upper edge of the tableware and the protrusion 22 than when they make surface contact. As a result, when the handle 12 is rotated around the longitudinal direction, the outer surface of the guide function part 20 does not slip on the upper edge of the container, and the protrusion 22 can be smoothly rotated as a fulcrum.

[0031] Furthermore, by providing the protrusions 22, the vibration and recoil transmitted to the handle 12 when rotated at a predetermined angle is greater than when the entire surfaces of the protrusion transition surface 20b and the measurement surface 20c are in contact. This reduces the risk of accidentally rotating the handle 12 beyond the predetermined angle. This effect is more effective as the size of the guide functional part 20 becomes smaller. Furthermore, when the guide functional part 20 is held and rotated by fingers without being placed on the upper edge of a container, the protrusions 22 provide a greater feeling of touch to the fingertips, so that even in this case, it reduces the risk of accidentally rotating the handle 12 beyond the predetermined angle.

[0032] The procedure for measuring viscosity using the viscosity measuring tool 10 will be described below. [Step 1] As shown in FIG. 3( a ), a flowable object whose viscosity is to be measured is scooped up with the viscosity measuring tool 10 , and a specified amount of the flowable object is held in the measuring part 14 using the mark 16 . [Step 2] The reference surface 20a of the guide function portion 20 of the viscosity measuring tool 10 is placed on the upper edge of a container or the like, and the viscosity measuring tool 10 is held in a predetermined position with the measuring portion 14 in a horizontal position. [Step 3] The handle 12 is slowly rotated so that the transition surface 20b of the guide function portion 20 becomes the lowest surface. At this time, the transition surface 20b is placed on the upper edge of the container, etc., instead of the reference surface 20a. The measuring portion 14 is tilted at a predetermined angle from the horizontal state, and the flowable material flows out of the measuring portion 14. [Step 4] Furthermore, the handle 12 is slowly rotated and placed on the upper edge of the container so that the measurement surface 20c becomes the lowest surface instead of the transition surface 20b. At this time, the measuring part 14 is in a predetermined position for viscosity measurement, and the flowable material flows out further from the measuring part 14. The time from step 2 to step 4 is preferably about 3 to 5 seconds. By slowly rotating the handle 12 over a short period of time in this manner, the flowable material is prevented from flowing out of the measuring part 14 due to the force of inertia caused by the rotation of the flowable material. [Step 5] It is confirmed where on the scales 18a to 18c the outer edge of the surface of the fluid object remaining in the measuring unit 14 is located. This makes it possible to determine whether the viscosity of the fluid object is "low viscosity or lower," "low viscosity," "medium viscosity," "high viscosity," or "high viscosity or higher."

[0033] As described above, the viscosity measuring tool 10 according to the present invention can measure viscosity simply and quickly.

[0034] In addition, in this embodiment, the scales 18a to 18c are provided so that the viscosity can be determined when the viscosity measuring tool 10 is tilted at a predetermined angle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The scales 18a to 18c may be provided as shown in FIG. 6 so that the remaining amount can be confirmed and the viscosity can be determined when the spoon is returned to a horizontal position after the viscosity measuring tool 10 is tilted at a predetermined angle.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the scales 18a to 18c are provided in the form of an arc-shaped curve, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The scales 18a to 18c may be provided by drawing marks with dots or lines, or by applying color, so that the position of the outer edge of the surface of the fluid object can be grasped.

[0036] In this embodiment, the longitudinal section of the guide functional portion 20 is formed into a regular nonagon, so that the predetermined angle is set to 40 degrees, and the viscosity measuring device 10 is configured to rotate in increments of 40 degrees, but this is not limited to the above. The predetermined angle for rotating the viscosity measuring device 10 may be selected as an optimal angle corresponding to the viscosity of the fluid object to be measured, or the water repellency of the measuring portion 14. In addition, it is not necessary to configure the device to rotate at a constant angle, such as 40 degrees, and it may be configured, for example, to rotate at 35 degrees to the transition surface 18b and 40 degrees to the measurement surface 18c.

[0037] In this embodiment, the guide functional part 20 is used to tilt the viscosity measuring tool 10 at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction, so that the measuring part 14 is rotated around the longitudinal direction while maintaining the horizontality of the upper edge of the longitudinal direction of the measuring part 14 to measure the viscosity, but the direction in which the guide functional part 20 rotates the viscosity measuring tool 10 is not limited to this. For example, when a scale is provided in the short axis direction of the measuring part 14 as shown in FIG. 4, the guide functional part 20 may be used to rotate the handle 12 in a certain direction so as to stand up, and the measuring part 14 may be rotated around the short direction while maintaining the horizontality of the upper edge of the short direction of the measuring part 14 to measure the viscosity.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide function part 20 is formed integrally with the handle 12, but the guide function part 20 does not necessarily have to be formed integrally with the handle 12. The guide function part 20 is a part used only when measuring viscosity, so it may be configured to be detachable from the handle 12 at times other than when measuring viscosity. As an example of a configuration in which the guide function part 20 is detachable, the guide function part 20 is formed like a detachable cover on the handle 12, and is configured to cover the handle 12 only when in use. As another example, as shown in FIG. 7, the tip of a clip member such as a clothespin that holds an object is made to have the same shape as the guide function part 20. In this example, the viscosity of a fluid object can be determined by attaching the above-mentioned clip member to a predetermined position on the handle 12 only when measuring viscosity.

[0039] In this embodiment, the protrusion 22 is provided on the guide function part 20, but the protrusion 22 is not necessarily provided, and the guide function part 20 may be tilted using only the transition surface 20b or the measurement surface 20c. The water repellency of the surface of the guide function part 20 is not particularly limited, but if the guide function part 20 enters a fluid object and the fluid object adheres to the surface of the guide function part 20, it becomes difficult to tilt accurately, so it is desirable to impart water repellency to the surface of the guide function part 20 so that the object to be measured does not adhere to the surface.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the guide functional part 20 is provided on the longitudinal extension of the measuring part 14, but this is not limited to this. For example, when measuring the viscosity of a flowable object contained in a deep container, the handle 12 may be extended and the guide functional part 20 may be provided midway so that the flowable object at the bottom of a deep container such as a pot can be measured, as in another embodiment shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. In this case, the guide functional part 20 is hooked onto the edge of the container, and the container is tilted using the handle 12 on the outside to measure the viscosity.

[0041] Next, spoon 50 according to the present invention will be described. Spoon 10 according to the present invention is a spoon that can be used not only to measure the viscosity of food and drink, but also as a spoon for eating and drinking. As shown in FIG. 10, spoon 50 includes handle 52 and dish 54 provided at the tip of handle 52, and is basically configured like a typical spoon for eating and drinking. In this embodiment, handle 52 and dish 54 are formed separately, and then one end of dish 54 is fitted into handle 52 to be integrated.

[0042] The handle 52 is for holding the spoon 50 when it is in use. The handle 52 is also used when tilting the plate 54 around the longitudinal direction of the handle 52 when measuring the viscosity. The length of the handle 52 is not particularly limited, but it is desirable that the handle be of a length that is easy for the user to handle. Similarly to the length, the thickness is also not particularly limited, but it is desirable that the handle be of a thickness that is easy for the user to handle. There is no particular restriction on the material of the handle 52, so long as it is a material that is generally used for spoons for eating and drinking. Specifically, metal, synthetic resin, pottery, porcelain, glass, wood, etc. can be used.

[0043] The plate 54 has a function of a measuring part that scoops up food and drink and acts as a measuring device to measure the amount of food and drink. As shown in FIG. 11, the plate 54 is formed in a saucer shape as a whole, like a general spoon for eating and drinking. The shape of the plate 54 is not particularly limited as long as it is formed in a shape that does not cause discomfort in the mouth when eating and drinking. However, it is not preferable to provide a curve with an extremely changed curvature, protrusions, or depressions on the upper surface of the plate 54 that would hinder the flow of food and drink on the plate 54 when measuring the viscosity. There is no particular limit to the size of the plate 54, and it may be a size that is easy to handle. However, when the spoon 50 is also used for eating and drinking, it is of course necessary to make it large enough to be easily inserted into a person's mouth, but it is preferable that the amount that can be scooped is less than the amount that a person with a swallowing disorder would have difficulty eating at one time.

[0044] The material of the plate 54 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material used for a general spoon for eating and drinking. Specifically, metal, synthetic resin, pottery, porcelain, glass, wood, etc. can be used. However, for the upper surface of the plate 54, it is better for food and drink to flow smoothly without clinging to the surface of the plate 54 in order to measure the viscosity accurately. In consideration of this point, it is preferable to use a material that is hydrophobic or water-repellent as the material for the plate 54, or a material that can be given water-repellency to the surface by post-treatment such as hydrophobic coating or water-repellent coating.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 12, a mark 56 is provided on the top surface of the dish 54. The mark 56 is for scooping a specified amount of fluid material at the start of measurement, and in this example, the mark is for scooping a specified amount of food or drink whose viscosity is to be measured. The mark 56 is provided so as to come into contact with the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink when the specified amount of food or drink is scooped. The mark 56 comes into contact with the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink when the spoon 50 is held in a specified position at the start of viscosity measurement by the guide 20 or the like, which will be described later. The mark 56 is provided by applying a fine engraving or printing to the top surface of the dish 54 so as not to interfere with the smooth flow of the food or drink.

[0046] The shape of the mark 56 is a shape that indicates the position of the entire circumference or part of the outer edge of the surface of the specified amount of food or drink. Specific examples include two straight lines that contact both ends of the outer edge of the widest part of the surface of the food or drink as shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 12(a), an ellipse that indicates the entire circumference of the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink as shown in Fig. 12(b), and multiple arcs that indicate part of the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink as shown in Fig. 12(c). The mark 56 is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and may be provided by drawing a dot or a line drawing or by applying a color to the mark that allows the position of the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink to be grasped. Furthermore, instead of providing the mark 56 with a line drawing or coloring, the outer edge of the plate 54 may be used as the mark 56, with the maximum amount that the plate 54 can scoop as the specified amount.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the mark 56, the upper surface of the plate 54 is provided with scales 58a, 58b, and 58c. The scales 58a, 58b, and 58c correspond to the amount of fluid material remaining on the plate 54 after a specified amount of a fluid material having a set viscosity is scooped up on the plate 54 and the plate 54 is tilted at a specified angle in a specified direction from a specified attitude by a guide. In this example, the scales 58a to 58c are scales for measuring the thickness of the food or drink by measuring the amount of the food or drink remaining on the plate 54. The scales 58a to 58c are provided on the upper surface of the plate 54 by applying fine engraving or printing that does not interfere with the smooth flow of the food or drink, similar to the mark 56. The mechanism for measuring the thickness of the food or drink using the scales 58a to 58c will be described in detail below.

[0048] The scales 58a to 58c indicate the amount of food or drink remaining on the plate 54 when the spoon 50 is tilted at a predetermined angle. The scales 58a to 58c are provided based on the amount of food or drink of different viscosity remaining on the plate 54 after the spoon 50 is tilted at a predetermined angle. This makes it possible to measure the viscosity of the food or drink by measuring the amount of food or drink remaining on the plate 54 when the spoon 50 is tilted at a predetermined angle using the scales 58a to 58c. In the following, a specific explanation will be given using this embodiment, but in the following explanation, the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation Classification 2021 (Thickness) Quick Reference Table shown in Table 2 will be simply referred to as the "Quick Reference Table", and the "Stage 1: "Thin Thickness", "Stage 2: "Medium Thickness", and "Stage 3: "Thick Thickness" defined in the quick reference table will be simply referred to as "Thin Thickness", "Medium Thickness", and "Thick Thickness".

[0049] [Table 2]

[0050] The markings 58a to 58c in this embodiment correspond to the three viscosity levels defined in the quick reference chart. First, the markings 58a will be described. The markings 58a are provided so as to correspond to the lower limit of the "thin viscosity" in the quick reference chart. In other words, the markings 58a are provided so as to match the outer edge of the food or drink of the lower limit of the "thin viscosity" remaining on the plate 54 after the spoon 50 is tilted at a predetermined angle during viscosity measurement. Therefore, the shape of the markings 58a is an arc as shown in FIG. 10. The markings are also arc-shaped in the same way for the markings 58b and 58c.

[0051] Since the lower limit of "thin viscosity" is a viscosity of 50 mPa s, when measuring the viscosity of a food or drink with a viscosity of 50 mPa s, the food or drink remains on dish 54 so that its outer edge nearly coincides with scale 58a. This enables the viscosity of the measured food or drink to be determined as "thin viscosity". In contrast, when measuring food or drink with a thinner consistency than "thin", the food or drink has high fluidity and therefore flows out of plate 54 in large quantities. Therefore, the outer edge of the food or drink remaining on plate 54 is located below scale mark 58a, and it can be determined that the food or drink has a thinner consistency than "thin", i.e., that the food or drink has no viscosity. On the other hand, when measuring food or drink that is thicker than the "thin consistency", the fluidity of the food or drink is low, so less of the food or drink will flow out of plate 54. Therefore, the outer edge of the food or drink remaining on plate 54 will be located above graduation 58a.

[0052] Next, the markings 58b will be explained. The markings 58b belong to both "light viscosity" and "medium viscosity" and are provided to correspond to the viscosity of the boundary between "light viscosity" and "medium viscosity". In other words, the markings 58b are provided so as to coincide with the outer edge of a food or drink with a viscosity of 150 mPa·s, which is the boundary between "light viscosity" and "medium viscosity", remaining on the plate 54 during viscosity measurement. Therefore, when the viscosity of a food or drink with a viscosity of 150 mPa·s is measured, the food or drink remains on the plate 54 so that its outer edge almost coincides with the markings 58b. This allows the viscosity of the measured food or drink to be determined to be "medium viscosity". In contrast, when measuring food or drink with a viscosity less than "medium viscosity," the food or drink has high fluidity, so more of it will flow off plate 54. As a result, the outer edge of the food or drink remaining on plate 54 will be located below mark b. If the viscosity of the food or drink being measured is within the range of "light viscosity," then, for the reasons explained in the lower part of paragraph 0022 and the reasons mentioned above, the upper edge of the food or drink will be located between mark 58a and mark 58b, and it can be determined that the food or drink is "lightly thick." On the other hand, when measuring food or drink with a viscosity of "medium viscosity" or higher, the fluidity of the food or drink is low, so less of it flows out of plate 54. Therefore, the outer edge of the food or drink remaining on plate 54 is located above scale mark b, and it can be determined that the food or drink has a viscosity of "thick viscosity" or higher.

[0053] Continuing with the description of scale 58c, scale 58c belongs to both "medium viscosity" and "thick viscosity" and is set to correspond to a viscosity of 300 mPa s, which is the boundary between "medium viscosity" and "thick viscosity." The mechanism for measuring viscosity is the same as scales 58a and 58b, so an explanation of scale 58c will be omitted.

[0054] Next, the guide 60 will be described. The guide 60 has the function of a guide function section, and is a mechanism for holding the spoon 50 horizontally and tilting the spoon 50 at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction when measuring the viscosity. As shown in FIG. 11, the guide 60 is provided near the end of the handle 52 near the plate 54 side. As shown in FIG. 13, the cross-sectional shape of the guide 60 at the cross section AA is a substantially regular nonagon, and the external shape is formed like a regular nonagonal prism lying on its side. The guide 60 has a reference surface 60a formed horizontally on the bottom surface. The reference surface 60a is configured so that the upper edge of the plate 54 is horizontal when the entire reference surface 60a is placed on a horizontal place. The guide 60 also has a transition surface 60b. The transition surface 60b is the side surface next to the reference surface 60a, as shown in FIG. 13. Furthermore, the guide 60 has two measurement surfaces 60c. As shown in FIG. 13, the measurement surface 60c is a side surface located immediately above the transition surface 60b.

[0055] Reference surface 60a has a certain degree of length in the longitudinal and lateral directions of spoon 50 in order to hold spoon 50 in a predetermined position so that the upper edge of plate 54 is horizontal when starting to measure the viscosity. When holding spoon 50 in the predetermined position, it is desirable for the spoon to be able to stand on its own in a balanced manner even if the person measuring does not place his or her hand on it, but this is not essential and the spoon may be configured so that it cannot be held in the predetermined position without the hand being placed on it.

[0056] The reference surface 60a, the transition surface 60b, and the measurement surface 60c are provided at equal distances from the central axis (rotation axis) of the handle 52. The respective surfaces are configured to intersect with each other at a predetermined angle for rotating the handle 52. In this embodiment, since the longitudinal section of the guide 60 is a regular nonagon, the outer angle of the regular nonagon, 40 degrees, is the predetermined angle for rotating the handle 52. By constructing the guide 60 in this way, it is possible to tilt the spoon 50 (dish 54) at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction by placing the reference surface 60a on the upper edge of a horizontally placed dish or the top surface of a table, and then rotating the handle 52 around the longitudinal direction so that the bottom surface becomes the transition surface 60b and the measurement surface 60c, respectively.

[0057] Protrusions 62 are provided on the side edges where the reference surface 60a, transition surface 60b, and measurement surface 60c intersect. All of the protrusions 62 are provided slightly higher than the reference surface 60a, transition surface 60b, and measurement surface 60c, and in this embodiment, are provided approximately 1 mm higher. As a result, when the handle 52 is rotated, the guide 60 does not come into contact with the upper edge of the dish, etc., at the surfaces of the reference surface 60a, transition surface 60b, and measurement surface 60c, but rather makes linear contact with the apex of the protrusion 62. This creates a greater frictional force between the upper edge of the dish, etc., and the protrusion 62 than would occur if there was surface contact. As a result, When the handle 52 is rotated in the longitudinal direction, the outer surface of the guide 60 does not slip on the upper edge of the tableware, and the handle 52 can be rotated smoothly with the protrusion 62 as a fulcrum.

[0058] Furthermore, by providing the protrusions 62, the vibration and recoil transmitted to the handle 52 when rotated at a predetermined angle is greater than when the entire surfaces of the protrusion transition surface 60b and the measuring surface 60c are in contact. This reduces the risk of accidentally rotating the handle 52 beyond the predetermined angle. This effect becomes more pronounced as the size of the guide 60 becomes smaller. Furthermore, when the guide 60 is held and rotated by fingers without being placed on the upper edge of a dish, the protrusions 62 provide a greater feeling of touch to the fingertips, so that even in this case, it reduces the risk of accidentally rotating the handle 52 beyond the predetermined angle.

[0059] The procedure for measuring viscosity using spoon 50 will be described below. [Step 1] As shown in FIG. 12( a ), the food or drink to be measured for viscosity is scooped with a spoon 50 , and a specified amount of the food or drink is placed on a plate 54 using a mark 56 . [Step 2] The reference surface 60a of the guide 60 of the spoon 50 is placed on the upper edge of the dish, the spoon 50 is held in a predetermined position, and the plate 54 is placed in a horizontal position. [Step 3] The handle 52 is slowly rotated so that the transition surface 60b of the guide 60 is at the bottom. At this time, the transition surface 60b is placed on the upper edge of the dish, instead of the reference surface 60a. The plate 54 is tilted at a predetermined angle from the horizontal state, and food and drink flow out of the plate 54. [Step 4] Furthermore, handle 52 is slowly rotated and placed on the upper edge of a dish so that measuring surface 60c becomes the lowest surface instead of transition surface 60b. At this time, dish 54 is in the specified position for viscosity measurement, and food and drink continues to flow out of dish 54. The time from step 2 to step 4 is preferably about 3 to 5 seconds. By slowly rotating over a short period of time in this manner, it is possible to prevent the food and drink from flowing out of dish 54 due to the momentum of inertia caused by the force of rotation. [Step 5] Check where on the scales 58a-58c the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink remaining on the plate 54 is located. This makes it possible to determine whether the viscosity of the food or drink is "not thick," "lightly thick," "medium thickness," "thickly thick," or "thickly thick" or higher.

[0060] As described above, spoon 50 according to the present invention allows for easy and quick measurement of viscosity, and since it has a configuration substantially identical to that of a spoon for eating and drinking, it can be used for eating and drinking as is.

[0061] In this embodiment, no scale is provided to distinguish between food and drink with a viscosity greater than "thickly viscous." However, if such a distinction is necessary, it is sufficient to provide a scale along the outer edge of the food or drink with a viscosity of 500 Pa s, which is the upper limit of "thickly viscous," remaining on the dish 54.

[0062] In addition, in this embodiment, scales 58a-58c are provided so that the thickness can be determined when spoon 50 is tilted at a predetermined angle, but this is not limited to the above. Scales 58a-58c as shown in FIG. 14 may be provided so that the remaining amount can be confirmed when spoon 50 is returned to a horizontal position after being tilted at a predetermined angle, thereby allowing the thickness to be determined.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the scales 58a to 58c are provided to correspond to the viscosity levels in the chart, but this is not limiting, and the viscosity levels may be set arbitrarily and the scale 58 may be provided to correspond to them.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the scales 58a to 58c are provided in the form of an arc-shaped curve, but the present invention is not limited to this. The scales 58a to 58c may be provided by drawing marks with dots or lines, or by applying color, so that the position of the outer edge of the surface of the food or drink can be grasped.

[0065] In this embodiment, the longitudinal section of the guide 60 is formed into a regular nonagon, so that the predetermined angle is set to 40 degrees, and the spoon 50 is rotated in increments of 40 degrees, but this is not limited to the above. The predetermined angle for rotating the spoon 50 may be selected as an optimal angle depending on the viscosity of the food or drink to be measured, or on the water-repellent properties of the plate 54. In addition, it is not necessary to configure the spoon 50 to rotate at a constant angle, such as 40 degrees, and it may be configured, for example, to rotate at 35 degrees to the transition surface 58b and 40 degrees to the measurement surface 58c.

[0066] In this embodiment, the guide 60 is formed integrally with the handle 52, but the guide 60 does not necessarily have to be formed integrally with the handle 52. The guide 60 is a part used only when measuring the viscosity, so it may be configured to be detachable from the handle 52 at times other than when measuring the viscosity. An example of a configuration in which the guide 60 is detachable is a configuration in which the guide 60 is formed like a detachable cover on the handle 52 and is placed over the handle 52 only when it is in use. Another example is an example in which the tip of a clip member such as a clothespin that holds an object is shaped similarly to the guide 60, as shown in FIG. 15. In this example, the above-mentioned clip member is attached to a predetermined position on the handle 52 only when measuring the viscosity, so that the viscosity of the food or drink can be determined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10 Viscosity measuring instrument 12, 52 patterns 14 plates 16, 56 Landmark 18a, 18b, 18c, 58a, 58b, 58c scale 50 spoons 54 Measuring section 20, 60 Guide

Claims

1. A viscosity measuring device for measuring the viscosity of a fluid object having fluidity, A graspable handle; A measuring part provided at the tip of the handle for scooping up a flowable object; a guide function portion capable of tilting the weighing portion from a predetermined posture to a predetermined direction at a predetermined angle, A mark for scooping a specified amount of the flowable material at the start of viscosity measurement and one or more scales for indicating the amount of the flowable material remaining in the measuring section are formed on the inner surface of the measuring section; A viscosity measuring device characterized in that the scale corresponds to the amount of flowable material remaining in the measuring section after a specified amount of flowable material having an arbitrarily set viscosity is scooped up into the measuring section and the measuring section is tilted by the guide function section from a predetermined attitude to a predetermined direction at a predetermined angle.

2. A spoon having a handle that can be held by hand and a plate at the tip of the handle, The plate has a mark for scooping a specified amount of the liquid food or drink, and at least one or more scales for indicating the amount of the liquid food or drink remaining on the plate, the handle has a guide that allows the plate to be tilted at a predetermined angle about the length of the handle; A spoon characterized in that the scale indicating the amount of liquid food or drink remaining in the dish corresponds to a predetermined viscosity.

3. 3. The spoon according to claim 2, wherein the guide that enables the plate to be tilted at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction of the handle is a polygonal prism-shaped outer peripheral surface provided on at least a portion of the handle.

4. 3. The spoon according to claim 2, wherein a guide is removably provided on said handle, which enables said plate to be tilted at a predetermined angle around the longitudinal direction of said handle.

5. The spoon of claim 2 , wherein the surface of the plate is hydrophobic or water-repellent.

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