chopsticks

Abstract

To provide chopsticks that prevent food F from slipping off during meals, specifically, chopsticks that can securely pick up food and bring it to the mouth without it slipping off. [Solution] The present invention relates to chopsticks A for eating, comprising a portion for picking up food F and a portion for gripping with the fingers, wherein the cross-sections of the portion for picking up food F and the portion for gripping with the fingers 2 are each formed in a rectangular shape, the two rectangles are offset by 45 degrees, and a plurality of rhombus-shaped notched grooves G are provided at the corners of the portion for picking up food F.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to chopsticks used for eating and the like. More specifically, it relates to edible chopsticks that can surely pick up and carry food without slipping when eating food.

Background Art

[0002] Since ancient times, the etiquette when eating has differed among countries. Specifically, for example, in a country like India, when transporting food to the mouth, there are countries where people directly use their fingers to eat.

[0003] Also, there are countries like those in Europe and the United States where people eat using spoons and forks. The way of eating itself is considered a kind of culture of the country. Speaking of Japan, chopsticks have been used since ancient times. They are extremely convenient tools that can perform the functions of spoons and forks with just a pair of the same two chopsticks. The function of these chopsticks can be said to be to accurately pick up food and carry it to the mouth when eating.

[0004] However, it may be difficult to pick up food, or it may slip and fall during the process of carrying it to the mouth. Especially for children, they often have such experiences. Therefore, since ancient times, a non-slip function has been given to a certain area of the chopstick tip. For example, there is a method of providing fine uneven portions on the chopstick tip so that food can be hooked and prevented from slipping off. Also, there is a method of applying a paint that increases friction in order to increase the coefficient of friction. As an example of the former method of providing unevenness to prevent slipping, there is, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-6974 (Patent Document 1). This technology forms anti-slip teeth on the chopstick tip and has concave portions recessed from the surface M and convex portions protruding therefrom.

[0005] Also, there is Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-82971 (Patent Document 2). This technology (edible chopsticks A) features anti-slip grooves on the opposing ends of the chopstick tips and is suitably applied to disposable chopsticks.

[0006] There is also Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-83066 (Patent Document 3). This technology involves providing numerous anti-slip protrusions or recesses on the tip of the chopsticks, with smooth curved surfaces in between, which is effective in preventing slippage.

[0007] There is also Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-158811 (Patent Document 4). This technology involves adding numerous circular and linear protrusions to the part of the chopsticks that grips food.

[0008] Furthermore, there is Utility Model Registration No. 3153641 (Patent Document 5). This technology involves creating multiple spiral grooves in a continuous pattern on the surface of the chopsticks, from the tip to near the gripping portion.

[0009] On the other hand, to increase the friction coefficient, one method is to apply a paint that increases friction. For example, there is Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-209705 (Patent Document 6). This technique involves applying a coating, such as lacquer mixed with chitosan powder, to the tip of the chopsticks. When this coating is applied, the chitosan powder creates fine irregularities on the surface, providing an anti-slip effect. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-6974 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-82971 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-83066 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-158811

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] As in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 6, although many edible chopsticks A with a non-slip function are provided, they simply have irregularities and do not necessarily provide a satisfactory non-slip effect.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide chopsticks that do not allow food F to slip off during a meal, specifically, edible chopsticks that can surely pick up food and carry it to the mouth without slipping off.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] The inventors of the present invention earnestly studied to solve the above problems. As a result, by paying attention to the cross-sections of the shape of the part for picking up food and the shape of the part for gripping the chopsticks with fingers, making those cross-sections rectangular, and moreover making their phases different, it was found that when held normally, the corners of the tip of the chopsticks face each other. Based on the finding that the present invention can solve the above problems, the present invention has been completed.

[0014] The present invention is an edible chopstick A comprising (1) The part that grips the food F and the part that you place your fingers on. consisting of wooden wherein the cross-sections of the picking part 1 and the gripping part 2 are each formed into a rectangle, the rectangles of both are displaced by 45 degrees, a plurality of rhombic cut grooves G are provided at the corners of the picking part 1, and a fine unevenness which is the natural texture is left on the surface of the picking part 1, and it is a wooden edible chopstick A which is subjected to a thin coating treatment of MR paint.

[0015] The present invention is a method for manufacturing an edible chopstick comprising (2) The part that grips food (1) and the part that you rest your fingers on (2) consisting of wooden wherein The part that grips food (1) and the part that you rest your fingers on (2)Make the cross-sections of both rectangular and form them so that the two rectangles are offset by 45 degrees. Provide a plurality of rhombus-shaped cut grooves at the corners of the picking part 1, and in the picking part Leave the fine irregularities of the scalp on the surface. exists in the wooden chopsticks A that have undergone a single MR thin lacquer coating process. Manufacturing method

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] The chopsticks A of the present invention are chopsticks A composed of a picking part 1 and a gripping part 2 with fingers, and the cross-sections of the picking part 1 and the gripping part 2 are each formed into a rectangle, and the two rectangles are offset by 45 degrees. Therefore, when performing an ordinary (proper) gripping method, the corners K at the tips of both chopsticks will inevitably face each other.

[0019] Therefore, when picking up the food F, the corner K of one picking part and the corner K of the other picking part are made to bite into the food F and hold it, so the food F will not slip and fall. By using the chopsticks of the present invention, without using a special way of gripping the chopsticks, just by using an ordinary way of gripping, the food F can be surely grasped and prevented from slipping off.

[0020] In addition, since the chopsticks A of the present invention are provided with a plurality of rhombus-shaped cut grooves G at the corner K of the picking part 1, not only the above-mentioned corner K and corner K, but also the food F itself bites into the rhombus-shaped cut grooves and slipping is prevented.

[0021] Since the picking part 1 of the chopsticks A of the present invention is subjected to a lacquer coating treatment, even small food F can be prevented from slipping due to frictional force.

[0022] Since the lacquer coating treatment of the chopsticks A of the present invention is a single MR thin lacquer coating treatment, the lacquer particles are finely dispersed and purified, so the coating film itself is hard and rich in weather resistance. Also, in the coating process, there are advantages that it can be thinly coated, is not likely to be uneven, and dries easily.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] ​This is a schematic perspective view showing the entire pair of chopsticks according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view (without cut grooves) of an entire chopstick according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a left side view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a right side view. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view (without cutouts) rotated 45 degrees from the state shown in Figure 2, where (A) is the left side view, (B) is the front view, and (C) is the right side view. [Figure 4] This is a schematic side view M (without notches) showing the butted corners of a pair of chopsticks according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is the left side view, (B) is the front view, and (C) is the right side view. [Figure 5] (A) is a left side view and (B) is a front view, showing an enlarged schematic side view (with a notched groove) of the gripping portion of one pair of chopsticks according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] The first image is a schematic side view (with a cut groove) rotated 45 degrees from the state shown in Figure 5, where (A) is the left side view and (B) is the front view. [Figure 7] The diagrams illustrate the principle of anti-slip properties, with (A) showing the relationship between the corners and the food, and (B) showing the relationship between the grooves and the food. [Figure 8] This is a photographic diagram illustrating an example of a normal, proper, and unbiased grip. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as necessary. In the drawings, identical elements will be given the same reference numeral, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, positional relationships such as up, down, left, and right shall be based on the positional relationships shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios in drawings are not limited to those shown.

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an entire pair of chopsticks A according to an embodiment of the present invention. Since each of the two chopsticks A in the pair is the same shape, we will describe one chopstick A below. First, let me explain the "phase shift function," which is the main feature of this invention. This phase shift means that although the knob portion 1 and the grip portion 2 have rectangular cross-sections, the rectangles of these cross-sections are shifted by 45 degrees.

[0026] Figure 2 is a schematic side view (without cut grooves) of an entire chopstick A according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is the left side view, (B) is the front view, and (C) is the right side view.

[0027] Figure 3 is a schematic side view (without cutouts) rotated 45 degrees from the state shown in Figure 2, where (A) is the left side view, (B) is the front view, and (C) is the right side view.

[0028] (Phase shift function) The chopsticks A of the present invention consist of a gripping portion 1 which is a certain area from the tip of the chopsticks, and a handle portion 2 which is an area from the rear end of the gripping portion 1 to the rear end of the chopsticks. The pinching part 1 is used to pick up food F, and the gripping part 2 is used to hold the food with your fingers.

[0029] The user will operate the chopsticks A by gripping the handle portion 2 with their fingers, and will also use the pinch portion 1 to pick up food F. Furthermore, since chopsticks A gradually thicken from the tip to the end, the grip portion 1 gradually thickens from the tip to the handle portion 2, and similarly the handle portion 2 gradually thickens to the end of the chopsticks. The chopsticks as a whole have a rectangular cross-section and are equipped with four corners K and four faces M between those corners K.

[0030] Therefore, the grip portion 1 has a rectangular cross-section and has four corners 1K and four faces 1M, and similarly, the handle portion 2 also has a rectangular cross-section and has four corners 2K and four faces 2M. Incidentally, a major feature of the chopsticks A of the present invention is that the phase of the cross-sections of the finger portion 1 and the grip portion 2 is shifted by 45 degrees.

[0031] In other words, the positions of the mutual surfaces M and angles K are offset by 45 degrees; that is, the angle 1K of the knob part 1 and the angle 2K of the grip part 2 are offset by 45 degrees in phase, and the surface 1M of the knob part 1 and the surface 2M of the grip part 2 are offset by 45 degrees in phase. The surface 2M of the grip portion 2 is located on the extension of the corner 1K of the knob portion 1, meaning that the corner 1K of the knob portion 1 is located on the extension of the surface 2M of the grip portion 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the corner 1K of the knob 1 disappears when it reaches the surface 2M of the grip 2, and the surface 1M of the knob 1 disappears when it reaches the corner 2K of the grip 2. In other words, at the boundary region between the knob portion 1 and the grip portion 2, the corner 1K of the knob portion 1 disappears and smoothly connects to the surface 2M of the grip portion 2. Furthermore, the corner 2K of the grip portion 2 disappears, creating a smooth and continuous connection with the surface 1M of the pinch portion 1.

[0033] (Assuming a normal, proper grip without any unusual habits) When you place your fingers on the handle portion 2 of chopsticks A and hold them in a normal, proper, and natural grip, the corners 1K of the fingertips 1 will inevitably come into contact with each other.

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic side view (without notches) showing the entire pair of chopsticks A with corners K joined together according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is the left side view, (B) is the front view, and (C) is the right side view. Thus, when the grip is held correctly, as shown in the diagram, the corners 1K face each other in the gripping portion 1, and the surfaces 2M face each other in the gripping portion 2.

[0035] Figure 8 is a diagram (photograph) showing how the chopsticks A of the present invention are held in a normal, proper, and natural grip. In this case, the fingertips are placed on the flat surface 2M of the grip portion 2, that is, on the part corresponding to the side of the rectangle, to grip it. In this state, one chopstick, fixed between the thumb and index finger at the grip portion 2, and the other chopstick, fixed between the middle finger and ring finger, are positioned so that their surfaces 2M face each other.

[0036] In this state, the corners 1K of the gripping portion 1 on one chopstick and the other chopstick are positioned to face each other. When you hold chopsticks in a normal, proper, and natural grip, the corners of the two chopsticks' handles will always face each other, almost touching. Therefore, when food F is grasped using a normal, proper, and unbiased grip, the corners 1K of one chopstick and the corners 1K of the other chopstick will bite into the food F, allowing it to be picked up securely. Therefore, it is prevented from slipping or falling.

[0037] (Effect of notched grooves) On the other hand, one of its features is that a non-slip surface is formed on the knob portion 1. Figure 5 is a schematic side view (with a notched groove) showing an enlarged view of the handle portion 1 of a single pair of chopsticks A according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a left side view and (B) is a front view.

[0038] Furthermore, Figure 6 is a schematic side view (with cut grooves) rotated 45 degrees from the state shown in Figure 5, where (A) is the left side view and (B) is the front view.

[0039] As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, a V-shaped groove G is formed at the corner 1K of the knob portion 1. Since a notched groove G is formed at corner 1K, when this notched groove G is viewed from directly above corner 1K, it appears diamond-shaped. The thickness of chopsticks A decreases towards the tip, so the notched grooves G also gradually become smaller.

[0040] Because of these grooves G, the food F itself, due to its viscoelastic properties, gets stuck in them and prevents it from slipping. This gripping part 1 bites into the food and provides a gripping function, particularly preventing the food F from sliding in the vertical direction (along the axis of the chopsticks).

[0041] Furthermore, the parts where the notches G are not formed, in other words, the parts between the notches G and the notches G, have the aforementioned corners 1K formed, which bite into the food F and prevent it from sliding laterally (perpendicular to the axis of the chopsticks).

[0042] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the principle of anti-slip properties, where (A) shows the relationship between corner 1K and food F, and (B) shows the relationship between the cut groove G and food F. In this way, the multiple notched grooves G and the corners 1K located between them prevent the food F from sliding vertically and horizontally, ensuring that the food F is held securely.

[0043] Therefore, once food item F is picked up, it will not slip off. In addition to the aforementioned "phase shift function" of the rectangular cross-section, the addition of a "groove function" provides an even more sufficient anti-slip effect (anti-slip in both the vertical and horizontal directions) on the food F.

[0044] (Thin lacquer coating function) Improved friction force In addition to the processing described above, a lacquer coating is applied as an extra precaution. This process involves applying lacquer to the surface of the chopsticks. As has been done in the past, when applying a standard lacquer finish, the top coat is applied four or five times or more to ensure the surface M is glossy.

[0045] This time, instead of doing that, we intentionally left the natural texture of the chopstick material visible, and unlike the usual lacquering process, we actively reduced the number of topcoats. This is to preserve the fine irregularities on the surface, which are characteristic of the texture of wooden chopsticks. Therefore, lacquer painting involves processes that are not typically performed. In other words, the process here is limited to a rough coat (a thin coat of lacquer applied once or twice). Incidentally, in the traditional lacquer coating process, the surface of chopsticks is usually smoothed out by applying the lacquer four or five times or more to eliminate any fine irregularities on the surface.

[0046] In the present invention, chopsticks A employ a counterintuitive approach, employing a thin coating process that limits the lacquer application to a single coat, thereby actually eliminating surface smoothness. This process generates a strong frictional force in the area that comes into direct contact with the food F. Furthermore, for the lacquering treatment, a thin coat of MR lacquer is preferred. The reason is that in MR lacquer thin coating, the lacquer particles are finely dispersed and refined, resulting in a hard and weather-resistant coating film. Furthermore, the application process allows for thin application, is less prone to unevenness, and dries quickly.

[0047] This treatment also applies friction to the surface of the aforementioned groove G, resulting in a greater anti-slip effect. When the "phase shift function," "groove function," and "thin lacquer coating function" are combined, the maximum anti-slip effect on food F can be obtained.

[0048] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0049] For example, the ratio of the lengths of the knob part 1 and the grip part 2 can be set as appropriate. Furthermore, for example, if chamfering or curved edges are considered aesthetically pleasing for the product, then these can be adopted.

[0050] Furthermore, for example, the degree of the curved surface applied to the corner can be appropriately varied, as long as it does not hinder the effects of the present invention. In the embodiments described above, examples were shown without chamfering or curved surface processing in order to accurately represent the principle of the present invention.

[0051] Furthermore, the depth of the diamond-shaped anti-slip grooves can be varied as appropriate. Furthermore, while wood is the ideal material for chopsticks, it is not necessarily the only material. [Industrial applicability]

[0052] The chopsticks A of the present invention can prevent food F from slipping off as much as possible when picked up. Because the phase of the gripping portion 1 and the handle portion 2 is shifted by 45 degrees, when held in a normal grip, the corners 1K of the gripping portion 1 face each other, allowing them to bite into the food F and prevent it from slipping off. This principle is best suited for all wooden chopsticks, including disposable ones, but in principle, it can also be used with plastic chopsticks and metal chopsticks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. The pinch part 1K...angle 1M...plane 2. Grip part 2K... corner 2M...plane A...edible chopsticks F... Food G...cut groove

Claims

1. Wooden chopsticks comprising a pick-up portion for picking up food and a grip portion for resting fingers, wherein the cross-sections of the pick-up portion and the grip portion are each formed in a rectangular shape, the two rectangles are offset by 45 degrees, and a plurality of diamond-shaped notches are provided at the corners of the pick-up portion. The knob area is treated with a thin layer of MR lacquer, leaving the fine irregularities of the natural surface intact. Wooden chopsticks with a distinctive design.

2. A method for manufacturing wooden chopsticks, comprising a gripping portion for picking up food and a handle portion for resting fingers, A method for manufacturing wooden chopsticks for eating, characterized by shaping the cross-sections of the pick-up portion for grasping food and the grip portion for resting fingers into rectangles, with the two rectangles offset by 45 degrees, providing multiple diamond-shaped grooves at the corners of the pick-up portion, and applying a single thin coat of MR lacquer to the pick-up portion so as to leave fine irregularities on the surface that constitute the natural texture.

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