Dual-Handle Training Spoon for Assisted Learning and Guided Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing utensils, such as regular adult-sized spoons, pose challenges for young children in grasping, holding, and maneuvering, and lack assistance for proper usage, particularly for parents or helpers to support the learning process.

Innovation Solution

A training spoon with a scoop, a straight handle, and an angled handle that allows a second person to assist the user in proper usage, featuring a design where the angled handle is grabbable by the trainer to guide the user, and can be fabricated from materials like silicone, plastic, or bamboo.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If regular adult-sized spoons are used, then the spoon structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but children have difficulty grasping, holding and maneuvering the spoon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of grasping and maneuveringVSAvoidspoon structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spoon handle is divided into two separate handles: a straight handle for the child to hold and an angled handle for the trainer to hold. This segmentation allows each handle to be optimized for its specific user, improving ease of operation for children while maintaining simple manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled handle acts as an intermediary tool that allows the trainer to physically guide and assist the child during spoon usage. This mediator enables proper technique transmission without requiring complex mechanical assistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If regular adult-sized spoons are used, then the spoon design is simple, but there is no assistance available for proper usage during learning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassistance for proper usageVSAvoidhandle configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the handles into straight and angled components, the design enables distinct functional roles: one handle for operation and another for guidance, directly addressing the need for assistance during learning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dual-handle spoon serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows the child to practice spoon usage while receiving physical guidance from the trainer, combining learning and assistance in a single tool

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hard material spoons are used, then the spoon structure is simple and durable, but the material can be harmful to young children

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety for young childrenVSAvoidspoon material hardness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spoon material properties are changed from hard to soft/silicone, adjusting the physical parameters to be safe for children while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for the intended training function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230351918A1Training Spoon

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 SANCHEZ BROOKE RENEE

AI summary

A training spoon for training a user on how to use a spoon. The training spoon has a scoop, a straight handle connected to the scoop and an angled handle rigidly connected to the straight handled. The straight handle is grabbable by the user and the angled handled is grabbable by the trainer while assisting the user in proper usage of the training spoon.