Nested Bowl Serving Tongs for One-Handed Use and Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food serving utensils, such as salad tongs, require two hands to operate and occupy significant kitchen drawer space when stored, with limited capacity for grasping large food quantities and an awkward design that makes them difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A single-handed, compact food serving utensil with bowl-shaped members hinged together, featuring a spring-biased mechanism and a sliding latch for easy storage, allowing for one-handed operation and enhanced food grasping capacity with an aesthetically pleasing design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional salad tongs with elongated arms are used, then food grasping function is achieved, but the utensil occupies significant kitchen drawer space when stored
Solution Approach 1:
The two bowl-shaped members are designed to nest within each other when the utensil is in its closed, stored position. The first bowl-shaped member receives and contains the second bowl-shaped member, creating a compact nested configuration that minimizes storage space while maintaining the full functional length when opened for food grasping
2Ease of operation
If traditional salad tongs with elongated arms are used, then food grasping function is achieved, but the utensil requires two hands to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The two separate bowl-shaped members are merged into a single integrated utensil by coupling them at their bases with a hinge mechanism. This combination allows the utensil to function as a unified single-handed tool while retaining the grasping capability of two separate members working together
3Ease of operation
If tongs are biased to an open position, then ease of operation is improved, but the utensil requires a lock to maintain closed position for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically biases the bowl-shaped members to an open position, enabling the utensil to self-open without requiring manual effort. The locking mechanism engages automatically when the members are closed, providing self-service functionality for both opening and storage operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient single-handed operation, compact storage, and increased food grasping capacity, reducing storage space requirements and improving usability compared to traditional utensils.
Implementation Method 1
The bowl-shaped members are coupled at a hinge, preferably biased apart with a spring
Implementation Method 2
The bowl-shaped members are coupled at a hinge, preferably biased apart with a spring. The bowl-shaped members can rotate about the hinge relative to each other between open and closed positions
Data Source
AI summary
A food serving utensil is provided for grasping food. The utensil includes two concave, bowl-shaped members oriented relative to each other to define a cavity. The bowl-shaped members are rotatably coupled at a hinge to allow opening and closing of the cavity using a single hand. The hinge is preferably made of a resilient material and extends over the bowl-shaped members to provide a gripping surface for operation. A lock is provided to lock the bowl-shaped members in a partially closed position. The locked position enables the food serving utensil to be easily stored in limited spaces such as a kitchen drawer. The lock is also preferably designed such that utensil will not open inadvertently while stored. The lock is released by pushing the bowl-shaped members toward each other, preferably in a specific location on the bow-shaped members. A method for making the utensil is provided.