WO2007145646A1

WO2007145646A1 - Flexible scoop and method of use

Info

Publication number: WO2007145646A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/031645
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Andrew Witthoft; Ngai Keung Ho
Original assignee: Five Star Enterprises Ltd
Current assignee: Five Star Enterprises Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-15
Filing date: 2006-08-14
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-15

Abstract

A scoop is provided for dispensing the material therefrom. The scoop comprises a handle and a bowl wherein the bowl further contains a rigid rim member, a flexible connecting member and a rigid base member. The scoop may further comprise a lever. Upon the base member is pressed, the connecting member is compressed to eject the scooped material out of the bowl.

Description

FLEXIBLE SCOOP AND METHOD OF USE

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a scoop, and in particular an ice-cream scoop. This invention also relates to the method of using a scoop.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Scooping utensils are very common in kitchenware for serving food, and are particularly useful in serving dessert such as ice-cream. Due to its sticky nature, ice-cream tends to adhere to the scoop and so it is difficult to be dispensed. Thus, scoops with different designs such as the ones with mechanical means or equipped with heating devices have been developed to facilitate the removal of the ice-cream from the scoop.

[0003] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0089982 is directed to an ice-cream scoop and method of use for removing frozen to semi-frozen desserts from a container. The scoop is described as having a deformable portion within the scoop portion to allow for an easy removal of the desserts from the scoop by pressing the external surface of the deformable portion. There is, however, room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] In the light of the foregoing background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved scoop that is easy to use.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention, in one aspect, provides a scoop comprising a handle and a bowl attached to the handle. The bowl further comprises a rigid rim member connected to the handle, a rigid base member and a flexible connecting member. The connecting member connects the rim member to the base member such that when the base member is pressed towards the rim member, the connecting member is compressed to reduce the space defined by the bowl to facilitate the ejection of the material held within the space.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle, the rim member and the base member are made of rigid thermoplastic material, whereas the connecting member is made of elastic material. The edge of the rim member is beveled to facilitate the scooping process.

[0007] In another embodiment, the connecting member is composed of an upper portion connected to the rim member and a lower portion connected to the base member. These two portions are separated by a junction with a reduced thickness compared to other parts of the connecting member. This junction acts as a fold line along which the connecting member is compressed.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting member has a proximal side adjacent to the handle and an opposing distal side. The height of the proximal side is longer than that of the distal side such that a user can hold the scoop and eject the material from the scoop simultaneously with only one of his hands.

[0009] In another embodiment, an activation lever is pivotally coupled to the handle with a first side connected to the handle via a coil spring, and a second side of the lever positioned near the dome-shaped holding surface of the base member. The user can grip the first side of the lever so that an activation motion of the lever is translated into a pushing action at the second side. The second side then presses the dome of the base member toward the rim member and hence ejecting the scooped material out of the bowl.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of scooping material using the afore-described scoop is provided in which the user first scoops the material into the bowl. Having inverted the scoop, the user can then press the base member towards the rim member to eject the material held within the bowl.

[0011] .There are many advantages to the present invention. The user can use the same hand to perform the scooping and pressing steps. For example, the user can use his thumb of the hand that is holding the handle to press the base member. In comparison with the prior art scoop disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0089982, the present invention provides a scoop with a rigid base member constituting a rigid doomed shaped holding surface, The rigid holding surface can be pressed down simply through the pressing motion of the user's thumb or by the second side of the activation lever; whereas the pressing of the flexible bottom of the prior art scoop would only allow the thumb area of the bottom to be indented. The present invention therefore enhances and facilitates the ejection process. The present invention further preserves the shape of the material to be served and one may find it especially useful in delivering food such as ice-cream, dough and mashed potatoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0012] Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a scoop according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a top view of a scoop according to the same embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a side view of a scoop according to the same embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 4A is a side view showing a user using a scoop according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 4B is a side view showing a user dispensing the material from the scoop according to the same embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a view showing a scoop with a lever attached thereto according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 6 A is a side view of a scoop with a lever according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0019] Fig. 6B is a side view showing how a force applied to the hand grip results in dispensing of material out of a scoop equipped with a lever according to the same alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] As used herein and in the claims, "comprising" means including the following elements but not excluding others. The "height" of the connecting member refers to the distance between the rim member and the base member of the bowl.

[0021] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the first embodiment of the present invention is a scoop consisting of a handle 20 and a bowl 30. In this embodiment, the bowl 30 is hemispherically shaped with a rim member 32, a flexible connecting member 34, and a rigid base member 36. In the embodiment shown, the base member 36 is a dome-shaped surface and the rim member 32, with a beveled edge to create a cutting surface, attaches the bowl 30 to the handle 20. The connecting member 34 connects the rim member 32 to the base member 36. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 20 has an opening 22 opposite to the bowl 30.

[0022] In the example shown, the handle 20, the rim member 32, and the base member 36 are made of rigid thermoplastic material. In a more preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic material can be selected from polycarbonate, nylon, polypropylene, styrene acrylonitrile polymers, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. In the most preferred embodiment, the thermoplastic material is polycarbonate.

[0023] The connecting member 34 is made of elastic material and is preferably selected from thermoplastic rubber, elastomer, silicon, polypropylene, and cross linked natural rubber. Polypropylene when produced as a thin sheet can assume elastic properties. In the most preferred embodiment, the elastic material is thermoplastic rubber.

[0024] Turning now to Figure 3, the connecting member 34 as shown in this embodiment is made of an upper portion 40 and a lower portion 42. The junction connecting these two portions acts as a fold line 38 with a reduced thickness such that the connecting member 34 is readily compressible along the fold line 38.

[0025] Also shown in Figure 3, the connecting member 34 comprises a proximal side 44 adjacent to the handle 20 and an opposing distal side 46. The height of the proximal side 44 (as shown by the double-sided arrow next to arrow 44) is longer than the height of the distal side 46 such that the base member 36 slopes towards the bowl 30.

[0026] The illustrations shown in Figures 4A and 4B demonstrate how a user dispenses the material 56 out of the bowl 30. Holding the handle 20 with his hand 50, the user can use his thumb 52 to press on the base member 36. When a pressing force 54 is exerted by the thumb of the user, the connecting lower portion 42 is folded into the upper portion 40 along the fold line 38; and as a result, the space within the bowl 30 is compressed and the material 56 is pushed out of the bowl 30 as shown by the arrow 58. The sloping effect of the uneven heights facilitate the single-handed and simultaneous operations of holding the handle 20 and pressing the base member 36 to eject the material therefrom since the shorter distal side 46 may act as a pivot for the partial rotating motion of the base member. Consequently, the user can exert less effort on the pressing action.

[0027] Additionally, Figure 5 depicts an alternative embodiment that is useful in a commercial setting in which a lever is provided such that the hand of the user is not needed to press the bowl of the scoop. In this example, an activation lever 60 is provided and pivotally coupled to the handle 20. The activation lever 60 is an elongated "S" shaped lever, with a first side configured as a hand grip 64 extending along the length of the handle and a second side having the shape of a spatulate paddle 66 positioned adjacent to the dome of the base member, and a pivot 62 therebetween. A coil spring 68 is placed with one of its end connecting to the handle and another end connecting to the hand grip 64.

[0028] Referring now to figures 6A and 6B, a user may place his hand on the handler 20 and his fingers on the hand grip 64 of the activation lever 60. The user can exert an activation motion by gripping the activation lever 60 towards the handler 20 in the upward pressing direction as shown by arrow 70, causing the activation lever 60 rotates with respect to pivot 62. This activation motion is translated into a pushing action at the spatulate paddle 66 to push the base member 36 downward along the direction 72. As a result, the space within the bowl 30 is compressed and the material 56 is pushed out of the bowl 30 as shown by the arrow 58. The use of lever 60 avoids direct contact between user's finger and the bowl 30 as required in the first embodiment. Hence user's hand may not be contaminated and the overall hygienic condition may improve. Furthermore, the levering effect provides additional mechanical advantage that can reduce the force required to push the material out. Consequently, the user can exert less effort to eject material from the scoop.

[0029] In another alternative embodiment, both the first side and the second side of the activation lever may be on the same side of the pivot.

[0030] In the example shown, the activation lever 60, the hand grip 64, and the spatulate paddle 66 are made of rigid material. In a more preferred embodiment, the rigid material can be selected from stainless steel, alloy, polycarbonate, styrene acrylonitrile polymers, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. In the most preferred embodiment, the rigid material is polycarbonate.

[0031] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are thus fully described. Although the description referred to particular embodiments, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with variation of these specific details. Hence this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0032] For example, the bowl is described as hemispherically-shaped defining a similarly- shaped space therein, but it is clear that other shapes such as a rectangular or a triangular shape may also be applied to the bowl depending on the manufacturer's preference and the purpose of the scoop. For scooping cookie dough for baking cookies of any predetermined shape, the bowl can also be of any predetermined or irregular shape. The connecting member can also be made of other materials and can either be a single piece without dividing into any portions, or comprising different number of portions. The connecting member may even be made of a rigid material with multiple fold lines as long as it is readily compressible.

[0033] The height of the proximate side of the connecting member being longer than that of the corresponding distal side is only a preferred embodiment, and the same invention can be practiced with the height of the distal side being longer than or equivalent to that of the proximate side. The handle is described as having an opening attached, but it is clear that the handle without the opening would also fall within the scope of the present invention. In certain implementations, the edge of the rim member may be beveled for ease of use, but other shapes and types of edges may also be applied to the scoop of the present invention.

[0034] The additional activation lever is described with figures 5 to 6B as the specific preferred embodiment. It is clear that there are numerous other mechanical means that can be designed to act as an activation lever based on the teaching provided herein. It is intended that the scope of the appended claims cover these activation mechanisms as well.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A scoop comprising: a) a handle; b) a bowl attached to said handle further comprising: i) a rigid rim member connected to said handle; ii) a rigid base member; and iii) a flexible connecting member connecting said rim member to said base member such that when said base member is pressed towards said rim member, said connecting member is compressed to reduce the space defined therein to facilitate ejection of material held within said space.

2. A scoop according to claim 1 wherein said handle, said rim member and said base member are made of rigid thermoplastic material.

3. A scoop according to claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from a group consisting of polycarbonate, nylon, polypropylene, styrene acrylonitrile polymers, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

4. A scoop according to claim 1 wherein said connecting member is made of elastic material.

5. A scoop according to claim 4 wherein said elastic material is selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic rubber, elastomer, silicon, polypropylene, and cross linked natural rubber.

6. A scoop according to claim 1 wherein the edge of said rim member is beveled.

7. A scoop according to claim 1 wherein said connecting member further comprises: a) an upper portion connected to said rim member; and b) a lower portion connected to said base member; said upper and lower portions are separated by a junction having a reduced thickness to act as a fold line when said connecting member is compressed.

8. A scoop according to claim 7 wherein said connecting member further comprises a proximal side adjacent to said handle and an opposing distal side; the height of said proximate side is longer than the height of said distal side such that the operations of holding said scoop and ejecting material therefrom may be performed single-handedly.

9. A scoop according to claim 8 wherein said connecting member is made of elastic material.

10. A scoop according to claim 9 wherein said elastic material is selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic rubber, elastomer, silicon, polypropylene, and crossed linked natural rubber.

11. A scoop according to claim 1 further comprising an activation lever coupled to said handle such that an activation motion of said lever by a user results in a pushing action onto said base member resulting in the compression of said connecting member onto said rim member for ejection of material in said bowl.

12. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said base member is a dome-shaped holding surface; said activation lever comprising a first side extending along said handle, a second side positioned adjacent said holding surface of said base member, and a pivotal connection therebetween such that when said first side is gripped by said user, said second side presses against said based member and pushes said based member towards said rim member.

13. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said first side and said second side are on opposite sides of said pivot;

14. A scoop according to claim 12 wherein said first side is spring connected to said handle.

15. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said first side and said second side are on the same side of said pivot.

16. A method of scooping of material comprising: a) providing a scoop comprising a handle; and a bowl attached to said handle and provided with a rigid rim member connecting to said handle, a rigid base member, and a flexible connecting member connecting said rim member to said base member; b) scooping material into said bowl; c) inverting said scoop; and d) pressing said base member towards said rim member to eject the material held within said bowl.

17. A method according to claim 11 wherein said scooping step and said pressing step are performed by the same hand of a user.

18. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said pressing step is performed by the user using the thumb of the hand that is holding said handle.

19. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said pressing step is performed by an activation lever.

20. A scoop according to claim 11 wherein said connecting member is made of elastic material.