WO2016193796A1

WO2016193796A1 - Eating aid device

Info

Publication number: WO2016193796A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/056387
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pradeep Jivan VARA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-06-03
Filing date: 2015-08-24
Publication date: 2016-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-03

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an eating aid device. The eating aid device is detachably/removably connected to a food holding plate. The eating aid device comprises a capped concave central portion and a pair of clamping arms. The pair of clamping arms is disposed on either side of the capped concave central portion. In an operative configuration the clamping arms are clamped to the food holding plate and thereby clamp the capped concave central portion to the food holding plate such that cap of the capped concave central portion assists a user in bringing food disposed in the food holding plate onto a spoon. In an in-operative configuration the clamping arms are un-clamped from the food holding plate and thereby un-clamp the capped concave central portion from the food holding plate.

Description

EATING AID DEVICE

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of an eating aid device. BACKGROUND

Eating food from a food holding plate which has a relatively flat edge portion is a challenging task for a user like toddlers, old age humans and physically challenged humans. Conventionally, while picking up the food with a spoon from the food holding plate, the food, instead of coming upon the spoon, falls from the flat edge portion of the food holding plate and litter around the area surrounding the food holding plate. This causes waste of food and also frustrates the user.

In order to prevent the food from falling, the user may use two spoons of which one spoon provides aid to bring the food onto the other spoon. However, this method cannot be used by humans having one hand or toddlers who are still developing their motor skills.

Hence, there is a need for an eating aid device that enables to trap the food onto the spoon from the food holding plate.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the system of the present disclosure which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as follows:

It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an eating aid device that enables to trap of food disposed on a food holding plate onto a spoon.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an eating aid device that relatively reduces the food from falling off the food holding plate and hence relatively reduces littering of the food in the area surrounding the food holding plate.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses an eating aid device. The eating aid device is detachably/removably connected to a food holding plate. The eating aid device comprises a capped concave central portion and a pair of clamping arms. The pair of clamping arms is disposed on either side of the capped concave central portion. In an operative configuration the clamping arms are clamped to the food holding plate and thereby clamp the capped concave central portion to the food holding plate such that cap of the capped concave central portion assists a user in bringing food disposed in the food holding plate onto a spoon. In an in-operative configuration the clamping arms are un-clamped from the food holding plate and thereby un-clamp the concave central portion from the food holding plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be explained in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an eating aid device connected to a food holding plate defining an operative configuration;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the eating aid device of Figure 1 in an inoperative configuration;

Figure 3 illustrates a left perspective view of an eating aid device of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a right perspective view of the eating aid device of Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the eating aid device of Figure 1; and Figure 6 illustrates a left side view of the eating aid device of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An eating aid device of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The present disclosure discloses an eating aid device. The eating aid device enables to trap of food disposed on a food holding plate onto a spoon. The eating aid device relatively reduces the food from falling off the food holding plate and hence relatively reduces littering of the food in the area surrounding the food holding plate.

Figure 1 to Figure 6 illustrates the eating aid device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The eating aid device 100 is detachably/removably connected to a food holding plate 10. The food holding plate 10 has relatively flat edge portion 10a. The food holding plate 10 may either be circular, square, triangular or like shapes.

The eating aid device 100 comprises a capped concave central portion 20 and at least a pair of clamping arms 30a and 30b. The clamping arm 30a is pivotally connected to a left side portion 20a of the concave central portion 20 and the clamping arm 30b is pivotally connected to a right side portion 20b of the capped concave central portion 20. In one embodiment, the clamping arm 30a is connected to a left side portion 20a by a hinge connection 35a and the clamping arm 30b is pivotally connected to a right side portion 20b by a hinge connection 35b. In accordance with one embodiment, the clamping arms 30a and 30b are foldable. An unfolded configuration of the clamping arms 30a and 30b facilitate clamping of the clamping arms 30a and 30b to the food holding plate 10. In one embodiment, the clamping arms 30a and 30b are configured with cavities 30ai and 30bi respectively. The cavities 30ai and 30bi receive the food holding plate 10.

The clamping of the clamping arms 30a and 30b facilitates clamping of the capped concave central portion 20 to the food holding plate 10 such that cap 20c of the concave central portion 20 is disposed above the food holding plate 10 and a lower portion 20d is disposed below the food holding plate 10. The cap 20c assists a user in bringing food (not illustrated in Figures) disposed in the food holding plate 10 onto a spoon 40a or 40b and hence provides eating aid. As the cap 20c assist a user in bringing food (not illustrated in Figures) disposed in the food holding plate 10 onto a spoon 40a or 40b, the falling of the food and littering around the food holding plate 10 is relatively reduced.

In one embodiment, the capped concave central portion 20 has a forked member 20e extending operatively inwardly from an inner wall 20f of the capped concave central portion 20. The forked member 20e is seated on the rim 10b of the food holding plate 10.

In accordance with one embodiment, the at least a portion of the capped concave central portion 20 is transparent so that the user can view the food disposed within the cap 20c.

After the user has completed eating the food, the clamping arms 30a and 30b are undamped from the food holding plate 10. The un-clamping of the clamping arms 30a and 30b un-clamps the concave central portion 20 from the food holding plate 10, thus defining in-operative configuration of the eating aid device 100. The eating aid device 100 may then be cleaned and the clamping arms 30a and 30b may be folded which facilitates storage of the eating aid device 100 in relatively less space. Also, as the eating aid device 100 is detachable/removable from the food holding plate 10, the food holding plate 10 may be easily and hygenically cleaned.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the eating aid device 100 has at least one provision for securing the spoon 40a or 40b. The provision may be receptacles 50a and 50b configured in the clamping arms 30a and 30b respectively. The two receptacles 50a and 50b are provided so the user may either use left hand or a right hand to hold the spoon 40a or 40b disposed in the respective receptacles 50a and 50b. However, the present disclosure is not limited of having the two receptacles 50a and 50b and any number of receptacles may be configured.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The system in accordance with the present disclosure has several technical advantages including but not limited to the realization of:

• an eating aid device that enables to trap of food disposed on a food holding plate onto a spoon;

• an eating aid device that relatively reduces the food from falling off the food holding plate and hence relatively reduces littering of the food in the surrounding area of the food holding plate;

• an eating aid device that assists a user to eat food with the help of one hand; and

• an eating aid device that is easy to clean and also enables easy cleaning of the food holding plate.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the invention to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the invention, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims

1) An eating aid device for removably attaching to a food holding plate, said eating aid device comprising:

• a capped concave central portion; and

• a pair of clamping arms disposed on either side of said capped concave central portion,

wherein, in an operative configuration said clamping arms adapted to be clamped to the food holding plate and thereby clamp said concave central portion to the food holding plate such that cap of said concave central portion assists a user in bringing food disposed in the food holding plate onto a spoon, and

in an in-operative configuration said clamping arms are adapted to be undamped from the food holding plate and thereby un-clamp said concave central portion from the food holding plate.

2) The eating aid device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arms are adapted to be folded.

3) The eating aid device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said clamping arms has a provision for securing a spoon.

4) The eating aid device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said capped concave central portion has a forked member extending operatively inwardly, said capped concave central portion adapted to be seated on the rim of the food holding plate.

5) The eating aid device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said concave central portion is transparent to facilitate said user to view the food. 6) The eating aid device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arms are connected to either side of said concave central portion by hinge connections.