French fry scoop

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a scoop for French fries comprising a mouth for scooping French fries from a bin, a funnel extending from the mouth at a first end and sized to accept an empty French fry package at a second end, wherein the mouth and the funnel share a central longitudinal axis. A handle is mounted substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the funnel and the mouth. The scoop may also include a hood at least partially covering the mouth. The funnel can either be substantially open or closed. The handle can be mounted to the funnel or the hood, if present. A shield may be connected to the hood to provide additional safety and sanitary enhancements.

1 . A scoop for French fries comprising: 
 a mouth for scooping French fries from a bin;    a funnel extending from said mouth at a first, proximal end and sized to accept an empty French fry package at a second, distal end, wherein said mouth and said funnel share a central longitudinal axis;    a handle mounted substantially along said central longitudinal axis of said funnel and said mouth.    
   
   
       2 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is substantially open on one side along its length.  
   
   
       3 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is substantially closed along its length.  
   
   
       4 . A scoop according to  claim 3 , wherein said handle is attached to said funnel.  
   
   
       5 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said funnel is partially closed along its length.  
   
   
       6 . A scoop according to  claim 5 , wherein said handle is attached to said funnel.  
   
   
       7 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hood at least partially covering said mouth.  
   
   
       8 . A scoop according to  claim 7 , wherein said handle is attached to said hood.  
   
   
       9 . A scoop according to  claim 7 , further comprising a shield connected to said hood.  
   
   
       10 . A scoop according to  claim 9 , wherein said shield is substantially as wide as said hood.  
   
   
       11 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is vertically angled relative to said longitudinal axis at greater than about 0°.  
   
   
       12 . A scoop according to  claim 11 , wherein said handle is vertically angled relative to said longitudinal axis at between about 1° and about 45°.  
   
   
       13 . A scoop according to  claim 12 , wherein said handle is vertically angled relative to said longitudinal axis at between about 10° and about 20°.  
   
   
       14 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is horizontally angled relative to said longitudinal axis at an angle greater than about 0° in any direction.  
   
   
       15 . A scoop according to  claim 14 , wherein said handle is horizontally angled relative to said longitudinal axis at about 45° in any direction.  
   
   
       16 . A scoop according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is rotatable to achieve a horizontal angular offset greater than about 0° in any direction.  
   
   
       17 . A scoop for French fries comprising: 
 a mouth for scooping French fries from a bin;    a hood at least partially covering said mouth;    a funnel extending from said mouth at a first, proximal end and sized to accept an empty French fry package at a second, distal end, wherein said mouth and said funnel share a central longitudinal axis;    a handle mounted substantially along said central longitudinal axis of said funnel and said mouth.    
   
   
       18 . A scoop according to  claim 17 , wherein said funnel is substantially open on one side along its length.  
   
   
       19 . A scoop according to  claim 17 , wherein said funnel is substantially closed along its length.  
   
   
       20 . A scoop according to  claim 17 , wherein said handle is attached to said funnel.  
   
   
       21 . A scoop according to  claim 17 , wherein said handle is attached to said hood.  
   
   
       22 . A scoop according to  claim 17 , further comprising a shield connected to said hood.