Hand-held food immersing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention includes a hand-held food immersing apparatus to allow a user to immerse a food item in a container having liquid. The apparatus includes a handle portion adapted to facilitate the user's grip on the apparatus and a plurality of flexible, elongated, and outwardly curved members adapted to firmly grasp the food item between these curved members. The apparatus can be made from a single piece of material, such as plastic, polymer, resign, wood, or metal, with a resistance to deformation such that the apparatus provides pressure to retain the food item between the curved members. The curved members can be aligned symmetrically with respect to the main member. The curved members can have a bow shape and the distal ends of the members can be adapted to apply pressure to the food item and facilitate the alignment of food placed between them.

1 . A hand-held food apparatus to allow a user to dip a food item in a container having liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a main substantially elongated member having a first proximal segment and a second distal segment;    said first segment further comprising a handle portion adapted to facilitate the user's grip on the apparatus; and    said second segment further comprising a plurality of flexible, elongated and outwardly curved members adapted to firmly grasp the food item between said curved members; said curved members being coupled to said second segment and projecting distally.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the length of said main member is adapted to prevent the user's hand from contacting the container or the liquid in the container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus is made from a single piece of a material from the group of materials consisting of plastics, polymers, resins, wood, or metal.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the said material has a resistance to deformation and is adapted to provide pressure to retain the food item firmly in place between said plurality of curved members.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said main member is substantially axially aligned and said curved members are disposed symmetrically about said main member.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said curved members are substantially bow shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said main member is substantially axially aligned and wherein said plurality of elongated and outwardly curved members consist of two curved members having a substantially bowed shape; said curved members being attached about said second segment near an end of said main member such that said curved members and said main member are longitudinally aligned and such that said curved members define a first gap between said curved members near said second segment and a larger, second gap at a point distal from said first gap.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion includes a substantially planar surface area adapted to be grasped by the user's hand.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of said plurality of curved member are shaped to facilitate the alignment of the food between said curved members and said curved members are adapted to apply pressure to the food item once placed between them.  
   
   
       10 . A hand-held food apparatus to allow a user to dip a food item in a container having liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a main elongated member having a first proximal segment and a second distal segment;    said first segment further comprising a handle portion adapted to facilitate a user's grip on the apparatus, said first segment further comprising a substantially planar surface area;    said second segment further comprising at least two flexible, elongated and outwardly curved members adapted to firmly grasp the food item between said curved members, said curved members being disposed symmetrically about said main member and each said curved member having a first proximal end coupled to said second segment and a second distal end adapted to receive the food item; and wherein said curved members are adapted to apply pressure to the food item.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the length of said main member is adapted to prevent the user's hand from contacting the container or the liquid in the container.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said apparatus is made from a single piece of a material from the group of materials consisting of plastics, polymers, resins, wood, or metal.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the said material has a resistance to deformation and is adapted to provide pressure to retain the food item firmly in place between said least two elongated curved members.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said main member is substantially axially aligned, and wherein said plurality of curved members consist of two curved members having a substantially bowed shape; said curved members being attached about said second segment near an end of said main member such that said curved members and said main member are longitudinally aligned and such that said curved members define a first gap between said curved members near said second segment and a larger, second gap at a point distal from said first gap.  
   
   
       15 . A hand-held food apparatus to allow a user to dip a food item in a container having liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated main member having a first segment and a second segment, said main member being adapted to prevent the user's hand from contacting the container of the liquid in the container;    said first segment further comprising a handle portion having a substantially planar surface area adapted to facilitate a user's grip on the apparatus;    said second segment further comprising two flexible, elongated and outwardly bowed members adapted to firmly grasp a food item there between; each said bowed members being disposed symmetrically about a distal end of said second segment of said main member, and wherein each said curved member includes a proximal end attached to said second segment and a distal end adapted to received the food item.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said hand-held food apparatus is made from a single piece of a material from the group of materials consisting of plastics, polymers, resins, wood, or metal.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the said material has a resistance to deformation and is adapted to provide pressure to retain the food item firmly in place between said two elongated bowed members.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said main member is substantially axially aligned, and wherein said two bowed members are attached about said distal end of said second segment such that said bowed members and said main member are longitudinally aligned and such that said bowed members define a first gap between said bowed members near said second segment and a larger, second gap at a point distal from said first gap.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said bowed members are disposed about said second segment and define a plane that is substantially co-planar with said first segment of said main member.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said bowed members are disposed about said second segment and define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by said first segment of said main member.