Children's eating utensil

Abstract

An eating utensil is provided for children, especially young children learning to eat. In one embodiment, an eating utensil includes a handle including a spherically shaped element and a head portion including at least three tines. The handle may include a spherically shaped element and an elongated body, the spherically shaped element fixed to a first end of the elongated body. The head portion can be fixed to the second end of the elongated body and the base of each tine is arranged in a triangle arrangement relative to a surface of the head portion, such that the tines extend from the head portion. In certain embodiments, the head portion is configured to be coupled to and removable from the second end of the elongated body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An eating utensil comprising:
 a handle including a spherically shaped element and an elongated body, the spherically shaped element fixed to a first end of the elongated body; and   a head portion including at least three tines, wherein the head portion is fixed to the second end of the elongated body and wherein the base of each tine is arranged in a triangle arrangement relative to a surface of the head portion, the tines extending from the head portion.   
     
     
         2 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first end of the elongated body is greater than a diameter of the second end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         3 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the spherically shaped element is greater than a diameter of the first end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         4 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tines are cone shaped, the base of each tine thicker that the tip of each tine. 
     
     
         5 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tines are cylindrically shaped, each tine having a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein each tine has a rounded tip. 
     
     
         7 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tines are flexible. 
     
     
         8 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the base of each tine is equidistant relative to each other tine, and the tip of each tine is separated equidistant to each other tine. 
     
     
         9 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the tines are fixedly mounted to a disc element of the head portion, the disc element having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         10 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and head portion are a unibody design. 
     
     
         11 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is configured to be removable from the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a recess and the head portion includes a mounting portion, the recess configured to fixedly receive the mounting portion of the head portion and to prevent the head portion from rotating when inserted. 
     
     
         13 . The eating utensil of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is further configured to receive a spoon attachment. 
     
     
         14 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more raised portions on the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes four tines, the base of each tine arranged in a square configuration relative to a surface of the head portion. 
     
     
         16 . The eating utensil of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and head portion are at least one of a molded rubber, molded plastic, and molded product in general. 
     
     
         17 . An eating utensil comprising:
 a handle including a spherically shaped element and an elongated body, the spherically shaped element fixed to a first end of the elongated body; and   a head portion including at least three tines, wherein the head portion is configured to be coupled to and removable from the second end of the elongated body and wherein the base of each tine is arranged in a triangle arrangement relative to a surface of the head portion, the tines extending from the head portion.   
     
     
         18 . The eating utensil of  claim 17 , wherein the tines are fixedly mounted to a disc element of the head portion, the disc element having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         19 . The eating utensil of  claim 17 , wherein the handle includes a recess and the head portion includes a mounting portion, the recess configured to fixedly receive the mounting portion of the head portion and to prevent the head portion from rotating when inserted. 
     
     
         20 . The eating utensil of  claim 19 , wherein the recess is further configured to receive a spoon attachment. 
     
     
         21 . An eating utensil comprising:
 a handle including a spherically shaped element and an elongated body, the spherically shaped element fixed to a first end of the elongated body; and   a head portion including a disc element and a plurality of tines, wherein the head portion is fixed to a second end of the elongated body,   the plurality of tines are fixedly mounted to the disc element, the disc element having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end of the elongated body   and wherein the base of each tine is arranged relative to a surface of the disc portion, the tines extending from the head portion, and wherein each of the plurality of tines are cone shaped, the base of each tine thicker that the tip of each tine, and wherein each tine includes a rounded tip.   
     
     
         22 . The eating utensil of  claim 22 , wherein the head portion is configured to be removable from the handle. 
     
     
         23 . The eating utensil of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more raised portions on the handle.