Hand forged metal eating utensils

Abstract

A hand forged metal eating utensil comprising a fulcrum, an eating end and a handle with the fulcrum having a raised protrusion disposed between the eating end and the distal end of the handle and having a large cross-sectional thickness and with the eating utensil further comprising a first curvilinear portion located adjacent a side of the fulcrum extending toward the eating end of the utensil for elevating the height of eating end of the utensil such that the eating end is not able to make physical contact with a table surface when the utensil is placed on a level table surface and a second curvilinear portion extending from an opposite side of the fulcrum extending toward the distal end of the handle and with the eating utensil having a variable thickness from the eating end to the distal end of the handle such that the eating utensil forms a continuous seamless cross sectional geometry and provides enhanced handling comfort.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand forged metal eating utensil comprising a fulcrum, an eating end and a handle having a distal end, said fulcrum being disposed between the eating end and the distal end of the handle and having a raised protrusion and a large cross-sectional thickness larger than the cross sectional thickness of the eating end; with said eating utensil further comprising a first curvilinear portion located on a side adjacent the fulcrum extending toward the eating end of the utensil for elevating the height of eating end of the utensil such that the eating end is not able to make physical contact with a table surface when the utensil is placed on the table surface and a second curvilinear portion extending from an opposite side adjacent to the fulcrum extending toward the distal end of the handle, and
 wherein the eating utensil has a variable thickness from the eating end to the distal end of the utensil with the eating end thereof being the thinnest end and with the distal end having a cross sectional thickness larger than the cross sectional thickness of both the first and second curvilinear portions and wherein the eating utensil has a continuous seamless cross sectional geometry and a handling comfort for eating food similar to the handling comfort of a conventional eating utensil.   
     
     
         2 . A hand forged eating utensil as claimed in  claim 1  wherein both the first curvilinear portion and the second curvilinear portion are, at least, partially concave in geometry with the first curvilinear portion forming an arch having a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature of the second curvilinear portion. 
     
     
         3 . A hand forged eating utensil as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second curvilinear portion has a variable thickness which is thinner at the middle of the concave section. 
     
     
         4 . A hand forged eating utensil as defined in  claim 3  wherein the eating end of the utensil has a cross sectional thickness at least between 20 to 60% thinner than the thickness of the remaining body of the eating utensil. 
     
     
         5 . A hand forged eating utensil as defined in  claim 4  wherein the cross sectional thickness of the handle at the distal end thereof ranges from between about 2-4 mm in thickness. 
     
     
         6 . A hand forged eating utensil as defined in  claim 5  wherein said first curvilinear portion includes both a concave section and a convex section which, in combination, correspond to a sinusoidal waveform with two dips.