Curved eating utensil

Abstract

A utensil that is curved in two dimensions consisting of a bowl connected by a transition to a handle. The bowl is transversely spaced longitudinally extending from the side edges to a front edge, which extends transversely between the side edges at a front end of the spoon, and a back edge. The bowl is curved away from the 180 degree plane of the utensil transition and handle no more than 90 degrees and no less than 20 degrees. When viewed from above, the transition is roughly equally spaced laterally from side to side until it reaches its greatest width at a point at the top of the transition considered a point of maximum inflection. At this point, then handle, when viewed from above, continues extending outward laterally until it reaches the greatest width at the base of the handle.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A utensil, comprising:
 a handle including a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle having an edge portion that defines a proximal end of the utensil, the edge portion extending between two lateral sides of the handle;   a neck including a first end and a second end, the first end of the neck connected to the second end of the handle, the neck extending from the handle at an angle such that the handle and the neck generally form an arch; and   a head portion including:
 a first end and a second end, the first end of the head portion connected to the second end of the neck, the head portion extending from the neck at an angle, 
 a first side edge, a second side edge, and a support surface extending between the first and second side edges; 
   wherein the maximum width of the head portion is smaller than the maximum width of the first end of the handle.   
     
     
         10 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the handle includes a generally convex surface on a first side of the utensil and the head portion includes a generally concave surface on the first side of the utensil. 
     
     
         11 . The utensil of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the utensil is configured such that a common plane extends between a first lateral side of the edge portion of the handle, a second lateral side of the edge portion of the handle, and an apex of a convex surface of the head portion; and   a distance between the common plane and an apex of the arch formed by the handle and the neck is greater than or equal to 1 inch and less than or equal to 2 inches.   
     
     
         12 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the head portion has an edge portion defining a distal end of the utensil. 
     
     
         13 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the neck extends from the handle in a first direction and the head portion extends from the neck in a second direction, the second direction being laterally angled relative to the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The utensil of  claim 13 , wherein the head portion is configured to extend towards a user when the handle is gripped by the user's right hand. 
     
     
         15 . The utensil of  claim 13 , wherein the head portion is configured to extend towards a user when the handle is gripped by the user's left hand. 
     
     
         16 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the head portion includes a spoon. 
     
     
         17 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the head portion includes a fork. 
     
     
         18 . The utensil of  claim 9 , wherein the maximum width of the first end of the handle is greater than 1.25 inches and wherein the maximum width of the head portion is greater than or equal to 1 inch and less than or equal to 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         19 . A utensil, comprising:
 a handle including a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle having, an edge portion that defines a proximal end of the utensil, the edge portion including:
 a first end on a first lateral side of the handle, a second end on a second lateral side of the handle which is opposite of the first lateral side of the handle, and a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end, 
 wherein the edge portion is shaped such that the middle portion of the edge portion is disposed closer to the second end of the handle than both of the first and second ends of the edge portion; 
   a neck including a first end and a second end, the first end of the neck connected to the second end of the handle, the neck extending from the handle at an angle such that the handle and the neck generally form an arch; and   a head portion including a first end and a second end, the first end of the head portion connected to the second end of the neck, the head portion extending from the neck at an angle.   
     
     
         20 . The utensil of  claim 19 , wherein the maximum width of the neck is smaller than the maximum width of the second end of the handle and wherein the maximum width of the second end of the handle is smaller than the maximum width of the first end of the handle. 
     
     
         21 . The utensil of  claim 19 , wherein the handle has a convex shape and includes a crest that extends between the first end of the handle and the second end of the handle. 
     
     
         22 . The utensil of  claim 21 , wherein a distance between the first end of the first lateral side of the handle and the crest is larger than a distance between the second end of the second lateral side of the handle and the crest. 
     
     
         23 . The utensil of  claim 21 , wherein the head portion of the utensil is situated in closer proximity to the first lateral side of the handle than to the second lateral side of the handle. 
     
     
         24 . A utensil, comprising:
 a handle including a first end and a second end, the handle extending in a first direction from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, the first end of the handle having an edge portion that defines a proximal end of the utensil, the edge portion including:
 a first end on a first lateral side of the handle, a second end on a second lateral side of the handle which is opposite of the first lateral side of the handle, and a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end, 
 wherein the edge portion is shaped such that the middle portion of the edge portion is disposed closer to the second end of the handle than both of the first and second ends of the edge portion; 
   a neck including a first end and a second end, the neck extending in a second direction from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, the first end of the neck connected to the second end of the handle, the neck extending from the handle at an angle such that the handle and the neck generally form an arch, wherein the second direction is angled relative to the first direction; and   a head portion including:
 a first end and a second end, the head portion extending in a third direction from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, the first end of the head portion connected to the second end of the neck, wherein the third direction is angled relative to the second direction, 
 a first side edge, a second side edge, and a support surface extending between the first and second side edges; 
 wherein the maximum width of the head portion is smaller than the maximum width of the first end of the handle. 
   
     
     
         25 . The utensil of  claim 24 , wherein the second direction is angled relative to the first direction and wherein the third direction is angled relative to the second direction. 
     
     
         26 . The utensil of  claim 24 , wherein the maximum width of the first end of the handle is greater than 1.25 inches and wherein the maximum width of the head portion is greater than or equal to 1 inch and less than or equal to 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         27 . The utensil of  claim 24 , wherein the maximum width of the first end of the handle is greater than 1.25 inches and wherein the maximum width of the, second end of the handle is greater than or equal to 0.50 inches and less than or equal to 1 inch. 
     
     
         28 . The utensil of  claim 24 , wherein the maximum width of the second end of the handle is greater than or equal to 0.60 inches and less than or equal to 1.00 inch and wherein the maximum width of the neck is less than 0.60 inches.