Sanitary Utensils and Consumer Products

Abstract

The invention involves the incorporation and enablement of elements that are incorporated into a consumer product that provide necessary balance, placement, positioning, shape, contour, and geometry that prevent a portion of the product from touching or contacting a surface on which the product is placed. The elements can be readily integrated into high-volume consumable products to increase utility, function and features of the consumable product at minimal incremental cost and adjustment to production and manufacturing processes. The invention further reports processes and compositions that enable consumable products with differentiating features, which products would otherwise be deficient for their intended use and application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil comprising:
 a proximal end;   a distal end; and   a connecter between the proximal end and distal end,   wherein the utensil is configured such that the distal end is elevated above a surface of a planar substrate when one or more of the proximal end and the connector is in contact with the surface of the planar substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to position the proximal end and distal end onto different planes. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the connector comprises one or more of a loop, a hinge, a curvature, a helix or a curl. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the proximal end further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil according to  claim 4 , wherein the handle is co-molded with the utensil. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil according to  claim 10 , wherein the handle is coupled to the utensil. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein the distal end comprises an eating surface. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the utensil is selected from the group consisting of a spoon, knife, fork, chopstick, laddle, stirrer, pick. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the utensil is disposable. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil according to any one of  claims 1 - 9 , wherein the utensil is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The utensil according to any of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the utensil is an eating utensil comprising:
 a working end; and   a handle;   wherein the working end and handle are joined to each other by an integrated curvilinear connector that is configured to raise the working end above a planar surface of a support when the eating utensil is placed on the planar surface.   
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 positioned the distal end of a utensil according to any of  claims 1 - 11  into a mouth.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising manipulating a utensil according to any of  claims 1 - 11 . 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising making a utensil according to any of  claims 1 - 11 . 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising two or more utensils according to any of the  claims 1 - 11 .