Portable utensil holder for a single diner

Abstract

A portable utensil holder for providing a utensil setting for a single diner, to serve as a convenient place to place a set of dining utensils for the diner that minimizes contact between the utensils and potentially unsanitary surfaces, for a healthier and more convenient dining experience. The utensil holder includes a set of recesses formed thereon, each shaped to accommodate a utensil of a corresponding type. The recesses are oriented parallel to each other and separated by intervening side walls, giving each utensil its own dedicated spot within the utensil holder. The recesses are connected by a groove oriented orthogonally to the recesses, allowing for utensils to be placed and retrieved while minimizing contact of the utensil head with potentially unsanitary surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device consisting of a portable utensil holder for providing a utensil setting for a single diner, the portable utensil holder having a set of one or more recesses, each shaped to accommodate a single dining utensil of a respective type placed horizontally within, where a first recess of the one or more recesses comprises an elongated handle portion having a first width and shaped to accommodate a handle of a dining utensil of a first type when placed horizontally within the first recess, a head portion having a second width greater than the first width and shaped to accommodate a head of the dining utensil of the first type when placed horizontally within the first recess, and at least one elongated drainage channel formed in a bottom surface of the handle portion of the first recess and extending into the head portion of the first recess; and a groove formed substantially orthogonal to the set of one or more recesses and shaped to facilitate finger access to the handle portion of the first recess. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion of the first recess has a first depth, and the head portion of the first recess has bottom surface having a second depth that is greater than the first depth and connected to the handle portion via a curved surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the head portion of the first recess includes a first portion having the first depth and a second portion having a second depth that is greater than the first depth. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the first recess has an oblong or oval shape. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , the head portion of the first recess has a depth that accommodates a head of the dining utensil of the first type when placed inside the recess in a horizontal position, such that the head of the dining utensil of the first type does not rise above a top surface of the utensil holder when placed within the first recess. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the utensil holder has a body that includes a top surface and a bottom surface connected by a plurality of tapered side surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the body of the utensil holder further comprises a lip spaced inward from the bottom surface by a first distance. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more recesses further comprises a second recess comprising an elongated handle portion having the first width and shaped to accommodate a handle of a second dining utensil of a second type different from the first type when placed horizontally within the first recess, a head portion having a shape different from that of the head portion of the first recess, to accommodate a head of the second dining utensil when placed horizontally within the second recess; wherein the second recess is oriented parallel to the first recess and is separated from the first recess by a side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated drainage channel is formed at a center of a bottom surface of the elongated portion of the first recess. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the utensil holder is formed through 3D printing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the utensil holder is formed through injection molding.