Patent Application
20150130198
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cooking utensils and, more particularly, to an apparatus for grasping and flipping food being cooked on a grill or in a pan or otherwise manipulating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cooking utensils, such as a conventional tongs and forks, during the preparation and service of food is well known. While conventional tongs are typically used to grip in a pinching motion in order to grasp food, conventional forks are typically used to pierce in order to grasp food. Though they function differently, they are still used for substantially the same purpose, to grasp food in order to place it or move it while cooking or serving.
A problem which exists with conventional tongs and forks, however, is that many tongs and forks struggle to maintain grasp of heavier food items because of their design or because they are structurally not very sturdy. For example, it is not uncommon for food to slip from the grip of tongs or to slide off a fork. Moreover, standard tongs also typically require a user to rotate their wrists frequently, while maintaining the pinching action, in order to perform basic food manipulation operations, such as flipping. Thus, there remains a need for a flipping hook apparatus which would eliminate the need for a user to pinch food while preparing or serving in order to pick it up or move it. It would be helpful if such a flipping hook apparatus was structured so as to significantly reduce the risk of grasped food slipping off. It would be additionally desirable for such a flipping hook apparatus to be structured to provide additional distance between a user's hand and a heating element when in use.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a flipping hook apparatus adapted allow food items to be grasped and manipulated in a secure manner The primary components of Applicant's adjustable extension bar are a hook member and a handle portion. When in operation, the flipping hook apparatus allows a user to pierce food items to be grasped with a curved hook embedded in an elongated solid handle so as to allow the food item to be gripped securely and manipulated without user supplied pinching. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.
A flipping hook apparatus for allowing a user to reduce the number of cooking utensils needed for a given job, eliminating food dropping, moving a user's hand further away from a heating element while manipulating food, minimizing arm and wrist twisting while manipulating food, and more safely lower food onto cooking surfaces. The flipping hook apparatus comprises a hook member having an elongated shaft and a hook portion permanently attached to an elongated handle. The hook portion is defined by a 90 degree bend in the elongated shaft, followed by a 1 inch diameter roll in a 150 to 160 degree angle. It is contemplated that the hook member is constructed out of stainless steel and provides a means for securely grasping food items while the handle is constructed out of wood having up to three coats of polyurethane so as to seal and protect the wood and provides a means for manipulating.
It is an object of this invention to provide a flipping hook apparatus which would eliminate the need for a user to pinch food while preparing or serving in order to pick it up or move it.
It is another object of this invention to provide a flipping hook apparatus structured to significantly reduce the risk of grasped food slipping off
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a flipping hook apparatus structured to provide additional distance between a user's hand and a heating element when in use.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
The handle 12 is an elongated rectangular body having a wire aperture 12a centrally disposed in its front end which is configured to receive and securely hold the proximal end 11b of the elongated shaft 11a. It is contemplated that the handle 12 is constructed out of wood having up to three coats of polyurethane so as to seal and protect the wood.
The proximal end 11b of elongated shaft 11a is embedded into an the handle 12 to form the assembled flipping hook apparatus 10. To provide for a more secure attachment, the proximal end 11b is defined by a flat tip. This flat tip allows the elongated shaft 11a to bite the wood and also prevents the hook member 11 from twisting while secured in the handle 12.
In one embodiment, the external shape of the handle 12 is defined by an elongated rectangular body which has a tapered portion 12b about its front end so as to improve maneuverability in tighter spaces.
In one embodiment, the handle 12 includes a hanging aperture 13a near its back end a so as to allow the flipping hook apparatus 10 to be hung on an conventional wall hook or other hanging structure. In another embodiment, the handle 12 includes a strap member 13b permanently attached to its back end for assisting in handling of hanging the flipping hook apparatus 10 when it is not in use.
It is contemplated that the flipping hook apparatus can be constructed in various sizes to be directed at differing used. For frying, the handle is 8 inches by 1 inch by 1 inch, with the wire aperture being 0.120″ in diameter and 2¼ inches deep. The hook member is an 8 inch wire having a ⅛ inch diameter, with a sharpened flat proximal end and a hook with a sharpened end point at its distal end. The proximal end is pressed 3 inches into handle. For standard grilling, the handle is 12 inches by 1⅛ inched by 1⅛ inches, with the wire aperture being 0.120″ in diameter and 2¼ inches deep. The hook member is an 12 inch wire having a ⅛ inch diameter, with a sharpened flat proximal end and a hook with a sharpened end point at its distal end. The proximal end is pressed 3 inches into handle. For larger or commercial needs, a 20 inch by 1½ inch by 1½ inch handle, with a larger wire aperture, and a 12 inch wire having a 3/16 to ¼ inch diameter hook member, with a sharpened flat proximal end and a hook with a sharpened end point at its distal end can be used. For the larger embodiment, the proximal end is pressed 6 inches into handle.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
