| 摘要 |
A pair of chopsticks that may be reversibly attached in a cooperating manner for providing a forceps- or tweezers-like spring action for grasping objects, such as food, or for being used in the conventional manner for using chopsticks, is described. Identical angled channels located in the vicinity of the non-grasping end of each chopstick and having a depth of about one-half the width of the chopstick, permit the opposing channels to be fitted together to join the chopsticks. A retaining member may be wrapped around the channel joint to stabilize the joint and hold the chopsticks together. In another embodiment, two shallow angled side indentations are cut into the width of each chopstick at diagonally opposing sides of the primary angled channel formed therein, creating compression surfaces which oppose rotation and opening of the channel joint. Back cuts in the side indentation and in the primary channel permit the chopsticks to be reversibly snap-locked together such that the chopsticks may be assembled and disassembled as desired. In this situation, no external retaining tension member is required to maintain a stable joint during use. |
| 主权项 |
1. A pair of chopsticks comprising:
a first chopstick having a chosen long dimension an upper side and an opposing lower side, an outer side and an opposing inner side, a food grasping end and a second end, a first channel in the upper side disposed at a chosen angle relative to the long dimension of said first chopstick in the region of the second end thereof, having a selected depth, and a chosen width, and forming a first base member between the depth of the first channel and the lower side; a second chopstick, identical to said first chopstick, having a chosen long dimension an upper side and an opposing lower side, an outer side and an inner side, a food grasping end and a second end, a second channel in the upper side disposed at a chosen angle relative to the long dimension of said first chopstick in the region of the second end thereof having a selected depth, and a chosen width, and forming a second base member between the depth of the second channel and the lower side; wherein the first base member of said first chopstick is inserted into the second channel of said second chopstick, with the second base member of said second chopstick being inserted into the first channel of said first chopstick, forming a joint having the chosen angle between said first chopstick and said second chopstick; and a retaining member for holding said first chopstick and said second chopstick together at the joint. |
