Combination fork/spoon utensil
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is directed to a convertible utensil capable of being used a fork or spoon. 
     Present society is characterized by a mobile, convenience oriented population having an affinity for compact, low cost, easy to use, and disposable products. This is especially true for camping, picnicking, and similar outdoor activities. However, to take part in these outdoor activities requires suitable eating utensils. Although low cost and disposable forks, spoons, and knives are available, these forks, spoons, and knives are separate articles and increase the bulk that must be carried to these activities. Accordingly, there is a need for eating utensils, such as forks and spoons, which are compact and convenient in addition to being low cost and disposable. 
     SUMMARY 
     the present invention satisfies this need by providing a utensil that is capable of being used as a spoon or a fork. The combined fork/spoon utensil is compact, convenient, low cost, and disposable. 
     According to the invention, the convertible utensil comprises an elongated handle and a spoon-shaped head attached thereto. At the forward end of the spoon-shaped head is a cut out portion which provides at least two tines. The convertible utensil also comprises a movable plate. The plate can be moved to a first position so that the plate substantially covers the cut out portion of the head. When the plate is in the first position, the utensil forms a spoon. The plate can also be moved to a second position so that the cut out portion of the head is substantially uncovered. When the plate is in the second position, the utensil forms a fork. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plate is placed in the first or second position by being moved along the longitudinal axis of the utensil. 
     Optionally, the inner surface of each tine can have a longitudinal groove therein for either guiding the movement of the plate between the first and second positions and/or for forming a liquid impervious seal with the plate when the plate is in the first position and the utensil forms a spoon. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spoon-shaped head has a slot therein for housing and guiding the plate. The slot is in communication with the cut out portion of the head. In this embodiment of the invention, the plate is movably positioned within the slot. 
     The elongated handle and spoon-shaped head can be connected by a neck. The neck can have a longitudinal slot therein. The longitudinal slots in the neck and in the spoon-shaped head are in communication with one another. Optionally, at least one surface of the neck is formed to provide a second slot which intersects at least a portion of the first slot in the neck. For example, the second slot can be located at either the bottom surface or a side surface of the neck. In addition, the utensil can further comprise means for moving the plate between the first and second positions. The movement means, e.g., a tab, can be attached to the plate and positioned in the groove. 
     The cut out portion of the spoon-shaped head can provide two outer tines and at least one inner tine. The inner tines can be attached to the spoon-shaped head either above, below, or across the first slot. When the inner tines are attached above the first slot and when the plate is in the forward position, the top surface of the plate faces the bottom surface of each inner tine. When the inner tines are attached to the spoon-shaped head below the first slot in the spoon-shaped head and when the plate is in the forward position, the bottom surface of the plate faces the top surface of the inner tines. However, when the inner tines are attached to the spoon-shaped head above and below the first slot, the plate has at least one longitudinal forward recess therein wherein each recess in the plate corresponds to an inner tine so that each inner tine serves as a guide as the plate moves between the two positions. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a convertible fork/spoon utensil embodying features of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the utensil of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the utensil of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal, sectional, elevational view of the utensil of FIG. 1 along line 4--4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional elevational view of a spoon-shaped head portion of the utensil of FIG. 1 along line 5--5 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a transverse, sectional, elevational view of a spoon-shaped head portion of the utensil of FIG. 1 along line 6--6 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternate configuration of the utensil of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side plan view of the configuration of the utensil of FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a convertible utensil capable of being used as a fork or spoon. The combination fork/spoon utensil of this invention fulfills the needs of a mobile, outdoor loving, convenience oriented society for a compact, low cost, convenient, and disposable eating utensil. 
     With reference to the figures, the present invention provides a convertible utensil 10 capable of being used as a fork or spoon. The utensil 10 includes an elongate handle 12. A neck 14 extends rigidly from the handle 12 for rigidly supporting a spoon-shaped head 16, further described below. The neck 14, and a portion of the head 16, has a transverse first slot 18 therein for receiving a plate 20 as described below. A longitudinal second slot 22 in a bottom surface 24 of the neck 14 intersects at least a portion of the first slot 18. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second slot 22 can be located in a side surface 26 of the neck 14. 
     A forward end 28 of the spoon-shaped head 16 has a cut out portion 30 which provides at least two tines 32. In general, the cut out portion 30 provides two outer tines 34 and at least one inner tine 36. An exemplary configuration of the utensil 10 has two outer tines 34 and two inner tines 36, as shown in the drawings. 
     The first slot 18 is in communication with the cut out portion 30 of the spoon-shaped head 16. The inner tines 36 are formed in the spoon-shaped head 16 above and below the first slot 18. Alternatively, the inner tines 36 include only one of the portions above and below the first slot 18. A side surface 38 of each outer tine 34 and inner tine 36 preferably has a longitudinal groove 40 therein for guiding and supporting a tine portion 42 of the plate 20. 
     When the inner tine 36 is formed in the spoon-shaped head 16 above and below the first slot 18, the plate 20 has one or more longitudinal, forward recesses 44 therein. Each recess 44 corresponds to an inner tine 36. The plate 20 is slidingly supported in the first slot 18 for longitudinal movement between a first position A and a second position B. In the first position A, an outer edge 46 of the plate 20 is proximate the forward end 28 of the spoon-shaped head 16. Accordingly, in the first position A, the plate 20 substantially closes the cut out portion 30, the longitudinal grooves 40 forming a substantially liquid impervious seal with the plate 20, and the utensil 10 thereby forms a spoon. 
     In the second position B of the plate 20, the outer edge 46 is proximate an inner end 48 of the cut out portion 30 of the spoon-shaped head 16. Accordingly, in the second position B, the cut out portion 30 of the spoon-shaped head 16 is substantially exposed and the utensil 10 thereby forms a fork. 
     Optionally, the utensil 10 can further comprise means 50 for moving the plate 20 between the first and second positions A and B, respectively. The movement means 50 is attached to the plate 20 and protrudes the second slot 22, forming a tab. 
     The utensil 10 can be conveniently made of plastic. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the utensil 10 can be assembled from three component parts 52, 54, and 56. The first part 52 comprises the bulk of the handle 12, neck 14, and the spoon-shaped head 16. The second part 54 comprises the plate 20 and the movement means 50. The third part 56 comprises a portion of the backside of the neck 14 and a portion of the back side of the spoon-shaped head 16. Each of these parts 52, 54, and 56 can be injection molded and subsequently assembled. The third part 56 can be attached to the first part 52 by a suitable adhesive means such as epoxy. 
     The convertible utensil 10 can be used as a spoon by placing the plate 20 in a first position A and can be used as a fork by moving the plate 20 to the second position B. Accordingly, the convertible utensil 10 is convenient, compact, and low cost. After use, the convertible utensil 10 can either be disposed of or cleaned. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.