A titanium spork.

A spork is a hybrid form of cutlery taking the form of a spoon-like shallow scoop with the addition of the tines of a fork (usually three or four). Spork-like utensils have been manufactured since at least the late 1800s; patents for spork-like designs date back to at least 1874 and the word "spork" was registered as a trademark both in the U.S. and the UK decades later. Sporks are offered in both re-usable and disposable form and are quite versatile. They are commonly used by fast food restaurants, prisons, school cafeterias, and backpackers. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 473 pixelsFull resolution (2000 × 1182 pixel, file size: 241 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 473 pixelsFull resolution (2000 × 1182 pixel, file size: 241 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... Used cutlery: a plate, a fork and knife, and a drinking glass. ... For other uses, see Spoon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fork (disambiguation). ... // Invention of the Jacquard loom in 1801. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... “(TM)” redirects here. ... This article needs cleanup. ... One of a number of cafeterias at Electronic City campus, Infosys Technologies Ltd. ... This article is about backpacking in the wilderness. ...

The word spork is a portmanteau combining the words spoon and fork. The word "spork" appeared in the 1909 supplement to the Century Dictionary, where it was described as a trade name and "a 'portmanteau-word' applied to a long, slender spoon having at the end of the bowl projections resembling the tines of a fork". Sporks are occasionally known as foons.[1] A similar term exists in Finnish: a "luha" (properly "lusikka-haarukka") is a portmanteau word combining the words for "spoon" and "fork" respectively, and is most commonly to issued to conscripts on national service. It should be noted that finnish luha is not constructed as spork but has spoon in one end and fork in other and folds at the middle. A portmanteau (IPA: ) is a word or morpheme that fuses two or more words or word parts to give a combined or loaded meaning. ... The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia was one of the largest and most highly regarded dictionaries of the English language. ... A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the legal name of a business, or the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes. ... A portmanteau (IPA: ) is a word or morpheme that fuses two or more words or word parts to give a combined or loaded meaning. ...

Similar utensils include the knork, the spife, the splayd, and forkchops. Sporks are often referred to for humorous effect, often as hypothetical weapons.^[1] A mechanized knork is demonstrated on Snowflake Day: A Very Special Holiday Episode of Clone High. ... Spife is a cutlery implement with the blade of a knife used as the handle of the spoon. ... Splayds are a combination of knife, fork and spoon in one utensil. ...

The two functions of fork and spoon are inherently opposed to each other in a spork, such that the slotted tines allow thin liquids to leak out of the bowl, while the fat triangular tines have poor solid-food penetration and retention of fresh salad vegetables and natural cooked meats such as steak. The spork is better suited for thick, chunky, and heavily-processed foods which require minimal cutting or preparation to ingest.

History

A 1998 design patent drawing for a spork, from U.S. Patent D388,664 .

Sporks have been mass-manufactured since at least the late 1800s. The Folgate Silver Plate Company of England manufactured one sometime between 1875 and 1900. A spork. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ...

In the United States, various patents for sporks and proto-sporks have been issued over the years. A combined spoon, fork, and knife closely resembling the modern spork was invented by Samuel W. Francis and issued US Patent 147,119 in February, 1874. Other early patents predating the modern spork include US Patent 904,553, for a "Cutting spoon", granted on November 24, 1908 to Harry L. McCoy and US Patent 1,044,869, for a spoon with a tined edge, granted to Frank Emmenegger in November of 1912. Many of these inventions predated the use of the term "spork" and thus may be considered proto-sporks. Given this significant prior art, the basic concept of combining aspects of a spoon and fork is well established; more modern patents have limited themselves to the specific implementation and appearance of the spork. These design patents do not prevent anyone from designing and manufacturing their own version of a spork. Examples of modern US design patents for sporks include patent number D247,153 issued in February of 1978 and patent D388,664 issued in January of 1998. For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... is the 328th day of the year (329th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... weener ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

The word spork originated in the early 1900s to describe such devices. According to a 20 December 1952 New York Times article, Hyde W. Ballard of Westtown, Pennsylvania filed an application to register "Spork" as a trademark for a combination spoon and fork made of stainless steel, although there is no longer any record of this application at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Van Brode Milling Company subsequently registered SPORK for a combination plastic spoon, fork and knife at the USPTO on October 27, 1970, but abandoned the registration several years later. The word Spork accompanied by a stylised design is currently registered in the US in relation to hand tools, in the name of a UK based individual (reg. no. 2514381). A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (or coined), often to apply to new concepts, to synthesize pre-existing concepts, or to make older terminology sound more contemporary. ... This article is about the decade starting in 1900 and ending in 1909. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Westtown Township is a township located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. ... “(TM)” redirects here. ... PTO headquarters in Alexandria The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent and trademark protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions and corporate and product identification. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the United Kingdom, Plastico Limited originally registered Spork as a trademark in relation to cutlery with effect from 18 September 1975 (reg. no. 1052291). The registration is now in the name of another company and remains in force. The trademark is also registered in the UK in relation to gardening tools in the name of the same UK based individual who owns US trademark registration no. 2514381. Another British company, Lifeventure, sells titanium and plastic versions using the name "Forkspoon". is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A Japanese spork.

In an unsuccessful lawsuit in 1999 where the company Regalzone sought to invalidate Plastico Limited's UK registration for Spork, Justice Neuberger wrote: "I accept that the word Spork involves a clever idea of making a single word by eliding the end of the word spoon and beginning of the word fork. The fact that it is clever and the fact that the meaning of Spork could be said to be obvious once it is explained does not mean that it is obvious what it is. Indeed, I would have thought that if one asked a person in 1975 what a Spork was, he or she would not know. If one then explained what it was and how the word came about, one might then be told that it was obvious or that it was clever." Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Civil action redirects here. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sporks are really good for eating stew that have large chunks of meat and vegetables because you can both eat the broth and pick up the chunks without changing utensils.

Materials and uses

Four types of spork.

Materials such as stainless steel, silver, aluminum, titanium, and polycarbonate plastic have been used in spork manufacture. The more ornate varieties are often sold as ice cream forks. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 571 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2034 × 2134 pixel, file size: 623 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Four versions of the Spork Stainless steel, unknown maker, manufactured probably in the 1960s or 1970s Lifeventure Lexan (plastic) Forkspoon Disposal forkspoon/spork supplied with... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 571 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2034 × 2134 pixel, file size: 623 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Four versions of the Spork Stainless steel, unknown maker, manufactured probably in the 1960s or 1970s Lifeventure Lexan (plastic) Forkspoon Disposal forkspoon/spork supplied with... The 630 foot (192 m) high, stainless-clad (type 304) Gateway Arch defines St. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polyesters. ... Missing image Ice cream is often served on a stick Boxes of ice cream are often found in stores in a display freezer. ...

The spork is used in a number of fast food restaurants, such as El Pollo Loco, and the Yum! Brands franchises, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell. Sporks have been spotted at many other restaurants and in school cafeterias. Sporks are also available for consumer purchase, and are often found at picnics and similar occasions. Plastic sporks are also common in prisons in the United States, because they are difficult to form into weapons. El Pollo Loco is a fast-food restaurant chain and Mexican grilled chicken franchise. ... Yum! Brands, Inc. ... KFC (full name Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a division of Yum! Brands, Inc. ... Taco Bell Corp. ... Friends and family gather for a picnic in a public park in Columbus, Ohio, c. ... :This article is about the knife-like weapon. ...

Sporks, especially the lighter types, are popular amongst backpackers, as they are smaller and lighter than carrying both a fork and a spoon. This article is about backpacking in the wilderness. ...

In the United Kingdom many pre-packaged ready-meals, such as salads and pasta dishes, come with a disposable plastic spork.

See also

• Grapefruit spoon
• Pastry fork
• Runcible Spoon
• Splayd

A grapefruit spoon is usually similar in design to a teaspoon with a serrated front edge, the intent of the serrations being to separate the grapefruit from the rind. ... Categories: Stub ... // A runcible spoon is a utensil that appears in the nonsense poetry of Edward Lear. ... Splayds are a combination of knife, fork and spoon in one utensil. ...

References

• Small Fry attempting to get peek at yule gifts may be caught in act (December 20, 1952). New York Times.
• Gazette, US Patent and Trademark Office, August 11, 1970.
• D. Green & Co. (Stoke Newington) Ltd and Plastico Ltd v Regalzone Ltd [2002] ETMR 241 (CA).

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Spork

• The Straight Dope on sporks