| CPC A47J 43/281 (2013.01) [A47G 21/04 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
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1. A scoop comprising:
a handle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion;
a rim secured to the distal end portion, the rim having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the inner surface defining an opening extended through the rim; and
a bowl having an open end portion secured the inner surface of the rim, the bowl is movable relative to the rim between a first, unbuckled condition and a second, buckled condition, where in the second condition the bowl is biased back toward the first condition,
wherein the bowl includes a base wall and a sidewall that extends from the base wall to the open end portion, the sidewall includes a smooth inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sidewall is configured such that in the second condition an inner surface of the base wall is located at or beneath an outer edge of the rim,
wherein the sidewall is configured such that a stiffness of the sidewall is less than a stiffness of the base wall, the sidewall resisting movement of the bowl toward the second condition until an input force applied to the base wall is equal to or greater than a threshold reaction force of the sidewall directed toward the base wall, and when the input force is equal to or greater than the threshold reaction force the sidewall is configured such that the threshold reaction force is immediately reduced prior to bowl moving toward the second condition,
wherein the sidewall is configured such that the threshold reaction force of the sidewall immediately snaps the bowl from the second condition fully back into the first condition upon removal of the input force from the base wall,
wherein a connection between the open end portion of the bowl and the rim defines a hinge portion for movement of the bowl, and the snap back is amplified by a length of the sidewall and elastic forces of the sidewall, the base wall and the hinge portion.
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