Knork
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A knork (IPA: /nɤɹk/) is a hybrid form of cutlery which combines the cutting and spearing capablities into a single utensil. The word knork is a portmanteau of knife and fork. Typically, one or both of the outer edges of a fork-like utensil are sharpened to allow the user to cut their food. Several patents have been issues for designs of knorks, such as #RE9687 issued to Arthur W. Cox in 1881[1], #1294031 issued to Henry J. Bigelow in 1919,[2] or #2185942 issued to Charles Frank in 1940[3]
In a sense, a pastry fork is a precursor of the knork, since it is also a fork designed to be used as a knife for cutting food.
An advantage of the knork is that it can be used easily by people who have only one arm; Roald Dahl reports in Boy how his father invented a knork precursor as a result of losing his arm.
Unlike the spork, which gained fame as a cheap, disposable alternative to separate utensils, the knork has been marketed as a high-end utensil, costing almost five dollars for a single unit. However, recently, plastic knorks have become available, and are significantly less expensive.
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[edit] Knorks in popular culture
- In the episode "Snowflake Day: A Very Special Holiday Episode" of the Canadian Animated Series Clone High, Abe Lincoln concocts a get-rich-quick scheme by inventing a knork. He then proceeds to cut his mouth several times with different variations of his knork. The episode makes light of the fact that such a utensil would be impractical by having the characters invent an impractical way to cover the blade while eating, involving a backpack-sized coal-power steam engine, only to have the invention be unwieldy, complicated, dangerous and cost more to build than the present he had been asked to buy.
[edit] Knork brand knorks
The Knork is a fork with wide rounded beveled outer tines which can be used to safely cut food like a knife, without a sharp edge to cut the mouth of the user. Unlike a knife, the knork cuts through food with a rocking motion which is facilitated by a finger platform on both sides of the handle. Knorks are symmetric and can be used by both left-handers and right-handers.
The utensil was invented by Mike Miller.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Knork Flatware Company Official Website
- Jay Leno's headlines from The Tonight Show
- Fork Evolves, by Tim Huber published by The Newton Kansan
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