We have designed the linkage to hold the spoon so that the user can manipulate the spoon and can swing it around (using a universal joint) to eat from it. The simple design consists of 2 four bar linkages with springs attached so that wherever the user lets go of the spoon, it will stay in place so that the user can swing the spoon around.
We are currently working on the stand which will hold the food slightly in front of the shoulder. The stand will hold the base for a rotating mechanism for the plate. At the moment, we are thinking of using devices similar to the rotating bases that can be bought at a houseware store. The bases are usually used for microwaves without existing rotating plates inside. The mechanism that these use is similar to a clock. You wind the base and a switch is turns it on or off. Existing mechanisms can rotate a plate for 30 min (at a very slow rate). We would have to increase the angular speed and also modify the switch to a chin switch.
Copyright © Patricia M. Chael, Jimmy Lin, Devon Ramsundar