Tag Archives: adaptive cutlery

Low-Tech Lifesavers: Hot Plate Holder The Buckingham Coolhand

Low-Tech Lifesavers: The Buckingham Coolhand

Avoid Scalds from Hot Plates with your Buckingham Coolhand

Specifically designed for use as a hot plate holder, the Buckingham Coolhand solves the age-old problem of burns, slips and scalds that come from trying to remove dangerously hot plates from the microwave or oven. The combined difficulty of the hot plate and the weight of the cooked food upon it can make lifting the plate much more difficult. Even with your bare hands or a cloth it can be tricky, so a Coolhand is a neat way of making life easier. All plates are held so that your entire hand takes the weight of the plate and you’re not reliant solely on your fingers.

Red Hot Plate Holder Video

We decided the images for the Coolhand looked a bit ‘flat’ so we created this ‘Red Hot Plate Holder video for it, hope you like it! It is safe for work 😉

The Coolhand allows for heated plates, complete with your chosen meal, snack or dessert to be easily and safely removed from the microwave oven and taken to your dining table. This innovatively designed product from the well-known Buckingham Healthcare Company, allows for anyone who uses a microwave to have a safer way of transferring their meals from kitchen to table. It is highlighted as particularly useful if you live with a disability which causes dexterity problems in your wrists or hands or limited strength and even those who may have a limited grip due to conditions such as arthritis.

The Easy Way to Hold and Carry Plates

Hot plate holder - the Coolhand by Buckingham Healthcare

The ergonomically designed Coolhand Hot Plate Holder

The Buckingham Coolhand relies on the power of leverage to lift, so that the handle not your fingers takes the weight.  The Coolhand replicates the action of a hand, gripping and releasing extremely easily and of course, as an additional tool removes the risk of burns and scalds  to your skin.

There are many great features which make the Coolhand a universally popular product which include its non-slip soft grip handle which is 100% latex free, meaning it is safe for those with allergies. Its ergonomic design allows it to be cleaned very easily and there are no obvious dirt traps anywhere on the item and it can be simply popped into the dishwasher when it needs a clean. To allow use by those with weakened strength the Coolhand is extremely lightweight as well as being strong and durable. Finally, the design was created by Chris Buckingham, an experienced occupational therapist whose life improving gadgets we have featured before. She and the design team have worked to ensure that the Buckingham Coolhand should fit with most regular plates or bowls and therefore can be called a truly universal innovation.

If you’re interested in purchasing your own Coolhand hot plate holder, please click here to visit Trabasack.com

Low-Tech Lifesavers: The Knork

Low-Tech Lifesavers: The Knork

The Knork is fast becoming one of the most popular gadgets for those living with disabilities around. If you haven’t heard of it, this is the place to be to find out everything you need to know about the it and its ever expanding range of easy-to-use cutlery.

As this tweeter puts it, users really do love their knorks:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/XLove_you_moreX/status/141887641628049408″]

Exactly what is a Knork?

Image shows the metal Knork knife and fork in one, on a white background

The Original Knork

This is probably your first question and we don’t blame you but put simply, a knork is the only utensil you’ll ever need when eating a main meal. It combines the prongs of a fork with the cutting edge of a knife. It was originally designed to aid its inventor whilst eating pizza but has expanded well beyond this original purpose.

The Knork’s cutting edge is specifically designed not to be sharp and require a simple rocking motion to cut through foods, avoiding the risk of sharp edges. This product is a stylish and modern piece of equipment that could be an essential gadget for your home especially if you have limited dexterity or limb paralysis.

Expansive and expanding: the ever growing adaptive cutlery range

The Knork inventors knew they were onto a winner with their original design and have since rolled out many different styles and types of cutkery, including full flatware sets and foam handled knorks to aid gripping. The range was further enhanced with the release of the Knork Flatware line which includes a range of different pieces including a salad knork and steak/butter knife. It doesn’t stop there, they have also extended their range into plastic cutlery so you can take your knork with you if dining alfresco or enjoying a family picnic.

Fans of the Knork can’t help but sing it’s praises, describing it as study and weighty, which makes its cutting edge more effective and aids independence as food no longer needs to be cut up on behalf of the individual with the disability. It has opened new doors for people who may previously have been embarrassed eating in public as with a knork, there is no need to ask for food to be cut up as you can do it yourself.

This informational video gives some extra info regarding the range:

UPDATED Recent Feedback

We have had some brilliant feedback via our store – Trabasack.com in the past few days for knorks. Whenever we take  knorks to shows and exhibitions we always hear from people how much they are helping so we thought we would share this useful feedback that was posted on Amazon.

The fork has provided a new level of independence for my 9 year old who suffers from cerebral palsy and has a weakness down one side. He has been able to cut up his own food for himself for the first time. Am thrilled with the knork.

And from another customer who highlights the ‘universal design’ non-stigmatising aspect of the knork cutlery:

well packaged nice looking item will be able to use when I go out for a meal without people wondering what I am using as looks like a normal fork

We are often told that the knork is particularly useful cutlery for people with a stroke condition:

Excellent item and would definitely buy from this seller again, I bought it for my wife who has had several strokes and it has made a huge difference to her eating at home or out in a restaurant, would thoroughly recommend it.

But ANYONE can use a Knork:

Although I am not without two hands, I prefer to eat one handed. I have been looking for a while for a KNORK and decided to have a look on Amazon and found what I was looking for. The item arrived promptly and well packaged I was delighted with the product and can recommend this seller.

 

Image of the Salad Knork - knife and fork in one.

The Salad Knork is as stylish and functional as the original, yet smaller in length.

The Knork Range of Adaptive Cutlery

The Knork is an ever-growing range of cutlery, and includes the original Knork, a steak knife and plastic versions, ideal for camping and picnics.
The newest addition to the Knork family to be stocked on our store is the Salad Knork. The salad Knork is a smaller version of the original Knork.
The salad Knork is as stylish and practical as the original, however the slightly more compact size allows you to use it for dining on salads or starters, and is ideal for children or anyone with smaller hands. The size of the new salad Knork is easier to hold for little ones, and measures 17cm in length with smaller prongs and a slightly more curved shape.

To view or purchase from our range of Knorks, please click here to visit Trabasack.com, or alternatively, visit Amazon.co.uk for further Knork products:

UPDATE

The Knork in the Huddesfield Examiner

We are always on the lookout for mentions of the knork and spotted this review in the Huddesfield Examiner

Denis Kilcommons describes the knork as “the perfect accessory to a mobile phone”! His review is quite tongue in cheek and he likens the knork to the part of the Americanisation of Britain. All good fun but a little bit alarmist we feel!

And now we have the knork.

This is not new, although I had never heard of it before. According to Wikipedia, that font of all internet knowledge, Horatio Nelson used a specially adapted fork with a cutting edge after losing his arm in battle in 1797, so the knork is obviously a very worthwhile item of cutlery for those with only the use of one hand.

But give Americans an inch and they’ll take your knife. They have already removed it from everyday dining.

The first time I ate out in America 40 years ago, I discovered the knife is a scorned accessory. Only truck drivers use a knife AND fork, I was told, as I got stuck into my steak with both utensils. Polite society first cut up their food then discarded the knife and used only the fork to scoop the small bits into the mouth.

How stupid, I commented. That way, your chips go cold.

Truck drivers, I opined, are obviously a very sensible breed. When in the States, I have ever since conducted myself like one of Eddie Stobart’s finest, no matter how posh the restaurant.

But a Knork? The Yanks will love it. They could even make it compulsory because it means they will never have to put down their mobile phones, even when cutting their meat.

You have been warned.

We are still glad that the amazing functional and stylish knork has reached even Denis’ sheltered corner of Huddesfield! 😉