slot 156 determines the distance the shaft 104 extends from the handle end 108 note that the position of the handle detent 132 ensures that a considerable portion of the shaft 104 remains within the handle end 108 even when the shaft 104 is in the unfolded position to give the utensil 100 stability specifically when the utensil 100 is in the unfolded configuration the handle end 108 and the shaft 104 form a rigid member that does not bend or flex as the utensil 100 is used to pick up food the handle end 108 also includes a tab 160 that in conjunction with the elongated groove 128 of the shaft 104 prevents the shaft 104 from being retracted into the handle end 108 after the shaft 104 has been extended from the handle end 108 the tab 160 is sized such that when the utensil 100 is in the folded the configuration the tab 160 fills the sloped depression 124 which is an indentation in the top surface of the shaft 104 approximately the same size as the tab 160 as the shaft 104 is drawn from the handle end 108 the tab 160 slides out of the sloped depression 124 slightly deforming the upper surface of the handle end 108 in the process the tab 160 then slides across the upper surface of the shaft 104 until it reaches the elongated groove 128 the elongated groove 128 is a channel having a depth slightly greater than the distance the tab 160 protrudes from the handle end 108 as best illustrated in fig3 when the tab 160 reaches the elongated groove 128 the elasticity of the handle end 108 snaps the tab 160 into the groove 128 and the.