Description Title of Invention: Self-Righting Tongs

[I] Docket No. 4113.01

[2] IN THE APPLICATION

[3] OF

[4] J. KEVIN HURSON

[5] FOR

[6] SELF -RIGHTING TONGS

[7] SELF-RIGHTING TONGS

[8] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[9] The present invention relates generally to handling, hand and hoist- line implements and, [10] 1. more particularly, to tong-type implements.

[I I] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[12] It is well known that the consumption of food contaminated by microscopic organisms or [13] germs can cause disease. Sufficiently pathogenic germs can kill. For these reasons, food must be [14] 1. handled with meticulous care, especially in commercial kitchens where food for large numbers of [15] people is prepared.

[16] Cleanliness reduces the likelihood that germs will be spread in a kitchen. People

[17] preparing food for human consumption must wash their hands. Countertops and work surfaces [18] must be washed regularly. And, all implements for making and serving food must be sanitized. [19] 1. Tongs are one implement widely found in sanitary kitchens. Tongs have dozens of uses, [20] but most frequently are employed to lift, carry, turn, and serve food. Unfortunately, germs spread

[21] from dirty hands and work surfaces can sometimes foul the handles of tongs.

[22] The handles of conventional tongs lay flat on work surfaces when set down and are easily [23] contaminated by germs on the work surfaces. These handles can contact food and spread

[24] 1. disease-causing germs. A need, therefore, exists for tongs that can sustain themselves in an [25] upright position when released from a hand of a user to minimize the spread of germs. [26] 1

[27] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[28] In light of the problems associated with the conventional tongs for preparing and serving food,

[29] it is a principal object of the invention to provide self-righting tongs with handles that

[30] automatically assume an elevated position when set upon a work surface so as to minimize the [31] 1. likelihood of contamination of the handles by germs. The elevated handles are especially [32] convenient to locate and grasp when preparing and serving food. Furthermore, the handles of my [33] self-righting tongs are unlikely to become fully submerged in liquid-filled pots or bowls. [34] It is another object of the invention to provide self-righting tongs of the type described [35] that promote hygienic food handling practices. In restaurants, my tongs can be employed at

[36] 1. buffets and salad bars to limit the spread of germs.

[37] Another object of the invention is to provide tongs of the type described that are

[38] maintained in an elevated position without external supports.

[39] It is another object of the invention to provide self-righting tongs that are intuitive to use,

[40] requiring little if any instruction do receive their benefits.

[41] 1. It is an object of the invention to provide improved features and arrangements thereof in [42] tongs for the purposes described which are lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,

[43] and fully dependable in use.

[44] Briefly, the self-righting tongs in accordance with this invention achieves the intended [45] objects by featuring a pair of handles that are connected together. A pair of jaws is affixed to the [46] 1. handles. At least one of the jaws is provided with a mass that is greater than the combined mass [47] of both of the handles. In one embodiment, the handles are connected together at one of their [48] ends and, in another embodiment, the handles are connected between their ends.

[49] 2

[50] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will

[51] become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the tongs

[52] illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[53] 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[54] The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying

[55] drawings in which:

[56] FIG. 1 is a top view of self-righting tongs in accordance with the present invention.

[57] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the self-righting tongs of FIG. 1.

[58] 10 FIG. 3 is a side view of the self-righting tongs of FIG. 1 with a different, unbalanced

[59] positioning thereof being shown in broken lines.

[60] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of my self-righting tongs.

[61] FIG. 5 is a side view of the self-righting tongs of FIG. 4 with a different, unbalanced

[62] positioning thereof being shown in broken lines.

[63] 1. Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the

[64] accompanying drawings.

[65] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[66] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, self-righting tongs in accordance with the present invention are

[67] 1. shown at 10. Tongs 10 include a pair of elongated handles 12 connected together by a spring

[68] hinge 14 in a tweezers-like manner. One of a pair of weighted jaws 16 is respectively affixed to

[69] the free of each of handles 12.

[70] 3

[71] Handles 12 are formed from a resilient plastic material. Each of the handles 12 has a shape

[72] resembling that of an inverted 'V when viewed from the side with a lower handle member 18

[73] being connected to an upper handle member 20 at an obtuse angle. Each of the lower handle

[74] members 18 is provided with a tapered socket 22 at its free end. Each of the upper handle

[75] 1. members 20 is sized to fit into the hand of a user for a comfortable grip.

[76] Spring hinge 14 is made from a resilient plastic material and is integrally formed with [77] handles 12. Spring hinge 14 has a pair of hinge members 24 that are connected together at an [78] acute angle. The free ends of the hinge members 24 are connected to the free ends of upper handle [79] members 20 such that handles 12 become farther apart moving away from spring hinge 14 for [80] 1. easily grasping food between handles 12. The connection of hinge members

24 is placed [81] between upper handle members 20 so as to provide tongs 10 with a shape like that of an 'M'

[82] when viewed from above.

[83] Jaws 16 are formed from metal or other suitably dense material. Jaws 16 are long and

[84] narrow bars having dimensions that are approximately the same as those of upper handle members [85] 1. 20. Jaws 16 are connected to lower handle members 18 at an obtuse angle that places upper handle [86] members 20 and jaws 16 in substantially parallel planes with lower handle members

18 sloping

[87] between the parallel planes.

[88] The connection of jaws 16 to handles 12 is facilitated by pins 26. As shown, a pin 26 is [89] integrally formed with, and projects upwardly and rearwardly from, each of jaws 16.

Pins 26 have a

[90] 1. tapered, pyramidal form that resists turning when snugly inserted into correspondingly shaped [91] sockets 22 in lower handle members 18. A layer of adhesive cement (not shown) on pins 26 retains

[92] them permanently in place within sockets 22.

[93] 4

[94] The configuration of jaws 16 can be varied in accordance with their intended purpose and [95] is a matter of design choice. For example, jaws 16 can be provided with tines for serving [96] spaghetti or can be provided with slots for draining lettuce. Paddle-like jaws are excellent for [97] grasping loose materials and stirring foods. Unadorned bars, like those serving as jaws 16 in

[98] 1. FIGS. 1-3, provide excellent, all-around, gripping surfaces.

[99] The weight of jaws 16 is set so as to maintain jaws 16 flush with supporting surface

28 [100] while handles 12 and spring hinge 14 are cantilevered from jaws 16 above surface

28. It is [101] expected, therefore, that jaws 16 will weigh slightly more than handles 12 and spring hinge 14 [102] together. Jaws 16 can, of course, weigh more than this, but extra weight can add to the cost of

[103] 1. tongs 10 and make them somewhat more tiring to use for extended periods.

[104] Jaws 16 can be weighted in a variety of ways. The preferred way of weighting jaws

16 is, [105] as indicated above, by forming them wholly from a dense material. Alternatively, separate [106] weights can be attached to the exterior of jaws 16 or can be embedded within jaws

16. Such [107] weighting arrangements are deemed equivalent if handles 12 are elevated or tipped upright solely

[108] 1. by gravity acting upon jaws 16.

[109] The use of tongs 10 is straightforward. First, handles 12 are grasped lightly between the [110] thumb and remaining fingers of a user's hand and tongs 10 are elevated above supporting surface [111] 1. Next, handles 12 are moved to a place where jaws 16 are positioned on opposite sides of an [112] item to be lifted, say, a meatball. Now handles 12 are slowly squeezed together against the [113] 1. resistive force of spring hinge 14 so that the meatball is gently grasped by jaws 16. After [114] transporting the meatball to the desired location, it can be released from jaws 16 simply by [115] releasing the squeeze upon handles 12. Then, tongs 10 can be set back down upon surface with [116] 5 [117] the weight of jaws 16 retaining handles 12 above surface. Any germs or dirt that may have [118] passed from the user's hands to handles 12 cannot contaminate surface 28 or pass to food on [119] surface 12. After use of tongs 10 is completed, tongs 10 can be washed with soap and water and,

[120] then, stored in a convenient location for immediate reuse. [121] 1. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, alternative tongs 30 can be seen. Tongs 30 include a [122] pair of elongated handles 32 and 34 connected together by a pivot pin 36 in a scissors-like [123] manner. A lightweight jaw 38 is affixed to the lower, free of handle 32. A heavily weighted

[124] jaw 40 is affixed to the lower, free end of handle 34.

[125] Handle 32 is formed from a resilient plastic material and has a serpentine shape when [126] 1. viewed from the side. Handle 32 includes a lower handle member 42 that is connected to an [127] upper handle member 44 at an obtuse angle. Lower handle member 42 is connected to, and [128] extends upwardly and rearwardly from, paddle-like jaw 38 that is integrally formed therewith. [129] Upper handle member 44 has a bottom segment 46, through which pivot pin 36 passes, which is [130] connected to, and extends upwardly and rearwardly from, lower handle member 42.

Upper [131] 1. handle member 44 also has a medial segment 48 that is connected to, and extends upwardly and [132] rearwardly from, bottom segment 46 so as to be parallel with lower handle member

42. Upper [133] handle member 44 also has a top segment 50 that is connected to, and extends upwardly and

[134] rearwardly from, medial segment 48 and is formed into a loop that is normally positioned below

[135] top segment 50 and is sized to receive fingers from a hand of a user. [136] 1. Handle 34 is formed from a resilient plastic material and has a serpentine shape when [137] viewed from the side. As shown, handle 34 includes a lower handle member 52 that is connected [138] to an upper handle member 55 at an obtuse angle. Lower handle member 52 has an upper

[139] 6 [140] Segment 54 that is connected to, and extends upwardly and rearwardly from, a lower segment 56. [141] Lower segment 56 is provided with a socket 58 at its free end. Upper handle member

55 has a [142] bottom segment 60, through which pivot pin 36 passes, which is connected to, and extends [143] upwardly and forwardly from, upper segment 54. Additionally, upper handle member

55 has a [144] 1. medial segment 62 that is connected to, and extends upwardly and rearwardly from, bottom [145] segment 60 so as to be parallel with upper segment 54. Upper handle member 55 also has a top [146] segment 64 that is connected to, and extends upwardly and rearwardly from, medial segment 62

[147] and is formed into a loop that is sized to receive fingers from a hand of a user. [148] Pivot pin 36 connects handles 32 and 34 together. Pivot pin 36 passes through the centers [149] 1. of segments 46 and 60 that are flattened somewhat for reinforcement purposes. Pivot pin 36 is [150] shown to be a rivet with enlarged heads on its opposite ends but can be a screw which permits tongs

[151] 30 to be disassembled for easy cleaning, reconditioning and repair. [152] Jaw 40 is formed from metal or other dense material. Jaw 40 is a flat, long and narrow bar [153] 1. that is held horizontally. Jaw 40 is connected to handle 34 at an obtuse angle relative to segments [154] 52 and 55. Jaw 40 has an outline that is substantially the same as that of jaw 38 and will snugly [155] engage jaw 38 from below when top segments 50 and 64 are squeezed together. The configuration [156] of jaws 38 and 40 can be varied in accordance with their intended purpose and is a matter of

[157] design choice.

[158] 1. The connection of jaw 40 to handle 34 is facilitated by a pin 66. Pin 66 is integrally formed [159] with, and projects rearwardly from, jaw 40. Pin 66 has a tapered, pyramidal form that resists [160] 7 [161] Turning when snugly inserted into the correspondingly shaped socket 58 in lower handle member [162] 1. A layer of adhesive cement placed on pin 66 retains it permanently in place within socket 58. [163] The weight of jaw 40 is set so as to maintain jaw 40 flush with a supporting surface

68 [164] while handles 32 and 34 are cantilevered from jaws 38 and 40 above surface 68. Jaw

40 will [165] 1. weigh slightly more than the combined weights of handles 32 and 34. Jaw 40 can be provided

[166] with additional weight if desired.

[167] Jaw 40 can be weighted many ways. One manner of weighting jaw 40 is by forming [168] them wholly from a dense metal. Also, one or more weights (not shown) can be attached to the

[169] exterior of jaw 40 or can be embedded within jaw 40. [170] 1. As with tongs 10, the use of tongs 30 is straightforward. First, the top segments 50, 64 of [171] handles 32, 34 are grasped lightly with the thumb and remaining fingers of a user's hand and [172] tongs 30 are elevated above supporting surface 68. Next, handles 32, 34 are moved to a place [173] where jaws 38, 40 are positioned on opposite sides of an item to be lifted. Now, handles 32, 34 [174] are squeezed together so that the item is grasped by jaws 38, 40. After transporting the item to [175] 1. the desired location, the item can be released from jaws 38, 40 and set down by moving the [176] thumb and fingers of the user's hand away from one another. Then, tongs 30 can be placed upon [177] surface with the weight of jaw 40 retaining handles 32, 34 above surface. Any germs or dirt that [178] may have passed from the user's hands to handles 32, 34 cannot contaminate surface

68 or pass [179] to food on surface 68. After use of tongs 30 is completed, tongs 30 can be washed with soap and [180] 1. water and, then, stored in a convenient location for reuse. [181] 8

[182] While tongs 10 and 30 have been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be

[183] appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to them. Therefore, it is to be

[184] understood that the present invention is not limited to tongs 10 and 30, but encompasses any and all

[185] tongs within the scope of the following claims.

[186] 9