GB2321614A

GB2321614A - Tongs

Info

Publication number: GB2321614A
Application number: GB9801204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Charles Aiken
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-31
Filing date: 1998-01-20
Publication date: 1998-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-20
Also published as: GB9801204D0; GB2321614B; GB9702015D0

Abstract

A pair of tongs comprises two elongate arms or blades 12, 14 at least one of the arms or blades being able to flex longitudinally. The arms or blades are connected together at one of their respective ends by a flexible connector 16 and at least one arm or blade having a protrusion 18, 20 located towards the connector end of the arm or blade. In a first, in-use, configuration the arms or blades extend along opposed sides of a 'V' with the connector 16 at the apex of the 'V' and the protrusion 18, 20 lying on the inside of the 'V' and restricting the minimum possible angle of the 'V'. In a second, rest, configuration the arms or blades are rotated to lie substantially parallel to each other in side by side relationship with the protrusion 18, 20 on the outside of its respective arm or blade.

Description

TONGS This invention relates to tongs and particularly, although not exclusively, to tongs intended for use with food.

Particularly in the light of the seemingly ever-increasing expansion of fast food outlets, including takeaway outlets, a need is perceived for a simple, inexpensive yet practical means by which the items of food may be consumed. Currently available means, e.g. plastics cutlery or throw away wooden forks are far from ideal and not very efficient or convenient for the purpose intended.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved utensil suitable for use with, and particularly consumption of, food.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention provides a pair of tongs, the tongs comprising two elongate arms or blades, at least one of the arms or blades being able to flex longitudinally, the arms or blades being connected together at one of their respective ends by a flexible connector, and at least one arm or blade having a protrusion located towards the connector end of the arm or blade, whereby in a first, use, configuration the arms or blades extend along opposed sides of a with the connector at the apex of the V' and the protrusion lying on the inside of the 'V' and restricting the minimum possible angle of the V', and in a second, rest, configuration the arms or blades are rotated to lie substantially parallel to each other in side by side relationship with the protrusion on the outside of its respective arm or blade.

The connector is preferably a thin flexible membrane and preferably the tongs are formed as a one-piece moulding, e.g. an injection moulding of plastics material.

Polypropylene is a particularly suitable plastics materials. Thus the arms, protrusion and connector are preferably an integral, one-piece moulding with the connector bridging the ends of the arms or blades.

In another preferred embodiment each arm or blade has a protrusion located towards the connector end of the arm or blade and the two protrusions come into contact in the 'use' configuration of the tongs to prevent the pair of arms or blades coming into parallel side by side relationship and, hence, defining the necessary V' formation.

In the 'use' formation the open end of the 51' may be closed by finger pressure on the outsides of the arms or blades and thereby trap an item of food for consumption.

To go from the 'use' to the 'rest' position, in which latter position the tongs may be conveniently stored and transported, the arms or blades are rotated through an arc of x" until they lie parallel and side by side. x" is of course 360" - y" where y" is the angle of the V'. For example only, y may be from 20 to 30".

Clearly, the connector must be sufficiently flexible to allow this rotation and sufficiently strong to withstand repeated rotations. It may be, for example, about 0.1 to 0.2 mm in thickness.

The arms or blades may be flat and of elongated rectangular shape and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the ends of the blades, i.e. the short sides of the rectangle at least at the open end of the V', are rounded. In an alternative embodiment the ends of the blades away from the connector may have corrugated or otherwise roughened surfaces to assist gripping of items of food to be consumed. Those ends may also taper.

The arms or blades are preferably of identical external dimensions, i.e. length, width and thickness. However, if desired, the ends of the blades away from the V' may be different, e.g. one may be forked and the other straight or rounded.

Typically the arms or blades may be from about 100 to 150 mm in length, 10 to 20 mm in width and 1 to 2 mm in thickness. However, it will be appreciated that these dimensions are given for the purpose of illustration only.

The invention enables a practical inexpensive means of providing a utensil for the eating of food which can be picked up by the tongs - or tweezer-like action of the device. It has widespread applicability, e.g. as indicated above, in takeaways, and other fast food outlets and cafeteria, for picnics and buffets and the like.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first pair of tongs of the invention in the 'use' configuration; Figure 2 is a similar view of the tongs of Figure 1 in the rest or storage configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second pair of tongs of the invention in the 'use' configuration; and Figure 4 is a similar view of the tongs of Figure 3 in opened configuration between the 'use' and rest or storage configuration.

In Figures 1 and 2 tongs 10 comprise a pair of arms 12, 14 joined together at one end by a flexible membrane connector 16. Towards their ends joined by connector 16, each arm 12, 14 has a protrusion 18, 20 respectively.

The tongs are formed as a one-piece injection moulding.

In the 'use' configuration of Figure 1, the arms 12, 14 extend in a XV' formation at an angle y" to each other, y being, for example, about 25". Protrusions 18 and 20 lie on the inside surfaces of the arms and are in contact with each other. The size and positioning of the protrusions on the arms determines the size of angle y.

To pick up items of food (or other items), the open end of the V' may be closed to grasp the item by finger pressure on the outside of arms 12, 14.

To store the tongs after use, or for packaging before sale, the arms are rotated in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2 so that they lie substantially parallel to each other with protrusions 18 and 20 lying on the outside.

In Figures 3 and 4 tongs 30 comprise a pair of arms 32, 34, joined together at one end by a flexible membrane connector 36. Arm 32 has a pair of shoulders 38 opposed across its width adjacent its end where connector 36 is found. A protrusion 40 (not visible in Figure 3) lies between the shoulders at their ends remote from connector 36. The protrusion lies on the inside surface of arm 32 in relation to the V' or 'use' configuration shown in Figure 3.

Arm 34 has a corresponding narrow end portion 42 which extends between shoulders 38 when the V' configuration is formed. Narrowed portion 42 has a depression 44 on its inside surface at a location to correspond with protrusion 40, which ensures alignment of the tips 46, 48 of the arms 32, 34 respectively in the V' configuration. Depression 44 is of a size not to accommodate fully protrusion 40 so that the required angle of the V' is maintained when the protrusion and depression meet.

Tips 46, 48 of the arms are tapered and have corrugated surfaces to aid gripping of items of food to be picked up and consumed.

The tongs 30, which again are a one-piece injection moulding have integrally moulded apertures 50 to reduce their weight.

In Figure 4 the arms of the tongs have been opened out from the 'use' position of Figure 3 to extend linearly in end to end relation and further relative rotation of the arms will bring them into the rest position, similar to that shown in Figure 2, for storage.

It will be appreciated that the tongs of the invention may be useful for picking up items other than food.

Claims

1. A pair of tongs, the tongs comprising two elongate arms or blades, at least one of the arms or blades being able to flex longitudinally, the arms or blades being connected together at one of their respective ends by a flexible connector, and at least one arm or blade having a protrusion located towards the connector end of the arm or blade, whereby in a first, use, configuration the arms or blades extend along opposed sides of a zV' with the connector at the apex of the V' and the protrusion lying on the inside of the V' and restricting the minimum possible angle of the V', and in a second, rest, configuration the arms or blades are rotated to lie substantially parallel to each other in side by side relationship with the protrusion on the outside of its respective arm or blade.

2. A pair of tongs according to Claim 1, in which the flexible connector is a thin membrane.

3. A pair of tongs according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the tongs are formed as a one-piece moulding.

4. A pair of tongs according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which each arm or blade has a protrusion located towards its connector end and the two protrusions come into contact in the use configuration whereby the arms or blades define the required V' formation.

5. A pair of tongs according to any preceding claim, in which the angle of the V' is from 20 to 300.

6. A pair of tongs according to any preceding claim, in which the connector is from 0.1 to 0.2 mm in thickness.

7. A pair of tongs according to any preceding claim, in which the arms or blades are flat and of generally rectangular shape with rounded ends.

8. A pair of tongs according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the ends of the arms or blades away from the connector have a corrugated surface.

9. A pair of tongs according to any preceding claim, in which the arms or blades are apertured to reduce weight.

10. A pair of tongs according to any preceding claim, in which the arms or blades are from 100 to 150 mm in length, 10 to 20 mm in width and 1 to 2 mm in thickness.

11. A pair of tongs according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.