US1783680A - Combined lifting and carrying tool - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1930. STEVENSON 1,783,680

COMBINED LIFTING AND CARRYING TOOL Filed May 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l w I NVEN TOR. I'fGBZ/FTfl. 5TEVE/VSO/V,

ATTORNEY.

2, 1930. R. A. STEVENSON COMBINED LIFTING AND CARRYING TOOL Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I INVENTOR. 505M714. 57.5 vavso/v,

' remove cans;

Patented Dec. 2, 1930 it I ROBERT A-.'JLSTEV ENSON;, OF w LMmGToiv, DnLAwimE" co vr sinnn meme IANDLCAQBRY'INGI eet application filed May a,

p The present invention relates to a combined toolrfor lift ng andcarrying either asingle v oria pluralitycf containers, "said containers being characterized structurallyas having "'5 a laterally extending exterior flange'or ex- "tension locatedadjacent theupperend or the container. q i a More specifically, the invention is particularly adapted for use in handling either a i: '10- single or a plurality "of ice creamfc n' o the llke.

frozen Produts u' lly entails pa'ckingth products inlargelcan's-for cold storage and "I 10 delivery to pointsjof consumptionor distribution; A considerable volume ofmate'rialis so handled in cans relativelylarge and difiicult to manipulate by the hands of workmen. The material is usuallymaintained in frozen condition by refrigeration, at pointswhere retailsales are made by cabinets having open compartments into which the filled cans are I inserted, until the contents are usea These compartments are only "slightly larger than the container torbe received therein-andthe containers are generally loweredwellbelow g p I Fig. sis aside view 'ofthe device of Fig. 7. Fig. 'Qf Fig. 7. i Various 'grips have been employed for handling the cans such'a's'pliers, tongs and the like. The present 'iinve ntion; contemplatesa unitary structure which may be" employed both in placing and removing form of the structure, Fig. 1 of the drawing,

thetop of, the cabinet to "allow for accommodation. of a closure "member, necessitating a tool in the hands of anjattendant to placeand the cans, and which is also adapted "for use in carrying simultaneously a plurality-oi:

cans either empty or loaded, thus saving time avoiding; the use o fmore than: one tool,

' The invention has for its object the pro vision of :a combination tool which may be used to lift and carry a'plurality of cans or to manipulate a can or containerwhich maybe placed in relatively restricted space.

A further object of the invention is the pro- Figure 1 is Centralized manufacture of ice cream and accordance with the invention; I and expense in the handling operation and ing h avi n'ga handleportion 2 which is suitv ably formed'toffit without discomfoit the hand of the user and to" provide meansfor 1930. Serial No. 449,484. T vision of a "sturdyjj compact structure which canfbe" economically manufactured. Further objects. and advantages will become apparent to those skilledin the art, fromthe' structure hereinafterdescribed and claimed and shown inthe drawing forming apart of thisspecificationf" 1 i Z 'Referring-tolthedrawing fpla-n view of a preferreclform ofthe'd'evice inac cordance' with the inven I V j 1 -Figf2 is anelevational vi'ewf'taken at right angle to the showingjofFigl."

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewita'ken on line V Fig. t'is cross sectionalview through the main body portion taken on "the line of Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the depending jaw'in lifting position for removing a can from'acontainer. "Figfti is an illustration of the device of the invention in engagementwith a pluralityof clans. N V M; 'Fig. .7 shows a} modified fOI'IIIOJi'dQViCB without the dependingjaw.

is a cross section taken on line 949 Fig. 10 is across section taken on; line. 10-1 O ofFig. 8. 1 1 I Fig. 11 is av modified-form showing separateilugsg i Referring particularly to the preferred majnual manipulationof thetooll Apair' of converging connecting arm portions 3 ex tend downwardly from ends of the handle portion to a position underneath the handle connecting with a plurality of spaced parallel gripping jaws 4 and 5 and a lateral offset depending jaw member 6. The aw members 4 and 5 are structurally identical and are disposed facing outwardly in spaced relation on opposite sides with respect to a vertical center line taken through the structure. Each jaw comprises a portion 7 eX- tending longitudinally of the structure, having at its upperend a downwardly extending holding lug 8, and terminating'at the lower end in an angularly disposed outwardly directed hook 9 presenting a surface suitably arranged to engage below an external head or extension on a can when the upper lug is in engagement :with .thebinneriedg'e surface of the top of the can. The-hook 9 is arranged to engagean extended surface of the underside of the can bead or extension whereas the lug 8 is relatively narrow and makes what may be termed. only a ,point contact on .the inside of the can. This is an important feature which avoids extended contact with \material within the can, even though such material extend flush with .the upper edge of the can or-container. The upper point or lug 8 of the jawis laterally offset from the main portion 7, defining in conjunction therewith a recess 10v between the inner face of thelug and the .mainsbody portion. The upper edge of a container gripped by .the jaw extends into the .recess between thermain body :portion and thelug.

The jaw portions 4. and 5 .have their re spective lugs and hook portions disposedaat the same elevation but the depending jaw 6 is laterally offset midway between .the jaws 4E and 5 and disposed well below said jaws. To afford the offset position, .the -jaw 6 is supported by an extension 11 from thecenter web 12 of the main body-portion. The

extension 11 is directed do-wnwardlyandoutwardly and terminatesat its outer .end in the depending jaw 6. This depending 'jaw 6 is similar in-structure.to the previously described jaws 4 Hand 5, having identical hooked endand spacedlug features for gripping .a single can. The .depen'ding .tjaw, however, has its gripping elements well below those of :the .other jaws and ;lat-

erally disposed 90 degrees to avoid .'in-\ terference with .the lifting functions of the other jaws when handling a plurality of cans. A strengtheningrib 14 isindicated as connecting the central web of the main body portion and the extension .11, for the purpose of lendingrigidity tothe structure and to minimizethe amount of metal neces saryfor the manufacture ofthe device. To

. this end,the converging arms of the structure and the body portions ofthe aw members mayvbe provided with-the :marginal ,ribs 13 which serve to materially strengthen .the

structure. I

.Referring in particular .to Fig. 5 ofthe drawing, the tool is shown in the position of engagement with a can 15, within a cabinet 16. It will be noted that in the normal position of these cans within a refrigerating container that the upper edge of the can is lowered well below the top of the cabinet and provides but little space between the sides of the can and the cabinet. The lower or depending jaw 6 is employed for the purpose of lifting cans from confined spaces such as illustrated in this figure of the drawing and .the provisionof the depending jaw.on the ,tool. obviates the necessity ofa workman car- .to be obvious from the showingin Figs. .5

and 6 of the drawing.

Referring in particular to Fig. 7 of .the

drawing, .there is shown .a tool .for lifting and carrying simultaneously twocontainer-s. .It will alsobeobvious thatthe device .may

be used with a singlecontainer. The structure :is identical with the structure shown in Figs. 1.to4-of the .drawing, exceptthat the depending jaw-extension has been omitted. Thelugs 8-.and hooks v9 are arranged in an .identical manner with 'that of the previously described structureiand the oppositelydisposed jaws are spacedby a connecting ,web which does not continue .to form .an .arm

extension.

'Thezdevicesshown in Figs. 7 to .10 are employed chiefly merely for handling and carrvingthe loaded orlempty containers. it,be-

ing obvious that in factories or whereit is not necessary to handle containers which; are in confined spaces, that the flower. or d epen d- :ing .jaw'is not essential to the structure.

While'the structures have been shown in the form of integral castings, it is obvious that-the lugsS may be intheform of-separate members inserted in slots in the main body portion and riveted or spot-welded therein. It will also be apparent :that the handle portion canbe provided, if desired, with an insulating handle structure. This may be of advantage where.the tool is used for long periods of time in refrigerated spaces where the metal isliable to become extremely cold.

Such handle structures as .f'

are referred to are conventional in the art and are not shown on the drawing. j i The structure shown anddescribed abov has the advantage of being formed as an integral casting and structurally arranged to be very rugged and compact. It also has the advantage of economy inmanufacture, providing a device which may be cheaply made but which-eliminates the useof separate tools yet allows a workman to carry in each hand a plurality of loaded or. emptyacontaine'rs andpermits that workman to have embodied in the tool'a gripping" jaw which,may.be"

, utilized in removing and replacing containers within cabinets and the like. This isja distinct advantage over the'prior art.

extended between said pair of jaws-to serve as a spacing connection and reinforcement for said aws.

Intestimony whereof, have hereunto sub scribed my name.

ROBERT A. STEVENSON.

Having thus described m invention in ac- I cordance with the statutes, claim:

1. In a tool for handling simultaneously a plurality of containers having annular projections adjacent their upper ends, an finte gral rigid structure comprising a handle and main body portion and a plurality of spaced oppositely disposed jaw members, each jaw including a hook for engaging the annular projections on the containers and alug spaced j from the hook adapted to engage: the'inner 1 upper surface of the container. Y a

2. Ina tool for handling simultaneously a plurality of containers having annular pro; jections adjacent their upper ends, an integral rigid structure comprising a handle,a

pair of spaced oppositely disposed rigid jaws in spaced relation underneath thehandle, and

a reinforcing web connecting the spaced jaws. 3. In a tool for handling simultaneously a plurality of containers having annular pro- V jections adjacent theirupper ends, an integral rigid structure comprising a handle, a pair of spaced oppositely disposed rigid jaws in spaced relation underneath the handle, a

reinforcing web connecting the spaced jaws, and a separate depending jaw rigidly connected with the reinforcing web and disposed below and in offset relation to said pair of jaws.

4. In a tool'of the character described, a i V f-pair of oppositely disposed rigid jaw members, a spacing and reinforcing member connecting said jaw members, and a handle over- I lying the jaw members and connected therewith, each of said jaw members including a adapted to engage within the upper end of v rigid hook for engagement beneathan annular projection on a container and a rigid angularly disposed-lug spaced from said hook the container. 5. In a tool of the character described, a

pair of oppositely disposed rigid jaw mem bers, a spacing and reinforcing member connecting said jaw members, a handle overlying the jaw members and connected there with, an outwardly and downwardly directed extension connected with said reinforcing

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