Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G21/00—Table-ware
  • A47G21/10—Sugar tongs; Asparagus tongs; Other food tongs
  • A47G21/103—Chop-sticks

Definitions

• This invention relates to tongs and particularly, although not exclusively, to tongs intended for use with food.
• the invention provides a pair of tongs, the tongs comprising two separate elongate arms or blades, at least one of the blades being able to flex longitudinally, the blades having means adjacent one of their respective ends whereby the ⁇ ' may be coupled together with the blades extending along opposed sides of a V from the region of coupling, whereby the open end of the V may be closed b ⁇ ' finger pressure on the outsides of the blades.
• the invention provides a kit of parts comprising two separate arms or blades as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph.
• the blades are releasably coupled together.
• the blades are preferably 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, are rounded.
• one blade may have a hole towards one of its ends with a pair of linear slots, each extending from a diametrically opposite point across the hole in the longitudinal direction of the blade.
• the width of the slots is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the other blade and the longitudinal extent of the two linear slots plus the diameter of the hole is sufficient to accommodate the width of the second blade.
• the second blade has a pair of arcuate, e.g. hemispherical slots, one in each longitudinal edge and towards one end of the blade.
• the slots are positioned longitudinally of the blade to correspond to the position of the hole in the first blade.
• the end of the second blade may then be inserted through the aperture defined by the hole and linear slots of the first blade until the edge slots of the second blade are within the hole of the first blade. Rotation of one or other blade through 90° then couples the blades together in the desired V formation of the pair of tongs.
• the means to couple the blades together is a connector, which is preferably relatively rigid, whereby each arm or blade may be located at one of its respective ends in the connector, the connector containing and retaining the end and an end portion of each arm or blade so that the arms or blades extend along the opposed sides of the desired V, the base of the V being provided by the connector.
• the kit of parts of the invention comprises two separate arms or blades and the connector for the arms or blades
• the connector is preferably made of plastics material and may be made by extrusion or injection moulding. Alternatively, it may, if desired, be made of metal or wood.
• the connector may have a generally V-shaped section or may contain a generally V-shaped recess to contain the arms or blades and to configure them to lie in V- formation as thev extend from the connector.
• the ends of arms or blades mav fit into slots in the connector or be otherwise restrained in their desired positions in the connector.
• the connector may have hollow arms into which the end portions of the arms or blades of the tongs fit. They may be retained in those
• the arms or blades are preferably of identical external dimensions, i.e. length,
• width and thickness may be of any suitably flexible material, e.g. plastics, metal or wood. They may, if desired, be coloured and/or carry a logo or other decoration but it may be preferred for many intended uses that they are plain, simple and inexpensive for throw-away use.
• 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 thc- device. it has widespread applicability, e.g. as indicated above, in takeaway.s, and other fast food outlets and cafeteria, for picnics and buffets and the like.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a first blade for use in a first embodiment of the
• Figure 2 is a similar view of a second blade to co-operate with the first blade
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of tongs formed by coupling together the blades of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is an exploded view of a pair of tongs according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 4.
• a flat blade 10 is of elongated rectangular shape with longitudinal edges 10A, 10D and rounded short ends 10C, 10D.
• Towards end 10D is a centrally- disposed hole 11 with linear slots 12A and 12B extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade from opposite sides of the hole 1 1 , Slots 12 A, 12B are of sufficient width to accept the thickness of blade 20 (see Figure 2) and of sufficient overall length together with the diameter of hole 1 1 to accept the width of blade 20.
• blade 20 is of similar elongated rectangular shape with longitudinal edges 20A, 20B and rounded short ends 20C, 20D.
• a pair of opposed hemispherical slots 21 A, 2 IB is formed in edges 20A, 20B respectively at a position along blade 20 corresponding to ihc position of hole 1 1 in blade 10.
• Blades 10 and 20 are then releasably coupled together to form a pair of food tongs as shown in Figure 3.
• End 20D of blade 20 has been passed through hole 1 1 and slots 12A, 12B of blade 10 until edge slots 2 1 ⁇ , 21 B are received inside
• blades 10 and 20 are then rotated through 90° relative to each other so that blade 20 is captured inside hole 1 1 of blade 10 and the blades face each other to form the V shape shown in Figure 3.
• the flexibility of blades 10 and 20 allows
• tongs may be held between the fingers and the thumb of one hand and the blades pressed together to pick up an item of food positioned between the blades.
• tongs 1 10 are formed from two identical separate arms 1 12, 1 14 and a relatively rigid connector 1 16 moulded of plastics material to have a generally U-shapc.
• the ends 1 12A, 1 14A of arms 1 12 , 1 14 are
• the arms may be e.g. of wood, plastics material or rigid card. It will be appreciated that the tongs of the invention may be useful for picking up items other than food.

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• Table Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26309269

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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• 1997
  • 1997-05-01 AU AU26473/97A patent/AU2647397A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-05-01 DE DE69718783T patent/DE69718783D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-05-01 WO PCT/GB1997/001206 patent/WO1997041762A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-05-01 EP EP97918291A patent/EP0902638B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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