US1140592A

US1140592A - Ice-tongs.

Info

Publication number: US1140592A
Application number: US85227814A
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-07-21
Filing date: 1914-07-21
Publication date: 1915-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1932-05-25

Description

D. HENDERSON.

lor; Tomas.

APPLICATiON FILED JULYE, i914. 1,140,592. jatentad May25,1915.

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Wimesses Inventor b y f/ Attorneys THE MORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTGYLITHO., WASHINGION. n. C.

DOUGLAS HENDERSON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ICE-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed July 21, 1914. Serial No. 852,278.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, DOUGLAS HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Ice- Tongs, of which the following is a specication.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a pair of tongs adapted to handle ice and other articles, the construction being such that the weight of the article handled may be indicated by suitable means carried by some portion of the structure.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type above mentioned in which the springs which are compressed during the weighing operation may be locked against movement, when it is not necessary for the article to be weighed.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing z-Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a pair of tongs constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and sectioned; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the handle, the lid or cover therefor being removed; Fig. 3 is a section taken through the weight indicating drum; Fig. 11 is a top plan of the weight indicating drum; Fig. 5 is a fragmental section showing the operative connection between the tongs proper and the handle; Fig. 6 is a perspective delineating one of the links; Fig. 7 is a perspective delineating another of the links; Fig. 8 is a perspective showing the tubular pivot element whereby the links shown in Figs. G and 7 are connected together.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a. pair of tongs embodying crossed aws 1 united at their point of crossing by a pivot element 2. Links 3 are provided, the links 3 cooperating with the jaws 1, to form what, for convenience, may be denominated the tongs portion of the device.

For convenience in describing the location and relative positions of the parts, it will be presupposed that the structure is vertically placed, as indicated in Fig. 1, the terms upper, lower and the like being selected accordingly.

The lower ends of the links 3 are provided with bifurcations 4f receiving the upper ends of the jaws 1. Through the bifurcations t and through the upper ends of the jaws 1 are passed pivot elements 5.

The handle is a composite structure and includes a trough-like body 6 and a lid 7, the latter being held in place by means of securing elements 8. At its ends, the body portion 6 of the handle is provided with bifurcations 9. Into the bifurcations 9 are threaded tubular pivot elements 10 upon the outer ends of which are mounted to swing the upper ends of casings 11 of tubular form. Springs 12 lie within the casings 11 and abut at their lower ends against the lower ends of the casings, the links 3 entering the lower ends of the casings 11 and lying within the contour of the springs 12. Pins or like projections 14L are mounted in the links 3 and engage the springs 12. The pins 15 may terminate in indices 1%, adapted to move on scales 17 inscribed on the outer faces of the casings 11 adjacent longitudinal slots 16 in the casings, through which slots the indices project.

Each link 3 at its upper end is provided with spaced ears 18 having openings 19, the openings 19 being adapted to receive tubular pivot elements 2O supporting for swinging movement, secondary links 21, the links 21 being provided with openings 22 which receive the pivot elements 20, to the end that the links 21 may swing freely on the pivot elements 20. The links 21 at their inner ends are provided with openings 23 or other suitable means to receive the outer ends of flexible elements 24 which may be wires. These iiexible elements 2l pass over rollers 39 journaled on shafts 410 carried by the body portion (i of the handle adjacent the ends thereof. The inner ends of the flexible elements 211 are trained in opposite directions around sheaves 25 formed upon opposite sides of a drum 27 journaled on a shaft 26 held in the side walls of the body portion 5 Of the handle. The drum 27 is peripherally graduated as indicated at 28, the graduations indicated at 28 being visible through an opening 31 in the lid portion 6 of the handle, there being an index 30 projecting into the opening 3l and adapted t0 coperate with the graduations 28 on the drum 27. Located within the drum 27 is a spiral spring 29, one end of which is secured to the shaft 26, the other end of which is secured to the drum 27.

A means is provided whereby the upper ends of the links 3, at the will of the operator, may be coupled up with the bifurcations 9 of the handle, to the end that, when desired, no strain will be imposed upon the springs 12. `With this end in view a yoke is mounted in the body portion 6 of the handle to move transversely thereof, the yoke embodying a bar 32 lying along one side wall of the body portion 6 of the handle, the bar 32 being provided at its ends with U- shaped heads 33. Compression springs 34 surround the inner arms 41 of the heads 33 and abut against the bar 32 and against one side wall of the body 6, the outer ends of the heads 33 forming iingers 35 adapted to enter the tubular pivot elements 10 and 20, as will be understood clearly from Fig. 5. In order to actuate the latch mechanism including the bar 32 and the heads 33, there is journaled for rotation in the lid 7 of the handle, an upright shaft 36. At its lower end, the shaft 36 is equipped with a foot 37 which lies between the bar 32 and one side wall of the body portion 6 of the handle. At its upper end, the shaft 36 is provided with a radially projecting thumb lever 38.

ln practical operation, the parts are normally disposed as shown in Figs. 5 and 1. Under such circumstances, the springs 34 tend to push the latch yoke 32-33 laterally and to hold the same in abutment with the foot 37 of the shaft 36, the fingers 35 lying in one pair of the tubular pivot elements 10 and the tubular pivot elements 20. Thus, the upper ends of the links 3 are pivotally supported upon the fingers 35 and the tongs may be operated in the usual manner, without putting the springs 12 under compression.

llVhen it is desired to weigh the ice or any other article, the shaft 36 is rotated through the medium of the thumb lever 38, the foot 37 engaging the bar 32 and moving the same laterally, the springs 34E being put under compression and the fingers 35 being retracted out of the tubular pivot elements 20 which are carried in the bifurcations 18 of the links 3. Now, the springs 12 are subject to pressure, when an article is held between the lower ends of the jaws 1, the lower ends of the springs 12 abutting against the lower ends of the casings 11 which are supported upon the pivot elements 10 in the handle 6, the springs 12 being compressed through the medium of the pins lei in the links. rEhus, the indicators 15 will move upon the scales 17 and disclose upon the casings 12, the weight of the article. At the same time, as the links 3 are retracted in the casings 11, tension will be imparted to the flexible elements 2li through the medium of the links 2l. The drum 27 will be rotated, the spring 29 being put under tension and the proper point on the graduated scale 29 appearing adjacent the index 30.

As the lower ends of the jaws 1 are separated to receive an article, the upper ends of the jaws are separated also, the links 3 swinging in the opposite directions and the casings 11 swinging along with the links, the casings being pivotally connected with the handle. Owing to the fact that the links 21 are mounted to swing on the tubular elements 20, the iieXible elements 24E are never actuated by the opening movement of the jaws 1, but are actuated only when the springs 12 are compressed and the links 3 are slid downwardly, due to the weight carried by the aws 1.

lf desired, the indicating drum 27 and attendant mechanisms inay be dispensed with.

One of the important features of the invention resides in thn fact that when the parts are positioned with respect to each other as shown in Fig. 5, the springs 12 are not under compression. In the ordinary use of the device, therefore, the springs are not strained, the weight of the article being carried into the fingers 35. lThe operator, however, at any time, may effect a weighing of the article by retracting the lingers 35 through the medium of the thumb lever 38, the weight, under such circumstances being thrown into the springs 12. Y

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed is 1. ln a device of the class described, a handle; a pair of tongs comprising coperating members; means for connecting one 110 of said members to one end of the handle;

a spring forming an operative connection between the other of said members and the handle; a weight indicating device responsive to the spring; a link pivoted to the 115 other of said members, the link and the handle having openings; and a shiftable connecting element mounted on the handle and adapted to move into and out of the openings, thereby to connect and disconnect 120 the link with the handle.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of tongs; a handle; springs forming operative connections between the ends of the handle and tongs; weight indicating devices 125 responsive to the action of the springs; links pivoted to the tongs, the links and the handle being provided with openings; a yoke mounted in the handle and including fingers adapted to move into and out of the open- 130 ings thereby to connect and disconnect the links from the handle; and a means carried by the handle for operating the yoke.

3. In a device of the class described, a handle; a pair of tongs; springs forming operative connections between the ends of the tongs and the ends of the handle; a weight indicating device in the handle; and connections between the weight indicating device and the tongs.

4l. In a device of the class described, a handle; a pair of tongs; springs forming operative connections between the ends of the tongs and the ends of the handle; a weight indicating device in the handle; connections between the weight indicating device and the tongs; and movable means for connecting the tongs to the handle independently of the springs.

5. In a device of the class described, a handle; a pair of tongs; springs forming operative connections between the ends of the tongs and the ends of the handle; a weight indicating device in the handle; connections between the weight indicating device and the tongs; and latch mechanism carried by the handle, the latch mechanism being detachably intel-locked with the tongs independently of the springs.

G. In a device of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected jaws; links pivoted to the jaws; a handle; casings pivoted to the handle and receiving the links slidably, one of the casings being graduated, and one of the links having an indicator adapted to register on the graduations; and springs located in the casings and forming operative connections between the casings and the links.

7. In a device of the class described; pivotally connected jaws; links pivoted to the jaws; a handle; springs forming operative connections between the links and the handle; a weight indicating device in the handle; other links pivoted to the iirst specified links; and connections uniting said other links with the weight indicating device.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected jaws; a handle; means for connecting one end of the handle with one jaw; a link pivoted to the other jaw; a spring forming an operative connection between the link and the handle; a second link pivoted to the first speciied link; a spring retracted indicating drum journaled in the handle; and a flexible connection between the second link and the drum.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DOUGLAS HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

T. F. FRAZIER, S. L. POWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.