US2111195A - Combination tool - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1938. s 2,111,195

COMBINATION TOOL Filed Oct. 5, 1936 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a combination ice pick, ice tongs and bottle opener.

It is an object of my invention to provide in combination an ice pick suitable for breaking relatively small pieces of ice, ice tongs suitable for serving the broken pieces of ice for individual use, and a bottle opener which serves as a useful adjunct on many occasions upon which ice is served.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a combination in which the ice pick and ice tongs may be separated so that each may be used by itself but in which, when not in use, the two units cooperate to hold the tongs substantially closed over the sharp end of the pick so that one is protected from injury by either the pick or the tongs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination in which the ice pick alone or the pick and tongs together in inoperative or closed condition serve as a handle for the bottle opener.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a combination ice pick, ice tongs, and bottle opener which is cheap and easy to manufacture.

I attain these objects in a manner which will be clear from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my combination ice pick, ice tongs and bottle opener with the ice pick and ice tongs in inoperative condition.

Fig. 2 is a view of the ice pick and bottle opener alone after removal from the ice tongs.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ice tongs of Fig. 1 after removal of the ice pick therefrom.

In the device of my invention I employ ice tongs of the character illustrated in Fig. 3. The tongs are preferably formed of sheet metal which is preferably made flat at the top H] and is bent downwardly and inwardly from each side thereof as at H. Thence each arm of the tongs proceeds with a straight portion l2 for a considerable portion of the length of the tongs. Near the lower ends the arms are bent outwardly as at 13 and then inwardly so that when the extremities of the tongs are together the straight portions l2 of the two arms lie parallel to one another as shown in Fig. 1. The ice-gripping extremities of the two arms of the tongs terminate in a series of sharply pointed teeth M. The teeth 14 of the two arms are so located that they mesh with one another in the completely closed position of the tongs as in Fig. l.

The metal of the tongs may itself be of such a resilient character that when released from the position shown in Fig. l, the tongs will naturally assume the position shown in Fig. 3. Such metals as spring steel, phosphor bronze; or spring brass may be employed for this purpose. Or alternatively I may make the tongs of a relatively soft metal and add at the top of the tongs a spring 15 in the shape of a flat ribbon bearing upon the two arms of the tongs and tending to separate them. This ribbon may be attached to either the top llior to the two arms by spot welding or riveting or soldering.

In the center of the end ID of the tongs is a hole at Hi to accommodate the ice pick in the inoperative or closed condition of the tongs as will hereinafter be explained. Near the lower ends of the straight portions I2 of the arms of the tongs are located inwardly extending eyes I! and 18 providing holes therethrough as at IS. The holes of the eyes are adapted to accommodate the ice pick in the inoperative condition of the tongs as will hereinafter'be explained. The eyes I1 and iii are so located on the two arms of the tongs that in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 they lie adjacent and one above the other with their holes aligned with one another and with the hole Hi. In the drawing I have shown the eyes I! and I8 to be punched out from the metal sheet of the tongs, but I may, if desired, spot weld, or solder, or otherwise attach to the arms of the tongs eyes of the same general shape or others serving the same function.

The ice pick and bottle opener part of the combination is preferably formed as in Fig. 2. A straight metal rod 20, preferably of steel, is sharpened to a point 2! and hardened. The upper end is preferably shaped in the form of a loop 22 which serves as a handle for the pick. Extending inwardly from the loop 22, and in the plane thereof are little lip-like projections 23, preferably three in number and located one on the center line of the pick and on the end of the loop, and the other two on the opposite side of the loop and spaced one on each side of the center line. The dimensions of the loop 22 and the projections 23 are such that they are adapted to engage a bottle cap of standard size to remove it from the bottle.

and the parts as in Figs. 2 and 3, the manner of their operation will be obvious. When the ice pick and tongs are not in use, they may be assembled as in Fig. l. The tongs are closed and the point of the pick is inserted through hole 16 and on down through holes IQ of the eyes I! and I8 into the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that, by cooperation between the pick and the eyes H and 58, the tongs are held in the closed position as shown, in which they occupy the smallest space and in which the teeth I 5 are not exposed. At the same time, the resilience of the tongs causes the pick to be held tightly therein and prevents its accidental withdrawal; while the point 2| of the pick is completely shielded by the opposing extremities of the tongs so that it cannot result in injury to ones person or clothing. In this inoperative ccndition of the pick and tongs, the tongs also serve as a convenient handle for the bottle opener.

It is understood that various changes and modifications in design and construction may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, ice tongs having an eye on each arm thereof extending inwardly of said arm, and a removable ice pick passing through both of said eyes and having its point shielded by the opposing extremities of said tongs.

2. In combination, ice tongs having an eye on each arm thereof and having an opening through the end thereof opposite to the ice-gripping extremities of said tongs which aligns with both of said eyes in the closed position of said tongs, and a removable ice pick inserted through said opening and through said eyes in such manner as to retain said tongsin the closed position.

3. In combination, normally open resilient ice tongs having a hole through the end opposite to the ice-gripping extremities thereof and having an eye on each arm thereof in aligmnent with said hole in the closed position of said tongs, and a removable ice pick inserted through said hole and through said eyes whereby said tongs and said pick are resiliently retained assembled in the closed position of said tongs.

4. In combination, normally open resilient ice tongs, a removable ice pick, and means extending inwardly from the arms of said tongs and cooperating with said pick for retaining said tongs and said pick assembled with the tongs in substantially closed position and the pick disposed between the arms thereof in such manner that the point of the pick is shielded by the opposing extremities of said tongs.

HANS SKAU.

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