US2138651A - Lobster-claw lock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1938. BARWOOD 2,138,651

LOBSTER-CLAW LOCK Filed Jan. 25, 1936 sheets-sheet 1 Mew/ r. z. @Burwood Nov. 29, 1938. L. J. BARwooD 2,138,65

LOBSTER-CLAW LOCK Filed Jan. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 lUNITED STATES i man PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

The present invention relates to claw locks, and more particularly to lobster-claw locks.

According to the invention disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, 1,997,711, granted April 16, 1935, a very eicient lobster-claw lock is provided that holds the claws against substantial opening movement and that can not accidentally slip off the claws so as to 'unlock them.

An object of the present invention is to provide a elawlock of the above-described character that shall be simpler in construction and cheaper to manufacture, and in which slipping of the lock from off the claws will be effected in a different manner.

Other and further objects will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in` elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of a lobster leg, with the claws thereof locked by a claw lock according to a'preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a modified claw lock, before attachment to the lobster claws; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken upon the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in the directions of the arrows; Figs. 7.and 8 are elevations similar to Fig. 1 of modifications; Figs. 9 and 10 are sections taken upon thelines 9 9 and Ill-I0, respectively, of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; and FigQll is an elevation of the lobster-claw lock shown in Fig. 1.

The novel lock of the present invention may comprise a piece of flat,.sheetmetal stock, like aluminum, bent into the form vof one or more U-shaped portions, thus'producing a non-planar surface. The sheet-metal member is shown comprising two U-shaped portions in Figs. 1 to 7 and l1, and but a single U-shaped portion in Figs. 8

to 10. One of the Us comprises arms 6 and I0 having oppositely disposed substantially flat sides, merging in a neck 8. The other U comprises arms 22 and 24 having oppositely disposed, substantially flat, sides merging in a neck 4. The arms 6 and 22 are connected together at their free ends 'I and the arms I0 and 24 at their free ends 9. Th-e arms 6, ID, 22 and 24 may be of substantial extent, so as to bear an advertising, or other designating, legend. The claw I2 and part of the claw I8 of the lobster leg I4 are adapted to be received between the arms 6 and I0 and 22 and 24.

The necks 4 and 8 are each preferably provided with a depression, shown symmetrically disposed in Figs. 1 to 7 and 11 at II and I3, respectively, and eccentrically disposed at I5, in Figs. 8 and 10. The depressions are preferably bent out of the sheet metal at the neck of the U-shaped portions in such fashion as to produce substantially torusshaped curves. The depression I I, for example, is bent from one bounding edge Il to the opposite bounding edge I9 of the neck 4, so that the bounding edges Il and I9 of the neck stand out, to one side of the wall of thed-epression II, with these bounding edges extending substantially at right angles to the outer edge 46 of the claw I2. The depression I3 is similarly provided with similar bounding edges 2| and 23 and the depression I5 with similar bounding edges 25 and 27. The bounding edges I'I and I9 of the walls of the depression II and the bounding edges 2| and 23 of the walls of the depression I3 are adapted to engage and bite against the lower or outer edge 46 of the claw I2 of the lobster leg I4 when the said claw is mounted in the U-shaped member or members, as illustrated more particularly in section by Fig. 1. By thus biting into the edge 46 of the claw I2, thesebounding edges resist the tendency of the U-shaped members to change their position on the claws of the lobster leg after the lock has become secured thereto. The bounding edges 25 and 2l of th-e depression I5 perform a similar function. The depressions, furthermore, perform a further function in that the neck 4 or 8 of the U-shaped member or members may be positioned contiguous or adjacent to or on the claw I2 in such manner that one of the depressions shall receive a projection or jag 29 that is usually integral with the lower part of the claw I2, and to one side of, or eccentric with respect to, the said outer or lower edge 46 of the claw I2. When the lock is secured to the claws of the lobster leg, therefore, as hereinafter described, it will further be prevented from slipping by engagement of the projection 29 with the walls of the depression I3 or I5. The eccentric arrangement of the depression I5 corresponds to the eccentricarrangement ofthe projection 29, so that slipping of the lock may be prevented in all directions; but though the depression I3 is wider than the depression I5, so that, theoretically, there is possible a greater range of slipping movement in a right-and-left direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 6, in practice, the lock is secured rig- Iidly enough to prevent such right-and-left movement, and all that is necessary to be guarded against is a movement in a direction at right angles thereto, or to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. The eccentric arrangement, 'illustrated in Figs. 8 and 10, is more particularly useful when the claw lock comprises only a single U-shaped portion; when it comprises two U- shaped portions, as illustrated in Figs. l to '7 and l1, it is more convenient to use the wider depressions Il and I3, as this makes it possible to enclose the integral projection 29 of the claw I6 in either the depression II or the depression I3, Without the operator taking special pains to make sure that he is mounting the projection 29 in the proper depression II or I3, as the case may be, thus economizing in time.

The lock may be secured to the claws of the lobster leg, with the claw I2 mounted in the said Ll-shaped portion or portions, and the projection 2S in the proper depression II, I3 or I5,V in any desired way. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 to 1.1., for example, the arms of the U-shaped portion or portions may each be provided at their ree ends with a preferably integral or continuous extension, which may be originally flat, in the form of a strap, but which may be longitudinally rolled or otherwise formed into substantially tubular or partly tubular form, as shown at 33 and The tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and 35 may receive between them the claw I8 of the lobster leg I4, after which they are passed over the convex, upper, outer edge of the claw l, and their ends are then twisted together against the said upper, outer edge, as shown at 31. The claws I2 and I8 become thus encircled and locked, as illustrated, with the claw I2 mounted in the U-shaped portion or portions, and the bounding edges I'I, I9, 2Iand 23 or 25 and 21 biting into the edge 45 of the claw I2, and with the claw I8 between the connecting portions 'i and 3 and the tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and 35.

If desired, a wire or wires 44 may be rolled into the tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and and fastened therein in any desired manner. As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, this may be effected by providing the ends of the wire or wires 44 with hooks 39 engaging against the lower portions of the tubular or semi-tubular members 33 and 35; or intermediate portions of the tubular or semitubular members may be swaged into locking engagement with the wire or wires 44, as shown at 4I or both eXpedients or any other desired expedient may be adapted. Whether a single wire 44 is employed, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or separate wires, the lock may be secured to the claws of the lobster leg by twisting, as shown at 31, or in any other desired manner.

When the lock is thus secured to the claws I2 and I8, with Athe outer edge 46 of the claw I2 engaged against the said boundingedges of the depression I5 or the depressions II and I3, it is impossible for the lock to slip off the lobster leg, particularly because of the before-described engagement of the walls of the depression I3 or I5 against the claw projection 29. In the case of the modification shown in Figs.l 8 to 10, though displacement of the lock in the neighborhood of the projection 29 is thus prevented, one must rely upon the binding action of the twist 31 alone to prevent displacement or slipping of the lock at a region or regions other than the region of the depression I5. It is, of course, possible to make the twist 31 very, very tight, so as to lock the claws very tightly together, as illustrated in Figs. 1, '7 and 8; but there are at least three objections to this procedure. In the first place, the shell of the claw is sometimes soft, so that it might become damaged by too much strain at the placement.

twist 31. Secondly, it is desirable not to make the twist too tight, so as to permit some slight relative movement or breathing of the jaws I2 and I8. It is preferred to lock the claws together in such fashion as to permit a certain amount of back-and-forth movement of the claws. Thirdly, no matter how tightly the lock of Figs. 8 to 10 is secured to the lobster leg, it may, slooner or later, become loosened by reason of the rubbing against one another of the lobsters during their continual fiighting 'with one another,

The lock illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 and 11 is preferred, therefore, because the bounding edges I1 and I9 of the depression II, being spaced from the bounding edges 2I and 23 of the depression I3, provide an additional point or region, at a distance removedfrom the region near the projection 29, at which displacement of the lock is also prevented, besides serving as an additional check against too free swinging movement of the lower jaw I2 about its pivot. There thus being provided a three-point support for the lock, instead of only the two-point support of Figs'. 8 to 10, the lock is more solidly secured against dis- I't is not so easy for the twist 31 to slip or slide along the outer edge 45 of the jaw I3, toward its free end or tip 20, when this threepoint support is provided as when only the twopoint support is employed, for the outer edge 45 of the claw I2 is engaged by spaced points or regions to resist such slipping. Any such sliding tendency is resisted by the edges I 1 and I9 of the depression II biting into the outer edge 46 of the claw I2.

The lock illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and llis so designed as to engage the outer edge 46 of the jaw I2 at regions near the extreme right-hand end, near the projection or jag 29, as viewed in Fig. l, and at about the middle of the jaw. The location of the last-named region may, however, be farther to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, nearer the end i6 of the jaw I2, so as to provide a better control and a larger amount of permissible backand-forth movement of the claws I2 and I8 in the lock. All that is necessary, to this end, is to provide longer, but suitably shaped, arms 22 and 24, extending from the arms 6 and I0 at a wider angle. Itis thus possible to eliminate all tendency for the twist 31 to slide down toward the end 2U of the claw I8. With proper adjustment, there will be no possibility of the lock slipping 01T the claws in a direction toward the left, as Viewed in Fig. 1. In this Fig 7, furthermore, the arms 6 and I0 are shown in a straight line with the connecting portions 1 and 9 and with the extensions 33, merely to illustrate that the relative shapes shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and 11 are illustrative only, and that other shapes may be employed.

It is possible to adjust the positions at which the necks 4 and 8 engage the outer edge 46 'of the claw I2; and it is also possible to adjust the position at which the twisted portion 31 is disposed along the outer edge 45 of the claw I8. 'I'he ad. justment of the U-shaped members will be such that the lock shall automatically assume the most favorable position for locking the lobster claws securely.

The lock of the present invention is very simple in construction, and cheap, being constituted of but a single pieceV of sheet metal, bent into U shape, without the necessity of using any additional rivets. A standard size and shape of lock' will be found adapted to all ordinary sizes and shapes of lobster claws, the bounding walls of vso the depressions engaging against the wall 46 of the 'claw l2' at different point, depending upon the adjustment. There is a minimum of discomfort to the-lobsters, without injuring any of the meat, while, at the same time, absolutely assuring that the claws shall always be locked.

' Further" modifications will occur to persons skilled inthe art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

l. A claw lock for use with a claw having an integral projection, the lock comprising a member having a depression for receiving the projection,and means for securing the lock to the claw with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the lock in the neighborhood of the projection.

2. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg. one of the claws having an integral projection, the lock comprising a sheet-metal member having a depression bent out therefrom forreceiving the projection, and means for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the lock in the neighborhood of the projection.

'3. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a U- shaped, sheet-metalV member in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the member having a depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, and means. connected with the member and adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the dep-ressicn being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection.

4. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster le-g, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a U- shaped, sheet-metal member in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the member having a depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, and means connected with the member and adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws cf the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection, and the sheet-metal member having a wall of substantial extent for bearing a designating legend.

5. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the clawsI of which has an integral projection near its outer edge, the lock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metal member in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the neck ci the U being substantially torus-shaped to provide a depression for receiving the projection, and means connected with the free endsI of the arms of the U and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lob-ster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of' the member in the neighborhood of the projection.

6. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which hasan integral projection eccentrically disposed near its outer edge, the lock comprising a. U-shaped, sheetmetal member in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the neck of the U having a corresponding, eccentrically disposed depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, and means connected with the free endsy of the arms of the U and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection.

7. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws: of a lobster leg, one of the claws or which has an integral projection near its' outer edge, the lock comprising a U-shaped, sheet-metal memberin which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the neck ofthe U having a depression bent out there-V from for receiving the projection, and a wire or wires connected with the free ends of the U and adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock tothe claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection.` 1

8. A lobster-claw lock for `locking the claws of a lobster leg comprising a one-piece, sheetmetal member having a portion adjacent to which one of the claws of the lobster leg is adapted to be mounted and having two arms adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg to secure the lock to the claws of the lobster leg, the said arms being longitudinally tubular,-

9. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a member in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted and against which the outer edge of the said claw is adapted to engage, the member having a depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, means connected with theymember andI adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection, and means for preventing displacement of the lock at a. point removed from the projection.

10. A claw lock comprising a member having a depression bent out therefrom from one edge to the opposite edge of the member so that the edges stand out to one side of the wall of the depression, and means for securing the lock to the claw with the said edges biting against the claw.

11. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, the lock comprising a sheet-metal member having portions adapted to engage spaced portions of the outer edge of lone of the claws, one of the portions having a depression bent out therefrom, and means connected with the member for engaging the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg to secure the lock to the claws of the lobster leg.

12. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg comprising a member having two U-shaped portions in which one of the claws is adapted to be mounted, the neck of each U- shaped portion being substantially torus-shaped.

and means connected with the member and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the edges of the torus-shaped portions biting against the said one claw.

13. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg comprising a member having a portion adjacent to which one of the claws of the lobster leg is adapted to be mounted and having two arms adapted to engage the other claw of the lobster leg to secure the lock to the clawsI of the lobster leg, the said arms being longitudinally tubular, and the said arms having a wire or wires fastened in the tubular or partly tubular portions thereof. 1

14. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a member having two U-shaped portions in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted and against which the outer edge of the said claw is adapted to engage, one of the Ushaped portions having a depression bent out therefrom for receiving the projection, and means connected with the member and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in the depression, the walls of the depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection, the other U- shaped portion being adapted toprevent displacement of the lock at a point removed from the projection.

15. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock comprising a sheet-metal member having two U-shaped por- I tions in which the said claw is adapted to be mounted, the neck of each U-shaped Vportion having a depression bent outward from one edge to the opposite edge of the corresponding neck so that the edges of the necks are adapted to engage and bite against the outer edge of the said claw, corresponding arms of the Us being connected together, and means connected with the member and adapted to engage the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg with the projection in one of the depressions, the walls of the said one depression being adapted to engage the projection to prevent displacement of the member in the neighborhood of the projection.

16. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, one of the claws of which has an integral projection, the lock having means forl engaging the outer edges of the claws at three regions considerably spaced from each other to lock the claws against substantial opening movement and having means for cooperating with the projection to prevent the lock from becoming displaced from the claws, one of the regions being near the point of pivotal connection of the claws, and another region being disposed in advance of the portion of the claw provided with the projection.

17. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg, the lock having means for engaging the outer edge of one of the claws at two regions at least one of which is at a distance from the point of pivotal connection of the claws equal to about half the length of one of the claws, and the lock having also means for engaging the outer` edge of the other claw, the engaging means cooperating to lock the claws against substantial opening movement.

18. A lobster-claw lock for locking the claws of a lobster leg comprising a U-shaped member in which one of the claws of the lobster leg is adapted to be mounted with a portion of the member engaging a region of an outer edge of the said claw, means connected with the member and adapted to engage a region of the outer edge of the other claw of the lobster leg for securing the lock to the claws of the lobster leg, and means for engaging a further region of one of the said outer edges at a distance about half the length of one of the claws.

LEON J. BARWOOD.

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