US2363702A - Ejector fork - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1944 B. E. SOLINSKI ET AL 2,363,702

EJECTOR FORK Original Filed Aug. 18, 1941 frzveiz Z0245 Patented Nov. 28, 1944 i t i UNITED STATE s PATENT ()FFICE EJECTOR FORK,

Bruno E. Solinskiand Anthony J. Hudec,

\ Cicero, Ill.

Substituted for abandoned application SerialNo.

407,326, August 18, 1941. April 3,1944, Serial N0. 529,322

, t J 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ejectorforks forculinary or table use, while being particularlyadapted for use as a pickle fork. This application isasubstitute for an earlier abandonedapplication filed by us, August 18,

1941; SerialNumber407326, for the same device.

This application One object is: to provide anejector fork having an ejector assembly that may be applied to a-conventionartype of-pickle fork to convert the same into an ejector fork. r

A further object is to provide an ejector fork having an ejectorassembly that is adjustable longitudinally of the forkshank or" transversely thereof thereby providing a flexibility ofconstruction' that prevents'breakage, binding of the parts in usejandadds'materially to the utility arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this patent and in which- Fig. 1 is a view of the fork in side elevation, two positionsof certain adjustable features being shown.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the fork. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly, in vertical section and partly in elevation, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Fig. l elevation, taken on the line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in plan, of Fig. 1 before the stop bosses are applied to the fork shank.

in end Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 after the formation of the stop bosses upon the fork shank,

one member being shown in dotted lines in a secondposition, and,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the bridge link employed.

The same reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The present ejector fork includes essentially a stationary fork shank having a handle at one end and tines at the other and a movable ejector shank connected by a head at one end to the fork shank and by an ejector plate to the tines, said shanks being further connected to each other by abridge link between said head and plate. l

The reference numeral I denotes the conventional'fork shank having a handle 2 and tines 3 preferably curved slightly, said tines inthe present instancebeing two in number. The shank l is formedwith stop lugs or bosses! in spaced relation to the handle 2. An ejector shank 5 preferably shorter than 'the'shank i and of somewhat lesser diameter carries a head 6 at one end and an ejector plate I at the opposite end, said head being slidably arranged upon the fork shank I between thehandlei and the bosses 4 of a diameter-materially greater than that of the adjacentend of said handle to form an abutment for the thumbor fingerof the operator when using the fork.. The ejector plate is slidably arranged upon the tines 3 and is, of course,

perforated for passage of the same therethrough.v

Slidably connecting the ejector shank 5 to the shank l is the Z-shaped bridge link 8, the ends thereof being perforated for passage of the shanks therethrough, the link end arranged upon the shank I being disposed between the bosses 4 and the head 6. An expansion coil spring 9 arranged upon the ejector shank abuts the bridge link at oneend and the head 6 at the opposite and serves yieldingly to keep said members the maximum distance apart thus retracting the ejector shank with respect to the shank l and yieldingly keeping the ejector plate in retracted position upon the tines 3. It will be noted that the bridge link is slidable longitudinally of both shanks I and 5 though yieldingly retained in maximum outward spaced relation to the head 6 and, further, that said bridge link is capable of a limited degree of movement transversely of the shank l by the operator with his thumb-or finger in engagement with the head 6.

The extent of this movement ineither direc tion is determined by the relation of the diameters of, the ejector plate perforations to that of the fork tines and the curvature of the fork tines. bly prevents binding of any of the parts as the ejector shank is adjusted or moved with relation to the shank I. Breakage of any of the parts, unduestrain upon the same, and binding at any point are positively prevented by the bridge link connection between the shanks.

' In use the fork is grasped by the handle and used to pick up an article by the tines in the usual way. To eject the object from the tines the thumb is applied to the head 6 to press the same away from the handle and so force the This particular construction and assemtively and easily effected without binding of any of the parts at any point due to the particular construction and application of the bridge link.

The ejector assembly comprising the ejector I shank 5, head 6, ejector plate 1, bridge link 8 and spring 9 may be readily applied to'any conventional pickle fork or the like and thereafter forming the bosses 4 upon the fork shank as a stop for the bridge link, thus making an efficient ejector fork of a common pickle fork.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, we desire to have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ejector fork, a stationary shank having tines and a handle, bosses upon said shank in spaced relation to said handle, an ejector shank, a head at one end of said ejector shank slidable vupon said stationary shank between said bosses and handle, an ejector plate at the opposite end of said ejector shank slidable upon'said tines, a bridge link engaging said stationary shank and abutting said bridge link and head.

2. In an ejector fork, a shank, shank tines,

shank bosses, a handle, an ejector shank, an ejector plate carried thereby and slidably engaging said tines, a head carried by said ejector shank and slidably engaging said fork shank between said bosses and handle, a link loosely connecting said shanks together, said link engaging said fork shank between said shank bosses andsaid head, and an expansion spring encompassing said ejector shank and abutting said link and said head.

3. The combination with a fork, of an ejector shank, a plate carried thereby and perforated to receive the tines of the fork, a head carried by said ejector shank perforated to receive the shank of the fork, a Z-shaped bridge link loosely'engaging said ejector shank and perforated to receive the shank of the fork, and an expansion spring carried by said ejector shank and abutting said link and head.

4. In an ejector fork, a stationary shank having' curved tines and a handle, an ejector shank, an ejector plate fast to one end of said ejector shank perforated to receive said tines and slidable thereover, the perforations in said ejector plate being materially larger in diameter than said tines to permit transverse movement of said plate with respect thereto, bosses .upon said stationary shank in spaced relation to said handle, a bridge link loosely engaging said sta-.

tionary shank between said bosses and head and slidably connecting said ejector shank thereto, and an expansion spring arranged upon saidejector shank and abutting said bridge, link and head.

. BRUNO E. SOLINSKI.

ANTHONY J. HUDEC.

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