US2783535A - Ejecting-type fork - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR.

D. J. CESARE EJECTING-TYPE FORK Filed Oct. 13, 1953 March 5, 1957 ,lilllllln l J lilllr G mw sm. S

United States Patent EJECTING-TYPE FORK Dominee J. Cesare, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 13, 1953, Serial No. 385,876

3 Claims. (Cl. 30129) This invention relates to a fork of the type which is equipped with a mechanical arrangement for dislodging whatever is impaled on the tines.

Forks of this general characterV are well known but suffer from two principal shortcomings. One class includes devices which require an operation of the fingers which is foreign to the natural action whereby a fork is ordinarily gripped, and another class which, while including means operated by the customary, natural, squeezing action of the palm and fingers, requires a force out of proportion to the result attained. .I. have .found that anidealized implement of ltheforegoing character should have its ejecting means operated by a substantial continuation of the same movement by which the food, or other object, is impaled, and should be so designed as to offer its greatest resistance to actuation when the fingers and palm are farthest apart and which resistance should decrease toward the end of the ejecting opera-tion. That is to say, maximum expenditure of force by the fingers is easiest at the beginning of a squeezing movement, and is most difficult after prolongation of the gripping.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide an ejecting-type fork which includes mechanism operated with the palm and fingers in the same position as they occupy in picking up or holding the impaled object.

Another object lies in achieving the foregoing aim by mechanism which is easily disassembled for cleaning.

A further object resides in providing ejecting mechanism for operation with a fork having curved tines and which is incapable of jamming in any of its operated positions.

Another object is to provide an ejecting-type fork which requires minimum expenditure of energy for its operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description which, read in connection with accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. l shows a longitudinal cross section taken substantially on the center line showing the ejecting mechanism retracted, or in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ejecting mechanism in its full actuated position;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are transverse cross sections taken on the lines 4 4, 5 5, 6--6 and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 2.

Regarded generally the invention comprehends a fork having a plate guided by the tines and movable longitudinally thereof to dislodge an object impaled thereon. The plate is connected to one movable arm of a toggle linkage through a flexible member whereby actuation of the linkage may reciprocate the plate from inactive to active positions, return being effected by spring action. Force is applied to the toggle linkage at its customary operating point by means of a movable arm pivoted to and forming part of the handle of the fork in order that -the same may be first employed in its conventional way and then this action followed by ejection without the necessity of changing the grasp. Additionally the movable portion of the handle is shaped concavely inwardly to afford movement of the toggle relatively thereto with minimum resistance. As another feature the friction between the toggle and handle is reduced by the provision of rolling contact means.

Referring to the drawing the fork comprises a shank or body 10 of channel section including flanges 11-11 and a web 12. turned inwardly as shown at 14-14 (Fig. S) to supplement the rigidity.

Secured, as by welding to the fore part of the shank, is the fork proper 21 including a plurality of tines 22, in this case two in number, although not necessarily so limited. Conventionally the tines 22 are preferably curved although the invention is equally applicable whenl the tines are straight.

Arranged to be guided slidably on the tines 22 is an ejector plate 25 riveted to a bent-up end 26 of an elongated link or pusher 27 which is basically transversely flexible in adirection perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. -JBy way-1 of illustration this latter is shown as of flat spring material although equivalent flexible, yet comparatively rigid members may be substituted, the desideratum being that relatively rectilinear thrusting motion be imparted to the plate 25 notwithstanding the curved path to which it is confined by the openings 31 through which the tines are passed.

Pusher 27 is pierced at its inner extremity to receive one end of a tension retracting spring 32, the other end of which is hooked over a pin 33 secured between the flanges 11-11.

Secured to the pusher 27 by means of a pivotal connection 34 is one arm of a toggle joint; the other arm 36 of which is pivoted on the pin 33. An intermediate link 38 is provided and comprises a clamping portion 39 by means of which arm 36 is attached, a pivot 41 upon which the arm 35 may swing and a roller 42.

Pivoted at 51 intermediate the flanges 11-11 is the movable portion 52 of the handle, also channel-shaped for rigidity and arcuate to fit the hand comfortably. The curve may be similar to the tractrix, or curve of least friction in order to minimize the operating effort. An extended part 54 is arranged to abut the web 12 in the outermost position of the handle part 52 to limit its movement, whereas the tension of the spring 32, acting through the toggle linkage, provides the necessary bias normally to maintain the handle part 52 in its inactive position.

If desired a plastic composition handle part 59 may be riveted over the shank 10 to afford a more comfortable grip, and a ring 61 may be passed therethrough for suspending the fork when not in use.

During use of the fork as such the same will present the aspect seen in Fig. 1, the handle parts 59 and 52 being grasped between the palm and fingers as is customary. After irnpalement the object may be ejected by actuation of the part 52 inwardly which in turn applies force to lthe toggle joint through the member 38. This action is transmitted to the pusher 27 for ejection of the object. By virtue of the mechanics of a two-arm toggle joint of the character here incorporated the mechanical advantage increases as the angle included between the arms 35 and 36 increases. Accordingly, the operating force is least in the position of Fig. 2, which corresponds to practically closed condition of the users hand whereat the energy available for gripping has decreased. Release lf desired the flanges 11-11 may be ofthe-handle part 52 will permit the spring to restore To Yfacilitate ,cleaning .of the implememme pivots .33, and`51 may each be mounted on a separate part rendered readily detachable from the; shank 1l) by the provision of 1 pn-.andslot friction; rin-:ans` and similarly-,With respect tothe -pivot `3:3: Thus,`by:detaching the; rear. endof the springg 32. the. link 27 andits thereto-connected parts may .bequckly .disassenlbled4 by appropriate. manipulation of the pin-and-slot means;

While I have shown a particular embodiment. of invention, itwill be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I` therefore contemplate bythey appended claims to cover any such modifications .as f'all within the true-spirit and scope ot myinvention.

IV claim:

l. An; ejecting typeV forkv comprising an elongated body,

tides-,secured toI one end of said. body, an ejector plate slidably guided on said tines, a toggle joint disprosedfat theother end of: said tbody,A the outer end of one arm of said joint beingpivoted tothe body, a link connecting the outer. endoi theotheram oi?A said joint to said plate', the.l endv of' one arm adjacent' the center pivot having a` roller, and a handle part pivoted to said` body and contact-v ing said roller to actuate the toggle joint to dislodge the objectimpaled onzthe-tines.

2v.A ejectingtype-fork comprising anelongated' body, tinesfsecured to one. end` of. saidf body, an ejector plate slidzgbly4 guided o n' said titles, a toggleA jointl disposed; gg-

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,the otherrend' of"saidbody. and. including a rear by one end and by the other end to the outer end of said front arm, at least one of said arms at its inward end having a projection, the center pivot ofthe joint being carried on said projection in a position olfset toward said body from the longitudinal axis of said one arm, a retractng spring for said link, .a handle part pivotally connected to said bodysaid one arm at the inward end thereof having an anti-fn`ction bearing for contact by said handle part tooperate the joint and thereby dislodge the object impaled on the tines..

3. An ejecting-type fork comprising an elongated body,

-tnes secured to oneendof said body', an ejector plate References Cited inthe ile ofthis patenty UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

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