US3124383A - Fireplace tongs - Google Patents

Description

y March 10, 1964 A M CAHAN' FIREPLACE ToNGs Filed April 2, 1962 United States Patent C) 3,124,383 FIREPLACE TONGS Alvin M. Cahan, 84 Carlton Road, Waban, Mass. Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,351 S Claims. (Cl. 294-11) hearth.

Another objective is to provide levered tongs capable of picking up pieces of firewood of an extremely widev range of sizes, from very small embers and sticks to Very large logs.

"Yet another objective is to provide tongs which are simple `to manufacture and manipulate and which have no complicated parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one preferred embodiment of the invention in a partially open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the tongs of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. l, with portions broken away, showing the manner in which a medium sized log can be gripped;

FIG. 4 is aside View of the closed device of FIG. 2 being introduced between two logs;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the relation of the tongs to the log when the tongs are twisted, preparatory to pushing or dragging the log as desired;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the tongs taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a View of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with parts broken away, showing the tongs picking up a small stick;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the tongs of FIGL 1, on a substantially reduced scale, showing the tongs picking up a large log;

.comprise two members 14 and 16 pivotally connected on axle 18 and extending downwardly from the axle to grip firewood.` Supporting member 14 has two oppositely directed faces 2i) and 22 extending from the lower end of the member toward the axle 18. Each of these faces is elongated and substantially straight. They are substan- 'tially parallel so the lowest portion of the faces are spaced apart no greater distance than the portions closer to the axle.

The second or gripping member 16 has a transverse projection 26 opposed to face 22 of member 14 when the tongs are open, as seen in FIG. 1.

The gripping member also defines a surface portion 25 spaced from vand opposed to the upper surface of projection 26 sufriciently to engage the periphery of logs at a point spaced from where the projection engages them.

The projection 26 is sharply pointed, and its upper surface extends inwardly from its point away from surface 22 when the tongs are open. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the portion of this surface immediately adjacent the point 26 of projection 26 is substantially tangent to the circle drawn from axle 18 as the center through the point 26'.

In this embodiment surface 25 is defined by a second projection 29 extending towards the supporting member when the tongs are open, and its outer end is sharply pointed at 29.

As shown, preferably, a continuous surface extends between the points, indented from the points away from the surface 22 of the opposed member 14 when the tongs are open, and, as shown, the surface is preferably concave and has its greatest rate of curvature in the middle, formed e.g. by two parabolic or catenary sections joined together.

Member 14 is preferably in the form of two legs which are spaced apart, and member 16 pivots between them to carry projections 26 and 29 past the face 22 of member 14 to extend beyond its back face 2t) when the tongs are closed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the point 26' of the outer projection 26, the tip 24 of member 14 and the tip 27 of member 16 have the same radial extent from axle 18. The tips 24 and 27 are tapered to provide a smooth pointed form when they are closed together, as seen in FIG. 2.

The over-all thickness of the closed tongs is substantially greater in the vicinity of the projections than the latters thicknesses. The side surfaces 28, 30 (FIGS. 1, 6) of the tongs are substantially straight, here parallel, and the projections lie entirely between planes passed through the corresponding portions of these side surfaces, parallel to the projections.

Members 14 and 16 each have an extension, 15 and 17 respectively, projecting upwardly from axle 18 a distance greater than the extent of the respective members downwardly from the axle, providing levers to actuate the members.

The ybody of member 16 is a metal bar and the projections 26 and 29 are formed from a single metal plate cut in the desired indented form, the plate and bar welded together at 32.

The extension 15 of member 14 is in the form of a U, and both legs of the member are formed from a single bar. The extension 17 of member 16 enters the space between the upper portions of the U, and a cross-member 38, secured to extension 17, forms a stop to align the outer surfaces of the two members when the tongs are closed and to permit opening only in the proper direction. The top of the U, 36, is open to receive a peg for supporting the tongs when not in use.

Various uses of the fire tongs will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 3, a medium-sized log 42 is gripped between member 14 on the bottom and member 16 on the top. The log has a diameter less than the spacing between projections 26 and 29 and is gripped by the indented surface of member 16, contacting it at two spacedapart points and contacting the face 22 of member 14. Even though the face 22 is straight, the log is restrained from downward movement, due to the action of projection 26. The three space-apart points of contact lock the log against pivoting between the members, even when the log is grasped near an end far from its center of gravity. After the log is placed in the fire, member 16 is pivoted upwardly to the dotted position shown, and the log rolls and slides into the fire while member 14 is pulled out axially, a motion which neither disturbs the fire nor is blocked by the top of the fireplace, even with Very small fireplaces. The faces 2t), 22 of the supporting member are closely spaced and generally parallel so that withdrawal does not interfere with the logs.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the tongs are closed, and turned so the projections extend horizontally, the tapered end of the tongs is inserted between logs 44 and 48 and the tongs are slid to the position shown, straight surfaces 23 and 30 sliding relative to the logs holding them separate. When the projections 26 and 29 lie on opposite sides of a log, the tongs can be twisted raising the projections to the position shown in FIG. 5 and in dotted lines in FIG. 6. Then if a log is to be dragged forward, the projection annessa 26 pulls the log, and if the log is to be pushed rearwardly, rojection 29 pushes the log. In either event, the projection 29 can prevent the log from rolling forward out of the fireplace. After the log is in the desired position, the nre tongs can be twisted to return the projection to the horizontal plane, and the tongs can then oe removed. It will be appreciated that separation of the logs 44 and 45 by the body of the tongs enables the insertion of the projections between the logs without binding.

Referring to FIG. 7, a small stick can be gripped between the point 2e of the outer projection, and the tip 24 of member 14. If the point 26 is positioned under the stick, movement together of members 14 and 16 causes the `face 22 of member 14 to carry the stick up the indented surface of member 16 into the locked position shown in dotted lines between member 14 and the innermost portion of the indented surface. The concavely curved surface with greatest rate of curvature in the middle performs this function as well as the spaced point grip function.

Small embers can be picked up from the oor and hearth between the point 26 and tip 24, the tongs performing as delicate forceps.

Referring to FIG. 8, which is on a smaller scale than the other figures, the tire tongs can engage a very large log 52 with the points 26' and 29 digging into the bark of the log and gripping it against member 14. The points allow equal gripping, and the long levers enable the large logs to be gripped very tightly, even though the supporting member has a substantially straight surface. Easy release occurs in the same manner as with medium-sized logs.

Referring to FlG. 9, if the user is willing to forego the above described dragging and pushing function of the fire tongs, it can easily be made self-supporting. Here the legs 14 and 14 are outwardly in opposite directions near their lower ends, and together with projection 26 define a tripod upon which the tire tongs can stand.

The invention comprehends the formation of each of the members of one or a number of pieces joined together, it being possible, for instance, to make member 16 from a single rod bent to form projection 26 and surface Z7. Under some circumstances the inner projection on the gripping member can be omitted, the member defining a surface substantially opposed to the upper surface of the lower projection which can engage the log periphery. But two projections with the indented surface connecting them enables extremely effective gripping of both largeand medium-sized logs. This surface may be defined by straight surfaces or curves of various forms; but where the tongs are to raise smalland medium-sized rewood on closing, it is best for the surface to curve concavely upwardly from the lower point as noted above.

The tongs in cross-section can be rounded.

Numerous other modifications of the specific details of the invention can be made within its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

l. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straight supporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said members pivotally connected intermediate their ends, said straight supporting member dening rst and second oppositely directed substantially straight slide surfaces, the first slide surface directed toward the gripping member when the tongs are open, said gripping member rigidly providing upper and lower pointed transverse projections extending toward said supporting member and opposed to it when the tongs are open, the lower projection having its point lying at the same radial distance from the Apivot axis as the lower tip of said straight supporting member, the upper projection spaced apart from the lower projection in the direction of said pivot axis, but spaced substantially downward from said axis, an indented surface extending from the point of said lower projection to the point of said upper projection, said indented surface directed toward said straight supporting member when the tongs are open, said straight supporting member adapted to move past the point of the lower projection on closing, the tip -of said straight supporting member and the lower projection of said gripping member thereby enabling the tongs t0 pick up embers and small sticks, the indented surface and the straight supporting member enabling the tongs to grip intermediate sized logs, the points of said spaced projections and the straight supporting member enabling the tongs to grip larger logs, and the straight supporting member enabling the tongs to be inserted between logs and withdrawn therefrom in straight line movement.

2. The fireplace tongs of claim l wherein the points of the two projections and the straight supporting member are cooperatively arranged to contact a large log'at three or more points spaced about the periphery of the log that lie substantially in a single plane approximately parallel to the straight supporting member, said tongs being adapted when closed together to provide a form which can be slid bodily between adjacent logs.

3. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straight supporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said members pivotally connected intermediate their ends, said straight supporting member defining first and second oppositely directed substantially straight slide surfaces, the \rst slide surface directed toward the gripping member when the tongs are open, said tongs when closed defining elongated substantially straight sides to engage and slide relative to stationary objects, said gripping member rigidly providing upper and lower transverse projections extending toward said supporting member and opposed to it when the tongs are open, said members being cooperatively shaped to close together with the projections of the gripping member extending transversely beyond said second slide surface of the straight supporting member, the lower ends of said members shaped to cooperatively provide a tapered form to promote insertion between firewood pieces, the thickness of said tongs when closed, measured perpendicular to said sides, being substantially greater adjacent said projections than the thickness of said projections, said projections lying entirely between planes through the outermost portions of said two sides, which planes are parallel to the direction of extension of said projections, whereby said tongs when closed can be inserted by straight line movement between logs in a fire and, by the twisting of said tongs, said upper and lower projections enable a log lying between lthe vprojections to be pushed and pulled into the proper position in the fire.

4. Fireplace tongs comprising an elongated rigid substantially straight supporting member and an elongated rigid gripping member, said members pivotally connected intermediate their ends, said gripping member rigidly providing near its lower end a pointed transverse projection extending toward said straight supporting member and opposed to it when the tongs are open, said grippmg member also providing a rewood engaging' surface extending from the point of said transverse projection upwardly and initially away from and then back toward said supporting member when said tongs are open, the point of said projection lying on the circumference of a circle centered at the pivot axis of the members and passing through the lower tip 0f the straight supporting member, the portion of said firewood engaging surface immediately adjacent to the point of said projection being substantially tangent to said circle whereby closing together of said members allows a stick initially to be engaged by said projection lfrom beneath and by the lower tip of said straight supporting member from the side, and upon continued closing of said tongs,l to be carried up said firewood engaging Surface until locked against the portion 0f said surface that extends back toward said straight supporting member.

5. The tongs of claim 4 wherein said rewood engaging surface consists of upper and lower curved surfaces and a Curved Center POItiOn, said lower curved surface beginning at the point of said projection and extending upward and away from said straight supporting member when the tongs are open, said upper curved surface extending substantially opposed to `and above said lower curved surface, said curved center portion joining said upper and lower curved surfaces at their ends farthest from the straight supporting member when the tongs are open, said curved center portion having a rate of curvature higher than the rates of curvature of the upper and lower curved surfaces, whereby the tongs are adapted to grasp a small stick between the point of said projection and the lower References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,089,661 Owen Aug. 10, 1937 2,725,774 Tekse Dec. 6, 1955 3,042,438 Turner July 3, 1962

Claims (1)

1. 4. FIREPLACE TONGS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RIGID SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER AND AN ELONGATED RIGID GRIPPING MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER RIGIDLY PROVIDING NEAR ITS LOWER END A POINTED TRANSVERSE PROJECTION EXTENDING TOWARD SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER AND OPPOSED TO IT WHEN THE TONGS ARE OPEN, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER ALSO PROVIDING A FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE EXTENDING FROM THE POINT OF SAID TRANSVERSE PROJECTION UPWARDLY AND INITIALLY AWAY FROM AND THEN BACK TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER WHEN SAID TONGS ARE OPEN, THE POINT OF SAID PROJECTION LYING ON THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE CENTERED AT THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE MEMBERS AND PASSING THROUGH THE LOWER TIP OF THE STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER, THE PORTION OF SAID FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE POINT OF SAID PROJECTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENT TO SAID CIRCLE WHEREBY CLOSING TOGETHER OF SAID MEMBERS ALLOWS A STICK INITIALLY TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID PROJECTION FROM BENEATH AND BY THE LOWER TIP OF SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER FROM THE SIDE, AND UPON CONTINUED CLOSING OF SAID TONGS, TO BE CARRIED UP SAID FIREWOOD ENGAGING SURFACE UNTIL LOCKED AGAINST THE PORTION OF SAID SURFACE THAT EXTENDS BACK TOWARD SAID STRAIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER.

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