US973862A

US973862A - Tongs.

Info

Publication number: US973862A
Application number: US55320310A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis E Funk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-04-04
Filing date: 1910-04-04
Publication date: 1910-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1927-10-25

Description

L; E'. PUNK. Y Tonus; APPLICATION FILED LPRA. 1910.

973,862. Patented 0ct. 25,191o.

z anims-.sum 1;

Witnesses:

L. E. FUNK.

' vroNGs.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1910.

` 973,862. -Patenaoen 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET [n vento/ff Louis LOUIS E. FUNK, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINCIS.l

TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application filed April 4, 1910. Serial No. 553,203.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis E. FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

' The present invention relates to tongs which are intended to be placed upo-n the end of a pole and operate to clasp and retain an object which is positioned at a point out of reach of the user. n

The objects of the invention are, to construct a device which is cheap and simple of manufacture; which will be eiicient for the purpose to which it may be applied; which is capable of being used to accomplish a number of results; to construct the operating mechanism so that it may be adjusted to various distances on the pole; to provide a surface which is of a nature to be easily slipped in back of a picture or rod, or other in removing article, upon which the tongs are operating; and to so form the tongs that they will eficiently and firmly grip the object and will not be displaced from gripping positionduring the operation in which they are being used.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the tongs in operative position for removing a picture; Fig. 2, an enlarged view, showing the tongs in closed position in full lines, and in open position in dotted lines; Fig. 3, a view of a modified construction of tongs; Fig. 4, a rear view of the form shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detail of the adjusting mechanism; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified construction; Fig. 7, a detail showing mechanism for adjusting the operating member; Fig..8, a detail showing the tongs gripping a pole of relativelylarge diameter; Fig. 9, a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the tongs gripping a pole of relatively small diameter; Fig. 10, a det-ail showing the tongs in engagement ,with a picture hook; Fig. l1, a sectionon line 11%11 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 12, a detail showing a plan fiew of the adjusting mechanism shown in The present invention was designed more especially to dispense with the use of stepladders and like .means commonly employed pictures, rods, etc., from the walls of a room. It hasv been found in cases where the object desired to be moved or lowered is at a considerable distance from the floor, that it was a difficult matter to successfully remove the same while standing upon a step-ladder `or other similar contrivance. object ris of appreciable weight. The present invention is so designed that the-user may stand upon the floor and readily reach t-he object which he desires, and, by a single operation, actuate the tongs, so that they will grip the object and retain their grip thereon during the operation of lowering or moving the object.

The device is intended t-he end of a pole 13, and consists, as shown, of a ferrule or stem 14, which terminates in an upwardly extending member 15, which, for the purpose of convenience in description, may be termed the fixed section of the tong mechanism. The fixed section l5, as shown, is formed with a slight curve inward and is tapered to a point at its end 16. This formation permits it to be easily inserted between the wall and the object which is to be gripped, without having the edges thereof scrape against the wall and mutilate it. The ferrule 14 is cut away so as to produce a semi-circular groove 17, up from which the fixed member 15 of the t-ong mechanism extends. The tong mechanism further comprises a member 18, which, for the sake of convenience in description, may be termed the movable member. Said member, as shown, is in the form of a bell crank lever and is pivoted to ears 19 formed with the ferrule 14. The upper or acting endof the movable member is of an S- shaped formation and comprises a curved portion 20 and a curved portion 21, the curve of the portion 20 being on a larger radius than the curve of the portion 2l.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the movable section has two points of contact with the fixed section, thus aiding in preventing the pulling out from between the sections of the clamped article. The semicircular end 17 of the ferrule .14 and the curved portion 20 of the movable member 18 coperate to provide a chamber or groove adapted to receive a relatively large object, and the curved portion 21 of the member 18 coperates withthe fixed member 15 to produce a relatively small recess or chamber. -The function of these chambers will be This is especially true where the to be placed upon i hereinafter more fully explained, as well as the functions of the double contacting` surfaces produced by the S-shaped formation. 1n the construction shown in Fig. 2, the movable member is held normally in clamped position by a U-shaped spring 22, which bears against a stud or pin 23 in the handle 13; and the movable member has attached to its lower end 24, a cable 25, which passes downward through a plurality of guide-eyes 26. The cable 25 is attached, at its lower end, to the upwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever 27, and said lever is held to the rod 13 by a clamping ring 23, adapted to be tightened and loosened by the manipulation of a wing-nut or other' similar device. r1`he cable 25 is preferably formed in two sections, each of the sections terminating at their adjacent ends in loops 29, through which are entered set screws 30, which bear against the wires passing through the loops and lock them together. wWhen it is desired to adjust the position of the bell crank lever 27, this can be readily accomplished by loosening the wing-nut and the set screws 30 and sliding the bell crank lever and the cable carried thereby up or down to the position desired.

As heretofore stated, the curved portion 20 of the member 18 and the semi-circular end 17 of the ferrule 14 cooperate to clamp objects of relatively large diameters, such as portire poles, etc. As shown in Fig. 8, one of these poles 33 is shown clamped in position; and in Fig. 9 is shown a pole 34 of relatively small diameter clamped in position between the curved portion 21 of the member 18 and the face of the fixed member 15. 1t will thus be seen from the description and by a study of Figs. 8 and 9 that the tong mechanism is adapted to clamp securely, objects of varying diameter, without any readjust-ment of the parts, and without distending the movable member an undue distance from the fixed section.

By referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that in clamping a picture hook, the hook 35 will be held at two points, one point 36, adjacent to one shoulder of the hook, and the other point 37, adjacent to another shoulder of the hook. Hence, when the hook isclamped in the manner shown, considerable weight will be necessary in order to force the hook out from its clamped position. This is an especially desirable feature in the lowering of pictures, as they are oftentimes of great weight, and the tong mechanism must be of a suiiiciently rigid gripping nature to withstand the strain placed thereon.

Referring to Fig. 6,there is shown a modified construction, in which a spring 3S is attached to the lower end of the bell crank lever and tends to hold the acting or gripping end of the lever in position away from the fixed clamping member; and the outward movement of the member is limited by the contact of an ear or abutment 39 against the side of the ferrule 14. rlhe mechanism for actuating the lever is similar to that described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1, except that the cable, in place of being attached to the lower end of the bell crank lever, is attached to it at a point above its pivotal point.

1n Figs. 3 and 4 is shown another modification, which is similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 1, except that a slot 40 is formed in the member 15, and prongs 41 are provided, which outwardly project from the sides of the member 15, and which have their upper edges lying in a horizontal plane midway the length of the slot 40. The function of the slot 40 is to permit the section 15 to straddle and project about a nail or screw, as shown in Fig. 3, and the function of the prongs 41 is to provide shoulders which will contact the wire hung upon the nail when the member 15 is slid by, and lift the wire sufficiently to permit it to be lifted over the head of the nail when the device is moved outward, the width of the slot 40 being sufficient to permit the head of the nail or screw to pass therethrough.

As will be seen from a study of Fig. 1, when the picture hook or other article is clamped, it can be lifted off from its seat and positioned upon a seat at a pointdistant, without lowering the pole and removing the article, or without in any way disturbing the adjustment of the picture or other article carried thereby.

While 1 have described and shown the device of my invention as being used for the purpose of removing pictures and poles, it

Vwill, of course, be understood that it can be readily used for all manner of work which could consistently come within the scope of the claims and for which the device is apparently adapted.

As shown in Fig. 10, the curved end 13a of the pole 13 lies flush with the curved end of the ferrule 14, and upon this face 13a,the picture hook rests when the picture is being moved, so that the major portion of the strain is placed upon the end of the pole during the moving operation.

I claim:

1. 1n a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, and mechanism adjacent to the other end of the pole for actuating said tong mechanism, the tong mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, and the upper end of the movable section being of an S-shaped formation and contacting the article at a plurality of points during the clamping operation, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, and mechanism adjacent to the other end of the pole for actuating said tong mechanism, the tong mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, the upper end of the movable section being of an S-shaped formation and producing a plurality of various sized grooves between the fixed and movable sections, for the reception of articles of various sizes, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, mechanism adjacent to the other end of the pole for actuating said tong mechanism in one direction, the tong` mechanism comprising a fixed section and a. movable section, the upper end of the movable section being of an S-shaped formation and cont-acting the article at a plurality of points during the clamping operation, and a spring for actuating` the movable clamping member in the other direction, substantially as described.

4l. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, said mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, the movable section being in the form of a bell crank lever, having its upper or clamping end of an S-shaped formation andcontact-ing the article at a plurality of points during the clamping operation, an actuating` member adjacent to the other end of the pole, and comprising` a bell crank lever, a connection between the movable section and the actuating member, means for adjusting said connection, and means for adjusting the actuating member up and down upon the pole, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, said mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, the movable section being in the form of a bell crank lever, having its upperor clamping end of an S-shaped formation, said S-shaped formation producing a plurality of various sized grooves between the fixed and movable clamping members, for the reception of articles of different sizes, an actuating member adjacent to the other end of the pole, and comprising a bell crank lever, a connection between the movable section and the actuating member, means for adjusting said connection, and means for adjusting the actuating member up and down the pole, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism -mounted upon one end of a pole, and mechanism adjacent to the other end of the pole for actuating said tong mechanism, the tong mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, and the upper end of the movable section being of an S-shaped formation and contacting the article at a plurality of points during the clamping operation, the rear face of the clamping member curving inward toward its upper end, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of tong mechanism mounted upon one end of a pole, and mechanism adjacent to the other end of the pole for actuating said tong mechanism, the tong mechanism comprising a fixed section and a movable section, the upper end of the movable section being of an S-shaped formation and producing a plurality of various sized grooves between the fixed and movable sections, for the reception of articles of Various sizes, the rear face of the fixed clamping member curving inward toward its upper end, substantially as described.

LOUIS E. FUNK.

Witnesses:

WM. P. BOND, MARY R. FROST.