Locking arrangement and culinary utensil comprising same

The present invention is concerned with a locking arrangement having a first wall defining a surface and a second wall defining a surface with the surfaces abutting each other. The first wall is provided with a first bulge defining a first elongate groove facing a first direction and the second wall is provided with a second bulge defining a second elongate groove facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the grooves are positioned to define a channel in which a ball bearing is movable there across. The first groove has a substantially same width there across and the second groove has a narrower end and a wider end, the locking arrangement is adapted to, depending on the orientation of the channel, assume a first configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at one end of the channel or a second configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at the opposite end of the channel. In one of the two configurations when the channel is oriented to allow the ball bearing to roll to the wider end of the groove, the ball bearing becomes out of a path of relative movement of the walls whereby the walls become movable relative each other and hence unlocking the locking arrangement for the walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with a locking arrangement and a utensil comprising such arrangement; the invention is in particular concerned with but not limited to a culinary utensil comprising such arrangement. The culinary utensil may be a culinary tong or clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of conventional tong or clamp like-utensils for picking up an object. In the context of culinary utensils, for example a culinary tong, the tong may be used for picking up a food object. Such utensils typically have a pair of arms connected together at a pivot joint. A spring means is provided to bias the arms to a far apart configuration. In use, when a food object is to be picked up the arms are firstly allowed to be spread out. Then when the food object is located between the front ends of the arms and the arms are squeezed together the food object can be held tight by the arms. In order to maintain the position, the arms have to be held firmly together by the fingers of a user. This can be difficult in particular if the spring means for biasing the arms apart are particularly strong because the fingers would have to act against the biasing force of the spring means. The holding of the arms together can also be difficult if the food object being held is heavy or the food object is to be held for a prolong period of time.

Another problem with conventional tong or clamp like-utensils is that when they are not in use, the arms are biased to spread apart. As such, the utensils become larger and difficult to stow. One solution has been to provide a ring for holding the arms together. However, the ring can be difficult to maneuver and they are not aesthetically pleasant either.

It may be possible to introduce an actuation lock so that on pressing, sliding or pulling of a switch thereof the arms are locked to stay close together. However, the working of the actuation lock can be adversely interfered when the utensil is used to pick with food objects with grease or sauce. The grease or sauce can hinder working of moving parts or the switch. Further, maneuvering food with such utensil and controlling locking of the arms simultaneously can be difficult.

The present invention seeks to address the above problems or at least to provide an alternative to the public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tong or clamp apparatus for picking up an object, comprising (a) a first member having an elongate arm at a front end thereof and a first wall at a rear end thereof, and a second member having an elongate arm at a front end and a second wall at a rear end thereof and pivotably connected with and movable relative to the first member, wherein (i) the first wall includes a first bulge defining a first groove at an inwardly facing side thereof, and the second wall includes a second bulge defining a second groove at an outwardly facing side thereof, (ii) one of the first and the second grooves is generally elongate in shape with substantially same width there across, and the other groove is generally elongate in shape but having a substantially widened end, (iii) the grooves are positioned such that the first and the second grooves together define a channel for accommodating a ball bearing, (iv) the ball bearing is movable along the channel in response to the orientation of the apparatus, (v) the apparatus is adapted to assume a first configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at one end of the channel or a second configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at the opposite end of the channel, in that in one of the two configurations the walls and hence the arms are prevented from moving relative each other by the ball bearing and in the other configuration the walls and hence the arms are movable relative to each other, and (vi) in the configuration when the walls are movable relative to each other the ball bearing is located at the widened end of the groove or in the configuration when the walls are immovable relative to each other the ball bearing is located at the end of the groove opposite to the widened end. With such an arrangement, the locking or unlocking of the walls can be achieved by manipulating the orientation of the apparatus such that the ball bearing is moved to a desired location in the channel; no addition of an actuation switch or pressing of such actuation switch by the thumb or fingers of the user is required. On other words, the locking or unlocking of the walls or the arms can be achieved in a one-hand operation.

Preferably, the apparatus may comprise a pair of the first walls and a pair of the second walls, and the pair of first walls may be sandwiched by the pair of the first walls.

In an embodiment, the bulge may define a protrusion at an outwardly facing side thereof, and the second bulge may define a protrusion at an inwardly facing side thereof.

Each of the first member, the second member, the first groove and the second groove generally defines a longitudinal axis along its length.

In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the first member and the longitudinal axis of the first groove are generally arranged in parallel with each other and in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the first member and the longitudinal axis of the second groove are generally arranged in parallel with each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the widened end of the groove may be arranged at a forward position.

In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus may comprise means for biasing the first member and the second member away from each other. The apparatus may comprise a pin extending across the first wall, the second wall and the biasing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking structure comprising, (a) a first member including a first wall at one end thereof, (b) a second member including a second wall at one end thereof, the first wall and the second wall are movable relative to each other, wherein (i) the first wall includes a first bulge defining a first groove at an inwardly facing side thereof, and the second wall includes a second bulge defining a second groove at an outwardly facing side thereof, (ii) one of the grooves is generally elongate in shape with substantially same width there across, and the other groove is generally elongate in shape but having a substantially widened end, (iii) the grooves are positioned such that the first and second grooves together define a channel for accommodating a ball bearing, (iv) the ball bearing is movable along the channel, (v) the locking structure is adapted to assume a first configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at one end of the channel or a second configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at the opposite end of the channel, in that in one of the two configurations the walls are immovable relative each other due to the ball bearing and in the other configuration the walls are movable relative to each other, and (vi) in the configuration when the walls are movable relative to each other the ball bearing is located at the widened end of the groove or in the configuration when the walls are immovable relative to each other the ball bearing is located at the end of the groove opposite to the widened end.

Preferably, the first member includes a pair of the first walls and the second member includes a pair of the second walls. The two second walls may be sandwiched by the two first walls.

In an embodiment, each of the first member, the second member, the first groove and the second groove generally defines a longitudinal axis along its length. The longitudinal axis of the first member and the longitudinal axis of the first groove or in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the first member and the longitudinal axis of the second groove may generally be arranged in parallel with each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the widened end of the groove may be arranged at a forward position.

In one embodiment, the locking structure may comprise means for biasing the first member and the second member away from each other. The biasing means may generally be in the shape of the letter “V” having two legs connected by a helical spring member.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking structure may comprise a pin extending across the walls of the first member and the second member.

The locking structure may comprise means for biasing the first member and the second member away from each other and a pin extending across the walls of the first member, the second member and the biasing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking arrangement comprising a first wall defining a first surface and a second wall defining a second surface with the surfaces abutting each other, the first wall is provided with a first bulge defining a first elongate groove facing a first direction and the second wall is provided with a second bulge defining a second elongate groove facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, the grooves are positioned to define a channel in which a ball bearing is movable there across, the first groove has a substantially same width there across and the second groove has a narrower end and a wider end, the locking arrangement is adapted to, depending on the orientation of the channel, assume a first configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at one end of the channel or a second configuration in which the ball bearing is positioned at the opposite end of the channel, wherein in one of the two configurations when the channel is oriented to allow said ball bearing to roll to the wider end of the groove said ball bearing becomes out of a path of relative movement of said walls whereby said walls become movable relative each other and hence unlocking the locking arrangement for said walls, and in the other configuration when the channel is oriented to allow said ball bearing to roll to the narrower end of the groove said ball bearing is located in the path of relative movement of said walls whereby said walls become immovable relative each other and hence locking the locking arrangement for said walls.

In an embodiment, the first bulge may also define a protrusion at an outwardly facing side thereof, and said second bulge defines a protrusion at an inwardly facing side thereof.

The present invention is concerned with a locking arrangement, a locking mechanism or a locking structure, and a utensil comprising such an arrangement, mechanism or structure. The use of arrangement, mechanism and structure hereinafter is interchangeable.

FIG. 1is a schematic view of a pair of culinary tongs or a tong, generally designated2, according to an embodiment of the present invention. This schematic view depicts an image of the tong2when viewed from a side thereof although the interior construction of a joint and a locking arrangement of the tong2located at its rear portion4is also depicted schematically.

The tong2comprises a front portion or a utility portion6having a first arm8and a second arm10. The first arm8and the second arm10are made of stainless steel plates which have been stamped to conform to a particular shape and curvature. Specifically, in this embodiment, the arms8,10have a predetermined wider front end12(also shown inFIGS. 2 and 5) which facilitates picking up of a food object. The corrugated edging14at the front end12of the arms8,10also facilitates the picking up of a food object.

The rear portion4of the tong2also serves as a handle portion onto which a user grasps in use. The handle portion4contains a construction in which a locking mechanism resides. The rear portion4of the first arm8has a pair of walls or plates16,18(see alsoFIG. 4) arranged on opposite lateral sides thereof. In this embodiment, the walls16,18are generally circular in profile, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. The rear portion4of the second arm10similarly has a pair of walls or plate20,22(seeFIG. 4a) arranged on opposite lateral sides thereof. The rear portion4of the tong2is configured such that the walls20,22of the second arm10are sandwiched by the walls16,18of the first arm8.

The first arm8and the second arm10are pivotably connected together by a pivot pin24extending from one lateral side thereof to the opposite side and defining a pivot axis, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 5. With the pivot pin24, it is to be understood that the first arm8and the second arm10are pivotably movable relative to each other at the pivot pin24within a predetermined range, as shown by the arrows inFIG. 1. The first arm8and the second arm10thus cannot spread apart beyond the predetermined range when rear edges of the first arm8and the second arm10abut each other.

The tong2is provided with means for biasing the first arm8and the second arm10away from each other. In this embodiment, the biasing means takes the form of a wire spring26with a shape generally resembling the English letter “V”. Please seeFIGS. 1,2and3. The wire spring26has two legs28and a spring coil30. The two legs28abut an inner surface of the rear end of the first arm8and an inner surface of the rear end of the second arm10, respectively. Due to the inherent biasing nature of the wire spring26, the arms8,10, in the absence of other interference, are biased away from each other, as shown inFIG. 1. As can be seen from the figures and in particularFIG. 4a, the pivot pin24extends through the walls16,20, the spring wire30of the spring26and the walls22,18and the wire spring26.

Referring toFIGS. 4aand4b, the tong2is provided with the locking arrangement which serves to control the locking status thereof. The locking arrangement makes use of the walls16,18of the first arm8and the walls20,22of the second arm10. Each wall16,18of the first arm8is configured such that there is provided a bulge28. In this embodiment, when the tong2is viewed from the side designated by “X” inFIG. 4a, the bulge28resembles a protrusion. However, it is to be understood fromFIGS. 4a-bthat the opposite side of the bulge28takes the form of a groove30. The groove30is elongate in shape and has a substantially equal width, and extends from a rear part of the wall16to a front part of the wall16. The elongate groove30generally defines a longitudinal axis which is generally in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first arm8.

The walls20,22of the second arm10is configured such that there is also provided with a similar bulge32defining a protrusion on one side (outwardly facing side) and a groove on the opposite side (inwardly facing side). The difference between the bulge28of the wall16of the first arm8and the adjacent bulge32of the wall20of the second arm10is that the protrusion of the bulge28of the first arm8points away from the tong2(or a central axis Y-Y′) while the protrusion of the bulge32of the second arm10points into the tong2(or towards the central axis Y-Y′. In other words, the surface of the wall16of the first arm8defining the groove30is inwardly facing (towards the central axis Y-Y′) while the surface of the wall20of the second arm10defining a groove34is outwardly facing (away from the central axis Y-Y′. It is to be noted that the meaning of “outwardly” and “inwardly” used herein merely serves to designate the relative orientation and does not limit the meaning to a particular orientation.

As shown inFIG. 4b, the grooves30,34of the walls16,20together define a channel36for accommodating a ball bearing38.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, it is however to be noted that the grooves30,34are different in a further aspect. While the groove30of the first wall16is elongate in shape with a generally equal width with there across, the groove34of the second wall20is also elongate is shape but with a narrower rear end38and a wider front end40. The wider front end of the groove34, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, resembles a fan shaped configuration. Despite the different configurations of the grooves30,34, the grooves30,34are however positioned adjacent each other and together they define the channel36for accommodating the ball bearing38which is movable therein. The ball bearing is sized to fit in, slidable therein, and would not fall out of the channel36. As shown inFIG. 4a, in this embodiment the left rear portion of the tong2is generally symmetrical to that of the right rear portion of the tong2. The working of the locking arrangement is now explained as follows.

FIG. 1illustrates a first configuration of the tong2in which the arms8,10are not locked against movement relative each other. In this configuration, the tong2is oriented with the front portion6or the arms8,10pointing towards the ground and the rear portion4pointing upwardly. In other words, the front portion6is situated below the pivot pin24or the channel36. By situating below, it means the front portion is situated at a level which is below the level of the pivot pin24or the channel36. It can be seen that due to gravity the ball bearing38is positioned at the lowest end of the channel36or a forward end of the channel36and the arms8,10are biased apart by the wire spring26. As long as the ball bearing38stays in this lowest or forward position in the channel36, the arms8,10can be brought together freely by squeezing thereof. When the squeezing action is removed the arms8,10return to a biased spread apart configuration. This is because in this configuration the ball bearing38is situated in a position which is out of the path of relative movement of the walls. It means that when the tong2is oriented with the front portion6situated below the channel36and a food object is situated between the front end of the arms8,10, the arms8,10can be brought together with a squeeze, or when action of the squeeze is remove the food object can be released. In other words, in this orientation, food can be picked up or released freely because the locking arrangement is not activated.

FIG. 3illustrates a second configuration of the tong2in which the arms8,10are brought close to and adjacent each other and they are locked against movement relative each other. In this configuration, the tong2is oriented with the front portion6or the arms8,10pointing away from the ground and the rear portion4pointing downwardly. In other words, the front end6of the arms8,10is situated above the channel36. It can be seen that the ball bearing38is positioned at the other end (or the opposite end) or the rear end of the channel36and the arms8,10stay close together despite the biasing action of the spring26. This is because the ball bearing38is situated in a location in the channel36where it blocks the relative movement of the walls16,20. As long as the ball bearing38stays in this rear or back position (due to gravity) in the channel36, the arms8,10cannot be spread apart. This is because the ball bearing38is located in the path of relative movement of the walls8,10. This configuration is suitable when a food object is being held between the arms8,10or when the tong2has been stowed away. In this orientation, food can be held between the arms8,10because the locking arrangement has been activated. It is to be understood that the tong2does not have to point upwardly and vertically to effect the locking status. As long as the front portion of the tong2is situated above the channel, the same locking status can be achieved. The locking can be released by orienting the tong2such that the front end6of the tong2points downwardly or when the front end6is situated below the channel36. With this orientation, the front end6of the tong2is situated below the channel36, a slight squeeze of the arms8,10can unlock the locking mechanism. This is because when the orientation is changed accordingly and the arms8,10are slightly squeezed together, the ball bearing38is released and becomes moveable within the channel36. By gravity the ball bearing38rolls from the rear end of the channel36to the front end of the channel36.

In this embodiment, the arms8,10are adapted to be locked in a position half way between a fully spread apart position and a fully closed position. This is achieved by squeezing or bringing and holding the arms8,10to a desired relative position and then orienting the tong2such that the arms8,10point upwardly to the extent that the front portion6is situated above the channel36. Once this is done the desired relative position of the arms8,10can be maintained with, for example, the food object held between the arms8,10until the locking arrangement is unlocked.

In this embodiment, each of the first arm8, the second arm10, the first groove30and the second groove34generally defines a longitudinal axis. In the second configuration, the longitudinal axis of the first arm8and the longitudinal axis of the first groove38or in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the first arm6and the longitudinal axis of the second groove are generally in parallel with each other. In alternative embodiments, this is not necessarily so in that the grooves or the channel may be positioned differently in relation to the arms. In such other embodiments, the locking or unlocking of the locking arrangement is however still determined by the orientation of the channel or the position of the ball bearing. When the ball bearing is positioned in a location or an end of the channel due to gravity where movement of the walls are blocked by the ball bearing the locking arrangement is in its locked position. On the other hand, when the ball bearing is positioned in a location or an (the other) end of the channel (e.g. having a groove with a widened width) the walls are not blocked the locking arrangement is in its unlocked position.

In the above embodiment, the locking arrangement has two pair of walls and two ball bearings in that one wall from each pair of walls and the respective ball bearing act as a locking mechanism. In other words, there are two parallel locking mechanisms on opposite sides of thereof. However, in an alternative embodiment a similar locking arrangement may be provided in which only one pair of adjacent walls and one ball bearing is provided. Such alternative embodiment would also work.

It is envisaged that the above described locking arrangement has only one moving part, i.e. the ball bearing. Manipulation of the moving part is effected by merely moving the utensil in a certain orientation. The ball bearing is enclosed in a channel not easily accessible by, for example, grease, sauce, etc., in that the channel effectively is essentially an enclosed chamber or otherwise insulated or closed from the surroundings. Thus, there is a minimal chance that the arrangement would malfunction.

It should be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the content of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the content of a single embodiment, may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. It is to be noted that certain features of the embodiments are illustrated by way of non-limiting examples. Also, a skilled person in the art will be aware of the prior art which is not explained in the above for brevity purpose.