Lifting device for pot or pan

A lifting device includes a pair of gripping jaws pivotally coupled together at one end with a pivot axle, to allow the gripping jaws to be rotated relative to each other, two locking members secured to the gripping jaws respectively, and a latching device for latching the locking members together, to secure the gripping jaws together at selected angular positions. The gripping jaws each may include two or more arms each having a prong or a bar for engaging with and for lifting objects. One of the locking members includes a finger having a number of teeth, and the other latching device includes a pivotal latch to selectively latch the locking members together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lifting device for bottles, pans, pots, bowls, or the like, and more particularly to a lifting device having a positional locking device for locking the gripping arms in place.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical lifting or gripping or transporting devices comprise two gripping jaws or fingers pivotally coupled together, for engaging with and for gripping or lifting or transporting bottles, pans, pots, bowls, or the like.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,051,374 to Agin discloses one of the typical lifting or gripping or transporting devices which also comprise two gripping jaws or fingers pivotally coupled together, for engaging with and for gripping or lifting or transporting bottles, pans, pots, bowls, or the like. The two gripping jaws or fingers pivotally coupled to a bar for being moved and operated by the bar. However, the gripping jaws or fingers may not be smoothly opened by moving the bar along an extension of a hollow staff.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,733 to Knox discloses another typical lifting or gripping or transporting device also comprising two gripping jaws or fingers pivotally coupled together, for engaging with and for gripping or lifting or transporting bottles, pans, pots, bowls, or the like. The gripping jaws or fingers are pivotally coupled to a vertical support for being moved and operated by the vertical support, and a spring-biased latch for positioning or locking the vertical support. However, the gripping jaws or fingers may not be widely opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a lifting device including a positional locking device for locking the gripping arms in place and for preventing the gripping arms from being disengaged from the bottles, the pans, the pots, the bowls, or the like inadvertently.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a lifting device comprising a pair of gripping jaws pivotally coupled together at a first end with a pivot axle, to allow the gripping jaws to be rotated relative to each other, a first locking member and a second locking member secured to the first end of the gripping jaws respectively, and a latching device for latching the first and the second locking members together, to secure the gripping jaws together at selected angular positions.

The gripping jaws each includes two arms each having a second end for engaging with and for lifting objects. The gripping jaws each includes a bar secured between the arms, for engaging with the objects. The bars of the gripping jaws each includes a curved seating portion formed therein, for engaging with the objects. The gripping jaws each includes a prong provided on the second end of the arms for engaging with the objects.

The arms of the gripping jaws each includes a bifurcated intermediate portion formed thereon. The first and the second locking members each includes a hand grip provided thereon for operating the gripping jaws.

The second locking member includes a finger provided thereon, and the latching device includes a latch pivotally attached to the first locking member, to selectively latch the first and the second locking members together.

The second locking member includes a plurality of teeth provided on the finger thereof, and the latch includes at least one tooth provided thereon, for selectively engaging with the teeth of the second locking member. The finger of the second locking member is an annular finger having an opening formed therein.

The latch includes a first end pivotally secured to the first locking member, and includes a catch having the tooth formed therein. The latch includes a hand grip provided thereon for operating the latch.

The first locking member includes a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the finger of the second locking member. The first locking member includes a chamber formed therein for slidably receiving the latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially toFIGS. 1–4, a lifting device in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of gripping jaws2,3each may include one or more, such as two fingers or arms20,30pivotally coupled together at one end or upper end thereof with a pivot axle10, to allow the fingers or arms20,30to be rotated relative to each other, best shown in FIGS.4and8–10.

It is preferable that the gripping jaws2,3each includes a bifurcated intermediate portion21,31formed or provided on the arm20,30, and a prong22,32formed or provided on the other end or the lower end on the arm20,30, for engaging with and for gripping or lifting or transporting objects90, such as bottles, pans, pots90, bowls, or the like (FIGS. 8–10). The gripping jaws2,3each may further include a bar23,33secured between the arm20,30(FIGS. 1,5) with such as locking ears24,34, and having a curved seating portion25,35for suitably engaging with and supporting the curved outer peripheral portions91of the pots90or the like, best shown inFIG. 8.

A locking means or device4is further provided for locking the arm20,30of the gripping jaws2,3together at selected angular position, and for preventing the arms20,30from being disengaged from the objects90, the bottles, the pans, the pots90, the bowls, or the like inadvertently. For example, the locking device4includes two locking members40,50secured to the arms20,30, such as the upper portions of the arms20,30with such as fasteners37, and each having a handle portion41,51for holding or handling or operating the locking members40,50and thus the arm20,30of the gripping jaws2,3.

The locking member40further includes an opening42formed therein, for such as holding or grasping or hanging purposes, and includes a curved channel43and a chamber44formed therein (FIGS. 4,6–7and9–10). The other locking member50includes a peripheral or circular or curved finger52formed or provided or extended therefrom for slidably engaging into the curved channel43of the locking member40. For example, the locking member40may includes two half members (not shown) that may be welded or secured together after the peripheral or circular or curved finger52of the other locking member50has been slidably engaged into the curved channel43of the locking member40.

It is preferable that the locking member50further includes an opening53formed in the peripheral or circular or curved finger52thereof, for such as holding or grasping or hanging purposes, and includes a number of protrusions or teeth54formed or extended from the peripheral or circular or curved finger52thereof. The locking device4further includes a latch60slidably or rotatably received or engaged within the chamber44of the locking member40, and having one end pivotally or rotatably secured to the locking member40with a pivot pin61, and having a hand grip62formed or provided on the other end thereof for rotating or operating the latch60relative to the locking members40,50.

It is further preferable that the locking members40,50are secured to the upper portions of the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3, and are thus located opposite to the prong22,32or the bar23,33that are provided or attached to the other end or the lower end on the arms20,30, or the locking members40,50and the prong22,32or the bar23,33of the gripping jaws2,3are located on opposite sides of the pivot axle10.

The latch60includes a catch63formed or extended from an intermediate portion thereof, and having one or more cavities or sockets or protrusions or teeth64formed or extended therefrom, for selectively engaging with the protrusions or teeth54of the peripheral or circular or curved finger52of the other locking member50(FIGS. 6–7and9–10), in order to selectively open or release the locking members40,50, or to selectively lock or anchor or position the locking members40,50together at selected angular positions.

In operation, as shown inFIGS. 4,6, and9, when the teeth64of the catch63of the latch60are disengaged from the teeth54of the peripheral or circular or curved finger52of the locking member50, the locking members40,50may be released relative to each other, to allow the fingers or arms20,30to be rotated relative to each other about the pivot axle10, and thus to allow the fingers or arms20,30to be opened and to engage with and to grasp or to grip the curved outer peripheral portions91of the pots90or the like. The arms20,30may be engaged with or may grasp or grip the curved outer peripheral portions91of the pots90or the like due to gravitational force.

However, in some circumstances, or when hot food or soup or materials are received within the pots90or the like, it is preferable that the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3are locked or secured together, to prevent the arms20,30from being opened relative to each other, and to prevent the hot food or soup or materials from hurting people. In order to lock the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3together, the latch60is rotated relative to the locking members40,50, to engage the teeth64of the catch63of the latch60with the teeth54of the circular or curved finger52of the locking member50, and to selectively lock or anchor or position the locking members40,50together at the selected angular positions, and thus to solidly engage the arms20,30with the pots90, and to prevent the arms20,30from being disengaged from the pots90inadvertently. The latch60may thus be used as a latching means or device for selectively latching and locking and positioning the locking members40,50together.

The locking members40,50are secured to the upper portions of the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3, opposite to the prong22,32or the bar23,33that are provided or attached to the other end or the lower end on the arms20,30, for allowing the locking members40,50to be rotated in concert with the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3, and for allowing the latch60to be easily operated or rotated relative to the locking members40,50, and to easily engage the teeth64of the catch63with the teeth54of the circular or curved finger52of the locking member50, and thus to easily and effectively lock or anchor or position the locking members40,50and thus the arms20,30of the gripping jaws2,3together.

Accordingly, the lifting device in accordance with the present invention includes a positional locking device for locking the gripping arms in place and for preventing the gripping arms from being disengaged from the bottles, the pans, the pots, the bowls, or the like inadvertently.