Abstract:
A barbecue tongs is provided wherein the arms are yieldingly outwardly biased. The tongs incorporate an arm pivot limiter for each of outward pivotal movement and inward pivotal movement as well as an arm lock that holds the arms in an almost fully jaws closed configuration for convenient storage. The tongs utilize a slidable U-shaped sleeve at the rear end which can have either one of two positions selected by a user. In one position, the arm lock is operational while in the second position the outward pivot limiter is operational.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/795,695 filed Feb. 28, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to tongs adapted for use barbecuing and the like that are equipped with an arm clamp and arm pivot limiters.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Tongs are a basic device for seizing, lifting, or moving objects. Tongs are characterized by having two adjacent long arms. The respective arm front ends function as jaws and pivot between open and closed configurations relative to a hinge-like interconnection existing between the respective arm rear ends in the manner of a class three lever.  
           [0004]    The construction, configuration and size of the long arms of a tongs are chosen with regard to the end use intended for the tongs. In the case of tongs intended for use in barbecuing, the arms are relatively long and large so as to permit the user of the tongs to be spaced from the food that is being prepared. Thereby, the user avoids undesirable exposure or contact either with heat radiating from beneath the grill on which the food rests during its cooling, or with hot grease or particles spattering outwardly from the heated grill or food on the grill.  
           [0005]    Usually a barbecue tongs is best handled and manipulated by one hand of the user, and usually it is most convenient to have the anus yieldingly biased into an outward, open configuration. Thus, when the hand of the user loosely holds a rearward portion of the tongs, the arms of the tongs maintain themselves in an open configuration, yet, when the user&#39;s hand is closed, compressive force is applied against the bias, and the arms close enabling the arm jaws to grasp a chosen item, such as a piece of food or a red hot coal. Hence, the opening and closing of the hand of the user effectuates opening and closing of the forward end portions of the arms. The other hand of the user is typically concurrently used for other tasks associated with barbecuing food.  
           [0006]    However, a problem of classic proportions is associated with barbecue tongs: The arms, so biased, can cause the tongs to be unmanageable, or nearly so. Thus, the outward bias provided for the arms does not limit outward movement of the arms so that the arms can fly open to a uselessly wide extent if not continuously gripped by a user&#39;s hand, but such a gripping is commonly not practical through an entire barbecuing procedure. Also, the outward bias can severely interfere with practical or convenient storage of the barbecue tongs in a confined location when the tongs are not in active use or are not being grasped.  
           [0007]    Further, when arms that are so biased are manually pivoted to a jaws closed configuration, the applied manual compression, or jaws closing, force is hard to control under use conditions. Commonly the applied force is somewhat excessive, causing the members of the jaw pair tend to override one another with the result that one jaw slips laterally relative to the other. This override can result not only in an undesirable stress upon the arms and the hinge like, rear end interconnection between the arms, but also in a shifting, mutilation, or, sometimes, an ejection of an object grasped between the closed jaws tendency so that the object is damaged.  
           [0008]    Various means have heretofore been provided for limiting (or stopping) the outward and the inward pivoting extent of arm movement in barbecue tongs having outwardly biased arms, and for locking or clamping the anus in a substantially closed position. Commonly, such prior art stop and/or clamp means may involve an auxiliary member that is separatable from, but associatable, in some way, with the arms, and when so associated, effectuates a desired stop effect or clamp effect. Such an arrangement has disadvantages. For example, the auxiliary member can be cumbersome. When, for instance, the tongs so equipped are in use, the auxiliary member may be separated and easily lost or mislaid.  
           [0009]    In prior art tongs, sometimes a stop means can interfere with a clamp means. Also, sometimes, a stop or clamp means may be used in a manner that is injurious to the tongs.  
           [0010]    In the art of barbecue tongs, an improved structural arrangement is needed that incorporates integrally both an arm stop means and a non-interfering arm clamp means. Preferably the arm stop means can function limit both the outward and the inward pivoting extent of the arms. Such an improved tongs is provided by the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention relates to improved tongs well adapted for use in barbecuing and the like. The tongs arms are outwardly biased and are equipped with clamp means for locking the arms in a substantially closed position and also with stop means for limiting the extent of outward and preferably also inward pivoting movements of the arms. The stop means and the clamp means are integrated into the structure of the tongs yet they do not interfere either with each other or with normal usage of the tongs.  
           [0012]    The inventive tongs incorporate a pair of elongated arms that extend in adjacent aligned relationship relative to one another with each arm having a front end portion and an opposed rear end portion. The respective front end portions coact to comprise a pair of jaws that open and close to grasp a selected object.  
           [0013]    The respective rear end portions are pivotably associated together and permit the jaws to advance pivotably towards and away from one another relative to the rear end portions.  
           [0014]    A spring extends between the arms and is arranged to yieldingly bias the arms into an outward configuration relative to each other.  
           [0015]    A reversibly actuatable clamp means is provided for holding when actuated the jaws in a nearly closed configuration.  
           [0016]    A first pivot limiting means is provided that is associated with the clamp means and that limits maximum outward movement of the jaws relative to one another.  
           [0017]    The clamp means and the first pivot limiting means employ a flange and a U-shaped sleeve that is slidably associated with the flange. The flange and the sleeve are at the rear end of the tongs. In one position along the flange, the sleeve with the arms in a nearly closed configuration holds the arms in a fixed position. In another position along the flange, the sleeve functions to allow the arms to open only to a predetermined extent.  
           [0018]    A second pivot limiting means is provided that is associated with the arms and that limits the inward travel of the arms when the jaws are in a substantially closed configuration.  
           [0019]    The inventive tongs overcome the above indicated disadvantages of prior art tongs and provide a new and very useful tong stricture well suited for barbecuing and the like.  
           [0020]    Other and further objects, aims, features, purposes, advantages, functions, embodiments and the like will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings of the present specification taken with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    In the drawings:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 an environmental perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive tongs;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs in a closed configuration with the arm closing stops engaged;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs in a closed configuration with the retaining clamp actuated;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs in a fully open configuration with the arm opening stops engaged;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a rear end elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs in the FIG. 4 configuration with the retaining clamp actuated;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rear end region of the FIG. 1 tongs in the FIG. 4 configuration with the retaining clamp actuated;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear end region of the FIG. 1 tongs in the FIG. 4 configuration with the retaining clamp actuated;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal medial sectional view through the FIG. 4 configuration of the FIG. 1 tongs with the hanging ring removed;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the retaining clamp shown apart from the tongs;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the retaining clamp when the FIG. 1 tongs is in the FIG. 4 configuration;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the retaining clamp when the FIG. 1 tongs is in the FIG. 4 configuration;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line XIII B XIII of FIG. 3; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear end elevational view of the FIG. 1 tongs in the FIG.  4  configuration showing the region between the arm rear ends with the U-shaped sleeve removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]    Referring to the Figures, there is seen an embodiment  20  of a tongs of the invention, the tongs  20  being well adapted for use in barbecuing and the like. The tongs  20  incorporates a pair of elongated arms  21  and  22  each of which here has a generally straight configuration. Each of the arms  21  and  22  has a proximal or front end portion  21 A and  22 A and an opposed distal or rear end portion  21 B and  22 B, respectively.  
         [0037]    Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the arms  21  and  22  can be variously fabricated. Here, each arm  21  and  22  has a compound structure and is comprised to two sections  41  and  42 , and  43  and  44 , respectively. The sections  41  and  42 , and the sections  43  and  44 , are each integrally formed together to define a one-piece arm  21  and  22  structure, respectively.  
         [0038]    The forward sections  41  and  43  each extend generally straight and are each preferably comprised of a formed and rigid sheet metal, preferably a stainless steel. The forward end and opposite sides of each section  41  and  43  are down- or in-turned (depending on section orientation) for strength and rigidification purposes. The down-turned opposite sides of each proximal or front end portion  21 A and  22 A of each section  41  and  43  are provided with a serrated or tooth-like configuration  46 , thereby to achieve a jaw member  23  and  24 , respectively, that is adapted for grasping and holding. The back or body portion of each front-end portion  21 A and  22 A is provided with vent slots  48  and  47  respectively.  
         [0039]    The rearward sections  42  and  44  each extend generally straight and are each preferably comprised of a unitarily molded plastic that is preferably relatively heat stable and heat resistant, such as a relatively high molecular weight polypropylene, or the like. In the molding, the inner end portion  41 B,  43 B of each forward section  41  and  43  is embedded in the forward end portion  42 A,  44 A of each rearward section  42  and  44 , respectively, so that the sections  41  and  43  each project forwardly as shown, for example, in FIG. 9. Preferably, and as shown, the general cross-sectional configuration along each section  42  and  43  is rectangular, but exceptions occur (a) in the forward end region  42 A,  44 A of each section  42  and  43 , where opposite edge portions are each preferably outwardly flared (as shown, for example, in FIG. 9) to retard forward movement or placement of a user&#39;s hand, and (b) in the rear end or distal regions  42 B and  43 B, respectively, where inner opposed side portions of each section  42  and  43  are transversely (relatively to tongs  20 ) thickened (as shown, for example, in FIG. 2) to provide hinge leaf members as below described. Also, in two medially spaced inner side regions, each section  42  and  43  is provided with projections as below described.  
         [0040]    To enable the jaw members  23  and  24  to coact as a pair of jaws and to pivot between open and closed positions for object grasping and releasing, the respective rear end portions  21 B and  22 B are pivotably interconnected. For such an interconnection, the respective rear end portions  21 B and  22 B are each terminally configured to achieve a pivotal or hinged association therebetween. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various arrangements can be utilized. In general, each arm rear end portion  21 B and  22 B has at least one terminally located hinge leaf member. Various hinge leaf member arrangements can be employed. In embodiment  20 , the rear end portion  21 B is provided at each of its lateral opposite sides with an upstanding, symmetrically configured (relative to each other) leaf  26  and  27  (see, for example, FIG. 2 or FIG. 13). Each leaf  26  and  27  effectively upstands transversely from the associated rear end portion  21 B, and each leaf  26  and  27  has a generally hemi-circular exposed perimeter configuration.  
         [0041]    The rear end portion  22 B is provided in a mid-region thereof between each of its lateral opposite sides with a single, upstanding leaf  28  which effectively upstands transversely from the associated rear end portion  22 B. The exposed perimeter surface portions of leaf  28  have a generally hemi-cylindrical configuration.  
         [0042]    The relationship between the leaves  26  and  27  and the leaf  28 , and the Configuration of the rear end portions  21 B and  22 B, is such that the leaf  28  is nestably received between the leaves  26  and  27  in adjacent relationship. A central aperture  29  is defined in each leaf  26  and  27 . Aperture  29  is coaxial with a central aperture  31  that is defined in leaf 28 . After the rear end portions  21 B and  22 B are engaged with one another and the apertures  29  and  31  are aligned, a pintle  32  (see FIG. 2, for example) is extended through the aligned apertures  29  and  31 , thereby defining a hinge structure  33  wherein the leaf  28  opposite side faces are oppositely pivotable relative to the adjacent respective side faces of the leaves  26  and  27 . Pivoting of hinge  33  occurs about a pivot axis (not detailed) that extends normally relative to the arms  21  and  22  and that coincides generally with the center of the pintle  32 . The hinge structure  33  permits the jaw members  23  and  24  to advance either towards or away from one another relative to the hinge structure  33 . The leaves  26 ,  28  and  27  are configured so that, when the jaw members  23  and  24  are in a fully closed configuration, edge portions thereof meet and the arms  21  and  22  have advanced to an orientation that is slightly beyond a generally spaced, parallel relationship therebetween (see, for example, FIG. 3).  
         [0043]    The pintle  32  can have various structures, but is preferably has a hollow rivet type structure and is conveniently comprised of a swagable metal, such as brass, or nickel coated brass. After assembly with the leaves  26 ,  28  and  27 , the opposite ends of the rivet structure can be flared outwardly by swaging or the like, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, thereby permanently connecting the leaves  26 ,  28  and  27  together in the desired pivotal relationship with the pintle  32 . Thereafter, each opposite in-turned end portion of a loop or ring  34  of material, preferably steel, is inserted into a different respective end of the pintle  32 , thereby providing a convenient support means for hanging the tongs  20  from a hook or the like (not shown).  
         [0044]    To achieve a yielding outward biasing of the jaw members  23  and  24  relative to each other, a spring member is utilized which exerts an outward biasing force against the arms  21  and  22 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various springs and spring arrangements can be employed. In embodiment  20 , the inner surface of each section  42  and  44  is provided with a cylindrical, or preferably slightly conically outwardly decliningly tapered, housing  36  and  37 , respectively. The housings  36  and  37  are located in adjacent but spaced relationship to hinge  33  and the housings  36  and  37  are positioned in an transversely aligned, opposed relationship relative to each other. Housing  37  is configured to move longitudinally, but arcuately and in non-contacting relationship, within housing  36  in the assembled tongs  20  during pivotal movements of the arms  21  and  22  (see FIG. 5, for example).  
         [0045]    As shown, for example, in FIG. 9, a cylindrically or preferably as shown slightly conically tapered coiled spring  38  is axially positioned within the housings  36  and  37  during assembly of the tongs  20 . Respective opposite end portions of the spring  38  thus each engage and exert an outward yielding bias upon the surface area located at the base of each housing  36  and  37 . That surface area in each base comprises a portion of a different respective one of the arms  21  and  22 .  
         [0046]    The tongs  20  includes a reversibly actuatable clamp means that, when actuated by a user, is adapted for holding, or, in effect, locking together, the respective jaw members  23  and  24  in a nearly closed configuration, such as illustrated for example in FIG. 4, where the arms  21  and  22  are approximately in a spaced, parallel relationship. The clamp means utilizes a flange  51  that is integrally formed with section  42  and that rearwardly projects from the rear end portion  21 B of the section  42  of the arm  21 . The flange  51  extends laterally across the section  42  and has opposed opposite side faces  52  and  53  that are each provided with a medially located and longitudinally (relative to the flange  51 ) extending groove  54  and  55 , respectively (see, for example, FIGS. 7 and 8). The flange  51  is located adjacent to the base of the leaves  26  and  27  where they join the body of the rear end region  21 B.  
         [0047]    In the assembled tongs  20 , the laterally extending terminal edge of the rear end portion  22 B is configured to be discontinuous and is defined by equal projecting regions (or projections)  58 ,  59  and  60  between which are interdigitated open slots  61  and  62 , respectively (see, for example, FIG. 6). As a consequence, when the arms  21  and  22  are in the configuration shown, for example, in FIG. 4, a straight, laterally (relative to the arms  21  and  22 ) extending slotted recess  57  is generally defined between (a) the projecting regions  58 ,  59  and  60  along the terminal edge of the rear end portion  22 B and (b) the adjacent side face  53  of the flange  51 . Relative to the flange  51 , the arrangement is preferably and as shown such that the side face  52  of the flange  51  has a greater cross width (taken longitudinally along the tongs  20 ) than the opposite side face  53 , thereby permitting the rear end region  21 B to be molded over a base portion of the side face  53  so as to better support the side face  52 .  
         [0048]    The clamp means also utilizes a flattened, generally U-shaped sleeve  63  that has a broad width and that has opposed respective sides defined by flattened leg members  64  and  65  with leg member  65  being longer and somewhat thicker than leg member  64 . The U-shaped sleeve  63  is conveniently comprised of molded plastic; the plastic can, for example, be like that used in sections  42  and  44 . The U-shaped sleeve  63  mounts over the flange  51  with each leg member  64  and  65  slidably engaging and being moveable along a different respective side face  52  and  53 . On an inside opposed surface portions of each leg member  64  and  65 , a raised shoulder  67  and  68 , respectively, is provided (see FIG. 10, for example). Each shoulder  67  and  68  is configured to engage a groove  54  and  55 , respectively.  
         [0049]    The terminal outer end edge region of leg member  65  of U-shaped sleeve  63  is discontinuous and is defined by a pair of projecting portions  69  and  70 . Each projecting portion  69  and  70  is located adjacent to a different lateral opposite side edge of the leg member  65 . Between the projecting portions  69  and  70  along the end edge region of leg member  65  is an open slot  72  (see, for example, FIG. 11). When the arms  21  and  22  are in the configuration shown, for example, in FIG. 4, and the position of the U-shaped sleeve  63  along the flange  51  is such that (a) the projecting portions  69  and  70  are located in and occupy portions of the slotted recess  57  while concurrently (b) each of the projecting regions  58  and  59  is aligned with a projecting portion  69  and  70 , respectively, then the arms  21  and  22  are retained in a substantially closed or locked configurations. This locked configuration consequentially results when the projecting portions  58  and  59  of the rear end portion  22 B are brought pivotally into contact with the projecting portions  69  and  70 , respectively, by reason of the spring  38  bias urging the hinge  33  into an open configuration, so that the arms  21  and  22  are prevented from pivoting outwardly relative to each other.  
         [0050]    When the arms  21  and  22  are in the maximum open configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, the position of the U-shaped sleeve  63  along the flange  51  is such that the projecting portions  69  and  70  are aligned with, and occupy, the slots  61  and  62  while concurrently the projecting region  59  occupies the slot  72 . The projection  60  is located adjacent to one side of the U-shaped sleeve member  63  and the projection  58  is located adjacent to the opposite side of the U-shaped sleeve member  63 . Thus, the arms  21  and  22  pivot outwardly relative to one another by reason of the spring  38  bias urging the hinge  33  into the open configuration shown in FIG. 5 where the projections  58 ,  59  and  60  reach and abut against portions of the side face  52 , thereby preventing further outward pivoting of the arms  21  and  22  and limiting the extent of outward pivoting of the arms  21  and  22 .  
         [0051]    Thus, either one of two positions may be selected by a user for the U-shaped sleeve member  63  along the flange  51 . In one position, the U-shaped sleeve member  63  functions to lock or hold the arms  21  and  22  in a fixed position where the jaws  23  and  24  are almost in a closed position. In the second position, the U-shaped sleeve member  63  functions to limit or stop outward pivoting movement of the arms  21  and  22 .  
         [0052]    Another or second pivot limiting means is associated with the arms  21  and  22  to limit further inward movement of said arms once the jaw members  23  and  24  are in a predetermined substantially fully closed configuration, such as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. This second pivot limiting means utilizes a pedestal  75  and a pedestal  76 , each medially located on a section  42  and  44 , respectively, of each arm  21  and  22 . Each pedestal  75  and  76  has an outer or terminal facial portion  77  and  78 , respectively, that is adapted to abuttingly engage with the other such portion. Each pedestal  75  and  76  is in transversely (relative to tongs  20 ) aligned relationship with the other. Thus, when the jaw members  23  and  24  are pivoted to a substantially fully closed configuration, the respective outer facial portions  77  and  78  of each pedestal  75  and  76  engage, thereby limiting further pivotal closing of the jaw members  23  and  24 .  
         [0053]    To limit lateral movement of the jaw members  23  and  24  relative to one another when the arms  21  and  22  are in a fully closed position such as illustrated in FIG. 3, each pedestal  75  and  76  is provided with a hollow or tube like configuration. One pedestal, here pedestal  75 , has a circumferentially extending, upstanding shoulder  79  on its facial portion  77 . The shoulder  79  is located in radially inwardly spaced relationship relative to outer edge regions of facial portion  77 . The facial portion  78  of the other pedestal  76  is configured to engage matingly with, and fit over, the facial portion  77 . When the facial portions abut and engage the shoulder  79  prevents the pedestal  75  from moving laterally, thereby avoiding lateral slipping action of one jaw member  23  relative to the other member  24 .  
         [0054]    It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular structure and components shown and described, and that changes and adaptations are contemplated which readily and fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth and determined by the appended claims.