Patent Publication Number: US-7909375-B2

Title: Combination breading tongs and dipping tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a combination tongs and dipping tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A combined tongs and dipping tool is described herein. The details of the invention are set forth below in connection with the detailed description of the embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, with the tong members in the closed position as described in detail below. 
         FIG. 2  is a first side view of the embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a second side view of the embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 1 , opposite the side view depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, with the tong members in the open position as described in detail below. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is described herein with respect to exemplary kitchen utensil  10 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood that other kitchen utensils and applications can be used in accordance with the present invention. 
     In the depicted embodiment, kitchen utensil  10  comprises handle member  12 , which comprises first end  14  and second end  16 . First end  14  of handle member  12  forms first gripping surface  18 , which is used in the tong function of kitchen utensil  10  as described in detail below. 
     In order to provide kitchen utensil  10  with a gripping function, utensil  10  may further comprise tong arm  40 , which comprises a first end  42  and a second end  44 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , first end  42  comprises second gripping surface  46 , for the gripping purpose of kitchen utensil  10 , and second end  44  comprises an actuation lever  48 . 
     It will be appreciated by those in the art that while the current invention comprises many functions, two of those functions are prominent: a holding function and a gripping function. Thus, the disclosed invention provides a single tool which enables the user to perform multiple tasks, eliminating the need for multiple tools and thereby reducing clutter and cost. When utilizing the holding function of utensil  10 , the user may use utensil  10  along with a dipping receptacle (not shown). The dipping receptacle is intended to be a bowl or similar item, such as for use in fondues and the like. The dipping receptacle may be made of any type of material, and may contain a liquid of some sort therein. The liquid may be hot or cold, depending on the type of material used for the dipping receptacle. In order to provide the user the ability to dip a desired food article into a dipping receptacle, dipping utensil  30  may be attached to second end  16  of handle member  12 . In the depicted embodiment, dipping utensil  30  comprises a frame  32 , which defines an opening  34  having a size and shape appropriate to hold a bite-size food item. 
     As seen in the depicted embodiment, dipping utensil  30  may be integrally formed with handle member  12 . However, it is within the scope of the present invention that dipping tool  30  may be attached to handle member  12  by snaps, a tongue-in-groove arrangement, or other known means. Dipping tool  30  is depicted formed at an angle with respect to handle member  12 . 
     When utilizing the holding function of kitchen utensil  10 , the user grasps both first end  14  of handle member  12  and first end  42  of tong member  40  and places a food item (not shown) in opening  34 , or, if suitable, attaches a food item to frame  32 . The user then lowers both dipping utensil  30  and the food item into a liquid (not shown) that is contained within the dipping receptacle. Because dipping utensil  30  is formed at an angle with respect to handle member  12 , if the dipping receptacle is very narrow, or if there is a large distance between the surface of the liquid and the top of the dipping receptacle, the user may still utilize kitchen utensil  10 , and dip the food item and dipping utensil  30  into the liquid without getting any of the liquid on the user&#39;s hand. 
     By way of example, and in no way limiting, in order to cover a strawberry with chocolate, the user may place a strawberry on dipping utensil  30 , resting the strawberry on frame  32 . The user may then submerge both the strawberry and dipping utensil  30  into a liquid, such as melted chocolate, that is contained in the dipping receptacle. When the strawberry is sufficiently coated, the user may remove the strawberry and dipping utensil  30  from the liquid, and move the strawberry to a different location, to allow the liquid to solidify. 
     It will be appreciated by those in the art that dipping utensil  30  may not be appropriate for certain types of food items or for certain types of food preparations. By way of example, and in no way limiting, dipping utensil  30  would be inappropriate if the user wished to bread a chicken breast. Therefore, utensil  10  may be further equipped with a gripping function. It will further be appreciated by those in the art that the gripping function of utensil  10  may, like dipping utensil  30 , be used with a dipping receptacle, which may be identical to the dipping receptacle described above, or may be different, depending on the food item being used, the required contents of the dipping receptacle or the purpose for which the tong function is being used. 
     In the depicted embodiment, tong member  40  is hingedly connected to handle member  12  by means of hinge members  49   a  and  49   b , which may be integrally formed with, and extend from, tong member  40 . Likewise, hinge members  19   a  and  19   b  may be integrally formed with, and extend from, handle member  12 . Each hinge member  19   a ,  19   b ,  49   a  and  49   b  comprises a hole  50  (not shown). 
     Hinge bar  60  extends through each of the hinge members  49   a ,  49   b ,  19   a  and  19   b  and cooperates with biasing spring  70  to provide the hinge connection. Other means of connecting tong member  40  to handle member  12  are well known, and it will be obvious to those in the art that any such means can be used in place of the depicted hinge. 
     Tong member  40  is rotatable with respect to handle member  12  between a first, closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , and a second, open position, shown in  FIG. 4 . In the depicted embodiment, biasing spring  70  is disposed about hinge bar  60  and engaged to both tong member  40  and handle member  12  to bias handle member to the first position. However, it will be appreciated by those in the art that a biasing spring may be engaged to both tong member  40  and handle member  12  in any manner sufficient to bias tong member  40  to the first, closed position. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , actuation lever  48  is formed at a first angle α with respect to tong member  40 . When tong member  40  is moved to the second position, actuation lever  48  contacts handle member  12  to prevent further rotation. Because of this contact, the distance between gripping portions  46  and  18  when tong member  40  is in the second position directly coincides with the first angle α at which actuation lever  48  extends from handle member  12 . 
     As further seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , dipping utensil  30  extends from handle member at a second angle β. In the depicted embodiment, the difference between first angle α and second angle β is very slight, for example, less than 5 degrees, and dipping utensil  30  extends nearly parallel with actuation lever  48 . However, it will be appreciated by those in the art that the scope of the present invention includes those embodiments in which the difference between the first angle α and second angle β is much greater. 
     When utilizing the gripping function of kitchen utensil  10 , the user grasps handle member  12  near second end  16 . The user will then depress actuation lever  48  to move tong member  40  from the first position to the second position. When in the second position, the user will place gripping portions  46  and  18  about the food item and release actuation member  48 . Biasing spring  70  will then bias tong member  40  to the first position, clamping down on the food item, and allowing the user to wield the food item as desired. 
     By way of example, and in no way limiting, in order to bread a chicken breast, the user will grip the chicken breast with gripping portions  46  and  18 . The user may then pick up the chicken breast and move it to the dipping receptacle, which will be filled with the appropriate materials. The user may then use gripping portions  46  and  18  to manipulate the chicken breast until it is sufficiently covered. The user may then use utensil  10  to move the now-coated chicken breast as needed. 
     While specific configurations of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure. The particular arrangements disclosed herein a meant to be illustrative only and not limited as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.