Improvements in or Additions to Pickle, Salad, and other Picking up Forks, Sugar-tongs, Salt-spoons, and other Articles of like Manufacture.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
Improvements in or Additions to Pickle, Salad, and other Picking
up Forks, Sugar-tongs, Salt-spoons, and other Articles of like
Manufacture.
We, ALFRED VALE and THOMAS VALE both of the firm of William Vale & Sons
of Unett Street, Hockley, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In using pickle, salad and other picking up forks, spoons, sugar tongs and other
articles of like manufacture, considerable difficulty is often-times experienced in
releasing or setting free an article or edible matter picked up, and more especially
when barbed forks are employed, which require to be shaken, in order to ensure a
disengagement, which is troublesome.
This invention has for its object the setting free of an article or substance picked
up, by providing the said picking up part of the article or instrument, with a
releaser, preferably in the form of a bar or crutch ended slide, which is worked in
manner as herein-after described.
We will describe our invention in connection with a pickle fork.
Working within the hollow of the handle, or stem of a fork, is a releaser rod,
capable of sliding inwardly, and provided at its outer end with a pusher cap or end,
which protrudes through the top of the said handle or stem. The other or inner
end of the releaser rod has a crutch end or bar, working over, under or around the
prongs, and normally resting at or near the shanks of the prongs.
The pusher rod at the junction of the releaser bar is subdivided, and works through
the bottom of the stem of the handle, whilst the said releaser rod within the said
handle, is encircled by a coiled spring, with its ends abutting against a shoulder
carried at the pusher's inner end, and the lower inside of the handle part respectively.
In using the instrument, pick up an article in the ordinary way, by passing the
prongs into it, then to release the said article, press inwardly the pusher cap or end,
when the bar will be made to travel over the prongs to the points thereof, and push
off and set free the article so pushed up. On ceasing to press the pusher cap or end,
the spring which was compressed on the releasing, now takes the releaser back to its
normal position.
Instead of the releaser being made movable, it may be fixed rigidly to the inner
end of the fork, and with the prongs thereof made to slide; so that on applying
pressure to the cap end, or to other parts, the prongs retire rearwardly.
The releaser may be made to act automatically, by making the spring press the
releaser bar to the points, and which position it normally assumes when not in use.
In picking up, the prongs are inserted in an article, which forces rearwardly the
releaser, and compresses its spring, which latter reacts and presses the article from
off the prongs, after the same has been conveyed in manner as may be desired.
Instead of the releaser being taken back or pressed forward by a spring, it may be
operated entirely by hand.
In applying our invention to sugar-tongs, we joint the ends of the stems of the
bowls to the inner end of the pusher cap or its rod, and between the stems as aforesaid,
a transverse pin is arranged; so that by pressing inwards the pusher cap, the bowls
or jaws are opened out, and when released, automatically close and are drawn in.

page_text: The application of our invention to confectionary, salad and other picking up forks
and articles, differs, in no essential respect from its application to a pickle fork as
herein described.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Pickle, Salad, and other Picking-
up Forks, Sugar-tongs, Salt-spoons, and other Articles of like
Manufacture.
We, ALFRED VALE and THOMAS VALE both of the firm of William Vale and Sons
of Unett Street, Hockley, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
In using pickle, salad, and other picking up forks, spoons, sugar-tongs, and other
articles of like manufacture, considerable difficulty is oftentimes experienced in
releasing or setting free an article or edible matter picked up, and more especially
when barbed forks are employed, which require to be shaken, in order to ensure a
dislodgement, which is troublesome.
•
This invention has for its object, the setting free of an article or substance picked
up, by providing the said picking-up part of the article or instrument with a releaser,
preferably in the form of a bar or crutch ended slide, which is worked in manner, as
herein-after described.
We will describe our invention in connection with a pickle fork.
Working within the hollow of the handle or stem of a fork, is a releaser or pusher
rod, capable of sliding inwardly, and provided at its outer end with a pusher cap or
end, which protrudes through the top of the said handle or stem. The other or inner
end of the releaser rod, has a crutch end or bar, working over, under or around the
prongs, and normally resting at or near the shanks of the prongs.
The pusher rod lower end at the junction of the bar, works through the bottom of
the stem of the handle, whilst the releaser rod within the said handle, is encircled by
a coiled spring, with its ends abuting against a shoulder, carried at the pusher's inner
end, and the lower inside of the handle part respectively.
In using the instrument, pick up an article in the ordinary way, by passing the
prongs into it, then to release the said article, press inwardly the pusher cap or end,
when the bar will be made to travel over the prongs to the points thereof, and push
off and set free the article so pushed up. On ceasing to press the pusher cap or end,
the spring which was compressed on the releasing, now takes the releaser back to its
normal position.
Instead of the releaser being made movable, it may be fixed rigidly to the inner
end of the fork, and with the prongs thereof made to slide; so that on applying
pressure to the cap end, or to other parts, the prongs retire rearwardly.
The releaser may be made to act automatically, by making the spring, press the
releaser bar to the points of prongs, and which position the said bar normally assumes,
when not in use.
In picking up, the prongs are inserted in an article, which forces rearwardly the
releaser, and compresses its spring, which latter reacts and presses the article from off
the prongs after the same has been conveyed in manner as may be desired.
Instead of the releaser being taken back or pressed forward by a spring, it may be
operated entirely by hand.
In applying our invention to sugar-tongs, we joint the ends of the stems of the
bowls, to the inner end of the pusher cap or its rod; and between the stems as

page_text: aforesaid, a transverse pin is arranged, so that by pressing inwards the pusher. cap,
the bowls or jaws are opened out, and when released, automatically close and are
drawn-in.
The application of our invention to confectionery, salad, and other picking-up
forks and articles, differs in no essential respect from its application to a pickle fork,
as herein described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents in front elevation, a pickle fork,
constructed according to my invention. The prongs of the fork as will be seen, are
provided with a releaser or pusher off bar, which on the cap end being impressed
inwards, an article taken hold of by the prongs is removed, without the necessity of
jerking, as is commonly done, when naked prongs are employed.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same, showing how the pusher-off bar,
comes upon the two opposite sides of the prongs of the fork, although this is not
absolutely necessary, other than it assists the guiding of the said pusher-off bar in
advancing and receding.
Figure 3 shows a transverse vertical section of figure 1, which exhibits how the
lower end of the pusher rod works through the bottom of the handle.
Figure 4 represents a like section as figure 3, but with the releaser or pusher-off in
action; that is, it is made to advance over the prongs to the points of them, when any
article which may have been taken hold of is removed thereby.
Figure 5 represents the pusher or slide rod, with the pusher-off at one end.
Figure 6 shows an underside plan of figure 5, and figure 7 represents a section of the
fork and pusher-off, on the dotted lines A B figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1. to 7 both
inclusive.
a is a hollow handle, having working within it, a releaser or pusher rod b, and with
its ends respectively provided with a pusher cap b³, and a releaser or pusher-off
bar ; the former 63 works through the open top of the hollow handle, whilst the
pusher-off bar 64, works and slides to and fro upon, or around the prongs a", and from
the tips of them to the shanks; so that on the pusher being forced inwards, the
releaser or pusher-off *, is advanced to the tips of the said stationary prongs, as
represented in figure 4.
It will be seen that the prongs which constitute the lower part of the fork, are
fixed, or form an immovable part of the handle; and the releaser or pusher rod b,
which is simply an internally working slide, works through the bottom of the said
handle part, at its junction with the prongs; and further, the said internally working
slide, is encircled between the abutment collar 62, and the cap ³, by a coiled spring c,
which automatically brings back the movable parts to their normal positions, on
pressure being released from the pusher rod, as represented in figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 8 represents a modification of our invention, in which the prongs are
carried by the releaser or pusher rod, instead of carrying a releaser or pusher-off bar,
as in the preceding figures. This said bar is made a fixture with the lower end of
the stationary handle, which is longitudinally gapped, for the said fork part to work
and slide within.
a is the hollow handle part, a² the releaser or pusher-off bar, as opposite slots
within the lower part of handle, and wherein the prongs or fork part 64, works. 6 is
the pusher end of the rod b, and 62 is an abutment, for the spring c, enclosed between
it and the said pusher.
The action of the pickle fork is as follows:-
On pressing inwards the pusher end 63, the prongs of the fork part are extended
beyond the releaser or pusher-off a², and when in this extended position, objects can
be picked up by it, which are again removed from the prongs, by releasing the
pusher end.
Although we have described and represented our invention as applied to a pickle
fork, yet we wish it to be understood that the same is applicable to all picking-up
forks, when objects are required to be again removed after being transported from one
position to another; and further, although we have represented the releaser means

page_text: in the form of a bar which traverses the prongs from tip to shank, as in the first
arrangement, yet we wish it to be observed, that a jointed wiper-like releaser may be
substituted for the bar, or an equivalent of the bar.
Figure 9 represents our invention applied to sugar-tongs.
a is the hollow handle, having working within it, a rod b, whose lower end is
connected by means of a flat spring, to spoon jaws or other bowls d, while the upper
end carries a pusher 63; and between the collar 62, and the said pusher end, a coiled
spring c is disposed, and automatically takes the parts back to their gripping or
normal positions.
The spring between the lower end of the pusher rod, and the shanks of the
picking-up bowls or jaws, is marked d², and is adapted to open out the said jaws, on
the same being extended beyond the mouth a², of the said hollow handle.
The action is as follows:-
On the pushing inwards of the pusher end 6³, the bowl joints are extended, and
open out by the elasticity of the spring d², and when in their said opened-out
positions, as represented in dotted lines, an object admits of being laid hold of, by
relaxing pressure upon the said pusher end.
The arrangements comprehending our invention as hereto-fore, are applicable for
removing matter from cutters, butter knives, spoon and other like objects, as a
knife, spoon or cutter has only to be substituted for the prongs as represented in
connection with a pickle fork.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. Providing the prongs, or the blades of picking up articles, such as forks,
knives, spoons and the like, with pushing-off, or removing bars or expedients.
Secondly. Providing the prongs, or the blades of picking-up articles, such as
forks, knives, spoons and the like, with a sliding bar, or remover, operated by a
pusher and pusher rod, working within, or in connection with the handle part of the
said articles, substantially as described and set forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Thirdly. Taking back the matter or object removers of picking-up forks, spoons,
blades and the like, by a coil or other spring, acting essentially in manner as set
forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of the parts of picking-up forks,
blades, spoons, and the like as herein described and set forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Fifthly. Making the fork, blade or bowl of a picking-up fork, knife, spoon or
server, movable or sliding, with the matter or object remover stationary, and with
the parts constructed, arranged, and working substantially as described and set forth
in figure 8.
Lastly. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of sugar-tongs, or
picking-up instruments, as herein described and set forth in figure 9.
Dated this 23rd day of Anril 1880
ALFRED VALE.
THOMAS VALE.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.