Patent ID: 7344170

Claim:
A friction-grip fireplace tool, comprising: a. a unary, v-shaped, flexible open-jawed mouth having a closed end defining an outer perimeter, and an open end defined by an inner perimeter, said inner perimeter comprised of: i. a first straight portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween, ii. a curved portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the curved portion being connected to the second end of the first straight portion; and iii. a second straight portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween, the first end of the second straight portion being connected to the second end of the curved portion, said unary, v-shaped, flexible open-jawed mouth exhibiting a spring-like effect when the first straight portion and the second straight portion are urged apart; b. friction ridges disposed on the first straight portion from the first end to the second end thereof, and on the second straight portion from the first end to the second end thereof, said friction ridges creating a non-piercing friction effect upon an object disposed within the inner perimeter of the open end of said open-jawed mouth when the first straight portion and second straight portion are urged apart by said object; c. an elongated connecting rod having an upper end and a lower end, said second end of said second straight portion being connected to said connecting rod at its lower end such that the closed end of said open-jawed mouth is directed toward a user of said fireplace tool, d. a hand grip; and e. means of joining said hand grip to said connecting rod at its upper end, whereby a user can grip said fireplace tool by said hand grip, and push said open-jawed mouth onto said object, thus applying a progressively tightening gripping force upon said object via the combination of said spring-like effect and said non-piercing friction effect provided by the friction ridges, enabling the user to lift, move, reposition and release said object without manipulating any moving parts.