Tongs with encapsulated locking mechanism
View Patent ↗A pair of locking kitchen tongs for use in handling food items and the like is disclosed. The tongs have a pair of rigid steel arms each having a workpiece engaging or grasping end, a body portion and a pivot end from which the arms are pivotally connected together. The grasping ends are preferably scalloped along one edge, for handling relatively large items, and serrated (i.e., fine-toothed) along another edge, for handling of smaller or fine items. A bulbous, tear-shaped body made from a rigid, non-metal material encapsulates the pivot ends of the two arms as they are pivotally connected together to permit movement between an open position and a closed position. Also within and coupled to the encapsulating body is a sliding locking plate. The locking plate has a body defining a slot which allows the locking plate to slide between a locked position, maintaining the arms in their closed position, and an unlocked position, allowing them free pivoting movement.
1. A pair of tongs comprising:
a first arm having a workpiece engaging end and a pivot end;
a second arm having a workpiece engaging end and a pivot end, wherein the first and second arms are pivotally connected together proximate their respective pivot ends by a pivot pin to allow pivoting of the first and second arms to all points within a range from an open position to a close position;
a biasing member positioned to engage and bias the first and second arms to the open position;
a sliding locking plate having a slot through which the pivot pin passes to allow movement of the locking plate between a first position and a second position, and a body adjacent the slot such that the body engages the pivot ends of the first and second arms when in the first position to lock the arms in a close position; and
a handle encapsulating and coupled to the locking plate.
2. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle is comprised of a rigid material.
3. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the handle is further comprised of a resilient material.
4. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the locking plate is comprised of a rigid material.
5. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle encapsulates the pivot end of the first arm and the second arm.
6. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein movement of the handle actuates the locking plate between the first position and the second position.
7. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a drain hole.
8. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the handle is a bulbous structure encasing the pivot end of the first and second arms.
9. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the handle couples to the locking plate at a point between the first and second arms.
10. The pair of tongs as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the workpiece engaging ends of the first arm and the second arm have first and second edges and wherein a portion of the first edge of at least one of the workpiece engaging ends is scalloped and a portion of the second edge of at least one of the workpiece engaging ends is serrated.
11. A kitchen utensil comprising:
a first arm having a workpiece engaging end and a pivot end;
a second arm having a workpiece engaging end and a pivot end, wherein the first and second arms are pivotally connected together proximate their respective pivot ends by a pivot pin to allow pivoting of the first and second arms relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, wherein the arms form a V-shape in the open position;
a biasing member positioned to engage and bias the first and second arms to the open position;
a non-metal sliding locking plate having a slot defined therein and through which the pivot pin passes to allow movement of the locking plate between a first position and a second position, and a body adjacent the slot such that the body engages the pivot ends of the first and second arms when in the first position to lock them in a closed position; and
a non-metal handle encapsulating and coupled to the locking plate.
12. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the non-metal handle is comprised of a rigid material.
13. The kitchen utensil of claim 12 , wherein the non-metal handle is further comprised of a resilient material.
14. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the locking plate is comprised of a rigid material.
15. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the non-metal handle encapsulates the pivot end of the first arm and the second arm.
16. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein movement of the handle actuates the locking plate between the first position and the second position.
17. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises a drain hole.
18. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the handle is a bulbous structure encasing the pivot end of the first and second arms.
19. The kitchen utensil of claim 18 , wherein the handle couples to the locking plate at a point between the first and second arms.
20. The kitchen utensil of claim 11 , wherein the workpiece engaging ends of the first arm and the second arm have first and second edges and wherein a portion of the first edge of at least one of the workpiece engaging ends is scalloped and a portion of the second edge of at least one of the workpiece engaging ends is serrated.