WO2008036023A1

WO2008036023A1 - Utensil for gripping a unit

Info

Publication number: WO2008036023A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bert Anders Lindberg
Original assignee: NYBERG JOAKIM SVEN ARNE
Current assignee: NYBERG JOAKIM SVEN ARNE
Priority date: 2006-09-20
Filing date: 2007-09-20
Publication date: 2008-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-20
Also published as: SE530358C2; SE0601954L

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a manual utensil (1) adapted for gripping and/or fixedly retaining a unit, a part or the like, such as a chicken drumstick (10) where said manual utensil displays coordinated shanks (2, 3), which shanks are oriented so that they can simultaneously be surrounded by a hand grasping the shanks. The shanks are, against the action of spring force, displaceably or flexibly disposed towards one another in a first initial position to a second converged position, and by said spring force the shanks are automatically returnable from said second position to said first position. Free end portions allocated the shanks display corresponding means (4, 5) where said means, in a first position allocated the shanks, assume a mutually open position and an allocated second position, assume a mutually coordinated position. Said means are adapted to be able to assume a third position adapted for fixedly retaining said unit or part, oriented between said first and second positions. In said third position, said means (4, 5) display a fixedly clamping function acting on the unit or the part, where the force in this fixedly clamping function derives from the spring force acting in a direction towards said first position.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: UTENSIL FOR GRIPPING A UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to a utensil, and more particularly to a manual utensil intended for gripping and/or fixedly retaining a unit or a part.

The utensil relates to that category of utensils which displays coordinated shanks, the shanks being oriented so that they may simultaneously be surrounded by a hand grasping the shanks, said shanks being, against the action of spring force, displaceably disposed towards one another from a first initial and wholly open position to a second more convergent position.

More particularly, said spring force is adapted and dimensioned so that the shanks will automatically be returned from said second position to said first position by means of the spring force.

Free end portions allocated to the shanks each display a corresponding means, where said means, in a first position allocated to the shanks, assume a mutually fully open position, and in an allocated second position assume a mutually coordinated and overlapping position.

The present invention has principally been evolved in order to be able, as a hand utensil, to be utilised as a complement to, for instance, a set of cutlery with associated knives, forks and spoons and is principally intended to be able to grasp and retain a "chicken drumstick" and is principally intended to be able to clampingly cooperate with that bone section which is exposed from and projects out of the meat portion.

BACKGROUND ART Methods, arrangement and constructions relating to the above-disclosed technical field in association with a manual utensil and possessing a function and a nature which satisfies set requirements are previously known in the art in a plurality of different embodiments.

As one example of the background art and the technical field to which the present invention relates, mention might be made of different designs and constructions for different manual utensils such as, principally, tongs where the shanks are actuated by a spring positioned between the shanks and where the free end portions of the shanks display corresponding means, where said means, in a first position allocated to the shanks, assumes a mutually open position and in a second allocated position assumes a mutually cooperating position against the action of the spring force.

Manual utensils of the type contemplated here allow the utilisation of a pivot axis oriented between the shanks and said shanks display, on one side, the pivot axis while said means are disposed on the other side of the pivot axis, the manual implement approximating the function of a two-armed lever.

Also belonging to the background art are pincette-like utensils where the free end portions of the shanks support corresponding means where said means, in a first position allocated to the shanks, assume a mutually open position and against the action of a spring force are able to be disposed in a second position to assume a mutually coordinating position.

Manual utensils of the type contemplated here also permit the utilisation of a "pivot axis" oriented between the shanks, but it is however disclosed that said shanks and said means are disposed on the same side of said pivot axis, the manual utensils approximating the function of a one-armed lever.

The present invention relates to the latter-described embodiment and construction.

In such instance, the present invention more particularly relates to an application as regards gripping and fixedly retaining a greasy chicken drumstick in its leg section, with a view to being able to consume the meat portion adhering thereto without needing to use the hands to touch the leg section and/or the meat portion.

It is per se known in the art, with the same intention as above, to make use of a napkin or the like which, as a protection, is to be wound around and completely cover the leg section.

Utensils of the type contemplated here are previously known from the following Patent Publications.

As regards the contents of Patent Publication US-A-2 768 856, a springing tong arrangement is previously known, with two arms (1), the coordinated end portions of these arms being actuable by a spring unit (2) which will urge the arms or the shanks towards an open position and where the arms are to be able to be pressed together in order to grip an object and where the gripping force will be able to be controlled by a displacement of a ring (5) over the arms.

The clamping force against an object will thus increase in dependence upon the displacement distance of the ring (5) along the arms and will then be greatest adjacent the free ends of the arms.

The contents of Patent Publication US-A-6 494 517 in principle constitute a similar clamping arrangement (10) with two arms (28) where each arm displays a number of grooves in order, with increasing clamping force between the free jaws (26, 36) to be able to displace a ring (38) stepwise towards the free ends of the jaws.

The arms (28) are coordinated via a springing end portion (18) which is to create the diverging force and where selected clamping forces require a level which is to be increased over and above the clamping force from the end portion (18). BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Taking into account the circumstance that the technical considerations which a person skilled in the relevant technical art must do in order to be able to offer a solution to one or more set technical problems is on the one hand initially a necessary insight into the measures and/or the sequence of measures to be implemented and, on the other hand, a necessary selection of the means required in view hereof the subsequent technical problems are likely to be relevant in the evolution of the subject matter of the present invention.

Taking into consideration the state of the art as described above, it is probably therefore likely to be seen as a technical problem to be able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in a manual utensil adapted for gripping and/or fixedly retaining a unit or a part, such as a chicken drumstick, and particularly a manual utensil which is intended to supplement the normal parts included in cutlery, to create such preconditions that, on a gripping and/or a fixedly retaining action to cause corresponding means to be adapted to be able to assume a third position, adapted for said fixedly retaining of said unit or part (chicken drumstick), and where said third position is to be oriented between the first and second end positions.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to create such preconditions that, within said third position, said corresponding means will display a fixedly clamping function which is active against the unit or the part and is well adapted, and where the force in this fixedly clamping function derives from a spring force which is active in a direction towards said first position.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, within said first position, to cause the spring force to be adapted to "0" and thus inactive, but however ensure that the spring force will be adapted increasingly in a direction towards the second position and selected to be at its maximum in this second position.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to create such preconditions that the end sections of the shanks facing away from said means are coordinated with one another and form, via the end sections and a flexible section a "U"-configuration.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause the spring force to occur adaptably when the shanks are flexed towards one another.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a dimensioning of a region related to the shanks and/or a flexible section for the coordination of the shanks and/or insertion of a separate spring unit to create a desired spring force and/or an increasing force variation on a shank movement between the first and the second positions.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause one of two means to be given the form of a single stylized "L", while the second corresponding means is to be given the form of two laterally oriented and stylized "L", where the distance between the laterally oriented parts is adapted to but slightly exceed the width of the second part.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause an angle between each one of the parts or portions included in the "L" form to be selected to be less than 90°, such as for instance 70° to 80°, or other suitable configuration for an effective gripping and fixedly retaining.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause an angle between the shanks and a retainer portion for said means to be selected to be 15° to 25°, for instance about 20°.

SOLUTION In such instance, the present invention takes as its point of departure the prior art technique as disclosed by way of introduction relating to a manual utensil adapted for gripping and/or fixedly retaining a unit, a part or the like, such as a chicken drumstick, and where said manual utensil displays coordinated shanks, the shanks being oriented such that they may simultaneously be surrounded by a hand grasping the shanks.

Said shanks are, against the action of a spring force, flexibly or displaceably disposed in relation to one another from a first initial position to a second converging position and, by said spring force, the shanks will be automatically returnable from said second position to said first position.

Free end portions allocated to the shanks display corresponding gripping and/or fixedly retaining means, where said means, in a first position allocated the shanks, assume a mutually open position and in a second position allocated the shanks assume a mutually coordinated position.

In order to be able to solve one or more of the above disclosed technical problems, the present invention more particularly disclosed that the prior art technology be supplemented by causing said means to be adapted so as to be able to assume a third position adapted for gripping and/or fixed retaining of said unit or part, where said third position is to be adapted so as to be oriented between said first and second positions.

In said third position, said corresponding means is to offer a fixedly clamping function acting against the unit or the part, where the force in this fixedly clamping function derives from the adapted spring force which is active in a direction towards said first position.

As proposed embodiments falling within the scope of the basic concept of the present invention, it is moreover disclosed that, in said first position, the spring force is to be adapted to "0" and adapted increasingly towards the second position.

It is further disclosed that the shanks are to be coordinated with one another and form a "U" configuration.

The spring force occurs increasingly according as the shanks are bent towards one another.

Further, the present invention discloses that a dimensioning of a region of the coordination of the shanks and/or a separate springing unit is to create said increasing spring force, which will then be adapted for the fixed clamping function.

Further, the present invention discloses that the one means be given the form of a stylistic "L", while the corresponding means be given the form of two laterally- oriented stylistic "L".

It is further disclosed that the angle between the parts included in the "L" form be selected to be less than 90°, for instance 70° to 80°.

Further the invention discloses that an angle between the shanks and a retainer portion for said means is selected to 15° - 25°, for instance about 20°. ADVANTAGES

Those advantages which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention and the specific significative characterising features disclosed thereby is that there have hereby been created the preconditions to be able to offer a manual utensil as a complement to cutlery, and where this manual utensil, for example in a simple manner, be able to grasp and fixedly retain a chicken drumstick during a meal.

That which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention is disclosed in the characterising clause of appended Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS One currently proposed embodiment, displaying the significative characterising features associated with the present invention, will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow for purposes of exemplification, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, where:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a manual utensil according to the present invention in an adjustment position for fixedly retaining a chicken drumstick;

Fig. 2 is a partial section of the manual utensil in order to illustrate a proposed angle between a shank and a retainer portion for a gripping and fixed retaining means;

Fig. 3A shows the utensil according to Fig. 1 in a first, initial and open adjustment position;

Fig. 3B shows the utensil in a second, fully converged and closed position; and

Fig. 3C shows the utensil in an active position fixedly retaining a drumstick. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT

By way of introduction, it should be emphasised that, in the following description of one currently proposed embodiment which displays the significative characterising features associated with the present invention and which is clarified by means of the figures shown in the accompanying Drawings, we have selected terms and a specific terminology with the intention in such instance of principally clarifying the concept of the present invention.

However, in this context it should be observed that expressions selected here should not be seen as restrictive exclusively to the terms selected and utilised here, but it should be understood that each such selected term is to interpreted so that in addition it encompasses all technical equivalents which function in the same or substantially the same manner in order thereby to be able to attain the same or substantially the same intention and/or technical effect.

With reference to the accompanying Drawings, there are thus illustrated schematically and in detail not only the basic preconditions of the present invention but in addition the significative properties associated with the present invention have been given concrete form in the currently proposed embodiment described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Thus, Fig. 1 shows a manual utensil 1 produced according to the present invention and intended for gripping and/or fixedly holding a unit, a part or the like, here illustrated as a chicken drumstick 10, and where said tool 1 displays coordinated shanks 2, 3, which shanks are so oriented that they may simultaneously be surrounded by a hand grasping the shanks, the hand not being shown for purposes of clarification.

Said shanks 2, 3 are, against the action of a spring force, initiated by a connecting end part or end portion 6, displaceable or more flexibly disposed towards one another from a first initial position (Fig. 3A), to a second, fully closed, position (Fig. 3B). By means of said spring force from the end portion 6, the shanks 2, 3 are automatically returnable from said second position (Fig. 3B) to said first position (Fig. 3A).

Further, free end portions 2a, 3 a allocated to the shanks 2, 3 are to be adapted to display corresponding means 4, 5 and where said means, in a first position allocated to the shanks, assume a mutually completely open position and in a second allocated position, assume a mutually coordinated, overlapping and integrated position.

According to the present invention, it is disclosed that said means 4, 5 be adapted to be able to assume a third position (Fig. 3C) adapted for fixedly retaining of said unit, part or chicken drumstick 10, oriented between said first (Fig. 3A) and second (Fig. 3B) positions.

In said third position, said means 4, 5 displays a fixedly clamping function acting on the chicken drumstick 10, where the force in this fixedly clamping function derives from the spring force acting towards said first position.

More particularly, it is disclosed that in said first position, the spring force is adapted to "0" and that this force will be continuously increasing in a direction towards the second position.

The force acting within the third position may be adapted to between 0.5 and 3 kg, preferably about 1.0 to 1.5.

Thus, the present invention offers an adaptation of the springing maximum force so that an adapted force actuation will take place at and within the third position and where this adaptation is to take place so that said chicken drumstick 10 is fixedly clamped between the corresponding means 4, 5 and where said means 4, 5 are permitted to cooperate with the leg portion 10a in the manner disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3C in order to expose the meat portion 10b. The shanks 2, 3 are coordinated with one another via the spring portion 6 and form a largely "U" configuration with diverging shanks in the first position and more parallel shanks 2, 3 in the second position.

In the normal case, the spring force will occur continuously increasing according as the shanks 2, 3 are flexed towards one another, but there is nothing to prevent the provision of a spring force/flexing functions.

In Fig. 3 A, by means of broken lines within the coordinated region 6, there has been introduced a separate spring means, which means may be considered as flexurally rigid and thereby shortens the flexing distance for the shanks and thereby increases the spring force acting between the means 4, 5 within the third position.

The separate spring means may be provided with resilient shanks or alternatively be displaceably disposed between the shanks towards the means 4, 5 in order by such means to be able to regulate the spring force between the means 4, 5 at the third position.

There is nothing to prevent causing diverging shanks 2, 3 to cooperate with a surrounding outer ring which in the third position is displaceably disposed from the coordinated region 6 in a direction towards the means 4, 5 in order by such means, after gripping with a low spring force to be able to create a fixed retaining with the aid of a considerably higher fixedly retaining force.

A dimensioning of the coordinating region 6 for the coordination of the shanks 2, 3 and/or a separate spring unit between the shanks can create said increasing spring force.

One of said two means 5 is given a hooked form in order to approximate the form of a stylistic "L", while the corresponding means 4 may be given the form of two laterally oriented stylistic "L" forms. The two laterally oriented means 4 are separated a distance approximating and slightly exceeding the width of the means 5, which Figures 3 A and 3B show.

Further the invention discloses that an angle between the parts included in the "L" forms is selected to be less than 90°, for instance 70° to 80°.

Said parts may also be concave in configuration in order more closely to be able to approximate and partly surround the opposing leg portions of the leg part 10a.

Further the present invention discloses according to Fig. 2 that an angle "a" between the shanks 2, 3 and a retainer portion 2b, 3b for said means 4, 5 is selected to between 15° and 25°, for instance about 20°.

The shanks 2, 3 and the retainer portions 2b, 3b are mutually pivoted through an angle of 90°.

The utensil 1 may be advantageously produced of plastic or metal and may then be produced integrated in a single working operation.

The present invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiment disclosed in the foregoing by way of example, but may undergo modifications without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the appended Claims.

In particular it should be observed that each illustrated unit and/or circuit may be combined with each other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

Claims

1. A manual utensil (1) adapted for gripping and/or fixedly retaining a unit, a part or the like, for instance a chicken drumstick (10), where said manual utensil displays coordinated shanks (2, 3), said shanks being oriented such that they can simultaneously be surrounded by a hand grasping the shanks, said shanks (2, 3) being, against the action of spring force, flexibly disposed towards one another from a first initial position (Fig. 3A) to a second converged position (Fig. 3B), and the shanks (2, 3) are, by means of said spring force, returnable from said second position to said first position, free end portions allocated to the shanks displaying corresponding means (4, 5) where said means, in a first position allocated to the shanks, assume a mutually open position and in a second allocated position assume a mutually coordinated position, characterised in that said means (4, 5) are adapted to be able to assume a third position (Fig. 3C) adapted for fixedly retaining said unit (10) or part, oriented between said first and second positions, that, in said third position, said means (4, 5) display a fixedly clamping function to the unit or the part, where the force in this fixedly clamping function derives from the spring force, active in a direction towards said first position, and moreover in said first position the spring force is adapted to "0" and selected increasingly, on the flexural movement of the shanks towards the second position and that the one means (5) is allocated the form of a "L", or a stylised "L"-form while a corresponding means (4) is given the form of two laterally oriented "L" or a stylised "L" configuration.

2. The utensil as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the spring force occurs continuously increasing according as the diverging shanks are flexed towards one another.

3. The utensil as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a dimensioning of an end region for the coordination of the shanks and/or a separate spring unit is disposed to permit creation of said increasing force.

4. The utensil as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the angle between parts included in the "L" are selected to be less than 90°, for instance 70° to 80°.

5. The utensil as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that an angle between the shanks and a retainer portion for said means is selected to 15° - 25°, for instance about 20°.

6. The utensil as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the one means (5) is given concave form and the corresponding means (4) are given concave forms.