JP7640998B2 - Tongs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to tongs that are composed of elastic, thin-walled left and right bodies.

Tongs are used, for example, when dividing food served on a large platter into smaller portions. Ordinary tongs have a U-shaped configuration (integral type) consisting of a left and right main body aligned parallel to each other, with a single metal plate folded to form an elastically deforming hinge axis, or a configuration (separate type) in which two metal plates are made into a left and right main body that each deform elastically, with the left and right main bodies connected at the left and right rear parts while separated. The left and right main bodies can be opened and closed repeatedly with the elastic deformation of the hinge axis in the integrated tongs, and with the elastic deformation of the left and right main bodies in the separate tongs.

Whether the tongs are one-piece or separate, they have difficulty grasping food that is larger than the width of the left and right bodies that were initially set. Therefore, the tongs (adjustable scissors) disclosed in Patent Document 1 are separate types in which the rear parts of the left and right bodies are connected, and a protrusion is provided that abuts on the inside near the rear part of the connection, so that by pushing the rear part of the protrusion, the part in front of the protrusion opens wider than the initially set width (scope of utility model registration claim). The material of the left and right bodies is not specified, but since they constitute tongs, it is assumed that the left and right bodies elastically deform to open and close, with the abutting protrusion as a fulcrum.

Jitsuzen Publication No. 55-156867

The tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 use the protrusion as a fulcrum to open the front portion widely beyond the protrusion, allowing for large elastic deformation by the left and right bodies. From this, the tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be configured so that the left and right bodies can be opened and closed, even if the elastic, thin-walled left and right bodies are formed from, for example, a resin sheet, in consideration of, for example, weight reduction and disposability. However, since the tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 only abut the opposing protrusions, there are cases in which the elastic, thin-walled left and right bodies are twisted, causing the protrusions to become misaligned, making it difficult to open and close the front portion beyond the protrusions.

If the position of the connecting part at the rear of the left and right main bodies could be fixed, the risk of the protrusions becoming misaligned would be reduced, but depending on the food being held between the left and right main bodies, it may still be difficult to prevent the protrusions from becoming misaligned, and the food may fall off. Therefore, in order to provide tongs with thin, elastic left and right bodies formed, for example, from a resin sheet, with a view to reducing weight and allowing for disposable use, we have investigated a structure that prevents the protrusions from becoming misaligned by using the protrusions as fulcrums for opening the left and right main bodies wide.

The tongs that were developed as a result of the study are made up of thin elastic left and right bodies, which are made up of left and right front parts with left and right fulcrums located at the rear, and left and right rear parts with connecting parts, and the contacting opposing parts of the left and right fulcrums are formed in a fitting relationship, connecting the left and right rear parts with the connecting part, and opening and closing the tongs while elastically deforming part or all of the left and right front parts with the opposing parts of the left and right fulcrums fitted together. Examples of the thin elastic left and right bodies are press-formed products of metal sheets or resin sheets, and pulp-molded paper molded products.

The connecting part connects the left rear part and the right rear part, and specifies the relative positions of the left and right main bodies. The connecting part only needs to connect the left rear part and the right rear part in the use state, so it may be configured to make the left rear part and the right rear part inseparable, or it may be configured to make the left rear part and the right rear part separable. When the left front part and the right front part are opened and closed with the left rear part and the right rear part connected by the connecting part, the left fulcrum part and the right fulcrum part fit together by pressing the opposing parts that come into contact with each other, and do not shift position. The shape of the opposing parts of the left fulcrum part and the right fulcrum part does not matter as long as the opposing parts that come into contact are in a fitting relationship. The further back the left fulcrum part and the right fulcrum part are located, the more the left front part and the right front part will open in the initial state, and the larger the opening and closing range can be.

The connecting part that inseparably connects the left and right rear parts is a hinge shaft that connects the left and right rear parts. The left and right main bodies, whose connecting parts between the left and right rear parts are the hinge shaft, can be formed as press-formed products of metal sheets or resin sheets that are developed on the same plane via the hinge shaft, or as pulp-molded paper molded products. The left and right main bodies open and close the left and right front parts that are partially or completely elastically deformed. It is preferable that a part of the left and right front parts is close to the left and right fulcrum parts. The hinge shaft, which is located behind the left and right fulcrum parts, is unrelated to the opening and closing direction of the left and right front parts, so its orientation can be freely set. The hinge shaft, which is the connecting part, specifies the positional relationship between the left and right main bodies and fits the left and right fulcrum parts without misalignment.

The connecting portion that connects the left and right rear portions separably includes a convex portion and a concave portion for snap button fitting provided at opposing positions on the inside of the left and right rear portions. The convex portion and the concave portion for snap button fitting, which are separable connecting portions, can be used in conjunction with the hinge shaft, which is the above-mentioned inseparable connecting portion. When the convex portion and the concave portion are used in conjunction with the hinge shaft, the left and right main bodies become inseparable. Since the convex portion and the concave portion are located rearward of the left and right fulcrum portions, they can be positioned regardless of the opening and closing direction of the left and right front portions, just like the hinge shaft. The convex portion and the concave portion need only be able to be engaged with a detachable snap button, and the shape and number of the convex portion and the concave portion combined are free.

The left and right main bodies may each have a groove between the left and right fulcrum parts and the connecting part, the groove intersecting the direction in which the left and right front parts extend from the left and right fulcrum parts. The groove preferably has a length that crosses the opposing edges of the left and right main bodies, but may be shorter than that. The groove is preferably continuous in a straight line, but may be curved or intermittent. Furthermore, the groove may be a single line, but multiple lines are preferred. The orientation and spacing of the multiple grooves are not specified, but they should be arranged parallel and at equal intervals.

The left and right fulcrum parts are preferably formed with a groove parallel to the opening/closing direction of the left and right front parts, and a protrusion that fits into the groove, assigned to the opposing parts. The groove and protrusion can be of any length, and may be the same or different, as long as they extend parallel to the opening/closing direction of the left and right front parts. The groove and protrusion are basically straight, but may be slightly curved or bent as long as they can fit together without difficulty. One set of grooves and protrusions is sufficient, but multiple sets are also acceptable. The multiple sets of grooves and protrusions should be arranged parallel and at equal intervals, as long as they are all parallel to the opening/closing direction of the left and right front parts.

The tongs of the present invention are made by forming the left and right main bodies from lightweight, disposable metal or resin sheet press-formed products or pulp-molded paper molded products, and by positioning the left and right fulcrum parts of the left and right front parts as far back as possible, close to the connecting parts of the left and right rear parts, the left and right front parts can be opened and closed widely, and the left and right fulcrum parts, which are provided at opposing positions on the inside of the left and right front parts, can be fitted together to prevent the left and right fulcrum parts from shifting when opening and closing the left and right front parts. This is the effect of forming the contacting opposing parts of the left and right fulcrum parts in a fitting relationship.

The connecting part, which is a hinge axis connecting the left and right rear parts, determines the relative positions of the left and right main bodies, and has the advantage of preventing the loss of either the left or right main body, which cannot be separated. In addition, the connecting part, which is a convex and concave snap button fitting provided in opposing positions on the inside of the left and right rear parts, determines the relative positions of the left and right main bodies, and has the advantage of making it possible to replace only one of the separable left or right main bodies.

The grooves provided between the left and right fulcrum parts and the connecting part suppress or prevent the restoring force of the left and right front parts, which elastically deform when opening and closing, from being transmitted to the left and right rear parts, making it difficult for the left and right rear parts connected by the connecting part to separate. This maintains the connected state of the left and right rear parts, so that the distance between the left and right fulcrum parts and the connecting part can be reduced to realize an initial state in which the left and right front parts are widely open, and the opening and closing range of the left and right front parts can be increased accordingly. This improves the usability of the tongs of the present invention.

When the left and right fulcrum parts are formed with a concave groove parallel to the opening and closing direction of the left and right front parts and a convex ridge that fits into the concave groove, the left and right front parts are prevented from shifting in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction. This means that the left and right front parts can always be opened and closed in the correct positional relationship, which has the effect of preventing the occurrence of an insufficient situation, for example, where the left and right front parts shift while holding food, causing the food to fall.

In this way, the tongs of the present invention are easy to use and have the function of preventing food from dropping, while being disposable as the left and right bodies are made from pressed metal or resin sheets or pulp-molded paper molded products, so they can be used in a variety of situations other than just as tongs for holding food. For example, the tongs of the present invention can be used to dispose of dirt or waste that cannot be touched directly in medical, research, or experimental settings, or to dispose of dirt (including cleaning waste) generated during caregiving or daily life, as well as the droppings and carcasses of pets or small animals. In any situation, the tongs of the present invention are disposable, which offers the advantage of ensuring hygiene.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a tong to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tongue of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the tongs of this example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongs of this example in an unfolded state. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tongue of this example with the left and right front portions closed. FIG. 2 is a front view of the tongs of this example with the left and right front portions closed. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the tongs of this example with the left front portion and the right front portion closed.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the tongs 1 of the present invention are composed of a left body 2 and a right body 3 that are substantially symmetrical and formed from an elastic resin sheet. In this example, the tongs 1 are provided as a single resin sheet (see Fig. 4) in which the left body 2 and the right body 3 are connected by a hinge shaft 4 at the left rear portion 22 and the right rear portion 32. The tongs 1 provided as a single resin sheet are folded by the user at the hinge shaft 4, and the recessed portion 24 of the left rear portion 22 and the protruding portion 34 of the right rear portion 32 are snap-fitted together to be assembled for use (see Figs. 1 to 3).

When in use, the left body 2 and the right body 3 are mirror-symmetrical on the left and right sides, except for the recessed and protruding parts 24 and 34 that form the snap button fitting connection, and the left fulcrum part 23 and right fulcrum part 33 that are in a fitting relationship. In this example, the front ends of the left front part 21 and the right front part 31 of the tongs 1 are inclined linearly downwards, and the tongs are used by switching the top and bottom depending on whether to use the acute corner or the obtuse-angled groove depending on the food to be grasped. In this case, the left body 2 and the right body 3 have a mirror-symmetrical structure, which has the advantage that there is no significant difference in the feel of use when the top and bottom are switched.

The left main body 2 is made up of a left front part 21 with a left fulcrum part 23 at its rear end, which is located in an inward facing position relative to the right main body 3, and a left rear part 22 with a hinge shaft 4 and a recess 24 that form the connecting part. The left front part 21 and the left rear part 22 may be separate parts, but it is preferable for them to be an integrated member as in this example, as this makes handling easier. In this example, the left main body 2 is provided with a left fulcrum part 23 at the rear end of the left front part 21 to maximize the opening and closing range of the left front part 21. The left rear part 22 is connected to the rear end of the left front part 21 via a left groove part 25.

The left rear part 22 is a plate-like shape with a generally rectangular shape in a side view, with the top and bottom corners of the rear edge rounded, and is connected to the right rear part 32 of the right main body 3 by the hinge shaft 4, and has an elliptical recess 24 that protrudes outward. The recess 24 has a structure in which the opening edge protrudes slightly radially inward, and the elliptical shape ensures a deformation margin, and the protrusion 34 fits with a snap button. In addition, the left rear part 22 in this example has three left grooves 25 between the left fulcrum part 23 and the connecting part (hinge shaft 4 and recess 24) that cross the left rear part 22 perpendicular to the direction in which the left front part 21 extends from the left fulcrum part 23. The left grooves 25 in this example overlap the hinge shaft 4 in part, but may be completely separated from the hinge shaft 4.

The left front part 21 is surrounded by a straight upper edge, a lower edge that curves convexly downward, and a straight front edge that slopes forward, and has a left bulge 212 that bulges outward to the left, making it an asymmetric structure in the vertical direction. The left bulge 212 forms a left recess 213 that is recessed inward forward from the left fulcrum 23, increasing the rigidity of the whole. The left fulcrum 23 is provided at the rear end of the left bulge 212, including the left recess 213. This allows the left main body 2 to open and close the whole left front part 21 as a whole, while limiting the part that can be elastically deformed to the vicinity of the left fulcrum 23. The left fulcrum 231 is a roughly rectangular bulge that convexly protrudes toward the right main body 3, and forms a convex rib 231 at the vertical center that extends from the left fulcrum 23 in the direction in which the left front part 21 extends.

The right main body 3 is almost the same as the left main body 2, with a mirror image structure, and is composed of a right front part 31 with a right fulcrum part 33 at its rear end, which is located in an inner facing position relative to the left main body 2, and a right rear part 32 with a hinge shaft 4 and a protrusion 34 that constitute the connecting part. If the right front part 31 and the right rear part 32 are also one piece as in this example, it is easy to handle. In this example, the right main body 3 has a right fulcrum part 33 at the rear end of the right front part 31, aligned with the left main body 2, in order to maximize the opening and closing range of the right front part 31. The right rear part 32 is connected to the rear end of the right front part 31 via a right groove part 35.

The right rear part 32 is a plate-like shape with a generally rectangular shape in a side view, with the upper and lower corners of the rear edge rounded, and is connected to the left rear part 22 of the left main body 2 by the hinge shaft 4, and has a convex part 34 with a circular cross section that protrudes inward. The convex part 34 has a structure in which the opening edge protrudes slightly radially inward, and the oval concave part 24 of the left rear part 22 is elastically deformed to fit with a snap button. In addition, the right rear part 32 in this example has three right groove parts 35 between the right fulcrum part 33 and the connecting part (hinge shaft 4 and convex part 34) that cross the right rear part 32 perpendicular to the direction in which the right front part 31 extends from the right fulcrum part 33. The right groove parts 35 in this example overlap the hinge shaft 4 in part, but may be completely separated from the hinge shaft 4.

The right front section 31 has a vertically asymmetric structure consisting of a right bulge 312 that is a mirror image of the left front section 21, except for the right fulcrum section 331. The right bulge 312 forms a right recess 313 that is recessed inward forward from the right fulcrum section 33, increasing the overall rigidity. The right fulcrum section 33 is provided at the rear end of the right bulge 312, including the right recess 313. This allows the right main body 3 to open and close the entire left front section 21 as a whole, while limiting the part that can elastically deform to the vicinity of the right fulcrum section 33. The right fulcrum section 33 is a roughly rectangular bulge that protrudes toward the left main body 2, and forms a recessed groove 331 at the vertical center position that extends from the right fulcrum section 33 in the direction in which the right front section 31 extends.

In addition, the tongs 1 of this example are provided with a left claw portion 211 that convex toward the right body 3 at a position slightly below the upper end of the front edge of the left front portion 21, and a right claw portion 311 that convex toward the left body 2 at the corner position at the upper end of the front edge of the right front portion 21. The left claw portion 211 and the right claw portion 311 interlock when the left body 2 and the right body 3 are closed while the tongs 1 is in use, thereby preventing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 holding food from shifting up and down. The positions of the left claw portion 211 and the right claw portion 311 are not limited to this example, as long as they interlock to prevent the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 from shifting up and down.

The tongs 1 of this example are folded by the hinge shaft 4, the convex parts 34 and concave parts 24 of the left rear part 22 and the right rear part 32 are snapped together to bring the left rear part 22 and the right rear part 32 into close contact, and the convex strips 231 and concave grooves 331 of the left fulcrum part 23 and the right fulcrum part 33 are fitted together to assemble the left front part 21 and the right front part 31 into a use state (see Figures 1 to 3) with the left front part 21 and the right front part 31 widely open to the left and right. The tongs 1 of this example can be placed on a table or the like with a part of the curved lower edge of the left front part 21 and the right front part 31 and the rounded lower corners of the rear edges of the left rear part 22 and the right rear part 32 touching the ground. When the tongs 1 are placed on a table, the lower edges of the left front part 21 and the right front part 31 that grip the food can be kept away from the table, making it hygienic.

In this example, the tongs 1 are gripped with the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313 with the fingers, and pressed against the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313, which elastically deforms the vicinity of the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33, closing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, and the food (not shown) is sandwiched between the acute lower corners of the front edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31. In reality, how the tongs 1 are used is up to the user, so for example, the tongs 1 may be turned upside down and the food may be sandwiched between the obtuse upper corners of the front edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31, or the food may be sandwiched using the entire front edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31.

When the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 are opened or closed, the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33 are pressed against each other by nearby elastic deformation, and the convex rib 231 and the concave groove 331 fit together, preventing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 from shifting up and down. As described above, the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 of the left main body 2 and the right main body 3 have high rigidity, and each moves to open and close as a unit. The left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 move to open and close as a unit without shifting up and down, preventing food from falling when grasped at the lower corners of the front edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31, and preventing the fingers from shifting when placed against the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313, improving the usability of the tongs 1.

When the food is large, the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 are separated, and force can be applied in the direction of closing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31, so the food will not fall unless the food itself slides. When the food is small or thin, the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 come into contact at their front ends (see Figure 6), and the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 cannot close any further. In this case, the left claw portion 211 and the right claw portion 311 interlock, preventing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 from shifting up and down, and preventing the food from falling.

The left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 can be closed until their front edges come into contact beyond the abutting left fulcrum portion 23 and right fulcrum portion 33. This increases the elastic deformation near the left fulcrum portion 23 and right fulcrum portion 33, and also increases the restoring force of the left front portion 21 and right front portion 31. The tongs 1 of the present invention prevent the separation of the convex portion 34 and the concave portion 24 that are engaged with the snap buttons by making it difficult for the restoring force of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 to be transmitted to the left rear portion 22 and right rear portion 32 by the left groove portion 25 and the right groove portion 35. In this way, the initial state in which the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 are widely opened around the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33 is maintained, and a large opening and closing range of the tongs 1 is ensured.

1 Tongs

2 Left body
21 Left front
211 Left claw
212 Left bulge
213 Left recess
22 Left rear
23 Left fulcrum
231 Opposing ridges
24 Snap button fitting recess
25 Left groove

3 Right body
31 Right front
311 Right claw
312 Right bulge
313 Right recess
32 Right rear
33 Right fulcrum
331 Opposite grooves
34 Snap button fitting protrusion
35 Right groove

4 Hinge axis

Claims (4)

It is composed of a left body and a right body that are thin and elastic,
The left and right main bodies are each composed of a left front section and a right front section, the left and right fulcrum sections being provided at the rear, and a left rear section and a right rear section, the left and right rear sections being provided with a connecting section,
a groove portion is provided between the left fulcrum portion and the connecting portion and between the right fulcrum portion and the connecting portion, the groove portion intersecting with a direction in which the left front portion and the right front portion extend from the left fulcrum portion and the right fulcrum portion,
The left and right fulcrum portions are formed so that their opposing contacting portions are fitted together,
The tongs have a left and right rear portion connected by a connecting portion, and the opposing portions of the left and right fulcrum portion are engaged with each other, and the left and right front portions are elastically deformed in part or in whole to open and close. Tongs according to claim 1, in which the left and right main bodies are connected by a hinge shaft that connects the left and right rear parts. Tongs according to claim 1 or 2, in which the left and right main bodies are connected by snap button convex and concave parts provided at opposing inner positions on the left and right rear parts. The tongs according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the left and right fulcrum portions are formed with a concave groove parallel to the opening and closing direction of the left and right front portions and a convex strip that fits into the concave groove, the concave groove being allocated to opposing portions.