Tongs

Abstract

To provide tongs that can hold a food easily and do not damage a food.SOLUTION: There are provided tongs whose front end parts of the left body and the right body get close to / get away from each other to hold / release a food, in which the respective connection parts formed at the respective rear end parts of substantially plate-like left body and right body, each having a width, are connected to each other while the relative movement is restricted by a relative movement restriction structure. The respective front end parts of the left body and the right body are formed with a left convex part and a right convex part protruding in an approaching direction, which are opposed to each other. The opposed faces of the left convex part and the right convex part are formed flatly, and the opposed faces of the left convex part and the right convex part are formed at positions whose distances to the connection part are different on one side in a width direction of the left body and the right body, and on the other side. In the state that the left convex part and the right convex part abut against each other or are close to each other, a space is formed on the rear side of the left convex part and the right convex part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to tongs for gripping food items. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, tongs are used to grasp food.

[0003] One proposed tongs of this type is made up of approximately symmetrical left and right bodies formed from a thin elastic resin sheet, with the rear parts of the left and right bodies connected by a hinge shaft that engages with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this tongs, the front part (left front part) of the left body and the front part (right front part) of the right body are formed in a straight line that is inclined forward, and left and right claw parts that are convex inward are provided at the corners of the upper ends of the respective front edges. The left and right claw parts engage with each other to prevent the left and right front parts, which hold food, from shifting up and down when the left and right bodies are closed while the tongs are in use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-175216 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the tongs of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the left and right bodies are brought close together to grab food while the tongs are in use, the left and right claws protrude linearly, making it difficult to grab food because the position to grab is narrow. Also, because the left front part and the right front part are linear, food cannot be delicately grabbed by facing the left front part and the right front part, and if food is grabbed and force is applied, one of the front parts will bite into the food, damaging it.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide tongs that make it easy to grasp food and do not damage the food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure relates to tongs capable of clamping and releasing food by moving the front ends of a left and right body closer to or farther apart, wherein the connecting portions formed at the rear ends of the left and right bodies, which are each roughly plate-shaped and wide, are connected such that relative movement is restricted by a relative movement restricting structure, and the front ends of the left and right bodies are formed with opposing left and right convex portions that protrude in the direction of approach, the opposing surfaces of the left and right convex portions are formed flat, the opposing surfaces of the left and right convex portions are formed at positions with different distances to the connecting portion on one and the other widthwise sides of the left and right bodies, and wherein a space is formed behind the left and right convex portions when the left and right convex portions are in contact or close proximity to each other.

[0008] In the present disclosure, one connecting portion has a plate-like portion and the other connecting portion has a gap, the plate-like portion and the gap are formed along the thickness direction of the left main body and the right main body, and the plate-like portion is inserted into the gap to connect the left main body and the right main body, and the structure may be such that, with relative movement being restricted in the connected state of the connecting portions by a relative movement restriction structure, the left main body and the right main body near the connecting portion elastically deform, causing the left convex portion and the right convex portion to move closer to or apart from each other.

[0009] In the present disclosure, the relative movement restriction structure may be a structure in which a protrusion formed on one end of a plate-like portion located on the rear end side of one connecting portion engages with the edge of the gap-forming portion of the other connecting portion, and the outer surface of the plate-like portion and the inner surface facing the gap engage with each other in an uneven manner, thereby restricting relative movement between the connecting portions.

[0010] In the present disclosure, the rear surfaces of the left and right convex portions on the connecting portion side may be formed in a curved shape.

[0011] In the present disclosure, the rear surfaces of the left and right convex portions on the connecting portion side may be formed in a linear inclination.

[0012] In the present disclosure, a leg that protrudes downward may be integrally formed on one widthwise side of the left and right main bodies, which will be the underside when the tongs are placed on a flat surface such as a table, and when the tongs are placed on the flat surface, the tongs are supported on the flat surface by each leg and the connecting part, and the front part is raised above the flat surface.

[0013] In the present disclosure, the portions of the tongs up to a certain distance rearward from the left and right convex portions at the front become the clamping portions for gripping food, the rear portions of the left and right main bodies become the gripping portions, the tongs are formed entirely from an elastic resin material, and the clamping portions may be covered with a soft resin material. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The tongs of the present disclosure can provide the excellent effect of making food easy to grasp and not damaging the food. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the tongs according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is an end view of the tongs taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue taken along line BB in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tongue taken along line CC in FIG. 4. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongue as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongs as viewed from the front side. [Figure 12] 1A to 1F are explanatory views of the left body of the tongs, where (a) is a left side view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a bottom view, (e) is a right side view, and (f) is a rear view. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the left body of the tongs from the inside. [Figure 14] 1A to 1C are explanatory views of the right body of the tongs, where (a) is a rear view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is an end view along line AA of (b), (d) is an end view along line BB of (b), (e) is a plan view, (f) is a front view, (g) is a bottom view, and (h) is a right side view. [Figure 15] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the right body of the tongs, where FIG. 1A is a perspective view from the right side, and FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the tongs in use. [Figure 17] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the tongs in use. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a tongue according to a modified example of the first embodiment, as viewed from the front side. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a front view of a tong according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. [Diagram 25] 20 is an end view of the tongs taken along line AA in FIG. 19. [Figure 26] 23 is a cross-sectional view of the tongs taken along line BB in FIG. 22. [Figure 27] 23 is a cross-sectional view of the tongs taken along line CC in FIG. 22. [Figure 28] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongue as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongs as viewed from the front side. [Diagram 30]1A to 1F are explanatory views of the left body of the tongs, where (a) is a left side view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a bottom view, (e) is a right side view, and (f) is a rear view. [Diagram 31] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the left body of the tongs from the inside. [Diagram 32] 1A to 1C are explanatory views of the right body of the tongs, where (a) is a rear view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is an end view along line AA of (b), (d) is an end view along line BB of (b), (e) is a plan view, (f) is a front view, (g) is a bottom view, and (h) is a right side view. [Diagram 33] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the right body of the tongs, where FIG. 1A is a perspective view from the right side, and FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] [1. First embodiment] [1.1 Overall structure] 1 to 17 are explanatory views of the tongs according to the first embodiment.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 to 17, the tongs are capable of holding and releasing food by moving front parts 10f, 12f of the left body 10 and the right body 12 close to or apart from each other, and the relative movement of connecting parts 14, 16 formed on the rear ends of the left body 10 and the right body 12, which each extend in a roughly wide plate shape, is restricted by a relative movement restricting structure 24, and the left body 10 and the right body 12 are detachably connected by the connecting parts 14, 16. The left body 10 is shown in Figures 12 and 13, and the right body 12 has a structure shown in Figures 14 and 15.

[0019] 1 to 15, the direction of the connecting portion of the tongue, i.e., the rear portion, is indicated as rear portions 10r and 12r of the left body 10 and the right body 12, and the direction of the tip of the tongue, i.e., the front portion, is indicated as front portions 10f and 12f of the left body 10 and the right body 12. Connecting portions 14 and 16 are formed at the rear ends of the left body 10 and the right body 12, respectively, so as to bulge in the opposite directions. The width direction of the left body 10 and the right body 12 is indicated by the symbol "W" in Figs. 3 and 4, and the length direction is indicated by the symbol "L".

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tongs have a roughly V-shaped overall shape when connected by connecting parts 14 and 16, and the rear parts 10r and 12r of the left body 10 and the right body 12 near the base of the connecting parts 14 and 16 (parts indicated by symbols 10r1, 12r1 in Figure 1) bend (elastically deform), allowing the tips of the tongs, i.e., the tips of the front parts 10f and 12f, to move closer to or farther apart from each other to hold and release food.

[0021] [1.2 Left body 10, right body 12] When the left body 10 and the right body 12 are separated from each other by the connection parts 14 and 16, the left body 10 has the connection parts 14 and 16 protruding inward (closing direction) at the rear end as shown in Figures 12 and 13, and the right body 12 has the front parts 10f and 12f slightly wider and roughly spatula-shaped as shown in Figures 14 and 15. The inner surfaces of the front parts 10f and 12f are gently recessed to form spaces 20c and 22c.

[0022] [1.3 Left convex portion 20, right convex portion 22] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 are formed opposite to each other on the inner surface of the front end portion of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, protruding inward in the approaching direction.

[0023] Specifically, on the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, the portions of the tongs that extend a certain distance rearward from the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 of the front portions 10f and 12f form the clamping portion that grasps food, and on the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, the rear portions 10r and 12r form the gripping portion (handle portion) that the user holds and operates from the outside with their hands.

[0024] The tongs are made of a material in which the base is made of an elastically deformable resin material (e.g., polyamide resin), and a certain range (covering portion 10f1, 12f1, an example of which is shown in Figs. 12 to 15) of the front portion 10f, 12f (clamping portion) including the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 is covered with a resin material softer than the base (e.g., made of a soft resin such as silicone rubber) to soften the clamping portion, making it difficult to damage food and not damaging the surface treatment of pots and frying pans such as fluororesin processing. Note that the covering portions 10f1, 12f1 are also shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 7 to 11. Figs. 14(c) and (d) show the state in which the soft covering portion 12f1 covers the front portion 12f, which is the hard base, in the right main body 12 in end views. Although not shown in the end view, the left main body 10 also has the soft covering portion 10f1 covering the front portion 10f, like the right main body 12. Furthermore, the tongs may be entirely heat resistant and may be used for cooking food. As a modification of the tongue of the first embodiment, the front parts 10fA, 12fA of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 may have a base-only structure that is not covered with a soft resin material, as shown in Fig. 18. The tongue according to the modification shown in Fig. 18 has the same configuration as the tongue of the first embodiment, except that the front parts 10fA, 12fA are not covered, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0025] In addition, the opposing surfaces 20a and 22a of the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 are formed flat (some unevenness is acceptable), and the rear surfaces 20b, 22b on the rear side of the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 are formed at positions with different distances to the connecting portions 14 and 16 on one side and the other side in the width direction (indicated by the symbol "W" in Figures 12 and 14).

[0026] In the first embodiment, in the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22, as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 14, the front side U (an example of one side in the width direction) 20bu, 22bu of the rear surfaces 20b, 22b in the width direction (indicated by the symbol "W" in Fig. 12 and Fig. 14) is located farther from the connecting portions 14, 16 than the rear side D (an example of the other side in the width direction) 20bd, 22bd. Moreover, the rear surfaces 20b, 22b are formed in a generally sickle-shaped curved shape that draws an arc.

[0027] Further, the opposing surfaces 20a and 22a of the left protrusion 20 and the right protrusion 22 are formed into a generally sickle-shaped flat surface with a periphery that generally draws an arc.

[0028] In the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, spaces 20c, 22c are formed from the opposing surfaces 20a, 22a toward the connecting portions 14, 16. Specifically, the inner surfaces of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 are recessed from the opposing surfaces 20a, 22a of the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22, forming a step, and the spaces 20c, 22c are formed in the recessed portions. These spaces 20c, 22c make it possible to grip various foods that are rounded, such as boiled eggs and tomatoes.

[0029] In addition, by gripping the rear parts 10r, 12r of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, the base vicinity (parts indicated by symbols 10r1, 12r1 in FIG. 1) close to the connecting parts 14, 16 of the rear parts 10r, 12r is bent, and the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 are bent, and the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 of the front parts 10f, 12f are brought close to each other. Since the connecting parts 14, 16 are unlikely to bring the rear parts 10r, 12r close to each other due to the relative movement restriction structure 24, even when the opposing surfaces 20a, 22a of the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 abut against each other, the structure is such that spaces 20c, 22c are formed on the rear side of the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22. The bent part may be other than the base vicinity 10r1, 12r1 of the rear parts 10r, 12r.

[0030] [1.4 Connecting parts 14, 16] As shown in Figures 1 to 6 and 8 to 15, the connecting portion 14 (an example of one connecting portion) of the left main body 10 has a plate-shaped portion 14a, and the connecting portion 16 (an example of the other connecting portion) of the right main body 12 has a gap 16a, with the plate-shaped portion 14a and the gap 16a being formed along the thickness direction of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, and the plate-shaped portion 14a being inserted into the gap 16a to connect the left main body 10 and the right main body 12.

[0031] The relative movement restriction structure 24, the various parts of which are shown in Figures 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12 to 15, has the function of restricting the relative movement between the connecting parts 14, 16 when they are connected to each other, and when the relative movement is restricted, the base areas of the connecting parts 14 and 16 sides of the rear parts 10r and 12r of the left and right main bodies 10 and 12 bend (elastically deform) (the parts shown by symbols 10r1, 12r1 in Figure 1), causing the tips of the tongs, i.e., the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 at the tips of the front parts 10f and 12f, to approach or move away from each other, thereby enabling the tongs to clamp and release food.

[0032] In detail, the relative movement restricting structure 24 of the embodiment is a structure in which a protrusion 24a (see Figs. 12 and 13) formed at one end of a piece-like portion 14a located at the rear end side of one connecting portion 14 engages with an edge portion 24b (see Figs. 14 and 15) at the location where the gap 16a is formed of the other connecting portion 16, and a rib-like protrusion 24c1 (see Figs. 12 and 13) formed on the outer surface of the piece-like portion 14a and a groove-like recess 24c2 (see Figs. 14 and 15) on the inner surface facing the gap 16a engage with each other to restrict the relative movement between the connecting portions 14 and 16. In addition, the restriction of the relative movement between the connecting portions 14 and 16 in the embodiment means that when the connecting portions 14 and 16 are engaged with each other, one cannot move relative to the other, for example, the connecting portions 14 and 16 are connected to each other and fixed. The recessed and protruding engagement structure of the relative movement restricting structure 24 may be a recessed portion and a protruding portion provided at a position other than the projection 24a, the edge portion 24b, the protruding portion 24c1, and the recessed portion 24c2. The relative movement restricting structure 24 may be an engagement structure in which the gap 16a of the connecting portions 14, 16 presses the sandwiched plate-like portion 14a, bringing the contacting portions into close contact with each other, thereby restricting the relative movement of the connecting portions 14, 16 by fixing them to each other. The relative movement restricting structure may be a structure in which the connecting portions 14, 16 are fixed to each other by bonding or fusion after being connected to each other, thereby restricting the relative movement of the connecting portions 14, 16.

[0033] As can be seen from Figures 8, 9, 12 and 14, the rear end portions of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 are formed with through holes 26a, 26b which communicate with similar positions of the rear end portions when the respective connecting portions 14 and 16 are connected, and across the through holes 26a, 26b, the protrusion 24a of the plate-shaped portion 14a and the edge portion 24b of the gap forming portion and the uneven mating portion (protrusion 24c1, recess 24c2) are located on almost opposite sides.

[0034] [1.5 Legs 28, 30] As shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 10 to Fig. 15, the left body 10 and the right body 12 have legs 28, 30 protruding downward on one side in the width direction W of the left body 10 and the right body 12, which is the lower surface side when the tongs are placed on a flat surface such as a table, and are configured so that when the tongs are placed on the flat surface, the tongs are supported on the flat surface by the legs 28, 30 and the connecting parts 14, 16, and the front parts 10f, 12f are floating above the flat surface. In Fig. 3, a virtual plane line is indicated by the symbol T, and it can be understood that the front parts 10f, 12f of the left body 10 and the right body 12 are spaced apart from the virtual plane line by a distance S. Due to this distance S, when the tongs are placed on a flat surface such as a table when not in use, the front parts 10f, 12f do not come into contact with the flat surface, so that the front parts 10f, 12f are kept clean and the flat surface can be used without being soiled.

[0035] [1.6 Description of usage state of the first embodiment] In the tongs of the first embodiment, the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 have spaces 20c, 22c formed in recessed areas from the opposing surfaces 20a, 22a toward the connecting portions 14 and 16, and the opposing surfaces 20a, 22a are formed in an approximately sickle-shaped curved shape that draws an arc.

[0036] FIG. 16 shows the state where the tongs A of the first embodiment pinch (hold) the pasta B of the noodle food. In this case, as shown in the figure, the user applies a gripping force with the hand H to the rear parts 10r and 12r of the left body 10 and the right body 12 of the tongs A as gripping parts, so that the front parts 10f and 12f approach each other. When the front parts 10f and 12f approach each other, the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 come into contact with each other, and the front ends close to form a bridge shape. The pasta B can be hung on this part and held in a state where it passes through the space from the opposing surfaces 20a and 22a of the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 to the connecting parts 14 and 16. In this case, the left convex part 20 and the right convex part 22 come into contact with each other and the front ends close to form a space surrounding the front end direction, and the pasta B in the space does not spill out, and since the pasta B is not pinched, it can be taken out of the pot C without being crushed, which is very convenient. The modified tongs shown in FIG. 18 can be used in the same manner.

[0037] Fig. 17 shows a state where an egg E, which is a food item, is pinched (held) by the tongs A when the tongs of the first embodiment are used to boil the egg E. As shown in the figure, the egg E is pinched and held in the recessed spaces 20c, 22c in the spaces extending from the opposing faces 20a, 22a of the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 to the connecting portions 14, 16. In this case, the opposing faces 20a, 22a of the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 surround the egg E to prevent it from falling or rolling toward the tip, so that the egg can be held stably. The tongs of the modified example shown in Fig. 18 can also be used in a similar manner.

[0038] [1.7 Effects of the first embodiment] As described above, the tongs of the first embodiment are effective as tongs that allow food to be easily grasped without damaging the food, and are particularly suitable for grasping string-like foods such as noodles and spherical foods such as eggs. The tongs of the modified example shown in Fig. 18 also have the same effect.

[0039] [2. Second embodiment] In addition to the first embodiment, the tongue of the present disclosure can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present disclosure. A tongue according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in Figures 19 to 33, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0040] [2.1 Left convex portion 40, right convex portion 42] The tongue of the second embodiment has a linear left convex portion 40 and a linear right convex portion 42, unlike the left convex portion 20 and the right convex portion 22 of the first embodiment. In Figs. 25 to 27, covering portions 10f1 and 12f1 of front portions 10f and 12f of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 are shown.

[0041] In detail, the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42 are formed facing each other on the inner surface of the front end portion of each of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, with the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42 protruding inward in the approaching direction, as in the first embodiment. The facing surfaces 40a and 42a of the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42 are formed flat (may have some unevenness), and the rear surfaces 40b, 42b of the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42 on the connecting portions 14 and 16 sides are formed at positions with different distances to the connecting portions 14 and 16 on one side and the other side in the width direction, and the rear surfaces 40b, 42b are formed linearly and in a shape oblique to the length direction of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12.

[0042] In the second embodiment, in the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42, as shown in Fig. 30 and Fig. 32, the front side U (an example of one side in the width direction) 40bu, 42bu in the width direction (indicated by the symbol "W" in Fig. 30 and Fig. 32) of the rear surface 40b, 42b is located farther from the connecting portions 14, 16 than the back side D (an example of the other side in the width direction) 40bd, 42bd. Moreover, the rear surface 40b, 42b is formed in a substantially straight line.

[0043] Further, the opposing surfaces 40 a and 42 a of the left and right protrusions 40 and 42 are also formed in a generally linear shape that is oblique to the longitudinal direction of the left and right main bodies 10 and 12 .

[0044] In the left main body 10 and the right main body 12, spaces 40c, 42c are formed from the rear surfaces 40b, 42b toward the connecting portions 14 and 16. Specifically, the inner surfaces of the left main body 10 and the right main body 12 are recessed outward from the opposing surfaces 40a, 42a of the left convex portion 40 and the right convex portion 42, forming steps, and spaces 40c, 42c are formed in the recessed areas. These spaces 40c, 42c make it possible to grip various foods, such as potatoes and other foods with distorted or undistorted ball shapes, and noodles.

[0045] [2.2 Effects of the second embodiment] As described above, the tongs of the second embodiment can easily grasp foods that are distorted or undistorted ball-shaped, or string-like foods such as noodles, and can be used to grasp food without damaging the food.

[0046] The tongs of the above-mentioned embodiments (including modified tongs) are some embodiments of the present disclosure, and can be freely modified within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the left convex portion and the right convex portion are formed on opposing surfaces that are sickle-shaped or linear, but it is within the scope of the present disclosure to form opposing surfaces in other shapes according to the type of food, such as wavy or V-shaped, or to form opposing surfaces of the left convex portion and the right convex portion in an asymmetric shape. [Industrial Applicability]

[0047] The tongs of the present disclosure can be utilized to grasp food items during preparation and serving. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 Left body 10f front 10r Rear 12 Right body 12f front 12r Rear 14 Left body connection 14a Plate-like part 16 Right body connection 16a Gap 20 Left convex part 20a Opposite surface 20b rear 20c space 22 Right convex part 22a Opposite surface 22b Rear 22c space 24 Relative movement control structure 24a Protrusion 24b Edge 24c1 Convex part 24c2 Recess 28, 30 legs 40 Left convex part 40a Opposite surface 40b Rear surface 40c Space 42 Right convex part 42a Opposite surface 42b Rear surface 42c Space

Claims

1. The tongs are capable of holding and releasing food by moving the front ends of the left and right bodies closer to and farther from each other, The connecting parts formed at the rear end parts of the left and right bodies, each of which is roughly a plate-like body having a width, are connected to each other while their relative movement is restricted by a relative movement restriction structure, A left convex portion and a right convex portion that protrude in the approach direction are formed opposite to each other at the front end of each of the left body and the right body, The opposing surfaces of the left convex portion and the right convex portion are formed flat, The opposing surfaces of the left convex portion and the right convex portion are formed at positions with different distances to the connecting portion on one side and the other side in the width direction of the left main body and the right main body, A tongue characterized in that a space is formed behind the left convex portion and the right convex portion when the left convex portion and the right convex portion are in contact or close proximity to each other.

2. One connecting portion has a plate-like portion, and the other connecting portion has a gap, the plate-like portion and the gap are formed along the thickness direction of the left main body and the right main body, and the plate-like portion is inserted into the gap to connect the left main body and the right main body, The tongs as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the relative movement is restricted while the connecting parts are connected to each other by the relative movement restriction structure, the left convex portion and the right convex portion are moved closer to or farther apart by elastic deformation of the areas near the connecting parts of the left main body and the right main body.

3. The tongs described in claim 2, characterized in that the relative movement restriction structure is a structure in which a protrusion formed on one end of a plate-like portion located on the rear end side of one connecting portion engages with the edge portion of the gap forming portion of the other connecting portion, and the outer surface of the plate-like portion and the inner surface facing the gap engage with each other in an uneven manner, thereby restricting relative movement between the connecting portions.

4. 4. The tongue according to claim 1, wherein the rear surfaces of the left and right protrusions on the connecting portion side are formed in a curved shape.

5. 4. The tongue according to claim 1, wherein the rear surfaces of the left and right protrusions on the connecting portion side are formed in a linear inclination.

6. Tongs as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a leg protruding downward is integrally formed on one widthwise side of the left and right main bodies, which will be the underside when the tongs are placed on a flat surface such as a table, so that when the tongs are placed on the flat surface, the tongs are supported on the flat surface by each leg and the connecting part, and the front part is raised above the flat surface.

7. Tongs as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the portions of the tongs up to a certain distance rearward from the left and right convex portions at the front of the tongs form clamping portions for gripping food, the rear portions of the left and right main bodies form gripping portions, the tongs are formed entirely from an elastic resin material, and the clamping portions are covered with a soft resin material.

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