Tongs

Abstract

To provide tongs having a left body and a right body formed of, e.g., a resin sheet in consideration of weight saving and disposable use.SOLUTION: Tongs 1 are comprised of a thin lift body 2 and right body 3 having elasticity. The left body 2 and the right body 3 comprise: a left-front part 21 and a right-front part 31 including a left fulcrum part 23 and a right fulcrum part 33 provided at inner facing positions, on the rear side; and a left-rear part 22 and a right-rear part including a hinge shaft 4. A projecting strip 231 and a recessed groove 331 are respectively formed at facing parts where the left fulcrum part 23 and the right fulcrum part 33 come into contact, to connect the left-rear part 22 and the right-rear part by the hinge shaft 4. The tongs are opened / closed by elastically deforming parts or whole bodies of the left-front part 21 and the right-front part 31, with the projecting strip 231 and the recessed groove 331 of the left fulcrum part 23 and the right fulcrum part 33 fitted to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tong that is composed of elastic, thin-walled left and right bodies. [Background technology]

[0002] Tongs are used, for example, when dividing food served on a large plate into smaller portions. Ordinary tongs have a U-shaped configuration (integral type) consisting of a left main body and a right main body aligned parallel to each other, with a hinge shaft that elastically deforms formed by bending a single metal plate, or a configuration (separate type) in which two metal plates are formed into a left main body and a right main body that elastically deform, with the left and right main bodies separated and connected at the left and right rear parts. The left and right main bodies can be repeatedly opened and closed by the elastic deformation of the hinge shaft in the integrated tongs, and by the elastic deformation of the left and right main bodies in the separate tongs.

[0003] Whether the tongs are integrated or separate, it is difficult to grasp food that is larger than the width of the left and right bodies that are 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 connected body, and by pressing the rear part of the protrusion, the part in front of the protrusion opens wider than the initially set width (Utility Model Registration Claims). The material of the left and right bodies is not specified, but since they constitute the tongs, it is assumed that the left and right bodies elastically deform and open and close with the abutting protrusion as a fulcrum. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 55-156867 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 can open the front part of the tongs from the protrusion as a fulcrum, and can increase the elastic deformation of the left and right bodies. Therefore, the tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be configured such 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 weight reduction and disposability. However, since the tongs disclosed in Patent Document 1 only abut the opposing protrusions, there may be cases where the elastic thin-walled left and right bodies are twisted and the protrusions are misaligned, making it difficult to open and close the front part of the tongs from the protrusions.

[0006] 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 would still be difficult to prevent the protrusions from becoming misaligned, and the food could fall off. In order to provide tongs with thin, elastic left and right bodies formed, for example, from a resin sheet, in consideration of weight reduction and disposability, a structure was studied that would prevent the protrusions from becoming misaligned by using the protrusions as fulcrums for opening the left and right main bodies wide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of the study, what was developed is a tongs that is composed of elastic thin-walled left and right main bodies, each of which is made up of a left front section and a right front section with a left fulcrum section and a right fulcrum section provided at the rear, the left rear section and the right rear section provided with a connecting section, the contacting opposing sections of the left fulcrum section and the right fulcrum section being formed in a fitting relationship, connecting the left rear section and the right rear section, and opening and closing the tongs while elastically deforming a part or all of the left front section and the right front section with the opposing sections of the left fulcrum section and the right fulcrum section being fitted together. The elastic thin-walled left and right main bodies can be, for example, press-molded products of metal sheets or resin sheets, or pulp-molded paper molded products.

[0008] The connecting part connects the left rear part and the right rear part, and specifies the positional relationship between the left main body and the right main body. The connecting part only needs to connect the left rear part and the right rear part in the use state, and may be configured to make the left rear part and the right rear part inseparable, or 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 press the opposing parts that contact each other to fit together, 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 contact each other are in a fitting relationship. The left front part and the right front part open more in the initial state as the left fulcrum part and the right fulcrum part are located further rearward, and the opening and closing range can be increased accordingly.

[0009] The connecting portion that inseparably connects the left rear portion and the right rear portion includes a hinge shaft that connects the left rear portion and the right rear portion. The left main body and the right main body, whose connecting portion between the left rear portion and the right rear portion is the hinge shaft, can be formed as a press-molded product of a metal sheet or a resin sheet that is developed on the same plane via the hinge shaft, or a pulp-molded paper molded product. The left main body and the right main body open and close the left front portion and the right front portion that are partially or entirely elastically deformed. A part of the left front portion and the right front portion is preferably near the left fulcrum portion and the right fulcrum portion. The hinge shaft located behind the left fulcrum portion and the right fulcrum portion is unrelated to the opening and closing direction of the left front portion and the right front portion, so the direction can be freely set. The hinge shaft, which is the connecting portion, specifies the positional relationship between the left main body and the right main body, and fits the left fulcrum portion and the right fulcrum portion without misalignment.

[0010] The connecting portion that connects the left rear portion and the right rear portion separably includes a convex portion and a concave portion for snap button fitting provided at opposing positions on the inside of the left rear portion and the right rear portion. The convex portion and the concave portion for snap button fitting, which are separable connecting portions, can be used in combination with the hinge shaft, which is the above-mentioned inseparable connecting portion. When the convex portion and the concave portion are used in combination with the hinge shaft, the left main body and the right main body become inseparable. Since the convex portion and the concave portion are located rearward of the left fulcrum portion and the right fulcrum portion, they can be positioned regardless of the opening and closing direction of the left front portion and the right front portion, like the hinge shaft. The convex portion and the concave portion may be of any shape and the number of combinations of the convex portion and the concave portion as long as they can be engaged with the snap buttons in a detachable manner.

[0011] The left and right main bodies may each have a groove between the left and right fulcrum parts and the connecting part, the groove preferably having a length that crosses 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. The groove may be one line, but is preferably multiple lines. The orientation and intervals of the multiple grooves are not specified, but they are preferably arranged parallel and at equal intervals.

[0012] 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 ridge that fits into the groove, which are assigned to the opposing parts. The groove and the ridge 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 the ridge are basically straight, but may be slightly curved or bent as long as they can be fitted together without difficulty. One set of grooves and ridges is sufficient, but multiple sets may be provided. The multiple sets of grooves and ridges may 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. Effect of the Invention

[0013] 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-shaped products, and by locating the left and right fulcrum parts of the left and right front parts as far back as possible toward 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 located at opposing inside positions of the left and right front parts, can be prevented 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 an interlocking relationship.

[0014] The connecting part, which is a hinge axis connecting the left and right rear parts, has the advantage of being able to determine the relative positions of the left and right main bodies and to prevent the loss of either the left or right main body, which is inseparable. Also, the connecting part, which is a convex part and a concave part for fitting snap buttons provided at opposing positions on the inside of the left and right rear parts, has the advantage of being able to determine the relative positions of the left and right main bodies and to enable the replacement of either the left or right main body, which is inseparable.

[0015] The grooves provided between the left and right fulcrums and the connecting parts 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 parts to separate. This maintains the connected state of the left and right rear parts, so that the distance between the left and right fulcrums and the connecting parts can be reduced to realize an initial state in which the left and right front parts are widely opened, thereby increasing the range in which the left and right front parts can be opened and closed. This improves the usability of the tongs of the present invention.

[0016] When the left and right fulcrum parts are formed with grooves parallel to the opening and closing direction of the left and right front parts and protrusions that fit into the grooves, 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 such as the left and right front parts shifting while holding food and causing the food to fall.

[0017] Thus, the tongs of the present invention are easy to use and have the function of preventing food from dropping, and the left and right bodies are made of pressed metal or resin sheets or pulp-molded paper molded products, so that they are disposable, and therefore, they can be used not only as tongs for holding food, but also in various other situations. For example, the tongs of the present invention can be used to dispose of waste or dirt that cannot be touched directly in medical, research, or experimental settings, or to dispose of waste (including cleaning waste) generated during nursing care or daily life, or feces or carcasses of pets or small animals. In any case, the tongs of the present invention are disposable, which provides the advantage of ensuring hygiene. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a tong to which the present invention is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tongue of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the tongs of this example. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tongs of this example in an unfolded state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tongue of this example with the left and right front portions closed. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the tongs of this example with the left and right front portions closed. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the tongs of this example with the left front portion and the right front portion closed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the tongs 1 of the present invention are composed of a left main body 2 and a right main body 3, which are substantially symmetrical and formed from an elastic resin sheet. The tongs 1 of this embodiment are provided as a single resin sheet (see Fig. 4) in which the left main body 2 and the right main body 3 are connected by a hinge shaft 4 between a left rear portion 22 and a right rear portion 32. The tongs 1 provided as a single resin sheet are folded by a user by the hinge shaft 4, and the concave portion 24 of the left rear portion 22 and the convex portion 34 of the right rear portion 32 are snap-fitted together to be assembled into a use state (see Figs. 1 to 3).

[0020] The left body 2 and the right body 3 are mirror-symmetrical in structure when in use, except for the recessed portion 24 and the protruding portion 34 that form the snap button fitting connection, and the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33 that are in a fitting relationship. The tongs 1 of this example have the front ends of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 that are inclined linearly downward, and are used by switching the top and bottom depending on whether to use the acute corner portion or the obtuse-angled middle groove according to the food to be grasped. In this case, since the left body 2 and the right body 3 are mirror-symmetrical in structure, there is an advantage that there is no significant difference in the feeling of use when the top and bottom are switched.

[0021] The left main body 2 is composed of a left front part 21 having a left fulcrum part 23 at its rear end, which is provided at a position facing the inside of the right main body 3, and a left rear part 22 having a hinge shaft 4 and a recess 24 that constitute a 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 it is easy to handle. In this example, the left main body 2 has the 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.

[0022] The left rear portion 22 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, is connected to the right rear portion 32 of the right main body 3 by the hinge shaft 4, and has an elliptical recess 24 protruding 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 is engaged with the recess 24 by a snap button. In addition, the left rear portion 22 of this example has three left grooves 25 between the left fulcrum portion 23 and the connecting portion (hinge shaft 4 and recess 24) that cross the left rear portion 22 perpendicular to the direction in which the left front portion 21 extends from the left fulcrum portion 23. The left grooves 25 of this example overlap the hinge shaft 4 in part, but may be completely separated from the hinge shaft 4.

[0023] 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 inclines forward, and has a left bulging part 212 that bulges outward to the left, and has an asymmetrical structure in the vertical direction. The left bulging part 212 forms a left recessed part 213 that is recessed inward forward from the left fulcrum part 23, thereby increasing the rigidity of the whole. The left fulcrum part 23 is provided at the rear end of the left bulging part 212 including the left recessed part 213. As a result, the left main body 2 allows the whole left front part 21 to open and close in an integrated manner while limiting the part that can be elastically deformed to the vicinity of the left fulcrum part 23. The left fulcrum part 231 is a substantially rectangular bulging part that convexly protrudes toward the right main body 3, and forms a convex rib 231 at the vertical center position that extends from the left fulcrum part 23 in the direction in which the left front part 21 extends.

[0024] The right main body 3 has a mirror-symmetrical structure to the left main body 2, and is composed of a right front part 31 having a right fulcrum part 33 at its rear end, which is provided in an inner facing position with respect to the left main body 2, and a right rear part 32 having a hinge shaft 4 and a protrusion 34 that constitute a connecting part. If the right front part 31 and the right rear part 32 are also integral members 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.

[0025] 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 is provided with 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 is snap-buttoned by elastically deforming the concave part 24 of the left rear part 22, which is elliptical. In addition, the right rear part 32 of this example is provided with 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 of this example partially overlap the hinge shaft 4, but may be completely separated from the hinge shaft 4.

[0026] The right front part 31 has a vertically asymmetric structure consisting of a right bulge 312 that has a mirror-symmetric structure to the left front part 21, except for the right fulcrum part 331. The right bulge 312 forms a right recess 313 that is recessed inward forward from the right fulcrum part 33, increasing the overall rigidity. The right fulcrum part 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 part 21 as a whole, while limiting the part that can elastically deform to the vicinity of the right fulcrum part 33. The right fulcrum part 33 is a substantially 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 part 33 in the direction in which the right front part 31 extends.

[0027] In addition, the tongs 1 of this example are provided with a left claw portion 211 that convex toward the right main body 3 at a position slightly lower than the upper end of the front edge of the left front portion 21, and a right claw portion 311 that convex toward the left main 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 main body 2 and the right main body 3 are closed while the tongs 1 is in use, thereby preventing the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 that hold food from shifting in the vertical direction. The positions at which the left claw portion 211 and the right claw portion 311 are provided are not limited to those of this example, as long as they interlock to prevent the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 from shifting in the vertical direction.

[0028] The tongs 1 of this example are folded by the hinge shaft 4, the convex portion 34 and the concave portion 24 of the left rear portion 22 and the right rear portion 32 are snap-buttoned to bring the left rear portion 22 and the right rear portion 32 into close contact, and the convex strip 231 and the concave groove 331 of the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33 are fitted together to assemble the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 into a use state (see Figs. 1 to 3) with the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 widely open to the left and right. The tongs 1 of this example can be placed on a table or the like by placing a part of the curved lower edge of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 on the ground with the rounded lower corners of the rear edges of the left rear portion 22 and the right rear portion 32. When the tongs 1 are placed on a table, the lower edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 that grip food can be kept away from the table, which is hygienic.

[0029] In the tongs 1 of this example, when the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313 are grasped with fingers and pressed, the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313 are elastically deformed near the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, and the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 are closed, and 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 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 food may be sandwiched using the entire front edges of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31.

[0030] 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 elastic deformation in the vicinity, and the convex rib 231 and the concave groove 331 are fitted together, so that the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 do not shift 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 they open and close together. The left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31, which open and close together without shifting up and down, prevent 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 prevent fingers from shifting when placed against the left recessed portion 213 and the right recessed portion 313, improving the usability of the tongs 1.

[0031] If 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. If 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 FIG. 6), and the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 cannot be closed any further. In this case, the left claw portion 211 and the right claw portion 311 interlock with each other to prevent the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31 from shifting up and down, and the food will not fall.

[0032] 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 the right fulcrum portion 33. This increases the elastic deformation near the left fulcrum portion 23 and the right fulcrum portion 33, and also increases the restoring force of the left front portion 21 and the right front portion 31. In the tongs 1 of the present invention, the left groove portion 25 and the right groove portion 35 make 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 the right rear portion 32, preventing separation of the convex portion 34 and the concave portion 24 engaged with the snap button. 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Tongs 2 Left body 21 Left front 211 Left claw part 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

1. 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.

2. 2. The tongue according to claim 1, wherein the left and right main bodies are connected to each other by a hinge shaft that connects the left and right rear portions.

3. 3. The tongs according to claim 1, wherein the left and right main bodies are connected by snap button projections and recesses provided at opposing inner sides of the left and right rear portions.

4. 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, which are assigned to opposing portions.

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