Folding Tongs with Protrusion Nesting for Compact Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic tongs are not efficiently stackable for shipment due to their inability to open to 180 degrees, and even those that do are not nestable as they do not allow a portion to fit snugly inside an adjacent pair.
Innovation Solution
The design of folding plastic tongs with non-planar arms and protrusions that connect to restrain opening, allowing the arms to form at least an obtuse angle, enabling efficient nesting by fitting one pair's protrusions within another's volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional plastic tongs are designed to open to 180 degrees, then they can be more compact for shipment, but they still cannot be efficiently nested because they lack protrusions to fit snugly inside adjacent pairs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by adding protrusions on the inner surfaces of the arms that fit into corresponding receptacles on adjacent tongs. This allows one pair of tongs to nest within another pair when opened to 180 degrees, significantly improving storage efficiency and reducing shipping volume.
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic tongs are made with simple planar arms, then manufacturing is easier, but they cannot achieve efficient stacking and nesting configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are segmented into planar and non-planar portions, with protrusions and receptacles created as distinct features. This segmentation allows the majority of the arm to remain simple and easy to manufacture, while specific localized features enable efficient nesting and stacking configurations.
3Productivity
If protrusions are added to restrain opening movement, then nesting is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Protrusions and receptacles are added only at specific locations on the inner surfaces of the arms where they are needed for nesting, rather than modifying the entire structure. This localized approach enables nesting capability while minimizing overall structural complexity and maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Folding plastic tongs for serving food items are disclosed. The tongs have arms joined at a hinge and extending in a lengthwise direction from the hinge. A first protrusion extends from an inner surface of the first arm and a second protrusion extends from an inner surface of the second arm. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured to connect to each other to restrain an opening movement of the arms. Gripping portions are formed at ends of each of the arms. The hinge is configured to allow the arms to open to a position such that the first arm forms at least an obtuse angle with the second arm when the first protrusion and the second protrusion are not connected.