U.S. patent application number 11/530783 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for finger tongs.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUSIONBRANDS INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Anna M. Stewart, Stephen Kraigh Stewart.
Application Number | 20070210596 11/530783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38478194 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070210596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stewart; Anna M. ; et
al. |
September 13, 2007 |
FINGER TONGS
Abstract
A kitchen accessory that combines features of tongs and a heat
protective oven mitt is disclosed. The kitchen accessory consists
of a front tong element flexibly hinged to a rear tong element to
form a seamless one piece structure. Additional elements include
scooping tips, different sized and shaped gripping and grasping
elements, and heat shrink hand protectors. each other and connected
to a hinge point surrounded by a hand protection area.
Inventors: |
Stewart; Anna M.; (Atlanta,
GA) ; Stewart; Stephen Kraigh; (Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GEORGE R. REARDON
3356 STATION COURT
LAWRENCVILLE
GA
30044
US
|
Assignee: |
FUSIONBRANDS INCORPORATED
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
38478194 |
Appl. No.: |
11/530783 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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29255624 |
Mar 11, 2006 |
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11530783 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
294/99.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 45/10 20130101;
A47G 21/10 20130101; A41D 13/081 20130101; A47J 43/283 20130101;
A47J 36/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/99.2 |
International
Class: |
A47G 21/10 20060101
A47G021/10 |
Claims
1. A kitchen accessory for the grasping of hot food comprising: a
front tong element having an front interior and a front exterior, a
rear tong element having a rear interior and a rear exterior, and a
flexible hinge element joining the front tong element to the rear
tong element to form a seamless one piece structure, wherein the
front interior is comprised of a front scooping tip, a plurality of
front small food grasping teeth, a plurality of front large food
grasping teeth, and a plurality of front stiffening ribs and the
front exterior is comprised of a plurality of front heat shrink
hand protectors; wherein the rear interior is comprised of a rear
scooping tip, a plurality of rear small food grasping teeth, a
plurality of rear large food grasping teeth, and a plurality of
rear stiffening ribs and the rear exterior is comprised of a
plurality of rear heat shrink hand protectors.
2. The kitchen accessory of claim 1, wherein the front tong element
is further comprised of a front hole.
3. The kitchen accessory of claim 2, wherein the rear tong element
is further comprised of a rear hole.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
and is a continuation-in-part of United States Design Patent
Application having a title of FINGER TONGS, filed on Mar. 11, 2006
and assigned Ser. No. 29/255,624.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of kitchen
utensils, and more particularly to glove like devices for handling
hot items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are many kinds of food serving tongs and food handling
gloves in present day use. Among the most familiar tongs is the
simple sheet metal tongs composed of two identical opposing arms
joined at one end by a pin and biased in the open position by a
spring metal member inside the handles. Other well known tongs
include the scissors type or those that are molded as one
continuous piece of resilient plastic. Serving tongs such as these
are often used at salad bars in restaurants and in serving other
types of food in self-service food establishments, as well as for
serving food in the home. There are many varieties of metal, wood,
plastic or silicone tongs on the market.
[0004] Several inventions use the glove concept of hand protection
for removing hot pot and pans or foods from the oven of stove top
but none are designed to actually go into a pot or pan, on the
stove top or in the oven and actually flip the food similar to
using a spatula. The ORCA oven mitt uses the glove concept to allow
user to reach deeply into boiling water and pull out a lobster or
other submerged hot foods. This is designed for clumsy grabbing of
large bulky foods and not small delicate food that require
continual turning in a pot or pan. This type of mitt is not
designed to easily slide under a chicken breast and flip it without
splattering, creating a potential mess or grease fire hazard.
[0005] Known art related to tongs or food handling gloves includes
the following.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 580,148, issued to Staples on Apr. 6, 1897,
discloses a folding holder.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,377, issued to Mackay et al. on May 24,
1960, discloses a hand covering mitt.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. D368,330, issued to Robinson on Mar. 26, 1996,
illustrates a thermal insulating finger pad.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. D425,261, issued to Basile on May 16, 2000,
illustrates a folding oven mitt.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,977, issued to Sacks et al. on Oct. 17,
2000, discloses a tongs assembly comprising a tongs and a hand
shield. In a preferred embodiment, the tongs include a pair of arms
hingedly connected at one end and the shield is attached to the
arms and extends radially outward from an optimal fulcrum point on
the arms. The shield is preferably round and formed by two thin,
rigid shield sections that are individually attached to the arms.
Each shield section is positioned on an arm in such a way as to
create a fulcrum point on the longitudinal axis of the tongs, so
that in the open position, the grasping ends of the tongs pivot
downwardly and the hinged or closed end of the tongs pivot upwardly
and away from the surface on which the grasping ends of the tongs
are resting. The handles of the tongs are thereby kept from
directly contacting the food or the utensil.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,128, issued to Suzuki on Nov. 14, 2000,
discloses a finger protector apparatus which includes a
thumb-receiver cup portion, a flexible hinge portion connected to
the thumb-receiver cup portion, and a two-finger-receiver cup
portion is connected to the flexible hinge portion. A longitudinal
axis extends through the thumb-receiver cup portion, the flexible
hinge portion, and the two-finger-receiver cup portion. In
addition, the thumb-receiver cup portion, the flexible hinge
portion, and the two-finger-receiver cup portion are disposed in a
plane symmetrically around the longitudinal axis. The
two-finger-receiver cup portion includes interior space for
receiving two fingers, one finger in a receiving space on one side
of the longitudinal axis and the second finger in a receiving space
on the other side of the longitudinal axis. The thumb-receiver cup
portion includes an interior space for receiving a thumb along the
longitudinal axis. The thumb-receiver cup portion, the flexible
hinge portion, and the two-finger-receiver cup portion are made
from oil-resistant material. The thumb-receiver cup portion and the
two-finger-receiver cup portion can be lined with a non-slip
polyurethane foam materials. The finger protector apparatus of the
invention can be worn by a person who wishes to pick up oily finger
foods such as potato chips. After the oily finger foods have been
eaten, the person can remove the finger protector apparatus to
prevent oily material from contacting devices touched by the
person's fingers, such as keyboards, writing implements, and remote
controls.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,023 B1, issued to Barkes on Oct. 23,
2001, discloses an oven mitt incorporating high temperature
materials, composed of polyester fleece, having a flap that
protects the wrist, stitched channels to hold the hand in place
which may also be used as a hot pad.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,597 B2, issued to Bignon et al. on Mar.
18, 2003, discloses a glove for housework, the glove being made
integrally of silicone material and possessing an ambidextrous
shape comprising a main pocket designed to receive four fingers of
a user, and a secondary pocket designed to receive the thumb, said
secondary pocket opening out into the main pocket.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. D477,690 S, issued to Howell et al. on Jul.
22, 2003, illustrates a silicone glove
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. D488,887 S, issued to Bignon et al. on Apr.
20, 2004, illustrates a long oven mitten without any raised
band.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. D491,317 S, issued to Bignon et al. on Jun. 8,
2004, illustrates a long oven mitten with raised bands.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. D491,318 S, issued to Bignon et al. on Jun. 8,
2004, illustrates a long oven mitten with anti-grip raised bands
and mouth raised bands.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. D500,177 S, issued to Wu on Dec. 21, 2004,
discloses a glove.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. D504,544 S, issued to Lee on Apr. 26, 2005,
illustrates an insulating glove.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. D526,096 S, issued to Kaposi on Aug. 1, 2006,
discloses a silicone glove.
[0021] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not
utilize or disclose a finger tongs device that combines the
features of food tongs with a food handling glove, e.g. the ability
to pick up small food items while being protecting the hand from
the heat.
[0022] Therefore, a need exists for a finger tongs device with
these attributes and functionalities. The finger tongs device
according to embodiments of the invention substantially departs
from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can
be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and
improved finger tongs device which can be used commercially. In
this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these
objectives.
[0023] The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state
of the art of which the inventors are aware and are tendered with a
view toward discharging the inventors' acknowledged duty of candor
in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the
patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully
stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other
information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when
considered in combination, the inventors' claimed invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a device
that combines the features of food tongs with a food handling
glove, e.g. the ability to pick up small food items while being
protecting the hand from the heat.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment the present invention pertains to
a flexible silicone set of tongs that the user wears on his/her
hand for grasping and flipping foods while cooking. The high
temperature resistance of the silicone material allows the user to
work in the oven or on the stove top and handle foods while
cooking. The advantage this gives is maximum control of handling
food.
[0026] Unlike using a single spatula where the flipping motion
usually causes splatters and often result in injuries the present
invention lets the user gently turn the food thus minimizing mess
or dangerous splatters. The present invention gives more control
than conventional tongs or double spatulas due to the closeness of
the user's hand to the food being cooked.
[0027] The user wears the present invention instead of holding it.
It allows the user to maximize control over turning or moving food
while cooking. This present invention protects a hand as if the
user is wearing a protective glove.
[0028] In one embodiment the elements of the present invention
consist of the following; [0029] two substantially parallel tong
elements with edges thin enough to slide underneath small food
items [0030] a flexible hinge element joining the two substantially
parallel tong elements [0031] beveled edge elements formed on the
top and bottom tong areas for additional protection from heat
[0032] Gripping teeth elements for holding small food items, formed
on the food contacting portion of the parallel tong elements.
[0033] Gripping bands for increasing the gripping ability for
larger or slippery items, formed behind the gripping teeth
elements
[0034] One aspect of the present invention is that it may be used
to protect the hand of the wearer while facilitating the grasping
of hot food items.
[0035] Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be
used in most cooking temperatures.
[0036] Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be
reused.
[0037] Another aspect of the present invention is that is
dishwasher safe.
[0038] Another aspect of the present invention is that is may be
manufactured economically.
[0039] Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be
made from readily available materials.
[0040] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be presented in more detail in the following
specification of the invention and the accompanying figures, which
illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.
[0041] There are additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least
one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth
in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0042] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may
best be understood by reference to the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a finger
tongs device, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates a front plan view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 6 illustrates a rear plan view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 7 illustrates a top plan view of a finger tongs device,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom plan view of a finger tongs
device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 9 illustrates a side sectional plan view of a finger
tongs device, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0053] FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of the internal structure of
a finger tongs device, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0054] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous
specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent,
however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may
be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In
other instances, well known operations have not been described in
detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 10 an embodiment of a
finger tongs device 100 is comprised of a front tong element 200
flexibly hinged to a rear tong element 300 to form a seamless one
piece structure, e.g., by a molding process having an internal
cavity 110. In an exemplary embodiment the material of finger tongs
device 100 is a flexible material that resists the high
temperatures found in most cooking situations, e.g. silicone. Front
tong element 200 is further comprised of a front scooping tip 210,
a plurality of front small food grasping teeth 220, a plurality of
front large food grasping teeth 230, a plurality of front
stiffening ribs 240, a plurality of front heat shrink hand
protectors 250, and a front hole 260. Rear tong element 300 is
further comprised of a rear scooping tip 310, a plurality of rear
small food grasping teeth 320, a plurality of rear large food
grasping teeth 330, a plurality of rear stiffening ribs 340, a
plurality of rear heat shrink hand protectors 350, and a rear hole
260.
[0056] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, many of the features and components described above in the
context of a particular finger tongs device configuration can be
incorporated into other configurations in accordance with other
embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not
limited except by the appended claims.
* * * * *