US1801084A - Fork - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931. HUIE 1,801,084

FORK

Filed March l5, 1930 Patented Apr. 1'4, 1931 UNITED STATES JOSEPH HUIE, OF DULUTH, MDVNESOTA i rom:

Application led March 13, 1930. Serial No. 435,447.

This invention relates to forks and has special reference to a fork such as used in the handling and serving of cooked meats, vegetables, and the like.

he principal object is to produce a more practical, simple, and sanitary instrument of this character than heretofore known.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wher-ein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through one of the improved forks embodying the invention and in which portions are Yillustrated in elevation;

Figure 2 is a central section at right angles to Figure 1 through the handle portion of the fork and showing other portions in elevation while Figure 3 is an elevation of the rearmost handle end of the fork.

l represents a handle preferably made of wood or the like and either round, oval, or square in cross section, as preferred; the same being axially bored preferably as by a graduated or stepped hole formed centrally thereof.

2 represents the spaced tines of the fork, which are shown as being screw threadedly mounted within the forward end of the handle. These tines are sharpened preferably as by opposed flattened sides as illustrated Vat 3 taperlng to a point at the innermost end, the full diameter of each tine being carried materially forwardly of the attened portion. This is done as it is found such a shaped termination of the tines tend to hold much more readily and firmly when the fork has become engaged in the material to be conveyed.

A shield like metal cap is illustrated at 4 which normally impinges and covers the forward end of the handle, and is made to project thereabouts on all sides for purposes hereinafter described. This cap is provided with a cylindrical hub-like projection 5 at its center, intermediate of the tines of the 50 fork and which hub portion may be formed integral with the cap or fastened therein as illustrated. The hub is screw threaded internally for the reception of the cross head spindle 6 in its outer end, and the pitman or plunger 7, in its innermost end.

The cross head is illustratedat 8 and comprises a simple flat cross-piece, fixed in any desired manner to the outermost end of the spindle 6 and having a hole adjacent either end through which the tines of the fork extend. The plunger or pitman 7 extends axially of the graduated hole in the handle, said hole, adjacent the forward end of the handle, being preferably of a reasonably close lit about the plunger while for a predetermined distance from said smallest portion of the hole the latter is enlarged for example as indicated at 9; this portion of the hole being for the reception of the expansive helical spring l0 which surrounds the plunger. Then that portion of the hole in the handle adjacent the rearmost end thereof is further enlarged as at 11 to accommodate the head 12 of the plunger which is integral therewith and provided with a transverse slot so as to be manipulated as a screw. Now the distance intermediate of the head 12 of the plunger and the shoulder 13 formed at the junction of the two larger portions of the bore is designed to be just equal to the desired throw of the cross head 8, which, when in its outermost position, is in close proximity to the termini of the tines of the fork.

A metal cover 14 is provided for the rearmost end of the handle and held in position by suitable screws 15 which are readily removable for access to the interior of the handle for adjustment or the like.

The operation of the device as is obvious is accomplished by thumb or finger manipulation of the cap 4, as when it is desired to eject anything from the extreme ends of the tines a forward extension of the cap 4 advances the cross head 8 and thrusts 0H' such object, when on release of the cap the expansive effect of the spring 10 will instantly return the cap and its associated parts to their normal closed or retarded position.

I am aware that somewhat similar devices ing means have been used but the advantages of simplicity in the instant invention are obvious together With its sanitary properties as nothing extends beyond the handle to gather objectionable foul matter except the tines and the cross-head spindle.

Having thus deseri-bed my invention, what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Pat-` ent, is:

A serving fork of the type described including a hollow handle, spaced tinespro jecting Jfrom the handle, ejeeting means oarf ried upon the tines7 a reoiprocable pitman Within the handle for operating the ejeeting, means, a shieldlike cap normally adjacent the end of the handle and about the tines, an elongated. nhub upon said eap having a serevvthreaded. bore into Whieh. the pitmanv ismounted, andra spindle connecting the ejectand the hub. Y

In testimonyvvhereof I alli); my signature.

JOSE-PH HUIE.

sie

Images