Article handling implement

Abstract

Implement for manipulating and carrying fire logs or the like and comprising inner jaws pivotally interconnected to a long handle near its load end, an actuating lever connected to the handle's other end, and a wire or cable connecting the actuating lever to the inner jaws. An outer jaw opposes and is pivotally connected between the inner jaws. A broken back linkage, located between the pivotal connections, connects the load end of the handle to the outer jaw. A spring normally maintains the broken back linkage in a non-broken attitude and the inner and outer jaws relatively open, in the absence of a fire log or the like between them. The broken back linkage is put into a broken condition and the jaws are closed to grasp the fire log when the actuating lever is actuated. The weight of the lifted article maintains the broken condition of the broken back linkage, and the relatively closed relation of the jaws around the article, even though the actuating lever is released.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.