Pan gripper or the like

A gripping device having first and second movable members and pivot means joining said movable members for pivotal movement, characterized by

• (a) said movable members being formed by molding with structural plastic material,
• (b) said first movable member including a first body portion and an integral pivot post extending laterally from a side wall of said first body portion and defining a pivot axis,
• (c) said second movable member including a second body portion and an integral pivot member of tubular configuration extending laterally from a side wall of said second body member and adapted for close-fit reception over said pivot post for pivotally joining said first and second movable members,
• (d) said tubular pivot member or said pivot post being formed with an annular groove therein spaced from the side wall of said respective body portion,
• (e) said tubular pivot member or said pivot post being formed with a plurality of integral, resilient locking tabs normally projecting in a direction toward said annular groove,
• (f) said locking tabs being resiliently displaceable during axial assembly of said tubular pivot member over said pivot post and being lockingly received in said annular groove to lock said movable members together in pivotally connected relation.

A gripping device having first and second movable members pivotally attached to one another, characterized by

• (a) said movable members being formed by molding with structural plastic material,
• (b) a pivot connecting said movable members, said pivot including a pivot post and a pivot member of tubular configuration, said tubular pivot member being adapted for close-fit reception over said pivot post for pivotally joining said first and second movable members,
• (c) at least one of said pivot post and said tubular pivot member being integral to one of said first and second movable members,
• (d) said movable members are formed with circular walls encircling and concentric with said pivot,
• (e) the circular wall of one of said movable members lies in sliding, abutting relation with the circular wall of the other of said movable members,
• (f) said circular walls are spaced radially outward of said pivot to form an enclosed annular chamber,
• (g) a spring received in said chamber, said spring having the form of a partial circle with hook-like elements at each end,
• (h) spring posts extending from said movable members and into said annular chamber, said spring posts being located such that when said gripping device is open, a circumferential distance between said spring posts exceeds a distance between said hook-like elements when said spring is unstressed thereby allowing said gripping device to be assembled without the need to prestress said spring, and
• (i) said spring posts being located such that, when said gripping device is closed, said spring posts engage said hook-like elements and compress said spring such that a circumferential distance between said spring posts is less than a distance between said hook-like elements when said spring is unstressed thereby biasing said gripping device into an open position.

A gripping device having first and second movable members and pivot means joining said movable members for pivotal movement, characterized by

• (a) said movable members being formed by molding with structural plastic material,
• (b) said pivot means further comprising a pivot post defining a pivotal axis and further comprising a pivot member of tubular configuration adapted for close-fit reception over said pivot post for pivotally joining said first and second movable members,
• (c) at least one of said pivot post and said tubular pivot member being integral with one of said first and second movable members;
• (d) said pivot post including an annular groove therein spaced from said first movable member,
• (e) said tubular pivot member including a plurality of resilient locking tabs, spaced angularly about said tubular pivot member and having portions projecting radially inwardly toward said axis at an acute angle with respect thereto,
• (f) said locking tabs being resiliently outwardly displaceable during axial assembly of said tubular pivot member over said pivot post, and
• (g) said inwardly projecting portions of said locking tabs being lockingly received in said annular groove to lock said movable members in pivotally connected relation.

A gripping device having first and second movable members pivotally attached to one another, characterized by

• (a) said movable members being formed by molding with structural plastic material,
• (b) a pivot connecting said movable members, said pivot including a pivot post and a pivot member of tubular configuration, said tubular pivot member being adapted for close-fit reception over said pivot post for pivotally joining said first and second movable members,
• (c) at least one of said pivot post and said tubular pivot member being integral with one of said first and second movable members,
• (d) a molded plastic spring disposed around said pivot, said spring having the form of a partial circle with hook-like elements at each end,
• (e) spring posts extending from said movable members, said spring posts being located such that when said gripping device is open, a circumferential distance between said spring posts exceeds a distance between said hook-like elements when said spring is unstressed hereby allowing said gripping device to be assembled without the need to prestress said spring, and
• (f) said spring posts being located such that, when said gripping device is closed, said spring posts engage said hook-like elements and compress said spring such that a circumferential distance between said spring posts is less than a distance between said hook-like elements when said spring is unstressed thereby biasing said gripping device into an open position.