Friction grip fireplace tool
OwnerTodd Russell Ingraminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction grip fireplace tool comprising a rod or bar, having a hand grip on one end, and on the other end a resilient, unary, v-shaped open-jawed mouth to grip, lift and re-position logs in a fireplace. There are no moving parts, no hinges, or pivot points. The tool can be made of one solid piece of steel or material with similar properties of elasticity and fire resistance or can be fabricated from two or more parts. A log is held in place by friction, created by ridges within the open-jawed mouth of the tool and the spring effect of the open-jawed mouth being forced onto a log. The spring effect of the tool's mouth along with the friction effect of the ridges allow most burning logs to be completely lifted, held, and moved about safely.
Claims5
A friction-grip fireplace tool, comprising:
- a. a unary, v-shaped, flexible open-jawed mouth having a closed end defining an outer perimeter, and an open end defined by an inner perimeter, said inner perimeter comprised of:
- i. a first straight portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween,
- ii. a curved portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the curved portion being connected to the second end of the first straight portion;
- and
- iii. a second straight portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween, the first end of the second straight portion being connected to the second end of the curved portion,
- said unary, v-shaped, flexible open-jawed mouth exhibiting a spring-like effect when the first straight portion and the second straight portion are urged apart;
- b. friction ridges disposed on the first straight portion from the first end to the second end thereof, and on the second straight portion from the first end to the second end thereof, said friction ridges creating a non-piercing friction effect upon an object disposed within the inner perimeter of the open end of said open-jawed mouth when the first straight portion and second straight portion are urged apart by said object;
- c. an elongated connecting rod having an upper end and a lower end, said second end of said second straight portion being connected to said connecting rod at its lower end such that the closed end of said open-jawed mouth is directed toward a user of said fireplace tool,
- d. a hand grip;
- and
- e. means of joining said hand grip to said connecting rod at its upper end,
- whereby a user can grip said fireplace tool by said hand grip, and push said open-jawed mouth onto said object, thus applying a progressively tightening gripping force upon said object via the combination of said spring-like effect and said non-piercing friction effect provided by the friction ridges, enabling the user to lift, move, reposition and release said object without manipulating any moving parts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.