Multi-purpose ice tongs

• US 7,055,200 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mastrad SA
• Original Assignee: Mastrad SA
• Inventors: Lion, Mathieu, Bignon, Lucas, Field, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D.
• Application Number:
  US10/829,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 711/3, 711/8, 713/2, 714/2
• US Class Current: 7/113
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/00 Combination or multi-purpose hand tools associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means B25F3/00; combined stapling and punching tools B25C5/0214
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/02 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/14 for double-walled or multi-channel pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Abstract

A multi-purpose ice tongs includes a handle and a pair of tongs that extend from the handle and that collectively are able to pick-up an ice cube or other item typically used in the preparation of drinks. One of the tongs includes a grater surface for grating a food item. The multi-purpose ice tongs can also include a bottle opener that extends from the handle, a knife stored within the handle, and a zester component within the knife. The surface of the handle of the ice tongs may be utilized as an ice hammer, and one end of the handle is made of a suitable material to enable it to crush a food item contained within a drink glass without breaking the glass.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose ice tongs, comprising:

a handle;

a pair of tongs extending from the handle, the pair of tongs having a free end with a plurality of finger-shaped protrusions extending substantially perpendicular to the tongs, the pair of tongs having a grater disposed between the finger-shaped protrusions and the handle, the pair of tongs collectively adapted to pick-up an ice cube; and

a knife removably stored within a recess of the handle, the knife pivotally coupled to the handle.

2. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 1, further comprising a bottle opener extending from the handle.

3. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 1, wherein the handle is adapted to crush ice using a surface of the handle.

4. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 1, wherein the handle has a pillar at one end adapted to crush a food item.

5. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 4, wherein the pillar is made of a material adapted to enable crushing of a food item contained within a drink glass without breaking the glass.

6. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 1, wherein the pair of tongs are sufficiently narrow in size to enable the tongs to be extended into a champagne flute.

7. A multi-purpose ice tongs, comprising:

a handle;

a pair of tongs extending from the handle and collectively adapted to pick-up an ice cube, the pair of tongs having a free end with a plurality of finger-shaped protrusions, one of the tongs having a grating surface disposed between the finger-shaped protrusions and the handle.

8. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the grating surface is disposed on an inner surface of said one of the tongs, the inner surface of said one of the tongs facing an inner surface of the other tong.

9. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 8, wherein the grating surface is disposed on the inner surface of said one of the tongs at position remote from an end of said tong.

10. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 8, wherein the pair of tongs is adapted to enable a sliding of a picked up item along and between the tongs to the grating surface.

11. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein each of the tongs includes first and second ends, the first end of each of the tongs being attached to the handle, and the second end of each of the tongs including finger-like projections for facilitating picking up of a food item.

12. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein each of the tongs includes first and second ends, the first end of each of the tongs being attached to the handle, and the second end of each of the tongs including a spoon.

13. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, further comprising a bottle opener extending from the handle.

14. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, further comprising a knife removably stored within a recess of the handle.

15. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the knife is pivotally coupled to the handle, and is stored within the handle in a first position, and exposed in a second position.

16. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the knife includes a zester component adapted to remove a peel from a food item.

17. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the handle is adapted to crush ice using a surface of the handle.

18. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the handle has a pillar at one end adapted to crush a food item.

19. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 18, wherein the pillar is made of a material adapted to enable crushing of a food item contained within a drink glass without breaking the glass.

20. The multi-purpose ice tongs of claim 7, wherein the pair of tongs are sufficiently narrow in size to enable the tongs to be extended into a champagne flute.

21. A multi-purpose ice tongs comprising:

a handle;

a pair of tongs extending from the handle and collectively adapted to pick-up an ice cube; and

a knife removably stored within a recess of the handle, the knife pivotally coupled to the handle, the knife including a zester component adapted to remove a peel from a food item, the zester component having an aperture extending fully through the knife and an indentation disposed immediately adjacent to the aperture.