Package lifter

Claim 1

A tong apparatus employing two laterally spaced pairs of jaw levers having first and second ends, respectively whereby said levers are pivotally connected intermediately of said respective first and second lever ends, cross-members rigidly connecting the levers of said pairs at points below the lever-pivotal connections for pivotal movements in unison, first and second links pivotably connected to one another joining the first ends of the levers of each pair for opening and closing said apparatus, a first handle extending between the connected links at the link pivotal connection, a second handle substantially coextensive with said first handle and extending between, and connected to said lever-pivotal connections, said apparatus including: gripping means provided on an inner side of each of the cross-members, spring means wrappable around said second handle and having its ends in gripping contact with the jaw levers, respectively, of one of the lever pairs, for urging said jaw levers to occupy a first position causing said second jaw lever ends to be positioned closest to one another, each of said levers being substantially V-shaped and said gripping means being defined by a plurality of metal teeth disposed on each of said cross-members in the vicinity of said second ends of said levers, and a plastic pad having a serrated surface disposed on each of said cross-members remote from second ends of said levers, respectively, said first and second handes being jointly grippable and pullable towards one another for said jaw levers to occupy a second position causing said second lever ends to be positioned furthest apart from one another, the gripping means being adapted to grip an article interposed between said jaw levers in said second position upon said first and second handles being released from the joint grip.