WO2005025308A1

WO2005025308A1 - Crab handling tongs

Info

Publication number: WO2005025308A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000969
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne Anthony Ball
Original assignee: Wayne Anthony Ball
Priority date: 2003-09-16
Filing date: 2004-07-20
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Also published as: AU2003100780A4

Abstract

Tongs (1) for safely handling a crab (2). The tongs (1) include a pair of arms (3) having opposed crab holding portions (5), handles (4) and shanks (15). The shanks (15) cross over one another and are pivotally connected to one another by a pin (9). A coil spring (6) extends between the shanks (15). When securely holding a crab (2), the crab holding portions (5) extend along the back (10) of the crab (2) and along the underside of the body (7) of the crab (2). The crab holding portions (5) extend between the head (16) and tail (17) of the crab (2) at opposing sides (18, 19) of the crab (2). The crab holding portions (5) restrain the crab (2) against movement.

Description

CRAB HANDLING TONGS This invention relates to tongs for the safe handling of live crabs. In particular, the invention concerns tongs having arms adapted to extend around the body of a crab, to hold the crab in a secure manner. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In some instances it is necessary to handle live crabs, such as when removing crabs from a crab pot, when checking their gender or size, or when tying up their claws for further processing. Crabs are difficult to handle in a safe manner at the best of times as they are usually aggressive when removed from their natural environment. When a crab is covered with mud the task of handling is even more difficult as the crab tends to be slippery and difficult to grip. If a crab is not handled properly, it may inflict serious injury to its handler. Large crabs, such as much crabs, have claws that can easily bruise fingers and toes, or even break the bones of fingers and toes. Blood poisoning may also result from a crab-induced wound. The present inventor has now invented tongs that enable a crab to be handled in a safe manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided crab handling tongs including a pair of arms having opposed crab holding portions movable relative to one another, and when securely holding a crab, the crab holding portions extend along the back of the crab at opposing sides of the crab between the head and tail of the crab and along at least part of the underside of the body of the crab. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Each crab holding portion may be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, each crab holding portion is a loop that extends completely around the body of the crab. More preferably, each crab holding portion extends between adjacent teeth of the body of the crab. Preferably, each arm has a handle. The handles may be of any suitable size and shape. The arms may be of any suitable size, shape and construction.

The arms may, for instance, be hinged or pivotally connected to one another.

Preferably, each arm has a shank intermediate the handle and crab holding portion, and the respective shanks cross over one another and are pivotally connected to one another by a pin. The tongs may further include a biasing member for biasing the handles away from one another. Any suitable type of biasing member, such as a coil spring or a leaf spring, may be used. Preferably, a coil spring extends between the shanks. The tongs may be made of any suitable material or materials, such as, metal or plastics material. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of tongs holding a crab according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the tongs of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like features. The figures show metal tongs 1 for safely handling a crab 2. The tongs 1 include a pair of arms 3 having opposed crab holding portions 5, handles 4 and shanks 15. The shanks 15 cross over one another and are pivotally connected to one another by a pin 9. A coil spring 6 extends between the shanks 15 and biases the handles 4 away from one another. Each crab holding portion 5 is in the form of a loop. As seen in Figure 1 , the crab 2 has a body 7, legs 11 and claws 8 extend from opposing sides 18, 19 of the body 7. The body 7 has a back 10 and an underside (not shown). The back 10 has teeth 13 at the head 16 of the body 7.

In use, the opposing sides 18, 19 of the body 7 of a crab 2 are passed through the loops 5. When securely holding a crab 2, the loops 5 extend along the back 10 and along the underside (not shown) of the body 7.

The loops 5 extend between the head 16 and tail 17 of the crab 2 at opposing sides 18, 19 of the crab 2. This is shown in Figure 1. The loops 5 restrain the crab 2 against movement. The claws 8 of the crab 2 are directed away from the handler and the hands of the handler are at a safe distance from the claws

8. In this way, the tongs 1 may be used to safely handle a crab, even an aggressive mud crab, allow the gender to be checked, allow the size to be measured, and allow the claws of the crab to be bound for subsequent storage, transport or cooking. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1. Crab handling tongs including a pair of arms having opposed crab holding portions movable relative to one another, and when securely holding a crab, the crab holding portions extend along the back of the crab at opposing sides of the crab between the head and tail of the crab and along at least part of the underside of the body of the crab.

2. The crab handling tongs of claim 1 , wherein each said crab holding portion is a loop that extends completely around the body of the crab.

3. The crab handling tongs of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each said arm has a handle and a shank intermediate the handle and said crab holding portion, and the respective shanks cross over one another and are pivotally connected to one another by a pin.

4. The crab handling tongs of claim 3 further having a biasing member for biasing the handles away from one another.

5. The crab handling tongs of claim 4, wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.