Locking tongs that are operable to lock in a closed position and unlock to an open position with the use of one hand. The tongs include a first arm and a second arm connected at a pivot point and extend out from each other in an open position. A tension spring positioned at the pivot point holds the first and second arm in the open position. A locking mechanism includes: (i) a locking member having an elongated body and forms a stop at an end, the locking member positioned on an inner portion of the first arm and extends towards the second arm, and (ii) a receiving aperture defined on the second arm sized and shaped to receive the stop of the locking member. The locking member engages the second arm when the stop passes through the receiving aperture and thereby holds the pair of tongs in a closed position.

Utensils, including forks, with movable components, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative utensil includes a first tool carried by and movable relative to a first arm portion, a second tool carried by and movable relative to a second arm portion, and a hinge coupling the first and second arm portions. A guide structure is coupled to the first and second arm portions to guide motion of at least one of the first and second tools relative to the other.

Utensils, including forks, with movable components, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative utensil includes a first tool carried by and movable relative to a first arm portion, a second tool carried by and movable relative to a second arm portion, and a hinge coupling the first and second arm portions. A guide structure is coupled to the first and second arm portions to guide motion of at least one of the first and second tools relative to the other.

A grasping tool (10) has a pair of elongate arms (20) attached via a hinge element (26). The elongate arms (20) provide gripping surfaces (28) for grasping an item therebetween. A finger engagement element (30) extends from each of the elongate arms, (20) spaced a distance from the proximal end (22). Each elongate arm (20) is generally disposed on a first axis, and each finger engagement element (30) is disposed around a second axis, such that the second axis is approximately parallel to and located below the first axis, such that the first and second axes are spaced a distance such that the pair of elongate arms (20) are positioned above the fingers of the user when the user's fingers are positioned through the finger engagement elements (30).

A grasping tool (10) has a pair of elongate arms (20) attached via a hinge element (26). The elongate arms (20) provide gripping surfaces (28) for grasping an item therebetween. A finger engagement element (30) extends from each of the elongate arms, (20) spaced a distance from the proximal end (22). Each elongate arm (20) is generally disposed on a first axis, and each finger engagement element (30) is disposed around a second axis, such that the second axis is approximately parallel to and located below the first axis, such that the first and second axes are spaced a distance such that the pair of elongate arms (20) are positioned above the fingers of the user when the user's fingers are positioned through the finger engagement elements (30).

A tong with a lock that can be actuated using one hand without changing a grip on the tong and without having to change an orientation of the tong. The lock can be engaged and disengaged. by squeezing arms of the tong together. The lock can have a latch on one arm and a strike on the other arm. When the arms are squeezed together the strike engages the latch into a locked configuration. From the locked configuration, when the arms are squeezed again, the latch releases the strike.

A tong with a lock that can be actuated using one hand without changing a grip on the tong and without having to change an orientation of the tong. The lock can be engaged and disengaged. by squeezing arms of the tong together. The lock can have a latch on one arm and a strike on the other arm. When the arms are squeezed together the strike engages the latch into a locked configuration. From the locked configuration, when the arms are squeezed again, the latch releases the strike.

Eating utensils disclosed herein provide desirable aspects of forks and chopsticks and also provide improved dexterity that enables functionality not possible with either forks or chopsticks alone. The eating utensils may allow a user to grasp, shovel, and pierce food as well as scoop under food from one side or both sides and to cut food with a side edge, all with a single utensil operated with only one hand. Because of the unique way the eating utensils are held and operated, they feel comfortable to users of traditional forks and chopsticks.

A disposal food handling finger tongs or hand coverings for grasping food or other objects. The pockets or finger stalls are connected by at least one connecting tab. At least one functional finger/thumb accommodation area is presented and at least one finger/thumb stability is optionally provided. The disposable tongs or hand coverings provide protection to the user by providing freely extending, unbonded, soft irregular peripheral edges help prevent paper cuts. If both the front and back of pockets or hand coverings are messy, optionally the tongs or hand coverings can be torn, and folded over the back and/or front of the messy pockets, thereby keeping the hands, fingers and/or thumb of the user clean during disposal.

A pair of chopsticks in which each chopstick provides an extenuate body tapering to a tip with an internal weighting moving the center of gravity of the chopstick toward the tip with respect to the midpoint of the chopstick to provide improved operability and to permit the chopstick to rest on small dishes with the tip in a downward orientation when an edge of the dish supports the chopstick toward its tip with respect to the midpoint.