Abstract:
A manually operated tool has a spaced parallel pair of elongated flange members mounted on the jaws at the ends of two horizontally disposed tongs or calipers. Each of a pair of hand hold members is individually associated with a corresponding one of the tongs. Grip levers adjacent the hand holds selectively open or close the tongs and, therefore, move the flanges apart or together. The flanges may be placed over a row of substantially aligned necks of a row of bottles, even if some of the bottles are slightly misaligned. The grip levers are pulled to close the tongs and bring the flanges together, thereby gripping the necks of the bottles. To release the bottles, the grip levers are released. The flanges move apart under a spring bias to release the bottles. If more or fewer bottles are to be picked up, longer or shorter flanges may be substituted for each other.