# US 2014/0194043 A1 · Fish filet gripper tool

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- Number: US 2014/0194043 A1
- Document ID: US20140194043A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/737,178
- Filed: 2013-01-09
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09
- Assignees: Acme United Corporation
- Inventors: Richard S. Constantine; Man For Ma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194043A1

## CPC

- A22C 25/17: Skinning fish
- A22C 25/06: Work-tables; Fish-holding and auxiliary devices in connection with work-tables
- A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00)

## Abstract

A gripper tool is employed for clamping the fish filet to facilitate the removal of skin from the filet. The gripper tool has a handle which is adapted to be gripped by the user and a gripping surface defined by a matrix of protrusions which clamp against the fish filet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gripper tool for a fish filet comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
a handle mounted to said shaft;
a gripper head connected to said shaft at one end and extending generally orthogonally to said longitudinal axis and at an opposed end having a gripping surface; and
said gripping surface defined by a matrix of axial protrusions extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, each protrusion having an apex and defining an apex array which is generally co-planar and generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gripper tool of claim 1 wherein said protrusions have a diamond pyramid-like shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gripper tool of claim 2 wherein said protrusions are substantially identical.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The gripper tool of claim 1 wherein said handle extends from a proximal end to a terminal end spaced from said gripper head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The gripper tool of claim 4 wherein said handle is defined by an overmold symmetric to a central plane through said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The gripper tool of claim 1 wherein said handle is formed from an overmold surrounding at least a portion of said shaft and is symmetric to a central plane through said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The gripper tool of claim 5 wherein said handle has a knob at said proximal end.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The gripper tool of claim 5 wherein said handle has a reversed tapered hand-grip portion between said proximal end and said terminal end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The gripper tool of claim 1 wherein said shaft and said gripper head, including said gripping surface, are formed from metal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The gripper tool of claim 6 wherein said overmold is covered by a covering having a pattern of a multiplicity of adjacent fish skin-like shapes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The gripper tool of claim 1 wherein said handle has a through opening intersecting said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The gripper tool of claim 11 wherein said opening is elongated and defines a slot axis oblique to said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The gripper tool of claim 10 wherein said covering forms a circumferential, longitudinally extending interrupted portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The gripper tool of claim 13 wherein said interrupted portion is transparent or translucent.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The gripper tool of claim 6 wherein said overmold is formed of clear ABS material.

### Claim 16

A gripper tool for a fish filet comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
a handle mounted to said shaft comprising a contoured overmold defining an opening;
a gripper head connected to said shaft at one end and extending generally orthogonally to said longitudinal axis and at an opposed end having a gripping surface; and
said gripping surface defined by a matrix of axial protrusions which project generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The gripper tool of claim 16 wherein said protrusions have a diamond pyramid-like shape with an apex and forms a substantially co-planar apex array.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The gripper tool of claim 16 wherein said overmold surrounds at least a portion of said shaft and is symmetric to a central plane through said longitudinal axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The gripper tool of claim 18 wherein said gripper has an elongated tapered profile.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The gripper tool of claim 16 further comprising a covering which covers portions of said overmold and forms interrupted exterior surface areas.