US 6,817,937 B1Granted

Shellfish-opening tool

OwnerRichard A. Merrittinventor

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Abstract

A tool is used to remove a shell from the meat of a shellfish and includes a handle section having a rip element on one handle and a serrated pad on the same handle. The tool further includes arcuate sections having teeth so the shell can be cracked using the tool in the manner of pliers. Once the shell is cracked, the rip element is inserted between the shell and meat and forced forward to separate the shell from the meat. The shellfish is held in a stable manner on the tool by the serrated pad.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A shellfish opening tool comprising:

a) a handle section which includes
(1) a first handle which is an upper handle in a use orientation, the first handle being one piece and including side faces, a first face which is a top face in the use orientation, a second face which is a bottom face in the use orientation, the first face including an arcuate portion, each of the side faces of the first handle including a groove, the first handle further including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the first handle and the second end of the first handle, the first handle further including a projection on the second face of the first handle, an arcuate portion on the second face of the first handle adjacent to the projection on the first handle, a plurality of teeth on the second face of the first handle adjacent to the arcuate portion, a projection on the first face of the first handle, and a rip element on the first face of the first handle adjacent to the first end of the first handle, the rip element including a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end of the rip element and the distal end of the rip element, the longitudinal axis of the rip element extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first handle, the rip element further including a body, the distal end of the rip element being pointed and the body of the rip element tapering from the proximal end to the distal end, the body of the rip element extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first handle and the distal end of the rip element being spaced apart from the first end of the first handle,
(2) a second handle which is a lower handle in the use orientation, the second handle being one piece and including side faces, a first face which is a top face in the use orientation, a second face which is a bottom face in the use orientation, the first face of the second handle including an arcuate portion, each of the side faces of the second handle including a groove, the second handle further including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the second handle and the second end of the second handle, the second handle further including a projection on the first face of the second handle adjacent to the arcuate portion of the second handle, and a plurality of teeth on the second face of the second handle adjacent to the arcuate portion of the second handle, and
(3) a pivot connection pivotally connecting the first end of the first handle to the first end of the second handle;
and
b) a pad which is one piece with the first handle of said handle section, said pad including a first surface which is a top surface in the use orientation, a second surface which is a bottom surface in the use orientation, the first surface of said pad having a plurality of serrations thereon, said pad further including a proximal end and a distal end, the first surface of said pad being oriented to face the distal end of the rip element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A shellfish opening tool comprising:

a) a handle section which includes
(1) a first handle which is an upper handle in a use orientation, the first handle being one piece and including side faces, a first face which is a top face in the use orientation, a second face which is a bottom face in the use orientation, the first face including an arcuate portion, each of the side faces of the first handle including a groove, the first handle further including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the first handle and the second end of the first handle, the first handle further including a projection on the second face of the first handle, an arcuate portion on the second face of the first handle adjacent to the projection on the first handle, a plurality of teeth on the second face of the first handle adjacent to the arcuate portion, a projection on the first face of the first handle, and a rip element on the first face of the first handle adjacent to the first end of the first handle, the rip element including a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end of the rip element and the distal end of the rip element, the longitudinal axis of the rip element extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first handle, the rip element further including a body, the distal end of the rip element being pointed and the body of the rip element tapering from the proximal end to the distal end, the body of the rip element extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first handle and the distal end of the rip element being spaced apart from the first end of the first handle,
(2) a second handle which is a lower handle in the use orientation, the second handle being one piece and including side faces, a first face which is a top face in the use orientation, a second face which is a bottom face in the use orientation, the first face of the second handle including an arcuate portion, each of the side faces of the second handle including a groove, the second handle further including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the second handle and the second end of the second handle, the second handle further including a projection on the first face of the second handle adjacent to the arcuate portion of the second handle, and a plurality of teeth on the second face of the second handle adjacent to the arcuate portion of the second handle, and
(3) a pivot connection pivotally connecting the first end of the first handle to the first end of the second handle;
and
b) a pad which is one piece with the first handle of said handle section, said pad including a first surface which is a top surface in the use orientation, a second surface which is a bottom surface in the use orientation, the first surface of said pad having a plurality of serrations thereon, said pad further including a proximal end and a distal end, the first surface of said pad being oriented to face the distal end of the rip element.

3 more elements