Butchering – Mollusk – Bivalve opener
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-16
2001-02-20
Little, Willis (Department: 3643)
Butchering
Mollusk
Bivalve opener
C452S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190248
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the process of opening mollusk shells and more particularly to the opening of oyster shells so as to obtain access to the oyster inside.
2. General Background
It is fully recognized that the hinged shell surrounding the oyster or clam is an effective protection mechanism and is very difficult to open due to the strong muscle tissue which holds the two halves of the shell together. Never the less, humans and animals alike have been dining on these crustaceans for centuries using only simple tools. However, man has continuously sought to improve his efficiency for removal of the oyster shell.
Oyster shucking, the process of opening and removing of oysters from their shell, can be divided into three distinct groups: Manually opening, by prying the shell apart with a shape tool, various semi-manual apparatus for holding, notching and spreading the shells apart and includes methods for cutting the adductor muscle, and, finally, the fully automatic apparatus for cutting the shell, separating and removing the oyster on a production basis.
The semi-manual apparatus well known within the art demonstrates that the oyster or clam shell can be positioned against a movable or stationary anvil and a fixed or movable wedge shaped instrument forcibly inserted in the seam between the two halves, thereby prying the shells apart. However, such apparatus require a good deal of force to separate the shells sufficiently to break the hinge and tear the adductor muscle. Therefore, a pivotal lever is generally employed. In other apparatus the shells are simply separated a minimal distance to allow for cutting the adductor muscle, thus allowing the oyster or clam to be removed from the shell by hand. The method for separating the shell may utilize a motorized combination of a wedge and rotatable blade to pry the shell apart while being held in position by hand, a hazardous operation at best.
With the exception of the fully automatic, production operations, which are generally cumbersome, expensive and generally require further handling, the various shucking apparatus require that the oyster be positioned in or on an anvil member and a wedge of some sort be placed in contact with the natural seam opening in the oyster shell. A force is applied manually or by pivotal leverage and or rotation of the wedge within the seam, thus forcing the shells apart. Since no two oysters are the same size or exact configuration, such procedures require a good deal of manual exertion and dexterity to become efficient. It is therefore desirable to remove the oyster from the shell as efficiently and as safely as possible. However, most such manual extraction apparatus have proven to be either ineffective, hard to use, or hazardous to personnel. Accordingly, a more efficient, less demanding apparatus for this purpose is highly desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved apparatus for opening oysters or clams along the seam naturally occurring between the hinged portions of the oyster or clam shell. The present apparatus is composed of a heavy base portion having a vertical column extending upwards to approximately counter top height and having mounted to the top thereof a set of spreadable jaws, the opposable jaws which, upon closing by pivoting the handle thereof, are spread apart. A movable anvil is provided with a pivotal lever arm for positioning the oyster or clam relative to the opposable jaws of the spreader. Additional leverage for operating the spreader is provided with a biased pivotal foot pedal.
In operation the oyster is positioned horizontally in the anvil and brought into contact with the opposable jaws of the spreader by manipulation of the pivotal anvil arm. Pressure is then exerted upon the anvil arm, thereby forcing the jaws of the spreader, or jaw expander, between the oyster shell halves. The foot pedal or manual spreader handle is then operated while maintaining pressure on the anvil arm, thereby spreading the opposable jaws of the spreader and thus forcing the oyster shell halves apart with minimal effort and less damage to the shell and oyster. Having the oyster positioned in the horizontal position helps insure that the vital liquids surrounding the oyster are maintained for serving of the oyster on the half shell after opening.
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Little Willis
Montgomery Robert N.
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