Butchering – Mollusk – Bivalve opener
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-06-12
Little, Willis (Department: 3643)
Butchering
Mollusk
Bivalve opener
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to opening devices. More specifically, the present invention is primarily intended as an opening device or apparatus for shellfish, including clams, oysters, and the like. A method of opening shellfish is also provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the art of opening shellfish, such as oysters, clams, and the like, the two hinged outer shells of the shellfish must be opened and the strong muscle binding or maintaining the outer shells must be torn, ruptured, or forced to an open position. In the past, a considerable degree of manual dexterity and skill has been required to perform this opening operation. These operations have been particularly dangerous, as the operator runs the risk of cutting and inflicting personal injury.
In recent years, many devices have been created for the purposes of enhancing shellfish opening operations. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,788, which issued to Jurcak, discloses an Oyster Opener having an elongated lever with one end pivotally anchored to a mounting point for swinging movement of a free end having a handle portion. Though this device can enhance opening operations, the pivoting action and angular travel of the wedge member could cause an oyster to slip or move prior to penetration of the wedge member. In addition, debris runoff from the oyster, such as water and bodily fluids, can runoff of the base portion in any direction creating a slippery surface more prone to oyster slippage.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,080, which issued to Webb and U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,500, which issued to Boettner et al. both disclose further opening devices that rely upon pivots and pivoting action of the handle and blade members. This pivoting action relies, at least in part, upon the strength of the operator as well as the moment arm created by the handle and blade positioning. In addition, the '500 device provides a structure that could pinch the operator's hands and that could channel debris runoff towards the pivoting portion of the handle structure.
Other pivoting-type openers are provided in the art, such as the Shell Fish Opener of U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,823, which issued to Thibault and the Shellfish Shucking Machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,333, which issued to Stinson, Jr. et al. The '333 machine, in particular, provides a vertically movable knife structure that is operated by a handle structure that pivots about a pivot arm and tension spring assembly biasing the handle structure and the knife structure in an upward disposition. Again, operator arm strength and reliance on a moment arm are needed for use of this machine.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,552, which issued to Priggs, provides an opening tool that requires usage of both hands of a user to grip and squeeze two gripping portions of a spring-biased movable frame and blade structure. This device also requires the strength of the user to squeeze the device and force the blade into the shellfish and could cause personal injury, such as pinched fingers.
It therefore becomes highly advantageous to provide a shellfish opening device that can open shellfish, such as oysters, clams, and the like, with minimal operator strength and with maximum operator safety. It would also be highly advantageous for safety and health concerns, to provide a shellfish opening device that can collect and channel shellfish debris runoff away from the shellfish and the opening device. The present invention can provide these and other advantages, as is hereinafter explained.
Other objects of my invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a shellfish opener apparatus and a method of opening shellfish and the like using the apparatus. The present invention can also provide a shellfish opening device that can open shellfish, such as oysters, clams, and the like, with minimal operator strength and with maximum operator safety. In response to safety and health concerns, the shellfish opening device can also collect, contain and channel shellfish debris runoff away from the shellfish and the opening device.
According to the present invention a device for opening shellfish is provided and comprises a base and a handle attached to the base for rotating the handle about a first axis. The first axis is transversely defined through the base for rotation of the handle in 360 degree motion. The handle may also be adjustable. A rack and pinion geared shaft is attached to the handle and can be vertically aligned through the base for axially translating the rack and pinion geared shaft along a second axis. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis and may run in a vertical direction with the shaft axially translating in an upward or downward vertical translation. Punch means, such as a wedge-shaped integrated blade structure, is fixedly attached to the rack and pinion geared shaft for aligning and axially translating the punch means along the second axis for opening the shellfish. Hence, the punch means may axially translate in vertical incremental upward or downward motion along the second axis for uniformly opening the shellfish. In addition, a collection and channeling structure, such as a trough, may be attached to an upper face of the base and aligned with the rack and pinion geared shaft and the punch means for supporting, collecting, and channeling debris runoff of the shellfish. Such channeling may be directed away from the punch means and from the base.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for opening shellfish comprises a base and a handle attached to the base for rotating the handle about a first axis transversely directed through the base. A gearing mechanism is housed within the base and is connected to the handle for rotating the gearing mechanism about the first axis. Then punch means, such as a blade structure, is gearingly connected to the gearing mechanism for vertical upward and downward translation along a second axis, such as a vertical axis, that is perpendicular to the first axis. The handle and gearing mechanism is provided for incrementally actuating the punch means along the second axis.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a shell opening device comprises a body frame housing a gearing mechanism for actuation by a handle structure. The body frame has a substantially planar surface. Next, a wedge-shaped blade structure that includes corresponding gearing for incremental geared connection to the gearing mechanism is provided. The wedge-shaped integrated blade structure is vertically aligned for axial translation in upward and downward motion along a longitudinal axis running perpendicular to the substantially planar surface of the body frame. Finally, a trough structure is attached to the substantially planar surface of the body frame for receiving the wedge-shaped blade structure.
A method of opening shellfish according to the principles of the present invention is also provided. The method comprises the acts of first, providing a base structure having a trough for receiving shellfish, a handle structure, and a geared integrated blade structure and for containing and channeling debris away from the wedge-shaped integrated blade structure. Then, placing the shellfish on the trough is performed followed by rotating the handle structure about a first axis and actuating the geared blade structure along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. During rotation and actuation the geared blade structure is incrementally and uniformly moved in a direction along the second axis while rotating the handle structure. This direction can be upwards or downwards, along the second axis, in opposing directions. Finally, the incremental and uniform motion causes contacting and opening of the shellfish in the direction along the second axis using the geared blade structure. Moreover, the
Little Willis
Meroni & Meroni P.C.
Meroni, Jr. Charles F.
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