Utensil for opening a shell of a crustacean

• US 20080020692A1
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel M. Martin
• Original Assignee: Daniel M. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,361,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 452/6
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 29/024 Opening, shelling or peeling shellfish
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/061 Oyster knives with openers; Shellfish openers processing bivalves, e.g. oysters, A22C29/04

Abstract

A utensil for opening a shell of a crustacean, such as crab, lobster and the like, has a pair of pivotally connected elongated members. Each elongate member has a handle portion and a head portion. A cutting blade is positioned in each of the head portions; the cutting blades are selectively brought in contact with the shelled crustacean positioned between the blades to sever the shell along a selected cut line without damaging the meat of the crustacean.

Claims

1. A device for opening a shell of a crustacean, comprising:

a first elongated rigid member having a first handle portion and a first head portion secured to the first handle portion;

a second elongated rigid member having a second handle portion and a second head portion secured to the second handle portion, the first elongated rigid member being pivotally connected to the second elongated rigid member; and

wherein each of said first head portion and said second head portion carrying a detachably mounted cutting blade means on an inner surface thereof for engaging a shelled crustacean therebetween and for cutting through the crustacean shell.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin, which extends through respective openings formed in the first head portion and the second head portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting blade means is detachably positioned within a corresponding groove formed in opposing faces said first head portion and the second head portion.

2. (canceled)

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4. (canceled)

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8. (canceled)

10. A method of opening a shell of a crustacean, comprising the steps of:

providing a first elongated rigid member having a first handle portion and a first head portion secured to the first handle portion;

providing a second elongated rigid member having a second handle portion and a second head portion secured to the second handle portion, the first elongated rigid member being pivotally connected to the second elongated rigid member, wherein the first handle portion is positioned in a spaced relationship to the second handle portion;

providing a detachably mounted cutting blade means secured on an inner surface of each of said first head portion and said second head portion;

positioning a shelled crustacean between the cutting blade means of the first head portion and the second head portion;

moving the handle portions towards each other, thereby causing the cutting blade means to contact the shell of a crustacean and cut through the shell, thereby severing the shell along a selected cut line without imparting any substantial mechanical damage to crustacean'"'"'s meat

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of providing each of said portions with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a pivot pin pivotally secures distal ends of the first head portion and the second head portion.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein said cutting blade means is detachably positioned within a corresponding groove formed in opposing faces said first head portion and the second head portion.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

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16. (canceled)