Nutcracker

• US 6,151,782 A
• Filed: 07/22/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Birambeau SA
• Original Assignee: Birambeau SA
• Inventors: Le Bail, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Melissa L.
• Application Number:
  US09/358,436
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 30/120.1, 30/120.2, 30/120.3, 30/120.4, 30/120.5, 99/568, 81/186, 81/418, 81/423, 81/900
• US Class Current: 30/120.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/26 Nutcrackers

Abstract

A device for cracking the shells of fruit, such as in particular walnuts, of the type comprising two elements adapted to pivot, by one of their respective ends, about a transverse pin, comprising a fruit-gripping area adjacent to the pivot axis in which the fruit, whose shell it is desired to crack, is placed. This device is characterized in that at least the inner face of one of these elements is covered, at least in part, with an elastically deformable product.

Claims

1. Device for cracking shells of a fruit, comprising:

two elements adapted to pivot from a rest position to a work position, by one of their respective ends, about a pivot axis of a transverse pin;

a fruit-gripping area adjacent to the pivot axis for receiving the fruit, whose shell it is desired to crack;

wherein at least an inner face of one of the elements has a hollowed out recess in which an elastically deformable product is housed;

said elastically deformable product projecting, in said rest position, beyond the inner face; and

said elastically deformable product retracting, in said work position, in the recess so that the inner face is in contact with the shell of the fruit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, in said rest position, the elastically deformable product projects over a part of the width of said one of the elements.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable product is an elastomer.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

first stop means for limiting a maximum angle of opening of said elements; and

second stop means for limiting a minimum angle of opening of said elements.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the fruit-gripping area has inner sides which are substantially rectilinear.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the maximum angle of opening between the sides is about 50°

.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the minimum angle of opening between the sides is about 35°

.

8. The device according to claim 4, further comprising elastic means, which, in the rest position, place the two elements in a position of maximum opening.

9. A nutcracker for cracking a shell of a nut, comprising:

a first arm extending in a longitudinal direction, and having a first end and an opposite second end;

a second arm extending in said longitudinal direction, and having a first end and an opposite second end;

a pivot pin for pivoting the first arm relative to the second arm about a pivot axis from a rest position to a work position, said pivot pin extending through the first end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm in a direction transversed to said longitudinal direction;

each arm having an anterior part adjacent said pivot axis defining a gripping area for receiving the nut, whose shell is to be cracked;

each anterior part having an inner face which has a hollowed out recess in which is housed an elastically deformable product;

said elastically deformable product projecting, in said rest position, beyond a corresponding inner face; and

said elastically deformable product retracting, in said work position, in the recess so that each inner face is in contact with the shell of the nut.

10. The nutcracker according to claim 9, wherein the elastically deformable product is an elastomer.

11. The nutcracker according to claim 9, further comprising:

first stop means for limiting a maximum angle of opening of said arms; and

second stop means for limiting a minimum angle of opening of said arms.

12. The nutcracker according to claim 11, wherein the maximum angle of opening between the arms is about 50°

.

13. The nutcracker according to claim 11, wherein the minimum angle of opening between the arms is about 35°

.

14. The nutcracker according to claim 11, further comprising elastic means, for placing the first and second arm in a position of maximum opening, when in the rest position.