CA2273118A1 - Nutcracker - Google Patents

Abstract

A novelty nutcracker device which comprises a tubular housing having a side wall thereby defining an elongated passageway, and a first end cap removably connected at a first end of the passageway, a reciprocally moveable impact member mounted within the elongated passageway, a handle connected to the impact member, the impact member being biased towards the first end cap, and an opening in the side wall to permit the insertion of a nut to be cracked therein. The device is preferably packaged in an exterior envelope having the form of a sports article or an animal character.

Description

NUTCRACk:ER
The present invention relates to nutcrackers which may be housed in different types of figures.
BACKGROUND OF TH:E INVENTION
There are a number of different types of nutcrackers which have been proposed in the art. Generally, they are divided between what may be termed manually operated nutcrackers and automatic types.
In the automatic nutcracking apparatuses., normally the apparatus is actuated by means of a switch which is operative only when various safety shields and the like are in place. Although such devices are known, it has been suggested that difficulty has been experienced in quickly and simply adjusting the apparatus to accommodate various sizes and shapes of nut. In addition, there is always the danger to the operator or people surrounding the device in the projection of portions of the shell of the nut during the cracking process.
Manually operated nutcrackers are also known. However, many of them are relatively complicated devices which are not readily adjustable and adaptable for different sizes and types of nut.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective nutcracking device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nutcracking device in the form of a novelty item which may assume different configurations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nutcracking device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nutcracking device comprising a tubular housing; having a side wall, an elongated passageway defined by the side wall, the elongated passageway having first and second open ends, first and second end caps located at each of the first and second open ends, an aperture extending through the side wall and communicating with the elongated passageway to thereby define a nut receiving opening, a reciprocally moveable impact member mounted within the elongated passageway, a shaft having a first end thereof connected to the reciprocally moveable impact member, the shaft extending through the second end cap, handle means connected to a second end of the shaft, and resilient biasing means biasing the impact member towards the first end of the elongated passageway.
The nutcracking device of the present invention may be packaged as a novelty item having different configurations. However, in all instances, there is provided the elongated passageway and the nut receiving opening. Access is provided to the first end and the nut receiving opening with the openings being incorporated in the novelty item which may take the form of different types of animals or inanimate objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:

-2-Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating the mechanical functioning of the interior nutcracking components;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the nutcracking device;
Figure 6 is an end elevational view of Fil;ure 5 taken from the right hand side thereof;
Figure 7 is an end elevational view with the cover in an open position; and Figure 8 is an exploded view of various c:omponents which may be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, reference will initially be made to Figures 4 to i' illustrating the operational mechanism of the device.
There is provided a casing 42 which has extending therethrough a shaft 44. At one end thereof, shaft 44 has a handle 46 with a spring 48 being mounted between handle 46 and casing 42.
At its distal end, shaft 44 has a somewhat pointed end 50. A door 52 is mounted to casing 42 by means of a hinge 54. To maintain the door in a closed position, there is provided a door lock mechanism 56.

-3-As door 52 opens about hinge 54, there may be provided a door stopper which is mounted on one portion of a hand grip 58.
Interiorly of casing 42, there is provided a rubber band holder 60 such that when handle 46 is pulled, the rubber band is stretched and when handle 46 is released, a nut N may be impacted by the pointed end 50 of shaft 44.
As also may be seen in Figure 4, provision is made for smaller nuts. To this end, there is provided a small nut shaft 62 which is mounted off center with respect to piston 64. Also, as shown in Figure 5, handle 46 may be retained on shaft 44 by means of a nut 66.
The device of the present invention may be incorporated as a novelty item having various configurations. Thus, referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated one embodiment wherein the device is formed as a bat generally designated by reference numeral 10. Bat 10 has a handle 12 and spring 14 with the mechanism being mounted interiorly of the bat. A door 16 in the configuration of a baseball may provide access to the interior to place the nut in while the end of the bat opens as a door 18.
In the embodiment of Figure 2, the device is mounted interiorly of a chipmunk configured character. In this case, the tail 24 functions as the handle while an opening 26 is provided to insert the nuts to be opened. Head portion 28 is hingedly connected to the body for removal of the nuts and shell.
In the embodiment of Figure 3, the device is configured as a soccer ball generally designated by reference numeral 32. 'There is provided an opening 34 to the interior of soccer ball 32 to place the nuts within the mechanism and a second door 36

-4-for withdrawal of the cracked nut and segments. The base 38 functions as the handle of the device.
Referring to Figure 8, there is illustrated therein a tubular housing generally designated by reference numeral 70 and which includes a side wall 72 interiorly of which there is an elongated passageway extending from a first end 74 to a second end 76. A pair of apertures 78 are formed within side wall 72 and located proximate ends 74 and 76. A locking prong 80 extends outwardly from side wall 72.
Designed to fit over first end 74 is a first end cap 82 having an L-shaped recess 84 designed to engage with locking pin 80 to retain end cap 82 in the desired position.
Located between ends 74 and 76 is an aperture 86 which defines a nut receiving opening.
Also shown in Figure 8 is a first inner lining 87 along with an end cap 88 for end 76 and associated component 90, each having apertures therein. Impacting member 92 and a shaft 94 are designed to be connected to a handle 96.
The apparatus also includes a pair of pins 98. The nut cracking device is designed to operate either with a pair of rubber bands 100 or a pair of springs 102. A
pair of cover members 104 are provided for covering the rubber bands 100 and 102 as they extend through apertures 78.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A nut cracking device comprising a tubular housing having a side wall, an elongated passageway defined by said side wall, said elongated passageway having first and second open ends, a first end cap removably connected to said tubular housing at said first open end, a second end cap at said second open end, an aperture extending through said side wall and communicating with said elongated passageway to thereby define a nut receiving opening, a reciprocally moveable impact member mounted within said elongated passageway, a shaft having a first end thereof connected to said reciprocally moveable impact member, said shaft extending through said second end cap, a handle connected to a second end of said shaft, and biasing means biasing said impact member towards said first end.