FR2758449A1 - Manual device for opening oysters - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for manually opening oysters holds them between two jaws one of which serves as a retaining shoe (1) and the other receives a pointed slicing tool (8,9). A static assembly comprises a superstructure (6) with reinforced rounded edges (21,25). A stationary handle (20) is in the extension of the assembly and a movable handle (22) is articulated on a spindle (23). A longitudinal rod (14) passing through the stationary handle has a curved end (13) for receiving the slicing tool. The other end of the rod has a stop (27). Springs (5, 16, 18) cause advance and return of the handle.

Description

DEVICE FOR OPENING OYSTERS
The Oyster is an irregularly shaped lamellibranch mollusc
It is sought after for its flesh or for its precious concretions. It can live up to twenty years. She lays a minimum of 50,000 eggs each year.

For several decades oyster farming has improved both on the substantial quality of oysters and on the industrial quantity of production in order to meet the ever increasing demand of consumers.

Advances in transportation and conservation contribute to this excellent result.

Since the consumption of oysters, there has always been a serious problem: that of opening them.

Despite all the techniques or the so-called such available on the consumer market: it must be recognized that the oyster consumer is really faced with two major handicaps - The first it is always very dangerous to open
oysters with the only known and effective means that is the
special knife provided for this purpose
The second: this serious problem limits very seriously
the consumption
It is clear that on the eve of the Year 2000: if the oyster eater is favored by the abundance and the quality of these products, he still has the problem of opening them,
To open an oyster it is essential to hold it securely in one hand, preferably the left, except for left-handers, then to locate what forms the joint between the upper and lower parts.

Finally, look for one kind of breach or fault in one end of this joint that could serve as a primer for housing the tip of the knife.

At this stage of predisposition to the opening of the oyster begins the very dangerous phase because the oyster is hermetic closed
Its opening will imply a strong pressure of the hand which holds the knife in order to make the tip of the blade gilsser between the upper and lower shell
This gesture is very risky due to the fact that the end of the blade can slide on the perimeter of the shell to end its course in the apple of the hand holding the oyster.

If the maneuver was carried out without accident, the manipulator only has to have a quarter turn described by his knife which has penetrated between the two oyster shells to obtain good separation of these two elements.

Installing an expensive and bulky machine to avoid this kind of manipulation is not a profitable operation
Very many accessories Miracles or hazardous solutions exist on the consumer market but all these more or less dubious solutions are shunned by the public
The present invention provides the solution to all the problems which have just been mentioned.

Firstly, it takes into account the opening technique made by means of the most widespread oyster knife and the use of which consists in making the blade penetrate between the two half-shells before making a rotation for the purpose of openings.

Secondly it comes in the form of a very light tool which is pleasant to use and which above all presents no danger.

The technique of the invention takes into account the passive resistance formed by the seal between the two parts of the oyster and the push necessary for the penetration of a blade compatible with an opening procedure.

The invention places a sharp blade on a tool whose stroke will have the effect of entering the oyster preferably at the hermetic seal between the lower and upper parts
To give a sufficient force of penetration to the tool the invention uses the principle of the lever thanks to a handle whose two ends are very close between the axis of the handle and the point of support the one who will have the property to give advancement to the tool by successive presses on the handle so that the oyster does not stop running
The other end of the oyster is stabilized against a hoof
The invention nicks the oyster between a hoof and a moving point
The mechanism of the invention retains all the components
known in the industry and intended to give advancement
linear has a tool by means of a handle whose mechanism
s similar to that of a pruning shears.

 This pruning shears handle mechanism, only one of which is movable, forms the basis of the device of the invention.

This mobile base is very pleasant to maintain because it is
fits comfortably in the user's grip.

This favorable position of the tool allows the user to exert strong pressure if necessary and without difficulty.
closure on the movable handle.

In addition to retaining this technique, the invention applies before
taggingly the principle of leverage by taking advantage of lon
moving handle and the short distance that exists
between the axis of its rotation and the thrust angle
This thrust angle takes the form of the radius of a pinion
whenever the invention uses the mechanism of
rack for advancing the tip carrying tool.

The mechanism of the invention places the device which will form
the pincers intended to open the oysters above the two
handles to make the set very pleasant to use
This very precisely to allow the manipulator to press
the movable handle with one hand and the other to accommodate the oyster
in the super structure between the jaws of the pincers for the specific purpose of giving this activity the greatest ease
In one of the applications of the invention and in order to demonstrate the intelligence of the system in FIG: 1; (1) is the extreme tip of the holding and stabilizing shoe, the function of which is to firmly hold the end of the oyster opposite to that which receives the movable tip intended to open it. (3) and (4) are the notched sides of the hoof. (2) is the curved bottom of the hoof: (1). (6) (20) (21) (25) form a static assembly comprising the superstructure (6) ó) and the rounded and reinforced shapes (21) and (25). (20) is the static handle which advantageously enters into the extension of the above-mentioned assembly. (22) is the movable handle which is articulated on an axis (23) and which receives at its end an axis housed in a bearing (24) A longitudinal rod (14) passes right through the static element One of its ends such that (13) is curved and receives a cutting tool (8) and (9). The other end (27) has an end stop. Every time
that is pressed on the movable handle (22) to bring it back
in the direction of the static handle (20) the axis housed in the
plalier (24) meets the base of the device (7) and makes it
move from its rear position caused by the spring (5)
forward . In its rotary movement of a few degrees
the device (7) drives the rod (14) forward while
that the base of the handle (22) will be pressed against the handle
(20) according to the well-known principle of the pruning mechanism.

This mechanical embodiment perfectly retains the application of the lever principle according to which all the force depends on the positioning of the fulcrum near the resisting force and in the application of the invention that which exists between the axes: (23) and (24)
FIG: 2; represents the static part of the device with in evidence the bearing (30) in which the axis (23) is articulated intended to hold the movable handle (22). (28 and (29) are the holes compatible with the longitudinal movement of the rod (14). The sides of the rod (14) preferably have an exagonal shape in order to give stability to this movable rod so that the holes (28 ) and (29) are in harmony with this exagonal shape. (31) is the shoulder which retains the upper part of the device (7) whose piercing is compatible with the exagon of the rod (14) but of a diameter upper in order to exert a constraint only when it is tilted forward and thereby driving the rod (14).

(12) is the reinforcement integral with the static chassis and intended to reinforce the housing (32) in which is housed the device (17) whose inclined position under the pressure of the spring (18) retains in acquired position the rod (14) whenever she
advance due to the rotation of the device (7)
In FIG: 3; the mobile tool (14) is seen out of its housing in the static part (8) is the very sharp tip of the sharp device: (9). This preferably removable assembly receives an elongated shape compatible with that of a sharp chisel whose flat shapes facilitate penetration into a resistant material.

(10) is the axis housed in the bearing (36). (35) is the hole intended to receive the preferably cylindrical end (37)
In FIG: 3; (15) is the spring stop washer (16)
FIG: 1 and FIG: 5
This spring is less powerful than that (18) which has the effect of constantly repelling the device (17).

However, when the rod (14) reaches the end of the stroke such as FIG: 7; the spring (16) is compressed enough to push the spring (18) which has the effect of straightening the device (17) until its end of travel (19) and therefore allowing the tool (14) to return to its starting position.

The result of this application is to facilitate the manipulation of the mechanism of the invention by an automatic movement of the cutting tool.

In FIG 6; the oyster: (41) is simply pressed against the parts formed by the shoe assembly (1) (2) (3) and (4) and the sharp point of the tool (8).

Under the effect of a first pressure on the handle (22) the tool (8) advances without difficulty because the pressure exerted at the base of the device (7), that is to say the point (26) is much greater than the passive resistance formed by the oyster shell although the choice of the joint between the two parts is favored
The start of the oyster opening operation has started.

Its progress will only involve repeatedly pressing the handle (22)
In FIG: 4; (38) is the bearing intended to receive the axis which allows the handle (22) to pivot
In FIG: 5; (16) (18) and (5) are the springs of the device of the invention
(39) and (40) are the holes with a diameter greater than that of the tool holder rod (14) and the sides of which are compatible with the geometric shape of the rod (14)
In FIG: 7; the oyster (41) is open because its shell has not resisted the penetration force of the cutting tool.

The thickness of the tool allows a gaping opening.

The flat shape of the extreme point (8) cuts in passing
elements that prevent complete opening
The spring (16) FIG: 1; is compressed to the point that the cutting tool is about to return to its position
initial
Then it will be enough for the manipulator to remove the open oyster and simply place another in the same place.

 Both hands of the manipulator are preferably used.

One to place the oysters on the device
The other only in order to press on the handle.

 The rod (14) receives removable tools at its end (37) intended for multiple uses. (34) is the bearing of the axis (27)

Claims (1)

cutting edge intended to open the oyster. multiplied to give penetration force to the tool ning the movable handle whose mechanism is strongly power of the closing mechanism being obtained in action pierce it thanks to the sharpened tool that it comprises the jaw is intended to immobilize the 'oyster and the other hand to close the vice which forms the superstruture of which parts forming a pleasant and easy assembly to hold in another static handle integral with a chassis these two total length of its other end in addition to its shape and to the small space between its axis and its end and to the one of the lever in order to generate power which is obtained thanks mobile whose movement back and forth retains the principle characterized by the fact that its base includes a handle at the movable handle of a pruning shears or that of an oyster stapler with great ease and similar handling CLAIMS 1 Light manual device intended preferably to open the dice preferably an exagonal shape and a limit switch (27) 3 Device according to claims: and of a return spring (16) the dimensions of the tool holder having greatly reduced a handle (22) and a retainer (17) push-button advance mechanism (7) thanks to the movement compatible with good penetration into an oyster and one end receives a cutting instrument (8) and (9) with a smart rod (14) is a versatile tool holder curved (13) including 2 Device according to claim: 1; characterized by the fact  1 and 2 characterized by  keeps the handle (22) the linear drive motor  of the multipurpose tool holder (14) even when this mechanism  includes a rack and that the devices (7) and (17)  are replaced by a drive or winding pinion  a cable and in the case where the handle (22) compresses  oil in a piston provided for advancing the tool (14) 4 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that  that the invention retains the mechanism of the pincers of the two  ends of an oyster between a jaw intended for  stabilize and the other to pierce it with its sharp tool  this pincer forming the superstructure of the  the invention the clamping force being obtained by movement  reduction of the handle (22) based on the  lever principle 5 Device according to claims: 1 4 characterized by  causes the cutting tool (8) and (9) to penetrate the side of  the oyster whether on the small side of its rectangular shape  or the large side because it is open to the handler to prefer  one place of oyster more than another and open nuts  or other products With the knife (8) and (9) preferably  appropriate