WO2004052160A1

WO2004052160A1 - A nutcracker

Info

Publication number: WO2004052160A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000845
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bennie Peder Smiszek Pedersen
Original assignee: Bennie Peder Smiszek Pedersen
Priority date: 2002-12-11
Filing date: 2003-12-10
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Also published as: EP1571953A1; AU2003302872A1

Abstract

A nutcracker working in that the force needed to crack the nut is created by a curved portion being rotated in relation to a second wall; the gap between these parts is reduced and a pressure occurs on the nut located between the parts.

Description

A nutcracker

The present invention relates to a nutcracker.

There are primarily two types of nutcrackers that have gained use. One example of the one type is described in patent No. US 006,052,906. This patent relates to a nutcracker that operates in that two bars are hinged to each other at the one end; the user arranges a nut close to the point of hinging and when the bars are pressed towards each other at the opposite end, a pressure is exerted on the nut; the principle used being the Principle of the Lever. The other type operates in that the user turns a part of the nutcracker in relation to the other part; a thread serves to ensure that the rotating movement is translated into a linear movement, whereby a nut can be influenced by a pressure force. The former type is also available with various devices that bring about a further gearing between the force exerted by the user and the force exerted on the nut. The former type of nutcracker is considered to be impractical since one's fingers are easily pinched, the nutshells spread and the kernel of the nut is easily crushed. The latter type of nutcracker is typically very tardy and complicated to use. Moreover, quite a number of more or less sophisticated nutcrackers are available, ranging from the simple in the form of a hammer for hitting the nut to apparatuses with various kinds of gears.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and functional nutcracker that is also novel and different. It is a further object of the invention to provide a nutcracker overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art, thus providing a nutcracker requiring minimal effort from the user in order to crack a nut, and where the process can be controlled by the user by visually inspecting the process, such that the shell is cracked just enough to salvage the kernel, and avoiding crushing of the nut thus preventing the mixture of shell fractions and kernel fractions. It is a further object of the invention to provide a nutcracker that will contain the cracked shell parts after the nut has been cracked, preventing spreading of the shells. The nutcracker according to the invention is characterised in that it operates in that the pressure or force needed to crack a nut is created by squeezing the nut between a first wall part of the nutcracker being rotated about a centre, and a second wall part; this rotational movement does not bring about a linear movement. At least a portion of the rotatable first wall part is curved, whereby a gap between this first portion and the second portion of the nutcracker is reduced as a function of the rotation. It is a characterising feature that the curved portion can be configured with an area of operation of up to 360°.

The first wall part is preferably an inner wall of a first cylindrical part, say the top, and the second wall part is preferably a wall connected to a second cylindrical part, say the bottom part. The first and second cylindrical parts are rotateably connected to each other, along their peripheries such that they have a common central axis of rotation centrally of the nutcracker. The second wall part, serves as abutment for the nut and the first wall part is an inwardly facing surface, ie the curved portion, that can eccentrically press the nut towards the second wall part and thus crack the nut.

In one embodiment the nutcracker has a curved portion interiorly, whereby the nut is cracked between the curved portion and a wall, causes the nut to be cracked with a controlled movement, since - by a rotation exertion of force - one's control of one's movements is improved. As opposed to nutcrackers using threads, the present nutcracker can be used without a tardy unscrewing and, likewise, it can be used as such for both large and small nuts. The present embodiment also presents the obvious advantage that the nut can be watched throughout the process and that it is easy and expedient to further squeeze the nut, if necessary. Tests have shown that the nutshells DO NOT tend to "leap"; ie the nutcracker will not cause the nutshells to spread around you. Fig. 1 shows and exemplary embodiment. An essential detail of the configuration of such a nutcracker is the increment of the curved portion: the smaller it is the larger pressure force can be obtained with a given torque. Also the area of operation for the nutcracker is of essence; 'area of operation' being understood as the possible variations in the dimensions of the gap. By this embodiment the non-centre-oriented wall enables two different areas of operation for the curved portion.

The nutcracker can also be configured with a curved portion being located as illustrated in a second embodiment. In that case there needs to be 'pockets' in the outer portion, thereby preventing the nut from being pulled along. This embodiment enables utilisation of the increment of the curved portion in three different areas of operation.

Both the curved portion and the wall can be configured with steps or conically in relation to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical parts. In a further embodiment, the wall is configured with steps. The object of the steps is to utilise the increment of the curved portion in four different areas of operation.

A further embodiment has three pockets like the second embodiment; the location of the pockets and that of the curved portion having been switched, however.

In an alternative embodiment the turning movement performed by the user is shifted down by means of gear wheels or other mechanical device, whereby the curved portion and the wall are turned relatively slower in relation to each other. This will cause the torque required to be exerted by the user to be reduced, while the same torque on the nut is maintained. The gearing ratio may for instance be such that the user needs to turn the external parts of top and bottom parts by 720° in order to obtain a relative turning of 360° between the curved portion and the wall. This effect can be obtained by simple exchange with gear wheels which can eg be built integrally with the bottom part. This embodiment is not illustrated in the figures.

In a further embodiment the curved portion is located between two discs with two openings for positioning of large and small nuts, respectively. It works in that the user turns the part that contains the curved portion in relation to the remainder of the nutcracker, thereby reducing the pockets and it will thus be possible to crack a nut.

In an alternative embodiment the nutcracker according to the invention can be provided with arms or handles for facilitating the rotation of the bottom part and the top relative to each other. It may act such that the force to be exerted by the user is reduced. This embodiment is not shown in the figures.

In a further embodiment the curved portion works axially in relation to the axis of rotation as opposed to the previous embodiments that work radially.

In a further alternative embodiment which is an in-between of an axially and a radially working curved portion: a cone with increasing radii. The gap or space formed is thus between a curved cone and the wall which is also conical. This embodiment is not shown in the figures.

Any embodiment may advantageously in one way or the other be configured such that the user is able to transmit a torque to the nutcracker in a manner, whereby it is not friction alone that ensures this transmission. That means that a configuration with cams or the like may be preferred. Likewise, importance may be ascribed to the choice of material to the effect that the grip yields a good and high coefficient of friction.

The invention will be described in further detail in the following with reference to the drawings in which

- figs 1A-C are a top plan view, a sectional view and an isometric view, of a first exemplary embodiment;

figs 2A-B are a top plan view and a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment; - figs 3A-B are a top plan view and a sectional view, of a third exemplary embodiment;

- figs 4A-B are a top plan view and a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment;

- figs 5A-C are a top plan view and two sectional views of a fifth exemplary embodiment;

- figs 6 A-B are a side view and a sectional view of a sixth exemplary embodiment;

- figs 7A-B are a top plan view and a sectional view of the embodiment shown in figs 6A-B;

- fig. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs 1A-C;

- fig. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs 2A-B;

- fig. 10 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs 3A-B;

- fig. 11 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs

4A-B;

- fig. 12 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs 5A-C;

fig. 13 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figs 6A-B and figs 7A-B; - fig. 14 is an exploded isometric view of a seventh exemplary embodiment;

- fig. 15 is an exploded isometric view of details of the embodiment shown in figure 14 seen from a different angle; and

- figs 16 A-C are a side view, a top view and a sectional view of the embodiment shown in figures 14 and 15.

The first exemplary embodiment shown in figs 1 and 8 comprises a bottom part 1 , a top 2 and a bearing 3. The bottom part 1 and the top 2 can be turned relative to each other. The top 2 has an open end through which a nut can be placed in the nutcracker, and through which the process of cracking a nut can be visually inspected. The bearing 3 is arranged to counteract friction. Between a wall 5', which is a part of the bottom part 1 , and the interior curved portion 4', which is a part of the top 2, two gaps or pockets 8', 9' are formed. The wall 5^' extend axially from the bottom part 1 and has two surfaces 6' and 7'. The wall 5' being shifted relative to the centre of the point of rotation for the curved portion 4', the one pocket 9' will in this instance be able to achieve a larger maximum dimension than the other pocket 8'. The purpose of this is that the pockets 8, 9' can be used for different sizes of nuts. When the top 2 is turned clockwise relative to the bottom part 1 , the size of the pockets 8', 9' will be reduced due to the curved portion 4'; this reduction of the pockets means that a nut located in one of these will be exposed to a pressure force if so required by the size of the nut. This may cause the nut to be cracked.

The curved portion 4' can be conceived of as being generally spiral-shaped as seen from a view above the top 2, see eg fig. 1A. The surface of the curved portion 4' generally follows the outer surface of the cylindrical top 2, but the thickness of the first wall part of the top 2 as defined by the distance between the inner surface of the curved portion 4' and the outer surface of the cylindrical top 2, varies. In a second exemplary embodiment shown in figs 2 and 9 the nutcracker consists of a bottom part 101 , a top 102 and a bearing 103. The bottom part 101 and the top 102 can be turned relative to each other. The bearing 103 is arranged to counteract friction. Between the wall 105', which is a part of the bottom part 101 , and the inner side of the top 106', 107', 108' three gaps or pockets 109', 110', 111' are formed. Since the parts of the inner side of the top 106', 107', 108' that constitute the bottom of the pockets are located with increasing distance to the centre of the point of rotation of the curved portion 104', the pockets are able to obtain different maximum and minimum dimensions as a function of the position of the top 102 in relation to that of the bottom part 101. In that case the pocket 111' is the one that achieves the largest dimension. The purpose of this is that the pockets 109', 110', 111' can be used for different sizes of nuts. When the top 102 is turned clockwise in relation to the bottom part 101 , the pockets 109', 110', 111' will be reduced as a consequence of the curved portion 104'; the reduction of the pockets means that a nut arranged in one of them can be exposed to a pressure force if so required by the size of the nut. This may cause the nut to be cracked.

In a third exemplary embodiment as will appear from figs 3 and 10 the nutcracker consists of a bottom part 201 , a top 202 and a bearing 203. Between a wall 205' and a curved portion 204' two gaps 210', 211' are formed. The principle is like in the first exemplary embodiment. However, the wall 205' is configured with steps: this serves the purpose that the increment on the curved portion 204' can hereby be reduced, since a nut will settle between the curved portion 204' and the lowermost part of the step 206', 207' in case it is too small to be cracked between the curved portion 204' and the upper part of the step 208', 209'. The stepped wall 205' provides pockets or gaps of several different sizes between wall 205' and the curved portion 204' in different levels with respect to the axial direction of the nutcracker. Thus, the gaps 210', 211' are narrower towards the bottom part 201 and wider toward the open end of the top 201. In an alternative embodiment the curved portion 204' can be provided with steps (not shown) similar to the ones described above for the wall 205'. The stepped wall can be replaced by a sloped surface (not shown), such that the gap is widest at the entrance and smallest by the bottom of the nutcracker.

A fourth exemplary embodiment, as will appear from figs 4 and 11 , consists of a bottom part 301 , a top 302 and a bearing 303. The bottom part 301 and the top 302 can be turned relative to each other. The principle is like in exemplary embodiment 1 ; however, three gaps or pockets 305', 306', 307' are used. As opposed to the embodiment shown in figure 2 the three gaps or pockets 305', 306', 307' are defined between three surfaces 308', 309', 310' of the wall and the curved portion 304'. It is the idea that the increment on the curved portion 304' at the top 302 can be reduced and thereby causes the torque to be exerted to achieve a given pressure force on a nut to be reduced.

A fifth exemplary embodiment, as will appear from figs 5 and 12, the nutcracker comprises a bottom part 401 , a top 402 with a curved portion 405', a top disc 403 and two pins 404. The top 402 with the curved portion is located between the bottom part 401 and the top disc 403 that is configured with two openings for arrangement of large and small nuts, respectively. The bottom part 401 is attached to the top disc 403 with two pins 404. The top 402 with the curved portion 405' can be turned: a turning clockwise relative to the bottom 401, the pins 404 and top disc 40 will cause the pockets 410' and 411' to reduce the gap between the curved portion 405' and the walls 406', 407', 408', 409' formed in the top disk 403 and in the bottom part 401. In this manner a nut can be cracked.

In a sixth exemplary embodiment, as will appear from figs 6, 7 and 13, the nutcracker comprises a bottom part 501 , a top 502 and a bolt 503. The bottom part 501 and the top 502 can be turned relative to each other around a central axis, in this case formed by the bolt 503. The bottom part is provided with wall surfaces 505', 506', 507', 508' at an axial end of gaps or pockets for arrangement of a nut: depending on the size of the nut a suitable pocket is selected, the top 502 must be oriented in accordance with the pocket desired to be used such that the curved portion 504', displaced in the top 502, gives the larges possible gap to the bottom of the pocket. When the top 502 is turned clockwise it will cause the slot to be reduced and the curved portion 504' will exert a pressure on the nut. Thus, in this embodiment the pressure provided for cracking the nut is delivered to the nut in the axial direction of the nutcracker. The curved portion 504' has an axial increment rather than a radial increment as in the previous embodiments. However the work is still delivered by rotating the top 502 relative to the bottom part 501.

In a seventh exemplary embodiment as will appear from figures 14, 15 and 16 the nutcracker comprises a bottom part 601 ; a top 602; a lid 603; a top ring comprising a first part 606 and a second part 607; and a bottom ring comprising a first part 604 and a second part 605. In this embodiment a curved portion 604' provided in the top 602, and surfaces 606', 607' provided on a wall in the bottom part 601 forms gaps or pockets between them. These gaps are reduced in size when the bottom part 601 and the top 602 is rotated with respect to each other. In this respect this embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 1. However, in this embodiment the top 602 and the bottom part 601 are held together in the axial direction by a releasable snap mechanism comprising studs 603' formed in the top 602, and cooperating means in the shape of a track 604' formed in the bottom part 601. Thus the two cylindrical main parts can be connected by simply snapping the top 602 and the bottom part 601 together and be separated again by a user, e.g. for the purpose of cleaning. Such a snap mechanism or similar could be applied to any of the embodiments described above.

The lid 603 serves decoration purposes only.

Figure 14 shows the nutcracker with the constituent parts separated from each other in an exploded view. In figure 15 details of the underside of the top 602 and are shown to reveal the studs 603' of the snap mechanism. In this figure the parts top ring 606, 607 and the bottom ring 604, 605 are connected to the top 602 and the bottom part 601 respectively. The top ring and the bottom ring are preferably formed in a soft material such as rubber to provide a good grip on the nutcracker, such as to be able to rotate the top 602 and the bottom 601 relative to each other. Such gripping devices could be applied to any of the embodiments described above

As can be identified from figs 14 and 16B the wall of the bottom part is provided with a profiling in the form of altering grooves and protrusions formed in the surfaces 606', 607' of the wall. The protrusions of the profiling thus providing edges aiding the cracking of the nut by providing a piercing effect to the nut.

It is clear that such a profiling can be provided in the wall part of any of the above described embodiments.

Claims

1. A nutcracker with a bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601 ) and a top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602) that are, by rotation relative to each other, characterised in that at least one gap between a curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') and surfaces (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507', 508', 606', 607') of a wall is reduced by turning within an area of up to 360°.

2. A nutcracker according to claim 1 , characterised in that the wall (205') is provided with steps for providing multiple gap areas.

3. A nutcracker according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the faces (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 606', 607') are configured with a profiled surface to achieve a piercing effect on the nut.

4. A nutcracker according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the spiral-shaped curved portion (405') is located between a bottom (401) and a top disc (403).

5. A nutcracker according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that it further comprises a bearing between the top (2; 102; 202; 302; 602) and the bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 601).

6. A nutcracker according to claim any one of claims 1-5, characterised in that a spiral-shaped curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 404'; 604') indirectly causes the gap between two wall parts to be reduced when the bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ) and the top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 602) are rotated relative to each other.

7. A nutcracker according to any one of claims 1-3 or 5-6, characterised in that the curved portion (504') has an axial increment.

8. A nutcracker according to any one of claims 1-6, characterised in that the curved portion acts in an angle between the axial and the radial directions; the curved portion is thus generally conical with increasing radii from bottom to top.

9 . A nutcracker according to any one of claims 1-6 or 8, characterised in that the wall against which the gap is formed acts in an angle between the axial and the radial directions;

10. A nutcracker according to claim any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall part forming the surfaces (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507', 508', 606', 607') is formed in the bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401; 501 ; 601).

11. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the curved portion (4'; 104'; 204', 304'; 405') forms two or more gaps against two or more surfaces (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507', 508', 606', 607').

12. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gaps formed has several differently shaped areas of operation.

13. A nutcracker according to any anyone of the claims 1-6 or 6-12 characterised in that the gaps formed varies in radial distance when the curved shaped portion is rotated.

14. A nutcracker according to any anyone of the claims 1-6 or 6-12 characterised in that the gaps formed varies in axial distance when the curved shaped portion is rotated.

15. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the curved portion (4'; 104'; 204', 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') has a smooth surface.

16. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the curved portion (4'; 104'; 204', 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') is provided with a surface providing a low friction against a contacting material.

17. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601 ) and the top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602) are provided with means providing a good grip on the respective parts when the two parts must be rotated in relation to each other.

18. A nutcracker according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602) is connected to the bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601 ) by a snap lock mechanism (603', 604').

19. A nutcracker according to claim 1 comprising - a bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601 ) rotationally connected to a top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602);

- a wall having abutment surfaces (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507', 508', 606', 607') arranged in said bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601);

- a curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') arranged in said top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602); and

- at least one gap formed between said curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') and said wall (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507',

508', 606', 607') wherein said bottom part (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ; 401 ; 501 ; 601 ) and said top (2; 102; 202; 302; 402; 502; 602) are rotationally interconnected along their peripheries, such that they share a common axis of rotation, and said curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') is adapted to eccentrically press a nut toward said wall (6', 7'; 106', 107', 108; 206', 207', 208', 209'; 308', 309', 310'; 406', 407', 408', 409'; 505', 506', 507', 508', 606', 607') when the bottom part is rotated relative to said top.

20. A nutcracker according to claim 20 wherein at least two gaps are formed.

21. A nutcracker according to claims 19 or 20 wherein said curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') is adapted for preventing rotational movement of a nut to be cracked.

22. A nutcracker according to claim 21 , wherein, the curved portion (4'; 104'; 204'; 304'; 405'; 504'; 604') is smooth.