Device for opening oysters

Abstract

 This invention concerns a device for opening oysters, consisting of a base (11) on which to place the oyster and of a lance or lever (12) hinged to the base and which pivots and has a sharp point (13) for inserting between the valves of the oyster to force them apart. The lance or lever is hinged to the base by means of an arm that can be regulated in position.

Description

[0001] This invention concerns a device for opening oysters.

[0002] When being consumed, oysters are generally opened manually with a knife or other sharp kitchen utensil, which is forcibly inserted between the two valves to separate them and expose the mollusc that they contain. Such an operation always requires a great effort and is not easy to carry out, in fact, it can be extremely dangerous for the hands.

[0003] In an attempt to facilitate the opening of oysters, various specific tools have been proposed, but they have proved ineffective and impractical to use.

[0004] It is, therefore, the aim of this invention to propose and produce an effective device for opening oysters, which is both practical and easy to use, requiring minimal effort, as well as being easily adaptable to the size of the oysters to be opened.

[0005] Such an aim, and the advantages that it implies are met by a device for opening oysters that conforms with claim 1, and which shall be described here below in greater detail, making reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective of the whole tool;

Fig. 2 shows the lance or lever with articulated arm for regulating; and

Fig. 3 shows a variation of the articulated arm.

[0006] Essentially, the device in question consists of a base 11, a lance or lever 12 with a sharp point 13 and an articulated arm 14.

[0007] The base 11 can be in any suitable material, preferably in cast aluminium with sand-blasted and anti-tarnish surface treatment. Running along the top, it has a hollow 15, at one end of which there rises a shoulder 16, above which, there stands a pair of lugs 17.

[0008] The lance or lever 12 has a grip and terminates, at the bottom, with a forking 19. The sharp point 13 is set on one branch of said forking, either forming a single integral piece, or added on and fixed in an appropriate way.

[0009] The articulated arm 14 is curved and connected to the other branch of the forking 19 by means of a pivot 20. Said arm passes between and is blocked by the lugs on the base, by means of a removable pin. In addition, along the arm there are various through holes 22 for the pin 21 in order to vary and regulate the position of the arm and, consequently, of the lance or lever 12 above the base 11, according to the size of the oysters to be opened.

[0010] The lance or lever 12 and the articulated arm 14 can be made in stainless steel, but other materials may also be used. The sharp point 13, when it is added and fixed to the lance or lever 12, may be in surface-treated aluminium, for example.

[0011] The method of using the tool is obvious.

[0012] The oyster is placed on the base 11, against the shoulder 16. Then the lance or lever 12 is moved as required, thanks also to the articulated arm 14, in order to make the sharp point penetrate between the oyster valves and force them apart.

[0013] It should be noted that, in place of the holes 22, there may be open slots 22' along the arm 14, as shown in Fig. 3, or a tooth formation which secures the pin 21, thereby regulating the position of the arm and the lance or lever. In this case, the regulation becomes easier because the pin does not have to be removed every time, it being necessary simply to lift the arm and replace it over the pin.

Claims

1. Device for opening oysters, characterised by a base (11) on which the oyster is placed, and by a lance or lever (12) articulated to the base, pivoting and with a sharp point (13) for inserting between the valves of the oyster in order to open it.

2. Device for opening oysters according to claim 1, in which said base (11) has a hollow (15) along the top, with a shoulder (16) at one end and two lugs (17), to which said lance or lever (12) is hinged.

3. Device for opening oysters according to claims 1 and 2, in which said sharp point (13) is incorporated or added on and fixed to said lance or lever (12).

4. Device for opening oysters according to the previous claims, in which the lance or lever (12) is hinged to the base by means of an articulated arm (14), fastened to said lugs (17).

5. Device for opening oysters according to claim 4, in which said articulated arm (14) is hinged (20) to the lance or lever (12) and has a number of holes (22) for holding it and regulating its position between the lugs (17) on the base, by means of a pin (21) which may be inserted into one of said holes (22).

6. Device for opening oysters according to claim 4, in which said articulated arm is hinged to the lance or lever and has a number of open slots (22) that interact, as required, with a pin (21) between the lugs (17), in order to position the lance or lever.

Drawing