oyster knife equipped with a guard

Abstract

An oyster knife (C) comprising a handle (1), a piercing and opening element (2) for a shell (h) positioned in line with the handle (1), and a guard (3) provided in line with the handle (1), on the side of the piercing and opening element (2). The guard (3) is parallel to the axis of the piercing and opening element (2) and offset upwards in the position of use, so as to come into contact with the hand (m) of a user in the event that the punch slips under the shell (h) and thus limit the movement of the piercing and opening element (2) and prevent any contact and injury to the hand (m) of the user.

Description

Title of the invention: Oyster knife equipped with a guard TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to knives for oysters and other types of shellfish, particularly bivalves. Such an oyster opener is relevant to the food processing industry, canneries, restaurants, and individuals who consume or use bivalve marine molluscs such as clams, cockles, clams, almonds, Venus clams, and oysters. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Existing bivalve openers have several drawbacks: They often lack means of holding the bivalve, which must then be held by hand or protected by a cloth. Accidents can occur if the blade used for opening slips.

[0003] Furthermore, it is difficult to target the opening, as well as to keep the bivalve horizontal in order to limit water loss. There are complex clamps that theoretically secure the bivalve and also allow for the approximate, forceful insertion of a blade between the shells. These clamps are dangerous and imprecise.

[0004] There are also complex lever arms that generally lack means of wedging. They require good eyesight and are dangerous. Some wedging mechanisms on the clamps or lever arms are achieved using worm screws, which is time-consuming. Some oyster clamps break the shell before opening it. There is a risk of introducing shell fragments inside the bivalve.

[0005] To overcome these various problems, we initially envisioned an oyster knife comprising two elements associated with a handle: a first punching element in the form of a short, very thin and sharp blade to punch the shell and create a small opening, a second opening element, in the form of a second long blade, to be inserted through the hole made by the punch in order to penetrate and cut the sinew of the shell.

[0006] This product, however, did not completely resolve the handling problems. Indeed, it requires two insertion steps, each of which presents a risk of injury from the punch. Furthermore, the significant difference in length between the punch and the blade restricted movement and made handling difficult. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It proposes a knife comprising a handle and two elements arranged in the extension of the handle.

[0008] In order to provide an oyster knife that is safe, simple and efficient to handle, the invention consists of an oyster knife comprising: a handle; a shell-punching and opening element, positioned in line with the handle; and a guard is provided in line with the handle, on the side of the punt-punching and opening element, the guard being parallel to the axis of the punt-punching and opening element and offset upwards in the position of use, in order to come into contact with the hand of a user in the event that the punch should slip under the shell and thus limit the stroke of the punt-punching and opening element and avoid any contact and injury to the hand of the user.

[0009] The difference between the length (L) of the guard (3) and the shorter length (1) of the punching and opening element (2) allows both, by a sufficiently small difference (L1), to offer a latitude of movement so that the punching and opening element (2) can access the shell without the guard (3) hindering the movement, and by a sufficiently large difference (L1), to limit the stroke of the punching and opening element in case of slippage and thus prevent the wounding part (4) from coming into contact with the hand (m).

[0010] The difference between the length (L) of the guard (3) and the length (1) of the punching and opening element (2) is between 20mm and 40mm, ideally 30mm.

[0011] The punching and opening element is slightly curved downwards, its end moving slightly away from the guard. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] Figure 1 shows the knife in profile view

[0013] Figure 2 shows a diagram of knife use, before starting the punching work

[0014] Figure 3 shows a diagram of knife use, with the knife having slid downwards.

[0015] Fig. 4 represents a diagram of the use of the knife, open shell.

[0016] Fig. 5 represents in profile a variant of the knife whose punching and opening element is slightly curved downwards.

[0017] DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The oyster knife (C) includes a handle (1) and a puncturing and opening element (2) for a shell (h), positioned in line with the handle (1).

[0019] The shell is held in the hand (m) of a user.

[0020] The knife has a guard (3) extending from the handle (1), on the side of the punching and opening element (2). The guard (3) is parallel to the axis of the punching and opening element (2) and offset upwards into the operating position.

[0021] The guard is of dimension L and the punching and opening element is of length 1.

[0022] The two lengths are different so that both

[0023] - by a sufficiently small difference (Ll), to be able to offer a latitude of movement so that the punching and opening element (2) can access the shell without the guard (3) obstructing the movement,

[0024] - and by a sufficiently large difference (Ll), to limit the stroke of the element of punching and opening in case of slippage and thus prevent the sharp part (4) from coming into contact with the hand (m).

[0025] This offset in order to come into contact with the hand (m) of a user in the event that the punch should slip under the shell (h) and thus limit the stroke of the punching and opening element (2) and avoid any contact and injury to the hand (m) of the user.

[0026] The punching and opening element (2) allows both punching and opening actions, and is in the form of a known oyster knife blade.

[0027] The upper guard is in the form of an elongated, non-cutting element, designed to stop against the shell in case the punching element slips. This guard limits the knife's travel and prevents the punch from coming into contact with the user's hand.

[0028] In use (Figures 2, 3 and 4):

[0029] The user takes the shell in his hand, the hand thus being, in a known manner, positioned under the shell.

[0030] He then grasped the knife according to the invention with his free hand, the upper guard positioned above the punch

[0031] He positions the punch at the joint of the shell, and begins to exert its punching and insertion movement.

[0032] If the punch slips or slides down the shell without being inserted, it moves towards the hand holding the shell. At this point, and this is the purpose of the invention, the upper guard makes contact with the shell and stops the punch's movement, thus preventing it from coming into contact with the hand and avoiding any injury.

[0033] For greater efficiency and improved ergonomics during punching, the punching and opening element is slightly curved downwards, its profile thus gradually moving away from the guard ([Fig. 5]). The radius of curvature of the punching element is, for example, between 75 and 200 cm, preferably between 125 and 150 cm.

[0034] The punching and opening element is slightly curved downwards, its end moving slightly away from the guard.

[0035] The invention is particularly intended for use in homes, restaurants or by shellfish producers. List of reference signs

[0036] C: Knife

[0037] 1: sleeve

[0038] 2: punching and opening element

[0039] 3: guard

[0040] 4: potentially harmful part

[0041] r: radius of curvature of the punching and opening element

[0042] m: user hand

[0043] h: seashell

Claims

Demands

1. Oyster knife (C) comprising a handle (1) and a shell-punching and opening element (2) positioned in line with the handle (1), characterized in that a guard (3) is provided in line with the handle (1), on the side of the punt-punching and opening element (2), the guard (3) being parallel to the axis of the punt-punching and opening element (2) and offset upwards in the position of use, in order to come into contact with the hand (m) of a user in the event that the punch should slip under the shell (h) and thus limit the stroke of the punt-punching and opening element (2) and avoid any contact and injury to the hand (m) of the user.

2. Oyster knife according to claim 1, characterized in that the difference between the length (L) of the guard (3) and the shorter length (1) of the punching and opening element (2) allows both, by a sufficiently small difference (L1), to offer a latitude of movement so that the punching and opening element (2) can access the shell without the guard (3) hindering the movement, and by a sufficiently large difference (L1), to limit the stroke of the punching and opening element in case of slippage and thus prevent the sharp part (4) from coming into contact with the hand (m).

3. Oyster knife according to claim 2, characterized in that the difference between the length (L) of the guard (3) and the length (1) of the punching and opening element (2) is between 20mm and 40mm

4. Oyster knife according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the difference between the length (L) of the guard (3) and the length (1) of the punching and opening element (2) is 30mm

5. Oyster knife according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the punching and opening element is slightly curved downwards, its profile thus gradually moving away from the guard.

Images