Enhanced personal protective equipment for opening shellfish and crustaceans, particularly oysters, and related accessories.

Abstract

The invention relates to personal protective equipment for securing the hand when opening a shellfish or crustacean with a sharp tool. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) is characterized by a flat disc made of flexible latex (2) whose composition allows for food contact and which is positioned in the palm of the hand, having an ergonomic circular or anatomically shaped cutout with a slightly ovoid form (3) for inserting a finger for positioning [Fig. 1] for the aggregate

Description

Title of the invention: Improved personal protective equipment for opening shellfish and crustaceans, and more particularly oysters, and its accessories.

[0001] The invention relates to personal protective equipment for securing the hand when opening a shellfish or crustacean with a sharp tool. However, the equipment according to the invention is primarily intended for and corresponds to the opening of oysters and is suitable for professionals such as oyster farmers, fishmongers, shellfish vendors, food service professionals, or individuals.

[0002] This patent incorporates significant improvements to the equipment itself and its method of implementation for mass production, given that techniques have evolved since the first filing of the French patent granted FR10 00259 on January 25, 2010.

[0003] It is necessary to recall the major, though not exhaustive, disadvantages of hand protection equipment for opening oysters.

[0004] Most of the equipment is made of a flexible PVC or plastic material that is not food-grade. It is often several millimeters thick, which makes it difficult to prepare for use. It also lacks elasticity, which is important. Indeed, if the tool slips, its tip will come into contact with the material, which, due to its lack of elasticity and elongation, will not initially absorb the impact, risking perforation due to the initial pressure exerted by the operator. Furthermore, the materials from which it is made are not of natural origin, but petroleum derivatives, which are not environmentally friendly. The disadvantages are not limited to the examples above.

[0005] The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters according to the present invention is intended to remedy the above or future disadvantages and to provide improvements which will result in advantages for its use and its method of manufacture and mass production.

[0006] Drawings are attached for a better understanding of the invention.

[0007] With reference to the drawings:

[0008] Fig. 1 schematically represents the personal protective equipment, including the disc;

[0009] Figure [Fig. 2] represents the kit according to the invention.

[0010] The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) takes the form of a flat disc made of flexible latex (2) whose composition allows food contact and which is positioned in the palm of the hand presenting a total ergonomic circular or anatomical cut by a slightly ovoid shape (3) used to insert a finger for positioning and holding said equipment in the correct position.

[0011] According to another preference, the latex disc (2) accepts other geometric and design shapes whose minimum proportions cover the palm of the hand.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the invention is made of latex by dipping it onto a specially designed mold and drying it with pulsed hot air or infrared radiation. It is specified that, by this embodiment, it is possible to produce structural patterns (for example, dots, bumps, or striations) on part or all of the disc (2) to generate anti-slip areas or reinforced areas by adding more material, which is predefined on the dipping mold.

[0013] Implementing the invention by soaking also allows an inorganic type antimicrobial to be added to the latex material.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment, the disc (2) is formed by a shape cutting tool from a hydraulic or electric or manual cutting press or by a laser cutter which cuts a strip of latex.

[0015] The personal protective equipment according to the invention, which consists of a disc (2), has on at least one of its faces a marking (text, drawing, image, photo, etc.) made by laser, thus producing a permanent marking. It can also be easily understood that the use of laser radiation makes it possible to create anti-slip patterns.

[0016] Depending on a variant or other marking preference, pad printing, screen printing or hydrography techniques are used.

[0017] The disc (2) has on at least one of its sides a QR-Code for identification and authenticity relating to its characteristics, its method of use, cleaning / disinfection and recycling at the end of its life.

[0018] After the manufacture of the personal protective equipment consisting mainly of its disc, it is joined with a hand-held tool specifically developed and adapted for opening oysters or other shellfish and / or crustaceans to form a kit or set which is packaged in biodegradable and / or compostable packaging.

[0019] This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to carry out embodiments of the invention, including the manufacture and use of any device or system and the performance of any incorporated process. Scope The patentable nature of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that are apparent to a person skilled in the art. These other examples are intended to fall within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with non-substantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

[0020] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments or fields of activity previously described.

Claims

Demands

1. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) is characterized by a flat shape made of soft latex (2) whose composition allows food contact and which is positioned in the palm of the hand having a total ergonomic circular or anatomical cut by a slightly ovoid shape (3) used to insert a finger for positioning and holding said equipment in the correct position.

2. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to claim 1 is characterized in that the minimum proportions of the latex form (2) cover the palm of the hand.

3. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to claims 1 and 2 is characterized in that the latex form (2) is produced by dipping operation on a form specially designed for this purpose and the use of hot air pulsed drying or infrared radiation and that part or all of the disc (2) produces structural patterns to generate anti-slip zones or reinforcement zones by a greater supply of material which is previously defined on the dipping mold.

4. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to claim 3 is characterized in that the manufacturing method by soaking also allows the addition of an inorganic type antimicrobial to the latex material.

5. The improved personal protective equipment for oyster opening (1) according to claims 1, 2 and 4 is characterized in that the shape (2) is formed by a shape cutting tool from a hydraulic or electric or manual cutting press or by laser cutting.

6. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is characterized in that the shape (2) has on at least one of its faces a marking made by laser thus causing an indelible marking and the use of laser radiation also makes it possible to create anti-slip patterns.

7. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is characterized in that the marking uses pad printing or screen printing or hydrography techniques.

8. The improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is characterized in that the shape (2) has on at least one of its faces a QR-Code for identification and authenticity relating to its characteristics, its method of use, cleaning / disinfection and recycling at the end of its life.

9. Improved personal protective equipment for opening oysters (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the latex form (2) has a disc-shaped geometry.

10. Oyster opening kit characterized in that it consists of personal protective equipment according to one of the preceding claims and a knife, both packaged in biodegradable and / or compostable packaging.

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