Abstract:
A shellfish opener in the form of a hand-held vise and blade, wherein the shellfish is positioned between an upper blade and a lower anvil jaw, the blade responsive to ratchet operation as a result of the squeezing of two handles, the blade severing the muscle and splitting the shellfish in half along its seam, to allow access to the meat of the shellfish.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/963,613, filed Dec. 11, 2013. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vise-like hand-held ratcheting blade that can be used to easily open mollusks such as clams of the little neck, cherry stone, middle neck, or large neck varieties, oysters, and mussels. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Mollusks are shellfish which are found in seawater and reside on the sea bed, or in sandy areas subject to tidal affects. They are characterized as bi-valves as they obtain their nutrients from the sea water which is drawn into and ejected from the shell fish by means of a siphon membrane within the shellfish. Hard shell clams are generally referred to as quahogs, and can include little neck, cherry stone, middle neck, and large neck clams. Oysters and mussels also belong to the mollusk family as shellfish, but not of the quahog family. 
     Mollusks are harvested in a variety of ways, but the most common is by digging by hand in those tidal areas in which the claims may be found, or by mass harvesting methods from boats, such as dredging, or raking the sea bed. In order to consume the meat of the mollusk, the shell must be separated to obtain access to the meat. The shell consists of two complimentary hard shell concave halves forming the sides having a seam about the periphery of the joinder. The mollusk is categorized by an arcuate seam which is typically labeled the front of the mollusk, the seam terminating with a notch area which is referred to as the back of the mollusk. The notch area is essentially the hinge between the two complimentary concave halves of the shell and serves as the anchor for the interior muscle which maintains the closure of the seam of the mollusk allowing the siphon secured to one of the inner surfaces of the complimentary shells to draw in sea water through the seam for nutrients. 
     Mollusks can be opened under the influence of heat by steaming or grilling which results in the shells separating and the meat of the mollusk being cooked. Many people prefer their mollusks or shellfish raw, which requires the opening of the shell with a specialized tool commonly referred to as a clam knife. The clam knife is a knife having a handle portion and an approximately three inch tempered blade designed not to bend or break. The clam knife is aligned with the seam of the shellfish typically in the front, although it can be used in alignment with the back or notch of the shellfish. The clam knife is aligned with and touches the seam and a rocking motion is applied to the blade to separate the seam and to then continue with seam separation about the entire periphery of the two complimentary shells resulting in the separation of the shells at the notch or hinge, and access to the meat which then can be removed from the shell using the clam knife to shuck the meat, that is, cut the meat away from the shell and the siphon. In this manner, the raw meat of the shellfish can be prepared for consumption directly as raw meat, or with a condiment, such as melted butter or hot sauce, or the meat can be used for preparing other food dishes, such as chowders, fried clams or the like. It should be noted that while we have described the opening process of the shellfish with respect to clams, such an opening process is identical for the other shellfish mentioned such as oysters and mussels. 
     The use of the clam knife by an inexperienced person in opening a shellfish such as a clam as previously explained, can be hazardous in that a novice may frequently cut his hands, the knife may slip, and it takes some skill and experience to be able to align the knife edge with the seam of the shellfish and to effectuate the correct rocking motion with the correct amount of pressure in order to separate the two complimentary concave halves of the shellfish to gain access to the meat. Additionally, it is a time consuming job, even for the most experienced individual in opening shellfish. 
     There therefore has been a need for an easier and simple manner in which to open shellfish so that it can be accomplished in a quicker manner and more shellfish can be available to more individuals more easily and more quickly than the conventional method. Applicant&#39;s knife vise is an answer to that question and allows even the most inexperienced person to easily and quickly separate the complimentary concave halves of the clam shell for access to the meat of the shellfish. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vise-like knife member for opening shellfish. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vise-like knife member for opening shellfish wherein the vise member not only holds the shellfish, but operates under a ratcheting action to gradually and safely separate the seam and the halves of the shellfish. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vise-like knife for opening shellfish, which is safely operated and does not present an open blade surface which could injure the user. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vise-like knife member which can be sized to accommodate different size shellfish. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel vise-like shellfish opener which incorporates a secondary blade in a handle, which secondary blade can be utilized to separate the meat from the shell and siphon once the primary blade has opened the shellfish. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A shellfish opener in the form of a hand-held vise and blade, wherein the shellfish is positioned between an upper blade and a lower anvil jaw, the blade responsive to ratchet operation as a result of the squeezing of two handles, the blade severing the muscle and splitting the shellfish in half along its seam, to allow access to the meat of the shellfish. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a planar side view of the shell fish opener of the present invention in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a planar side view of the shellfish opener of the present invention in an open positioned; 
         FIG. 3  is a planar side view of the shellfish opener of the present invention positioned to initiate the opening of a shellfish in the form of a clam; 
         FIG. 4  is a planar side view of the shellfish opener of the present invention in the process of opening the clam; and 
         FIG. 5  is a planar side view of the shellfish opener of the present invention illustrating a second embodiment of the blade; 
         FIG. 6  is a planar side view of the ratchet mechanism of the shellfish opener of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of a clam stabilizer between the blade and anvil embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 4 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of a clam stabilized between the blade and anvil of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a planar side view of the shellfish opener  10  of the present invention. Shellfish opener  10  is formed with two handle members, an upper handle member  12 , and a lower handle member  14 , handle members  12  and  14  are in articulating relationship about pivot point and pivot pin  16 . Handle members  12  and  14  are designed to be gripped in the hand of the user at ends  20  and  22 . The forward end  24  of upper handle member  12  forms an anvil  26  for securing and stabilizing a clam during the opening process and for storage of a blade member  28 . Blade member  28  is L-shaped in configuration having a blade portion  30  and a depending ratchet member  32 , blade member  28  is swivelly mounted to the upper handle member  12  at pivot point or pivot pin  34 . The ratchet surface  36  of ratchet member  32  faces rearwardly from the anvil portion  26  of upper handle  12  and is cooperative with a ratchet lock  38  mounted on lower arm  14  at pivot pin  40 . Additionally, there is an articulating two-piece ratchet arm  42  having a first ratchet arm member  44  pivotally secured to the lower handle  12  at pivot pin  46  and a second ratchet arm member  48  (See  FIG. 2 ) mounted to the opposing terminal end of first ratchet arm member  44  and pivotally mounted to blade member  28  at pivot point  50 . 
     These articulating members associated with the movement of the blade member  28 , are set forth in more detail in  FIG. 6  which shows these members without the handle members  12  and  14  being present. It should be pointed out that the ratchet lock  38  is mounted to lower handle  14  at pivot point  40  and is biasly mounted about pivot point  40  with a spring member  52  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  and not shown in  FIG. 1 . Additionally, a pivot locking latch  54  may be positioned at the ends of handle members  12  and  14  to secure blade member  28  in a secure closed position. 
       FIG. 2  is a planar side view of shellfish opener  10  in the open position. The open position is achieved by rotating lower handle member  12  downwardly about pivot point  16 , as illustrated by arrow A in  FIG. 2 . This causes the ratchet arms  44  and  48  to articulate and rotate the blade member  28  and ratchet member from the closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to the open position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This position is maintained by the ratchet lock  28  engaging the ratchet surface  36  of the blade member  28 . Lower member  12  is then rotated in the reverse position back to a substantially parallel position with upper handle  14 . In this configuration, the shellfish opener  10  is primed or cocked to receive a shellfish. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the shellfish opener  10  in the open position of  FIG. 2  with a clam  60  having been positioned between the jaws defined by blade member  28  and anvil surface  26 . Anvil surface  26  is slotted on its upper surface. The clam is positioned between the jaws with its front end  62  down and its back end  64  in an upward facing position with the notch  66  being proximate to the blade member  28 , the blade member  28  and anvil  26  cooperate to position and stabilize the seam  68  about the periphery of the clam in alignment with the blade. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the ratcheting movement of the blade  30  against the shellfish, or clam,  60 . The squeezing of upper and lower handle members  12  and  14  activates the ratchet lock  40  and the articulation of ratchet arms  44  and  48 , causing blade  30  to move from the full opened position as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to a closed position through a series of movements activated by the squeezing of the handle members  12  and  14 . This action severs the seam  68  of the clam at its back end  14  proximate the notch  66 , and proceeds downwardly separating the two halves of the shell until the seam  68  has been completely severed. The user now has two clam halves, one containing the meat of the clam, which can easily and quickly be loosened and removed utilizing a shucking blade  70 , rotatably positioned within lower handle  12  and pivotally moved so that the user can utilize it to cut the meat from the clam. The shucking blade  70  when not in use would be pivotally stored within the lower handle  12 . 
       FIG. 5  represents a second embodiment of the shellfish opener  10 . The entire apparatus is identical to that as previously described with the exception that the blade member  28  configuration has been modified. In  FIG. 5 , the blade configuration comprises a truncated wedge member  80 , having a lower cutting surface  82 , and upwardly divergent edges  84  and  86 . The clam is positioned in the same manner as previously stated, however, the cutting edge  82  engages the notch  66  of the clam initially severing the seam and muscle, as the blade member  28  is ratcheted through the articulation of handle member  12  and handle member  14 , the divergent edges  84  and  86  form a surface which as it moves downwardly, separates by prying apart the two shells forming the halves of the clam. This embodiment prevents the linear edge of the blade as illustrated in  FIG. 1  from inadvertently possibly cutting the meat of the clam during the opening process. This second embodiment assures that there is a very small cutting surface  82  which initially penetrates the seam of the clam at the notch, and then the divergent wedge-like surfaces  84  and  86  serve to pry the two halves of the clam apart. 
     A better understanding of the profile of the blade portion of the blade member  28  of the present invention can be ascertained by reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8  which are end views of a clam being stabilized between the blade portion and the anvil portion  30  and  26  respectively, of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  ( FIG. 7 ) and the blade portion  80  and the anvil  26  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  ( FIG. 8 ). 
     In  FIG. 7 , the edge  90  of the blade portion  30  is well defined and engages the clam  60  at its back end  64  at notch  66 . The blade profile upwardly diverges  92  from the edge  90  in an effort to pressure or pry apart the two halves of the clam  60  along the seam. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the profile of the blade of  FIG. 5  which again, is formed with an edge  90 A, but has a greater divergent profile  90 B. The blade portion  80  is designed to again engage the clam  60  along the seam  68  of the clam  60  from its back end  64 , proximate the notch  66 . The front end of the clam  60  in both views rests and is stabilized in the anvil portion  26 . The divergency of the blade portion  80  allows the user to pry open the halves of the clam  60  without more quickly shattering the shell. 
     For the casual user, the ratcheting action of handles  12  and  14  will cause the blade portion  30  or  80  to engage the notch  66  to simultaneously cut along the seam and pry apart the two halves of the clam  60  in order to gain access to the meat of the clam. The casual user would not be concerned with prying apart the two halves of the clam in a completely symmetrical manner with no broken shells. However, those users preparing clams or other shellfish for a raw bar featuring clams and other shellfish are concerned with the aesthetic appearance of the shell and the meat of the shellfish. In those instances, the user may choose to engage the blade portion, either  30  or  80  of the two embodiments with the notch  68  of the clam  60  in order to initially sever the notch and partially sever and pry open the seam of the clam. Such a user would then remove the clam from the device and continue prying the shells apart by hand, or utilize the shucking knife  70  positioned in handle  14  to sever the remaining seam of the clam. In this manner, the ratcheting pressure of the device would allow the user to initially sever and commence the prying apart of the two halves, the completion being accomplished by hand or with a shucking knife so as to insure the integrity of the shells for presentation in a raw bar or on a platter. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.