A hand manipulable device for removing the intestine or "vein" from the tall of crustaceans such as shrimp or the like. The device includes means to pierce the body or "tail" of the shrimp, blocking means to prevent overpenetration, pressing means, gripping means for gripping the vein of the shrimp, and handle means for gripping the device. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is in the general form a pincer for gripping and lifting the vein from the shrimp tail. A new and unique method of deveining crustaceans utilizes a heretofore undisclosed pulling action, as compared to the pushing action disclosed in the prior art. The present invention teaches a superior device and method which work with any size shrimp, will not mutilate the shrimp, can be used with shelled or unshelled shrimp, and remove the whole vein in a consistent manner from uncooked shrimp with ease.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
The present invention relates to a hand manipulable crustacean cleaning 
device, and more particularly to a unique and useful device for easily and 
effectively removing the intestine or "sand vein" from uncooked shrimp or 
the like, whether the crustacean is shelled or unshelled. 
The present invention removes the intestine from the shrimp in such a 
manner as to preserve the integrity of the body of the crustacean, thereby 
retaining its original appearance, with little external evidence of 
penetration or vein removal. The present apparatus and method 
satisfactorily prepares shrimp of all sizes utilizing a single device, 
thereby dispensing with the necessity of different size tools for 
different size shrimp. 
The device of the present invention comprises a manually operated tool 
having means to penetrate the shrimp to a predetermined depth, stop means 
to prevent overpenetration, and pressing means associated with the 
penetration means for removing the vein from the shrimp body. 
The present invention further comprises a new and unique method of removing 
the intestine or "sand vein" from a crustacean or the like. The method 
comprises a plurality of steps for use in conjunction with the device of 
the present invention. 
2. Prior Art & General Background 
The shrimp or "prawn" has long been a seafood delicacy throughout the 
world, providing a delicious and nutritional food product. The shrimp may 
be cooked in a variety of fashions, however, the preparation for eating 
the shrimp is generally the same; that is, the shrimp head and shell must 
be removed prior to eating. Generally, the shrimp may be cooked without 
the necessity of removing the head or shell; for example, boiled shrimp 
are generally prepared whole and are peeled after cooking. 
However, the intestinal tract of the shrimp, which includes waste products 
and intestinal organ tissue, should always be removed prior to cooking, as 
its contents may effect the taste and consistency of the prepared shrimp, 
as well as posing a possible health hazard. 
The intestinal tract, or "vein", generally has a diameter of approximately 
one to two millimeters and runs in a parallel fashion from the head of the 
shrimp, along the upper length of the abdominal musculature or "tail", to 
the base of the tail fan. Although generally visible through the shell, 
the vein is normally situated approximately one to two centimeters under 
the surface of the muscular tissue associated with the tail of the shrimp. 
Heretofore, the prior art has failed to teach a desirable method or 
apparatus to remove the vein from uncooked shrimp in an effective and 
consistent manner without mutilating or otherwise damaging the shrimp. 
A list of prior patents teaching method and apparatus for the removal of 
the vein from shrimp and the like is included below as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Patent No. Patentee(s) Issue Date 
______________________________________ 
411,797 A. P. Farrell Oct. 1, 1889 
2,541,781 C. M. Riha Feb. 13, 1951 
2,594,205 S. A. Paoli April 22, 1952 
2,552,450 S. A. Paoli May 8, 1951 
2,648,094 S. A. Paoli Aug. 11, 1953 
2,832,987 A. Di Camillo May 6, 1958 
3,271,814 T. S. Gorton, Jr. 
Sept. 13, 1966 
3,126,576 B. Johannesen March 31, 1964 
3,353,207 H. Weinberger Nov. 21, 1967 
4,103,395 Latorella Aug. 1, 1978 
4,200,961 Mueller May 6, 1980 
4,271,563 Theuman June 9, 1981 
4,519,136 Walker May 28, 1985 
4,521,964 Maruyama June 11, 1985 
4,553,287 DeSordi et al. Nov. 19, 1985 
______________________________________ 
As may be ascertained by a review of the above patents, the prior art has 
yet to teach a satisfactory apparatus or method for the removal of the 
vein of an uncooked shrimp. 
The Paoli patents, as well as Camillo, Gorton, and DeSordi all teach 
elongated, somewhat cylindrically configured tools each having a narrowing 
circumference ending in a point at one end, with a handle opposite. In 
usage, the pointed side of the tool would be placed at a designated 
position and angle relative to the shrimp body between the shell and the 
tail, and pushed so as to force the shell from the tail in a 
wedging/pushing action. 
While most of the above cited patents primarily teach shell removing 
apparatus and method for shrimp, some also teach means for removing the 
vein, either in conjunction with shell removal U.S. Pat. No. (3,271,814 et 
seq), or as a sole feature U.S. Pat. No. (2,541,781). The vein removing 
means in these patents either comprises the implementation of protrusions 
on the surface of the tool or a somewhat pointed tip. The protrusions or 
pointed tips are configured in such a manner as to penetrate the outer 
tissue area above the vein, then engage the vein and push it out of the 
tail while removing the shell simultaneously. 
The above method for removing the vein from shrimp is on the whole 
ineffective and undesirable for a variety of reasons. Most of the problems 
associated with this method relate to the pushing action required to push 
the shell and vein from the tail, as will be further clarified below. 
The vein of the shrimp comprises an intestinal member generally containing 
food and waste product from the digestive system of the shrimp. As the 
vein is a container of sorts, it is beneficial to remove it as a whole, 
and not in parts. 
The pushing action taught in the above method tends to mutilate the vein, 
as the protrusion or tip for penetrating the tissue area to reach the vein 
also tends to penetrate and cut the vein itself. In addition, the pushing 
action associated with the operation of the tool also tends to rupture the 
vein, as it tends to "bunch up" the vein as it is pushed the length of the 
tail. 
Another problem associated with the above method is that it also tends to 
multilate the shrimp tail itself, due to the incising action associated 
with penetrating the tissue to reach the vein; the damage is made even 
greater due to the pushing action, which tends to "rip" the tissue rather 
than cut it. 
Still another problem associated with the above method and apparatus is 
that it only works with shrimp of a limited size region. Use of the tool 
with a small shrimp would result in mutilation, as the protrusion or tip 
would cut too deeply, while use with a large shrimp would be ineffective, 
as the protrusion would not incise the tissue to a sufficient depth to 
reach the vein. 
After reviewing the above prior art, it should become apparent that there 
exists a need for a new method and apparatus for the manual removal of the 
vein of a shrimp. The new method and apparatus should remove the vein 
intact from shrimp of all sizes, be easy to use, and not mutilate the 
shrimp in the process. 
3. General, Summary Discussion of the Invention 
The present invention in its preferred embodiment comprises a hand 
manipulable tool of metal, plastic or the like configured to penetrate the 
upper tail area of the shrimp including means to stop penetration at a 
desired depth, clamping means to retain the vein, and handle means to 
allow the vein to be pulled from the shrimp in a perpendicular fashion 
relative to the tail. 
The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches an elongated 
pincer comprising two flat, somewhat rectilinear, planer surfaces joined 
at one end and configured to be separated in a spaced, parallel, opposed 
fashion at the other end. 
At first glance, the preferred embodiment may resemble a typical pair of 
tweezers, such as those used for removing facial hairs and the like. 
However, the present invention has features which significantly 
distinguish it from the household tweezers. The lower member of the 
present invention is honed to a pointed tip to allow for easy penetration 
of the tissue of the tail of the shrimp, as opposed to the laterally 
extended, flat edge of the typical tweezers. Additionally, at a 
predesignated distance from the tip, the present invention further 
includes a blocking member perpendicular to the lower member; this 
blocking member prevents overpenetration of the shrimp tissue for vein 
removal. 
While pointed, the lower member nonetheless also is flat and includes a 
gripping surface on its inner side for gripping the vein. The upper pincer 
member is not pointed, as it does not penetrate the tissue of the tail. 
The upper member preferably does contain a gripping surface on its 
underside, near the end opposite that joined to the lower member. 
The present invention further includes handle means in the form of a 
tubular member of latex or the like configured to envelop approximately 
half of the instrument, the enveloping member covering the pincer from the 
side where the upper and lower members are joined, to approximately one 
half the length of the instrument. 
The cover provides a sanitary, secure handle area for the device; further, 
the flexible nature of the cover allows the instrument to be squeezed 
closed for retaining the shrimp, or held in an open position while placing 
the instrument in the appropriate position relative to the shrimp for vein 
removal. 
The present invention also includes a new and unique method for the removal 
of the vein of shrimp and the like. The method includes the perpendicular 
penetration of the upper tail area of the shrimp with the lower member of 
the instrument to the point where the stopping member stops penetration, 
the squeezing of the upper and lower member together to grip the vein, and 
the pulling of the tool perpendicular from the tail to remove the vein. 
The present invention is obviously distinguishable from the prior art, 
which relied upon a parallel pushing action for vein removal, thereby 
causing unsatisfactory results. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hand 
manipulable vein removal tool for shrimp and the like which is easy to 
use, inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in its use. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand 
manipulable vein removal device for shrimp and the like which may be used 
on shrimp of varying sizes. 
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hand 
manipulable vein removal device for shrimp and the like which leaves the 
tail of the shrimp intact and does not mutilate the tissue of the tail. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hand 
manipulable vein removal device for shrimp and the like which removes the 
vein without the necessity of shelling the shrimp. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved 
method of removing the vein from shrimp and the like utilizing a pulling 
action, rather than the pushing action disclosed in the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED, EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 & 3, the preferred embodiment of the deveiner 
D of the present invention includes piercing member 1 and retaining member 
5, mounted in such a manner as to be configured substantially or generally 
parallel to one another. Piercing member 1 and retaining member 5 are 
weldingly affixed or otherwise fused to one another at area 9. The 
instrument may also be molded in one piece, thereby dispensing with the 
necessity of joining the two members together. 
Piercing member 1 includes a pointed tip 2 for penetrating the shell and 
tissue of the shrimp tail and a laterally extended, stopping or blocking 
member 3 for preventing the piercing member from penetrating too deep down 
into the tail. Blocking member 3 is positioned back at a predesignated 
distance 4 according to how deep the user wishes to penetrate the shrimp 
tail. An exemplary depth would be about one to two mm. 
On the interior side of piercing member 1 facing the retaining member 5, 
gripping indentations or serrations 6 are provided, as are gripping 
indentations or serrations 7 on the same opposed area of the retaining 
member 5. These indentations 6, 7, on the distal end portions of the 
pressing members 1, 5, face one another and are provided for gripping 
between them the vein of the shrimp during removal. 
Enveloping the proximal end portion of the device D, where the piercing and 
retaining members 1, 5 are joined, is cover 8. Cover 8 may be constructed 
of latex, plastic, or the like, and comprises a somewhat tubular member 
joined at the end behind the portion where members 1, 5 are fused. Cover 8 
is configured to fit tightly over the device D so as to provide a 
satisfactory gripping surface while utilizing device D. 
Included on the outer sides of piercing and retaining members 1, 5 are 
gripping surfaces 10, 11 providing a steady grip on the instrument for the 
thumb and forefinger during implementation. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-5B, device D is gripped between the thumb and 
forefinger such that the thumb rests upon gripping surface 11 and the 
forefinger rests upon gripping surface 10. Holding the shrimp body S 
(whether shelled or unshelled), such that vein V is, for example, somewhat 
horizontal to the ground with the other hand, the piercing member 1 is 
placed such that piercing point 2 is against the side of the side of the 
shrimp tail just below the vein area at approximately half the length of 
the tail, illustrated as area P in FIG. 5A. 
With the retaining member 5 above the piercing member 1, the piercing point 
2 is inserted into the body of the shrimp and pressed into it, making an 
opening through the shell (if the shell is still on) until the blocking 
member 3 touches the shrimp body S. The piercing and retaining members 1, 
5 are then pressed together in a pincher action until the tips thereof 
would touch, and the device D is lifted from the tail, allowing the 
gripping surface 6, 7 to grip the vein and be pulled from the shrimp. The 
process is then repeated on any remaining shrimp. 
Exemplary dimensions of the device or deveiner D are outlined below: 
Lengths of piercing and retaining pincers 1, 5, (from end to end): 4 inches 
"Vertical" separation distance between tip point 2 and opposed end of 
retainer pincer 5: 1/2 inch 
Width of stop/block member 3: 1/2 inch 
Set-back distance of stop/block member 3 (distance 4): 3/8 inch 
It is noted that the present process does not mutilate the shrimp and 
results in a clean deveining of the shrimp with little effort and time. 
The embodiment(s) described herein in detail for exemplary purposes are of 
course subject to many different variations in structure, design, 
application and methodology. Because many varying and different 
embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) 
herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the 
embodiment(s) herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive 
requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein 
are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.