Shellfish beheading assembly

A shellfish beheading assembly includes a clipper that includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw. The top jaw is hingedly coupled to the bottom jaw. The clipper may have a shellfish positioned between the top jaw and the bottom jaw. The top jaw is selectively urged toward the bottom jaw. A saddle is coupled to the clipper and saddle is configured to have the shellfish positioned therein. A pair of blades is provided. A selected one of the blades is removably coupled to the clipper. Thus, the selected blade beheads the shellfish when the top jaw is urged toward the bottom jaw.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to beheading devices and more particularly pertains to a new beheading device for beheading a shellfish.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a clipper that includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw. The top jaw is hingedly coupled to the bottom jaw. The clipper may have a shellfish positioned between the top jaw and the bottom jaw. The top jaw is selectively urged toward the bottom jaw. A saddle is coupled to the clipper and saddle is configured to have the shellfish positioned therein. A pair of blades is provided. A selected one of the blades is removably coupled to the clipper. Thus, the selected blade beheads the shellfish when the top jaw is urged toward the bottom jaw.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the shellfish beheading assembly10generally comprises a clipper12that includes a top jaw14and a bottom jaw16. The top jaw14is hingedly coupled to the bottom jaw16. The clipper12may have a shellfish18positioned between the top jaw14and the bottom jaw16. The top jaw14is selectively urged toward the bottom jaw16. Thus, the shellfish18may be beheaded. The shellfish18may be a crawfish or the like.

The top jaw14has a first end20and a second end22, and the top jaw14is elongated between the first end20and the second end22. The top jaw14has a pair of bends24thereon. The bends24are spaced apart from each other to define a first portion26and a second portion28of the top jaw14. Each of the bends24is positioned closer to the first end20than the second end22and each of the bends24defining an angle. The top jaw14has an upper surface30and a lower surface32.

The angle corresponding to each of the bends24is congruent with each other such that the first portion26is offset with respect to the second portion28. The top jaw14has a tab34extending downwardly therefrom and the tab34is aligned with the second end22. The tab34has an outwardly facing surface36and the outwardly facing surface36has a pair of prominences38. The prominences38are spaced apart from each other. The tab34has a fastener hole40extending therethrough and the fastener hole40is centrally positioned between the prominences38.

The bottom jaw16has a primary end42and a secondary end44. The bottom jaw16is elongated between the primary end42and the secondary end44. The bottom jaw16has a top surface46and a bottom surface48. The top jaw14is oriented such that the lower surface32faces the top surface46of the bottom jaw16. Moreover, the top jaw14is coextensive with the bottom jaw16.

A block50is coupled between the top jaw14and the bottom jaw16such that the top jaw14is spaced from the bottom jaw16. The block50is positioned on the first portion26of the top jaw14. The block50is positioned closer to the primary end42than the secondary end44. A pair of bolts51extends through the top jaw14, the block50and the bottom jaw16. Thus, the block50is retained between the top jaw14and the bottom jaw16.

A biasing member52extends between the top jaw14and the bottom jaw16. The biasing member52is positioned on the second portion28of the top jaw14. The biasing member52biases the second end22of the top jaw14away from the secondary end44of the bottom jaw16. The clipper12is squeezed into a cutting position. The second end22is urged toward the secondary end44in the cutting position. The biasing member52may comprise a spring or the like.

A saddle54is coupled to the clipper12and the saddle54may have the shellfish18positioned therein. The saddle54has an outer wall56and the outer wall56is curved such that the saddle54is substantially cylindrically shaped. The outer wall56has a front end58and a back end60. The saddle54is positioned on the top surface46of the bottom jaw16. The saddle54is oriented to be coextensive with the bottom jaw16. The front end58is aligned with the secondary end44of the bottom jaw16.

The front end58of the saddle54has a lip62extending forwardly from the outer wall56and the lip62rests on the bottom jaw16. The lip62has a distal end64with respect to the front end58and the distal end64is aligned with the secondary end44of the bottom jaw16. The lip62has an aperture66extending through to the bottom jaw16. The lip62may have a head68of the shell fish18positioned thereon such that eyes70of the shellfish18are aligned with the front end58of the saddle54.

A pair of blades72is provided and a selected one of the blades72is removably coupled to the clipper12. Thus, the selected blade72beheads the shellfish18when the top jaw14is urged toward the bottom jaw16. Each of the blades72has a forward surface74, a rearward surface76and a cutting edge78extending between the forward surface74and the rearward surface76. The cutting edge78corresponding to each of the blades72has a first side80and a second side82. The second side82is arcuate with respect to the first side80. Thus, each of the blades72forms a parabolic segment.

Each of the blades72has a pair of mounting holes84extending through the forward surface74and the rearward surface76. Each of the mounting holes84is positioned proximate the first side80. Each of the prominences38extends through an associated one of the mounting holes84when the selected blade72is positioned on the tab34. Thus, the selected blade72is inhibited from rocking on the tab34.

The pair of blades72includes a first blade90and a second blade92. The second side82corresponding to the first blade90tapers to a point94at a middle of the second side82. The point94pierces a shell of a hard-shelled species of the shellfish18thereby facilitating the first blade90to cleanly cut the shell. Thus, a bladder of the hard-shelled species of the shellfish18from is inhibited from being torn when the shellfish18is beheaded. The point94on the first blade90extends into the aperture66in the saddle54when the top jaw14is urged toward the bottom jaw16. The second side82corresponding to the second blade92may behead a soft-shelled species of the shellfish18.

A screw96is provided and the screw96may be manipulated. The screw96extends through the selected blade72when the selected blade72is positioned on the tab34. Moreover, the screw96engages the fastener hole40. Thus, the selected blade72is retained on the tab34.

A first cushion98is coupled to the top jaw14and the first cushion98may enhance gripping the top jaw14. The first cushion98is positioned on the upper surface30corresponding to the second portion28of the top jaw14. A second cushion100is coupled to the bottom jaw16and the second cushion100enhances gripping the bottom jaw16. The second cushion100is positioned on the bottom surface48of the bottom jaw16.

The second cushion100is substantially coextensive with the bottom jaw16. The second cushion100has a lowermost surface102. The lowermost surface102undulates between the primary end42and the secondary end44of the bottom jaw16. Thus, the second cushion100may accommodate fingers when the second cushion100is gripped. Each of the first cushion98and the second cushion100may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material.

A latch104is provided that has a central member106extending between a pair of lateral members108. Each of the lateral members108is hingedly coupled to opposite sides of the bottom jaw16. The latch104is positioned adjacent to the secondary end44. The latch104is positionable in a locking position having the central member106engaging the top jaw14. Thus, the clipper12is retained in the clipping position.

In use, the first blade90is coupled to the clipper12to behead the hard shelled species of shellfish18. The shellfish18is positioned in the saddle54and the eyes70of the shellfish18are aligned with the front end58of the saddle54. The top jaw14is urged downwardly toward the bottom jaw16and the first blade90beheads the shellfish18. The shellfish18is beheaded to comply with local game fish and parks laws or the like. The second blade92is coupled to the clipper12to behead the soft shelled species of shellfish18.