Abstract:
A handheld pistachio nut opener that is box-shaped comprising an upper and lower piece, each with one protrusion that are oriented vertically but aligned horizontally and inserted into an open or partially open pistachio nut, and through manual compression of the apparatus between the thumb and forefinger, the protrusions travelling in opposite directions through translational vertical motion while remaining engaged with the pistachio nut shell halves until the shell halves break apart into two disjoined pieces revealing the edible portion inside, the arcs of the protrusions protecting the edible portion from being damaged.

Description:
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/214,616 dated Apr. 27, 2009 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is the method and apparatus for breaking apart pistachio nut shells into two disjoined halves by an individual at the time of consumption. The pistachio nuts must have at least partially opened sutures. 
     Pistachios are the seed of a small tree of the cashew family. They are referred to as nuts and they come in a hard smooth shell. This shell tends to split naturally along a longitudinal seam, called a suture, when the nut matures. When a suture is open, the opening is a majority of the length longitudinally and distinguishes two halves attached around one end of the pistachio nut. 
     Usually, 80 to 85% of a normal crop of pistachio nuts will have open sutures when they are picked from the tree. A closed nut is one that is unopened or has a partially opened suture. 
     Consumers of pistachios demand the shells be open along the majority of the suture. Open nuts are easier to break apart into two disjoined halves by the consumer in order to access the edible portion and eat it. However, easier does not necessarily mean easy. 
     Many pistachios available in the US market have gone through a process after being harvested in order to separate the split nuts from those that are closed. The methods for commercially splitting closed nuts have varied, to include hand splitting them to moisturizing the shells and squeezing them through a splitting apparatus in large quantities to provide an open split in the shell for packaging and distribution to retail outlets and the consumer. 
     Approximately 25 to 75% of packaged pistachios reaching the consumer are still not easy to break apart at the time of consumption. As a result, an effort is required to break apart the pistachio into two disjoined halves in order to access and eat the edible portion. 
     This effort often entails a method whereby the consumer places either the fingertips or the fingernails against the edges of the shell of an open or partially open pistachio nut and applies outward pressure to force the halves to break apart. As pistachios are seldom eaten singly, the fingertips or the fingernails can become torn or broken after a short period. Another method is for the consumer to bite the pistachio nut in order to split it or break it apart. This approach has led to broken teeth on many occasions. Still other methods by the consumer for breaking apart pistachio nuts have been to use various types of nut crackers, hammers or pliers, which can crush the edible portion. None of these methods is optimal. 
     Additionally, as much as 15% of packaged pistachios may be fully closed. 
     There are several patents whereby methods and apparatuses have attempted to provide a better solution. U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,156—Himelhoch, 2002/0104219—Olsen, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,339,525—Sawyer and 6,609,303—Rogel all provide for handheld apparatuses that insert protrusions into an opening in a pistachio nut and by utilizing a pivoting or rotational motion, the protrusions force the shell halves apart until they break into two disjoined halves and the edible portion is accessible. Utilizing a pivoting or rotational motion is less than optimal in that the protrusions actually move in a circular direction away from the pistachio nut the moment compression of the apparatus begins. Some pistachio nuts spread open far relative to their size before they break apart. The relationship between the aforementioned devices and a pistachio nut is further complicated if the open part of the suture is at the opposite end of the shell and not on the side, as the shell halves open rationally as well. U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,156—Himelhoch applies a raised portion to the protrusions to protect them from being inserted too far into the pistachio nut, but uses two flat protrusions facing one another, as does U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,303—Rogel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,524—Sawyer, aligns the edges of the protrusions in one horizontal plane, and by compressing the apparatus, forces the protrusions to move in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the protrusion tip blades. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,524—Sawyer improves over U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,303—Rogel, but does not resolve the rotational aspect of the nut openers, and does not prevent the protrusion tips from being inserted too far into the pistachio nut, possibly causing damage to the edible portion. 
     Moreover, the design of U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,524—Sawyer may not be comfortable for an individual to use as a wire is narrow and will cause pressure to be focused on a concentrated portion of the thumb and fingers when used repeatedly in a short period of time. This design also allows for the apparatus to twist in the hand during compression. 
     Of consequence is the habit of consumers to eat many pistachios in one sitting further exacerbating any frustration of breaking apart pistachio nuts through less than optimal means, and possibly intensifying any damage to fingertips or fingernails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For the consumer, it is the method of applying outward pressure from within the suture of the pistachio nut shell to force apart and separate the two halves, until disjoined, of an open or partially open pistachio nut, and the hand held apparatus with protrusions that are inserted into the opening of a pistachio nut shell, without causing damage to the edible portion, using a translational vertical motion upon manual compression between the thumb and forefinger, to perform such method, that is the purpose of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a device that is more portable in size, is easier to hold and operate, and is more comfortable to hold and operate. 
     Additionally, it is the purpose of the present invention to be more effective at splitting apart and disjoining the pistachio shell halves; and to provide a more satisfying experience for an individual while consuming pistachio nuts. 
     Moreover, it is the purpose of the present invention to be sufficiently durable in design, material and assembly to allow an individual to use the apparatus repeatedly and on multiple occasions. 
     It is intended that the apparatus, once assembled, not be disassembled. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is provided for an open or partially open pistachio nut to be held in one hand with the split towards the opposing hand, while the apparatus is held in the opposing hand positioned between the thumb and forefinger in their natural resting positions, and with the protrusions under the tip of the thumb. The pistachio nut is placed and held against the apparatus so that the protrusions are inserted into the opening of the split pistachio nut shell. The apparatus is compressed by the thumb and forefinger which moves the protrusions along the line of compression by translational vertical motion in opposite directions, the protrusions remaining engaged with the edges of the pistachio shell halves, until the pistachio breaks apart into two disjoined halves and the edible portion is freed from the shell, the arcs of the protrusions protecting the edible portion from being damaged. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FRONT PAGE VIEW shows the assembled apparatus in the extended position. 
         FIG. 1  shows the assembled apparatus in the extended position with an exploded view of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  shows the top piece from the front  2 A, top  2 B, side  2 C and bottom  2 D perspectives. 
         FIG. 3  shows the bottom piece from the front  3 A, top  3 B, side  3 C and bottom  3 D perspectives. 
         FIG. 4  shows the assembled apparatus in the compressed position. 
         FIG. 5  shows the apparatus in the extended position being held by the individual in one hand and oriented to the pistachio nut held by the other hand; and 
         FIG. 6  shows the apparatus in the compressed position being held by the individual in one hand and, in the other hand, two disjoined halves revealing the edible portion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, the type apparatus being depicted in  FIGS. 1 to 6  is illustrated for the pistachio nut opener  10  in accordance with the present invention and which is specifically for the handheld use between the thumb  34  and forefinger  35  of one hand by an individual while consuming pistachios to better and more reliably separate the pistachio nut  38  into two disjoined halves  40  and  41  to access the edible portion  42  within ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The pistachio nut opener  10  is comprised of three parts: the top piece  11 ; a compression spring  12 , and; the bottom piece  13  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the top piece  11  having an over mold  19  in the channel  14  for comfort and grip, and having a protrusion  16  adapted vertically from the open end  23  of the top piece  11  to the channel  14  of the top piece  11 , and having a vertical cutout  17  adjacent to the protrusion  16  to accommodate the travel of the protrusion  25  of the bottom piece  13  when the apparatus is compressed ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the bottom piece  13 , also having an over mold  29  in channel  30  for comfort and grip, and having a protrusion  25  that aligns beside, and in contact with, protrusion  16  of the top piece  11  as in the assembled and extended position, the protrusion  25  is partially within the cutout  17  of the top piece  11 . The alignment of the tips  18  and  26  of protrusions  16  and  25  respectively, form a horizontal line perpendicular to the direction of travel during compression of the pistachio nut opener  10  when in the extended position ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the internal open area  23  within the top piece  11  is adapted with a snap-fit cylinder  24  with two vertical grooves  22  cut into the internal wall of the snap fit cylinder  24  opposite of one another, while the internal open area  32  of the bottom piece  13  is adapted with a snap-fit cylinder  33  of a smaller diameter, so as to fit inside the snap-fit cylinder  24 , and having two tabs  31  adapted to the external wall of the snap-fit cylinder  33 , opposite of one another, which, when the top piece  11  and bottom piece  13  are assembled, the tabs  31  engaging the grooves  22 , causing an interlocking of the snap-fit cylinders  24  and  33 . The axis of the grooves  22 , being aligned with the axis of the tabs  31  and with the concave channel  30  of the bottom piece  13 , being perpendicular to the axis of the protrusions  16  and  25 , the protrusions  16  and  25  being aligned with the concave channel  14  of the top piece  11 . The assembled pistachio nut opener  10  having a compression spring  12  inserted into the snap-fit cylinder  33  of the bottom piece  13 . As the bottom piece  13  is inserted into the top piece  11 , the snap-fit cylinder  33  of the bottom piece  13  slides into the snap-fit cylinder  24  of the top piece  11 , becoming interlocked, enclosing the compression spring  12 . The assembled pistachio nut opener  10  is intended to be persistent, whereas disassembly will cause damage to the pistachio nut opener  10  and may render it inoperable. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the protrusions  16  and  25  are adapted vertically in a right angle triangle, the bases  21  and  28  of the triangle forming a right angle with the side of the top piece  11  and the side of the bottom piece  13  respectively, having a concave arc  20  and  27  along the hypotenuse of the triangle, transitioning from the side of the top piece  11  and the bottom piece  13  respectively, to the open ends  23  and  32  so that the junction of the hypotenuse  20  and  27  of the triangle and the base  21  and  28  of the triangle form the tip  18  and  26  of the protrusion  16  and  25  respectively. The line formed by joining the protrusion tips  18  and  26  is horizontal ( FIG. 1 ), being perpendicular to the direction of travel of the protrusions  16  and  25  when the top piece  11  and the bottom piece  13  are compressed by an individual ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , when an individual manually compresses the assembled pistachio nut opener  10 , the top piece  11  and the bottom piece  13  move simultaneously in a translational vertical motion until the travel is stopped by either the individual relenting the force of compression or the base  28  of the protrusion  25  of the bottom piece  13  comes in contact with the top  15  of the cutout  17  of the top piece  11 , physically preventing further travel. The concave arcs  20  and  27  of the protrusions  16  and  25  protecting the edible portion  42  of the pistachio nut  38 . Upon release of pressure from the thumb  34  and the forefinger  35  the pistachio nut opener  10  is resilient, having a compression spring  12 , and returns to the extended position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an individual holds the pistachio nut opener  10  between the thumb  34  and forefinger  35  of one hand, being that the apparatus can be used by either the left or right hand. The thumb  34  rests in the channel  14  of the top piece  11  with the thumb  34  in a natural position extended from the wrist along the axis of the forearm; the forefinger  35  rests in the channel  30  of the bottom piece  13  perpendicular to the channel  14  of the top piece  11  and the thumb  34 , so the forefinger  35  has a natural curve inwards to the palm of the hand. The thumb  34  and forefinger  35  being in a position, and in relation to one another, natural as they would be if the arm was by one&#39;s side in the military position of attention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the pistachio nut opener  10  is held by an individual in one hand, the other hand grasps an open or partially open pistachio nut  38  so that the suture  39  is facing the protrusions  16  and  25  of the pistachio nut opener  10 . The individual brings the two hands toward one another positioning the horizontally aligned protrusion tips  18  and  26  along the horizontally aligned suture  39  of the open or partially open pistachio nut  38  and coaxes the protrusion tips  18  and  26  within the opening so that the protrusion tips  18  and  26  engage the edges of the pistachio nut  38  shell halves  40  and  41  from inside the suture  39 . Where the pistachio nut  38  is fully open, the protrusion tips  18  and  26  are positioned against the place where the shell halves  40  and  41  are still joined in order to provide the greatest leverage to the shell halves  40  and  41  when the pistachio nut opener  10  is compressed and the protrusion tips  18  and  26  travel in opposite directions perpendicular to the horizontal nature of the pistachio nut suture  39 . The protrusion tips  18  and  26  are prevented from entering the pistachio nut  38  so far as to damage the edible portion  42  within by the concave arcs  20  and  27  of the triangle hypotenuse of the protrusions  18  and  26  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). During or upon compression of the pistachio nut opener  10 , the shell halves  40  and  41  will be forced to break apart and become two disjoined halves allowing the edible portion  42  to be accessed.