Abstract:
A tool is used to remove a shell from the meat of a shellfish and includes a handle section having a rip element on one handle and a serrated pad on the same handle. The tool further includes arcuate sections having teeth so the shell can be cracked using the tool in the manner of pliers. Once the shell is cracked, the rip element is inserted between the shell and meat and forced forward to separate the shell from the meat. The shellfish is held in a stable manner on the tool by the serrated pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of kitchen utensils, and to the particular field of tools and implements used for eating. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     When eating shellfish, such as crablegs, oysters, lobsters, shrimp or the like, a person is often required to open a portion of the shellfish, such as the legs or the like. This often occurs at a dinner table. Many people struggle with this, and some people avoid eating such foods because of the struggle required to open the food. Some people try to use forks, knives or other table utensils to accomplish the task of opening such food. This can be cumbersome and messy. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use. 
     Opening shellfish may be especially difficult for a handicapped person or an elderly person or someone who may have arthritis in their hands. These people may be deprived of the enjoyment of eating shellfish unless someone opens the food for them. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use, even for someone who may have limited dexterity in their hands. 
     One of the problems associated with opening shellfish for eating is the removal of the shell from the meat. This may take more hand dexterity than a person possesses. The meat must be held in place while the shell is removed, all while not creating a large mess. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use and can be used to remove the shell from the meat. 
     Some eating utensils include a plurality of interconnected parts. These interconnected parts may separate during heavy use such as may occur during the shelling of shellfish. This may create a mess and may even break a plate if the eating utensil is heavy as may be required to open shellfish. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a shellfish opening tool that is stable and secure. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use, even for someone who may have limited dexterity in their hands. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shellfish opening tool that is easy to use and can be used to remove the shell from the meat. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shellfish opening tool that is stable and secure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a shellfish opening tool that comprises a handle section which includes a first handle, a second handle and a pivot connection pivotally connecting the first handle to the second handle; a rip element that is one piece with the first handle of the handle section, the rip element including a pointed end that is spaced apart from the first handle; and a pad which is one piece with the first handle, the pad having a first surface, a plurality of serrations on the first surface of the pad, the first surface of the pad being oriented to face the pointed end of the rip element. 
     The shellfish opening tool embodying the present invention is easy to use, even if the user has impaired hand dexterity and can be used to remove the shell from the meat. The tool can be used both at home and in a restaurant. The tool is formed of several elements that are one-piece construction and thus the tool will be stable and secure during use. The shellfish is easily trapped between the rip element and the pad and will be held on the pad in a stable manner while the rip element is used to remove the shell from the meat. The shell can be cracked open using arcuate portions on the handles in the manner of a vise. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shellfish opening tool embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front end elevational view of the shellfish opening tool shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 shows one end of the shellfish opening tool embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a shellfish opening tool  10 . Shellfish tool  10  comprises a handle section  12  which is operated to hold the shellfish and to remove the shell from the meat for eating. 
     Handle section  12  includes a first handle  14  which is an upper handle in a use orientation shown in FIG.  1 . The first handle  14  is one piece and includes side faces  16  and  18 , a first face  20  which is a top face in the use orientation, and a second face  22  which is a bottom face in the use orientation. The first face  20  includes an arcuate portion  24  which is sized and shaped to securely engage a shell of a shellfish in the manner of pliers or the like. Each of the side faces  16 ,  18  of the first handle  14  includes a groove, grooves  26  and  28 . The first handle  14  further includes a first end  30 , a second end  32 , and a longitudinal axis  34  which extends between the first end  30  of the first handle  14  and the second end  32  of the first handle  14 . The first handle  14  further includes a projection  40  on the second face  22  of the first handle  14  and an arcuate portion  42  on the second face  22  of the first handle  14  adjacent to the projection  40  on the first handle  14 . A plurality of teeth, such as tooth  44 , are located on the second face  22  of the first handle  14  adjacent to the arcuate portion  42 . A projection  46  is located on the first face  20  of the first handle  14 . 
     A rip element  50  is positioned between the shell and the meat of a shellfish and is used to remove the shell from the meat. Rip element  50  is located on the first face  20  of the first handle  14  adjacent to the first end  30  of the first handle  14 . Rip element  50  includes a proximal end  52  which is one piece with the first handle  14  for stability and security, a distal end  54 , and a longitudinal axis  56  which extends between the proximal end  52  of the rip element  50  and the distal end  54  of the rip element  50 . The longitudinal axis  56  of the rip element  50  extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis  34  of the first handle  14  but at an angle thereto. The rip element  50  further includes a body  60  and the distal end  54  of the rip element  50  is pointed to form pointed tip  62  which is sized and shaped to be easily inserted between the shell and the meat of a shellfish. The body  60  of the rip element  50  tapers from the proximal end  52  to the distal end  54  so that insertion of the rip element  50  between the shell and the meat of the shellfish will push the rip element  50  between the shell and the meat in a manner that separates the shell from the meat. The body  60  of the rip element  50  extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis  34  of the first handle  14 . The distal end  54  of the rip element  50  is spaced apart from the first end  30  of the first handle  14 . 
     Handle section  12  further includes a second handle  70  which is a lower handle in the use orientation. Second handle  70  is one piece and includes side faces  72  and  74 , a first face  76  which is a top face in the use orientation, and a second face  78  which is a bottom face in the use orientation. The first face  76  of the second handle  70  includes an arcuate portion  80  and each of the side faces  72 ,  74  of the second handle  70  includes a groove,  82  and  84 . The second handle  70  further includes a first end  90 , a second end  92  and a longitudinal axis  94  which extends between the first end  90  of the second handle  70  and the second end  92  of the second handle  70 . The second handle  70  further includes a projection  96  on the first face  76  of the second handle  70  adjacent to arcuate portion  80 . A plurality of teeth, such as tooth  102 , are located on the first face  76  of the second handle  70  adjacent to the arcuate portion  80  of the second handle  70 . 
     A pivot connection  110  pivotally connects the first end  30  of the first handle  14  to the first end  90  of the second handle  70  so the handles  14 ,  70  can be moved in the manner of pliers or the like. 
     Tool  10  further includes a pad  120  which is one piece with the first handle  14  of the handle section  12 . The pad  120  is used to support the shellfish during the removal of the shell from the meat. The pad  120  includes a first surface  122  which is a top surface in the use orientation and a second surface  124  which is a bottom surface in the use orientation. The first surface  122  of pad  120  has a plurality of serrations, such as serration  126 , thereon for ensuring that the shell and the meat do not slip relative to the tool. The pad  120  further includes a proximal end  130  and a distal end  132 . First surface  122  of the pad  120  is oriented to face the distal end  54  of the rip element  50  so the shell and the meat will be separated while the shellfish is securely held in place. 
     Use of tool  10  will be understood by one skilled in the art from the foregoing. Therefore, the use of tool  10  will only briefly be discussed. A shell of a shellfish is separated from the meat of the shellfish by first holding the shellfish between arcuate surfaces  42  and  80  and operating the handle section  12  in the manner of pliers to crack the shell. Rip element  50  is then inserted between the shell and the meat and the tool is forced forward to insert the rip element  50  further between the shell and the meat. The shell will be separated from the meat, and the shellfish is held in a stable orientation with respect to the tool  10  by the serrations on pad  120  during the process. Tool  10  can be formed of stainless steel or other such material for long life and easy cleaning. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.