Patent Publication Number: US-2002000282-A1

Title: Egg cleaning and decorating method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a division of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/334,475 filed Jun. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,480, entitled Egg Cleaning and Decorating Method and Kit Therefor. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to the arts and crafts industry. More particularly, however, the present invention is directed to the decoration of the external surface of eggs utilizing coloring media, wraps, appliques and the like. Specifically, the present invention concerns a method for removing the contents of an egg, cleaning the shell and the subsequent decoration of the shell as an artistic medium.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Due to their apparent symbolism for the continuity of life, eggs have often been used by divergent cultures as a medium of artistic expression. Egg decoration spans a range from simple coloration of the exterior surface of the egg to elaborate depictions of decorated eggs utilizing precious metals and gemstones. While most persons appreciate the beauty of an elaborately decorated egg as an object d&#39;art, many people lack the skill, experience and/or patience necessary to go beyond the simple coloring or decorating of the eggshell.  
       [0004] The most simple form of egg decoration, as noted above, is the coloring of the exterior eggshell with one or more hues. Here, the egg is typically boiled in order to cook the albumen and vitellus contents thereof. This both stabilizes the egg for the decorative process and helps preserve the egg. Cooking the egg, though, is not entirely satisfactory. In this method, some eggs may be lost due to the cracking of the shell during the boiling procedure, and, in any event, the life of the finished product is limited due to the eventual spoilage of the cooked egg after a relatively short period of time.  
       [0005] Accordingly, it is known to remove the albumen and vitellus materials, commonly referred to as the yoke and white of the egg, prior to the decorative process. One technique to accomplish the removal of the egg contents is known as “egg blowing”. In this procedure, the eggshell is pierced at two spaced locations, usually at opposite ends of the egg. A person then blows air into the interior of the egg through one of the holes. The elevated pressure resulting from this blowing procedure forces the contents of the egg out of the second opening so that a majority of the albumen and vitellus material is removed. The remaining shell may then be decorated, as desired.  
       [0006] Egg blowing, however, does have certain disadvantages and potential risks. On one hand, the formation of the pair of openings is often done utilizing a needle, pen or other sharp, pointed object that is forced through the eggshell. With this technique, there is more than an insignificant chance that the eggshell will become broken and unusable. Moreover, this technique is not desirable for small children due not only to the difficulty of creating the openings, but also due to the risk of injury from the piercing tool.  
       [0007] In addition, traditional egg blowing has some health risks. Many eggs are known to carry harmful bacteria that can infect a person during the egg blowing operation. Since this bacteria can be present both on the exterior of the egg and in the internal contents, even the careful cleansing of the egg before the egg blowing procedure does not entirely eliminate the possibility of a bacterial infection. In addition, regardless of the care and skill of the egg blower, some of the egg contents remain on the internal surface of the egg. Such residue can be the growth culture for microorganisms that will be present during the decoration and subsequent handling of the eggshell. Nonetheless, the removal of the contents of the egg and the subsequent decoration of the remaining eggshell is highly desirable since the decorated shell can, with proper care, exist indefinitely without spoilage.  
       [0008] For this reason, various instruments have been utilized to facilitate the removal of the albumen and vitellus material from the interior of the eggshell. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,915 issued Dec. 24, 1974 to Hoyt et al. discloses an egg blowing device that includes a bulb like air pump that is secured to a diaphragm that may be pressed against the eggshell. The diaphragm and the air pump include a spike that projects outwardly for piercing the eggshell. Holes are made in the opposite end of the eggshell and, upon compression of the pump, air is forced into the interior of the egg through one hole so that the albumen and vitellus materials are ejected from the eggshell out of the other hole. Thus, this device acts as a mechanical egg blower reducing the danger of bacterial contamination to a person employing such instrument.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,762 issued Mar. 1, 1994 to Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,477 issued Mar. 29, 1994 to Phillips and U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,962 issued Jun. 7, 1994 to Phillips all disclose various egg evacuation devices through a single hole in the eggshell. Each device provides a hollow tube which extends through the hole in the eggshell. The hollow tube is mounted to a seat on which the egg rests, and the seat provided with an egg collection passageway. On the &#39;762 patent and the &#39;972 patent provide a suction to remove the egg contents. A mechanism for flushing the interior of the egg is provided in one embodiment of the &#39;762 patent. The &#39;477 patent utilizes positive air pressure which is injected through a tube extending through the hole in the eggshell. Positive pressure causes the egg contents to flow out of the hole around the tube and into a chute so it may be discarded.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,234 issued Jan. 8, 1980 to Reed discloses an egg contents remover. Here, a pair of tubes are inserted through the eggshell and into the interior thereof. One of the tubes provides an air inlet for forcing compressed air into the egg causing its contents to remove through the other, discharge tube. Compressed air may be provided by manually actuated pump.  
       [0011] Despite the developments disclosed in the respective patents, there remains a need for a simplified method for removing the contents from a raw egg and preparation for decorating the same. There is a further need for a method that may be used to produce a hole in an eggshell with less risk of breakage for purposes of removing the interior contents from the raw egg. The present invention addresses such needs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful method for removing the contents of a raw egg thereby providing an eggshell that may be decorated as an artistic object.  
       [0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new method for forming a hole through the shell of an egg so that the albumen and vitellus contents may be removed therefrom with less risk of damage to the remaining eggshell.  
       [0014] Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning an egg that decreases the risk of contamination, bacterial growth and the like so as to provide an improved hygienic approach to egg cleaning and decorating.  
       [0015] The method according to the present invention can include all of those steps implicit in the various elements of the egg cleaning kit that is described herein and that is the subject of my U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,480, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. More specifically, however, a method of treating a raw egg for decorative purposes is provided which comprises a first step of forming an ovoid opening through the outer shell of the egg at a first selected location. Air is then injected into the interior of the egg at a second location remote from the first location at a pressure sufficient to eject the fluid contents out of the ovoid opening.  
       [0016] The method according to the present invention accomplishes the step of forming the ovoid opening by sanding away an area of the outer shell, preferably without penetrating the membrane that surrounds the albumen and vitellus contents of the egg. This method includes the step of supporting a piece of sandpaper on a longitudinally extending rib and thereafter sliding the outer shell longitudinally along the rib and sandpaper. This procedure also includes the step guiding the lateral side portions of the outer shell during the sliding movement thereof. The method may also include the step of providing a holder that has a first resilient portion and a second portion adapted to be manually grasped by the decorator so that the decorator can manipulate the shell during the decorative process. To this end, the method includes the step of engaging the ovoid opening with the resilient first end of holder. This method may also include the optional step of injecting a cleaning fluid, such as water, into the interior of the shell after injecting the fluid contents through the raw egg thereby to wash the albumen and vitellus residue therefrom. The method of cleaning and decorating the egg then includes the further step of decorating the outer exterior surface of the shell while on the holder.  
       [0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg cleaning and decorating kit, including the packaging therefor, used to practice the method of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded side view in elevation of an injector pump according to the present invention, with a portion of the body broken away;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation and impartial cross-section showing the injection of pressurized air into the interior of a raw egg;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is perspective view showing the support structure for the hole former according to the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the support shown in FIG. 4;  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is an end view in elevation showing the support of FIGS. 4 and 5;  
     [0024]FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a sandpaper strip used as a hole former according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 8 is a side view in cross-section showing the support of FIGS.  4 - 6  receiving the sandpaper strip of FIG. 7;  
     [0026]FIG. 9 is an end view in cross-section showing the support of FIGS.  4 - 6  receiving the sandpaper strip of FIG. 7 and showing the placement of a raw egg thereon for purposes of forming an end opening in the egg;  
     [0027]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the egg of FIG. 9 showing the ovoid opening formed therein according to the present invention;  
     [0028]FIG. 11 is a side view, partially broken away, showing the straw-like holder according to the present invention;  
     [0029]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first end portion of the holder of FIG. 11 in a deformed state for insertion into the egg opening of FIG. 10;  
     [0030]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an egg, similar to the view shown in FIG. 10, but receiving the deformed end portion of the holder of FIG. 11 and  12 ;  
     [0031]FIG. 14 is a side view in elevation showing the support stand of FIGS.  4 - 6  mounting the holder of FIG. 11 for supporting an egg according to the present invention;  
     [0032]FIG. 15( a ) is a perspective view showing a first exemplary embodiment of a guide for deforming the end portion of the holder, as is shown in FIG. 12;  
     [0033]FIG. 15( b ) is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a guide according to the present invention;  
     [0034]FIG. 16 is a perspective in cross-section showing the guide of FIG. 15( a ) receiving and pre-forming the end portion of the holder of FIG. 11;  
     [0035]FIG. 17 is a side view in partially cross-section and exploded showing a container according to the present invention with this container receiving a decorating fluid and an egg therein;  
     [0036]FIG. 18 is a side view in elevation, partially broken away, showing the container of FIG. 17 in a sealed state and receiving an egg therein held in position by the holder of FIG. 11;  
     [0037]FIG. 19 is a side view in elevation of a piece of decorative material that can also be used as a mounting bracket for a decorated egg;  
     [0038]FIG. 20 is a side view in elevation, partially broken away, showing the use of the strand of FIG. 19 as a bracket for a decorated egg; and  
     [0039]FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing an alternative packaging for the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
     [0040] The present invention is directed to a method of treating a raw egg for decorative purposes. This method may be accomplished by an egg cleaning kit that is operative to remove the contents of a raw egg from the interior of the eggshell so that an exterior surface of the shell may be subjected to a manual decorative process by a decorator. The present invention further contemplates a method for artistically decorating the exterior shell of a cleaned egg.  
     [0041] A preferred form of the kit used to practice the method of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, it may be seen that egg cleaning and decorating kit  10  includes an outer package in the form of a box  12  that is adapted to receive the elements of the egg cleaning and decoration kit in a box interior  14  thereof. It should be understood that box  12  could be replaced by any suitable container for the kit.  
     [0042] In any event, various elements of egg cleaning and/or decoration kit  10  are generally shown in FIG. 1. These include a hole former that includes a support  20  and a strip of sandpaper  50  that is adapted to be mounted on and retained by support  20  for purposes of forming an opening in a raw egg. Kit  10  further includes an injector or pump  60 , a plurality of straw like holders  70 , a guide element  80 , a container  90  and a plurality of decorative materials, such as a dye strip  100  having a plurality of different dying tablets  102 , a decorative string  104 , a foil wrap  106  and a plurality of decorative wires  108  that may also serve as suspension brackets for a decorated egg. The structure of each of these individual elements is described more thoroughly below.  
     [0043] Turning, then, to FIGS. 2 and 3 it may seen that injector pump  60  includes a hollow compressible body portion  61  having a bottom  62 , a top  63  that is opposite bottom wall  62  and a surrounding injector sidewall  64  that is formed as a bellows structure so that top  63  and bottom wall  62  may compress and expand towards and away from one another. An elongated nozzle  65  is removably secured to the top  63  of injector pump  60  with elongated nozzle  65  preferably having a length of at least three quarter inch (1.9 cm).  
     [0044] As is shown in FIG. 3, nozzle  65  is sized and adapted for insertion through an opening  22  formed in shell  20  of raw egg  16  so that air may be injected into the interior  17  of egg  16  under a pressure that is greater than ambient pressure. Preferably, the egg  16  should be tipped, and the tip of nozzle  65  inserted into the interior  17  of egg  16  at a spaced location from opening  22  yet leaving sufficient space between shell  20  and the top  63  of pump  60  for the fluid contents to eject from opening  22  without soiling either the pump  60  or the hand of the decorator. When air is injected, interior  17  becomes pressurized thereby ejecting the contents  18  (in the form of the albumen and the vitellus) from shell  20  through opening  22 .  
     [0045] Furthermore, after all of the contents  18  have been ejected, it should understood that nozzle  65  may be removed from body portion  61  (FIG. 2) and body portion  61  may be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water, and nozzle  65  then reattached. The nozzle may be then reinserted through opening  22  so that water may be injected onto the interior surface of shell  20  to clean the residue of the vitellus and albumen therefrom.  
     [0046] Support stand  24  is best shown in FIGS.  4 - 6 . Here it may be seen that support stand  24  includes a backing card  25  and a support  26  which together support sandpaper strip  50 , as described below. Support  26  includes a longitudinally extending rib  28  that is formed along a bottom surface  32  of a channel member  30 . Channel member  30  has a longitudinally extending channel formed by bottom surface  32  and a pair of upperwardly disposed channel sidewalls  34  that are spaced apart from one another sufficiently so as to accommodate the size of an eggshell for sliding movement therein. Rib  28  is centrally located in the channel along bottom surface  32 .  
     [0047] Support stand  24  has a flat base portion  36  that mounts channel structure  30  thereon and is preferably molded therewith. Base  36  is secured, in any convenient manner, to backing card  25 . For example, base  36  may be adhered to backing card  25  by any acceptable adhesive. The opposite end edges  37  of base  36  are each provided with a notch  38  so as to expose a surface area of backing card  25 . Backing card  25  then has two pair of slots  40 ,  41  that are located within notch  38  and which extend transversely with respect to rib  28 . The slot pairs  40 ,  41  are adapted to receive and retain opposite end portions of sandpaper strip  50 , as described more thoroughly below. Base  36  also has a plurality of upperwardly projecting protrusions  44  which define mounting posts for holders  70 , also as described more thoroughly below.  
     [0048] With reference now to FIG. 7, it may be seen that sandpaper strip  50  is an elongated piece of material that has an upper surface  52  provided with a sanding grit as is known in the art. Strip  50  is preferably about one-half inch (1.25 cm) wide and ten to twelve inches (25-30 cm) long. Sandpaper strip  50  is preferably a wet and dry type having a grit size preferably within a range of about 100-150, inclusive.  
     [0049] With reference again to FIG. 5 but also with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, it may be seen that support stand  24  is operative to support sandpaper strip  50 . To this end, as is shown in FIG. 8, sandpaper strip  50  extends longitudinally and is supported by rib  28 . The opposite end portions of sandpaper strip  50  are then threaded downwardly through slots  41  and upperwardly through slots  40  so as to securely retain the longitudinal of extension of sandpaper strip  50  on top of and along rib  28 . As is shown in FIG. 9, egg  16  may be placed in channel  30  for sliding movement therealong with one end portion  54  of egg  16  in contact with sandpaper strip  50  so as to sand away a small area of shell  20  to create opening  22 . To this end, sidewalls  34  support lateral portions of egg  16  during the sliding movement the sliding and sanding operation in channel  30 .  
     [0050] With reference again to FIG. 9, it may be seen that support  26  may be a piece of plastic material that may be suitable vacuum formed or injection molded. Thus, sidewalls  34  of channel  30  are inverted u-shaped structures such that sidewall  34  is buttressed by brace walls  35  that extend upperwardly from base  36 . Protrusions  44  are inverted cylindrical posts, also formed out of base  36 . Finally, it may be seen that rib  28  is an inverted, V-shaped configuration configured out of bottom surface  32 .  
     [0051] After egg  16  is slid along rib  28  and sandpaper strip  50 , an opening  22  becomes formed in the shell  20  of egg  16 , as is shown in FIG. 10. It should be understood that, by virtue of the configuration of rib  28 , opening  22  is ovoid in shape. By this, it is meant that opening  22  is preferably oval or elliptical in configuration although it is certainly within the scope of embodiments of the present invention that opening  22  be of a different geometrical construct. For example, opening  22  would be circular where the egg decorator places sandpaper strip  50  on a flat surface and sands the end  54  of egg  16  without the benefit of supporting the sandpaper strip  50  on rib  28 . Moreover, it should be appreciated that the step of sanding the ovoid opening has accomplished to remove that area of shell  20  without rupturing the internal membrane of egg  16 . This membrane may then be easily pierced by nozzle  65  of injector pump  60 .  
     [0052] Turning to FIGS. 11 and 12, it may be seen that a suitable holder  70  for an egg  16  includes a first portion  72  that is operative to engage the eggshell after removal of the contents thereof and to support the shell during the decorative process and a second portion  74  that is adapted to be manually grasped by the decorator so that the decorator can manipulate the shell during the decorative process. First and second portions  72  and  74  are each linear elements that are interconnected by a bendable joint  76  that is constructed to allow the adjustable positioning and retention of first and second portion  72  and  74  at different oblique angles “a” with respect to one another. It should be appreciated, however, that the use of joint  76  is optional without departing from the scope of this invention.  
     [0053] In any event, holders  70  are constructed of a resilient material, such as a plastic, and may be a common plastic straw, if desired. It is important, however, that at least end portion  72  be both deformable and resilient. This allows it to be deformed to engage opening  22 , as is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In FIG. 12, it may be seen that holder  70  is constructed as an elongated cylindrical tube. However, end portion  72  may be collapsed by moving diametric portions  78  of its sidewall closer together. Thus, end  79  takes an oval configuration that may be inserted into opening  22  of shell  20 , as is shown in FIG. 13. Releasing the compression on end portion  72  allows end portion  79  to attempt to return to its original circular shape thus frictionally engaging the side edges  23  of opening  22 . This releasably retains egg  16  on egg holder  70  during the decorative process.  
     [0054] As is shown in FIG. 14, egg  16  can further be supported by means of support stand  24  which rests on a support surface  56 . To this end, the second portion of holder  70  engages a selected protrusion  44  by telescopic mated engagement therewith so that holder  70  is positioned in an upright orientation with first portion  72  extending above support surface  56 . This then holds egg  16  in a suspended relation relative to support surface  56 . By spacing protrusions  44  relatively uniformly around the perimeter of base  36  (see FIG. 5) it may be appreciated that a plurality of decorated eggs may be held and suspended in elevation without contacting each other. To this end, also, bendable joint  76  allows the positioning of decorated eggshells  20  so they are not in contact with one another.  
     [0055] To assist in the deformation of end portion  72  of holder  70 , a guide piece may be provided. Alternative guide pieces are shown, respectively, in FIGS.  15 ( a ) and  15 ( b ). In FIG. 15( a ), guide element  80  is in the form of a triangular piece of plastic having an ovoid opening  82  formed therein. Ovoid opening  82  is designed to receive a deformed end  79  of holder  70  so as to retain the deformed shape of first end  72  during insertion thereof into opening  22  of shell  20 . Thus, as is shown in FIG. 16, first end  72  of a representative holder  70  is deformed and received in ovoid opening  82  so that end  79  is retained in the deformed state. End  79  may then be inserted into an opening  22  in a shell  20  after which guide  80  may be advanced toward second portion  74  thereby allowing end  79  to expand into contact with edges  23  of the opening  22 .  
     [0056] Alternative guide  84  includes an ovoid opening  86  formed therein with a small slit  88  extending from a peripheral edge of guide  84  to intersect ovoid opening  86 . Thus, opening  86  and slit  88  form a keyhole configuration allowing the guide  84  to be removed radially from holder  70  after end  79  is inserted into opening  22 .  
     [0057] With reference now to FIGS. 17 and 18, it may seen that the egg cleaning and decoration kit of the present invention may also include one or more containers such as container  90  has a cylindrical reservoir section  92  having a bottom  93 , and open mouth  94  opposite bottom  93  and a cylindrical surrounding sidewall  95 . Rim  96  is threaded so as to receive a lid  97  reservoir section  92  contains a quantity of decorative fluid  99  such as a food safe dye, paint or other decorative substance. Reservoir section  92  is sized sufficiently for close nested receipt of eggshell  20  inserted through mouth opening  94  so that only a minimum amount of fluid is necessary to dye or otherwise decorate the eggshell  20 . To this end, it should be appreciated that eggshell  20  is completely submerged in decorative fluid  99 .  
     [0058] However, due to the buoyant nature of shell  20 , it is sometimes desirable to force shell  20  beneath the surface level of fluid  99 . To this end, lid  97  is provided with a centrally located axial port  98  that is sized and adapted to receive first portion  72  of a holder  70 . Thus, lid  97  may be mounted on a holder  70  by first sliding second portion  74  of holder  70  through port  98  and toward end  79 . The assembly of holder  70 , lid  97  and shell  20  may then be inverted and shell  20  immersed in decorative fluid  99 . Port  98  frictionally engages holder  70  so that a force resists the buoyancy of shell  20  with this assembly.  
     [0059] After an egg is decorated, it desirable to suspend it from a display support. To this end, a plurality of bendable hangers  108  are provided, as is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Bendable hangers  108  may be in a form similar to the commonly known pipe cleaner. Here, each includes a wire spine  109  and a generally radially protruding mass  110  supported by spine  109 . Mass  110  can be suitable fabric material, foil, etc. as is known in the art. In any event, as is shown in FIG. 20, opposite ends  112  and  114  of hanger  108  may be bent in a desired manner. For example, end portion  114  may be bent and inserted through opening  22  and shell  20  so that shell  20  may be suspended when the central portion of hanger  108  is oriented vertically. End portion  112  of hanger  108  may be bent into a hook so as to hang on a suitable decorative support.  
     [0060] As noted above, the egg cleaning and decoration kit  10  can include decorative elements. Such elements can include a plurality of hangers  108  that can be used for decoration. In addition, decorative element such as dying tablets  102  for use with container  90 , string  104 , foil wraps  106  and the like can be provided. Preferably, the decorative material included in the egg cleaning and decorating kit is selected from a group consisting of: dyes, paints, inks, foils, decals, string, beads, glitter, stickers, wax stickers, fabric, paper and feathers. It should be understood, though, that this list is not exhaustive so that other substances and items that would be used by the artisan are included within the definition of decorative materials.  
     [0061] Turning now to FIG. 21, an alternative packaging for the egg cleaning and decorating kit is shown. Here, a cleaning and decorating kit  200  is shown packaged as a blister pack including a plastic blister  202  secured to a backer card  204 . Support stand  224  is constructed substantially identical as support stand  24  including a channel structure  230  having a longitudinal extending rib  228  and a plurality of upstanding protrusions  244 . In this embodiment, however, notches  38  are not present. Instead, slots  240  are formed directly in the blister pack  202  so that the plastic blister may be removed from backing card  204  and used as the support stand and sanding channel. It should be apparent from this embodiment that the stand and the channel member can be formed as an integral one-piece construction.  
     [0062] Here, also, an enlarged plastic bubble  208  provides a receptacle for containing the various components of the cleaning and decorating kit, such as the sandpaper strip, the injector pump, the eggshell holders, the container and the decorative materials, as described above. In this embodiment, though, guide member  280  is formed as a plastic extension of blister  202  and a plurality of score lines  290  are provided to allow severance of guide  284  from the support stand  224 .  
     [0063] From the foregoing, and as noted above, it should now be appreciated that the present invention also concerns a method of treating a raw egg for decorative purposes and a method of decorating a cleaned eggshell. The method includes those steps which can be implemented by the elements of the kit as described above. In particular, the present invention concerns the method of treating a raw egg for decorative purposes when the egg has an outer shell, an exterior surface, an interior and fluid contents including albumen and vitellus material contained within the interior. The broad method includes a first step of forming an ovoid opening through an outer shell of the egg at a first selected location. Preferably, this step is accomplished without penetrating the membrane of the egg that contains the albumen and vitellus material and which membrane is between that material and the interior surface of the out shell. A second step is then performed wherein air is injected into the interior of the egg at a second location remote from the first location where the opening is formed. The air is injected at a pressure sufficient to inject the fluid contents out of the ovoid opening.  
     [0064] The step of forming the ovoid opening is preferably accomplished by sanding away an area of the outer shell. This method can also include the step of supporting a piece of sandpaper on a longitudinally extending rib and thereafter sliding the outer shell of the egg longitudinally along the rib and sandpaper. Here, also, the method may include the step of guiding lateral side portions of the outer shell during the sliding movement thereof along the rib and sandpaper.  
     [0065] This method can further include the step of providing a holder that includes a resilient first portion and a second portion that is adapted to be manually grasped by the decorator such that the decorator can manipulate the shell during the decorative process. This, then, includes the step of engaging the ovoid opening with the resilient first portion of the holder. This method can further include the step of injecting a cleaning fluid, such as water, into the interior of the shell after the step of injecting the fluid contents of the raw egg thereby to wash albumen and vitellus residue from the interior of the shell. Where the method continues to provide for decoration of the egg, the method includes the supporting of the shell on a holder and decorating the exterior surface of the shell while it is on the holder.  
     [0066] Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.