Abstract:
A hand-held inertia nutcracker for removing shells from a variety of nuts. The nutcracker having multiple configurations according to user preference. The easy to use device allows for easy insertion of nuts and quick removal of the nut and shell material. The nut is automatically centered in the cracking chamber as it is inserted so that consistent performance is achieved. The nutcracker also automatically adjusts for a variety of types and sizes of nuts without operator intervention. The design allows for rapid repeatability in use, thereby taking most of the effort out of extracting the nut from the shell.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of nutcrackers for cracking edible nuts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the world of hand-held nutcrackers, there have been several types over the years. Various methods have been employed to create a force sufficient enough to crack nuts. One method uses the leverage of two or more handles (similar to pliers) which are squeezed together by the users&#39; hand or hands to provide the cracking force. Another nut cracking method converts rotational motion into linear force by the user turning a threaded member against a nut in a vise type device. Yet another method uses a spring as a means to propel an impact member which strikes and cracks a nut. Many of these nutcrackers require relatively strong hands to operate, tend to scatter nutshells and yield a relatively small quantity of cracked nuts per time spent. Therefore, a need clearly exists for a better hand-held nutcracker. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a hand-held inertia nutcracker for cracking various sizes and types of edible nuts within an enclosed chamber by utilizing inertia of an impact member as the cracking force while confining the nut and nutshell fragments within the chamber prior to releasing the cracked nut into a receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are illustrative of one or more embodiments of the nutcracker by way of example in which the reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A according to one embodiment, shown in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A of  FIG. 1 , shown in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a portion of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a portion of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, showing an upper and lower portion separately; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, showing components of the upper portion of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , shown in a compressed configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , shown in a compressed configuration with a nut inserted; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, shown in an expanded configuration prior to insertion of the nut; 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, shown in an expanded configuration following insertion of the nut; 
         FIG. 8C  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, shown in a compressed configuration; 
         FIG. 8D  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, shown in a compressed configuration and raised to an elevated position; 
         FIG. 8E  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A, shown in an impact position; 
         FIG. 9A  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , shown in an expanded configuration with the nut inserted, which correlates with  FIG. 8B ; 
         FIG. 9B  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , shown in a compressed configuration following insertion of the nut, which correlates with  FIG. 8C ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , showing a compressed configuration following impact and showing a cracked nut, which correlates with  FIG. 8E ; 
         FIG. 9D  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , showing an expanded configuration following impact thus allowing release of cracked nut; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A showing a callout of the sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  which shows a means of retaining an impact member within an upper body member bottom portion; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A showing a callout of the sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  which shows another means of retaining the impact member within the upper body member bottom portion; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A showing a callout of the sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  which shows another means of retaining the impact member within the upper body member bottom portion; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A showing a callout of the sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , which shows another means of retaining the impact member within the upper body member; 
         FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of a hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 B, according to another embodiment, shown in a compressed configuration; 
         FIG. 14B  is a perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 B, shown in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 14C  is a perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 B, shown in a partially disassembled configuration; 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of a hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, according to another embodiment, shown with a handle added; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C showing a callout of the sectional view taken along the section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in a compressed configuration; 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, shown in an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 18A  is an exploded perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C lower body member with a second handle, showing means of alignment features; 
         FIG. 18B  is a perspective view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, upper body member with a first handle, showing means of alignment features; 
         FIG. 18C  is an exploded perspective partial view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, showing first and second handle hinge ends and component parts; 
         FIG. 19A  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C taken along the section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in a compressed configuration; 
         FIG. 19B  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in an expanded configuration with a nut inserted, which correlates with  FIGS. 8B &amp; 9A ; 
         FIG. 19C  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in a compressed configuration with the nut inserted and ready for cracking, which correlates with  FIGS. 8C &amp; 9B ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, an arrow indicating a swinging action required to crack the nut, which correlates with  FIG. 8D ; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective operational view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C, showing an impact position, which correlates to  FIG. 8E ; 
         FIG. 22  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in a compressed configuration following impact, resulting in a cracked nut, which correlates to  FIG. 9C ; and, 
         FIG. 23  is a sectional view of the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 15 , shown in an expanded configuration, allowing the cracked nut to be released 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of embodiments of the hand-held inertia nutcracker. Such description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of nutcracker  1 A which is shown in an expanded configuration. As shown, nutcracker  1 A comprises an upper body member  2  further comprising an upper body member bottom portion  3  and an upper body member top portion  4 . Cap  22  is attached to upper body member top portion  4  by pins  32  or other methods not shown (such as screws, adhesives or by threaded flange on cap  22 ). Impact member bottom end  14   c  having a conical shaped recess  20  for automatically centering a nut is visible within upper body member bottom portion  3 . Further reference to  FIG. 1  depicts a lower body member  5  further comprising a lower body member top portion  7  and a lower body member bottom portion  6 . In this expanded configuration a nut can be placed in the space between upper body member bottom portion  3  and lower body member top portion  7 . Partially shown is a semi-circular thin-wall section  24  as an extension of lower body member top portion  7  which provides a means of alignment during the cracking operation. Attached to thin-wall section  24  is an elastic band  25  which functions to unify upper and lower body members and enhance the means of alignment. Elastic band  25  may be attached to thin-wall section  24  by means of an adhesive or other means (such as rivets or screws). Elastic band  25  is, therefore, not attached to upper body member  2  which thereby allows a sliding movement of upper body member  2  as it is urged toward lower body member  5  into a compressed configuration (with or without a nut) as seen first in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Upper body member bottom end  3   a  represents a surface that will come in contact with lower body member upper surface  8  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) after upper body member  2  is urged into the compressed configuration as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Surface  3   a  and surface  8  remain in mutual contact during the cracking operation which provides containment of nut and nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12 . Rubber stop  11  is attached to the lower body member bottom portion surface  10  which provides sound and impact protection during the cracking operation. 
       FIG. 2  depicts nutcracker  1 A from a different angle in an expanded configuration featuring the lower body member upper surface  8  further comprising: an anvil  9  with centered conical shaped recess  20  for automatically centering the nut and also showing most of the features shown in  FIG. 1 . Depictions of lower body member  5  (as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) including features referenced by numbers  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  are virtually the same and provide the same function in all the embodiments in this disclosure. There can be, however, slight variations in overall (external) shapes of lower body member  5  which largely relate to how structures are attached to (or are an integral part of) lower body member  5  for the purpose of providing a means of retaining alignment between the lower body member  5  and the upper body member  2  while operating the nutcracker. 
       FIG. 3A  shows an alternate embodiment of thin-wall section  24  of lower body member upper portion  7  as seen in  FIG. 1  which depicts an alternate means of retaining alignment of upper and lower body members  2  and  5 .  FIG. 3B  shows another alternate embodiment of thin-wall section  24  of lower body member upper portion  7  as seen in  FIG. 1  which depicts another means of retaining alignment of upper and lower body members  2  and  5 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an expanded view of nutcracker  1 A as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  depicting the upper body member  2  separated from lower body member  5  with a clear view of thin-wall section  24 .  FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective view of the upper body member  2  as seen in  FIG. 4  and illustrates the internal components of the nutcracker  1 A. Depicted in  FIG. 5  is the upper body member  2  further comprising: the bottom surface  3   a , the bottom portion  3 , and the top portion  4 . The bottom portion  3  having a cracking chamber  12  and the top portion  4  having an internal cavity  13  for nutcracker assembly and operation. An internal dimensional transition point  19  approximately midpoint within upper body member  2  is seen which defines a virtual dividing line between internal cavity  13  and cracking chamber  12 . The purpose of transition point  19  will be explained when discussing  FIG. 6 . Pins  32  are shown ready to be placed through holes (not shown) which will be drilled in upper body member top portion  4  and through flange  26  of cap  22  following assembly of internal components (see  FIG. 6  for view of inserted pins). Turning now to the upper section of  FIG. 5  and viewing the following internal components: felt ring  16  inserts into bottom groove  15  of impact member bottom portion  14   a  and felt ring  18  inserts into top groove  17  of impact member top portion  14   b . Impact member bottom end  14   c  possesses a centered conical shaped recess  20  for automatically centering a nut, the top end  21   a  of impact member  14  possesses a centered recess  21  for accepting a biasing spring  27 . Impact member  14  perimetrically shaped to fit and slide within the cracking chamber  12  of the upper body member bottom portion  14   a . In addition, impact member  14  is perimetrically shaped to fit and slide within the internal cavity  13  of the upper body member top portion during nutcracker operation ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 A further comprising: an access to upper body member top portion internal cavity  13  by means of cap  22  possessing a flange  26  which inserts inside internal cavity  13  of upper body member top portion  4  and possessing a centered internal recess  23  for centering biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  is attached following assembly of impact member  14 , felt rings  16  and  18  and biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  may be attached by pins  32  or other methods not shown (such as screws, adhesives or a threaded means for attaching cap  22 ). 
       FIG. 6  depicts an assembled sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  of nutcracker  1 A in a compressed configuration without a nut in the cracking chamber. Rubber stop  11  is shown embedded in lower surface  10  of lower portion  6  of lower body member  5 , which provides impact and sound protection while operating the nutcracker. Lower body member top portion  7  further comprises lower body member top surface  8  further comprising an anvil  9  with a centered conical shaped recess  20  for automatically centering the nut. Space  12  describes a cracking chamber as a space between the anvil  9  and conical shaped recess  20  in impact member bottom end  14   c . Upper body member bottom end  3   a  represents a surface that will come in contact with lower body member upper surface  8  (seen as contact point  28 ) as upper body member  2  is urged into the compressed configuration and guided by thin-wall extension  24  and elastic band  25 . Surface  3   a  and surface  8  remain in mutual contact during the cracking operation which provides containment of nut and nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12  which virtually eliminates nutshell scatter (see enlarged callout of  FIG. 7 ). Upper body member  2  houses impact member  14 , which has felt rings  16  and  18  to provide smooth travel of impact member within the cracking chamber  12  and internal cavity  13  respectively. Felt ring  16  also provides retention of nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12  and thereby virtually eliminates nutshell debris from entering the internal cavity  13 . Felt ring  18 , in addition to providing smooth travel of impact member  14  within the internal cavity  13 , provides a means of limiting downward travel of impact member  14  as felt ring  18  abuts internal dimensional transition point  19  and thus retains the impact member  14  within the upper body member  2 . Impact member top end  21   a  possesses a centered internal recess  21  for accepting biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  possesses a centered internal recess  23  for accepting biasing spring  27  and a flange  26  for a fit into internal cavity  13 . Biasing spring  27  provides for the auto-adjusting feature of this nutcracker. The internal components comprise: the impact member  14  with felt rings  16  &amp;  18  and biasing spring  27  which are inserted into the internal cavity  13  prior to attachment of cap  22  by pins  32 . Spring  27  has a free length greater than the distance between impact member internal recess  21  and internal recess  23  of cap  22  which provides for a pre-load of impact member  14  as felt ring  18  abuts transition point  19 . This pre-load of spring  27  against impact member  14  functions to assist in maintaining continuous contact with nut N during the cracking operation and assists in the ejection of cracked nut (see  FIGS. 9D and 23 .) 
     The embodiments of the upper and lower body members  2 ,  5  and cap  22  in this disclosure were created using a two part liquid polyurethane plastic which was poured into separate molds to create the device. Rubber stop  11  was also created by using a two part liquid rubber poured into a mold. Rubber stop  11  is shown as embedded into the plastic lower body member bottom portion  6  to retain its position, however, other attachment means could be utilized (such as an adhesive or a recess in lower body member bottom surface  10  designed to mechanically retain the rubber stop  11 . Materials other than plastic could be used to create the upper and lower body members  2  and  5  and cap  22  such as: a combination of metal and plastic; an alternate material such as zinc, aluminum, stainless steel; or a hardwood or composite material such as fiberglass, ceramic fiber or epoxy to name a few. Impact member  14  in this disclosure was machined from mild steel, however, other materials of sufficient weight and hardness could be utilized such as aluminum or zinc (with sufficient weight added), other metal such as brass, copper, or stainless steel. Felt rings  16  and  18  were used in this embodiment due to their durability and sealing capacity along with their ability slide smoothly within the cracking chamber  12  and internal cavity  13 , however, other materials that have similar characteristics could be used such as composite materials, nylon, rubber or Teflon type materials. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of nutcracker  1 A taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  shown in a compressed configuration with a nut N inserted. This view depicts an enlarged callout of the relationship between upper body member bottom portion  3  bottom surface  3   a  and lower body member upper portion  7  upper surface  8 . Point  28  is shown as the point where surface  3   a  and surface  8  make and maintain contact during the cracking operation thus providing an enclosed cracking chamber  12  and thereby keeping the nut N and nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12  during the cracking operation and prior to the spring assisted release of cracked nut into a receptacle. This compressed configuration view shows that nut N has moved impact member  14  upwards toward cap  22  and partially into internal cavity  13  and spring  27  has been compressed to provide contact with nut N prior to and during the cracking operation (see  FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E ). 
       FIGS. 8A through 8E  show perspective sequential operational views of nutcracker  1 A.  FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C  depict sectional sequential views that parallel views of  FIGS. 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E .  FIG. 8A  depicts nutcracker held in the expanded configuration ready for nut N to be placed in between centered conical shaped anvil  9  ( FIG. 2 ) and centered conical shape recess  20  of impact member  14  ( FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 8B  shows nut N centered between the anvil and the impact member (see  FIG. 9A ) just before being urged by operators&#39; other hand into the compressed configuration (see  FIG. 9B ) as shown in  FIG. 8C . (Solid surface S provides a working surface for loading a nut as well as providing a surface for impact during cracking operation seen in  FIG. 8E ). Operator increases his/her grip on nutcracker  1 A which retains the compressed configuration due to the semi-circular nature of thin-wall section  24  allowing the operators&#39; grasp to functionally unify upper body member  2  and lower body member  5  which is further enhanced by plastic band  25  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ).  FIGS. 8D and 8E  show the action necessary to crack a nut with nutcracker  1 A. In the compressed configuration, with a nut in the cracking chamber, the nutcracker is raised to a comfortable height ( FIG. 8D ) followed by a swinging action against a solid surface S ( FIG. 8E ). The force that cracks the nut is inertia. The nutcracker comes to an abrupt stop as it strikes the solid surface S while the impact member  14  does not stop but exerts sudden pressure on the nut N resulting in a cracked nut CN (seen in  FIG. 9C ). The swing speed can be varied depending on the type of nut being cracked. During the cracking operation nut N remains in contact with both the conical shaped anvil  9  of lower body member and the conical shaped recess  20  of the impact member  14  due to the biasing force exerted continually on the nut by spring  27 . This biasing force also allows for the auto-adjusting capability of nutcracker  1 A as it can accept a wide variety and sizes of nuts to be cracked.  FIG. 9  D shows the nutcracker in the expanded (open) configuration (see  FIG. 8A ) which allows for the cracked nut CN to be released into a receptacle. As the upper body member and lower body member are guided by the operators&#39; hands into the expanded configuration, the cracked nut CN is simultaneously ejected by the biasing force of spring  27 . In this open position another nut can be placed in the nutcracker to be cracked as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9A  (hand opening of nutcracker to release nut into a receptacle is not shown). 
       FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13  show four embodiments of nutcracker  1 A in the expanded configuration featuring callouts of sectional views taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1  showing various means for limiting the downward travel of the impact member  14  such that the impact member  14  is retained within the upper body member bottom portion  3 .  FIG. 10  depicts the preferred means of limiting downward travel and retention of the impact member  14  within the upper body member lower portion  3  of nutcracker  1 A (as described in  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D ).  FIG. 10  shows how felt ring  18  located in impact member top portion  14   b  abuts internal dimensional transition point  19  of upper body member  2  as a means for limiting the downward travel of the impact member  14  such that the impact member  14  is retained within the upper body portion bottom portion  3 .  FIG. 11  depicts an alternate means of limiting downward travel of impact member  14  by the use of a flexible cord  49  inserted inside spring  27  and attached on one end to a centered point  22   a  on cap  22 ; the other end of cord  49  attached to centered point  22   b  of impact member top surface  14   b  thus functioning to retain impact member  14  within upper body member bottom portion  3 .  FIG. 12  shows another means of limiting downward travel of impact member  14  by modifying the shape of upper body member bottom portion  3  to form a right angle  3   b  such that felt ring  16  located in impact member bottom portion  14   a  engages right angle  3   b  in a way that retains impact member  14  within upper body member bottom portion  3 .  FIG. 13  shows yet another means of limiting downward travel of impact member  14  by adding a mechanical barrier  3   c  which is attached to upper body member bottom portion  3  which abuts impact member bottom end  14   c  (this differs from  FIG. 12  which abuts felt ring  16 ) and thus functions as a means of retaining impact member  14  within upper body member bottom portion  3 . 
       FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C  depict perspective views of another embodiment of a nutcracker designated by reference number  1 B. This embodiment operates in the same way as nutcracker  1 A and has identical internal components. The difference is primarily regarding the means of alignment. Additionally, the means of limiting downward travel and retention of impact member  14  within the upper body is the same as the preferred means described in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 14A  depicts nutcracker  1 B in a compressed configuration showing upper body member  2  and lower body member  5  and cap  22  to enclose internal components (not shown). External features differ from nutcracker  1 A in that lower body member accommodates alignment rods  29  which slide in holes of upper body member  2 .  FIG. 14B  shows nutcracker  1 B in an expanded configuration showing alignment rods  29  fixed in lower body member  5  and extending through holes  30  of upper body member  2  thus allowing a sliding motion of upper body member which provides a means of alignment which differs from the means of alignment shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B and 4 .  FIG. 4C  shows nutcracker  1 B in a partially disassembled perspective view featuring rods  29  and holes  30  in upper body member in addition to indentations  31  for grasping nutcracker to retain closed configuration during the cracking operation as described in  FIGS. 8A through 8E . 
       FIG. 15  is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment  1 C of a nutcracker and is shown in a compressed configuration with handles attached which provide the preferred means of alignment of upper body member  2  and lower body member  5 .  FIG. 15  depicts a nutcracker  1 C having an upper body member  2  and a lower body member  5  which are substantially the same as seen in earlier embodiments ( FIGS. 1 through 14C ). In addition, the internal components (see  FIG. 16 ) are identical as those shown in  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 10 . In this preferred embodiment, nutcracker  1 C comprises an upper body member  2  and a lower body member  5  further comprising: a first handle  33  having a head end  50  and a hinge end  40 , the head end  50  attached to the upper body member  2 , a second handle  34  having a head end  51  and a hinge end  41 , the head end  51  attached to the lower body member  5 , and the hinge ends of both  40  and  41  of the first and second handles  33  and  34  movably coupled by hinge pin  44 . Spring  35  biases first and second handle  33  and  34  toward an expanded configuration and provides the controlling force for opening nutcracker  1 C for accepting a nut to be cracked and for the releasing of cracked nut into a receptacle.  FIG. 15  shows a general overview of the main external components and approximate angles which were designed for operator comfort and smooth operation of nut cracker during the cracking process. Handle angle line HAL shows an approximate angle of first and second handles  33  and  34  relative to center line CL designed to provide an ergonomically comfortable hand position for the operator during the cracking operation (see  FIGS. 20 and 21 ). Handle angle line HAL determined the approximate placement of hinge pin  44  on perpendicular line PL in this preferred embodiment as hinge ends  40  and  41  of first and second handles  33  and  34  are shown to angle away from handle angle line HAL toward perpendicular line PL (a line that is perpendicular to center line CL). Point P is the point where upper body member  2  and lower body member  5  meet in the compressed configuration which determined the approximate hinge pin  44  placement on perpendicular line PL. Hinge line HL describes a line from hinge pin  44  through center of spring  35 . Spring line SL is a longitudinal line through spring  35  and is perpendicular to hinge line HL. All of the approximate angles in the preferred embodiment of nutcracker  1 C were determined through experimental models and prototypes. 
       FIG. 16  is an assembled sectional view taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 15  in a compressed configuration without a nut in the cracking chamber showing the preferred embodiment of nutcracker  1 C. Rubber stop  11  is shown embedded in lower surface  10  of lower portion  6  of lower body member  5  which provides impact and sound protection while operating the nutcracker. Lower body member top portion  7  further comprising an anvil  9  with a centered conical shaped recess for automatically centering the nut. Space  12  describes a cracking chamber as a space between the anvil  9  and conical shaped recess  20  in impact member bottom end  14   c . Upper body member bottom portion  3  bottom end  3   a  represents a surface that will come in contact with lower body member  7  upper surface  8  creating a contact point  28  as upper body member  2  is urged into the compressed configuration (see enlarged callout). Surface  3   a  and surface  8  remain in mutual contact during the cracking operation which provides containment of nut and nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12  which virtually eliminates nutshell scatter. Upper body member  2  houses impact member  14  which has felt rings  16  and  18  which provide smooth travel of impact member within the cracking chamber  12  and internal cavity  13  respectively. Felt ring  16  also provides retention of nutshell debris within the cracking chamber  12  and thereby virtually eliminates nutshell debris from entering the internal cavity  13  (see enlarged callout further detailing felt ring  16 ). Felt ring  18 , in addition to providing smooth travel of impact member  14  within the internal cavity  13 , provides the preferred means of limiting downward travel of impact member  14  as felt ring  18  abuts internal dimensional transition point  19  and thus retains the impact member  14  within the upper body member  2  (see enlarged callout of  FIG. 10 ). Impact member top end  21   a  possesses a centered internal recess  21  for accepting biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  possesses a centered internal recess  23  for accepting biasing spring  27  and a flange  26  for a fit into internal cavity  13 . Biasing spring  27  provides for the auto-adjusting feature of this nutcracker. The internal components comprise: the impact member  14  with felt rings  16  and  18  and biasing spring  27  which are inserted into the internal cavity  13  prior to cap  22  attachment by pins  32 . Spring  27  has a free length greater than the distance between impact member internal recess  21  and internal recess  23  of cap  22  which provides for a pre-load of impact member  14  as felt ring  18  abuts transition point  19 . This pre-load of spring  27  against impact member  14  functions to assist in maintaining continuous contact with nut N during the cracking operation and assists in the ejection of cracked nut (see  FIGS. 9D and 23 .) In this preferred embodiment, nutcracker  1 C comprises an upper body member  2  and a lower body member  5  further comprising: a first handle  33  having a head end  50  and a hinged end  40 , the head end  50  attached to the upper body member  2 ; a second handle  34  having a head end  51  and a hinged end  41 , the head end  51  attached to the lower body member  5 , and the hinged ends of both  40  and  41  of the first and second handles  33  and  34  are biased by hinge spring  35  and movably coupled by hinge pin  44 . The first handle  33  further comprising: a center portion having a length of from four inches to seven inches thus providing a surface which accommodates a fit into a person&#39;s palm for operating the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C. The second handle further comprising: a center portion having a length of from four inches to seven inches thus providing a surface which accommodates a fit around which a person&#39;s fingers grip for operating the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C. Spring  35  provides the controlling force for opening the hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C for accepting a nut to be cracked and for the releasing of cracked nut into a receptacle. Surfaces  40   b  and  41   b  on extended portions of first and second handle hinge ends  40  and  41  create a stopping point when nutcracker is in the expanded configuration which functions to limit the opening between the upper and lower body members  2  and  5 . 
     The embodiments of the upper and lower body members  2  and  5  (including first and second handles  33  and  34  as integral parts of upper and lower body members  2  and  5 ) and cap  22  in this disclosure were created using a two part liquid polyurethane plastic which was poured into separate melds to create the nutcracker. Rubber stop  11  (which was also created by using a two part liquid rubber poured into a mold) is shown as embedded into the plastic lower body member bottom portion  6  to retain its position, however, other attachment means could be utilized (such as an adhesive or a recess in lower body member bottom surface  10  designed to mechanically retain the rubber stop  11 . Materials other than plastic could be used to create the upper and lower body members  2  and  5  and cap  22  such as: a combination of metal and plastic; an alternate material such as zinc, aluminum, stainless steel; or a hardwood or composite material such as fiberglass, ceramic fiber or epoxy to name a few. Impact member  14  in this disclosure was machined from mild steel, however, other materials of sufficient weight and hardness could be utilized such as aluminum or zinc (with sufficient weight added), other metal such as brass, copper, or stainless steel. Felt rings  16  and  18  were used in this embodiment due to their durability and sealing capacity along with their ability slide smoothly within the cracking chamber  12  and internal cavity  13 , however, other materials that have similar characteristics could be used such as composite materials, nylon, rubber or Teflon type materials. 
       FIG. 17  depicts an exploded perspective view of nutcracker  1 C as the preferred embodiment in an expanded configuration. Upper body member  2  of nutcracker  1 C further comprising: the bottom surface  3   a , the bottom portion  3 , and the top portion  4 . The bottom portion  3  having a cracking chamber  12  and the top portion  4  having an internal cavity  13  for nutcracker assembly and operation. An internal dimensional transition point  19  approximately midpoint within upper body member  2  is seen which defines a virtual dividing line between internal cavity  13  and cracking chamber  12 . The purpose of transition point  19  is explained in  FIGS. 6, 10 and 16 . Turning now to the upper section of  FIG. 17  and viewing the internal components; felt ring  16  inserts into bottom groove  15  of impact member bottom portion  14   a  and felt ring  18  inserts into top groove  17  of impact member top portion  14   b . Impact member bottom end  14   c  possesses a centered conical shaped recess  20  for automatically centering a nut, the top end  21   a  of impact member  14  possesses a centered recess  21  for accepting a biasing spring  27 . Impact member  14  is perimetrically shaped to fit and slide within the cracking chamber  12  of the upper body member bottom portion  14   a . In addition, impact member  14  is perimetrically shaped to fit and slide within the internal cavity  13  of the upper body member top portion during nutcracker operation ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The hand-held inertia nutcracker  1 C further comprising: an access to upper body member top portion internal cavity  13  by means of cap  22  having a flange  26  which inserts inside internal cavity  13  of upper body member top portion  4  and possessing a centered internal recess  23  for centering biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  is attached following assembly of impact member  14 , felt rings  16  and  18  and biasing spring  27 . Cap  22  may be attached by pins  32  (discussed in  FIG. 5 ) or other methods not shown (such as screws, adhesives or a threaded means for attaching cap  22 ). Reference numbers in  FIG. 17  regarding upper body member  2  and lower body member  5  including the first and second handles  40  and  41  are previously covered and discussed in  FIGS. 15 and 16  except for the following:  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  46 . Seen in  36  and  37  are structures for enhancing alignment and lateral stability when they mate with complementary structures  38  and  39  (in the compressed configuration) which are more clearly defined and pictured in  FIG. 18 . Point  46  located between extensions of first and second handle hinge ends  40  and  41  (seen in  FIG. 16 ) shows a point where surface  40   b  abuts surface  41   b  which functions to limit the degree of opening of nutcracker  1 C and functions to retain handle spring  35  following assembly of the hinge components so that the hand-held inertia nutcracker is fully assembled and ready for operation. 
       FIG. 18A  depicts an exploded perspective view of lower body member  5 , second handle  34  and hinge end  41  details in addition to second handle head end  51  and associated alignment enhancement features  38  and  39 . Lower body member  5  has a top surface  8  containing centered conical shaped recess  9  for automatically centering a nut. Second handle  34  has a head end  51  that possesses a concave shape  38  further comprising a wedge shaped recess  39 . Second handle  34  further comprises a hinge end  41  possessing a shallow hole  34   a  for accepting spring  35  (seen in  FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18C ). Hinge pin  44  inserts into hole  43  of clevis  41   a  and retaining screw  45  goes into hole  45   a  and into shallow hole  45   b  following insertion of tang  40   a  ( FIGS. 18B and 18C ) into clevis  41   a . Surface  41   b  is a surface on extension portion of hinge end  41  (first shown in  FIG. 16 ) and functions to limit degree of opening of nutcracker. 
       FIG. 18B  depicts a perspective view of upper body member  2 , first handle  33  and hinge end  40  details in addition to first handle head end  50  and associated alignment enhancement features  36  and  37 . Upper body member  2  shows internal dimensional transition point  19  and surface  3   a . Upper body member  2  further comprises an external convex surface  36  and wedge shaped structure  37  (near surface  3   a  and first handle head end  50 ) which forms a fit into the alignment enhancement features  38  and  39  of  FIG. 18A  when nutcracker  1 C is in the compressed configuration as seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Also shown in  FIG. 18B  are hinge end  40  details consisting of shallow hole  33   a  for accepting spring  35  ( FIG. 18C ) and hole  42  through tang  40   a . Surface  40   b  is a surface on extension portion of hinge end  40  (first shown in  FIG. 16 ) and functions to limit degree of opening of nutcracker. 
       FIG. 18C  depicts an exploded perspective view of first handle  33  hinge end  40  and second handle  34  hinge end  41  of nutcracker  1 C. Method of assembly is as follows: Handle spring is inserted into shallow hole  34   a ; tang  40   a  is partially inserted into clevis  41   a  as handle spring  35  free end is guided into shallow hole  33   a ; hinge ends  40  and  41  are then squeezed together to fully engage tang  40   a  and clevis  41   a  and simultaneously retaining handle spring  35  in shallow holes  34   a  and  33   a ; hinge pin  44  is inserted into hole  43  and then through hole  42  and secured in place with screw  45  into hole  45   a . In the fully assembled state, surface  41   b  and surface  40   b  interact to limit degree of opening of nutcracker first seen in  FIG. 16  (and in all subsequent  FIGS. 19-23 ). Other types of hinge pins could be used that may not require a screw for retention such as a two piece threaded pin with enlargements on the ends to provide retention. Other types of springs could be used in place of the compression spring shown in this embodiment such as a torsion type spring or a flat spring made of spring steel (similar to that used in a pair of tongs). 
       FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C  depict sectional sequential views of nutcracker  1 C. The various configurations shown here are better understood if viewed with the perspective of how a person&#39;s hand holds the nutcracker as seen in  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 . With this perspective in mind and although a hand is not shown,  FIG. 19A  shows the nutcracker  1 C in a compressed configuration without a nut. (see again  FIG. 20 )  FIG. 19B  shows the nutcracker in a fully expanded configuration with an un-cracked nut being placed in the open nutcracker (see  FIGS. 8A and 8B ).  FIG. 19C  shows the nutcracker in the compressed configuration with an un-cracked nut N in the cracking chamber  12  and ready for the cracking operation as seen in  FIG. 20  as the nutcracker is raised to an appropriate height and then swung downward and impacting a solid surface S at which time the nutcracker comes to an abrupt stop ( FIG. 21 ). The impact member (which is biased against the nut) does not stop, but exerts sudden pressure on the nut due to inertia, which is the force that cracks the nut. This force can be varied by modifying the swing speed of the nutcracker by the operator depending on the type of nut being cracked.  FIG. 22  shows the cracked nut CN following impact ( FIG. 21 ) as contained within the cracking chamber  12  prior to operator first rotating hand holding nutcracker about 90 degrees and then releasing his/her grip which releases cracked nut CN into receptacle  52 . In this open position a new nut can be placed in nutcracker ready for cracking.