Year: 1888

page_text: 1, JUSTIN CAILLET, of. 35. and 37, Galerie Vivienne, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to instruments for breaking. the shells of walnuts, filberts,
almonds and similar nuts-such instruments being commonly known as nut-crackers;
the same being specially adapted for table use.
A nut-cracker constructed according to my invention is represented in elevation in
Fig. 1 and in vertical section in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, and consists
of a hollow body a provided on one side with an opening a¹ and mounted upon a
stem a² which is traversed by a screw b. The inner extremity of the latter is provided
with a head & mounted in such a manner as to permit of the screwed stem b being
turned without rotating the head when engaged with the shell of the fruit. The
outer extremity of the screwed stem 6 terminates in a base-piece 62, preferably of flat
form, as shown; the same serving the double purpose of a handle for operating the
screw and of a base for the support of the instrument in an erect position.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-By means of the base-piece 6², the
screw 6 is turned (or the body a is rotated), until the head 61 is sufficiently withdrawn
to permit of the nut being passed through the orifice a' and introduced between the
head aforesaid and the extremity of the chamber or body a. The nut having been
inserted, the movement of the screw is reversed and pressure exerted upon the nut
until the shell thereof is broken. If the apparatus be held horizontally with the
orifice a¹ upwards, the chamber forms a temporary receptacle for the debris of the
crushed shell.
In Fig. 3, the body or bonnet a is open on both sides; that is, it takes the form of
a strap or loop surrounding the head 6. According to this modification, the debris,
instead of falling into a receptacle such as previously referred to, may be received in
the palm of the hand. The special advantages attaching to this design are symmetry
and perfect balance.

page_text: With a nut-cracker constructed in accordance with this invention, the application
of the pressure being gradual, the shell of the nut may be cracked without injuring
the kernel; a defect commonly appertaining to nut-crackers of the ordinary descrip-
tion being thereby avoided. Moreover, the instrument may be readily adjusted and
adapted for use with nuts presenting considerable difference in size; and, for table
use, may be rendered highly ornamental in appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved nut-cracker constructed substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and comprising a bonnet such as a, screwed stem b and
base ; the last named also serving as means for enabling the screw to be operated.
2. The improved nut-cracker constructed substantially as defined in the preceding
claiming clause, but having the bonnet a open on both sides as illustrated in
Fig. 3.
3. In a nut-cracker of the kind herein referred to, the employment of a hollow
chamber or bonnet such as a (Figs. 1 and 2) serving to resist the pressure of
the crushing screw and as a receptacle for the debris of the shell when broken.
4. In a nut-cracker of the kind herein referred to, the employment of a base-piece
such as serving as a support for the instrument in an erect position and as a handle
for operating the crushing screw.
Dated this 24th day of December 1800
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.