Improvements in Oyster Openers..
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1890
Complete. Specification Left, 14th July, 189:-Accepted, 5th Sept., 189.1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oyster Openers..
We, GEORGE GRAHAM, of No. 9, Norland Villas, Goose Green, East Dulwich,
in the County of Surrey, Commercial Traveller, and CHARLES EDWARD. WHITE,.
of No. 8, Water Lane, Brixton, also in the County of Surrey, Accountant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvenients in devices for opening oysters and other
bivalves of analogous conformation as to their shells; and the object of the inven-
tion is to prevent injury to the hand so frequently caused when the ordinary knife
slips.
In carrying our invention into effect, we provide a pair of nippers one jaw of
which terminates in a cutting or chisel edge. The opposite one is extended into a
blade. There is formed in this blade an opening, or short slot, into which the
chisel edge above mentioned enters.
The invention is used as follows. The edge of the bivalve is placed between
the slot and the chisel edge and the nippers are closed. Both shells are broken
away for a short distance so as to produce a practicable opening into which the
blade can be introduced forthwith, without searching for the mouth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oyster Openers.
We, GEORGE GRAHAM, of No. 9, Norland Villas, Goose Green, East Dulwich,
in the County of Surrey, Commercial Traveller, and CHARLES EDWARD WHITE,
of No. 8, Water Lane, Brixton, also in the County of Surrey, Accountant, 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 improvements in devices for opening oysters and other
bivalves of analogous conformation as to their shells; and the object of this inven-
tion is to prevent injury to the hand so frequently caused when the ordinary knife
slips. In carrying our invention into effect, we provide a pair of nippers or pliers,
one jaw of which terminates in a cutting or chisel edge. The opposite one is
extended into a blade. There is formed in this blade a series of teeth adapted to
prevent the oyster slipping, and they are so positioned that the chisel edge afore-
said will enter between two of them. Instead of the teeth, or in addition thereto,
there may be a hole in the blade into which the chisel edge can enter when the
opener is used.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of the
Specification and read therewith,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the opener open, and ready to open an oyster.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opener closed. The opened oyster supposed
to have been removed.
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the modification above referred to.
A, B are the two handles. These may be of any suitable shape, and be fitted
with a separating spring if desired. They are shown as pivotted at a, although

page_text: the pivot may be dispensed with, and the handles be connected at their outer ends
by a spring, after the manner of a pair of sheep shears.
C is the cutting or chisel edge. It is bent downwards in the direction of the top
surface of D, the blade. d, d are the teeth. The blade has a rounded point, and
is of a tapered shape like the ordinary oyster knife.
Referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, E is the hole in the blade.
The invention is used as follows :--
The nippers are opened and the oyster laid upon the blade, the mouth of the
oyster being placed for a sufficient distance within the plane in which the edge C
works, to ensure the formation, when the cutting edge is brought down, of a
sufficiently large opening in the edge of the oyster to admit the point of the blade
easily. The nippers are then closed, and after they are opened again the blade is
inserted between the shells at the opening made as above described, but under the
oyster, and the shells wrenched apart in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination of cutting edge and blade as set forth.
2. The combination of cutting edge, blade, and teeth upon it as set forth.
3. The combination of cutting edge, blade, and hole in it, as set forth.
4. An instrument for opening oysters and other bivalves of an analogous con-
formation as to their shells consisting of a pair of nippers or pliers, one jaw of
which terminates in a cutting edge, and the other in a blade, the edge and blade
being parallel as set forth.
D
: 19h 1 T11001
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.