Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention, in general relates to edible nuts and, more particularly, to a device for opening a pistachio nut.  
         [0003]     There is a long standing need for an effective and economical pistachio nut opener. People who eat pistachio nuts typically eat large numbers of them at each occurrence. It is difficult to use a fingernail to open a pistachio nut. Doing so is prone to damaging the fingernail as well.  
         [0004]     There is only one known type of a pistachio nut opener that resembles a nickel with a flat protrusion that requires the user to apply significant torque in order to open the pistachio nut. The known device is also expensive, costing approximately $25.00 per unit.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there exists today a need for a pistachio nut opener that ameliorates the aforementioned difficulties.  
         [0006]     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device.  
         [0007]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0008]     A type of a pistachio nut opener is known as was described hereinabove and which is believed to be described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,281.  
         [0009]     While the structural arrangements of the above described device may, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, it differs in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pistachio nut opener that is economical to manufacture.  
         [0011]     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a pistachio nut opener that is easy to use.  
         [0012]     Another object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that is adapted to split apart the shell surrounding a pistachio nut.  
         [0013]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that is sufficiently economical to be included in packages of unshelled pistachio nuts.  
         [0014]     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that is adapted for a single use and which is disposable.  
         [0015]     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that includes an elongated handle.  
         [0016]     Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that provides increased torque for opening a pistachio nut.  
         [0017]     A first continuing object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that can be reused for a limited time.  
         [0018]     A second continuing object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that includes an elongated handle which provides increased torque for opening a pistachio nut.  
         [0019]     A third continuing object of the invention is to provide a pistachio nut opener that includes an elongated handle which provides an area for advertising.  
         [0020]     Briefly, a pistachio nut opener that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a planar handle that includes a length that exceeds its width and a width that exceeds its thickness. A minimum size for the planar handle includes a thickness not less than 1/32 of an inch, a width not less than ¼ of an inch and a length not less than 1 and ½ inches. This provides an area for advertising and a length that supplies sufficient torque to allow easy opening of the pistachio nut. A tapered blade is attached where desired to the planar handle. The tapered blade resembles the blade portion of a flat-blade screwdriver and is preferably attached at one end of the planar handle and at an angle with respect thereto. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the pistachio nut opener.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view of the pistachio nut opener taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is shown a pistachio nut opener, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 .  
         [0024]     The pistachio nut opener  10  has a planar handle  12  that includes a length  14  that exceeds a width  16  and the width  16  that exceeds a thickness  18 .  
         [0025]     A minimum size for the planar handle  12  includes the thickness  18  of not less than 1/32 of an inch, the width  16  of not less than ¼ of an inch and the length  14  of not less than 1 and ½ inches.  
         [0026]     This provides an area for advertising, identified in general by the reference numeral  20 , on a first and opposite second side of the handle  12 . The advertising will typically include any brand name that is desired.  
         [0027]     One possible use is for those who sell pistachio nuts  22  (only the one pistachio nut  22  is shown) to include one of the pistachio nut openers  10  in the same container (not shown) that contains the plurality of pistachio nuts  22 .  
         [0028]     Having the pistachio nut opener  10  in the container would make it easier for consumers to open the pistachio nuts  22 . This, in turn, would make the container that includes the pistachio nut opener  10 , which is otherwise identical to a competing container, more desirable than the competing container. Consumers may even be willing to pay more for the container that includes the pistachio nut opener  10  over the competing container.  
         [0029]     The pistachio nut opener  10  is preferably constructed of a hard plastic. While other materials are possible, plastic is inexpensive. Accordingly, when the pistachio nut opener  10  is manufactured in sufficient quantity and is made of plastic, the cost per unit may well be only a fraction of a penny per unit. Adding one to the container becomes relatively easy and inexpensive to do, especially if it can boost sales.  
         [0030]     A more durable version of the pistachio opener  10  can of course be constructed of any other preferred material, including any composite material or metal. Of course, a more durable version would cost more and would likely be a retail product available for sale of its own. It is always possible that a “high-end” gourmet pistachio nut manufacturer, distributor, or retailer may include the more durable version with their product, as well.  
         [0031]     In any event, the advertising area  20  allows the pistachio nut manufacturer, distributor, or retailer to advertise their particular “brand” on the pistachio nut opener  10 .  
         [0032]     Using the pistachio nut opener  10  that is supplied in the container is likely to please the consumer. Every time the consumer uses the pistachio nut opener, he or she will be reminded of the source (i.e., the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer) that put the opener  10  in the container.  
         [0033]     An incredibly positive environment for associating the source with a product is thereby provided. As such, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer would likely find considerable value in including at least one of the pistachio nut openers  10  in each container.  
         [0034]     It is also possible that even a less-durable version of the pistachio nut opener  10  could last for an extended period of time beyond that necessary to open all of the pistachio nuts  22  in the container. The positive association with the source that appears on the area for advertising  20  would then occur for an extended period of time. An unexpected benefit is that the consumer would be reminded of the source, even when the consumer is opening pistachio nuts  22  that came from a competing source.  
         [0035]     A tapered blade  24  is attached where desired to the planar handle  12 . The tapered blade  24  resembles the blade portion of a flat-blade screwdriver (not shown). A preferred location is at one end of the handle  12  and at a slight planar angle with respect thereto. The tapered blade  24  is on the same plane as the handle  12 , just offset so that a first longitudinal axis  25   a  of the tapered blade  24  is at an angle with respect to a second longitudinal axis  25   b  of the handle  12 .  
         [0036]     The angle provides an ergonomically advantageous position for use. If desired, the tapered blade  24  could be eliminated and a modified tapered blade  24   a  (shown in dashed lines) could be added in the middle of the handle  12 , or elsewhere, as desired.  
         [0037]     The length  14  of the handle  12  is important. By having the length at least 1.5 inches, a user is easily able to insert the tapered blade  24  into the shell of the pistachio nut  22  at the split thereof and twist the handle  12  sufficient to separate and open the shell of the pistachio nut  22 .  
         [0038]     The length of the handle  12  supplies sufficient torque to allow easy opening of the pistachio nut  22  by even a person who is frail or elderly.  
         [0039]     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 1