Inventors:
Richard M. Williams - Orlando FL
International Classification:
A22C 2902
Abstract:
A hand held utensil adapted to open elongate sections of crab leg shells and similar objects comprising a manually engagable handle, a planar blade secured to the handle and extending outwardly to a tip, with the forward portion of the blade adjacent the tip being substantially straight. A blade-protecting member is secured in a spaced relationship adjacent the substantially straight forward portion of the blade, with the blade-protecting member extending from the handle for a distance exceeding the length of the blade. An open-ended slot is defined between the substantially straight forward blade portion and the blade-protecting member, with such slot being adapted to receive the shell of a crustacean, such that the blade can cut through the shell as a user grasping the handle moves the blade longitudinally along the shell. In the preferred embodiment, the blade is multiangled, with a rear portion of the blade extending upwardly from the substantially straight forward blade portion in the direction of the adjacent undersurface of the blade-protecting member. The undersurface of latter member has a recess therein into part of which the upwardly extending rear blade portion extends, thus to provide assured shell-cutting capability when the blade and recess are brought into contact with a crustacean shell.