Abstract: A compression tool for use in applying compression with a predetermined limited movement to a workpiece. The tool includes first and second lever arms with workpiece engaging surfaces and adjacent hinged ends. When compressing a workpiece, e.g., a nut, the hinged ends are urged apart, and a stop face is moved into the pathway of a stop edge on one of the lever arms to limit the movement of the arms toward each other.

Abstract: A tool for applying compression, e.g., a nutcracker, having a hinged pair of lever arms pin connected to a common housing. The housing contains a stopping device designed to provide a fixed crushing rotation movement to crush the nutshell without crushing the nutmeat. Furthermore, when a nut or other workpiece is not inserted in the tool, the lever arms are free to move, without restraint, making insertion of the nut a convenient and random action. From the standpoint of the user, the nutcracker will look like and operate exactly like the majority of nutcrackers in use today. The major difference is the stopping action, which will prevent damage to the nutmeat and allow less fragmented crushing of the nut shell.