Abstract: A device is for cracking a shell of a food item. The device has a first plier, a second plier and a pivot rotatably connecting the first plier with the second plier for enabling the food item, when arranged between the pliers, to be compressed between the pliers by a rotation of the pliers towards each other. The device further comprises a lockable spacing arrangement having an acceleration dependent locking device adapted to permit the rotation of the two pliers towards each other if an acceleration of the rotation is below a threshold value and adapted to lock the rotation of the two pliers towards each other if the acceleration of the rotation is equal to or exceeding said threshold value.

Abstract: A plier's nutcracker includes a hand tightening screw mounted through a threaded hole on one handle of a plier type nutcracker at a position adjacent to nutcracker's pivotal connection. The engagement of this hand tighten screw through tightening and untightening regulates the pressure the nut or object to be crushed shall receive in a cracking operation. The pressure shall result in either large broken hull pieces or hand-breakable cracks on the hull or shell effectively eliminating the scattering of shells and hulls in the cracking operation while keeping the kernel in one whole piece or fewer big pieces. Additionally, the engagement of the hand tighten screw creates a safe distance between the nutcracker handles to prevent fingers from being pinched in a cracking operation.

Abstract: A monolithic nut opening apparatus includes a hinge portion forming a rearward end. A first elongated arm and a second elongated arm longitudinally extend towards a forward end from opposing ends of the hinge portion. A first tip extends from the first elongated arm and at least one upward extending lateral tapered edge extending from the first tip. A second tip extends from the second elongated arm and at least one downward extending lateral tapered edge extending from the second tip.

Abstract: A nutcracker having a reciprocating hammer whose movement follows a rotating cam. An adjustable cracking space dimension is determined by the adjustment of an anvil. When the cam rotates so that the low dwell region is in contact with a cam follower of the hammer, the hammer withdraws from a cracking space between the hammer and anvil; during this period, nuts/seeds fall from a hopper into the cracking space. As the cam rotates to the high dwell region, the hammer oscillates into the cracking space which then forces the nuts/seeds against the anvil and cracks them. As the cam continues to rotate again to the low dwell region, the cracked nuts/seeds and shells are dispensed from the cracking space and more nuts/seeds fall into the cracking space from a hopper. The cams are replaceable to accommodate different sizes of nuts, different cracking times, etc. The anvil can also be adjusted to change the width of the cracking space.

Abstract: A tool for breaking and opening an egg comprises first and second complementary concave egg-receiving container members pivoted to one another at a first axis, and first and second concave egg-confining members each pivoted to one of the complementary concave egg-receiving container members at a respective axis parallel to the first axis. Egg-piercing points are formed on mating edges of the egg-receiving container members. In order to break and open an egg, the egg-receiving container members are first operated such that their mating edges are juxtaposed to one another, such that an egg-receiving cavity is formed therebetween. An egg is then placed in this cavity, and the egg-confining members are pivoted so as to confine the egg in the cavity. The tool and egg therein are then rapped sharply against a hard surface, such that the shell of the egg is pierced by the egg-piercing points, defining a separation line extending substantially circumferentially around the shell of the egg.

Abstract: A nut cracker having a cup, a lever and a handle. The cup having a wall and a bottom defining an internal, generally conical space sized to contain a nut placed therein such that when the nut is cracked pieces of the shell are contained within the cup. The lever is provided in a slot through the wall of the cup such that the lever can be pivoted towards the portion of interior surface of the wall to crush a nut between a surface of the lever and a portion of interior surface of the wall opposite the lever. The handle is pivotally attached to the top of the cup such that when the handle is moved in a direction towards the cup the lever surface moves towards the portion of the interior surface of the wall.

Abstract: A device for cracking the shell of an object is provided comprising at least three members, each including an outer surface, an inner surface, an attachment end, and a grasping portion located on the inner surface, each of the grasping portions including a plurality of protrusions for contacting a shelled object, each of the protrusions containing a pointed tip extending outward and down toward the grasping portion, and an attachment portion coupled to the attachment end such that the at least three members define an interior cracking region bounded by each of the grasping portions. A user can crack the shell of the shelled object by placing it in the cracking region and exerting a uniform force on each of the at least three members. The members can be attached by a ring, secured by pins, welded together, or screwed or snapped into an attachment portion.

Abstract: A hand held pistachio nut opener for splitting open pistachio nut shells and removing the edible nut from the opened half shells comprises forwardly directed upper and lower protruding members having forward distal edges adapted to be inserted in the lateral peripheral separation between the half shells of the pistachio nut to split open the half shells. The upper protrusion member is operative to open upwardly relative to the stationary lower protrusion member. The upper forward protrusion member is secured to a rearward extension member operatively rotatable about an interconnecting means secured to a rearward extension means of the stationary lower protrusion member.