Abstract: A clamping device for attachment to a wall, post or other vertical support and securing a game carcass such as a squirrel, in position to facilitate efficient skinning and dressing of the carcass. In a preferred embodiment the clamping device is characterized by an elongated, generally U-shaped clamp bracket terminated by a bracket mount flange on each end to facilitate mounting the clamp bracket to the support. A pair of spaced-apart leg notches and a central neck notch are provided in the upper edge of the clamp bracket for receiving the legs and neck, respectively, of the carcass, which leg notches initially receive the rear legs of the horizontal carcass. A clamp bar is pivotally mounted on the clamp bracket and a coiled latch spring provided on the clamp bar is stretched taut and caused to engage the clamp bracket to secure the clamp bar against the rear legs of the carcass and the carcass in the clamp bracket, as a knife is used to partially skin the carcass.

Abstract: A poultry breast filleting mandrel 10 for carrying an eviscerated poultry carcass along a processing path through a breast filleting process in which the meat of the poultry carcass is removed from the skeleton of the carcass, includes a base 12 for mounting to a conveyor, a shroud 14 removably mounted to the base for receiving thereabout the visceral cavity of the breast of a poultry carcass, and a movable clamp 46 for grasping the breast of a poultry carcass for holding the breast of the poultry carcass on the shroud. A shroud lock 112 is provided for locking the shroud to the base during processing and a shroud lock release 117 is provided for disengaging the shroud lock and allowing removal of the shroud for cleaning, repair, etc.

Abstract: A portable animal carcass carrier enables two men to easily carry an animal carcass across difficult terrain. The carrier contains a multi-section pole from which the carcass is suspended when the ends of the pole are supported on the shoulders of the men. The pole contains pads at each end for cushioning the shoulders. The carrier also contains three straps for attachment to the carcass and for placement over and across the pole. The first strap contains two hooks for inserting into the hind legs of the carcass, the second strap contains two loops for securing the front legs of the carcass, and the third strap contains a single loop for securing the head of the carcass.

Abstract: This invention relates to an arrangement of a plurality of individual, closed sausage suspension loops, which are held beside each other by a belt, so that from each side of the belt a partial loop protrudes, where the first partial loop is designed for being inserted in a closing member for the end of the sausage, and in the second partial loop a smoking skewer or the like can be introduced, and which is characterized in that the sausage suspension loops (14) of uniform and flat shape consist of an elastic plastic material in the form of a strand and are dimensionally stable, and that the first partial loop (22) comprises two mutually parallel portions (24, 26) of the plastic strand, which are connected with each other by a vertically extending transverse portion (28) of the plastic strand.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for processing poultry suspended from their legs and includes a processing device and a positioning brace provided for engagement between the legs of the poultry. A plate section is mounted onto the positioning brace which will engage the tail of the poultry and which is pivotable relative to the positioning brace around a horizontal pivot axis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pair of fish-holding tongs, designed to be a practical tool for sport fishermen to immobilize their catch. The pair of fish-holding tongs of the present invention is fabricated of a metallic or plastic material, comprising components shown in the attached FIGS. 1 to 8. The inventor arrived at the present invention after observing that many sport fishermen hold their catch with their hands and that the struggling fish, particularly those equipped with sharp spines for defense purposes and those capable of fighting fiercely, such as ray, tiger fish and sea eel, can cause painful hand injuries. Specifically, the pair of fish-holding tongs is designed so that fish of different shapes can be immobilized easily from different angles, thereby preventing the struggling fish from escaping or injuring the hands of the sport fisherman.

Abstract: A tool 15 for clamping and hand holding of a head 16 of a fish 17 while its body 19 is skinned. A pair of handles 21, 22 in tool 15 are manually manipulated to provide a pivotal action for prongs 31, 32 mounted on extensions members 25, 26, respectively, to the handles 21, 22, piercing the head 16. The single prong 32 and the prongs 31 grip the head 16 while skinning of the fish's body 17 proceeds after cutting a line 46 behind its head 16. Bosses 37, 38 are provided in the handles 21, 22, respectively, engaging one another in a full closure mode for the tool 15. A pocket 40 is provided in handle 22 for seating of a portion 39 of handle 21 adjacent a pivotal assembly 23 for handles, extensions, and prongs, the bosses 37, 38 in alignment with one another for cooperative engagement to limit pivotal action of the tool 15 to its closed mode.

Abstract: A bait cutting board with a cutout portion on its perimeter to allow attachment of the bait cutting board to a cleat on a boat. An adjustable brace closes across the cutout portion to securely attach the bait cutting board to the boat cleat so that a portion of the bait cutting board may be suspended over water during use. Shims attached to the lower surface of the bait cutting board engage the boat and level the working surface of the bait cutting board. In its preferred embodiment a rail, which is supported by rail posts, is positioned around the perimeter of the bait cutting board to keep desirable parts of the bait from falling off the working surface of the bait cutting board, while at the same time allowing undesirable parts of the bait to be easily swept under the rail and into the water below. The rail may be omitted from the near edge of the perimeter to provide a user with easier access to the working surface of the bait cutting board.

Abstract: A clamp for safely opening oysters and the other molluscs. It works as a pincer to trap an oyster to be pryed open. The clamp consists of two half-shells, hinged together at their rear ends to a closed position forming an oyster receiving enclosure opened at the front to expose the oyster. The bottom half shell is larger than the top half shell so as to receive the latter and thus vary the size of the enclosure to trap oysters of different sizes. The front edge position of the two half shells form outward ribs serving as a hand shield for the users hand, which presses onto the half shells to trap an oyster and hold it firmly while the other hand uses an oyster knife to pry it open.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the humane slaughter and processing of ratites, including but not limited to, ostrich and emu, which are generally very large, heavy, and hostile animals, on a mass scale while preserving the quality of body parts during removal. The method envisions transporting the ratites from station to station within a facility via a rail system and cradle. The cradle is provided for holding the ratite during the processing of body parts and for permitting movement of the ratite through the various stations. The processing methodology of the preferred embodiment comprises the following steps. First, each ratite is rendered unconscious by an electrical discharge to the ratite body. The ratites are hung in an inverted position on the rail system. The ratites are then killed by lacerating the arteries in the neck and also the windpipe. The head of each ratite is removed and useful parts are extracted. Next, each ratite is de-feathered and skinned so that the hide is not damaged during removal.

Abstract: A carcass holding fixture for transporting, locating and securely stabilizing a carcass relative to the fixture while the fixture is moving and processing operations are carried out on the carcass has a pair of hip stabilizing arms that squeeze inwardly against opposite sides of the carcass and upwardly against the hips as the carcass is clamped into processing position. When the stabilizing arms are fully closed, the carcass is clamped up against a straddle bar on the fixture. Simultaneously, a shoulder stabilizing yoke adjacent the neck portion of the carcass has raised up into firm engagement with the shoulders of the carcass to eliminate the possibility of significant movement of the trunk portion of the carcass. Once the processing operations are complete, the hip stabilizing arms swing away from the carcass and the shoulder stabilizing yoke moves to a lower position whereby to completely release the carcass and allow it to be separated from the holding fixture and moved to the next processing station.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an elongated bar which is trough-shaped having side walls, at least one of which has a foodstuff securement arrangement such as slots placed therethrough, or a foldable panel attached thereto, so as to hold a foodstuff such as the tail of a shrimp securely therein. The elongated bar may also have a cover and end walls which all act to help enclose the secured portion of the foodstuff (shrimp) from any food processing operation.

Abstract: A scallop hanger setting apparatus according to the present invention contains a transport mechanism for transporting a pair of horizontally seated scallops, a perforating mechanism for perforating transported scallops' side-flanges and a culturing rope for through-holes, a threading mechanism for inserting a hanging wire member into the through-holes in the scallops and the culturing rope, a cutter mechanism for cutting the wire member to a predetermined length, a pressing mechanism for pressing both end portions of the cut wire member into deformation, and a driving mechanism for driving each of these mechanisms. The transport mechanism contains press levers for pressing scallops, and the press levers contain adjusting devices for adjusting press lever pressure imposed on scallops.

Abstract: A fish cleaning apparatus for use with a container having upper edge portions which defines a mouth of the container includes a platform having upper and lower surfaces and an opening formed in the platform. Grooves are formed in the lower surfaces of the platform adjacent to the opening for receiving the mouth of the container where the mouth of the container is inserted into the grooves and latch elements are positioned adjacent to the grooves for engaging the container and for releasably locking the mouth of the container in the grooves. Sidewalls are connected to the upper surface of the platform for containing fish debris on the platform while fish are being cleaned and pivotal second sidewalls are connected to the upper platform for use in sweeping the debris toward the opening. A removable blade device is positioned adjacent the opening for use in cleaning fish.

Abstract: A process for the mechanized suspended on smoking or cooking rods of individual sausages produced in an automatic filling installation with teardrop-shaped suspension loops fastened to their ends is characterized in that following the picking up by a first pair of conveyor elements from the discharge area of the filling pipe the teardrop-shaped suspension loops are raised up and are simultaneously flared, whereupon the flared teardrop-shaped suspension loops are picked up by a second pair of conveyor elements, are moved away over the smoking or cooking rod which is chucked at one end and finally are placed on the point provided for that purpose on the smoking or cooking rod.

Abstract: A portable game support for suspending game from a vertical support such as a post or tree, which game support includes a support frame having spaced legs for skirting the tree, a connector bar spanning the legs for engaging one side of the tree, a brace bar pivotally attached to the forward end of the support frame for adjustably engaging the tree beneath the connector bar and a V-shaped rear retainer bar adjustably secured to the legs of the support frame for engaging the opposite side of the tree and cooperating with the connector bar for maintaining the support frame on the tree at a selected height. A V-shaped front retainer may also be adjustably secured to the legs adjacent to the connector bar and overlapping the rear retainer for engaging the tree under circumstances where the tree upon which the portable game support is mounted is relatively small in diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for beheading fish comprises a supporting plate 10, a cover plate 12, and a fluid bag 13 with a fluid inlet 14. The apparatus is open at both ends, and the fish is placed with the head free. Fluid under pressure is thereafter introduced through the inlet 14 into the fluid bag 13 which is thereby inflated to the shape as shown. As the bag is resilient, but is confined between the fish and the supporting plate 10 and the cover plate 12, respectively, the fish will thereby be seized between the bag and the supporting plate. An extremely effective and firm mechanical seizure of the fish is thereby achieved, even under moist, slimy or slippery conditions likely to prevail where fish are being processed. When the fish is seized by an appropriate pressure in the fluid bag 13, it is held so firmly that the head can be torn off.

Abstract: A holding device for holding gutted poultry carcasses or parts thereof for the purpose of processing during such treatment comprises a support body having a saddle horn, onto which body the poultry carcass, which is present in the shape of front halves or breast caps can be pushed. A clamping device, which can be activated manually or by means of the advance movement of the holding device brings about a secure holding by clamping the corpus sterni in its region between the coracoids by means of a clamping lever. This clamping lever is in an opening position during the loading action so as not to impede the latter.

Abstract: To provide an improved meat hook for piercing and moving meat, the meat hook comprises: (1) a rigid, curved cylinder having a pointed meat piercing end; (2) a handle engaging end; and (3) a handle rigidly secured to the handle engaging end of the cylinder with the cylinder extending from the front side of the handle near one end at an angle of approximately 90 degrees or more. The cylinder is formed with an inclined portion extending from the handle engaging end with a curved end section extending from the inclined portion and relatively straight portion extending from the curved end section to form a pointed, piercing end. The piercing end is preferably in prallel, spaced relation from the front side of the handle and may be formed to extend beyond a plane which passes through the end of the handle.

Abstract: Automatic front leg cutter in a slaughtering transport line 1 <FIG. 2> where the touch of the last hind leg and the transport hook 12 on the sensitive antenna arms 10 and 11 activate two lifting arms 4 to lift up the front legs of the animal and a plate 5 for raising them into a position where the two holders 6 fall down and fix the legs while the cutters 7 cut of the front legs of the animal.