Abstract: An oyster clamp comprising a base element having an indentation for receiving an oyster to be opened. A lip coupled to the base element hangs over and impinges upon an edge of a work surface on which the oyster clamp is placed, and a plurality of rubber feet are coupled to the underside of the base element. A backstop is affixed to the base element to prevent the oyster from exiting the back of the oyster clamp when in use. An oyster clamping element is operatively coupled to a handle and to the base element, such that operating the handle causes the clamping element to push the oyster down against the base element.

Abstract: At present there's no universally adopted Handheld Portable Oyster Opener available to consumers. The Oyster Opener described herein is simple, quick and ultra-safe to operate. It's lightweight, robust, inexpensive, portable and handheld. It can be leveled in use to prevent unwanted loss of Oyster Liquor. This caulk gun style Oyster Opener can be easily carried and used by anyone regardless of their strength or dexterity. It can be used at home and passed around at outings for the safe, simple opening of oysters, large or small. Its intuitive ergonomic design and the synergistic integration of its lightweight functional elements allow a user to rapidly load, ideally position, firmly secure and effectively leverage an oyster open in a safe, regulated and controllably nuanced manner while keeping the oyster level. It allows the cutting of adductor muscles and removal of the top shell while an oyster is in the device.

Abstract: At present there's no universally adopted Handheld Portable Oyster Opener available to consumers. The Oyster Opener described herein is simple, quick and ultra-safe to operate. It's lightweight, robust, inexpensive, portable and handheld. It can be leveled in use to prevent unwanted loss of Oyster Liquor. This caulk gun style Oyster Opener can be easily carried and used by anyone regardless of their strength or dexterity. It can be used at home and passed around at outings for the safe, simple opening of oysters, large or small. Its intuitive ergonomic design and the synergistic integration of its lightweight functional elements allow a user to rapidly load, ideally position, firmly secure and effectively leverage an oyster open in a safe, regulated and controllably nuanced manner while keeping the oyster level. It allows the cutting of adductor muscles and removal of the top shell while an oyster is in the device.

Abstract: An inexpensive one-piece molded apparatus for holding shellfish during the shellfish-opening process that provides reliable and safe shellfish holding capacity along with substantially increased convenience of use in a design with extremely low cost of individual production. The device is steadied onto a flat horizontal or vertical surface by hand or by connectors such as screws. A person places a shellfish into the invention and uses a knife or other similarly shaped sharp object to open the shellfish. The invention comprises a base supporting a shellfish resting area with securing ridges and liquor drainage holes. Embodiments include securing flanges and flushing holes.

Abstract: A system for opening bivalves employing pivot action to drive a sharp stainless steel knife blade through a shellfish is provided. Key components are the knife blade which is securely connected to a pivot shaft that is anchored in two pivot support posts. The cutting support board, which functions as the base, has raised walls, a raised central section to support each bivalve and a spout in front of the pivot shaft to pour off collected fluids from the opened shellfish. For stability and ease of positioning of the system short feet are attached at the four corners and one in the center of the support base.

Abstract: A handheld oyster and clam opener includes a pair of cooperating pivotal members. One member includes a handle and a curved toothed portion to hold a clam or oyster in position at one end. The opposing member includes a handle and a knife-like wedge along which a protruding wedge is slidable. The protruding wedge is used to open oysters and is moved to one end to open clams with the knife-like wedge both operations requiring a single stroke. A scoop mounted to the toothed portion is used to remove the clam or oyster from the shell.

Abstract: A shucking tool having a leveraging blade extending from a handle, wherein the leveraging blade is non-planar and has an end portion angularly or curvedly joined to a base portion by a junction, such that a bivalve shellfish can be opened at the hinge with a pivoting, leveraging motion rather than by linearly jamming a flat straight blade into the hinge. Preferably, a straight blade extends from the handle opposite from the leveraging blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for opening bivalve shellfish, particularly oysters. It comprises: a base (1) consisting of a longitudinal cradle having a first end (1a) comprising a stop (10) and a second end (1b) comprising first reaction means, it being possible to place, a shellfish (2) between said two ends (1a, 1b) such that it bears against said stop (10); and perforating means (3) comprising a longitudinal blade (4) having a first pointed end and drive means for translational movement of said blade (4), said drive means comprising second reaction means (5a).

Abstract: A shellfish cutting utensil which has first and second elongated members pivotally connected together, each of the members having a jaw and a handle, one of the jaws having a recess or notch formed on an edge thereof and having a cutting edge. The cutting edge formed on the notch or recess can be utilized with a cutting edge on the other member in a scissors like movement for opening the shell of a shellfish.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bivalve shellfish opening knife, including: a handle portion; a blade portion, having front and rear edges, extending from one end of the handle portion; a rear blade edge guard hingedly attached to the blade portion near a proximal end thereof in proximity to a proximal end of the handle portion; and the rear blade edge guard having defined therein a channel sized to accommodate therein the rear edge of the blade portion when the rear blade edge guard is rotated against the blade portion.

Abstract: A shell seafood cracking and serving device for cracking shell seafood with little mess and effort by the user. The shell seafood cracking and serving device includes a utensil having a handle member and a seafood cracking member being securely attached at an end of the handle member.

Abstract: A shellfish cutting utensil which has first and second elongated members pivotally connected together, each of the members having a jaw and a handle, one of the jaws having a recess or notch formed on an edge thereof and having a cutting edge. The cutting edge formed on the notch or recess can be utilized with a cutting edge on the other member in a scissors like movement for opening the shell of a shellfish.

Abstract: A pair of scissors for cutting shellfish cleanly and shielding airborne matter created thereby from contacting a user. The pair of scissors include a stationary blade body, a moving blade body, and a shield. The moving blade body is pivotally attached to the stationary blade body and forms therewith a scissor-like device for cutting the shellfish. The shield shields the airborne matter created by cutting the shellfish from contacting the user, and is replaceably disposed on the moving blade body which allows the shield to be removed and washed.

Abstract: A crawfish shelling tool including a handle, and a wire extending outwardly from one end of the handle. The wire has a generally U-shaped configuration. A closed end of the U-shaped configuration is opposite the handle. The wire is a high-tensile strength steel wire having a diameter of no more than 1/32 of an inch. The wire has a first side extending outwardly from an end of the handle, and a second side extending outwardly from the end of the handle. The second side is in coplanar relationship with the first side. The closed end is a curved end which connects an end of the first side with an end of the second side. The curved end forms an approximately 180.degree. curve. The first side and the second side taper inwardly toward the curved end.

Abstract: A utensil for cracking the shells of crabs, lobsters, and other shellfish. A pair of handles are pivotally connected, each handle having a jaw with a tapered cutting edge for cracking the shells without severing the meat which the shells contain. The handles are bent in such a way as to prevent complete closure of the jaws, so that the shell is cracked while leaving the meat of the shellfish intact. This construction also facilitates using the bent ends of the handles for extracting the meat from the cracked shell. For this purpose the bent ends of the handles are bevelled, and taper from wide to narrow in a direction away from their jaws and toward their free ends. When the crab cracker is ready for storage, the bent handles are locked by forcing them apart and placing them in a parallel position. This enables the crab cracker to be easily and neatly stored in a minimum of space.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of a new and useful improvement in fish dressing tools, which has as its prime objective a means whereby a fish may be quickly and efficiently dressed, having its skin and entrails removed. The device has two rounded tines, the sharpened ends of which are usefully engaged with the spine of the catfish that is to be cleaned after the body of said fish has been cut by a bladed instrument. Thereafter, force is applied to the skinning device in a pulling manner, typically in a direction corresponding to the long axis of said fish, and away from the cuts made so as facilitate the snapping of the spinal column and thereafter the cleaning of the fish, the skinner device firmly engaging the spinal column of the body of the fish during said pulling movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cracking a crab or other similar shellfish. In this regard, the present invention provides a method for simultaneously removing the legs, pincers and back shell of the crab, comprising placing the shellfish on a surface with the back shell on the surface. Then, a tool having a curved surface is placed along one side of the shellfish adjacent the juncture of the crab body and the crab legs and pincers and over the edge of the back shell. A strong force is then exerted on the tool sufficient to sever the legs and pincers from the body and generally loosen the back shell. The above steps are then repeated on the other side of the crab so as to sever the remaining legs and pincers and further loosen the back shell.

Abstract: A conch extraction tool for removing a conch from its shell. The tool is generally comprised of a flat helically shaped spring like material which is inserted near the foot of the conch and gently twisted into the shell and manipulated therein to disconnect the band that connects the conch to the shell thereby allowing the conch to be removed without damage to the shell or conch.

Abstract: A knife which is used to open shells of oysters and shellfish having a blade which extends from a handle having a void therein, wherein the blade has a relatively flat bottom surface which joins a top surface at a point opposite said handle, and the top surface has a convex shape which forms a point along the edge thereof.

Abstract: A nipper tool to remove a peripheral portion of the lip of a bivalve mollusk shell, and especially the shell of an oyster, to aid opening with a shucking knife provides a peripherally defined angulated handle structurally interconnecting a peripherally defined cylindrical nipping body. The nipping body defines an insertion notch in its lower forward portion distal from the handle to provide access to the nipping body chamber which slidably carries a nipper plunger with depending nipper blade to nip the lip of an oyster in the insertion notch. The nipper plunger is biased downwardly in the nipper body chamber by a compression spring and movable against this bias by a bell crank extending into the handle structure. A first manually operated species provides a pivotally movable lever adjacent the handle, with linkage to the bell crank to move the nipper plunger against its bias and release it to nip an oyster shell lip.