Apparatus and Methods for Splitting a Pomegranate Apart

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for splitting apart a pomegranate fruit employ a pair of elongated splitting levers and a pivoting connecting mechanism, carried on the pair of elongated levers. Each one of the elongated levers has a penetrating end and a shape configured to enable the pair of elongated levers to be arranged in a substantially closed configuration in contact or contiguous lengthways with one another to form a penetrating structure to enable the elongated levers to be at least partially inserted into a pomegranate. The elongated splitting levers are hingedly connectable at the penetrating ends by the pivoting connecting mechanism which is configured to outwardly pivot the elongated splitting levers from the substantially closed configuration into a substantially open configuration in response to forcing the elongated splitting levers apart about a fulcrum.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pomegranate splitting apparatus:
 a pair of elongated splitting levers; wherein each one of said elongated splitting levers has a penetrating end; and   a pivoting connecting mechanism, carried on said pair of elongated levers;   wherein each one of said of elongated levers has a shape configured to enable the pair of elongated levers to be arranged in a substantially closed configuration in contact or contiguous lengthways with one another to form a penetrating structure to enable the elongated splitting levers to be at least partially inserted into a pomegranate;   wherein said elongated splitting levers are hingedly connectable at the penetrating ends by said pivoting connecting mechanism; said pivoting connecting mechanism defining a fulcrum about which said elongated levers pivot;   wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is configured to outwardly pivot said elongated splitting levers from said substantially closed configuration into a substantially open configuration in response to spreading said elongated splitting levers apart about said fulcrum such that, when said elongated splitting levers are at least partially inserted into said pomegranate in said closed substantially closed configuration, forcing apart said elongated levers to said substantially open configuration gently splits a rind of the pomegranate apart to expose intact arils within the pomegranate.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pivotally connecting mechanism comprises:
 an open ended side notch or slot positioned in the penetrating end of one of said elongated splitting levers; and   another opened ended side notch or slot located in an opposing position of the other of said elongated splitting levers; said side notches or slots being slidably engage able together to hingedly interconnect said penetrating ends together.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of elongated splitting levers comprises stamped sheet metal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of elongated splitting levers comprises knives, and wherein each of one of said knives has a serration or knife edge on the side of the penetrating end of said knife. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of elongated splitting levers each comprises an outwardly extending perpendicular fin located near said pivotally connecting mechanism to help gently split the rind of the pomegranate apart. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each one of said elongated splitting levers comprises a handle portion remote from said penetrating end such that, when said levers are at least partially inserted into said pomegranate, said handle portions protrude outwardly from said pomegranate; and
 wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is further configured to outwardly pivot said elongated splitting levers into said open configuration in response to manually pulling apart said handle portions.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for splitting apart a pomegranate comprising:
 a plurality of elongated splitting levers; wherein each one of said plurality of elongated splitting levers has a penetrating end; and   a pivoting connecting mechanism for hingedly interconnecting said plurality of elongated splitting levers at said penetrating ends, said pivoting connecting mechanism defining a fulcrum about which said elongated levers pivot;   wherein each one of said plurality of elongated levers has a shape configured to enable the plurality of elongated levers to be arranged in a substantially closed configuration in contact or contiguous lengthways with one another to form a penetrating structure to enable said plurality of elongated levers to be at least partially inserted into the pomegranate; and   wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is configured to outwardly pivot said plurality of elongated splitting levers from said substantially closed configuration into a substantially open configuration in response to spreading apart said elongated splitting levers such that, when said elongated splitting levers are at least partially inserted into said pomegranate in said closed configuration, forcing apart said elongated levers to said substantially open configuration gently splits a rind of the pomegranate apart to expose intact arils within the pomegranate.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said pivoting mechanism comprises
 a male component and a female component carried at the penetrating end on each one of said four elongated levers;   wherein said male component of one of said elongated levers is configured to be received by a female component of a next adjacent one of said elongated levers placed in contact or contiguous with said one of said elongated levers;   wherein said female component of said one of said elongated levers is configured to be received by a male component of a previous adjacent one of said elongated levers in contact or contiguous with said one of said elongated levers.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of elongated splitting levers comprises four elongated levers. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 ,
 wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is further configured to outwardly pivot a first directly adjacent pair of said elongated levers outwardly in a substantially closed configuration from a second directly adjacent pair of said elongated levers in a substantially closed configuration in response to forcing pulling apart said first pair of elaborated levers from said second pair of elongated levers;   wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is further configured to outwardly pivot apart said first pair of said elongated levers from one another in response to forcing apart said first pair of elongated levers;   wherein said pivoting connecting mechanism is further configured to outwardly pivot apart said second pair of said elongated levers from one another in response to forcing apart said second pair of elongated levers;   whereby, when said plurality of elongated splitting levers arranged in said substantially closed configuration are at least partially inserted into said pomegranate, forcing apart said first pair of elongated levers from said second pair of elongated levers gently splits a rind of the pomegranate apart to expose intact arils within the pomegranate; and forcing apart said first pair of elongated levers from one another and forcing apart said second pair of elongated levers from one another gently further splits the rind into quarters further to expose intact arils within said pomegranate.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each one of said elongated levers has a first and second longitudinal sidewalls, wherein said first and second longitudinal sidewalls are substantially perpendicular such said each one of said elongated levers has an L shaped cross section and such that said four elongated levers can be arranged in contact or contiguous lengthways with one another to form a penetrating structure having a + cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said pivoting mechanism comprises
 a transversely extending male cylindrical shaped component carried on a penetrating end of each one of said first longitudinal sidewalls; and a transversely extending female grove carried on the penetrating end of each one of said second longitudinal sidewalls;   wherein said male cylindrical component of one of said elongated levers is received by a female component of a next adjacent one of said elongated levers arranged in contact or contiguous lengthways with said one of said elongated levers;   wherein said female component of said one of said elongated levers is received by a male cylindrical component of a previous adjacent one of said elongated levers arranged lengthways in contact or contiguous with said one of said elongated levers.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each one of said elongated levers comprises a sheet metal elongated lever;
 wherein said first and second longitudinal walls of each of said levers comprise sheet metal folded along a longitudinal axis at substantially 90 degrees;   wherein said male cylindrical component of each one of the levers comprises the bottom end of the first longitudinal wall rolled in on itself; and   wherein said female groove of each one of the levers comprises a groove or bend formed in the bottom end of the second longitudinal wall.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said bottom end of said second longitudinal wall of each one of said levers further comprises a penetrating protrusion extending downwardly from said groove or bend. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one magnet carried on each one of said elongated levers for helping align said adjacent splitting levers together in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said elongated levers are configured to be manually forcible apart from said substantially closed configuration to said substantially open configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A method for splitting a pomegranate apart comprising
 arranging a plurality of elongated splitting levers together in a substantially closed configuration in which the elongated levers are in contact or contiguous lengthways with one another and in which penetrating ends of the levers are pivotally interconnected to form a penetrating structure;   with said elongated splitting levers in said substantially closed configuration, inserting the pivotally interconnected penetrating ends into a pomegranate to penetrate the pomegranate;   driving the elongated levers through the pomegranate; and   forcing apart the levers about a fulcrum of said interconnected levers to open outwardly and gently split the rind of the pomegranate apart to expose the intact arils within the pomegranate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 wherein arranging a plurality of elongated splitting levers together in a substantially closed configuration further comprises hingedly interconnecting said plurality of elongated splitting levers together at the penetrating ends using a pivoting mechanism.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 hingedly disconnecting said plurality of elongated splitting levers at said penetrating ends, after use.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of elongated levers comprises four elongated levers; and
 wherien forcing apart said levers to open outwardly and gently split the rind of the pomegranate apart to expose the intact arils within the pomegranate comprises forcing apart a first pair of the elongated levers from a second pair of the elongated levers to gently split the rind in half, and forcing apart the first pair of elongated levers and second pair of elongated levers to split the rind into quarters.