Shellfish shucking knife

Abstract

Present embodiments relate to a shellfish shucking knife preferably having multiple blades, including at least a hinge blade and a muscle-cutting blade.

1 . A shellfish shucking knife comprising:
 an elongated handle sized to fit in a user's hand; and   an elongated blade connected to the elongated handle, the elongated handle and the elongated blade having an axis,   wherein the elongated blade includes:
 a proximal end adjacent the elongated handle and a distal end, 
 a cutting edge and a non-dominant hand edge opposite the cutting edge, 
 a hinge blade extending from the cutting edge generally orthogonal to the axis, 
 a primary muscle blade along the cutting edge, distal to the hinge blade, 
 a secondary muscle blade along the non-dominant hand edge, and 
 a side shucking blade at the distal end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle comprises two mirror image parts that are secured together with a portion of the elongated blade therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated handle includes a power grip pad, a thumb pad, and a finger guard, the finger guard adjacent the proximal end of the elongated blade. 
     
     
         4 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the finger guard is configured to form a kick stand. 
     
     
         5 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends from the cutting edge at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 135 degrees relative to the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends from the cutting edge at a distance of about 10 mm to about 65 mm above the elongated handle. 
     
     
         7 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends from the cutting edge at a distance of about 35 mm above the elongated handle. 
     
     
         8 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends about 4 mm to about 25 mm from the axis. 
     
     
         9 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends about 13 mm from the axis. 
     
     
         10 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends about 2.25 mm to about 6.5 mm along the cutting edge. 
     
     
         11 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade extends about 3.5 mm along the cutting edge. 
     
     
         12 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade has a thickness of about 0.4 mm to about 2.25 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge blade has a thickness of about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the primary muscle blade has a length of about 25 mm to about 75 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the primary muscle blade has a length of about 60 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the side shucking blade is formed where the primary muscle blade and the secondary muscle blade meet. 
     
     
         17 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the side shucking blade has a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 0.75 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the side shucking blade has a thickness of about 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the side shucking blade has a half circle shape. 
     
     
         20 . The shellfish shucking knife of  claim 1 , wherein the side shucking blade has an elliptical, parabolic, or oval shape.