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. The egg-receiving container members are then pivoted away from one another, by finger pressure applied to the egg-confining members. The eggshell then parts along the separation line, allowing the contents to be poured out. Because the eggshell parts neatly along the separation line, shell fragments do not tend to become mixed with the contents of the shell.
1. A tool for breaking and opening an egg comprising contents in a shell, comprising:
a pair of complementary concave egg-receiving container members pivoted to one another at a first axis extending transverse to an egg-receiving cavity defined by said pair of complementary concave members, said complementary concave egg-receiving container members each having a mating edge, such that said mating edges are juxtaposed to one another when said complementary concave egg-receiving container members are pivoted toward one another about said first axis to define an egg-receiving configuration, and wherein said complementary concave egg-receiving container members can be pivoted away from one another about said first axis so to separate said mating edges from one another to define an egg-opening configuration,
one or more egg-piercing members extending from an inner surface of each of the respective complementary concave egg-receiving container members toward the central axis of an egg when received by the egg-receiving cavity defined by said complementary concave members,
a pair of concave egg-confining members each pivoted to one of said complementary concave egg-receiving container members at a respective axis parallel to said first axis and spaced from said mating edges thereof, such that said egg-confining members can be pivoted toward one another in order to confine an egg between them and within said egg-receiving cavity defined by said complementary egg-receiving container, members when in said egg-receiving configuration, and such that said concave egg-confining members can be pivoted away from the respective ones of said complementary concave egg-receiving container members in order to allow an egg to be placed between said complementary concave egg-receiving container members or withdrawn therefrom,
whereby in order to break an egg the egg is placed in said egg-receiving cavity between said complementary egg-receiving container members when in said egg-receiving configuration, said egg-confining members are pivoted toward one another so as to confine the egg, and the assembly of the tool and egg are rapped against a hard surface, so that said egg-piercing points pierce the shell of the egg and define a separation line, and
whereby in order to open the egg and allow the contents of the egg to be poured out of the shell, the complementary egg-receiving container members are pivoted away from one another about said first axis, such that their mating edges are spaced from one another, separating the shell along a separation line defined by the relative location of said egg-piercing points, and allowing the contents of the shell to be poured out.
2. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a loop member extending over said egg-receiving cavity defined by said complementary concave egg-receiving container members and pivoted thereto at said first axis.
3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said egg confining members are formed to comprise concave outer gripping surfaces to receive the fingertips of a user, while said loop bears against the inner surface of the user's hand, so as to pivot said complementary egg-receiving container members away from one another about said first axis and open the egg.
4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said egg-piercing points are disposed along said mating edges of said complementary egg-receiving container members.
5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein said egg-piercing points are substantially aligned with one another when said complementary egg-receiving container members are disposed in said egg-receiving configuration, whereby when an egg is cracked by said egg-piercing points a substantially circumferential parting line is established around the shell of said egg.
6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein at least one spring is provided to bias the complementary egg-receiving container members away from one another.
7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein two said springs are provided, each of said springs being a hairpin spring comprising a loop retained at the pivot point defining said first axis about which said complementary egg-receiving container members pivot with respect to one another.
8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said concave egg-confining members comprise resilient fingers adapted to allow eggs of differing sizes to be securely retained in said egg-receiving cavity.