Abstract: An assembly for supporting trellis wires on a typical metal post includes a wire clip having opposed trellis wire support arms, each comprised of a portion of the wire extending laterally and including a distal portion bent back over the lateral portion to define an acute angle therewith. A medial portion joining the two wire support arms consists of a V-shaped configuration extending in a lateral plane. The apex of the V shape impinges on one edge of the cross-web of the post, and one leg of the V extends between two fence post spines. A cam over wire lock secures the wire clip to the post, and is comprised of a web having tapered opposed ends. A hole is disposed in one end of the web, and an R-shaped camming slot is formed in a second, opposed end of the wire lock. One end of the trellis wire support clip is passed through the hole in the cam over wire lock, and the wire lock is positioned to extend between the opposed wire support arms.

Abstract: A temperature indicator (10) including an elongated piece of tubing (12), a top cap (14), a bottom tip (16), a first media (22) with a first melting point, and a second solid media (24) with a second melting point. Mixing of the first and second media (22, 24) produces a color change within the tubing, which is noticeable at the top end of the indicator, which in use is sticking out of the food product.

Abstract: A pop-up thermometer having an elongate housing formed with a longitudinally extending bore, a plurality of internal neck regions, and a plurality of internal cavities. The neck regions each having a minimum diameter portion and a neck locking surface extending outwardly from the minimum diameter portion of the neck. An indicator rod slidably disposed in the bore of the housing includes at least one stem stretch having a diameter less than the remainder of the bore and a stem locking surface extending outwardly from said stem stretch. A fusible material fills the internal cavities. When the fusible material is in solid form, the neck locking surface exerts a substantially downward directed force on said stem locking surface on the rod to resist upward movement of the rod relative to the housing.

Abstract: A timer for poultry and other products comprises a barrel having a closed end and an open end surrounded by an external flange. Within the barrel is a stem which is spring-based upwardly but held in the barrel by an alloy or organic material which releases the stem at a pre-determined cooking temperature. In the past there has been a tendency for the stem to move upwardly ("creep") before the pre-determined cooking temperature is reached. The present invention applies an adhesive to the top of the external barrel flange and the bottom of a flange on the upper end of the stem to prevent creep and also to obstruct entry of juices into the barrel. Alternatively an accelerator for said adhesive is applied to said external barrel flange to shorten the time for curing said adhesive.

Abstract: A poultry trussing device (25) is provided having a protective cap (30) which holds together the exposed hocks. The protective cap (30) forms a substantially smooth three-dimensional continuous surface (31-34) which grips and covers the hocks. The cap (30) is connected to an anchor (50) which is removably attached to the side portion of the backbone of the carcass.

Abstract: A pop-up thermometer having an elongate housing formed with a longitudinally extending bore, first and second internal neck regions, a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity. An indicator rod slidably disposed in the cavity includes a front end portion, a first stem stretch extending from the front end portion and terminating in a raised portion, a second stem stretch extending from the raised portion and a rear end portion spaced from the front end portion. The front end portion and the first stem stretch are positioned in the first internal cavity while the second stem stretch is positioned in the second internal cavity. The first stem stretch has a lesser cross sectional diameter than the front end portion of the rod. A fusible material substantially fills the first internal cavity, engaging the front end portion and at least a portion of the first stem stretch to retain the indicator rod in the housing.

Abstract: A retainer for poultry hocks is formed as a ring of a thin unitary plastic material, such as nylon. The ring has hinged flaps extending inward from opposite sides thereof. Poultry hocks inserted through the ring cause the flaps to bend outward and then partially retract backward so that the edges of the flaps engage behind the hock knuckles, holding the thighs close to the body of the fowl. Preferably, either the ring or the flaps are cut away to increase the length of the hinge area. In a modification, legs extending away from the ring define an opening into which the tail of the poultry may be inserted.

Abstract: A retainer for use with a body of eviscerated fowl having first and second legs with respective hocks. The retainer includes a unitary substantially planar thin plastic member which mounts about the hocks. The thin plastic member has an outer portion defining an opening which is elongated and of sufficient size to receive the legs. A plurality of protuberances integral with the outer portion extend inwardly into the opening for engaging the legs so as to hold the legs in a position extending perpendicular to the thin plastic member substantially parallel to each other when the thin plastic member is mounted about the hocks.

Abstract: A support structure for storing a plurality of retainers each used with a body of eviscerated fowl having first and second legs with respective severed extremities. Each retainer is a substantially planar thin member mountable about the severed extremities. The thin member has an outer portion which defines an opening sized to receive the legs and a plurality of protuberances which extend inwardly from the outer portion into the opening for engaging the legs. The support structure comprises an elongate member having at least one longitudinally-extending bend connecting first and second longitudinally-extending sections with first and second edges so as to be substantially V-shaped in cross-section. The cross-section of the elongate member is sized to extend through the opening in the thin member. The bend in the elongate member is adapted to engage the outer portion of the thin member between adjacent protuberances.

Abstract: A fastener for securing meat to a rotisserie spit. The fastener includes a thin elongate strap made from flexible plastic. The thin elongate strap has first and second end portions and a central portion extending between the end portions. The central portion has a large transverse dimension to provide a surface with a significant area for engaging the meat. The end portions cooperatively interengage for quickly securing the end portions together to retain the meat on the rotisserie spit during cooking. The surface with a significant area inhibits the central portion from embedding in the meat during cooking.

Abstract: An indicator is disclosed for providing an indication that a food item has attained a predetermined temperature. The indicator comprises a barrel having a cavity wherein a plunger is disposed in a retracted position using a retaining material. The retaining material melts when a predetermined temperature is reached releasing the plunger towards an extended position. The retaining material comprises (1) a fatty ketone and (2) at least one other organic compound selected from the group consisting of fatty amides and fatty anilides.

Abstract: A retainer for use with a body of eviscerated poultry having legs with hocks. The retainer comprises a unitary substantially coplanar thin plastic member adapted for mounting about the hocks. The plastic member has an outer portion defining an opening of sufficient size to permit the hocks to pass therethrough. A plurality of prong portions extend inwardly from the outer portion for engaging the legs so as to hold the hocks together in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A leg retainer for use with a half of a body of eviscerated poultry having a leg with a hock. The leg retainer comprises a unitary substantially coplanar thin plastic member which includes a first hook portion adapted for attachment to the body and a second hook portion adapted for hooking the leg. A connector joins the first hook to the second hook. The plastic member serves to pull the leg close to the body.

Abstract: A poultry hock truss for use with a body of eviscerated poultry having hocks and comprising a unitary substantially coplanar thin plastic member. The plastic member includes an anchor element adapted for attachment to the body of eviscerated poultry. A pair of side portions extend upwardly and outwardly from the anchor element and terminate in inwardly curved upper ends. An upper transverse crosspiece joins the inwardly curved upper ends of the side portions and a tab portion depends approximately from the midpoint of the upper transverse crosspiece toward the anchor element. The upper transverse crosspiece, the tab portion, the side portions and the anchor element define a generally heart-shaped opening with first and second juxtaposed lobes. The lobes of the heart-shaped opening are formed to hold the hocks together in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A retainer for attachment to the body of eviscerated poultry having a spine and hocks to hold the hocks together. The retainer includes an anchor element having an arcuate central portion and opposed hooks extending from the central portion for hooking about the spine. An apparatus is provided for holding the hocks together in juxtaposition to each other. At least one connector joins the anchor element to the holding apparatus. In the preferred embodiments, the anchor element, holding apparatus and connector are integrally formed from plastic. The anchor element is generally annular and the central portion thereof is generally planar.

Abstract: A flat, relatively rigid truss is disclosed which is useful for retaining hocks of dressed chicken hocks, which are more flexible than dressed turkey hocks, for example. A lower crosspiece has outward extending hooks which lock into the "kidney cavity" of the carcass. Outward upward slanted sides are connected by curves to a top traverse crosspiece. The upper and lower edges of the top crosspiece diverge at the center to form an opening for attachment of tags for weight, price, inspection data, cooking instructions and the like. The lower and upper crosspieces and sides define an enlarged opening to receive the hocks and tail of the chicken. The hocks fit into the insides of the curves at the intersections on the sides and top cross piece.