Abstract: Recyclable and dispensable hygienic cutlery utensil. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a handle portion and head portion. The handle portion provides suitable area for gripping and includes a chamfer on its outer edge for facilitating a predictable release from a utensil dispenser. The head portion is formed into the shape of a common cutlery utensil such as: knife with large radius, tapered knife with large radius, spoon, set of tines (fork), and spoon-fork combination, to name a few. The head portion also includes an escapement feature in its outer edge for facilitating controlled release from the bottom of a stack of utensils. The escapement feature can include a notch or predetermined release radius. Typically in use, a set of utensils is stacked, forming a cartridge which is then inserted into an automated dispensing system.

Abstract: A lid opener includes a handle and an opening mechanism extending from the handle. The opening mechanism includes at least two projection members. Each of the projection members extends from the handle at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle, and the projection members are spaced apart from each other for insertion of a lid between first and second adjacent projection members. A lid opener mount may also be included to couple the lid opener to a surface.

Abstract: Grill accessories and food preparation devices are shown and described. In one embodiment, the grill accessory is used to remove a cooking grate from a grill and retain the accessory in a resting position on a ledge or the like. The accessory may include a handle assembly having an upper handle and a lower lateral support. The accessory typically includes at least one prong extension. Further, a vertical support spaces the lateral support and the prong extension. The result is grilling systems and methods to improve grilling and food hygiene practices.

Abstract: A grill grate removal device lifts and removes grates from a grill in order to clean the grill grates. The device includes a main body. A lifting member is coupled to the main body and is configured to lift grates from a grill. The lifting member has a first portion coupled to and positioned perpendicular relative to a second portion wherein the second portion is configured for positioning perpendicularly between adjacently positioned grates such that a top end of the second portion abuts a bottom edge of the grates wherein upward force on the grates permits removal of the grates from the grill.

Abstract: A simple tool for lifting a barbecue grill is described—the grill lifter tool has a handle near its top end and a downwardly depending rod from near its center. The downwardly depending rod terminates near its bottom at a horizontal rod. The horizontal rod is thin enough to fit down between and below the space between adjacent grill bars. Near the top of the downwardly depending rod there is a first washer around and welded to the rod. Near the bottom of the downwardly depending rod, there is a second washer movably resting on the top of the horizontal rod, and held in place by a partially compressed spring constrained between the first top washer and the second bottom washer. The second bottom washer is large enough to not fit down into the space between the grill bars.

Abstract: A lid support device and method for supporting a container lid for a container. The lid support device features a handle connected to a fan shaped lid rest. The lid rest comprises a clip. The clip extends through the container and the container lid to secure the device to the container lid and the container. The handle height is adjustable so that the handle and lid rest support the container lid when it is not covering the container. The device features a base that is the mirror image shape of the lid rest.

Abstract: A grilling implement and method of use thereof, the grilling implement comprising at least one hook having a tip, a shaft and a heel. The shaft and heel lie coplanar, and the tip curves upward out of the plane of the shaft and heel such that the hook can be passed under the tines of a grill grate, and the tip thereof maneuvered over the grill tines to securely hold the grate. The grilling implement further comprises at least one bar lying coplanar with the heel and shaft of the hook, wherein the bar supports the grill grate when rotated under the tines of the grate. The grilling implement can also be utilized to maneuver charcoal briquettes or break apart natural charcoal logs.

Abstract: A device for grasping and lifting a lid handle of a vessel, such as a Dutch oven. The device securely attaches to the lid of a vessel due to a spring-like mechanism that acts in conjunction with two elongated rods. A grasping structure, such as a hook, is attached to one end of a longer rod and a cooperating stabilizing structure is connected to the end of a shorter rod. Both rods have handles for squeezing by the user. When the user squeezes the handles of the rods, the lid handle can be engaged with the hook. When the user releases the handles, the spring-like mechanism fully extends and pulls the hook away from the lid handle, while the stabilizing structure, such as a horseshoe, is forced firmly against the lid.

Abstract: A device for grasping and lifting a lid handle of a vessel, such as a Dutch oven. The device securely attaches to the lid of a vessel due to a spring-like mechanism that acts in conjunction with two elongated rods. A grasping structure, such as a hook, is attached to one end of a longer rod and a cooperating stabilizing structure is connected to the end of a shorter rod. Both rods have handles for squeezing by the user. When the user squeezes the handles of the rods, the lid handle can be engaged with the hook. When the user releases the handles, the spring-like mechanism fully extends and pulls the hook away from the lid handle, while the stabilizing structure, such as a horseshoe, is forced firmly against the lid.

Abstract: A compound hand held tool for use with the round pot belly type of barbeque grills that have circular grills made of heavy wire. While the primary purpose of the invention is to operate as a handle for such grills, it is also designed to be used to scrape grills to help clean them, to open and close hot air vents normally found on barbeque grills and to manipulate hot charcoal briquets. In the preferred embodiment this tool is made by machine working stainless steel and is provided with a heat resistant handle.

Abstract: A contact lens insertion and manipulation assembly has a manipulation device, an insertion device, and an enclosure cap. The manipulation device includes a manipulator bulb made of a material to which the inside concave surface of the contact lens will lightly adhere. The manipulator device allows the user to remove the contact lens from the storage container without the user touching the contact lens. The manipulator bulb is shaped to support the contact lens in its proper shape, facilitating transfer of the lens to the insertion device. The insertion device includes a suction cup capable of removably engaging the outside convex surface of the contact lens and transferring the contact lens from the manipulator bulb to the user's eye. The insertion device and the manipulation device fit within the enclosure cap for compact and protected storage to prevent contamination.

Abstract: A contact lens applicator is used in inserting a contact lens into an eye. The applicator includes a stem with a finger mount on one end for mounting the applicator on a finger, and a contact lens retainer on the other end. In use the contact lens applicator is secured on the finger of the person adjacent the fingertip by the finger mount and a contact lens is placed on the contact lens retainer. The contact lens is oriented on the retainer transverse to and offset from the finger tip. The retainer holds the contact lens in place as the finger is moved into a substantially horizontal position with the contact lens positioned forward of the fingertip and oriented vertically. This allows the contact lens to be inserted into the eye easily and without tilting the head downwards. It enables a person to hold the top and bottom eyelids open using the fingers of both hands.

Abstract: A device for handling a contact lens during insertion and removal thereof. The inventive device includes a finger mounting assembly for positioning over a finger of a human hand. A lens engaging assembly is mounted to a tip of the finger mounting assembly for engaging a contact lens. The lens engaging assembly can include a concave receiver for engaging an exterior surface of a lens and a pneumatic bulb positioned in fluid communication with the receiver for securing the lens thereto by vacuum.

Abstract: A soft contact lens pickup and insertion device (10) featuring a flat, annular terminus (16) designed to engage the apex of the convex side of a soft contact lens without deforming the lens is provided together with a hollow, rigid shank (12) and a hollow, pliable vacuum actuating bulb (14). A vacuum effect generated by compressing and releasing the bulb is communicated through the adjoining shank and out upon the contiguous terminus end in order to attract and engage a soft contact lens into a position which it may subsequently be inserted upon the cornea of a user's eye.

Abstract: A contact lens device is disclosed. The device is designed to facilitate the application of a contact lens, particularly an extended wear type contact lens, onto an eye of a wearer. The device includes an applicator preferably made of a conformable material. The applicator has a contoured surface designed to substantially engage and hold the contact lens while the wearer moves the contact lens into proximity with one of his eyes. The applicator is also sufficiently deformable to permit the contact lens to be pressed into substantial contact with the wearer's eye where the superior adhesion between the corneal surface of the eye and the contact lens removes the lens from the applicator when the applicator is pulled away by the wearer.

Abstract: A contact lens container comprising an integrally molded one-piece synthetic resin receptacle providing a well having a peripheral wall with a bottom portion, and a flange extending about the periphery of the upper end of well. The bottom portion has a generally concave inner surface for seating a contact lens thereon and is being relatively rigid. The peripheral wall of the well has an annular, resiliently deflectable inversion portion above the bottom portion, and it is invertible to position the bottom portion of the well above the plane of the flange. Pressing upwardly against the bottom portion of the well inverts the inversion portion of the well and dispose the bottom portion with the lens thereon above the plane of the flange. The receptacle is moved against the eye of the user to place the lens against the cornea and thereby cause the lens to seat thereon.

Abstract: A contact lens inserter/remover, comprising, a tubular casing having an interior chamber of a cylindrical configuration with a concave lower first end and a planar open second upper end. A fan within the chamber is adapted for rotation about an axis co-extensive with the axis of the casing and an associated motor to rotate the fan in a first direction and a second direction with an associated power source adjacent to the motor. The casing has a reduced diameter cylindrical extension at the lower first end with a plurality of apertures at the concave end for attracting or repelling a contact lens in contact therewith when the motor is energized. The casing also has air flow apertures on the side of the fan remote from the concave end. A cap is provided at the upper end of the casing with screw threads for coupling with the upper end to allow the addition or removal of the power source from the casing.

Abstract: A suction cup for a contact lens holding device in which an inner curved surface of the cup has an outer continuous wall and a projection arrangement between the continuous and a centrally located aperture provided for air suction purposes. The projection arrangement is disposed to allow for air to be withdrawn through the aperture while providing a support for a lens as suction is applied. This cup, particularly for use with soft lenses, holds the lenses in position under suction without tending to draw the lenses at their centres into the aperture which would destroy suction. The projection arrangement may be a single wall. e.g. a spiral or a plurality of projections arranged in a particular manner for supporting the lens. The invention also includes a contact lens holding device having such a suction cup and a mouthpiece is preferably provided for the user to apply suction by insertion into his mouth.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for retaining and applying a contact lens, particularly a disposable, extended-wear lens that tends to be difficult to handle and apply. The apparatus includes a base with a concave cavity that receives an applicator wand with an upper lens receptacle. A retaining member holds the lens and wand in place until the user desires to apply it. Application of the lens can be effected without touching the lens.

Abstract: A contact lens device is disclosed. The device is designed to facilitate the application of a contact lens, particularly an extended wear type contact lens, onto an eye of a wearer. The device includes an applicator preferably made of a conformable material. The applicator has a contoured surface designed to substantially engage and hold the contact lens while the wearer moves the contact lens into proximity with one of his eyes. The applicator is also sufficiently deformable to permit the contact lens to be pressed into substantial contact with the wearer's eye where the superior adhesion between the corneal surface of the eye and the contact lens removes the lens from the applicator when the applicator is pulled away by the wearer.

Abstract: The fitter-remover is comprised of a device by means of which it is possible to fit a contact lens on the user's eye and/or remove it without having to touch it with one's fingers. The device includes a body (1) with a cylindric part having a diametral notch (2), defining both legs (3) with the free ends thereof feather-edged and having a concavity (4) complementary to the convexity that the back of the corresponding lens has, body (1) which also has a flat extension opposite that cylindric part to form the handle. The device rests by means of its concave end (4) on the convex surface of the contact lens (5), the contact lens remaining adhered in order to be fit on the user's eye, while the removal is done by resting the closed legs (3) of the tweezer on the convexity of the contact lens, effecting afterwards slight pressure of the contact lens by means of transversal pressure with one's fingers, producing the detachment of the lens from one's eye.

Abstract: A contact lens insertion tool and a method of implementing the same wherein the tool comprises an elongated handle section having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces; an intermediate section angularly displaced from the handle section at an acute angle; and a lens supporting section angularly displaced from the intermediate section at a second acute angle that is greater than the first acute angle, and further including a substantially circular cross sectional land area for engaging a contact lens. The novel contact lens insertion tool is first grasped by a user who will then manipulate the tool to adhere the contact lens to the land area by means of the adhesion between the lens and the land area. Next, the user will bring the contact lens edge first to the bottom central area of the sclera of the eye into which insertion is desired, and will secure contact between the lens edge and the eye at an angle ranging from approximately 20.degree. to not greater than 90.degree..

Abstract: A concave surface for engaging and conforming to the convex side of a contact lens is provided together with partial vacuum generating structure operative to generate a slight degenerative partial vacuum at the concave surface to allow a pick up device upon which the concave surface is defined to be used to momentarily pick up and move a contact lens into close proximity to the cornea of an eye to which the contact lens is to be applied.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for retaining and applying a contact lens, particularly a disposable, extended-wear lens that tends to be difficult to handle and apply. The apparatus includes a base with a concave cavity that receives an applicator wand with an upper lens receptacle. A retaining member holds the lens and wand in place until the user desires to apply it. Application of the lens can be effected without touching the lens.

Abstract: A contact lens insertion tool and a method of implementing the same wherein the tool comprises an elongated handle section having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces; an intermediate section angularly displaced from the handle section at an acute angle; and a lens supporting section angularly displaced from the intermediate section at a second acute angle that is greater than the first acute angle, and further including a substantially circular cross sectional land area for engaging a contact lens. The novel contact lens insertion tool is first grasped by a user who will then manipulate the tool to adhere the contact lens to the land area by means of the adhesion between the lens and the land area. Next, the user will bring the contact lens edge first to the bottom central area of the sclera of the eye into which insertion is desired, and will secure contact between the lens edge and the eye at an angle ranging from approximately 20.degree. to not greater than 90.degree..

Abstract: An applicator assembly comprising a base having a handle portion and a support portion and including an applicator movably mounted or connected to the base and selectively positionable between an outwardly extending operative position wherein the lens is transferred to the eyeball, and a stored position wherein the contact lens is removably secured to the applicator and is also capable of being positioned for proper cleaning of the inside surface immediately prior to the application to the eyeball. A container is also provided for storing of the assembly wherein the cover or lid portion thereof is an eyepiece having a magnifying lens for properly viewing the contact lens when mounted on the subject applicator device for proper orientation of the lens immediately prior to placing on the eyeball.

Abstract: A process for cleaning, rinsing, storing and inserting a soft, extended wear contact lens onto one's eye, all without touching the lens with the human hand. The implements for carrying out this process include a reverser, an inserter, a holder and a storage case. The inserter has an oval portion for holding a contact lens. This oval portion is also provided with a recessed area for determining the correct profile of a lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for grasping and lifting a lid having a handle and for lifting the vessel with which the lid is associated is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly directed to use with Dutch ovens and includes two elongated rods conjoined together, one rod being adjustably coupled with the other rod, and each rod having a handle for grasping formed at one end. One rod has a hook formed at the end thereof opposite the handle, and the other rod has stabilizing structure attached to the end thereof opposite the handle. As the user grasps the handles of the two rods in his hand and brings the handles together, the hook engaged to the handle of the lid raises the lid slightly until the lid contacts the stabilizing structure. The lid is thereby securely held between the hook and the stabilizing structure and is prevented from wobbling.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for grasping and lifting a lid having a handle is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly directed to use with Dutch ovens and includes two elongated rods conjoined together, one rod being adjustably coupled with the other rod, and each rod having a handle for grasping formed at one end. One rod has a hook formed at the end thereof opposite the handle, and the other rod has three leg members attached to the end thereof opposite the handle. As the user grasps the handles of the two rods in his hand and brings the handles together, the hook engaged to the handle of the lid raises the lid slightly until the lid contacts the three leg members. The lid is thereby securely held between the hook and the leg members and is prevented from wobbling. The invention facilitates the lifting of a lid from a Dutch oven, the lid typically being loaded with the hot coals, and stabilizes the lid so that coals and ashes therefrom do not fall into the Dutch oven containing food.

Abstract: A device for removing, storing and applying contact lenses comprises a plurality of compartments arranged axially spaced in a cylindrical body with the base of each compartment formed by a portion which can be unscrewed from the remainder and which defines the cover for the next adjacent portion. An end compartment receives an applicaator head which is stored within the compartment in a suitable liquid. The applicator includes a suction bulb and the head which is in the form of a cylindrical body having a peripheral edge of approximately the diameter of the outer edge of the lens and a membrane extending across the cylindrial body. The membrane has an upper surface for engaging the lens which is perforated so that suction applied by the bulb draws the lens onto the membrane and then further suction distorts the membrane to pull the sides of the cylindrical portion inwardly to pinch the lens and break the seal.

Abstract: An accessory for holding a contact lens includes a concave element that is place adjacent to a user's cornea or adjacent to a contact lens on that user's cornea and a fluid circuit that connects an air passage in that concave element to the interior of a flexible hollow ball. Flexing the ball causes air to move out of the air passage to move a contact lens from the concave element onto a user's cornea, and release of a distorted ball sucks air into the air passage to move a contact lens off of a user's cornea onto the concave element. Guiding elements include mirrors and support arms.

Abstract: An applicator device for insertion and removal of a cervical cap is described. The device utilizes manually controlled suction to grip the cervical cap during placement and a retrieval hook to facilitate removal.

Abstract: A soft, contact-lens remover having a tweezer-like main portion having a pair of legs, each leg defining a free end. Each free end telescopingly-receives thereover a retaining sleeve. A pair of removable and adjustable lens-removers are provided, one for each free end of the pair of legs. Each lens-remover has an elongated reed-like member that is frictionally held between a respective free end of one of the pair of legs and its respective retaining sleeve. Each lens-remover has a soft tip at one end of the reed-like member, which soft tips contact and remove a soft contact-lens from an eye. Each lens-remover is relatively positionable with respect to a free end of a leg both in the longitudinal, length-wise direction in order to adjust the projection of the soft tip, and also in the angular direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for handling a plastic lens to remove the same from an eye of a user. The device is of a tweezer or pincer type comprising two arms that are joined at one end to form a unit with the arms at an acute angle and having a common plane in which the arms can be moved one toward the other. Each arm is provided at its free end with an extension angularly disposed relative to its respective arm and to the plane of movement. A soft holder of generally ellipsoidal shape and having axially arranged peripheral slots is mounted on each extension. The angular relationship between the arms and the extensions and holders permits the device to be accurately aligned with the lens in place over the eye without obstructing the user's vision as the device is moved toward the eye for engagement of the lens within its peripheral edge by the holders.

Abstract: A pair of hand tools for allowing removal of all seven filled jars from a canning pot at one time. This device comprises an elongated handle intersecting at an angle, other than a right angle, two main shafts to form three grips for the users fingers. There is a hook located at the end of each of these shafts which is made to grasp a wire rack handle.

Abstract: A cooking lid lifting support made of a lid lifter, handle, and a clip for removably attaching to a handle or a knob of a cooking vessel lid and supporting the lid on the side of a cooking vessel. Attached to the lid lifter is a handle which is integral with and permanently attached to the lid lifter. The handle is shaped to be complementary to the shape of a hand for lifting the lid lifter. A clip is attached to the handle on the lid lifter and is integral with and permanently attached to the handle. The clip includes a portion for receiving the side of a cooking vessel, and acts as a holder for holding the lid lifter and the lid thereto in a desired relation to the side of the cooking vessel. During operation, the lid lifter holds the handle or knob of a lid, and the clip holds the lid lifter to the side of the vessel. The drippings collected on the inside of the lid are thereby returned into the pan when in proper position.

Abstract: A system, including apparatus and methods, which facilitates the use of dutch ovens, usually combined with a charcoal heating source, in outdoor cooking. The first apparatus is a safe, independent, time-efficient device which quickly preheats charcoal briquettes contained in a portable hopper, accomplishing the same by means of a self-contained, transportable, propane-fueled burner. A second apparatus is a sturdy, portable cooking stand, which, in the "as used" position, provides a safe, elevated site whereupon the charcoal heating source and a plurality of dutch ovens can be conveniently placed for cooking purposes, and which, in the "as transported" position, is disassembled and may be carried facilely to more desired locations. The third apparatus is a T-handled dutch oven and dutch oven lid lifting device whereby said ovens and/or lids may be conveniently and safely removed from and replaced on the heating source.

Abstract: A device is provided for lifting the bail handle or lid of a dutch oven. When the lid is lifted, the device can be placed upon the ground while maintaining the lid out of contact with the ground. The device is comprised of a handle member pivotably connected to a base member having a trapezoidal shape. The base can be moved about the pivotable connection between a functional state disposed perpendicularly to the handle member, and a storage state disposed in line with the handle member.

Abstract: An extractor instrument for removing a catalytic ring, or the like, normally held by friction at the bottom of a container cavity, enabling the container to be fabricated with an integrally closed bottom wall opposite the open upper end of the container. The instrument comprises an elongate gripping member and a cam structure secured to the gripping member adjacent one end. The cam structure includes a foot dimensioned for insertion through a passageway in the catalytic ring after which the foot is engaged in a camming manner against the bottom surface of the ring allowing withdrawal of the foot and the engaged ring from the open end of the container.

Abstract: This invention is a container storing a lens magnet on an end of a stem extending from a cap of the container, the magnet being made of soft silicone material.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and cleaning contact lenses comprising a pair of tweezer arms connected at one end and biased apart at the other end, the connected end carrying a contact lens support pad. The free ends of the biased arms may advantageously be provided with removable sleeves for efficient grasping and handling of soft contact lenses.

Abstract: Tinted contact lens fitter having a scissors type support to vary the spacing between pairs of tinted contact lenses mounted in rotatable discs, or in plug-in lens holders, or directly in openings in the support, so that the centers of the tinted contact lenses can be aligned with the centers of a patient's pupils in order for the patient to view in a mirror the combined color of the tinted contact lenses and the color of the patient's irises.

Abstract: An opthalmic insertion device for quick and accurate insertion of contact lenses with minimum handling. A pneumatic insertion device comprises a main cylindrical body having a coil spring driven piston for pumping air fitted into and substantially filling cross sectionally a forward area of the main body cylinder, a hollow shaft axially slidable communicating the area behind the piston to an area within a soft rubber cup on the forward end of the said shaft, a buffer spring to limit the retraction of the hollow shaft into the cylinder, a cocking plunger fitted into and substantially filling cross sectionally a rear portion of the cylinder provides a means to compress the piston drive spring and is provided with a rearward biasing spring to automatically return the said cocking plunger to a rear position of the main body cylinder, a trigger device to hold said piston in the cocked position until a contact lens is ready to be inserted.

Abstract: Suction cups for storing hard or semi-rigid, gas permeable contact lenses in soaking solutions are provided with rims characterized by substantially horizontal ledges which are at least as wide as the sides of the suction cup are thick. The suction cups are made by injecting a plastic forming material into a stemmed suction cup mold and contacting the plastic forming material against the adjacent convex head and ledge of a cylindrical molding pin whose cylindrical body diameter is greater than the diameter of the base of its convex head. A ledge is thus formed between the base of the convex head and the outside surface of the cylindrical body so that the resulting suction cup has a substantially horizontal ledge as its upper rim.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for aiding in the handling of contact lenses which is generally placed on the fingertip and includes a disc coated on at least one side with an adhesive layer and a central aperture. The disc is composed of bio-compatible material and includes on at least one surface either a layer of bio-compatible adhesive or an adhesive coated band attached to the disc. The adhesive provides a firm attachment to the fingertip or other surfaces and the central aperture supports the contact lens to maintain its shape for transfer to the correspondingly shaped surface of the eye.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a device for inserting and removing contact lenses formed from an elongated body of resilient material having opposite terminal end portions and a central longitudinal axis, a first of the end portions having a relatively shallow concavely outwardly opening locating surface upon which a contact lens will be retained incident to inserting the lens upon an eye, a second of the terminal end portions being of a frusto-conical configuration on a narrow end of which is a suction cup having a concavely outwardly opening locating surface upon which a contact lens will be retained upon removing the lens from an eye, the concave surfaces having generally parallel radii of generation which are normal to a common plane defining a generally 45 degree angle with the central axis, and the latter relationship allows complete visibility during insertion or removal of contact lenses, particularly when a mirror is being utilized and more particularly when the user has very poor or limited vision.

Abstract: A lifter for lifting and manipulating a grill over a heat source such as a barbeque has a hooked portion shaped to pass between adjacent parallel bars of the grill and upon rotating the lifter, to locate under one of the adjacent bars with ends of the hooked portion spaced along this bar. A reaction element is spaced from the hooked portion for engagement with at least one further bar spaced from the adjacent bars; and a handle, the hooked portion and the reaction element are coupled in a fixed relationship relative to one another so that the lifter can be used to move the grill while maintaining the grill in a generally horizontal position with the reaction element in engagement with the further bar or bars, and to lift the grill with the grill hanging freely from the lifter.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fitting runner bricks provided with a brick conveying apparatus comprising a movable gate-shaped girder, a lifting device moved by a traversing device mounted on the girder, a rotating device provided at the lower end of the lifting device and rotatable in a horizontal plane, a sliding device slidable in the horizontal direction at the lower end of the rotating device, and a gripping device provided with a vacuum-sucking device at the lower end of the sliding device, a surface plate rotating apparatus which can rotate a horizontal ingot making surface plate within a range in which the above mentioned traversing device can move, a movable work carriage loaded with bricks and a carriage position detecting apparatus which can be fixed on the work carriage running track and is provided, as required, with a brick aligning device for aligning the bricks on the uppermost step of the bricks mounted on the work carriage.

Abstract: A hand-held device for selectively lifting a dutch oven or the oven lid comprises an elongated handle having a prong member secured at one end, the prong member having a first leg extending at an obtuse angle from the handle and a second leg extending at an acute angle therefrom, and a heel member secured on the second leg. The device is used for lifting an oven lid by directing the first leg beneath the lid handle with the heel resting on and stabilizing the lid. The oven is lifted by catching the bail on with the slanted second leg and lifting up.