Abstract: The present invention relates to protective shield for use with a plurality of interchangeable cooking tools and/or utensils, such as a spatula, spoon, and the like. The protective shield offers protection from splashes from hot oil and grease, exposed heat and flame, and attaches to a handle end of the utensil via a threaded or other secure mechanism. The protective shield is conically shaped and includes a strap and a latch on a circumference of a base of the structure, which is used to expand and retract the size and circumference of the protective shield.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a jig for attaching and detaching a cleaning member, which facilitates attaching and detaching the cleaning member to and from a rotation device without holding the cleaning member directly by hand, even when there is no sufficient spacing around the cleaning member. The jig 100 for attaching and detaching a cleaning member 60 includes a pair of jig bodies 110 capable of clamping two ends 63 of a holder 62 of the cleaning member 60, and a connecting mechanism 120 that interlocks the movements of the pair of jig bodies 110 between a clamped state in which two ends 63 of the holder 62 are clamped and a non-clamped state in which the clamped state is released.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a bag-shaped gripping body, a plurality of elastic portions, and a shape holding portion. The gripping body includes a palm portion, and a plurality of finger portions protruding from a periphery of the palm portion and configured to fall toward the palm portion by deforming the palm portion in a thickness direction. The plurality of elastic portions is respectively provided in the plurality of finger portions, each of the plurality of elastic portions having a shape of each of the plurality of finger portions. The shape holding portion is provided in the gripping body to prevent contraction of an outer periphery of the palm portion. The shape holding portion includes a guide bore for receiving the palm portion when being deformed, and a curved portion provided on an outer side of a distal end of the guide bore and facing the plurality of finger portions.

Abstract: A chef shield device, including a shield, where the shield includes a shield flange protruding from the shield, and at least one rib, a coupling rotatably connected to the shield flange, the coupling including at least one coupling arm and a plurality of coupling arm indents aligned with the at least one rib, and a clasp rotatably connected to the coupling.

Abstract: A soil conserving shovel and grate attachment that aid a user in removing and reclaiming soil from a recently removed plant by abrading the plant's rootball back and forth against the shovel and apparatus. In addition, methods of using a shovel and grate attachment instruct a user how to efficiently reclaim soil from a plant rootball. Also described is a method of manufacturing a shovel or grate attachment that can be used for rootball thinning.

Abstract: A gripping tool for extracting a pin during a surgical procedure, the gripping tool including: two lever arms, each arm having a nose end and a handle end, the two lever arms joined together proximate to but spaced apart from the nose end by a bridging portion, the bridging portion including a central fulcrum region; the nose ends of each the lever arms having one or more teeth adapted to interlock with the one or more teeth of the other lever arm; each nose end having a longitudinal aperture therein extending through the interlocking teeth adapted, in use, to align and receive the pin; such that in use, urging together the handle ends of the lever arms causes the nose ends to move relative to each other such that the interlocking teeth misalign and grip the pin.

Abstract: A plunger device includes, but is not limited to, a shaft; a plunger suction cup coupled to the shaft, which plunger suction cup flares from the shaft to a perimeter edge to define a concavity; and a receptacle centrally positioned within the concavity on an underside of the plunger suction cup for removably retaining one or more disposable plunger bags.

Abstract: Hemming dies can be mounted on the respective two clamping jigs (22) of hemming processing stages (S1, S2) each having a turn table as a main part. After the hemming dies are allocated to sub-stages (S11), roller hemming processing is performed by hemming processing robots (1A, 1B) or hemming processing robots (2A, 26). Die storage devices (15A, 15B) for housing a plurality of hemming dies in a line are provided near the hemming processing stages (S1, S2). Hemming dies are changed between the die storage devices (15A, 15B) and the sub-stages (S12) of the hemming processing stages (S1, S2) by first and second die changing robots (17, 19). This makes it possible to provide a roller hemming processing system suitable for roller hemming processing in high-variety low-volume manufacturing.

Abstract: A utensil manipulating article has a sleeve formed of a pliable material. The sleeve is suitable for receiving the utensil therein. The sleeve is movable between a utensil-receiving position and a utensil-manipulating position. The sleeve has an adhesive material on an outer surface thereof. The adhesive is suitable for attaching to fingers of a user so as to allow the user to move the sleeve between the utensil-receiving position and the utensil-manipulating position. The adhesive material includes a first adhesive strip and second adhesive strip respectively placed on a first side and an opposite side of the sleeve. A liner is removably affixed over the first and second adhesive strips.

Abstract: A sanitary scoop that includes a scoop portion, a handle portion, a shield portion, a partition wall formed between the scoop portion and the handle and shield portions, and a tab. The sanitary scoop is constructed to allow placement of the scoop in various orientations while maintaining sanitation of the scoop portion.

Abstract: A grill grate lifting tool that engages the grill at three or more points. The grill lifter hooks between the tines of the grill grate at the rim and/or to a handle of the grill grate. The grill grate lifting tool includes a handle attached to three or more legs, which is generally central above the center of mass of the grill grate to provide a stable lifting point with or without food on the grate.

Abstract: A support member or becket for supporting an item during wellbore operations including a body with a support area, and a wear insert removable emplaced over the support area.

Abstract: A grill grate lifting tool that engages the grill at three or more points. The grill lifter hooks between the tines of the grill grate at the rim and/or to a handle of the grill grate. The grill grate lifting tool includes a handle attached to three or more legs, which is generally central above the center of mass of the grill grate to provide a stable lifting point with or without food on the grate.

Abstract: Grill tongs including two rods, which are movably connected and which can be pivoted relative to each other and which each have a gripping surface for an item to be grilled at the end of the rods near the grill and which are equipped with a handle at the end of the rods far from the grill. The handle is used as a contact surface for the fingers of a user. A heat shield is arranged on the rod in the area of the handle. The heat shield is fastened to the side of the rod inside the tongs and from there curves around the side of the handle facing outward and is at a distance to the handle.

Abstract: A heat shield having at least one shield portion, a grip having a proximal end and a distal end, and a collar located proximal of the grip and adapted to receive the shaft of a tool is provided herein. The at least one shield portion is rotatable with respect to the grip and may be weighted such that it remains pointing downward when the grip portion is rotated about a longitudinal axis therethrough. The at least one shield portion may include a main shield and at least one secondary shield rotatably connected to the main shield. The heat shield may also be provided as part of a cooking tool having a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end and a cooking element attached at the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for enclosing the free distal end of a flexible tensile member supporting an object. The flexible tensile member has a first portion in tension for suspending the object therefrom and a free end substantially perpendicular thereto with the object therebetween. The apparatus comprises a body having a passage sized to slidably receive the first portion of the flexible tensile member therein a bottom edge adapted to engage the object and a void for enclosing the free distal end of the flexible tensile member wherein the bottom edge is engaged with the object.

Abstract: A reusable microplate kit for use in the life sciences industry includes a microplate and a removable lid. The microplate includes a sample area with a plurality of individual wells and a hollow outer frame formed around the sample area, the frame being shaped to include a plurality of openings in its top surface. The lid includes a plate, a plurality of latches formed on the underside of the plate and a compressible gasket affixed to the underside of the plate. In use, the lid is mounted on the microplate by inserting each latch through a corresponding opening until the latch snaps into engagement with the frame. In this manner, the plate and gasket together serve to seal off each well from the outside environment. The microplate kit additionally includes a tool for disengaging the lid from the microplate and thereby assist in their separation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a load hook with a hook fastened to a hook tackle that can be safely handled. A cover region is arranged at least partially between the hook tackle and the hook, such that the hook is covered starting at the outer contour of the hook tackle.

Abstract: A hook elastic body protective device for heavy object crane hook, wherein a pair of opposite and rear-inclined protection boards with large head and small lower part are fixed at rear side of hook by fixing bolt through bolt holes made on protection boards and through hole respectively made at lower two sides of top hole of shackle and rear side of hook; basing on such structure, elastic body for buckle mounted inside of hook can fold inward to open hook and retreat into two protection boards to hide, elastic body is free of damage by external collision, so that it is easy to use and use life of crane hook can be extended accordingly.

Abstract: A tool for use with a canning pot and a canning rack includes a pair of spaced-apart legs joined at a handle adapted for manipulation by a user. The spaced-apart legs terminate at a hook, which is adapted to grasp the rack and operable to place and remove the rack in the canning pot. A canning system includes a canning pot, a canning rack, and a rack lifter including a pair of tools, each including a pair of legs joined by a handle and terminating in a hook operable to grasp the rack. A method for canning food includes heating a first quantity of water in a canning pot, placing at least one jar in a canning rack, and placing the canning rack including the at least one jar in a first quantity of water using a pair of tools for selectively grasping the canning rack.

Abstract: A tongs assembly comprising a tongs and a hand shield is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the tongs include a pair of arms hingedly connected at one end and the shield is attached to the arms and extends radially outward from an optimal fulcrum point on the arms. The shield is preferably round and formed by two thin, rigid shield sections that are individually attached to the arms. Each shield section is positioned on an arm in such a way as to create a fulcrum point on the longitudinal axis of the tongs, so that in the open position, the grasping ends of the tongs pivot downwardly and the hinged or closed end of the tongs pivot upwardly and away from the surface on which the grasping ends of the tongs are resting. The handles of the tongs are thereby kept from directly contacting the food or the utensil.

Abstract: A device for holding a semiconductor wafer cassette to enable manipulation of the cassette during semiconductor manufacturing processes is disclosed. The device includes a shielding plate for enclosing an open face of a semiconductor wafer cassette. A pair of gripping arms are pivotally connected to edges of the shielding plate for grasping the edges of a semiconductor wafer cassette in response to actuation by a trigger and linkage contained within a handle of the device. The trigger actuates the gripping plates between an opened and closed position. When the cassette is gripped, it may be manipulated in the horizontal and vertical directions by an operator using the handle of the device.

Abstract: A heat resisting robot hand apparatus suitable for use within a highly-heated and pressure-reduced chamber in which radiant heat emitted from a heat stage and a material to be heated, such as a semiconductor wafer, is reflected and intercepted, and in which the heat from the material conducted to an arm section is reduced. The heat resisting robot hand apparatus includes a hand section supporting a material to be heated and a heat reflection plate reflecting radiant heat, parallel and adjacent to the portion of the hand section for supporting the material with an intervening gap. The heat reflection plate is supported on the hand section by heat-insulating supports with a gap for accommodating heat distortion. The hand section is connected to the arm section by heat-insulating fitting means with a heat-insulation space. Seats of the hand section contact the material independent of the hand section. Further, the heat reflection plate is cooled by cooling structure.

Abstract: A bellows-like construction which automatically extends upon immersion in water, is used to provide a relatively inexpensive water-tight enclosure for lifting equipment and the like. The lower end of the bellows is connected to the top of a rigid tubular member which extends up from a hook box or like type of structure, in a manner to form a hermetic seal. The upper end of the bellows-like arrangement is provided with a buoyant member which provides sufficient lift that, when the lifting equipment is lowered into the water to a predetermined depth, the buoyant member floats on the surface of the water in a manner which elongates a corrugated tubular portion of the arrangement and prevents radioactive water from spilling over into the box thus preventing contamination of a hook, hook block and associated apparatus which are enclosed therein.

Abstract: In order to provide a relatively inexpensive water-tight telescopic enclosure which can extend automatically upon demand, a tubular extension piece is reciprocally mounted on a container-like hook box structure. A tube seal which interconnects the hook box and the tubular extension provides a watertight connection between the two members and also provides an air space in a folded portion in which air can collect and produce buoyancy as the hook box is lowered into water. The tubular extension also has a larger cross-sectional area than the hook box and thus produces additional buoyancy. When the hook box is lowered into water the extension piece automatically floats upwardly to prevent the intrusion of water into the interior of the hook box and thus prevent contamination of pieces of apparatus enclosed therein.

Abstract: A sheet puller designed to move sheet metal stock having a rotatable offset cam with teeth which interacts with a pressure plate which holds the sheet to be moved, the teeth on the cam being designed to engage the sheet when the puller is moved in one direction and disengage the sheet when the puller is moved in the opposite direction, the sheet being received between a guide support top and a guide support base.

Abstract: An end effector for use with robotic arms and like devices that utilizes a flexible band to draw an object against an anvil having a concave surface. One typical convex surface is created by a V-block, with an apex of the V being centrally located. If an object to be grasped is fragile, the contour of the concave surface closely matches the surface of the object. Typically the movement of the band is effected by a linear actuator, with the anvil remaining fixed relative to a support base. Several embodiments are described that utilize variations in drawing the band toward the anvil, with one of these embodiments described in detail in the form of a fabricated unit. One embodiment includes a cover element that can be moved over an object after the grasping thereof, with this cover potentially serving various functions. Movement of the cover can be effected with a second linear actuator.

Abstract: A watertight cover for the hook, hook block and cables of a crane comprises a hook box, of a size to receive the hook, fixed to a first cover member, which is of a size to receive the hook block. A second cover member is telescopically carried on the first cover member. Remotely controlled means are provided for displacing the second cover, relative to the first cover, as the hook is lowered into the water.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a carrier member is arranged for positioning a fireplace log thereon for projecting and positioning the fireplace log within an associated fireplace hearth. The carrier member is arranged for positioning upon a support member to space the carrier member relative to combustible material. A modification of the invention includes the carrier member arranged to pivotally mount support legs thereon to accommodate logs of various sizes.

Abstract: Cells are disclosed using doped electroconductive polymer electrodes and electrolytes of alkali metal cations and soft anions in polar organic solvents. The structure of the negative electrodes comprises layers of electroconductive polymers and ion exchange resin. Conditioning the negative electrodes is effected with AC current, the energy of the negative pulses exceeding that of the positive pulses.

Abstract: A hand-held surface mount pick having a handle and a bellows. The handle includes a vacuum passageway with an evacuation opening at a first end and a plurality of closely spaced vents along an intermediate region. At an end opposite to the evacuation opening is a fitting for attachment to a source of vacuum. The bellows is connected to the first end and is in fluid communication with the vacuum source via the fitting and in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere via the vents. A protective shield is coupled to the handle at the first end. The bellows has a relaxed condition in which a portion of the bellows extends beyond the protective shield to contact an electronic component. Upon contact with the component, the vents are covered by the finger of a user, thereby creating a vacuum within the bellows to draw the component into the protective shield.

Abstract: A splash deflector for plungers or the like for deflecting splashes having a disc with a circumferential lip on one side thereof. A plurality of stiffening ribs and anti-tearing ribs and openings may be provided on the disc. The top surface of the disc may bear indicia thereon, such as advertising. The disc is positioned on a handle and attached thereto via flaps formed by selectively slitting the disc. An installation apparatus is also provided for alternating the direction of flap displacing forces, providing an even tighter gripping force to a force-cup handle or the like.

Abstract: A shield member for attachment to a conventional insulative line stick as used by power linesmen and other electrical staff working on high voltage distribution lines protects the user of a line stick when closing cut-out assembly doors and engaging in similar activities. The shield member protects against the ejection of fuses or the blowing out or explosion of fuses. The shield member, in the form of a plate, clips onto the line stick, for example, by spring clip members attached to one arm of a bracket, another arm of the bracket being attached to the shield member.

Abstract: A scoop for use in removing waste material from cat litter comprises a shovel portion and a handle portion. The shovel portion includes a base panel, two side panels and a rear panel, with each of the panels including a multiplicity of elongated slots for straining the cat litter. The handle portion is connected to the rear panel of the shovel portion near the top and a protective shield extends downwardly from the upper surface of the rear panel at an acute angle. The protective shield extends a distance sufficient to minimize the likelihood of a person's hand from contacting cat litter as it is sifted through the slots in the rear panel.

Abstract: A hand tool is disclosed for rapidly recovering an extensible and retractable antipersonnel barrier of helical barbed tape. The hand tool includes first and second elongated parallel gripping arms joined at one end by a base section. Each of the elongated gripping arms includes an L-shaped rigid safety barrier defined by a forward guard rail and an elongated lateral guard rail. The distal end of each of the elongated lateral guard rails is disposed intermediate the base section such that the lateral guard rails are parallel to the elongated gripping arms. The distal end of each of the forward guard rails are disposed at the distal end of each of the elongated gripping arms respectively, thereby defining a pair of generally rectangular zones of safety. The hand tool further includes a telescoping engaging arm which comprises a fixed outer tube and a removable elongated inner tube. The inner tube is connected to the fixed outer tube by a bayonet-type locking mechanism.

Abstract: A disposable animal litter collection device includes a rigid shovel blade and a shovel handle which extends through the rear edge of the shovel blade and is extendable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the handle is stored generally adjacent to the shovel blade, and in the second position the handle extends rearwardly from the shovel blade. A collection bag is fixed to the rear edge of the shovel blade in a manner shielding a user's hand when grasping the handle from animal litter deposited on the shovel blade. This bag is capable of enclosing the shovel blade and any animal litter deposited thereon when the bag is extended over the shovel blade away from the handle to envelope the blade and any litter deposited thereon.

Abstract: A hygienic swab-type device usable for cleansing or as a medical applicator is provided by compact tongs with a cover which functions as a scabbard or housing when the tongs are not in use and in use as a handle extension for the tongs. The tongs are pivotally connected and have clamping end portions for clamping and holding a replaceable or disposable hygienic swab for cleansing or treating of the body such as rectal and vaginal areas. The cover is made of a rigid material and has a pocket formed therein into which the operating ends of the tongs are insertable longitudinally in use effectively holding the tongs in a closed position and extending longitudinally therefrom. The cover accordingly provides a longitudinal handle extension for the tongs inserted into the pocket and ease of manipulation for access to the body areas to be cleansed or treated with the hygienic swab.

Abstract: The upper and lower end portions of a karate practice board are adapted to be clamped by upper and lower hand-held holders. Each holder includes an elastic tube for clamping the adjacent end portion of the board and further includes a U-shaped guard. When the board breaks, the guards of the holders reduce the danger of injury to the hand of the person or persons holding the holders.

Abstract: A paint drip pan and method for constructing same. A base member has an aperture therethrough within which to receive a painter's wrist. A glove member may be located within the aperture and secured to the base member. A plurality of fingers integral with the base member are adapted to impinge against the glove member to secure the base member to the painter's wrist.

Abstract: A tool (78) for grasping a multiplicity of nuclear fuel rods (42) to remove them from a nuclear fuel assembly (32) and relocate them, preferably, into a fuel consolidation device (86). The tool has a gripper head (200) reciprocably guided within a shroud (80). A distinct jaw mechanism (216) for grasping each of the multiplicity of fuel rods is carried by a common frame (214) and actuated and controlled by a distinct means (232, 234, 242). A key feature of the gripper head is that each jaw mechanism (216) has an neck portion (244) to offset the actuation means (232, 234) from the moving jaw portion (220). The shroud carries alignment means (82, 206) for precisely orienting the tool relative to a targeted group of rods within the assembly, so that the spacing of the rods is maintained as they are pulled up into the shroud by the gripper head.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable device adapted to handle objects which are not to be touched by hand. A piston and bore wall form a vacuum chamber communicating with an adaptor sealably engageable with an object to be lifted. The piston is manually moved and set to establish vacuum. A valve is manually actuatable to apply the vacuum to lift the object.

Abstract: A clamp hand protector for use on a pivoting type clamp having an operating handle member pivotally connected to a linkage element of the clamp and defining therebetween an arcuately-variable-angle junction region, wherein an edge-of-hand protective shield is provided with mounting means for positioning the shield between an inner end of the operating handle member and the arcuately-variable-angle junction region so as to prevent injury to an operator's hand when the clamp is moved between clamped and unclamped relationship or vice versa.

Abstract: A safety guard (10) and method of manually feeding a workpiece (11), such as a flat rectangular terminal board, to an assembly machine (13), such as a conventional eyeletting machine. The guard includes a hollow, generally hemispherical shield (20) having a slot (21) in a front face thereof, into which an end portion (A) of a workpiece may be inserted so that the working portion of the workpiece extends from the front of the shield toward the machine. The operator inserts his or her hand into a rear opening of the shield and securely grips the end portion of the workpiece between thumb and forefinger, so that the workpiece may freely be fed manually to the assembly machine, but the shield protects the operator's hand from injury by the machine details.

Abstract: A protection device is provided for a machine which works sheet shaped material to stop the displacement of the machine when the protection device encounters an obstacle. The machine includes clamps which are displaced by the machine and which hold the material. The protection device includes two blades arranged parallel to each other and disposed on the machine in a loop shape surrounding each clamp. The two blades form a pair of normally open contacts of which at least the outer blade is flexible and resiliently deformable to allow the blades to be brought into contact with each other and close the contacts when the outer blade encounters the obstacle. A stop device is coupled to the normally open contacts to stop the displacement of the machine when the contacts are closed.

Abstract: A device having combined features of a glove and a garden tool is disclosed. The device includes a glove element having a bar grip installed therein, with a tool element attached to the bar grip. In one embodiment, a horizontal bar grip is employed in conjunction with a tool element having forks or tines, such as a rake. In a second embodiment, a vertical bar grip is employed in conjunction with a tool element which has the form of a scoop or spade. An additional feature includes the attachment of a bracket on the upper, forward portion of the glove element to receive a second tool element which is detachably connected thereto. Alternatively, a bracket for receiving a second tool element may be affixed directly to the shaft of the main fixed tool element. Also, a threaded connection may be employed for attachment of the tool element which is connected directly to the bar grip. The bar grip may be provided with grooves or ridges to allow the bar to be gripped more firmly.

Abstract: A clamping device for transporting a specimen plate, particularly for an ctron microscope specimen comprising, a support plate, a carrier plate disposed in juxtaposed relationship with the support plate having at least two resilient arm poritions and at least a portion of the carrier plate contacting with the support plate, and a claw connected to each resilient arm portion of the carrier plate for engaging the specimen plate therebetween. A rod having a threaded end threaded into one of the support plate and the carrier plate is rotatable in a first direction for moving the carrier plate with respect to the support plate to move each claw away from each other and rotatable in an opposite second direction to move each claw toward each other for engagement of the specimen plate therebetween.

Abstract: A cooking utensil having a removable grease shield in the form of a screen to protect the hand of the person using it. The utensil includes the usual elongated manipulating device for making contact with the food item involved. At one end of the device appears the usual handle to allow a person to hold it. The shield fits on to the device, extends laterally from it, and provides a barrier to grease droplets or other hot particles that could burn. The shield couples to the manipulating device and may have a fixed orientation with respect to it. Moving the food manipulator, as a result, will not dislodge the shield to an inconvenient location. The utensil may also include an ejector for dislodging food held by the manipulator. This becomes important where the shield impedes access to the food held by the utensil. The food ejector, controlled in the region of the handle, consequently passes through the shield.

Abstract: A grasping device is provided having a frame adapted to be held generally stationary with respect to an article being grasped, two manually operable, movable tweezer legs supported by the frame, a third leg positioned between the two movable legs and held generally stationary with respect to the frame, and means at the end of each leg for frictionally engaging an object to be grasped. A preferred embodiment of the grasping device is specially designed for pinching the inside bottom surface of a nested stack of dish-shaped filters.

Abstract: A device having combined features of a glove and a garden tool is disclosed. The device includes a glove element having a bar grip installed therein, with a tool element attached to the bar grip. In one embodiment, a horizontal bar grip is employed in conjunction with a tool element having forks or tines, such as a rake. In a second embodiment, a vertical bar grip is employed in conjunction with a tool element which has the form of a scoop or spade.

Abstract: An arrangement for improving transloading pourable materials by means of a grab bucket, according to which a hood is carried by a crane member on which a grab bucket is suspended by hoisting means. The arrangement is such that the grab bucket can be pulled selectively from below into the hood which is so dimensioned as to allow the grab bucket substantially fully to open within the hood. The lower rim of the hood which surrounds the inlet opening for the grab bucket and the upper rim of a chute-like member through which the goods to be transloaded are from the grab bucket passed into a receiver, are flange-shaped and of at least nearly equal circumferential dimensions. If desired, an elastic member, e.g. a sealing ring or an inflatable hose may rest on and be connected to the flange-shaped rim of the chute-like member.