Abstract: An organizer (10) for a plurality of sets of fastener sockets (S) includes a receptacle (12) rotatable relative to a shroud (44) in the preferred form of an arcuate wall concentric to the axis (A) of the receptacle (12). The receptacle (12) is rotatable to a presentation position where a plurality of holders (16) are aligned with an opening (45) in the shroud (44). The sockets (S) are slideably received in a first direction along linear paths in the holders (16) without an interfitting relation and in the preferred form in chambers formed in the receptacle (12). Each of the side walls (18) of the chambers includes inner ends (22) which are located at different spacings from the axis (A) so that the individual sockets (S) have an equal extent from the axis (A) and includes outer ends (20). Some of the chambers are located in raised areas (15) so that the outer ends (20) have different spacing than the outer ends (20) of other chambers according to the particular sockets (S) being received in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming popcorn bars utilizing methods according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is disclosed where popcorn popped in an air popper (12) and coated with a molten binder in the form of a caramel syrup in an auger mixer (20) is compressed into a sheet by a device (32). In the sheeting device (32), the coated popped popcorn is drawn into and passes between an input conveyor (30) and a compressing conveyor (34) arranged at a non-parallel angle thereto. An air manifold (37) directs cooled air to the upper surface of the compressing conveyor (34) to cool the belting (36) thereof, with the cooled air being deflected to cool a spreader box (28) which receives the coated popcorn from the auger mixer (20) and distributes it on the input conveyor (30).

Abstract: An accessory (10) for a wrench socket (12) is disclosed including a generally cylindrical magnet (32) secured to a generally cylindrical, nonmagnetic, compressible disk (26) which snugly fits within the well (14) and magnetically insulates the magnet (32) from the socket (12). The accessory (10) is removably insertable into the socket (12) of any design and model and without need for modification of the socket (12) and captures a spark plug (100) slideably received in the well (14) of the socket (12) to magnetically hold the spark plug (100) captive in the well (14) as the socket (12) is moved to the fastening location while not magnetizing the socket (12) or the spark plug (100) sufficiently to be detrimentally magnetically attracted to metal adjacent to the fastening location. Specifically, the connecting nut (112) and insulator (104) of the spark plug (100) are insertable through an axial bore (70) formed in the disk (26) for access to the magnet (32).

Abstract: A container (10) especially adapted for wedge shaped food products is disclosed including a transparent, thermoformed tray (11) receiving a paperboard product card (32) and sealed by a transparent closure layer (15). The tray (11) includes an isosceles trapezoid shaped bottom (16) and a sidewall (18) formed by a first, isosceles trapezoid shaped end (20), sides (24, 26) extending at an angle between an annular flange (12) and the bottom (16) from their upper edges to their lower edges and from their first end edges to their second end edges, a second trapezoid shaped end (22), and a triangular shaped corner panel (28). The product card (32) includes a bottom portion (34) of a size and shape for abutting with the bottom (16) of the tray (11) and end and side portions (36, 40) integrally connected to the bottom portion (34) about fold lines (38, 42) for abutting with the first end (20) and first side (24) of the tray (11).

Abstract: Food compositions in the form of a glassy low molecular carbohydrate matrix comprising an emulsifier. The food compositions comprise about 50 to 90% of a low molecular carbohydrate and the balance emulsifier. The food compositions are in powder form (1000 .mu.m>) and are useful as emulsifier ingredients in dry mixes for dough and batters for prepared foods such as layer cakes, muffins, breads and pancakes. Also disclosed are preparation methods involving heating the low molecular carbohydrate to above its melting point, admixing the emulsifier to form a magma, rapidly cooling the magma sufficiently low enough to form a solid matrix and size reducing to form a powder of the requisite size.

Abstract: A snow broom (10) includes a scraper element (12) and multiple sweeping elements (26, 36) positioned on opposite sides thereof. The scraper element (12) is in the preferred form of a sheet of relatively stiff plastic and includes serrations (22) formed on its lower edge (16). The lower edge (16) of the scraper element (12) is divided into a plurality of tines by cuts (24) extending from the lower edge (16). The inner sweeping elements (26) positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of the scraper element (12) are formed from a sheet of foamed plastic of a flexibility to conform to the surface being swept and having a lower edge (30) parallel to and spaced slightly above the lower edge (16) of the scraper element (12). The outer sweeping elements (36) are formed from a sheet of extruded plastic to which snow does not have an affinity to stick. In addition to providing a sweeping function, the outer sweeping elements (36) provide protection and stiffening for the inner sweeping elements (26).

Abstract: An accessory (10) for a wrench socket (12) is disclosed including a generally cylindrical magnet (32) secured to a generally cylindrical, nonmagnetic, compressible disk (26) which snugly fits within the well (14) and magnetically insulates the magnet (32) from the socket (12). Specifically, the magnet (32) is received in a frustoconical recess (46) formed in the disk (26) while its temperature is elevated allowing the disk material to flex and stretch during the insertion of the magnet (32) into the recess (46). The magnet (32) is nickel-plated (43) and its corners are beveled (41) for ease of insertion of the magnet (32) into the recess (46). Air is received within a pocket (51) extending from the recess (46) and/or vented to the atmosphere through a vent hole (53) as the magnet (32) is forced into the recess (46).

Abstract: Compositions in the form of a glassy low molecular carbohydrate matrix comprising an emulsifier. The food compositions comprise about 50 to 90% of a low molecular carbohydrate and the balance emulsifier. The food compositions are in powder form (1000 .mu.m>) and are useful as emulsifier ingredients in dry mixes for dough and batters for prepared foods such as layer cakes, muffins, breads and pancakes. Also preparation methods involving heating the low molecular carbohydrate to above its melting point, admixing the emulsifier to form a magma, rapidly cooling the magma sufficiently low enough to form a solid matrix and size reducing to form a powder of the requisite size.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave popcorn articles comprising any conventional microwave popcorn bag, and a food charge disposed therein comprising kernel popcorn, fat, salt and sufficient amounts of a calcium ingredient to provide a total calcium content of about 360 to 3600 mg per 100 grams of unpopped popcorn. Preferably the salt and calcium ingredients are essentially characterized by having a mean particle size of less than 25 .mu.m. Methods of preparing such microwave popcorn articles are disclosed wherein some of the salt and/or calcium ingredient is added to the fat slurry while the balance is added in particulate form in a separate step after the fat and kernel popcorn have been added to the bag.

Abstract: A light-activated, sound-providing device (122) is slideably received in a cavity (64) formed in an insert (52) of a size and shape for receipt in the hollow volume of a container (10) with a friction fit. The insert (52) has a volume generally corresponding to the volume of consumer food product which would normally be received in the container (10). The provisions (50) for retaining the sound-providing device (122) includes a paperboard medallion (60) secured to the insert (52) including text and graphics (62). In a preferred form, the sound-providing device (122) is not activated while in the interior of the closed container (10) but when the container (10) is opened by removal of its closure layer (13), the sound-providing device (122) is activated providing a sound for prize announcement, attention getting, or a similar function.

Abstract: A continuous method and apparatus for cooking cereal grains such as wheat is provided. The method comprises two stages, a first continuous pre-cooking stage wherein the grains are hydrated by heating in water at a temperature below 95.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to raise the moisture content of the grains to from about 28% to about 36% while allowing a substantial amount of starch to remain ungelatinized and a second continuous stage wherein the grains are heated in water at a temperature above about 95.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to substantially fully cook the grains.

Abstract: Food compositions in the form of a glassy low molecular carbohydrate matrix comprising an emulsifier. The food compositions comprise about 50 to 90% of a low molecular carbohydrate and the balance emulsifier. The food compositions are in powder form (1000 .mu.m>) and are useful as emulsifier ingredients in dry mixes for dough and batters for prepared foods such as layer cakes, muffins, breads and pancakes. Also, preparation methods involving heating the low molecular carbohydrate to above its melting point, admixing the emulsifier to form a magma, rapidly cooling the magma sufficiently low enough to form a solid matrix and size reducing to form a powder of the requisite size.

Abstract: An enrober (100) for applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base is disclosed having a marked decrease in the amount of build-up upon the internal surface of the drum (102) allowing for reductions in cleaning service requirements and its concomitant losses in production capacity and for reductions in undesirable product agglomerates. In the preferred form, the drum (102) is formed by a thin wall in a generally cylindrical shape and formed of hydrophobic material in the form of high-density polyethylene having low-stick characteristics with the topically coated food base. Moisture, in addition to any present in the topical coating, is added to the drum (102) to prevent or practically eliminate build-up on the drum (102). The topical coating in the form of a slurry can be co-sprayed with steam in an atomized intermixed spray onto the food base by a nozzle (10, 80).

Abstract: A food item is disclosed produced in the preferred form by an apparatus (10) including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having first and second lower surfaces (118, 120) corresponding to the shape and located adjacent the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20) in their mating side (32).

Abstract: A streamer device (10) is utilized as a fishing lure and includes a collar (12) secured to the trailing end of a fishing line by a swivel union (36) and a yoke (26). The yoke (26) is preferably formed by flaccid members (28) each including a connector (32) at their leading ends for receipt on a loop (38) of the swivel union (36) and each including a head (34) at their trailing ends which can be flexed in a direction parallel to their stems (30) for insertion into apertures (22) formed in the collar (12). Ribbons (42) are removably secured to the collar (12) by openings (44) formed in the ribbons (42) slideably received on tabs (24) formed on the trailing edge (16) of the collar (12), with the ribbons (42) extending around the leading edge (14) and past the trailing edge (16) of the collar (12) for acting as streamers in the water. The ribbons (42) include indicia (45) in the most preferred form of bait such as fish.

Abstract: A closure (10) is shown including a U-shaped handle (27) integrally connected to a cap (22) in turn integrally connected to the end wall (18) of a bottle (12) to seal the opening (20) formed therein. The handle (27) includes a lever element (28) in the preferred form of a hollow body (30) integrally connected to the cap (22) by a web (32) and for providing leverage in twisting the cap (22) off the end wall (18). First and second wings (36) are integrally connected to the lever element (28) for increasing the size of closure (10) to be larger than a small part. In the preferred form, each of the wings (36) includes a solid trailing portion (44) and a hollow tube (38) in fluid communication with the hollow body (30). The trailing portions (44) are compression molded by the mold halves (54) utilized to blow mold the bottle (12). The hollow tubes (38) are compression molded and thermoformed in the mold halves (56) forming the end wall (18), the cap (22), and the lever element (28).

Abstract: A food item includes one or more continuous strings (14e, 14f) and one or more continuous, thin strips (14c, 14d) of food adhered to the support material (16).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller (18), the materials (16, 66) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller (70) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller (21) and the anvil roller (20).

Abstract: A dry raw cereal material having a starch fraction is fed into the inlet (38) of a twin screw preconditioning unit (10). The dry material is rapidly advanced and mixed in the first two zones (31, 32) and conveyed into a third zone (33). Water is introduced by ducts (42) and is admixed with the dry material to form a well mixed wetted cereal material. The screws (14, 16) include blank segments (14c, 16c) having radially extending pins (40) to create a material plug in the barrel (30) of the preconditioning unit (10). Steam is added to the wetted material in the next zone (34) to form a heated wetted cereal material which is worked in the fourth zone (34) to form a heated precooked non-continuous cereal compacted dough material which is generally maintained below its gelatinization point.

Abstract: A microwave container which morphs from a relatively microwave transparent condition to a relatively microwave blocking condition in response to microwave irradiation. The container wall section has a plurality of discrete, unconnected microwave reflective material elements initially permitting the transmission of microwave energy into the container and either a microwave absorptive material or a thermally responsive material active to coalesce the microwave reflective material elements into a connected array or pattern to block the transmission of microwave energy from entering the container after absorbing a predetermined amount of microwave energy.