Abstract: A wire kitchen utensil that is safe for use on non-stick cookware with an array of flexible wire loops, each loop having two ends secured to the inner end of the handle. The utensil has resilient tubing surrounding each wire loop to render it heat resistant but non-abrasive for use on non-stick coating surfaces. Resilient tubing together with internal wire loops preserves the superior whipping action of flexible wire with the non-stick non-abrasive properties of a heat resistant resilient surface. The wire loops and associated tubing may be disposed in any conventional configuration such as that of a pastry blender, potato masher, piano whisk; an egg whisk; a flat whisk; a balloon whisk; or a Swedish style/helical wire configuration.

Abstract: A holding device such as a paper napkin or paper towel holder for manual dispensing paper sheets while restraining a stack of napkins or a roll of towels rotating about a vertical axis and for restraining the roll from moving or unwinding when at rest. The restraint arm has a proximal end pivotally mounted to the base and a distal end engaging the outer layer of the stack or roll. Preferably, the distal end of the arm engages a middle portion of the outer layer of the roll and includes a curved contact pad.

Abstract: A wire kitchen utensil that is safe for use on non-stick cookware with an array of flexible wire loops, each loop having two ends secured to the inner end of the handle. The utensil has resilient tubing surrounding each wire loop to render it heat resistant but non-abrasive for use on non-stick coating surfaces. Resilient tubing together with internal wire loops preserves the superior whipping action of flexible wire with the non-stick non-abrasive properties of a heat resistant resilient surface. The wire loops and associated tubing may be disposed in any conventional configuration such as that of a pastry blender, potato masher, piano whisk; an egg whisk; a flat whisk; a balloon whisk; or a Swedish style/helical wire configuration.

Abstract: A wire whisk that is safe for use on non-stick cookware with an array of flexible wire loops, each loop having two ends secured to the inner end of the handle. The whisk has silicone tubing surrounding each wire loop to render it heat resistant but non-abrasive for use on non-stick coating surfaces. Silicone tubing together with internal wire loops preserves the superior whipping action of flexible wire with the non-stick non-abrasive properties of a silicone surface. The wire loops and associated tubing may be disposed in any conventional whisk configuration such as that of a piano whisk; an egg whisk; a flat whisk; a balloon whisk; or a Swedish style/helical wire configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides tongs for manually grasping items having two elongate tong members pivotally joined together with a hinge pin. The tong members pivot between an open position and a closed position, each member having a forward grasping end, a hinged portion adjacent and projecting rearward of the hinge pin, and an inner channel extending forwardly and rearwardly from the hinge pin. A novel bow spring has two arms each sliding in the channels between a forward position engaging the channels forward of the hinge pin, and a rearward position engaging the channels in the hinged portion adjacent the hinge pin. The spring resiliently biases the tong members to the open position when the bow spring is in the forward position, and retains the tong members in the closed position when the bow spring is in the rearward position.

Abstract: A cover or splatter screen for a cooking vessel which in use rests atop the cooking vessel to prevent splashing of hot liquid, especially fatty liquid from the vessel during cooking, while permitting passage of water vapor and steam from the cooking vessel; the cover has a support frame and a wire mesh screen extending between opposed sides of the frame and a plurality of support legs in spaced apart relationship extending outwardly of the support frame and downwardly of the wire mesh screen; the support legs support the cover in a free-standing configuration on a flat supporting surface with the wire mesh screen spaced from the flat supporting surface; typically the flat supporting surface is a kitchen working surface, and thus the cover may be supported on the kitchen working surface with the wire mesh screen in non-contacting relationship with the kitchen working surface, whereby soiling of the kitchen working surface by fats retained by the wire mesh screen during working is avoided.

Abstract: A device and method for generating a frothed milk product from a milk composition employs a planar agitator blade having opposed, smooth flat faces extending perpendicularly of a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a smooth cylindrical outer wall between the flat faces; the outer wall has a circumferential length significantly greater than the distance between the opposed faces. The device produces thick milk shakes even when employing no-fat or low fat milk or yogurt in place of normal homogeneous milk. A blender having a blender blade with opposed flat surfaces and a smooth cylindrical outer blade wall, and having ribs extending radially outwardly along the opposed surfaces, serves to puree fruit or vegetable morsels with the milk composition, to produce fruit or vegetable flavored milk shakes.

Abstract: A device and method for generating a frothed milk product from a milk composition employs a planar agitator blade having opposed, smooth flat faces extending perpendicularly of a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a smooth cylindrical outer wall between the flat faces; the outer wall has a circumferential length significantly greater than the distance between the opposed faces. The device produces thick milk shakes even when employing no-fat or low fat milk or yogurt in place of normal homogeneous milk. A blender having a blender blade with opposed flat surfaces and a smooth cylindrical outer blade wall, and having ribs extending radially outwardly along the opposed surfaces, serves to puree fruit or vegetable morsels with the milk composition, to produce fruit or vegetable flavoured milk shakes.