Abstract: A food chopper blade column for use in a food chopper having a receptacle and cover. The column will be rotated in a cutting direction within the chopper during use, and mounts a plurality of cantilevered blades spaced circumferentially about the column. The upper blades include a leading edge having a single bevel cutting edge on their lower face, as well as trailing edge which is angled downward. The lowermost blade includes a leading edge having a single bevel cutting edge on its upper face, and a flat trailing edge.

Abstract: A freezable reusable bottle having a body and a cap engaged with the body. The body includes a container portion and a neck portion extending from the container portion. The container portion includes a plurality of ribs extending along a longitudinal axis of the reusable bottle. The cap removably engages with the neck portion of the body. The body includes a polymer composition of about 85 to 90 percent of polypropylene (PP) and about 10 to 15 percent of an SEBS additive. The bottle may be frozen when filled with a liquid, with the ribs accommodating expansion of the contents during freezing, and the additive providing impact resistance accommodating the rigid frozen contents.

Abstract: A portioning device includes an integrated handle, actuating lever, and rack with teeth, with the handle having an aperture at the top. The rack is formed to be easily placed, and retained, in an initial position for assembly. One or more scoops are provided which may each be detachably connected the handle top end. A wiping blade may be detachably connected to the scoop for free rotation within the scoop. The wiping blade includes a shaft having a number of gear teeth, together with a camming surface leading to the first tooth on the shaft. Insertion of the scoop and wiping blade shaft into the handle aperture results in the first rack tooth acting as a camming surface and rotating the wiping blade to the proper clocking position with the first tooth of the shaft engaged with the first tooth of the rack. In this manner the number of component parts is reduced significantly, while at the same time allowing for re-use of the handle with the various interchangeable scoops.

Abstract: A drinking straw has an elongated body with a longitudinal flow channel. The user end of the body is closed and rounded for safety. A pair of lateral channels open onto the body adjacent the user end and provide fluid communication to the flow channel. The straw is injection molded, and a mold is provided which accommodates thermal expansion of a rod forming the flow channel. A pair of opposed cavity inserts form the lateral channels. To reduce bending stresses on the rod upon removal of the cavity inserts, one cavity insert is formed longer to the other. This longer cavity insert is removed prior to opening of the mold plates, and as such the straw and rod are supported against bending during this removal.