Abstract: A plastic skewer for holding food items helps prevent food items from rotating on the elongated stem of the skewer or sliding off of the stem of the skewer, is inexpensive to manufacture, and can be subjected to food heating or cooking temperatures without melting. The outer surface of the stem is unsmooth or roughened to help prevent the food item being held on the stem from rotating on the stem or sliding in the lengthwise direction of the stem.

Abstract: A poultry leg retainer having a bridle having a spar and side members defining loops or openings adapted to receive the hocks; an extensible strap attached to the spar and extending across the loops or openings and adapted to cooperate with knuckle creases on the hocks; a separator or tab projecting from the spar inwardly between the loops or openings for cooperating with the hocks so as to assist in retaining the hocks within the loops or openings; and an anchor having upturned ends adapted for engagement with an interior cavity of the poultry carcass, the bridle and extensible straps forming a basket structure for retaining the hocks to truss the legs against the poultry carcass. The anchor can have a front surface defining a protrusion and a back surface defining a groove complementary to the protrusion, the protrusion of one retainer being fittable within the groove of another retainer.

Abstract: A poultry leg retainer for use with a poultry carcass having legs with hocks, the retainer having an anchor, a connecting leg, and a bridle portion. The anchor has an anchor beam that extends in a substantially transverse direction of the retainer. First and second outer ends of the anchor beam are pointed and upturned. The connecting leg is coupled on a distal end thereof with a central portion of the transverse anchor beam and extends in a longitudinal direction of the retainer substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction of the anchor beam. A curvilinear member of the bridal portion has a central portion that is coupled with the proximal end of the connecting leg and first and second arcuate portions that define first and second downwardly-facing openings, respectively, configured to engage first and second poultry hocks, respectively. The retainer is also configured to facilitate stacking of multiple retainers.

Abstract: A pressure indicator comprising a printed or coated film with micron sized particles disbursed in a transparent binder, wherein the particles change from white to transparent when exposed to high pressure.

Abstract: A pressure indicator comprising a printed or coated film with micron sized particles disbursed in a transparent binder, wherein the particles change from white to transparent when exposed to high pressure.

Abstract: A cooking bag and a method for cooking food using a cooking bag, with the cooking bag having a variable opening vent formed from a thinning of the bag material, perforations through the bag, and/or slits through the bag, and a tear-off strip for browning and removal of the food product from the bag.

Abstract: A multi-stage temperature indicating device having a first elongate housing and an indicator assembly, the indicator assembly being slidably positioned in a first bore of the first elongate housing and having a middle indicator stem and an inner indicator stem. The multi-stage temperature indicating device also has a means for urging an inner indicator stem, to a second set stroke, out of the middle indicator stem, and for sliding the middle indicator stem, to a first set stroke, out of the first elongate housing.

Abstract: A multi-stage temperature indicating device having a first elongate housing and an indicator assembly, the indicator assembly being slidably positioned in a first bore of the first elongate housing and having a middle indicator stem and an inner indicator stem. The multi-stage temperature indicating device also has a means for urging an inner indicator stem, to a second set stroke, out of the middle indicator stem, and for sliding the middle indicator stem, to a first set stroke, out of the first elongate housing.

Abstract: A multi-stage temperature indicating device having a housing having a bore formed therein having a closed end and an open end, the housing having a first neck region spaced from the closed end, a first internal cavity between the first neck region and the closed end, a second internal cavity between the first neck region and the open end; an indicator rod comprising a first stem stretch and a second stem stretch; an extension segment having a first extension stretch and a second extension stretch, the second extension stretch slidably cooperating with the first stem stretch; the indicator rod and the extension segment slidably positioned in the bore; and a fusible material retaining the indicator rod and the extension segment in the housing, wherein different portions of the fusible material soften at different predetermined temperatures, whereby upon the softening of a first portion of the fusible material allows a spring to urge the indicator rod a first distance out of the housing indicating that a first t

Abstract: Pressure measurement and recording mediums and devices that can respond accurately and reliably to uniform pressure conditions including non-gaseous environments and industrial processing environments are disclosed. Also discloses are methods of making and using the devices.

Abstract: A multi-stage temperature indicating device having a housing having a bore formed therein having a closed end and an open end, the housing having a first neck region spaced from the closed end, a first internal cavity between the first neck region and the closed end, a second internal cavity between the first neck region and the open end; an indicator rod comprising a first stem stretch and a second stem stretch; an extension segment having a first extension stretch and a second extension stretch, the second extension stretch slidably cooperating with the first stem stretch; the indicator rod and the extension segment slidably positioned in the bore; and a fusible material retaining the indicator rod and the extension segment in the housing, wherein different portions of the fusible material soften at different predetermined temperatures, whereby upon the softening of a first portion of the fusible material allows a spring to urge the indicator rod a first distance out of the housing indicating that a first t

Abstract: A device for retaining and trussing the hocks of poultry carcass in juxtaposition and proximal to the carcass during processing, packaging, shipping, storage, and/or cooking. The present invention, including hock retaining members, can be constructed of a unitary, plate-like member of resilient material and can include two openings for fitting about and retaining the hocks, an anchor to be affixed to the carcass, and a connecting means between the hock retaining members and the anchor. The connecting members provide a spring force to keep the hocks and thus the legs juxtaposed to the carcass and each other.

Abstract: A skewer for anchoring at least two pieces of foods having a base member and a stem member that has a penetrating tip and a stabilizing member.

Abstract: The use of thermopolymeric switching medium in temperature monitoring devices in which thermopolymeric switching medium is used as a retaining materials and are based on polymeric compositions that can be designed and programmed to meet selective parameters in production and performance. The thermopolymeric switching mediums can be formulated in a pure state or can include additives, such as fillers or active materials to impact the characteristics of the thermopolymeric switching component.

Abstract: A device for retaining and trussing the hocks of poultry carcass in juxtaposition and proximal to the body during processing, packaging, shipping, storage, and/or cooking. The present invention, including a hock retaining member, may be constructed of a unitary, plate-like member of resilient material and it includes two openings for fitting about and retaining the hocks, an anchor to be affixed to the poultry carcass, and a connecting member between the hock retaining member and the anchor. The connecting member provides a spring force to keep the hocks and thus the legs juxtaposed to the carcass and each other.

Abstract: A combined animal information tag and system comprising a relatively permanent primary information tag attached directly to the animal to provide primary information about the animal and a removable or replaceable supplemental identification or informational tag attached to the primary information tag to provide additional information about the animal.

Abstract: A device for retaining and trussing the hocks of poultry carcass in juxtaposition and proximal to the body during processing, packaging, shipping, storage, and/or cooking. The present invention, including hock retaining members, may be constructed of a unitary, plate-like member of resilient material and it includes two openings for fitting about and retaining the hocks, an anchor to be affixed to the poultry carcass, and a connecting means between the hock retaining members and the anchor. The connecting members provide a spring force to keep the hocks and thus the legs juxtaposed to the carcass and each other.

Abstract: A supplemental identification or informational indicia means for use with an animal tag so as to provide additional information about the animal.

Abstract: A device for retaining and trussing the hocks of poultry carcass in juxtaposition and proximal to the body during processing, packaging, shipping, storage, and/or cooking. The present invention is a unitary, plate-like member of resilient material comprising two generally C-shaped members for fitting about and retaining the hocks. The generally C-shaped members are located proximally to each other and about an axis of symmetry.