Abstract: A mill for grinding a spice or grain material has a grinding mechanism including: a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a lever axis, a grinder bit mounted for rotational movement about a grinder bit rotational axis, the grinder bit rotational axis being at least approximately parallel to the lever axis, and a linkage coupled to the grinder bit and coupled to the lever to transfer pivotal movement from the lever to the grinding bit. The grinder bit may be cylindrical and include a gradated set of teeth. A cam pivots an engagement surface to adjust a spacing between the engagement surface and the grinding bit to select a size of resulting particles.

Abstract: A device for applying liquid adhesive to seal a variety of parcel post items such as, containers, packages, boxes, envelopes and stamps. The device includes a hand-held pen-shaped housing having a roller ball therein for dispensing the adhesive. The device further includes a vent and a drain hole in the housing.

Abstract: A single-handedly operated citrus fruit segmenter having first and second arms such that squeezing the arms into a closed position causes a curved movable scoop to extend into a citrus fruit proximate to a triangular blade and form a segment-shaped compartment. The actuation of the curved movable scoop occurs by a user squeezing the first arm toward the second arm. A pin on the first arm is operatively connected to an elongated slot of a cam mechanism such that the rotation of the first arm about its pivot location causes the cam mechanism to rotate about its own pivot location. Therefore, the cam mechanism, being also connected to the curved movable scoop, forces the curved movable scoop into the citrus fruit.

Abstract: A dual chamber condiment grinder has more than one chamber for holding a different condiment in each, and each chamber has a rasp that can be selectively moved up and down to grind the condiment in the associated chamber. An actuating handle rotates on the top of the chambers to position a cam over one or the other of the rasps to selectively grind the contents of one of the chambers. In the alternative, the cam can move in a slot in a movable handle to position the cam over the desired rasp.

Abstract: A single-handedly operated citrus fruit segmenter having first and second arms such that squeezing the arms into a closed position causes a curved movable scoop to extend into a citrus fruit proximate to a triangular blade and form a segment-shaped compartment. The actuation of the curved movable scoop occurs by a user squeezing the first arm toward the second arm. A pin on the first arm is operatively connected to an elongated slot of a cam mechanism such that the rotation of the first arm about its pivot location causes the cam mechanism to rotate about its own pivot location. Therefore, the cam mechanism, being also connected to the curved movable scoop, forces the curved movable scoop into the citrus fruit.

Abstract: A dual chamber condiment grinder has more than one chamber for holding a different condiment in each, and each chamber has a rasp that can be selectively moved up and down to grind the condiment in the associated chamber. An actuating handle rotates on the top of the chambers to position a cam over one or the other of the rasps to selectively grind the contents of one of the chambers. In the alternative, the cam can move in a slot in a movable handle to position the cam over the desired rasp.

Abstract: A mill for grinding a spice or grain material has a grinding mechanism including: a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a lever axis, a grinder bit mounted for rotational movement about a grinder bit rotational axis, the grinder bit rotational axis being at least approximately parallel to the lever axis, and a linkage coupled to the grinder bit and coupled to the lever to transfer pivotal movement from the lever to the grinding bit. The grinder bit may be cylindrical and include a gradated set of teeth. A cam pivots an engagement surface to adjust a spacing between the engagement surface and the grinding bit to select a size of resulting particles.

Abstract: A condiment grinder is provided with a residue catch or door that closes the discharge opening of the grinder, the catch is connected to the movable handle that actuates the grinder so that the catch closes and opens in response to movement of the movable handle. The handle is connected to the residue catch through the grinding mechanism that includes a movable rasp retainer coupled to the residue catch.

Abstract: A condiment grinder is provided with a residue catch or door that closes the discharge opening of the grinder, the catch is connected to the movable handle that actuates the grinder so that the catch closes and opens in response to movement of the movable handle. The handle is connected to the residue catch through the grinding mechanism that includes a movable rasp retainer coupled to the residue catch.

Abstract: A hand-held hand-powered food processor having a pull cord motor for rotating a spindle that carries an arm. The arm can be a cutter blade or an elastomeric flexible peeler arm having a durometer of preferable between Shore 80A and Shore 82A. A food processor having a spindle, an elastomeric arm driven by the spindle, a stop block on a sidewall near the end of the arm, and a drive for rotating the spindle to rub against the skin of food in the processor for peeling the food. The cover of the processor has a flat outer periphery so the cover can be used as a storage unit for the contents of the processor.

Abstract: A hand-held can opener having a grip handle, a grip block pivotally mounted to the forward end of the grip handle, a scissors handle pivotally mounted to the grip block, and having a unique improved one way clutching assembly. The clutching assembly employs a pinion gear having slanted notches. A toothed ring has circumferentially spaced slanted teeth that mesh in the slanted notches. During driving rotation of the toothed ring, right angle surfaces of the slanted notches on the pinion gear and right angle surfaces on the teeth of the toothed ring mesh so that the toothed ring is rotated. This rotation is carried into rotation of a cup through mating non-circular square periphery on the toothed ring fitted in a square recess in the cup. The cup is then connected to an axle to rotatably drive the axle and thus drive the can rim drive wheel. A latch has a stop to maintain the cutter spaced from the can rim drive wheel until rotary motion of the drive wheel is halted.

Abstract: A cheese grating plate having a plurality of staggered rows of apertures, each aperture formed by fitting an insert into a hole or pushing a member into the hole, the aperture having a sharp raised edge around a substantial portion of at least one end of each aperture. In one embodiment the sharp raised edges being formed by a member pushed into the hole. The height of the sharp raised edges extends out no further than twenty thousands of an inch and preferably only ten thousand of an inch. In one embodiment the member forming the sharp raised edge is tapered, cylindrical and has circumferentially spaced edges. In other embodiments the member is a drill bit, or a tapered member that is rocked in the hole. In other embodiments the insert is pressed into the hole and extends out from the plate to form the raised edge.

Abstract: A one hand-operated citrus fruit segmenter having a handle with a grip on one end and a triangular blade with diverging segmenting surfaces on the other end, a scoop moveable toward the segmenting surfaces to form a closed compartment to entrap a fruit segment for removal from the fruit, an operating mechanism having a pair of finger pads connected to a drive rack that drives a driven rack via a pinion gear, the driven rack connected to the scoop to pivot the scoop toward the fixed blade, the heel of the user's hand pressing against the grip to hold the handle while the fingers of the same hand pull on the finger pads.

Abstract: A cheese slicer having a flat base and a blade holder releasably pivotally secured to the base for moving from a locked upright cheese slicing position to a lowered storing position. A unique wide, flat blade slidably carried in the blade holder and having an upper end with a large handle and a lower end. The lower end having a downwardly and rearwardly sloping separating surface terminating in a downwardly protruding blunt slicing edge.