Abstract: A juice press includes a lower handle with a cup that receives a food product to be juiced, such as half of a citrus fruit. The lower handle is rotatably coupled to an upper handle that is manipulatable between an open position and a closed position. A press pivot is rotatably coupled to the lower handle and to the upper handle and includes a press plate. A linkage is rotatably coupled between the upper handle and the press plate of the press pivot. Force applied to the upper handle is concentrated to a center of the press pivot and thus a center of the food product via the linkage and press plate to improve efficiency and effectiveness of juicing the food product.

Abstract: A spice mill includes a main body with an internal cavity and a cap removably coupled to the main body to selectively provide access to the internal cavity. A drive shaft extends at least partially through the main body, with the cap transferring rotational motion to the drive shaft. A first grind stone is coupled to the main body and a second grind stone is coupled to the drive shaft. An adjuster assembly is at least partially received in the second grind stone to vary a size of a gap between the first and second grind stones. The second grind stone rotates relative to the first grind stone to grind a material received from the main body and output the ground material through the gap on sides of the spice mill.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation.

Abstract: A method of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation is described and claimed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: A method of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation is described and claimed.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: This invention describes and claims the stimulation of several Wolfcamp and Bone Springs targeted wells in the northern Delaware Basin using fracturing treatments and a new method employing relatively small pre-pad pill volumes of Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersions ahead of each stage of treatment have been successfully performed. The invention includes a method of extending an oil and gas system ESRV comprising the steps of adding a Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersion (“BRINE RESISTANT SDND”) to conventional oil well treatment fluids. The invention also includes a method of increasing initial production rates of an oil well by over 20.0% as compared to wells either not treated with the BRINE RESISTANT SDND technology or treated by conventional nano-emulsion surfactants. The Method focuses on the steps of adding a Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersion to conventional oil well treatment fluids.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: A pouring device includes a container, a stiffening member with first and second stiffening portions having respective terminating ends spaced from each other. The first and second stiffening portions are coupled to the container with a deformable region of the container being positioned between the terminating ends of the first and second stiffening portions. The deformable region can be more resilient than the stiffening member to form a pour spout at least in part from the deformable region upon application of a force to the container toward opposing sides of the deformable region.

Abstract: A basting device for applying a basting medium to a food comprises an elongated body forming a hollow portion at its distal end and a handle portion toward its proximal end. The device may further include a working portion having a coupling member and a basting member, the coupling member having first and second ends, each end may have an exposed surface adapted to conform to a finger tip of the user. The first end is adapted to removably engage the hollow portion of the elongated body, and the second end is coupled to the basting member. The basting member may include a plurality of concentric bristle members. In other embodiments the basting device may include or be adapted to accommodate a variety of tools. In yet other embodiments, the basting device may include a bulb in fluid communication with the working portion.

Abstract: Devices for extracting and filtering juice from fruit of various sizes and shapes are shown and described. In one particular embodiment, the device has an inner juicing cup, an outer juicing head, and a collection vessel. The inner juicing cup has an inner juicing head. The outer juicing head couples with the inner juicing cup. When coupled together, the outer juicing head encloses the inner juicing head. In addition, the collection vessel couples with the inner juicing cup. In another embodiment, the inner and outer juicing heads have teeth and blades, respectively, of varying degrees of sharpness. In another embodiment, the inner juicing cup has a drainage region for allowing juice to flow into the collection vessel, a first filtering region for filtering juice flowing from the heads to an external container, and a second filtering region for filtering juice flowing from the collection vessel to the external container.

Abstract: A portable beverage container comprises a base portion having a seat adapted to support the beverage container on a surface and/or in a holder, the base portion being fabricated from a first material such as plastics, rubbers, metals, and/or silicone. The portable beverage container further comprises a lip, which a user contacts when consuming a beverage, sealingly and rigidly attached to the base and fabricated from a second material, different from the first, the second material being adapted to enhance a drinking sensation of the user. The second material can for example comprise ceramic, bone china, stones, and/or glass. In other embodiments, the beverage container may include a bone china handle with a silicone over-mold.

Abstract: A container for liquids and a lid for the same are shown and described. The disclosed embodiments incorporate a container and a lid, the lid having: a base removably, sealably coupled to the container; a mouth adapted to facilitate drinking and/or pouring liquid out of the container; and a valve member positioned therebetween. The valve member is rotatable between an open orientation in which an aperture in the valve member aligns with openings in the base and mouth, and a closed orientation in which the aperture does not align with one or both of the openings. A handle/actuator can be used to manipulate the valve member, and can be oriented to function as a handle for the container when the valve member is in the closed configuration, and to be moved out of the user's way when the valve member is in the open orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetically sealing a cover of a beverage container comprises a body having an opening, at least a first magnetic member of a first polarity disposed on at least a first portion of the body and a second magnetic member of a second polarity, substantially opposite the first polarity, disposed on at least a second portion of the body, the first magnetic member magnetically retaining the second magnetic member in first and second positions, independent of mechanical assistance, to expose at least a portion of the opening to allow fluid flow to and from the container when in the first position and sealingly occlude the opening to prevent spillage when in the second position.

Abstract: A kitchen whisk having a whisk-head attached to a grippable handle by a coupling, the handle having a flex zone for enhancing the “whipping” action of the whisk-head. A cable can be embedded within the flex zone region of the handle for reinforcing the same, the ends of the cable being disposed between and encased within a handle core and an inner plug core, the inner plug core being located within the coupling. In addition, the coupling captures the ends of the wires for attachment to the handle.

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 80 A and Shore 82 A. 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.