Abstract: A food grater is provided. The food grater includes a housing sidewall and a grater blade disposed adjacent to the housing sidewall. The grater further includes a moveable door having an extension, the moveable door being connected to the housing sidewall for movement between open and closed positions. In each of these positions at least a portion of the extension is disposed between the housing sidewall and the grater blade with a greater portion of the extension being disposed between the housing sidewall and the grater blade when the door is in the closed position than when the door is in the open position. The door cooperates with the housing sidewall to encompass the blade. The door also cooperates with the grater blade to define a variable-volume food-receiving compartment which has a greater volume when the moveable door is in the open position than when the moveable door is in the closed position.

Abstract: Shears have two crossed pivotally interconnected levers, each having a blade end and a handle end, and normally biased open. Upper and lower handles are, respectively, connected to the handle ends of the levers, the upper handle having a low-friction outer surface and including front, rear and medial portions, while the lower handle has a high-friction outer surface with a downwardly convex lower portion. The front portion of the upper handle projects upwardly to stop forward movement of the hand. The medial portion is of reduced cross section to facilitate hooking of the user's thumb thereover. The rear portion has a laterally upwardly and inwardly sloping upper surface. An elastomeric loop depends from the lower handle rearwardly of the front portion of the upper handle and receives therethrough only the middle finger of the user's hand.

Abstract: A mixing bowl has a unitary inner shell including a circular base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly therefrom to an upper peripheral rim defining the open mouth of the bowl, the side wall having a spout at one side thereof and, diametrically opposite thereto, a laterally outwardly extending two-part handle, including an upper part unitary with the inner shell of the bowl and a lower part fixed thereto. The handle has a compound upper surface and a recessed lower surface to facilitate grasping. The base and the lower portion of the peripheral side wall have the outer surfaces thereof covered with an outer shell of frictional material.

Abstract: A universal handle for household and other hand-held implements, the handle being adapted to ergonomically render the implement to which it is applied useable by individuals who have diffculty in firmly grasping a conventional handle. The universal handle, which is fabricated of elastomeric material having good thermal insulation and cushioning properties, includes an internal cavity to socket the core shank of the implement. The handle has an elliptical cross section, the opposing sides of the handle adjacent its upper end each having a concave depression, in each of which an array of spaced, flexible fins is anchored to define a depressible grip site. When the fingers of a user's hand are clenched about the handle, the internal region of the resultant fist conforms to the form of the handle to provide a good grip thereon, the thumb and forefinger pressing into the grip sites to enhance the user's grip on the handle.

Abstract: A universal handle for household and other hand-held implements, the handle being adapted to ergonomically render the implement to which it is applied useable by individuals who have diffculty in firmly grasping a conventional handle. The universal handle, which is fabricated of elastomeric material having good thermal isulation and cushioning properties, includes an internal cavity to socket the core shank of the implement. The handle has an ellipticl cross section, the opposing sides of the handle adjacent its upper end each having a concave depression, in each of which an array of spaced, flexible fins is anchored to define a depressible grip site. When the fingers of a user's hand are clenched about the handle, the internal region of the resultant fist conforms to the form of the handle to provide a good grip thereon, the thumb and forefinger pressing into the grip sites to enhance the user's grip on the handle.