Abstract: Described herein is a cooking pot comprising (a) a food vessel that has an opening in the shape of an oval or a polygon with more than two sides, and (b) a lid sized and shaped to substantially cover the opening of the food vessel. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lid has a ring protruding from the bottom face, concentric about a vertical axis of the vessel. When the lid is rotated about the vertical axis at an angle from a closed position, the protruding ring is positioned adjacent to an interior edge of the vessel, corners or vertices of the opening are uncovered, and corresponding corners or vertices of the lid hang over the vessel exterior.

Abstract: Described herein is a cooking pot comprising (a) a food vessel that has an opening in the shape of an oval or a polygon with more than two sides, and (b) a lid sized and shaped to substantially cover the opening of the food vessel. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lid has a ring protruding from the bottom face, concentric about a vertical axis of the vessel. When the lid is rotated about the vertical axis at an angle from a closed position, the protruding ring is positioned adjacent to an interior edge of the vessel, corners or vertices of the opening are uncovered, and corresponding corners or vertices of the lid hang over the vessel exterior.

Abstract: A silicone basting brush is provided. The brush has a handle portion and a basting portion. The basting portion includes a plurality of flexible silicone bristle units. The bristle units are slotted for receiving and retaining a basting sauce in the slots and releasing the sauce from the slots when the bristle unit is flexed by applying the basting portion to the surface of a food.

Abstract: A locking utensil is provided. The utensil has a pair of pivoting spring-loaded arms each having a forward functional end and a rear attachment end. The utensil includes a locking assembly, featuring an eccentrically shaped cam disposed in a channel between the arms. One side of the cam has a projecting shoulder dimensioned to frictionally engage an inside surface of the channel when the shoulder side of the cam is rocked into contact with the inside surface. The cam can releasably retain the arms closed to lock them. An actuator tab that extends out of the channel is used to rock the cam into and out of locking engagement.

Abstract: Lockable tongs are provided having a pair of elongate tong members joined at a hinge point for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position for grasping an item, each elongate member defining a U-shaped channel comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion projecting in opposite directions from the hinge point and a locking mechanism, disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis extending between the elongate members and configured to rotate between an unlocking position and a locking position which releasably locks the elongate members in the closed position, the locking mechanism being disposed within the U-shaped channel between the rearward portions of the elongate members.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of laminating a furniture item with silicone elastomer, having a cured Shore hardness of at least about 10. A silicone-laminated furniture item is also provided. The furniture item may be used in high-traffic areas, and is expected to have particular application in health care and other institutional environments.

Abstract: Lockable tongs including a pair of elongate tong members joined at a hinge point for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position for grasping an item; and, a locking mechanism disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis extending between the elongate members and configured to rotate between an unlocking position and a locking position which releasably locks the elongate members in the closed position.

Abstract: A security device for attaching laptop computers and the like to a desk includes a body portion which is to be received in an aperture of the work surface of a work station or desk. The body portion includes a grommet which fits within the aperture with a flange at the top. A lock plate bears against the underside of the work surface to hold the grommet in place. A combination of pawls and lock teeth hold the lock plate in place. Within the grommet there is a cable lock to which the computing device is attached.

Abstract: An infuser vessel (1) for containing solid particles (2) while immersed in a liquid, such as loose tea leaves in hot water, where the perforated infuser vessel (1) includes a manually movable piston (7) operated with a flexible wire (11) topped with a manual grip (12) extending upwardly from the liquid, whereby tea leaves (2) within the vessel (1) may be manually agitated to increase the speed and efficacy of infusion, while the manual grip (12) remains high and dry above the liquid.

Abstract: An infuser vessel (1) for containing solid particles (2) while immersed in a liquid, such as loose tea leaves in hot water, where the perforated infuser vessel (1) includes a manually movable piston (7) operated with a flexible wire (11) topped with a manual grip (12) extending upwardly from the liquid, whereby tea leaves (2) within the vessel (1) may be manually agitated to increase the speed and efficacy of infusion, while the manual grip (12) remains high and dry above the liquid.