Abstract: A tool for applying compression, most suitable as an edible nutshell remover, comprises a pair of elongated legs (10,12) hingedly attached at one end (14), with roughened jaw sections (30,34) adjacent the hinge and grasping sections (32,36) remote from the hinge. The legs are shaped such that when they are closed as far as possible the jaw opening diverges so that a nut or other workpiece can be placed at a location whereby maximum closure of the legs will crack the nutshell (42) without damaging the nutmeat (44). Also the jaw sections are curved in a matching convex-concave configuration so that when the legs are closed, the jaw sections will exert a combination of compression and rolling or shear forces upon the workpiece placed therebetween, so as to enhance the effect of the compressive force applied to the workpiece.

Abstract: A prying device, most useful as a plastic cork lifter, comprises an elongated member (10) having a handle section (12) at one end and a prying section (14) at the other end. The prying section comprises a fork with separated dual tines (16/18) having narrowed inner edges which fit into the groove between the cork (20) and bottle (22), below the head of the cork above the neckband of the bottle. A wire hoop (24) extends out from the prying section. The wire hoop is looped around the top of the bottle, just below the cork. The hoop is springably retracted toward the prying section for storage and for aiding in positioning the dual tines in the groove between the bottle and the cork. The hoop is vertically pivotable at the prying section and is bent by about 90 degrees to form an upright "V" (34) at approximately midway out from the prying section.

Abstract: A rotatably mounted paint roller to the axle of which a handle is pivotally attached through an intermediate oscillatable connector permitting rollable as well as swingable yieldingly limited movements of the roller in opposite directions within a predetermined plane.