Abstract: A can opener mechanism (30) which reduces the noise and vibration associated with the use of typical ratchets but remains reliable if contaminated with excess grease, water or small food particles. The mechanism (30) can be used in manual form with a manual rotary input in the form of a butterfly handle or a rotary lever, or can be used in an automatic form in which an electric motor drives the mechanism via a gear train. The can opener mechanism (30) is also suited to being removably mounted into an electrically powered can opener (70) such that the mechanism (30) can be removed and washed independently of the remaining can opener (70) that houses the electrical components.

Abstract: An easy to operate, extremely quiet, efficient can engagement and opening mechanism is provided for use in an opener for a can, and that provides a pair of missing teeth operating endpoints at opposite ends of its opener cycle, along with an eccentrically operating idler gear and cutter gear urging mechanism that produces a non-jamming foolproof mechanism that can be urged forward to a closed and operating position or reversed to a disengagement and non-operating position.

Abstract: An easy to operate, extremely quiet, efficient can engagement and opening mechanism is provided for use in an opener for a can, and that provides a pair of missing teeth operating endpoints at opposite ends of its opener cycle, along with an eccentrically operating idler gear and cutter gear urging mechanism that produces a non-jamming foolproof mechanism that can be urged forward to a closed and operating position or reversed to a disengagement and non-operating position.

Abstract: An easy to operate, extremely quiet, efficient can engagement and opening mechanism is provided for use in an opener for a can, and that provides a pair of missing teeth operating endpoints at opposite ends of its opener cycle, along with an eccentrically operating idler gear and cutter gear urging mechanism that produces a non-jamming foolproof mechanism that can be urged forward to a closed and operating position or reversed to a disengagement and non-operating position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retrofit actuator that can be fitted interchangeably to either a toggle switch or a rocker switch and which mimics both the up and down action required to operate a toggle switch and the pushing force required to operate a rocker switch, the retrofit actuator capable of being operated either directly by pressing an on/off button on the switch actuator itself or remotely by sending a signal from a remote control or other sender unit such as a passive infra red detector or a programmable central sender unit that can control one or more switch actuators from a remote location.

Abstract: A board shaped mandolin slicer includes a folding leg for stability in an angled orientation, and a “dead mans handle” for to enable exposure of the blade and adjustable thickness slicing only upon actuation of the handle. In addition, a spring resist in the handle is used in conjunction with a mechanical position guide limiting switch and angled cam which allows the user to better control the degree to which a platform move forward to expose the front of a main blade, to thus adjust the thickness of the slices uniformly. An additional child safety feature includes a pair of buttons on either side of the housing which need to be urged inwardly at the same time to unlock the mandolin slicer.

Abstract: An easy to operate, extremely quiet, efficient can engagement and opening mechanism is provided for use in an opener for a can, and that provides a pair of missing teeth operating endpoints at opposite ends of its opener cycle, along with an eccentrically operating idler gear and cutter gear urging mechanism that produces a non-jamming foolproof mechanism that can be urged forward to a closed and operating position or reversed to a disengagement and non-operating position.

Abstract: A salad, rice and other foods washer and spinner includes an angled bowl and cover with a cranking handle that turns a basket and basket lid inside the bowl via a gear set. A twin speed gear set is disclosed which allows a different velocity of spin when the cranking handle is turned in one direction than when it is turned in the other direction. A bowl is angled with respect to a base member and a covering lid includes water inlet on a higher side of the lid that allows water from a faucet or jug to be directed through the cover and onto the basket lid where it is dispersed into the basket volume via holes in the basket lid, with water escaping, if desired through an outlet grille.

Abstract: A bottle opener and closer is battery powered and designed to drive a rubber-lined main drive cup which fits over a screw-on bottle cap. The main drive cup is has conically angled sides so that a small downward force on the opener and closer will cause the bottle cap to be positively engaged by a rubber liner to confer a high radial gripping force on the circumference of the bottle cap. The opener and closer may include a finger passage which allows insertion of a finger or other object for ejecting retained bottle caps. Accessory drive cups may be interfaced with the main drive cup to allow the opener to be used with an wide range of bottle cap sizes.

Abstract: A board shaped mandolin slicer includes a folding leg for stability in an angled orientation, and a “dead mans handle” for to enable exposure of the blade and adjustable thickness slicing only upon actuation of the handle. In addition, a spring resist in the handle is used in conjunction with a mechanical position guide limiting switch and angled cam which allows the user to better control the degree to which a platform move forward to expose the front of a main blade, to thus adjust the thickness of the slices uniformly. An additional child safety feature includes a pair of buttons on either side of the housing which need to be urged inwardly at the same time to unlock the mandolin slicer.

Abstract: A “fat eraser” system provides a housing for supporting and possibly enclosing a low temperature heat absorbing material and having a thermally conductive area of material in a shallow conic shape which can be brought into contact with a volume of food to enable a low temperature solidification of fat onto the thermally conductive area of material. A combination storage stand and fat scraping body includes scraping blades having an upper contour which is complementary to the shallow conic shape of the thermally conductive area of material to provide a self-centering ability to cleanly scrape and remove and collect any solidified fat from the thermally conductive area of material by rotating the thermally conductive area of material about its conical center and against the combination storage stand and fat scraping body.

Abstract: A vibrating peeler uses a vibrator in the form of a more powerful motor plus larger weight and within an inner housing. The inner housing is placed in an outer housing and a damper is placed between the outer handle and inner housing. Several embodiments are shown for blade loading. An alternative embodiment light weight eccentric which drives a heavier mass, but only back and forth rather than a circular pattern. This vibrating arrangement puts more lateral motion to the blade, and avoids other motion in directions not parallel to the blade.