Abstract: An apparatus for hardening the hitting head area of a wooden baseball bat by compressing of the wooden fibers on the surface thereof which includes a base housing assembly with a track and a carriage assembly with a rail member. The rail member and the track are engageable together to facilitate movement of the carriage assembly with respect to the base housing assembly. A compression roller is mounted to the housing and a bat is retained to the carriage adjacent the roller. The roller is biased into abutment with the bat for compressing the wooden fibers of hitting surface to increase the hitting power thereof as the carriage with the bat mounted thereof is manually powered for abutting movement along the adjacent compressing roller. The bat can be selectively mounted in a bat receiving zone defined by a plurality of U-shaped retaining brackets mounted to the carriage assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for hardening the hitting head area of a wooden baseball bat by compressing of the wooden fibers on the surface thereof which includes a base housing assembly with a track and a carriage assembly with a rail member. The rail member and the track are engageable together to facilitate movement of the carriage assembly with respect to the base housing assembly. A compression roller is mounted to the housing and a bat is retained to the carriage adjacent the roller. The roller is biased into abutment with the bat for compressing the wooden fibers of hitting surface to increase the hitting power thereof as the carriage with the bat mounted thereof is manually powered for abutting movement along the adjacent compressing roller. The bat can be selectively mounted in a bat receiving zone defined by a plurality of U-shaped retaining brackets mounted to the carriage assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for cutting a pocket in the upwardly facing surface of a conventional bagel while allowing a rim of the base material of the bagel to remain extending upwardly therearound to define the cup-shaped open-topped pocket. This pocket is then adapted to receive a filling therein which can be of any type of edible food stock such as eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, vegetables, meat, etc. The apparatus for forming the pocket includes a housing with a floor with a pedestal defining a platform in which the bagel sits. A plate is pivoted into contact with the bagel and compresses the bagel. A cutting aperture is defined in the plate to provide a template for cutting of the pocket out of the central portion of the upwardly facing surface of the bagel. A cutting then extends through the template or cutting aperture for forming the open-topped cup-shaped pocket.

Abstract: A device for preparing such food items as omelets, fried eggs, and other foods cooked in a fry pan, skillet, or the like, includes means for horizontally reciprocating the cooking vessel while applying heat thereto. A generally conventional fry pan is quickly, separably attachable to reciprocating means, and during the reciprocal action imparted to the fry pan, heat is applied above and below the same to complete the cooking process during the continuous application of a gentle, back and forth movement to the vessel.

Abstract: An improvement in the form of an attachment to a conventional shopping cart comprises a platform to which is secured a pivot bar, the length of which is proportioned to extend beyond the ends of the platform in a position to be pivotally connected to transversely spaced frame members of the cart. The platform is secured to the top portion a frame in the form of transversely spaced, identically formed, metal loops, having reinforcing or bracing bars extending therebetween. The attachment, in one extreme position to which it is pivotally swingable, becomes wholly recessed within the space beneath the basket of the shopping cart, while in another extreme position, the platform is disposed horizontally and is extended rearwardly from the shopping cart, thus to provide a step on which one can stand to reach articles on higher shelves.