Hand Support Comminutor Patents (Class 241/168)
  • Patent number: 12127712
    Abstract: An electric pepper grinder, wherein, on the one hand, a control switch is provided to avoid starting the grinder by mistake when the gravity switch is turned off inadvertently; on the other hand, the storage bin is formed on the shell non-detachably, and it is just necessary to open the bin cover during loading; further, the storage bin is located in the three-segment structure between the grinding and power mechanisms, realizing evener loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Zhuhai Kelitong Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Song Xiaoxian
  • Patent number: 11998144
    Abstract: A disposable mixing system includes a lid having an opening and configured to hold contents within a container, a strainer configured to couple with the container and the lid in a position between the container and the lid, where the strainer mixes the contents responsive to shaking the container, and a cap configured to cover the opening of the lid, where at least the lid and the strainer are formed in a unified piece. The system may be manufactured from a single sheet of plastic using thermoforming. The strainer may use flat surfaces and large triangular orifices for efficient mixing and manufacture, while the lid may have a spout sized to prevent clogging and pressure build-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Adam Friedman
  • Patent number: 11938245
    Abstract: Cartilage fibers and implants made therefrom are disclosed, with and without cartilage particles. Methods for making the cartilage fibers and the implants containing them are also disclosed. The implants may be pre-shaped, may be reshapable and, when implanted in a cartilage defect, the implants have good shape retention, little swelling, completely fill the cartilage defect and resist migration from the defect upon irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
    Inventors: Michael A. Nasert, Florence Stoffel, Paul R. Williams, Alex Callahan
  • Patent number: 11918545
    Abstract: A pill cutter attachable to a pill bottle for splitting a pill to form a split pill that includes a pill cutter body extending between first and second body ends. The first body end presents a first surface for holding a pill. A lid is coupled to the first body end, is moveable between open and closed positions, and presents a second surface facing the first surface when in the closed position. A cutting instrument is coupled to the second surface of the lid and is configured to split the pill to form a split pill when the lid is moved from the open position toward the closed position. A cutter connector extends away from the second body end of the pill cutter body. The cutter connector is configured to attach rotatably to a pill bottle to collectively define a holding chamber for holding the split pill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Jeffrey Newsom
  • Patent number: 11766153
    Abstract: A grinder adapted to grind plant material having a handle and three cylindrical receptacles, each receptacle comprising teeth. Plant material is ground when the handle is rotated axially. The teeth are interconnected through a shaft and gears to the handle. An elongated shaft traversing the receptacles and lower gears rotate axially when the handle is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Liam O'Donnell, Meighan O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11717112
    Abstract: A modular food dispensing device comprising a food container configured to contain and dispense a food product, a drive module for mechanically driving the food container to dispense the food product, and one or more magnets provided on one or both of the food container and drive module for releasably connecting the food container and drive module. The drive module is releasably connectable to the food container to selectively form a mechanical linkage for transmitting a driving force from the drive module to the food container to dispense the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventor: Edward J Brown
  • Patent number: 11647867
    Abstract: A dispenser for a first solid flowable material and a second flowable material, including an actuator for providing rotational motion on a shaft. A first reservoir holds the first material, and a second reservoir holds the second material. A metering unit selectively passes at least one of the first material and the second material. A grinder grinds the at least one of the first material and the second material passed by the metering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: James C. Kelson
  • Patent number: 11596578
    Abstract: A pill grinder and a method for using thereof are provided. The pill grinder includes: a base plate; a guiding assembly; a handle component including a pair of handle connecting rods, wherein, a first connecting rod is connected to a first end of each handle connecting rod, a roller shaft is connected between the handle connecting rods, axial directions of the roller shaft and the first connecting rod are both parallel to a first direction, the first connecting rod is kept pressed towards the base plate by an elastic returning component; and a grinding component, sleeved outside the roller shaft. When the handle component rotates around the first connecting rod, guided by the guiding assembly, the grinding component has a grinding stroke along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Therefore, pills can be better grinded with easier operation and less time, and safety in use is largely enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Song Yang
  • Patent number: 11440016
    Abstract: The invention is a mill or rolling mill for processing cereals, granular materials, mixtures of cereals and similar products, comprising at least one pair of parallel cylinders (C, C?) positioned side by side, wherein each cylinder (C, C?) of each pair is provided with a torque motor that in turn is mounted or assembled directly on the shaft of the respective cylinder (C, C?), and at least one control circuit (Z) suited to select which one of said two cylinders (C, C?) of each pair rotates faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: OMAS SRL
    Inventors: Adriano Nalon, Gabriele Nicoletti
  • Patent number: 11419457
    Abstract: An herb grinder comprises a first enclosure defining a first chamber for holding unground herbs, first and second grinding plates, and a second enclosure defining a second chamber that receives ground herbs. The first grinding plate defines an opening that allows unground herbs to pass from the first chamber. The grinding plates each have a plurality of grinding teeth. The second grinding plate is parallel to and spaced apart from the first grinding plate to define a grinding space therebetween. The second grinding plate defines a plurality of holes. The grinding teeth of each grinding plate are staggered such that, when the first and/or second grinding plates selectively rotate, there is no contact between the grinding teeth. The relative movement of the grinding teeth grinds herbs in the grinding space. The ground herbs pass through the plurality of holes in the second grinding plate into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Austin Louis Joel
  • Patent number: 11203021
    Abstract: A herb grinder includes: a main body with a receiving indentation, which has a spout indentation; a cutting section with top and bottom cutting parts, a magnet, and a ferromagnetic part; a main body with a receiving indentation, which has a spout indentation, a center interior, traversal ridges, a flow blocker, an exit canal, and an exit aperture; a slidable exit lid that covers the dispensing aperture; a window, a light source, a rotatable dispensing spout assembly with a dispensing arm and a dispensing spout that is configured to connect with an empty cigarette tube; a dispensing vibrator, and a vibration button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Cloudious9 Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Yao Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 10932622
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for grinding and storing, for example, herbs or spices. In particular, the grinding device of the present disclosure is preferably integrated directly with a mason jar. The grinder can generally include a bottom portion configured to be inserted into the threaded mouth of the mason jar and captured thereto with a common mason jar screw ring. The bottom portion can include a bowl with a plurality of teeth extending upward therefrom. The grinding device can additionally include a top portion with an annular wall extending from a disc portion and teeth extending from the bottom surface of the disc. The top portion can be sized and dimensioned to be received in and engage the bowl of the bottom portion. The user may twist the top portion freely in the bottom portion in order to grind materials therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Jesse James Haskins
  • Patent number: 10792223
    Abstract: A pill dispensing apparatus for use to dispense a pill from a blister package includes a base assembly having an interior cavity formed by an upper plate coupled to a lower housing, the upper plate having an opening and partially extending over the lower housing to form a spout in the lower housing, an arm pivotably mounted to the base assembly and having a post protruding downward toward the base assembly, and a spring coupled to the arm and upper plate of the base assembly. The apparatus is designed to receive the blister package between the base assembly and arm. Pivotal movement of the arm toward the base assembly allows the post of the arm to push the pill in the blister package through the opening in the upper plate of the base assembly. This allows the pill to travel in the base assembly's internal cavity and out the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Nathaniel Paul Lamaster
  • Patent number: 10575532
    Abstract: A chicken skinning handheld kitchen tool of a unitary structure is provided. In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for conically shaped kitchen tool with a ridged base member and a top member having teeth or tine extending therefrom and curving downward at a variable angle of 45 to 90 degrees. The present invention may be made from a thermoplastic polymer that is sufficiently rigid to withstand forces that would normally be applied without breaking and sufficiently flexible so that it will flex during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Cecilia Amajoyi
  • Patent number: 10478825
    Abstract: A portable grinder for herb or vegetative material comprises a top section having a motor and disc with a plurality of top grinding knives protruding downward, a middle section having a plurality of bottom grinding knives protruding upward and a plurality of apertures, and a bottom section. In one embodiment, ground material is discharged through apertures in the middle section, where the size is regulated by a screen, and/or is retained in the middle section until the top section is removed. In a further embodiment, the grinder may be operated electrically or manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: LUVNKURE INC.
    Inventor: Heba Mroue
  • Patent number: 10441111
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding a mineral includes a head operable to be attached to a bottle. The head includes a radial slider for controlling the coarseness of the grind. The apparatus further includes an inner grinding element, an outer grinding element, a shaft, and a neck sleeve. The inner grinding element is in communication with the head. The outer grinding element is also in communication with the head, wherein the outer grinding element and the inner grinding element are operable to rotate relative to each other. The shaft extends through the inner grinding element and the outer grinding element. The shaft couples with the inner grinding element and comprises a blunt end. The shaft also extends through the neck sleeve, which acts as a spacer between the inner grinding element and the blunt end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: B&G FOODS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Allan E. Wade, Aaron F. Fitchko, Chun Man Chen, Alex Liu
  • Patent number: 9975263
    Abstract: A slicer is provided which slices a slicing subject with a uniform thickness and can be used in a sanitized manner. The slicer includes a resin-made frame which supports both ends of a slicing blade, a resin-made movable support plate attached to the frame so as to be able to ascend and descend, first reinforcing members buried in the frame, a second reinforcing member buried at one end of the movable support member in a width direction, and a third reinforcing member buried at the other end. The first reinforcing members, the second reinforcing member, and the third reinforcing member absorb bending stress acting on the slicer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Benriner Co., LTD
    Inventor: Hajime Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9737092
    Abstract: An herbal grinder and reservoir having a conical shape wherein said herbal grinder comprises a top grinding cap and a grinding section comprising a plurality of grinding knives; and wherein said grinding section comprises a plate having a drop through pattern for allowing ground material to exit the grinding section and fall into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ASPENDAM, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Grumbacher, David Markle
  • Patent number: 9730554
    Abstract: A storage and grinding device and method provides the dual functionality of forming an airtight compartment for storing herbs to protect their flavor and essence, and disassembling into a grinder to grind, tear, and shear the herbs. The device forms an airtight compartment with detachable lids that detach from the compartment and join together to form a unitary grinder, generally for grinding the contents of the compartment. A first and second lid form an airtight seal over each end of the compartment. The airtight seal is formed when the first and second lids form a hermetic seal at each end of the compartment. The airtight seal enhances the flavor and smell of the herbs by retaining the essence within the compartment and keeping the herbs impervious to gases. The first and second lids can disengage from each end of compartment, and engage each other to form a unitary grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Erik Chan
  • Patent number: 9687276
    Abstract: A device for removing skin having a cartridge with a file containing a plurality of cutting edges for scraping skin, wherein the cartridge is connected to a handle such that the removed skin is collected between the cartridge and the handle, and a removable cover that may be connected to the cartridge by placing the cover over the cutting surface so as to shield the user from the cutting surface when the implement is not in use and/or to prevent removed skin from exiting the cartridge through the cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL EDGE INC.
    Inventors: Jun Yang, Ajit Khubani
  • Patent number: 9352488
    Abstract: A caulking tube assembly is provided having a cap and an auger component. The auger component has an auger engagement head portion and a helical or spiral portion. The helical portion is compressible and sized to be fitted in a tube for holding caulk. The auger engagement head has a hexagonal shaft housing sized to receive a mixing shaft therein. A dye or tint color formula is added to caulk disposed in the tube and the mixing shaft engages the auger component mixing the caulk and dye or tint color formula to produce tinted caulk. The caulk is colored to satisfy the requirements of virtually any application and dispensed from a caulking gun. In another preferred embodiment there is a caulking tube assembly with having a closed cap and a mixing component. The mixing component has a shaft engagement portion and a shaftless auger portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Charles J. Agnello
  • Patent number: 9180071
    Abstract: A pill preparation device is disclosed. The pill preparation device includes a base, an anvil supported by the base, and a platen coupled to the base and movable relative to the anvil. The platen has a crushing surface oriented toward the anvil and a rolling surface on a side opposite the crushing surface. The pill preparation device also includes a lever arm slidably coupled to the base and rotatable about a pivot, and a roller coupled to the lever arm and offset from the pivot, such that the lever arm is operable to selectively position the roller about the platen. Force applied to the lever arm forces the platen toward the anvil to facilitate breaking up a pill disposed between the crushing surface and the anvil. Movement of the lever arm causes movement of the roller to facilitate breaking up a pill disposed between the roller and the rolling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Lighthouse for Nurses Medical Devices LLC
    Inventor: Todd Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20150053802
    Abstract: A grinder has a jar having a surface provided with a screwthread. A grinding cap has a lower part engageable over the surface of the jar and provided with a screwthread such that the lower part can be screwed onto the jar and an upper part rotatable on the lower part. Grinding formations on the parts are effective on relative rotation of the parts. A ramp projects radially from the jar surface toward the cap surface, and a generally angularly extending and radially elastically deflectable arm has an inner end fixed on the cap surface and an outer end spaced in a relaxed condition of the arm radially outward from the cap surface toward the jar surface. The arm is oriented to engage and have its outer end deflected radially toward the cap surface by the ramp on screwing of the lower part onto the jar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Josef BURGER
  • Patent number: 8955687
    Abstract: The present invention may be used for separation of plant extract material from plant material. A tubular container with an open first end and a closed second end may be constructed of a rigid material. A plant material may be place in the tubular container. The tubular container may be inserted in a tubular screening container having an open first end and a screen covered second end to position the screen covered second end over the open first end of the tubular container. The separation apparatus may then be shaken with the screen covered second end over a surface for receipt of extract material. A frozen material, for example, dry ice, may be placed in the tubular container with the plant material as part of the process method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Stratford Dews, Kermit McCoy
  • Patent number: 8944355
    Abstract: A kitchen utensil device comprising of an elongated handle and tapered silicone fins. The kitchen utensil device is useful for effectively stirring foods and liquids and also has a sharp cutting edge on the bottom. This makes the kitchen utensil device useful for both stirring and chopping, potentially replacing two separate common kitchen tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Eric Paul Rose
  • Patent number: 8925842
    Abstract: A grating device for grating material includes a hollow handle having an interior cavity and a grater removably attachable to the hollow handle in a first configuration and a second configuration. The handle includes a top wall portion having a major outer surface configured to abut against a palm of a hand of a person gripping the grating device, a pair of elongated longitudinal sidewall portions, a closed end wall portion, and an open end wall portion on an opposing side of the hollow handle from the closed end wall portion. The open end wall portion of the hollow handle includes at least one surface extending through the hollow handle defining a passageway between the interior cavity of the hollow handle and an exterior of the hollow handle. Such a grating device may be used to grate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Brandon Juarez
  • Patent number: 8857747
    Abstract: A food preparation plate is replaceable and engagement means for retaining the food preparation plate are present between the food preparation plate and a retaining part. The food preparation plate can move in translation in a direction perpendicular to a plane constituted by the retaining part. Two places on the back side of the food preparation plate that is retained in the retaining part can be simultaneously pressed in the direction of the front side by the digits of different hands; and by simultaneously pressing those two places with digits of different hands, the food preparation plate is moved in translation in the direction of the front side thereof, so as to release the engagement means and allow the food preparation plate to be detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kai R & D Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaharu Goto
  • Publication number: 20140252149
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grinder, comprising a container bottle for containing a spice, a grinding assembly interconnected with the container bottle and used for grinding the spice and a casing for accommodating the grinding assembly. A feeding mechanism for pushing the spice in the container bottle into the grinding assembly is further provided between the container bottle and the grinding assembly in the casing. Compared with the prior art, the design of the feeding mechanism in the present invention provides a solution for feeding of a spice with large volume and/or a relatively smooth spice with small friction in the prior art, so that the grinder provided by the present invention is applicable to not only grinding of a granular spice, but also grinding of a leafy spice with large volume and light weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: NINGBO CHEFSHERE KITCHEN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lv Ding
  • Patent number: 8757529
    Abstract: A condiment grinder which has a body for containing different types of condiment seeds and at least three grinding mechanisms provided at an open end of the body through which condiments ground by the respective grinding mechanisms are to be dispensed. An actuator is provided with the grinder for upon actuation generating a drive that drives the grinding mechanisms via respective transmission paths. A clutch in each of the transmission paths is used to establish and disestablish transmission of the drive via that transmission path, and there is a manually operable selecting mechanism for selecting and operating one of the clutches in order to establish transmission of the drive via the relevant transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samson Bright Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Yu Wing Tang
  • Patent number: 8740118
    Abstract: A grinding device, comprising a body configured as a hollow barrel having an opening and a first fixing element positioned close to the opening; an inner cap configured to mount to an inner wall of an end close to the opening of the body having a second fixing element corresponding to the first fixing element; wherein an aperture is provided on the inner cap, and a first leak-proof seal is configured to surround the aperture; an outer cover having a second leak-proof seal, wherein the second leak-proof seal engages the first leak-proof seal for leak-proofing; and a grinding element positioned inside the body and capable of moving therein freely; wherein an area of any cross section of the grinding element is bigger than the aperture of the inner cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Rega Biotechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Kuo, Bruce Lai
  • Patent number: 8720808
    Abstract: A pill is divided using a pill splitter and crusher device having a first member coupled to a second member. The first member comprises a pill-receiving cavity and the second member comprises a blade and an anvil. In some contemplated embodiments, the anvil is configured to crush a pill placed within the cavity and the blade is configured to split the pill within the cavity. Furthermore, the anvil is coupled to the second member, such that the anvil could move from a crushing position to a non-crushing position, which allows for crushing and splitting of the pill, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kinn, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Chandler Young, Chi Hung Cao, Alexander James McKinnon
  • Publication number: 20130334347
    Abstract: A device for extracting zest from a fruit includes a body, a carrier coupled to the body, and a blade coupled to the body. The carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade and holds the fruit as the blade separates a portion of the flavedo from the pith of the fruit's peel to extract zest from the fruit. The device also includes an arm that urges the blade against the fruit's peel to generate contact pressure as the carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade, and that allows the blade to move toward and away from the carrier to accommodate the contour of the fruit's peel, which is often curved. The blade includes a plurality of teeth, each configured to cut a portion of the fruit's flavedo from the fruit's pith without separating the pith from the berry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Zip Zester LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Stanley Willis
  • Publication number: 20130280385
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a milkshake, wherein ice and a liquid with dividing means are put together in a substantially liquid-tight container, after which this container is shaken, such that the ice in the container is divided into small pieces by the dividing means, wherein the ice is preferably provided as a multiplicity of units of ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: DAIRY INNOVATIONS B.V.
    Inventors: Maarten Arns, Harry Schippers
  • Patent number: 8534579
    Abstract: A grinding device includes a mobile grinder group having openings for dispensing a ground product and a fixed counter-grinder having a central hole the surface of which comprises a grinding surface. The grinder group has a casing and a grinder which can be fixedly coupled, the grinder having a grinding surface that is inserted inside the central hole of the counter-grinder and that cooperates with the opposing grinding surface of the counter-grinder when grinding a product. The grinder group is arranged straddling the counter-grinder with the casing being arranged outside the counter-grinder. The casing can rotate with respect to the counter-grinder and is axially mobile with respect to the counter-grinder between two or more reciprocal adjustment positions. The grinder and the counter-grinder are made in a substantially rigid material and the casing is made from a substantially flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Drogheria E Alimentari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giacinto Carapelli
  • Patent number: 8448887
    Abstract: The present matter provides an improved grating surface and graters having an improved grating surface. The grating surface includes one or more cutting blades extending outwardly from the grating surface each including a cutting edge, and at least one groove located on the grating surface and extending towards the cutting edge of the at least one cutting blade. The at least one groove can be located on the cutting blade surface and extend towards and into the cutting edge. The at least one grove can be formed by chemical etching techniques (e.g. in a grating surface of metal such as stainless steel). Grooves and cutting blades can be simultaneously formed in a grating surface by chemical etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Browne & Co.
    Inventors: David Green, David Chan, Karen Chow
  • Patent number: 8403243
    Abstract: A food grater having an improved cutting surface with teeth that are configured to prevent or reduce the sideways pull against a food item as it travels along the cutting surface. In a preferred version, the blades are formed with a V-shape that improves the ability of the user to push a food item straight down the cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Kent
  • Patent number: 8393563
    Abstract: A grinder used to grind material, such as tobacco leaves and other dried fruit and herbs, having windows or plastic covered openings that provide visual access to the interior of the compartment in which the finely grinded material is collected. These windows or plastic covered openings allow the user to visually determine whether sufficient material has been grinded without the burdensome task of repeatedly opening and closing the compartment. Furthermore, the grinder of the present invention is designed to allow the windows or openings to be covered and sealed by a single clear plastic part that is injection molded directly onto the sidewalls of the grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Inhale, Inc.
    Inventors: Rani A. Chaoui, Zhou Li Bo Wang Xin
  • Patent number: 8376255
    Abstract: An adjustable grinder, includes a container, a stator, a rotor, a drum, and a rotary slide. The container can hold a product to be ground. The stator is positioned on the container. The rotor is positioned opposite to the stator and can rotate with respect to the stator. The drum is positioned around the rotor. The rotary slide includes a pointer that can be adjusted such that a distance between the stator and the rotor increases or decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: McCormick & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tracie Wilson, Sebastien Rime, Olivier Rattin
  • Publication number: 20120312908
    Abstract: A food grater includes a handle and one or more pivoting grating surfaces that can be stowed within the handle or pivoted outward for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Kent
  • Publication number: 20120267462
    Abstract: A grater for single-handed operation has a handle adapted to be grasped by the fingers, and a plunger adapted for engagement with the thumb. The plunger is slidingly received in an opening extending longitudinally through the handle, with a spring urging it to an extended position. A grating cutter and a cooperating holder for locating a food item adjacent the grating cutter are both disposed in a cavity within the handle. A detachable container for holding the food item encloses a resiliently-biased pusher for urging the food item toward the grating cutter, and reciprocating the plunger causes relative movement between the grating cutter and the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: MAXPAT TRADING & MARKETING (FAR EAST) LTD.
    Inventor: Patrick WAIBEL
  • Publication number: 20120256024
    Abstract: A pill crusher pouch having ribs and intersecting straight bottom seal portions. The pill crusher pouch is used for holding a pill or tablet to be crushed by a pill crusher device so as to form a powder that can easily be dispensed and provided to a patient. The ribs increase the strength of the walls of the pouch, preventing rupture. A curved flap is folded over into an open end and resiliently pressing against the inside surface of an opposing sidewall sealing the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Tiger Medical Products (US), Inc.
    Inventors: Mark ENGEL, Song Yang
  • Publication number: 20120241543
    Abstract: A condiment grinder which has a body for containing different types of condiment seeds and at least three grinding mechanisms provided at an open end of the body through which condiments ground by the respective grinding mechanisms are to be dispensed. An actuator is provided with the grinder for upon actuation generating a drive that drives the grinding mechanisms via respective transmission paths. A clutch in each of the transmission paths is used to establish and disestablish transmission of the drive via that transmission path, and there is a manually operable selecting mechanism for selecting and operating one of the clutches in order to establish transmission of the drive via the relevant transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Yu Wing TANG
  • Patent number: 8240586
    Abstract: An adjustable grinder, includes a container, a stator, a rotor, a drum, and a rotary slide. The container can hold a product to be ground. The stator is positioned on the container. The rotor is positioned opposite to the stator and can rotate with respect to the stator. The drum is positioned around the rotor. The rotary slide includes a pointer that can be adjusted such that a distance between the stator and the rotor increases or decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: McCormick & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tracie Wilson, Sebastien Rime, Olivier Rattin
  • Patent number: 8205816
    Abstract: This utility patent is a single-handed vertical solid material grinder. It includes a shell, a handle set with a motion handle and a mounted handle, and a grinding set. The grinding set has a sector unit that is a sector cylinder with parallel teeth and a grinding unit with fixed teeth. The mounted handle is placed inside the shell. Between the motion handle and the shell is an elastic repositioning unit. There is a driving set between the motion handle and the sector unit. When using one hand to pull and then release the handle set, through the handle set inside the shell and the grinding set of sector unit and grinding unit, the motion handle will drive the sector unit move back and forth around the spinning axis, thus pushing the parallel teeth on the sector surface to smash back and forth through the fixed teeth on the grinding unit's surface. Thus the solid raw material is caught between the surfaces of the parallel teeth and the fixed teeth and is grinded down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Yan Kwong Wong
  • Publication number: 20120080548
    Abstract: A food grater having an improved cutting surface in which cutting teeth are configured with cutting edges that are inclined in alternating directions. In various embodiments, the cutting surface is incorporated into a hand-held, box, pyramid, or other grater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Kent
  • Publication number: 20120074252
    Abstract: A dough blender includes a handle and a plurality of tines. The tines may be in the form of thin plates having channels between them. A scraper is provided on the tines, attached to the blender to be moved across the tines to scrape food particles from the channels between the tines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Kent
  • Patent number: 8087602
    Abstract: A mortar and pestle, the pestle having a dome-shaped top formed to be cupped within the palm of the hand, a body, and a bottom portion, the bottom portion formed to include a male apex. The interior of the mortar is formed to include an inverted frustum-shaped wall and an interior bowl extending from the interior inverted frustum-shaped wall. The bowl includes a female apex which cooperates with the male apex and into which the male apex may nest. The pestle has an external surface profile which is substantially similar to, and cooperates with, a mortar internal surface profile. Rotating the top of the pestle in a smooth, continuous motion about a circular locus processes material placed in the mortar as the pestle profile sweeps the mortar profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Eric Y. Teng
  • Patent number: 8074915
    Abstract: A container for holding an edible liquid has a storage chamber for holding the liquid. The storage chamber has at least one outlet. The container also has an ingredient chamber separate from the storage chamber and for holding a flavor enhancing ingredient. A grinder is provided to communicate with the ingredient chamber for grinding the flavor enhancing ingredient. The grinder has at least one opening for dispensing the flavor enhancing ingredient on the opposite side of the grinder from the ingredient chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventor: Keely Eileen Wheaton
  • Publication number: 20110290926
    Abstract: An adaptable multi-grater set has a special wing configuration that allows it to be attached on different bowls and stewpots. The multi-grater set has side-accessories, such as the wings which can be put on an axis, a scale part, mini bowls, and different grater blades/slicers which can be fixed on the wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: ARZUM ELEKTRIKLI EV ALETLERI SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventor: Murat Kolbasi TALIP
  • Patent number: 7959346
    Abstract: A beverage mixing vessel or drink shaker has internal features effective for breaking up ice as the beverage mixing vessel or drink shaker is shaken. One or more protrusions disposed near the bottom of a container have apexes aligned in the direction of shaking motion. The impact of ice cubes upon the apexes of the protrusions facilitates breaking the ice cubes into smaller pieces, thereby having the effect of cooling a mixed beverage more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Bill Loden