Hand Support Comminutor Patents (Class 241/168)
  • Patent number: 6910650
    Abstract: A security device for breaking frangible items such as CDs. The device has a pouch of flexible material. The pouch has hinged jaws on one surface. The CD is placed in a pocket in the pouch and manual folding force is applied to cause the pouch and jaws to fold to break the contained CD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Mark J. Siegelman
  • Patent number: 6896214
    Abstract: A fruit grating tool includes a tube-shaped housing, a cap releasably connected to the housing, a pressing member arranged under the cap and biased down by a spring, a rotary member having a knob arranged on top of the cap, and a grating base arranged under the pressing member and connected to the rotary member; the grating base has a grating surface on an upper side thereof, and many sharp edged tangential holes thereon; fruits are put on the grating base to be pressed against the grating surface by means of the pressing member, and are grated by means of the grating surface when the knob is operated to cause the grating base to rotate; the fruits will pass down via the sharp edged tangential holes of the grating base after having been grated into small pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 6877684
    Abstract: A grinding tool operable with single hand includes a housing capable of standing upright, a lever, a one-way mechanism, and a grinding mechanism; the lever has an inner end formed with gear teeth, and is pivoted to the housing, and biased outwardly of the housing by a spring to be capable of being pushed and released repeatedly; the one-way mechanism has an actuating gear engaging the inner end of the lever, and a one-way bearing; the actuating gear is engaged with the bearing for causing angular displacement of the bearing together with it only when it is turned in a first direction by means of pushing the lever inwardly of the housing; the grinding mechanism includes an inner wheel turnable together with the bearing, and a stationary outer wheel around the inner wheel so that the contents can be ground between the wheels when the lever is pushed and released repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-Te Wu
  • Patent number: 6860441
    Abstract: A grater and method for grating, wherein a grating panel is connected to a handle with a gripping portion aligned behind the grating surface back side below the top end and above the bottom end and in a common plane with the directional vector, the gripping portion further forming an angle with the downward directional vector, the gripping portion vector angle less than 90 degrees. It is preferred that the angle is selected to translate forces normal to and against the grating surface front side into compressive forces against a user's hand gripping the handle gripping portion. In one embodiment, the connecting means is a steel rod disposed along the panel edge portions and projects from the panel top normal to the planar panel. Some embodiments have stand elements to enable the grater to stand upon a work-surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Tyler Richardson
  • Patent number: 6830205
    Abstract: An electric pepper mill is provided with a conducting element held in position with a battery holder; the conducting element can move to an action position when the pepper mill is turned to an upright position so that it closes a circuit consisting of a motor and batteries of the pepper mill, and can move to a non-action position when the pepper mill is turned upside down so that the circuit is opened. Thus, the motor is powered by the batteries, and in turns, the pepper mill works to grind pepper when the mill is upright, and the mill stops working when it is upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Duo Yeu Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih Hung Wang
  • Patent number: 6830206
    Abstract: A grinder for pepper grains, spices, coffee beans or the like in the invention has a body, a motor seat, an engagement plate, a revolving seat, a base, a battery seat and a cover. When a press button of the cover is depressed, electricity-conducting pieces of the battery seat will be pressed to come into contact with each other to form an open electric circuit, by which a motor will be actuated to rotate a reducing gear assembly of the motor seat so that a gear of the reducing gear assembly will be rotated to turn a journal to swivel a spindle to turn a grinding member, thereby enabling the grinder to proceed with an automatic grinding operation. When the body and the revolving seat are rotated by a user with hands, the grinding member will be turned around accordingly to make the grinder proceed with a manual grinding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Heng-Te Yang
  • Publication number: 20040227022
    Abstract: A tool for cutting PET bottles and the like into ribbons. The tool comprises a toolhead having an opening, a cutting blade housed inside the opening and a slot open above and extending perpendicular to the plane of blade, downwards through the toolhead a short distance past the blade. The blade has a sharp edge across the slot. The slot receives the edge of the bottle obtained by cutting off the bottle bottom or the funnel and spout thereof. The edge is inserted in the slot and the bottle turned so that the blade cuts through the bottle following a spiral path and producing a ribbon of PET material at an outlet side of the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Miguel Friedenbach
  • Patent number: 6672524
    Abstract: A dual chamber condiment grinder has more than one chamber for holding a different condiment in each, and each chamber has a rasp that can be selectively moved up and down to grind the condiment in the associated chamber. An actuating handle rotates on the top of the chambers to position a cam over one or the other of the rasps to selectively grind the contents of one of the chambers. In the alternative, the cam can move in a slot in a movable handle to position the cam over the desired rasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Chef'N Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Peter A. Ryding
  • Publication number: 20030192971
    Abstract: A mill for grinding a spice or grain material has a grinding mechanism including: a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a lever axis, a grinder bit mounted for rotational movement about a grinder bit rotational axis, the grinder bit rotational axis being at least approximately parallel to the lever axis, and a linkage coupled to the grinder bit and coupled to the lever to transfer pivotal movement from the lever to the grinding bit. The grinder bit may be cylindrical and include a gradated set of teeth. A cam pivots an engagement surface to adjust a spacing between the engagement surface and the grinding bit to select a size of resulting particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Peter A. Ryding, Jason O. Germany
  • Patent number: 6616076
    Abstract: A spice crusher comprising a main body, a handle pivotally mounted on the main body, a crushing plate, a gear driving mechanism and a fineness control mechanism. The crushing plate, gear driving mechanism and fineness control mechanism are arranged within the main body so that the gear driving mechanism and the fineness control mechanism co-operate with the crushing plate. The driving gear mechanism enables the spice crusher to be operated easily by one hand. The fineness control mechanism controls the fineness of the crushed spices. The spice crusher may be used to crush peppercorns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Yan Kwong Wong
  • Patent number: 6616075
    Abstract: A compact and efficient spice grinder having a centrally disposed post configured for engaging a spice seed in the grinding chamber. The spice seed is initially “fractured” by a “pestle-like” seed fracturing structuring at the top of the post. When a user thereafter rotates the dome-like cover of the grinder with respect to the base, spice fragments are grated against interior blades positioned along the sidewall of the chamber adapter/extender. A dome cover is gradually lowered by a user as the spice in the grinding chamber becomes depleted. The grinder is lightweight and may be attached conveniently to a key ring or to a chain and carried as a novelty item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Millerd
  • Patent number: 6568616
    Abstract: A condiment grinder includes a housing, a chamber within or attached to the housing for containing articles to the ground such as pepper seeds. A trigger is attached to the housing. An elongate piston extends through the chamber and has serrations along a portion of its length. A linkage co-operates with the trigger and the piston to transmit reciprocal movement of the trigger to reciprocal movement of the piston. A grinding aperture adjacent to the chamber has an internal periphery and is co-operative throughout its internal periphery with the serrations of the piston to grind the articles upon reciprocation of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Samson Bright Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Tang
  • Patent number: 6550706
    Abstract: A pepper grinder has a grinding assembly including an inner grinding member and an outer grinding member turnable relative to each other to grind pepper in between. The outer grinding member is secured in a lower housing member by means of a lower securing ring connected to the outer grinding member; the securing ring has saw teeth projecting from an upper edge, and is pressed into the lower housing for the pointed ends of the saw teeth to be inserted into the inner side of the lower housing such that the outer grinding member can't turn relative to the lower housing. The inner grinding member is also secured to an upper housing by a securing ring of the kind. Thus, the inner grinding member can turn relative to the outer one when the upper housing is turned relative to the lower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Jung Kuo Enterprise Co., Ltd., Yellowtails Industrial Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Kang Lee, Shih-Hwa Yuan
  • Publication number: 20030034411
    Abstract: A spice crusher comprising a main body, a handle pivotally mounted on the main body, a crushing plate, a gear driving mechanism and a fineness control mechanism. The crushing plate, gear driving mechanism and fineness control mechanism are arranged within the main body so that the gear driving mechanism and the fineness control mechanism co-operate with the crushing plate. The driving gear mechanism enables the spice crusher to be operated easily by one hand. The fineness control mechanism controls the fineness of the crushed spices. The spice crusher may be used to crush peppercorns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Yan Kwong Wong
  • Patent number: 6409109
    Abstract: A pepper grinding tool comprises a main body, a socket, a grinding member and a transmission shaft. The socket is received in the main body, and has a rim fitted onto an annular recess in the main body. The grinding member has an outer grinding part and an inner grinding part received in the outer part can be turned for grinding pepper between the inner and the outer grinding parts. The outer grinding part also has a rim; the rim is located under the rim of the socket. Screws are screwed through the rims and into the main body to secure the outer grinding part to the main body. The shaft is connected to the inner grinding part from a lower end, and passed through an upper cover of the pepper grinding tool. Thus, pepper particulate can be dispensed from a bottom of the grinding member very easily without any residue because no any fixing element is arranged under the grinding member to block the exit of the pepper grinding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-Te Wu
  • Patent number: 6409107
    Abstract: A food processor device arranged to be held in a user's hand for slicing or grating a foodstuff, e.g., garlic, is provided. The device basically comprises a receptacle member having a “handle-like” portion with a hollow cavity at one end for receipt of the foodstuff. An elongated, “handle-like” pusher member is pivotably connected to the opposite end of the receptacle member and is arranged to be pressed down by the user squeezing on the device for pushing the foodstuff toward an outlet of the cavity. A cutting member is provided for slicing or grating the foodstuff and is releasably mounted immediately adjacent the receptacle's outlet. The cutting member is arranged to be pulled across the receptacle's out by an actuator lever mounted on the handle-like portion of the receptacle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: John J. Romano
  • Patent number: 6378794
    Abstract: A grinding assembly of a pepper grinder has an inner and an outer grinding members. The inner grinding member is turnably received in the outer member. The inner member has grinding teeth on an outer side thereof, opposing grinding teeth of an inner side of the outer member. The inner member grinding teeth are not in touch with the outer member grinding teeth. The inner member further has a lower end annular part touching lower ends of the outer member grinding teeth. Because the grinding teeth do not touch each other, the inner grinding member can be turned more smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-Te Wu
  • Patent number: 6318652
    Abstract: A grater according to the present invention has a frame and a blade attached to the frame. The frame has a handle extended from a short side of the frame. A recess is defined in an inner part of the hollow of the frame near the handle such that the blade can be removed easily from the frame. The blade has a contiguous side wall extending downward and the side wall mates with an opening defined in the frame. As the grater has changeable blades, it is possible to deal with various vegetables and fruits by selection of the suitable blade, whereby effectiveness and convenience in using the grater are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Ming-Chien Liu
  • Patent number: 6164574
    Abstract: A mill for grinding material such as salt grains or pepper corns whose coarseness can be adjusted and whose grinding gear can be disassembled for cleaning. The mill has a middle part which serves as a reservoir for the material to be ground and an upper part which is attachable to the middle part by means of an attachment and adjustment element. In addition, the mill has a lower part which is designed to unscrew from the middle part for the purpose of cleaning the grinding gear. The grinding gear includes both an upper grinding wheel which is disposed underneath on the middle part and a lower grinding wheel which is screwed together with the attachment and adjustment element through a pivot pin. The pivot pin is connected in a nonrotatable way to the upper part. The grinding gear is actuated by turning the upper part. Using the attachment and adjustment element, the distance between the two grinding wheels and thus the degree of coarseness of grinding can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Zyliss Haushaltwaren AG
    Inventor: Hans Weibel
  • Patent number: 6082645
    Abstract: To increase the versatility of a household food grater, in which grating inserts can be inserted into a plate-like body formed with an opening, a slicing insert is provided, fitting into the opening. The slicing insert has a frame and a guide path (10) hinged to the frame, and moveable with respect thereto. The frame also carries a knife blade (14). A lever (15) projecting laterally from the frame, adjusts the position of a cutting gap between the knife (14) and the guide path (10) to control the thickness of slices being made, the lever engaging a camming surface of the guide path from beneath the surface on which food is being fed to the knife blade. Adjustment is by interengaging teeth and saw tooth-like depressions, for step-wise adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Dieter Himmighofen, Rolf Gunter Schulein
  • Patent number: 6059209
    Abstract: A pill crusher with a pivotable hammer which applies pressure to the tablets when a press applies pressure to the hammer enables a user to quickly and securely crush tablets. The hammer and the press are pivotally connected to opposing ends of a body which has a crushing recess. Tablets are sandwiched between cups which are disposed in a crushing bowl. The crushing bowl is rotatably and removably located in the crushing recess. The hammer has a crushing head configured to be pivoted into the rotatable crushing bowl. The crushing head has a crushing surface configured with a pattern of alternating recessed portions and raised portions. The press is eccentrically connected and a lever extends eccentrically from the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: John C. Barson
  • Patent number: 5988543
    Abstract: A pepper grinding tool comprises a toothed plate capable of moving relative to a toothed portion of an adjustable grinder part, and an adjustment assembly for adjusting a position of the grinder part relative to the toothed plate such that the pepper grinding tool can grind pepper between the toothed plate and the toothed portion into ground particulater of various degrees of according to need. The adjustment assembly includes a threaded portion screwed into a threaded hole of the grinder part, and a finger portion for a user to turn the adjustment assembly therefrom for adjusting the position of the grinder part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Yienn Lih Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-Te Wu
  • Patent number: 5915637
    Abstract: A pill crusher having an elongated base, an anvil integrally fixed to the base, a movable handle and a compression link, pivotally coupled to the base and pivotally connected to the handle, for facilitating rotational movement of the handle relative to the base. A platen is coupled pivotally to an anchor block on the base and connected at the other end to the handle so that movement of the handle produces movement of the platen relative to the anvil, for crushing a pill between the two. A pouch is provided, for receiving a pill to be crushed. It is adapted to fit in a mouth defined by the anvil and the platen. The pill crusher includes a cover fixed to the base and disposed above the rear anchor block, the cover providing an onboard dispenser for a plurality of pouches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Links Medical Products Inc.
    Inventor: J. Stuart Parsons
  • Patent number: 5800854
    Abstract: A system for making pasta comprises in combination a dough bin having a bottom, extrusion holes associated with the bin bottom, and a hydrated pasta dough mixture in the bin which extrudes from the extrusion holes. Due to the percentage of fluid ingredients in the dough mixture, the pasta is extruded through the extrusion holes due to the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: William Jaeger
  • Patent number: 5711491
    Abstract: A food grater including a grater blade removably mounted to the forward face of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined housing positioned for the reception of the grated foodstuff. The housing has a handle pivotally secured to the rear thereof and movable between an open rearwardly and downwardly inclined position bracing the housing, and a forward folded position partially nested within the rear portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Molo
  • Patent number: 5709346
    Abstract: A condiment mill has a catcher device installed on the bottom thereof opposite the grinder to catch and prevent the dropping of condiment grindings left over after the mill has been used. The catcher device is in the form of a receptacle and cover which is pivotally mounted on the mill. This cover is resiliently urged towards a closed position by a leaf spring and can be manually placed in retention in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventors: William E. Bounds, deceased, by Helen J. Bounds, executrix
  • Patent number: 5685501
    Abstract: A portable electric spice mill is configured to be easily carried in a pocket or purse, having a grating wheel turning with a drive shaft extending perpendicularly to a motor shaft extending from a motor powered by a battery. These shafts are connected by a pair of gears. The grating wheel turns within a hopper supplying spices for grating, being disposed above a plate including a number of holes through which grated spices flow. A rear cover forms a battery compartment and a portion of the walls of the hopper, while an intermediate plate forms the remaining portion of these walls. A front cover extends around the motor and an electric switch, which is closed by the depression of a button to begin and maintain operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Dianne Marie Wagner
  • Patent number: 5651506
    Abstract: A multi-compartment condiment grinder which comprises a cylindrical enclosing housing, preferably transparent, which is divided into a plurality of separate compartments. Each compartment is designed to be filled with a type of condiment with there normally being different types of condiments located within each compartment. The bottom end of the enclosing housing is mounted on a sleeve assembly with this sleeve assembly being pivotable. The sleeve assembly includes a center section which is basically closed except for a hole. The center section is to be mounted against the bottom end of the enclosing housing. Pivoting of the sleeve assembly will move the hole to align with a single dispensing opening of a compartment with the hole being capable of being aligned with each dispensing opening. The condiment flows through the hole into a grinding chamber with a grinder mechanism being mounted in conjunction with the grinding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Leeds Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. J. Hockey
  • Patent number: 5586732
    Abstract: The invention was developed in order to effectively crush and disperse various samples easily and efficiently without using any expensive device. By laminating a polyethylene film 3, a net member 7, a net member 9 and a polyethylene film 5 in sequence and welding these members to one another at weld portions 13a and 13b, a bag member 15 is formed. Further by forming a fastener 17 in the vicinity of an opening 15a, a crushing and dispersing bag 1 is completed. After a sample and a dispersing medium are introduced through the opening 15a, the bag is sealed with the fastener 17. Subsequently, when the crushing and dispersing bag 1 is squeezed, the sample is ground by the file-like irregularities formed by the net members 7 and 9 on the inner surface of the bag 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Shimakyu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshige Yamauchi, Shonosuke Nishi
  • Patent number: 5551643
    Abstract: A fluorescent tube breaker apparatus includes a housing assembly which defines a bulb-receiving chamber for receiving a fluorescent tube. The housing assembly includes a first end portion, a body portion, and a second end portion. The second end portion is selectively removable and replaceable with respect to the body portion, and the body portion includes a spike-receiver aperture. A tube breaker assembly is connected to the housing assembly and includes a housing-connection portion connected to the housing assembly. A hinge portion is connected to the housing-connection portion. A lever portion is connected to the hinge portion, and a spike portion is connected to the lever portion. The spike portion projects from the lever portion and is in registration with the spike-receiver aperture of the body portion of the housing assembly. The spike portion includes a connected end which is connected to the lever portion of the tube breaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Michael Chapin
  • Patent number: 5513810
    Abstract: A thickness adjuster for an ice shaver includes a flat plate to receive an ice block, a movable gear vertically combined with the flat plate to raise it up and lower it down to adjust the height between the bottom of the ice block and a blade so that shaved tiny ice pieces by the blade may be very fine or very rough. The movable gear is combined with a connecting member and then is engaging a transmitting disc gear also engaging a engaing gear portion or a revolvable adjusting disc, the revolvable adjusting disc being rotated to raise up and lower down the falt plate via the transmitting disc gear and the movable gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Shing-Pun Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Sue Lin
  • Patent number: 5445068
    Abstract: A device for the in situ separation of the juice of a juicy fruit, such as a citrus fruit, from the rest of the fruit which includes a grasping mechanism for grasping the citrus fruit and a rotating mechanism for rotating the fruit. The device further includes a piercing member for piercing the fruit. The piercing member includes a mechanism for sweeping the internals of the fruit. In one embodiment, the piercing member has a body and a pivotable member which is pivotably connected to the body. The pivotable member is pivotable about a pivot point so as to move within the citrus fruit as the citrus fruit is rotated to thereby bring about the separation of the juice of the citrus fruit from the rest of the citrus fruit through centrifugal force. Finally, the device has a mechanism for pivoting the pivotable member about the pivot point. In another embodiment, the piercing member includes a blade which may be bent to sweep out the internals of the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Yigal Michelson
  • Patent number: 5379954
    Abstract: A grater assembly for foodstuffs according to the invention has a grater board having an outer frame and a central panel formed with an array of small, throughgoing, sharp edge grater holes. A brush has a rigid handle and an array of bristles projecting therefrom, and a holder formation on the frame shaped to interfit with the handle of the brush retains the brush on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Gebruder Funke KG
    Inventor: Peter Funke
  • Patent number: 5267698
    Abstract: A mechanical device to be used for removing coconut meat from coconut shell consisting of a serrated edge and a clamping device that will be attached to a stationary flat surface and will hold the tool in an upright position. The serrated edge will be used to grind coconut meat away from coconut shell, one half shell at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Ashma B. Pettit
  • Patent number: 5156084
    Abstract: A food processor comprises a work bowl with a central support axle extending from the bottom thereof part way to the top opening thereof and a cover having a crank handle rotatably fixed on an outer surface thereof to drive a gear train disposed in an interior formed inside the cover which in turn drives a spindle extending from an inner surface thereof into the work bowl. The food processor further comprises a drainer basket which is supported on the central support axle and rotated by the spindle to drain vegetables and/or fruits disposed therein when the crank handle is manually rotated, a slicer member having a plurality of slicing blades radially disposed on a central shaft at different altitude thereof, and a mixer member having a triangular and a rectangular mixing blades diametrically oppositely mounted on a central shaft with a plurality of passages formed thereon. The drainer basket, the slicer member and a mixer member can be alternately used to process food in different ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Waying-HHS Taiwan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 5123601
    Abstract: A tablet pulverizer for crushing a pill or tablet, wherein the pulverizer includes a convex arm and concave arm. The concave arm has a smooth, arcuate crushing surface which nests with a smooth, convex crushing surface on the convex arm. The meshing of these smooth, arcuate, nesting arms provide a substantial crushing surface to be applied to the pill or tablet for crushing the same without damaging the pill container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventors: Janice A. Lavin, Terence J. Lavin
  • Patent number: 5071663
    Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated cheese package and grater of cylindrical form having a grating screen secured at the bottom of the cylindrical package and means freely rotatable within the package for engaging and turning a cylindrical block of cheese within the package to cause it to be grated with the granules passing through the grating screen. The package is provided with removable sealing strips on the top and/or bottom for enhanced shelf life. Top and bottom caps are provided for resealing the package after use to maintain freshness. One cheese rotating unit comprises a plastic disc having blades on the bottom surface and finger grippable projections on the top thereof. In a variation of the package, the cheese has a central axial hole and the top cap has a shaft extending downward which cooperates with a disc having spikes to engage the cheese block thereby forming a cheese rotating unit; when the top cap is closed the extending shaft resides in the central hollow of the cheese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Inventor: Ed Dugan
  • Patent number: 5054699
    Abstract: The ribbon curling and shredding device of this invention utilizes an upper base member vertically slidably mounted on a lower base member by means of two pairs of posts which extend upwardly from one end of the lower base member and the central portion of the lower base member. These posts slidably extend through aligned apertures in the upper base member. Enlarged head portions on the post prevent the complete detachment of the two base members. Compression spring members embrace each of the posts to yieldably hold the two base members in spaced separation. A plurality of sharp needles extend downwardly from the lower side of the upper base member in the open space that exists between the two base members opposite the four posts. A pad member made of wood or the like appears in the upper surface of the lower base member immediately below the protruding needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Inventor: Arnold M. DeJaynes
  • Patent number: 5025996
    Abstract: A tablet pulverizer for crushing a pill or tablet, wherein the pulverizer includes a convex arm and concave arm. The concave arm has a smooth, arcuate crushing surface which nests with a smooth, convex crushing surface on the convex arm. The meshing of these smooth, arcuate, nesting arms provide a substantial crushing surface to be applied to the pill or tablet for crushing the same without damaging the pill container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventors: Janice A. Lavin, Terence J. Lavin
  • Patent number: 4953701
    Abstract: A fluorescent tube carrier for transporting and/or assisting in the disposal of flourescent tubes has four capsules, one for each tube. The capsules are held in a generally square cross-sectional configuration by spacers and have removable covers at either end. The covers have an interior surface that is cushioned to protect new flourescent tubes located within the capsules from shock. There are a series of tiny openings along the side of each capsule, the openings being large enough to receive a pin. When spent tubes are contained within the capsules, a pin can be inserted into the tiny openings to break the tubes. In a second disposal step, there is a rod, which is stored on the carrier, that can be inserted into each capsule to force the broken glass towards an area of the carrier where it can be disposed of. Spent fluorescent tubes have a potential of exploding at any time and therefore pose a danger during disposal. The carrier eliminates this danger during the first stage of disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: Paul T. Maddock
  • Patent number: 4887755
    Abstract: An assembly for breaking tablets is disclosed where a tablet is secured on a surface through the action of a crank working on two flanges and subsequently broken with pressure applied to a hammer which is contacted with the tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Gibilisco
  • Patent number: 4863108
    Abstract: An apparatus for breaking up, dissolving and flushing away animal excrement left on the ground or lawn includes a hollow cylindrical handle section coupleable to a garden hose at its upper end, and terminating in a hollow, frusto-conically shaped spray head at the lower end of the handle section. The spray head includes a hollow exterior shell section, and an orifice plate transversely positioned within the hollow interior space of the shell sections, the orifice plate having plurality of regularly spaced orifices whose entrance openings communicate with pressurized water introduced into the upper end of the shell section by the handle section, and whose lower exit openings produce streams of water at various angles adapted to efficiently break up a pile of animal excrement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: William D. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4848680
    Abstract: Raw food cutter for cutting raw food into strips, with a base plate on whose top surface are provided two butting faces located in one plane and between which is arranged at least one knife row running substantially at right angles to the cutting direction and whose knives with approximately inverted U-shaped cutting edges that project above the butting faces and are open towards the underside of the base plate. The underside of the knife is at least partly inclined towards the base plate, the knife row is constructed in arcuate meander-like manner and preferably in one piece from a thin metal band. The thin metal band includes upper and lower transverse webs and lateral webs linking them and is fixed with the lower transverse webs in the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: A. Borner GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Borner
  • Patent number: 4798116
    Abstract: There is provided a miniaturized document shredding device having engaging dual frictional conveyor rollers rotatably mounted within an enclosure. Fixed cutting blades are spaced across the width of the rollers and protrude through slits within the rollers to present cutting edges at the point of engagement of the rollers. In one embodiment these blades are mounted to the enclosure and protrude through the rollers, and in a second embodiment are mounted to the roller shafts between roller segments. With this arrangement, documents dropped through the top opening in the enclosure are picked up by the frictional rollers and conveyed by the rollers past the cutting blades to produce a shredded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Inventors: Marc L. Silver, John Pizzolato
  • Patent number: 4794854
    Abstract: A press particularly useful as a garlic press that includes a two-piece bowl having a plurality of holes through one surface thereof (e.g. the bottom surface). The bowl is preferably hinged along one side wall so that the bowl can be opened into two separate portions connected at the hinge. Each portion of the bowl includes a plurality of grooves on the contacting edges of the two portions. An arm is connected on the side of each bowl opposite the hinge, and when the two arms are brought together, the bottom surface of the bowl is unified with the grooves forming the openings in the bottom surface. A plunger depressed over the garlic minces the garlic or other pressable article placed in the bowl. Then the bowl may be opened about the hinge so as to permit the sidwall of the openings to be exposed for easy cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Inventor: C. Hall Swaim
  • Patent number: 4790488
    Abstract: A kitchen utensil for cutting vegetables, in particular potatoes, into strips. The kitchen utensil comprises a base plate, which has provided on the upper side thereof at least one slide surface and, when seen in the direction of cutting, behind said slide surface, knives, which are open towards the underside of the base plate and the height of which projects beyond that of said slide surface. The knives are arranged in transverse rows, which are displaced relative to each other, and are provided with U-shaped cutting edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Alfred Borner
  • Patent number: 4763847
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for striking an inspection window, and destroying any future uses of plastic security containers, by utilizing a single lever arm using one pivot point and a crushing chamber. Plastic security containers placed into a crushing chamber are destroyed when force is applied to the single lever arm. Structure is provided to prevent expulsion of debris from the plastic security container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: Gary A. Vosburgh
  • Patent number: 4588136
    Abstract: A shaving apparatus for shaving food such as ice cubes made by a domestic-use refrigerator including a reservoir or container, a cutter blade, a rotating cylinder, and a mechanism for rotating the cylinder. The rotating cylinder can hold a large number of ice cubes and has at least one projecting portion engaging with the ice cubes. The rotating cylinder is rotatably supported about the axis thereof and is rotated by the mechanism. The ice cubes are rotated by the projecting portion of the cylinder and shaved by the carrier blade into fine slivers of ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honma
    Inventor: Shinobu Homma
  • Patent number: 4572444
    Abstract: A food chopper having a handle and a plurality of concentric cylindrical cutting blades, each having a vertical wall and a cutting edge at the bottom thereof with flowthrough openings formed in the vertical walls with adjacent flowthrough openings being separated by relatively narrow structural struts. A first handle member closes the top of the outermost of the blades and has a plurality of flexible finger members forming a generally cylindrical area. A block member carrying at least two concentric cutting blades with a second handle member projecting from the block member is adapted to snap fit into the central cylindrical area defined by the finger members. Spring means is mounted in the block member to urge one of the concentric cutting blades outwardly so that the cutting edge thereof is normally positioned outwardly of the cutting edge of the outermost blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Inventor: Laurine R. Shadduck
  • Patent number: 4473192
    Abstract: A tablet breaking device comprises a base and a tablet splitting edge in the base. Means are provided for holding a tablet such that a portion of the tablet extends over the tablet splitting edge. The tablet holding means comprises an elongated opening tapering in depth and width. A moment of force sufficient to break the tablet can be created about the tablet splitting edge by applying a force substantially normal to a portion of the tablet extending over the tablet splitting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Hoefchst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph J. Urban, Norman L. Henderson