Abstract: A snowman making apparatus having a hemispherical bowl element, wherein the bowl element has an open top, and an aperture at a base of the bowl element to facilitate collection of snow in the bowl element, via dragging the bowl element over a surface of snow. In a preferred embodiment, the snowman making apparatus comprises three bowl elements of differing sizes, for making a snowman comprising a base segment; a mid-section segment; and a head segment, of different sizes.

Abstract: A hamburger mold is provided, which refers to a mold that aims to greatly facilitate the preparation of handmade hamburgers, besides allowing the achievement of hamburgers of several formats, in relation to its thicknesses or containing or no containing fillings. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments present a singular and unique constructiveness, by the fact that the cradle in which the raw material of the hamburger is accommodated, is mobile and stands out from the main body. This feature even reduces or simplifies the cleaning and handling of the present mold for the preparation of hamburgers.

Abstract: The present invention may be used for pressing product and draining liquid from canned food such as tuna, drain liquids from canned food such as fruit and vegetables and press out a meat patty such as hamburger and sausage. A cap may have a press attached through a center top hole to the cap. The cap may have a width and height to fit most size canned food. The cap may have a top side drain hole. The press may have a top and a bottom piece that may attach together through center top hole of the cap.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes providing an intravascular device having a distal portion with a side port, inserting the device into the vascular lumen, positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall, directing the distal portion within the vascular wall such that the distal portion moves at least partially laterally, and directing the side port towards the vascular lumen.

Abstract: A pizza base shaping tool and a pizza base shaping method are provided that are capable of simply shaping a thin circular plate-shaped pizza base using sliced bread pieces. The pizza base shaping tool includes: a die receiver which serves as a seat; a cutting die which presses and shapes the bread piece; and a circular slipping sheet which is disposed between the die receiver and the cutting die, wherein the die receiver includes a disk-shaped placement base for placing the bread piece thereon, the cutting die includes a pressing plate which compresses the bread from the upside and a cutting die blade which is provided so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to a pressing surface of the pressing plate and is used to cut the bread piece into the predetermined diameter, and the slipping sheet is positioned to the bread piece placed on the placement base.

Abstract: A unitary elastic mold and cutter combination configured to mold and cut moldable material is disclosed herein. The mold and cutter combination comprises an elastic mold cavity having an elastic bottom wall with an embossed inner surface and an elastic sidewall extending from and unitary with a perimeter of the bottom wall. An elastic cutting blade extends from and is unitary with the sidewall of the mold cavity and is configured to cut moldable material and maintain a substantially consistent perimeter upon cutting. The cutting blade comprises a cutting edge disposed between an inner cutting blade surface and an outer cutting blade surface. The mold and cutter combination may have an elasticity sufficient to release molded material therefrom by hand stretching, wherein the cutting edge, inner cutting blade surface, and the inner surface of the sidewall of the mold cavity are stretched by an amount sufficient to release the molded material.

Abstract: A modular tool for imparting profile characteristics into fluent cementitious material. The tool has an elongated base forming a permanently fixed blade, and at least one handle. The blade is configured to act as a dovetail to which any of several modular blades may frictionally fit in removable fashion. The fixed blade forms a deflector disposed to deflect removed cementitious material away from the handles. Other blades may fit by peg and socket engagement. The tool may have detachable rollers enabling the tool to advance at a controlled elevation along a wall being formed and shaped. A slide block may be arranged to engage the rollers so as to adjust their position on the tool. The tool may have integral bubble levels.

Abstract: A promotional item has a moldable dough with a mold insert embedded therein disposed in a container. The moldable dough and the mold insert have a three-dimensional indicia associated with or representing a business and/or a product.

Abstract: An apparatus for making frozen comestibles including a base having a plurality of apertures formed within said first site thereof, and a plurality of molds attached to or formed integrally with the base. Each of the molds includes a receiving surface and an opening aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base. Each of the molds is moveable between a first position, in which a substantial portion of at least one mold is positioned within the interior portion of the base and said receiving surface forms a molding cavity that is adapted to receive a comestible to be frozen, and a second position, in which a substantial portion of the mold extends outwardly from the first side of the base and the receiving surface of the mold is exposed externally.

Abstract: A kitchen tool applies texture to gnocchi or gnocchetti. The kitchen tool has a bottom surface defining a plurality of parallel longitudinal ridges. Serrations on the longitudinal ridges help the longitudinal ridges to grip a ball of dough. A cross ridge is generally normal to the longitudinal ridges and depends below the longitudinal ridges. Sides depend below the cross ridge and the longitudinal ridges. The kitchen tool may be a part of a kit that also includes a dry dough mix. A method of using the tool also is provided.

Abstract: An adjustable food press for making a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches and other foods that are compressed during preparation. The food press has a dome and a handle assembly, attached to a pressing plate inside the dome, that adjusts the position of the pressing plate to the desired sandwich thickness. Once positioned, the handle assembly is locked in position, holding the pressing plate in place until the sandwich is ready. When the pressing plate is released, the dome is left in place to keep the food warm, or removed and used on the same or a different sandwich style. The food press functions with a variety of flat-surfaced cooking equipment used to prepare hot and cold food. The dome prevents spatter of grease and food particles on surrounding surfaces. The pressing plate is removable for cleaning or for interchanging with a different style of pressing plate.

Abstract: An earplug shaping device compresses a compressible earplug prior to insertion of the earplug into a user's ear canal. The device includes a first member and a second member which rotate with respect to each other. The outer surface of the first member and inner surface of the second member define a space that decreases in size as the first and second members rotate with respect to each other, thereby compressing the compressible earplug. Various embodiments of the earplug shaper employ a ratchet mechanism permitting substantially only one direction of rotation.

Abstract: A device for making patties of compressible food matter of different sizes, for example meat patties, comprises a first member having a first compression plate for making a patty of a corresponding size and shape. The device further comprises a second member to be added onto the first member. The second member has a second compression plate to extend from the first compression plate to form therewith a larger compression plate when the first member is mounted onto the second member, in order to make a food patty of a corresponding larger size. The first and second members have respective cooperating attaching means to connect the members in an assembled position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for forming articles of food. The methods and devices are configured for forming exterior portions and interior portions of a food article so as to form a cavity for placement of similar or different articles of food therein. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a forming device configured for forming an exterior portion of the food article in a first step, an interior portion of the food article in a second step and an interior and exterior portion in a third step.

Abstract: Provided is a floor construction apparatus that includes a guide unit that is disposed on surface of a floor to be constructed, and a flattening unit that is guided by the guide unit, to then be transferred to flatten the surface of the floor to be constructed, and to thereby reduce a construction time and expense for flattening of the construction surface of the floor.

Abstract: The invention features a press for making a football shaped pressed food that may include, e.g., a logo, insitodgnia, and/or indicium of a football, e.g., the laces, pebble-grain texture, and/or vertical stripes) imprinted therein or thereon, and methods and uses thereof.

Abstract: A promotional item has a moldable dough in a container where the container and the moldable dough have a three-dimensional indicia associated with or representing a business and/or a product.

Abstract: A drum is provided having a peripheral surface with texture features thereon. The texture features may be a plurality of grooves for applying riblets to an airfoil surface. Methods of using the drum are also provided.

Abstract: A hand operated injection molding apparatus constructed from prefabricated sub-assemblies and a desired mold clamping means attached to a main support structure, and then electrically integrated with each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow for the manufacture of a number of drainage channels of different heights, widths, thicknesses, shapes, and slopes from only one mold or a greatly-reduced number of molds. In one embodiment, the drainage channel mold has an interior mold and an exterior mold. The exterior mold has two opposing sidewalls that can be placed at different distances apart from one another to vary the overall width of the drainage channel. The sidewalls can be independent of each other or they can be coupled to each other yet still allowed to be positioned at different distances apart. In one embodiment, the sidewalls are hingedly coupled to a base support mechanism. The mold also contains mold spacers that can be located between the interior mold and the exterior mold sidewalls to create different heights, widths, shapes, and slopes in the drainage channel walls formed by the adjustable mold.

Abstract: A structural surface design device for creating a design with finishing surface material on a surface, the device having a base with raised projections on the bottom. Such projections have less of an affinity for the finishing surface material than does the surface on which such finishing surface material is to be applied. A handle extends upward from the base. And, optionally, the cross-sectional shape of the base is the same as the cross sectional shape of a container for the finishing surface material with the dimensions of the container and the base being such that the edge of the base, when the base has been inserted into the container, is sufficiently close to the wall or walls of the container that any finishing surface material in said container will not cure.

Abstract: A frozen comestible maker suitable for home use includes single or multiple molding cavities for forming frozen comestibles, a heat exchanger for maximizing the heat transfer away from the fluid that is being frozen in the molding cavities, a refrigerant solution with a depressed freezing point in contact with the heat exchangers, a base container to seal the refrigerant solution from the fluid that is being frozen, and a bezel piece to retain spills and aid with handling. The refrigerant solution is captured between the molding cavities and the base container. One or more sticks, a drip cup, and an extraction tool may be provided with the frozen comestible maker for preparing and extracting shaped frozen comestibles, such as ice pops and popsicles, therefrom.

Abstract: A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a housing sleeve disposed in an inner bore of the handle configured to project a distance from the handle distal end, an optic fiber disposed in the housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve disposed over a distal end of the optic fiber, and a light source configured to connect to a proximal end of the optic fiber. The shape memory sleeve may be configured to curve the distal end of the optic fiber at an angle, e.g., 90 degrees, when the shape memory sleeve is not contained within the housing sleeve.

Abstract: An earplug shaping device shapes a compressible earplug prior to insertion of the earplug into a user's ear canal. The device includes a first member and a second member which rotate with respect to each other. The outer surface of the first member and inner surface of the second member define a space that decreases in size as the first and second members rotate with respect to each other, thereby compressing the compressible earplug. Various embodiments of the earplug shaper employ ratchet mechanism permitting substantially only one direction of rotation.

Abstract: A low cost vented hand operable food embosser/debosser for food items is used to emboss messages and/or decorative patterns on a variety of food items such as pizza dough or even ice cream. It can also be used on non-food items such as soap or wax. The message image member of the stamper is vented, with a hollow venting chimney above each image for venting excess food product away from the food product bearing the image. In addition the images are surrounded by a suppressing wall suppressing food product from being inadvertently squashed too much The venting chimneys above each letter are preferably curved, and the images are sharp at the edges with pointy tipped letters/images.

Abstract: A low-cost crimping tool is provided for crimping non-metallic tubing such as PEX tubing connections. The tool includes two primary pieces which fit together forming an integral pivot without being pinned together about which the tool may be closed with pliers to form a secure tubing connection.

Abstract: A housing has a cylindrical side wall with an upper end and an open lower end. A circular disk with an aperture closes the upper end. A circular pusher plate is reciprocable within the housing between a raised orientation adjacent to the circular disk and a lowered orientation. A drive rod has lower and upper ends and a central extent extending through the aperture. The upper end is spaced above the disk. The drive rod has threads at its upper end and a nut removably coupled to the upper end. A handle has an interior end attached to the housing. The handle has an exterior end extending away from the housing. A coil spring encompasses the central extent of the drive rod. The bottom end of the spring contacts the disk. The top end of the spring contacts the nut.

Abstract: A kitchen tool for use by anyone making a pie. The invention is a hand held tool which is in two pieces with each piece being held in each hand. When pushed together they aid the baker in creating a perfectly crimped pie crust edge.

Abstract: A formliner and method of use are provided in order to minimize and/or eliminate visible seaming between interconnected formliners. In some embodiments, the formliner can comprise raised sections that define interrelated inner and outer dimensions. Thus, a plurality of formliners can be interconnected by overlaying raised sections thereof. Further, the formliner can comprise one or more detents and one or more protrusions to enable engagement between interconnected formliners without requiring adhesives. In this manner, formliners can be interconnected in a nested manner such that visible seaming between the interconnected formliners is reduced and/or eliminated.

Abstract: A hand operated injection molding machine apparatus constructed from prefabricated sub-assemblies and a desired mold clamping means attached to a main support structure, and then electrically integrated with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing frozen comestibles including a container having an interior portion holding a refrigerant solution, and a mold insert attached to the container. The mold insert includes a base, molding cavities extending therefrom, and a heat exchanger in communication with the molding cavities. The mold insert is received within the container such that the molding cavities are housed within the interior portion of the container and the heat exchangers are submerged within the refrigerant solution. The molding cavities include exposed openings that receive fluids to be frozen. When the refrigerant solution is at a sufficiently cool temperature, the fluids freeze into a shaped frozen comestible.

Abstract: A system for preparing compressible food stuff such as ground meat to include a central cavity in the meat product which can receive one or more condiments prior to cooking with the pressing and shaping devices to cover the condiment filled cavity with an additional layer of the compressible food product for a final shape and compressed product. The molding system includes a mold body that is cylindrically shaped, a first press plate that includes a central smaller in diameter protrusion for forming a cavity in a compressible food product, a second press plate having a flat disc shaped for compressing the top layer of meat over the cavity and an adapter ring used to raise the side wall of the mold body for adding a second layer of meat to be compressed with the second press plate.

Abstract: A formliner and method of use are provided in order to minimize and/or eliminate visible seaming between interconnected formliners. In some embodiments, the formliner can comprise raised sections that define interrelated inner and outer dimensions. In this manner, a given portion of a first formliner can mate with another given portion of a second formliner in a nested manner. As such, edges of the interconnected formliners can be discreetly hidden along features of the formliner pattern to reduce and/or eliminate visible seaming between the formliners.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a plastic material, the apparatus comprising: a brush head comprising a first set of heat conductive bristles interleaved with a second set of bristles; a handle that holds the brush head so that the brush head may be manually manipulated; and a heating element that heats the first set of bristles to a temperature sufficient to heat a plastic material by contact with the brush head to a temperature at which the plastic material is formable responsive to manual manipulation of the brush head.

Abstract: A low-cost crimping tool is provided for crimping non-metallic tubing such as PEX tubing connections. The tool includes two primary pieces which fit together forming an integral pivot without being pinned together about which the tool may be closed with pliers to form a secure tubing connection.

Abstract: A device has a first arm with a cup at a first distal end and a handle at a second proximal end with a second similarly configured arm pivoted thereto. The second cup forms an obtuse angle with its arm. Each of the first and second arms has an slight elbow bend so that the hurling cup trails the handles by a slight amount. Drawing the handles apart in a scissor-opening motion compacts the snow into a cohesive snowball that may then be slung.

Abstract: A combined snowball forming and launching device is described. The device includes a portion for gathering snow, a mechanism for compacting the snow, and a handle to swing the scoop and launch a snowball. In one embodiment the compacting mechanism is a press at one end of an elongated portion. In another embodiment, the elongated portion is a curved channel that may be used for gathering and launching a snowball. A method for forming and launching snowballs is also described.

Abstract: A kitchen tool for use by anyone making a pie. The invention is a hand held tool which is in two pieces with each piece being held in each hand. When pushed together they aid the baker in creating a perfectly crimped pie crust edge.

Abstract: A soap holding device includes a base member having a first grid pattern with a plurality of apertures and a co-mating cover member having the capability of being lowered telescopically downwardly into the base member as a soap bar becomes smaller with use. The cover member also includes a second grid pattern with a plurality of apertures and an imprinting portion for imprinting designs onto the soap bar after every use when the cover member exerts pressure thereon to produce the capability of better skin exfoliation and deep cleansing.

Abstract: A folding tool onto which one places a fortune cookie crepe and a fortune ticket, while the crepe is still soft and pliable, which one then bends at hinges of the tool in a specific sequence, to cause the folding of the crepe around the fortune ticket and into a traditional fortune cookie shape before the crepe begins to permanently harden into its thus-formed shape.

Abstract: Gypsum boards are bent to curved shape by placing a water dampened flat rectangular gypsum board upon a resiliently bendable panel positioned below a bender shell having a wall of arcuate cylindric contour which grips a margin of the gypsum board, and rolling the bender shell upon the gripped board to produce bending. A circular cylindrical weight rolls within the bender shell to apply compressive force upon the gypsum board during the bending process.

Abstract: A dent removal system includes a plurality of elongated members. Each of the elongated members has a first end and a second end and each of the elongated members has a different shape and size with respect to each other. A plurality of heads is provided and each has a first side and a second side. The heads each have a different shape with respect to each other. A plurality of couplers is provided. The second sides each have one of the couplers attached thereto. Each of the couplers is configured to releasably secure a selected one of the heads to a selected one of the second ends. The first side of the selected one of the heads is positioned against an inner surface of a bumper while an outer surface the bumper is heated to conform the bumper to the first side of the selected one of the heads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a snow ball forming apparatus for forming snow balls. The snow ball forming apparatus includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member, an attachment means, a first hemispherical cup and a second hemispherical cup. The first and the second elongated members have a top end portion, a bottom end portion, and an inner surface and an outer surface extending between the top end portion and the bottom end portion. The attachment means hingedly couples the first and the second elongated members. Each of the first and the second hemispherical cups are configured at the top end portions of the first and the second elongated members, respectively, and comprise a cavity adapted to receive snow configured therein. The first and the second hemispherical cups may be moved towards each other to form a snow ball from the snow received in the cavity thereof.

Abstract: This invention shapes a thick slice of green or ripened plantain into an open rectangular bowl that can be filled with various edible foods such as, but not limited to, chicken, shrimp, beef, and custard, and also pushes the plantain out mold by the use of a very simple, yet efficient, mechanism.

Abstract: A hand operated injection molding machine apparatus constructed from prefabricated sub-assemblies and a desired mold clamping means attached to a main support structure, and then electrically integrated with each other.

Abstract: A modeling compound stamping tool is disclosed including a stamping element having multiple images, and a gear assembly with a handle mechanically coupled for selection of an image of the stamping element to assist in the creation of art forms, artistic designs or impressions. The described methods of stamping the modeling compounds in a toy provide the stamping element with the multiple images, and selecting an image for applying to a quantity of modeling compound. A dial or a handle is disclosed for rotating between images of the stamping element to position various different images in downwardly facing positions for pressing the stamping element against the quantity of modeling compound to produce the desired image.

Abstract: To provide a rice-ball making implement by which a properly compacted and good-looking rice ball in a state of being packed can be made easily. Two containers (3), (3) are connected to be openable/closeable by the intermediary of a bend part (5). The container (3) comprises a base element (9) and a standing wall (10) formed on the outer peripheral edge of one side of the base element (9) in a protruding manner. Height of an upper edge of each of two side-part standing walls (16), (16) constituting the standing wall (10) is made to become gradually larger toward the front end. When the two containers (3) (3) are bent in a manner of closing them, a side-part standing wall (16a) and a front-end standing wall (19a) of one container (3a) overlaps an inside of a side-part standing wall (16b) and an inside of a front-end standing wall (19b) of the other container (3b).

Abstract: Handheld extruder welding device for welding thermoplastic synthetic materials, including an extrusion screw with an attachment shaft and a device for the axial attachment of the extrusion screw with the attachment shaft to a gear-equipped drive system; where a one-piece gear housing for holding the gear is equipped with a front-side bearing flange for accepting the extrusion screw; where an output shaft arranged in the bearing flange has an output gear attached to it at the cup-side end and has an opening for inserting the attachment shaft; where a two-part annular clamping flange for clamping the extrusion screw in the bearing flange is provided; and where the clamping flange can be placed on the bearing flange from outside and can be clamped. In addition, the clamping flange may contain at least one feed channel for the welding wire. This design offers a compact, stable, and short gear output where the extrusion screw can be exchanged easily.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating pre-stressed zones in concrete. In one embodiment, a circular blade is coated with a chemical which retards the setting of the concrete. The circular blade is then rolled through the wet concrete, thus transferring the retarding chemical from the blade into the concrete. The region of wet concrete that has the retarding chemical introduced into it does not set until after the surrounding concrete has set and shrunk, thus creating a pre-stressed zone which typically manifests itself as a crack, visible upon setting of the wet concrete. Other embodiments describe alternative ways of introducing the chemical into the wet concrete.

Abstract: A top for use with an ice cream container, the top keeping the ice cream contained therein fresh, tasteful, and easily dispensable. When the top is placed or fitted into an ice cream container, the top is pressed down into the ice cream. The force of the top being pressed downward shapes the surface of the ice cream to conform to the shape of the top As the top is pressed downward, air escapes through the holes and the inner surface of the top touches the surface of the re-shaped ice cream. The top also has at least one projection, which may be moved independently of the rest of the top, the projection pressed or projected down into the ice cream. The depression made by the projection facilitates a spoon or serving instrument to be easily inserted into the ice cream.