Abstract: The present invention relates to a lace, string, strap or zip cord lock or securement device that can be applied to an apparel item or accessory. The device has a threaded cap and threaded housing which attaches to a base. The housing includes a continuous opening through which the laces, strings, straps, or cords can be inserted such that they enter the opening on one side of the housing and exit the opening on the other side of the housing. Then, the cap can be turned to tighten the cap and cause it to move downwards on the housing until the laces, strings, cords or straps are pinned between the cap and the base. In addition, a lace, strap, string or cord insertion tool is provided to aid a user in inserting laces, strings, cord or straps through the continuous opening.

Abstract: A hair-removal apparatus is provided that comprises a hair-removal device with a movable hair-removal component, which comprises at least a first hair-contacting member and a second hair-contacting member, which are movable relative to each other and which are configured and arranged to mutually co-operate for removing hairs by mutually exerting a contact force, a pressing component configured and arranged to generate said contact force by exerting a pressing force on the movable hair-removal component during operation, a skin proximity sensing component, and a force adjusting component. The skin proximity sensing component is configured and arranged to detect a relative distance between the movable hair-removal component and a portion of the skin with hairs to be removed. The force adjusting component is configured and arranged to adjust, during operation, the pressing force exerted by the pressing component in dependence on the relative distance detected by the skin proximity sensing component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hair removal. In order to provide a hair-removal apparatus with improved user acceptance, a hair-removal apparatus (10) is provided that comprises a hair-removal device (12) with a movable hair-removal component (14) which comprises at least a first hair-contacting member (36) and a second hair-contacting member (36) which are movable relative to each other and which are configured and arranged to mutually co-operate for removing hairs by mutually exerting a contact force, a pressing component (40) configured and arranged to generate said contact force by exerting a pressing force (20) on the movable hair-removal component during operation, a skin proximity sensing component (16), and a force adjusting component (18). The skin proximity sensing component (16) is configured and arranged to detect a relative distance (22) between the movable hair-removal component (14) and a portion of the skin (24) with hairs to be removed.

Abstract: An attachment for an epilator or an epilator having at least a clamping unit for clamping and plucking hairs that is arranged for driven movement relative to a housing along a hair capture direction is disclosed. The clamping unit has a moveable clamping element having a clamping surface and a hair guiding surface and a fixed clamping element having a clamping surface and a hair guiding surfaced. The moveable clamping element and the fixed clamping element are arranged to be cyclically moveable between an open position in which the two clamping surfaces have a minimal distance such that a gap for receiving hairs is formed between them and a closed position in which the two clamping surfaces abut on each other. The two hair guiding surfaces form a funnel in front of the gap in the open position with respect to the hair capture direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with an attachment for an epilator or an epilator having an axle arranged for driven movement around a center axle axis, an end plate arranged at a first end of the axle for rotation together with the axle, the end plate having at least a first functional surface, a first clamping element having a functional surface, the first functional surface of the end plate being arranged face-to-face with the functional surface of the first clamping element, and the first clamping element being arranged for repeatedly being moved towards and away from the end plate such that repeatedly a closed position is obtained in which the two functional surfaces abut on each other, wherein the end plate is an outer part of the epilator or the attachment for an epilator.

Abstract: Apparatus for de-feathering (i.e. picking or plucking) poultry. More particularly, picking apparatus employing a plurality of elongated picking elements which are resistant to cracking and/or micro-poring, and which are preferably flexible and/or bendable and which are of sufficiently low mass such as to decrease poundage yield loss (e.g., decrease fat loss and poultry wing damage). In some embodiments, apparatus comprised of a plug and elongated picking element combination which is removably installable to a conventional picking disk structure. In other embodiments, picking element kits for converting existing picking line machinery. In still other embodiments, methods and/or apparatus for improving feather picking ability and/or efficiency and/or cleanliness.

Abstract: Apparatus for de-feathering (i.e. picking or plucking) poultry. More particularly, picking apparatus employing a plurality of elongated picking elements which are resistant to cracking and/or micro-poring, and which are preferably flexible and/or bendable and which are of sufficiently low mass such as to decrease poundage yield loss (e.g., decrease fat loss and poultry wing damage). In some embodiments, apparatus comprised of a plug and elongated picking element combination which is removably installable to a conventional picking disk structure. In other embodiments, picking element kits for converting existing picking line machinery. In still other embodiments, methods and/or apparatus for improving feather picking ability and/or efficiency and/or cleanliness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for loosening the feathers of a fowl prior to killing and processing, by exposing the fowl to a radio frequency source producing a frequency from between approximately 5 GHz and approximately 40 GHz, with an average surface power density between approximately 10 mW per square centimeter and approximately 100 mW per square centimeter, for a predetermined period of time. The invention also relates to a method for killing bacteria on the fowl prior to killing and processing.

Abstract: A hair removal apparatus includes a housing that has a front wall, a back wall and a peripheral wall. The front wall has an aperture extending therethrough. A pair of spools is rotatably mounted in the housing. Biasing members rotationally bias the spools in opposite directions with respect to each other. A first tether is wound around a first of the spools and a second tether is wound around a second of the spools. The first and second tethers are wound about each other to form loops positioned adjacent to the apertures. The biasing members pull the tethers taut. A drive assembly mechanically coupled to the first and second spools selectively moves the first and second spools. The loops twist with respect to each other when the first and second spools are move in the first and second directions. The loops engage and remove hair attached to skin.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for removing feathers from a carcass, and more specifically is a method and apparatus for removing feathers from the wing tips of poultry. The method and apparatus comprises at least one wing tip puller which further comprises upper and lower wing guides and a pinch roller adjacent said wing guides where the upper and lower wing guides are designed to receive a wing therebetween and the wing guide is further designed to laterally present the wing tip to the pinch roller.

Abstract: A hand-held, motorized depilating device, introducing a novel mechanical design to provide improved depilating coverage and hair plucking efficiency, without requiring the user to pass the device over the same given skin, area numerous times. The hair-plucking assembly is rotatable about a shaft and includes at least two disc assemblies, each comprising a pair of complimentary discs, mounted on a hub, and having radially extending arms which terminate in a flattened peripheral portion, which when pressed against a corresponding portion forms a trap for the hair. At least one of the radially extending arms is bent so that the associated hair trap lies in a different predetermined plane than the other hair-traps associated with that disc assembly. This staggered arrangement results in improved depilating coverage.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for defeathering a bird comprises simultaneously removing feathers from the bird and spraying an antimicrobial agent containing solution to contact a surface of the bird; and massaging the antimicrobial agent containing solution into hair and feather follicles of the birds.

Abstract: A game skinner device having a winch and a roller deposed at opposite ends of a main support. The main support is adjustably secured to the hitch of a vehicle. The game skinner device does not support the weight of the game.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a rotary cylinder for an epilation appliance which in a preferred embodiment has at least two adjacent disks (1, 1′) provided on their facing sides with at least one groove (2) to form a clamping element receiving space (3). Provision is made for two clamping elements (5, 6) arranged adjacent to each other which are accomodated in the clamping element receiving space (3). Noise damping mechanisms are provided which are associated with at least one of the clamping elements (5, 6).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a pin bone or pin bones from a fillet of fish. The apparatus of the present invention uses a rotating stack of individual disks that are engaged by a shaft, oscillate axially and are timed to alternately tilt in a rapid fashion so as to effect the action of multiple pairs of tweezers. The pin bone is disposed between a pair of tweezer or two adjacent rotating disks and pulled out of the fillet by the rotating disks. The rotating stack of individual disks operates at different speeds in an operation circle to enhance the operational efficiency.

Abstract: A hand-held epilating device capable of increasing plucking efficiency. The epilating device has a housing to be grasped by a hand of a user, and a plucking cylinder carrying at least one set of pinching elements for catching and pinching body hairs therebetween. The plucking cylinder has a longitudinal axis and is driven to rotate about the longitudinal axis to pluck the body hairs from the user's skin. The plucking cylinder is supported to the housing so as to effect a periodical movement relative to the housing within a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the area of the skin covered by the plucking cylinder can have increased chances of being in contact with the pinching elements as the pinching elements move periodically relative to the skin together with the plucking cylinder, thereby improving the plucking efficiency.

Abstract: A device for extraction of bones from fish by means of a number of pivotal gripping means which are moving influenced to be driven along a course for controlled pressing of fishbones against a counterstay. Said gripping means are influenced to be guided by a guide in the shape of a channel to co-operate with the counterstay for achieving the desired pressing force between the gripping means and the counterstay.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a rotary cylinder (7) for an epilating appliance comprising several pairs of clamping members (8) arranged in an angularly offset relation to each other, and actuating members (22) serving to move the clamping members (8) in pairs into, and subsequently out of, relative clamping engagement in the area of a plucking zone of the epilating appliance. Further, at least one control member is provided for controlling the actuating members (22). According to the invention, each pair of clamping members (8) has associated to it a separate, individually movable actuating member (22).

Abstract: A depilation apparatus having a number of disc-shaped pinching plates (19) provided on a drive shaft (7) and a number of thrust cogs (41) provided on an auxiliary shaft (21), by means of which cogs the pinching plates are each tiltable about a first and a second tilting axis (81, 91) from a catching position into a pinching position in which the relevant pinching plate (19) exerts a pinching force on an adjacent pinching plate (19) tilted into the pinching position. Each pair of pinching plates positioned next to one another (19a, 19b), (19b, 19c), (19c, 19a) has a unique thrust cog (41a, 41b, 41c), so that each pinching plate (19) is in cooperation with each of its two adjacent pinching plates (19) and the hair catching range of the pinching plates (19) extends over the entire depilation opening (3). The thrust cogs (41a, 41b, 41c) are provided on the auxiliary shaft (21) at mutual angles of 120.degree.

Abstract: A comb for connection to the skin meshing unit adjacent the cutter blades to contact the blades to remove the skin from the blades. The comb includes a plurality of slots which accommodates a portion of the cutter blades as the blades rotate through the skin sample passed under the blades. Each longitudinal end of the slot includes angled side wall and is bevelled relative to the bottom wall of the comb to form a V-shaped groove which engages the cutting edge of the blades in close contact to remove the skin from the cutter.

Abstract: A depilatory device for removing body hair, includes a pair of jaws adapted to sequentially traverse an opening in the housing when the hair-plucker body is driven by an electrical motor. The jaws of each pair are normally spaced apart in an open condition to receive a hair between them, but are movable towards each other to a closed condition to clamp the hair received between them. Camming elements carried by the housing move the pairs of jaws to their closed and open conditions as they sequentially traverse the housing opening.

Abstract: A depilation apparatus is provided comprising at least one pair of depilation rollers (3, 4) which can be driven in opposite directions and whose circumferential surfaces have undulatory cross-sectional profiles with which they interengage circumferentially, one of said rollers being adapted to be driven by means of a motor, the undulatory cross-sectional profile of the circumferential surface extends linearly over the whole length of the rollers and the maximum diameter of the depilation rollers is selected to be of the order of magnitude of 4.5 mm and the number of crests of the cross-sectional profile is selected to be the order of magnitude of 10.

Abstract: A hide is pulled from the sides of a suspended livestock carcass by gripping the hide with two grippers in the belly area, and pulling the grippers and the hide toward the back of the carcass. The pulling direction is changed by supporting the pulling devices on transversely movable carriages which are moved toward each other during the pulling action. The transverse movement enables the grippers initially to reach farther around the belly to grip the hide, and finally to pull farther toward the spine.