Abstract: Conventional herb strippers can be tedious, time consuming, and awkward to use. Accordingly, the present inventors devised new tools and methods that allow faster and easier herb stripping. One tool includes an herb stripping notch configured to engage the plant stem of an herb at an intermediate point between its two ends, with the edges of the notch stripping leaves as the notch is moved over the stem or the stem is pulled through the notch. In some embodiments, one or more of these notches, for example six, are included in a blade structure, with the notches arranged in a smallest-to-largest sequence. The blade structure may also includes a knife edge, enabling it to serve the added function of a knife.

Abstract: A device is provided for cutting and/or de-silking corn on the cob. A single unit has a base and a removable cover. A brush for use in removing silks is mounted on one side of the base, and a cutter is mounted on the other side. When it is desired to use the tool on one side instead of the other, the cover is placed over the other tool. The cover then is used as an easy-to-grip palm-fitting structure to push the brush or the cutter along the ear of corn.

Abstract: A food topping and cutting device includes a handle coupled to a cutting edge, and further includes a container coupled to the handle. The container has a dispenser at one end configured to dispense, adjacent to the cutting edge, a food topping supplied from the container.

Abstract: A thumb-mountable protective utensil system and kit comprises a protective housing, a utensil mount and one or more utensil elements, each of which may be attachable to and detachable from the mount. The housing includes a cavity configured to generally conformingly receive a tip segment of a human thumb for snug securement of the housing thereto. The system is adapted to provide protection from cuts, and can accommodate a variety of thumb sizes by incorporating one or more shim elements which are capable of being attached to and removed from the housing. Examples of variations on the utensil element may include a spiked utensil, a grater utensil and a peeler utensil.

Abstract: A thumb-mountable protective utensil system and kit comprises a protective housing, a utensil mount and one or more utensil elements, each of which may be attachable to and detachable from the mount. The housing includes a cavity configured to generally conformingly receive a tip segment of a human thumb for snug securement of the housing thereto. The system is adapted to provide protection from cuts, and can accommodate a variety of thumb sizes by incorporating one or more shim elements which are capable of being attached to and removed from the housing. Examples of variations on the utensil element may include a spiked utensil, a grater utensil and a peeler utensil.

Abstract: An exemplary aspect comprises an apparatus comprising: (a) a first handle component comprising a first end and a second end; and (b) a second handle component comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the first end is connected to the third end via a spring clip, wherein the second end is connected to a first spatula component, wherein the fourth end is connected to a second spatula component, and wherein the first handle component is operable to be locked to the second handle component. In one or more exemplary embodiments: (1) the second spatula component and the second handle component comprise a retractable fork component; (2) the first spatula component comprises a serrated edge; and (3) the first handle component is operable to be locked to the second handle component via a sliding member.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a cooking utensil including a functional member configured to engage a food item and a handle member extending from the functional member for gripping the utensil and for moving the functional member. The functional member includes a blade having a pair of opposite surfaces meeting at a pair of opposite lateral edges, one of the lateral edges being sharpened to form a cutting edge and the other one of the lateral edges including prongs and at least one of the planar surfaces having one or more recesses that do not pass entirely through the blade. In a preferred form, the one or more recesses include one or more concave depressions in the at least one of the planar surfaces.

Abstract: A pair of tongs in combination with a basting apparatus and an optional sharpened edge that can be used as a knife for cutting into food to check for degree of cooking. Also a container for use as a holder of a tool, such as a pair of tongs with a basting apparatus, for applying a spreadable basting material (e.g., sauce) held in the container. The container provides a stable support of the tool, such as the pair of tongs, to prevent cross contamination of working surfaces and basting material on the basting apparatus, while at the same time providing a holder from which the tongs/baster efficiently can be retrieved for use.

Abstract: A combination electric carving knife and mixer embodying both carving knife and mixer functions in a single device, and constructed so that knife and mixer attachments utilize the same receiving chamber in the device. The knife and mixer attachments are powered by motorized pistons that operate on the knife attachments for cutting and on the mixer attachment for mixing. The mixer attachment translates the linear motion of the pistons into a spinning motion by means of a conventional motion converter placed within the mixer attachment.

Abstract: A fruit peeling packaging innovation is provided to allow consumers to start to peel a fruit by pulling a glued tab off a fruit. By pulling the tab off a fruit a consumer rips off that portion of the peel that the tab is glued to. Various models can have tabs with an optional cutting edge where the consumer can use the cutting edge to further, peel, clean, and or cut the fruit and eat it. The device includes a tab made of plastic, metal or other material, a tab with a handle, an optional cutting edge, and or an optional spoon, fork, or an optional hybrid spoon-fork. The tab can be made out of a food grade plastic, metal or other moldable material. Further, the tab or handle can be molded or printed thereon to include advertising or slogans and can be applied to any kind of fruit.

Abstract: The invention provides a pair of tongs in combination with a basting apparatus and an optional sharpened edge that can be used as a knife for cutting into food to check for degree of cooking. The invention also provides a container for use as a holder of a tool, such as a pair of tongs with a basting apparatus, for applying a spreadable basting material (e.g., sauce) held in the container. The container provides a stable support of the tool, such as the pair of tongs, to prevent cross contamination of working surfaces and basting material on the basting apparatus, while at the same time providing a holder from which the tongs/baster efficiently can be retrieved for use.

Abstract: A combination housing that includes a unique segregated compartment to hold a standard, popular sized pocketknife. The housing is constructed to slideably receive a standard pocket type knife. The housing has a channel molded into its wall with the top of the channel being open, allowing the side of the pocketknife to be visible when received in the channel on the housing. This allows the user to verify that the knife is in place. At the rear of the housing is a small closure device that is pivotally mounted to the rear of the housing. The closure device pivots into place flush with the bottom of the housing to retain the pocketknife once it is fully inserted into the channel in the housing.

Abstract: A multi-purpose ice tongs includes a handle and a pair of tongs that extend from the handle and that collectively are able to pick-up an ice cube or other item typically used in the preparation of drinks. One of the tongs includes a grater surface for grating a food item. The multi-purpose ice tongs can also include a bottle opener that extends from the handle, a knife stored within the handle, and a zester component within the knife. The surface of the handle of the ice tongs may be utilized as an ice hammer, and one end of the handle is made of a suitable material to enable it to crush a food item contained within a drink glass without breaking the glass.

Abstract: A multi-purpose ice tongs includes a handle and a pair of tongs that extend from the handle and that collectively are able to pick-up an ice cube or other item typically used in the preparation of drinks. One of the tongs includes a grater surface for grating a food item. The multi-purpose ice tongs can also include a bottle opener that extends from the handle, a knife stored within the handle, and a zester component within the knife. The surface of the handle of the ice tongs may be utilized as an ice hammer, and one end of the handle is made of a suitable material to enable it to crush a food item contained within a drink glass without breaking the glass.

Abstract: A cut-off blade assembly including a thin metal blade having an attachment portion by which the cut-off blade assembly can be attached to a dispenser, and a plurality of projecting similarly shaped triangular primary teeth. The triangular primary teeth each have two sides terminating in points and have bases adjacent the attachment portion that are aligned in a first direction along the blade so that their points project generally at right angles to that first direction. Edge surfaces on the sides and at the points of the primary teeth intersect a major surface of the primary teeth at an included angle of no greater than about 90 degrees to define a cutting edge at that intersection. The cut-off blade assembly further includes projections along one major surface of the primary teeth.

Abstract: A graduated blade knife, and a method of use thereof for cutting a selected quantity of solid soft-bodied foodstuff, the knife of the type comprising a handle, a blade integrally attached to and aligned with said handle, the blade defining an outer free tip, and graduated marks along said blade, said method comprising the steps of: a) flatly applying the knife blade against a flat surface of the soft foodstuff; b) sliding the knife along the soft-bodies foodstuff so as to align the blade graduated marks on the soft foodstuff according to the selected quantity of foodstuff to be cut; c) pivoting the knife around the blade tip so that the blade becomes transversely positioned relative to the soft foodstuff; d) transversely driving the knife blade into the soft foodstuff until the blade extends completely through the soft foodstuff; e) pivoting the knife around the knife blade tip so as to cut the soft foodstuff along a cutting line; and f) cutting the selected quantity out of the soft foodstuff according to the

Abstract: A combination cutter and stencil device. The device includes a cutter having a cutting peripheral edge, and a gripping portion, and a stencil plate with openings arranged in a design. The stencil plate is permanently or temporarily fixed to the cutter. Once material is cut to shape with the cutting peripheral edge, the stencil plate is placed on the cut shape, to allow the design to be created by application of stencil material through the stencil plate openings. Also disclosed are methods of cutting and stenciling using such a device.

Abstract: A multipurpose kitchen tool includes a housing having an upper end, a lower end, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side walls. The upper end has an opening formed in a central portion thereof extending into a channel through the housing. One of the two side walls has a hexagonal opening formed therein extending into the channel. A thermostat has an elongated shaft slidably received within the channel of the housing through the opening in the upper end thereof.

Abstract: The utensil has a handle with a spoon/ladle assembly at one end and a spatula assembly at the other. The handle comprises two hollow telescopically engaged parts held in engagement by an elastic cord enclosed in the handle parts. The utensil is collapsed (folded) by disengaging the handle parts against the tension of the cord and folding the two assemblies to nest with each other, held in the collapsed mode by a detent with the cord functioning as a hinge. The spatula assembly is adapted to serve as a spatula, a grater, a cutter and a strainer. The spoon/ladle (spadle) assembly is adapted to function as a spoon, ladle, measuring container, and pot lifter/holder. When folded but not held folded by the detent the utensil functions as tongs. The handle is marked to serve as a linear measuring instrument.

Abstract: A cutting and serving implement for pizza or other pies comprises a blade having a body portion with an arcuate cutting edge, and a handle portion extending from the body portion opposite the cutting edge at an angle of about 135.degree.. The configuration of the implement facilitates cutting of a pizza into slices by downward pressure applied on the handle accompanied by a rocking motion of the implement on the cutting edge, and lifting of a cut slice for serving, by insertion of the body portion under the slice.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument that is particularly adapted to lift individual ones of sutures from the skin of a patient and to hold each suture by means of a knot at one end thereof while cutting the suture to free it from the skin. The instrument comprises a longitudinally extended body having a generally straight handle portion at one end and a pair of tines at the other end. Both tines are upturned and are of unequal length with blunt innermost edges defining a narrow slot open at one end to snare the knot of a suture. The tine ends are blunt and rounded, the longer of which is insertable under the suture. A longitudinal sharp, thin cutting edge, which comprises a replaceable steel blade in a polycarbonate plastic embodiment, is disposed along a portion of the outermost edge of the longer tine adjacent the junction of both tines and the body.

Abstract: A forming and embossing template, especially for food products such as cookies, including a forming means having a body portion and peripheral cutting means having a desired configuration extending laterally therefrom, and an embossing means having a desired pattern carried by said body portion, whereby said cutting means form the shape of an article in said desired configuration, and said embossing means impresses the desired pattern on said article.

Abstract: A spatula is formed as a combination implement. Several mixing implements which are suitable for substances of varying consistency are placed on one and the same handle unit. There is preferably a knife-blade-type mixing implement at one end of the handle and a pronged, fork-type mixing implement at the other end.