And Foraminous Separator Patents (Class 99/508)
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Patent number: 6329004Abstract: An improved container is provided for cooking eggs and the like in a microwave oven. The container includes a bottom cup having a top opening and a top cap configured to fit over the top opening. The container can also include a unique separator fitted within the bottom cup. The separator can include a cracker plate for cracking egg shells and/or at least one depending leg extending along an inside surface of the bottom cup to facilitate separation of cooked eggs. The container can also include a unique scrambler fitted within the top cap. Preferably, the scrambler is formed as a grid through which egg contents can pass when the container is shaken. In addition, a novel cradle can be provided to facilitate carrying and handling of a plurality of like containers. The preferred embodiments of the present invention enable a variety of egg dishes—e.g., poached eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets, etc.—to be easily and conveniently cooked in microwave and the like ovens with added health benefits, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Products of TomorrowInventor: Juan Fernandez
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Patent number: 6321644Abstract: A juicer/extractor comprises a base, a drip cup supported by the base, a vertical rod having a lower end located above the drip cup and movable along a vertical direction, a column extending upward from the base and including a portion for supporting the vertical rod and allowing vertical movement of the vertical rod, a juicing device for extracting juice from citrus, and a pressing device for extracting juice from fruit without peel, rootstock, or vegetable. One of the juicing device and the pressing device is selected and is releasably mounted between the lower end of the vertical rod and the drip cup.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Inventor: I-Feng Kao
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Patent number: 6318252Abstract: A juicer comprises a base, a column extending upward from the base, a vertical rod, a top seat, and a juicing device. The vertical rod has a portion movably mounted in the column and is movable along a vertical direction. The top seat is securely mounted to an upper end of the vertical rod and includes a compartment and an annular recessed portion surrounding the compartment. The juicing device comprises a pressing cup and a reamer. The pressing cup is mounted in the compartment of the top seat and includes a disc having a first side releasably engaged with the top seat and a second side for cooperating with the reamer for extracting juice from a citrus placed on the reamer. The disc has an annular end edge received in the annular recessed portion of the top seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2001Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Inventor: I-Feng Kao
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Patent number: 6213008Abstract: A multi-functional food processor comprises a processing rack, a elevated device and/or a rotary device. An appropriate tool stand is selected to fixedly attach an end of the processor rack. Then, adjust the turning knob in the elevated device such that the wedge on the push lever displaces to actuate the wedge together with the base plate displacing vertically for changing the difference of elevation between the base plate and the cutter. When a treated food touches the cutter, the slice product with desired thickness or the powder product with desired grains can be cut or ground properly. For the treated food being cut into shreds, repeat procedures of selecting the tool stand and adjust the elevated device to obtain a desired difference of elevation between the base plate and the cutter.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Inventor: Huo Feng Hsia Kuan
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Patent number: 6196122Abstract: A manual juicer has a base container, a grip connected to the base container, a strainer cup disposed in the base container, a pressure device disposed in the strainer cup, and a pressing handle connected to the pressing handle and the base container. The pressing handle has a saddle end. The grip has a pedestal and a bottom corrugation portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2000Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Inventor: Ming-Hsiung Lai
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Patent number: 6186057Abstract: The improvements to the automatic citrus juice squeezer consist of: a movement of the pressure cup (3) by means of a drive screw (5) and a guide column (6); the cup being removably-mounted and detachable from its holder (7) by raising a trip fastener (12) using a catch (13); it has five angularly equidistant blades (2); a squeezer-filter (16) and support assembly (1) can descend against the action of an axial spring (14), maintaining the dynamic connection with the drive shaft by means of gears (18) that may slide along an intermediate sprocket (19); the juice collector (17) empties into a dish (20) which opens/closes a tilting plug (21) as it is introduced/extracted: the blades (2) are connected to the fixed shaft (15) by elastic legs (23) with internal strengtheners (24) which fit into a peripheral neck (25) of the said shaft; and the cup's (3) profile has an enlarged lower curvature to prevent its separation from the squeezer support (1) from narrowing.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Maquinas y Elementos, S.A.Inventor: Francisco Cremades Del Toro
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Patent number: 6155164Abstract: A juicer for extracting the juice from a fruit includes a base having an upper platform having an aperture defined therethrough. A strainer assembly is provided on the upper platform. The juicer also includes a head that is movably disposed on the base and that has a cavity defined therein. The head is movable between a first position in which the head is proximate the strainer assembly, and a second position in which the head is away from the strainer assembly. Movement of the head between the first and second position is effected by a handle assembly that is connected to the base and to the head and that defines three pivot points that are arranged in generally vertically stacked relation with each other when the head is in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: OrangeX Inc.Inventors: Carlos Egana, Anthony Di Bitonto, Marco C. Perry
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Patent number: 6138556Abstract: A fruit squeezer includes a hollow base having a peripheral side wall with opposite highest and lowest sides, a container having a first spout and turnable relative to the hollow base between a draining position in which the first spout is aligned vertically with the lowest side, and a non-draining position in which the first spout is aligned vertically with the highest side, a reamer mounted rotatably in the container, a driving unit mounted rotatably on the hollow base and having a driving shaft that projects into the container and that is connected to the reamer, and a squeezing member disposed above the reamer for moving toward the reamer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Tsann Kuenn U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Yuan-Liang Yu, Chung-Pin Chiou
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Patent number: 6135018Abstract: A fruit squeezer includes a hollow base, a container mounted on the hollow base and having a top open end, a strainer disposed in the container, a reamer disposed rotatably in the strainer, a driving unit mounted in the base and having a driving shaft projecting upwardly therefrom and connected to the reamer, and a squeezing member having a pivotal end mounted pivotally on the container so as to be movable toward and away from the top open end of the container. The squeezing member further has a pressing end opposite to the pivotal end, and a squeezing portion disposed between the pivotal end and the pressing end. The squeezing portion is movable toward the reamer when the squeezing member moves downwardly toward the top open end of the container.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Tsann Kuen U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Yuan-Liang Yu, Chung-Pin Chiou
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Patent number: 5970859Abstract: A hand-operated juicer includes a base, an upright support mounted on the base, an upper squeeze unit that is connected to an upper end of the upright support, and a lower squeeze unit that is disposed below the upper squeeze unit above the base. The upper squeeze unit has a manually operable rod member and a squeeze cap that is connected to a lower end of the rod member. The rod member is movable vertically to enable the squeeze cap to abut against the lower squeeze unit. The squeeze cap is made of stainless steel, and has an upper socket portion, a lower skirt portion diverging downwardly from the upper socket portion, and a tubular adaptor that is mounted removably in the upper socket portion and that is connected detachably to the lower end of the rod member.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Inventor: Ming-Hsiang Lee
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Patent number: 5902481Abstract: A strainer device for assisting in draining packing liquid from opened tuna fish cans, as well as from opened cans of produce such as vegetables, fruit, and beans, the device including a molded plastic short hollow cylinder open at the top end and closed at the bottom end with a perforated bottom wall, the strainer body sized to be slidably fit into an opened tuna fish can. A pair of flange ears at the top enable the bottom each to be pushed into the tuna to force the liquid out through the bottom wall perforations as well as a series of slots around the perimeter. The bottom wall bulges down to be convexly shaped, aiding in moving the liquid out through the slots and also allows an inverted open can of produce to drain through the perforations as the strainer is resting on a supporting surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1996Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Inventor: Clinton L. Schwietert
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Patent number: 5551335Abstract: A citrus juicer having a base enclosing a driving electric motor arranged to drive a pair of upstanding spindles on top of each of which is a juicing cone, the juicing cones being arranged above a container for the collection of juice, characterised in that the container is attached to the base so as to be readily removable therefrom for cleaning, a lid arranged to extend over the juicing cones and the container hingedly removably attached to the container, the lid being shaped internally to apply pressure to a half-citrus fruit placed on top of each said juicing cone on closure of the lid, the lid being moulded from plastic in a single piece, the arrangement being such that half of a citrus fruit can be placed on top of each juicing cone and the lid hinged downwardly to press simultaneously the halve of the citrus fruit onto the juicing cones in order to cause juice to be extracted from them.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Breville R & D Pty Ltd.Inventor: Stephen J. McClean
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Patent number: 5520105Abstract: A combination can crusher, juicer and slicer having a main housing with a vertically adjustable cutting blade holder or can holder and a ratcheted lever adapted to raise and lower a pressure plate into contact with either a can disposed in the holder or a cutting blade retained in the holder. Moving the pressure plate, which will vary depending on the operation desired, downwardly against a can disposed in the holder crushes the same. Moving the pressure plate downwardly against a mating cutting blade cuts a fruit or vegetable therebetween. Moving the pressure plate downwardly against a mating juicer assembly juices a vegetable or fruit disposed therebetween and juices the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1994Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Inventor: Jack Healy
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Patent number: 5510028Abstract: A device for separating liquids has a side wall enclosing an interior space. A bottom is connected to the side wall adjacent a lower edge of the side wall and has an aperture formed therein at a position above the lower edge. The bottom extends upwardly and inwardly toward the aperture such that as the device is forced downwardly into a combination of liquids, a liquid floating on top of another different liquid is forced through the aperture and contained by the side wall and the bottom portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1994Date of Patent: April 23, 1996Inventor: Delmar A. Kuhlman
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Patent number: 5501144Abstract: A hand held press used to remove the liquid packing fluids in a can of food by biasing the lid of the can against the contents of the can. The press includes an upper pressing element and a lower pressing element. The upper pressing element has a perforated region that acts as a strainer. The perforated region is advanced against the lid and into the can, wherein displaced packing fluids are collected within a receiving area defined within the perforated region. A pour spout then allows the collected fluids to be removed in a controlled manner. The lower pressing element retains the can in a predetermined orientation as the can is being pressed. Accordingly, the angle at which the displaced fluids will pour is controlled by the manipulation of the press and the can of food held firmly within the press.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Inventor: Keith Bryson
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Patent number: 5467699Abstract: A garlic press including elongate arms pivotally joined at one end by a releasable hinge assembly. The arms, spaced from the hinge assembly, include an apertured receptacle and a press member pivotally received therein. The hinge assembly includes hinge knuckles forming a transverse passage and a removable hinge pintle rotatably joining the knuckles. The hinge pintle has a cleaning member on one end thereof with projections insertable within the receptacle apertures for cleaning of the apertures upon removal of the pintle from the hinge knuckle passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.Inventor: Douglas M. Laib
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Patent number: 5463941Abstract: A press for garlic which does not require the clove to be separated and peeled, effecting the pressing operation without orienting the clove in the press, subsequently permitting the mechanism to automatically open when pressure is released, permitting removal of the remains.Cleaning the parts is simple because of the open construction and ease of washing the parts when in open position.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1994Date of Patent: November 7, 1995Assignee: Faye ChenInventor: Jeremy H. Gibson
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Patent number: 5445069Abstract: This invention relates to a citrus juicer for producing fruit juices. The motor-driven cone (11) is surrounded on all sides by a strainer (20) having passageways (27) under which a bowl for collecting the fruit juice is disposed. As a citrus fruit is squeezed, the resulting juice passes through the passageways of the strainer. The boundary area between the cone (11) and the area of the strainer (20) surrounding it is configured as an annular gap (25) whose cross section of passage is adapted to be increased or decreased by means of an adjusting device. The pulp content in the fruit juice is thereby predetermined.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1992Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rafael P. Lucas, Jose C. Blasco, Antonio R. Rius
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Patent number: 5263408Abstract: Food press of the kind comprising pressing means adapted to operate on the food(s) to be pressed comprising at least one grid (12) and at least one plate (13) between which the food(s) (42) must be disposed, characterized in that hydraulic operating means (15) are associated with said pressing means and adapted to move the grid and the plate towards each other so that they exert pressure on the food(s), the hydraulic operating means (15) comprising at least one single-acting piston-and-cylinder actuator (24) operated by a hydraulic pump (25) adapted to operate in compression and in suction.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1993Date of Patent: November 23, 1993Assignee: SomaticInventors: Michel Blanchet, Daniel Mario
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Patent number: 5249515Abstract: A processing station is encased by a wall of a housing and lever pivot axes project from opposite sides thereof into the processing station which carry at their respective ends an arm with a clamping jaw for holding a citrus fruit. The clamping jaws guide the citrus fruit in a movement along a quarter of a circle over a horizontally and upstanding positioned knife in order to bisect the fruit. A double side rasping head is located under the knife which is rotatably driven and against which the fruit halves held in the clamping jaws are moved from opposite sides. Pins which are located inside at the wall of the housing push during the movement of the clamping jaws away from each other through these jaws the rasped rinds to eject same. The juice dripping downwards is collected and the rinds are transported by means of a wiper arm into a laterally positioned outlet chute.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1992Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Inventor: Marco Bachmann
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Patent number: 5193447Abstract: This invention relates to a citrus juicer for producing fruit juices. The motor-driven cone (11) is surrounded on all sides by a strainer (20) having passageways (27) under which a bowl for collecting the fruit juice is disposed. As a citrus fruit is squeezed, the resulting juice passes through the passageways of the strainer. The boundary area between the cone (11) and the area of the strainer (20) surrounding it is configured as an annular gap (25) whose cross section of passage is adapted to be increased or decreased by means of an adjusting device. The pulp content in the fruit juice is thereby predetermined.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1990Date of Patent: March 16, 1993Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rafael P. Lucas, Jose C. Blasco, Antonio R. Rius
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Patent number: 5088392Abstract: A kitchen article having a body, the body having a bottom sidewalls, a supporting structure formed in the body for supporting a kitchen implement over a top of the body, a bowl formed in an upper portion of the body, a spout formed at one location in an upper portion of a wall of the bowl and extending to a lip in the exterior of the body, and a chamber below a lower surface of the bowl and above the body. The body has provision therein for access to the chamber, the chamber being large enough to accommodate an implement of the proper size to fit on the supporting structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1990Date of Patent: February 18, 1992Assignee: M. Kamenstein, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Ancona, Jane Ancona
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Patent number: 5084177Abstract: The device described herein comprises a ladle type utensil having a handle attached to a substantially cylindrical cup having a bottom comprising either a flat or preferably a concave bottom in which a number of "domes" are set, which "domes" extend upward from the bottom of the said cup. Each dome has an opening at the crest thereof, which dome openings provide the only means for liquid to flow from beneath the cup into the interior of the cup. In the preferred modification there are seven of said domes, one being positioned in the center of the cup bottom and the others being arranged in a cricle around the central dome.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1989Date of Patent: January 28, 1992Inventor: Wallace C. Keene
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Patent number: 4961374Abstract: In a juicer, a level has a shaft member inserted into a horizontal cylindrical mounting member formed on the top of a support body and a prolonged radial lever arm whose terminating end can be turned to below the bottom end of the support body. An annular partition plate is fixed in the cylindrical mounting member and a locking sleeve is fitted in the partition plate. The locking sleeve has radial flanges to abut with the partition plate so that the locking sleeve does not move away from the partition plate when it is moved axially. However, a notch is provided in the partition plate at a predetermined position to permit one of the radial flanges to pass therethrough. The lever shaft which carries a gear is inserted into the locking sleeve. A rack is connected to a pressing member and inserted into the support body, engaging with the gear. The rack can be easily drawn out of the support body for cleaning when the lever arm is turned to below the bottom end of the support body.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1990Date of Patent: October 9, 1990Inventor: Ming-Hsiang Lee
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Patent number: 4951563Abstract: An automatic juice extraction machine for squeezing juice from one or more pieces of fruit in accordance with this invention comprises at least one pair of cups disposed in a vertically aligned relationship, with the lower of each related pair of cups utilizing a series of spaced, upwardly extending fingers and a centrally disposed fruit piercing tube. This tube defines part of a passageway located directly below each lower cup, in which passageway a strainer is disposed. Each upper cup, defined by spaced, downwardly extending fingers, is mounted on a vertically movable member movable between spaced vertical positions. The spacing of the fingers allows the fingers of the upper and lower cups to mesh, to bring about squeezing of the fruit. We utilize a pneumatic device for causing a single piece of fruit to be inserted into each lower cup subsequent to the raising of the vertically movable member.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1988Date of Patent: August 28, 1990Inventors: Loyd C. Warren, Donald C. Brasher
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Patent number: 4896591Abstract: This invention relates to a device for squeezing citrus fruits, which comprises an ejector formed by a circular grille whose radial arms are slidably engaged in slots made in an ogive-shaped body to allow lowering of the grille, whose return is effected by a helical spring interposed between the base of the body and the arms.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1988Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Inventor: Michel Bertrand
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Patent number: 4774880Abstract: A collector tray and a cut fruit support for an automatic juicing apparatus are provided. The collector tray comprises a bottom wall, a pair of opposed upstanding end walls and opposed upstanding front and rear walls to define an open top tray for collecting fruit juices. A pair of cones extend upwardly from the bottom wall and define structures against which generally hemispherical sections of fruit are urged to express the juices therefrom. Mounting brackets extend outwardly from the front and rear walls. An elastomeric cut fruit support is mounted to the mounting brackets of the front and rear walls and extend substantially continuously between the front and rear walls such that portions of the front and rear walls disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the collector tray are angularly aligned to the front and rear walls and to portions of the cut fruit support disposed between the front and rear walls.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1987Date of Patent: October 4, 1988Assignee: The Automatic Orange Juicer CorporationInventor: Stewart C. Nelson
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Patent number: 4680117Abstract: A yogurt separator device having in one form a flat blank of filter mesh made of synthetic resin and having openings of from 200 microns to 400 microns in size. The blank being formable into a yogurt-receiving container for separating the whey from the yogurt, and utilizing secured overlapping edge portions to maintain its container shape. In a modified form, a substantially similar blank made of liquid-impervious, resilient and flexible synthetic resin is formable into an external container for the filter mesh to provide a composite container which can be disassembled to flat form for re-use.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1985Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: The Gainesville 1920 CorporationInventor: Richard B. Freeman
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Patent number: 4531457Abstract: The invention relates to a two piece juicer which can be assembled by hand. This comprises one section which holds a horizontal pin which, when properly aligned with the other section which carries an extension to accept the pin, results in a pivot enabling closing and opening the respective parts.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1984Date of Patent: July 30, 1985Inventor: Lillian Sivaslian
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Patent number: 4509418Abstract: An elastic sheet support means (3) is held over the open portion of a juice collector means (1) of an automatic fruit juice extractor. The elastic support means (3) is held to the front wall (21) and rear wall (20) of the juice collector means by reinforcing rods (11, 12) held within lugs (15, 16) on the front and rear walls (21, 20). The direction in which the elastic sheet support means (3) is held is such that there are no openings adjacent the platform (2) from which cut fruit is fed onto the elastic sheet support means (3). The elastic sheet support means (3) is also formed with reinforcing ridges (32), parallel to the sidewalls (27, 28) of the juice collector means (1), and generally overlying the male cone members (22) which form a portion of the juice extracting means. Additionally, slits (33) are formed between the reinforcing ribs (32), overlying the male cones (22), to allow for movement of the elastic sheet support means (3) over the cones (22) during the expressing operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1984Date of Patent: April 9, 1985Assignee: The Automatic Orange Juicer Corp.Inventor: Stewart C. Nelson
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Patent number: 4479425Abstract: A cutter to halve citrus fruit in an automatic citrus fruit juicing machine is described. The advance is the sloping of cutting knife (2) and its supporting cam pedestal (3) at an angle of 45.degree. to 80.degree. to the horizontal. Fruit is fed to the knife (2) via a sloped chute (1) and the cut fruit, after passing over the cam pedestal (3), where the fruit gradually and fully opens, is placed on a mechanism for expressing the juice. Other portions of the automatic juicer are, generally, as described in the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1983Date of Patent: October 30, 1984Assignee: Automatic Orange Juicer Corp.Inventor: Stewart C. Nelson
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Patent number: 4419238Abstract: A juice extraction apparatus comprising a generally vertically extending structure having side walls defining a generally vertically extending enclosed space, a vertical passage extending through said space, at least a portion of said passage being defined by a screen so juice from crushed fruit located in said passage may drain therethrough, means to duct extracted juice from within said space, and means to regulate the flow of the crushed fruit through said passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1982Date of Patent: December 6, 1983Assignee: Lindeman (Holdings) LimitedInventor: Philip L. Shaw
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Patent number: 4309942Abstract: There is provided a citrus press having a juice receptacle constituted by two substantially concentric cylinders forming an annulus. An annular partition interconnects the two cylinders and divides the annulus into a larger section and a smaller section, the smaller section opening into a spout at the location of the partition. In a first position of the receptacle, juice may be collected and held in the larger section. Upon inversion of the receptacle, juice may be collected in the smaller section for delivery via the spout.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1980Date of Patent: January 12, 1982Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Artur F. Da Silva, Jr.
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Patent number: 4125064Abstract: A juice squeezer for citrus fruits including a base housing or receptacle, a fruit flesh strainer over the receptacle, a squeezer cone above the strainer, and a cleaning element overlying the strainer, the strainer and cleaning element having relative movement with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1976Date of Patent: November 14, 1978Assignee: Zyliss Zysset AGInventor: Peter Ackeret
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Patent number: 4106401Abstract: A citrus fruit squeezer having upstanding squeezer cones above a strainer and receptacle, the cones being symmetrically arranged for simultaneous use by a person with both hands.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1976Date of Patent: August 15, 1978Assignee: Zyliss Zysset AGInventor: Peter Ackeret