Patent ID: 8322277

Claim:
A device for compressing articles, the device comprising: a base having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a receptacle located between the proximal and distal portions, and a plurality of gear teeth located between the distal portion and the receptacle, the receptacle being adapted to receive an article to be compressed; a lever having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the lever being adapted to facilitate manual manipulation thereof for actuating the device, and the distal portion of the lever having a plurality of gear teeth enmeshed with the gear teeth on the base such that pivoting motion of the lever causes movement of the distal portion of the lever about the distal portion of the base; and a piston assembly coupled to the base and the lever, the piston assembly including a piston head positioned between the lever and the receptacle such that movement of the distal portion of the lever causes movement of the piston head into and out of the receptacle to compress the article in the receptacle, wherein the distal portion of the lever is linked to the distal portion of the base by a rigid linkage, the rigid linkage being pivotally coupled to the lever and the base.