Hand press

A kitchen hand press for pressing pieces of food comprising in combination,

• a) a stationary handle having a tub at one end with sides, a distal end wall and a bottom having openings communicating through it,
• b) a pressing element forming a proximal end wall to the tub journaling and rotating about a shaft extending through the stationary handle defining a journal axis, the pressing element rotating toward and away from the bottom of the tub,
• c) a ratchet-toothed disc segment rotating with the pressing element about the shaft,
• d) a pivoting handle pivotally secured to the stationary handle radially outward from the journal axis having a driving pin for engaging and rotating the ratchet-toothed disc segment rotating it and the pressing element into the tub upon pivotal rotation of the of the pivoting handle inward toward the stationary handle to a closed position, and resiliently releasing and ratcheting over the ratchet-toothed disc segment upon pivotal rotation of the pivoting handle outward away from the stationary handle to an open position, and
• f) a releasable ratchet latching mechanism integral with the stationary handle for engaging and holding the ratchet-tooth disc segment stationary upon pivotal rotation of the pivoting handle away from the stationary handle to an open position, and releasing and ratcheting over the ratchet-tooth disc segment upon the disc segment being rotated by the pivoting handle pivoting toward the stationary handle to the closed position.