Abstract: A food steamer having a base, a combined support and collector, and a cooking bowl. The base has a heater and a reservoir for holding water to be heated into steam. The cooking bowl is mounted on top of the base and has a bottom with holes. The combined support and collector has a frame and a screen. The frame is mounted to the base between the heater and the cooking bowl. The frame has a center aperture with the screen located therein for supporting flavoring items thereon. The frame has raised walls to form a condensed steam holding area for holding all condensed steam that has traveled into and then back out of the holes in the cooking bowl. The frame also has a side wall with inwardly recessed grooves and holes through the frame at the tops of the grooves. These form pressure release vents at the sides of the frame.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 1996
Date of Patent:
August 5, 1997
Assignee:
Black & Decker Inc.
Inventors:
Esko Nopanen, Craig A. DuBois, Robert C. Kass
Abstract: A vacuum apparatus having a housing, a vacuum generating system, and a hose. The housing has a small height and a general circular disk shape. A side perimeter of the housing has a hose receiving area that extends around a majority of the housing. The hose is located in the hose receiving area to both house the hose and use the hose as a bumper for the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to provide a maximum vacuuming pressure of only about 10 to 12 inches of water such that animals can be groomed without harming the animals. The vacuum generating system has a variable speed motor such that the motor speed can be adjusted by a user dependent upon the size or type of animal being groomed. The vacuum apparatus also has a noise reduction system including a muffler, an impeller with long fan blades, and multiple air flow path redirections of air traveling through the housing.
Abstract: An electric steam iron with a soleplate, a water reservoir, a primary steam generating system and a surge steam generating system. The soleplate has a first primary steam generating area and a separate second surge steam generating area. The second surge steam generating area is located above and along the heating element in the soleplate. The second surge steam generating area substantially surrounds the first primary steam generating area and both areas have exits into a rear chamber. The rear chamber is connected to a steam distribution chamber for allowing the steam to exit the bottom of the soleplate.