Abstract: The snow melting mat includes an elongate, substantially flat sheet of a desired length connected to a recirculation header at one end and a circulation header at the opposite end. The sheet includes a plurality of channels defined inside the sheet. The channels permit heated liquid to circulate along the length of the sheet. A heater-pump heats the liquid that maintains the temperature of the sheet at several degrees above freezing and pumps the liquid through the recirculation header, the sheet, and the circulation header. A plurality of transverse grooves is formed on the top of the sheet to provide a gripping, walking surface. The grooves taper in depth to permit melted snow and ice to run off the sides of the sheet. Couplers and joints permit multiple sheets to be joined together in any desired pattern.

Abstract: A method for facilitating interactive review of data includes receiving multiple examples of a target associated with a set of data; comparing the examples of the target to the set of data to identify multiple potential matches; assigning, for each respective potential match, a priority value to the respective potential match based on a comparison of the examples of the target to the respective potential match; displaying the potential matches in a first display area, wherein the first display area organizes the potential matches according to the priority value assigned to each respective potential match; receiving a selection of at least one of the potential matches displayed in the first display area; and displaying, in response to the selection, the selected potential matches in a second display area, wherein the second display area organizes the selected potential matches according to a relationship between the selected potential matches.

Abstract: This contrivance model discloses a coil panel consisting of the body, the base used for sealing the body as well as the magnetic stripe and the magnetic vane located at the base bottom from top to bottom. The magnetic vane is a cyclic structure. This contrivance model also discloses an induction cooker. This contrivance model not only can effectively reduce electromagnetic radiation arising from operation of the induction cooker and the coil panel and improve heat emission efficiency, but also features easy installation and disassembly.

Abstract: Provided is a supporting unit supporting a substrate. The supporting unit includes a body including a plurality of heating regions and disposed with the substrate on a top surface thereof and a heating unit heating the body. Herein, the heating unit includes heating lines provided in the plurality of heating regions, respectively, to control temperatures of the plurality of heating regions independently from one another, terminals provided to the body and receiving power from the outside, and connecting lines connecting the heating lines to the terminals mutually corresponding to one another. Also, the terminals are disposed in one of the plurality of heating regions in a top view.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head assembly for a beverage preparation device for preparing a nutritional composition upon interaction of ingredients provided in a capsule with liquid supplied to the capsule, the assembly comprising capsule opening means (10) which are adapted to interact with an injection face of the capsule, the opening means comprising a liquid injection means (1) for injection of liquid into the capsule and a gas injection means (2) for injecting of gas into the capsule, activation means (20) designed for interacting with the opening means and for moving the liquid injection means and the gas injection means with respect to the injection face of the capsule. The head assembly also comprises a drive unit (70) for driving the activation means (20) and the activation means comprises a driving gear (20b) adapted to be driven in rotational movement by the drive unit (70) for sequentially moving the liquid injection means (1) and gas injection means (2).

Abstract: A wire lock for use with a rotary welding torch includes a piston and a lock receiver. The piston includes a head, a stem, and an air channel. The piston head defines an internal cavity in communication with the air channel. The generally cylindrical lock receiver includes a flat face, a central conduit, and a slot in communication with the central conduit. The piston and lock receiver are positioned such that the piston stem is received within the slot, respectively. The piston is reciprocally movable between an unlocked and a locked position, and the piston stem and lock receiver are configured to clamp an electrode wire therebetween when the piston is in the locked position. The wire lock may be co-axial or perpendicular to the axis of the rotary welding torch, and may be integral to the welding torch or a swan neck of the welding torch.

Abstract: An end assembly for use with a welding device having a contact tip, a diffusor, an insert, and an gooseneck, and the contact tip has a convex end that contacts a concave end of the insert, and the insert has an opposite end in contact with the gooseneck. The contact tip is threaded into the diffusor at one end of the diffusor, and the gooseneck is threaded into the diffusor at the opposite end of the diffusor, and the insert is disposed within the diffusor and between the contact tip and the gooseneck, such that a conductive path exists between the gooseneck, the insert, and the contact tip. The contact tip, insert and gooseneck are constructed of a conductive material which are securely held together in contact by the diffuser constructed of a dissimilar material.

Abstract: An appliance for preparing food comprises a pot (2) for containing food items and a base for supporting the pot (2). The base is equipped with heating means (50) for supplying heat to the pot (2), which comprise at least one heating element (52). The heating means (50) are adapted to only partially contact a bottom (21) of the pot (2) when the pot (2) is in place on the base, through at least one contact area which is at a position which corresponds to a position of the heating element (52). The appliance further comprises stirring means which are adapted to be movably arranged in the pot (2) for stirring food items, which are designed for directing the food items to a directly heated area (60) of the bottom (21) of the pot (2) which corresponds to the contact area of the heating means (50) during their movement.

Abstract: A food preparation and delivery system can include a plurality of cooking units such as ovens, each containing one or more prepared, but partially or completely uncooked, food items. The food items in the cooking units are for delivery to each of a corresponding plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking units are loaded into a cargo compartment of a delivery vehicle for delivery to the plurality of consumer delivery destinations. The cooking conditions within the cooking unit are controlled such the each food item is cooked prior to arrival at the consumer destination location. In at least some embodiments, the estimated delivery time for each consumer destination location can be dynamically updated and the cooking conditions within the cooking unit adjusted.

Abstract: A collision sensing system includes an outer housing with a ball roller mounted thereto, a piston, a lower housing, and an electro/mechanical switch assembly having a contact ring. The piston includes a helical groove on its exterior and a tongue extending from a lower end thereof. The ball roller is positioned within the helical groove of the piston. The lower housing has a semi-spherical portion and a groove aligned with the piston tongue. A contact pin assembly extends through the piston and includes a contact pin positioned to contact the contact ring. The collision sensing system is configured such that deflection of a welding torch mounted to the lower housing misaligns the tongue and groove, slides the helical groove along the ball roller, thereby lifting the piston and breaking contact between the contact pin and contact ring.

Abstract: A method for detecting an icing condition using an apparatus comprising a piezoelectric material and a vibration detector. The piezoelectric material has a surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle. The piezoelectric material is configured to vibrate. The vibration detector is configured to detect a change in vibrations in the piezoelectric material that indicates a presence of an icing condition on the surface of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: An anti-oxidation frying device includes a frying vessel having an electrically conductive body configured to heat cooking oil carried therein by a heating unit. A removable basket, also formed of electrically conductive material, is configured to be carried within the frying vessel to enable the cooking of food in the heated oil. A rectification circuit is coupled to the heating unit, the body of the frying vessel, and the basket. During operation the rectification circuit converts AC power from an external power source into a rippled, rectified AC current signal that is supplied to the heating unit, body of the frying vessel, and the basket, so as to create a reducing environment of available electrons for absorption by the cooking oil and food as it is prepared, thus extending the life of the cooking oil.

Abstract: Certain examples disclosed herein are directed to materials that are designed for use in interconnects of electrical devices such as, for example, printed circuit boards and solar cells. In certain examples, a two-step solder may be used to reduce stresses on the materials used in the production of the electrical devices.

Abstract: An imbalance correction position of a turbine wheel head is irradiated with a laser beam so that an outer peripheral portion of the turbine wheel head is left, and a groove provided by the laser irradiation is provided so that a depth of the groove is shallower toward a side closer to an outer periphery of the turbine wheel head. This makes it possible to secure a strength of a base part of an outer peripheral portion (an outer wall) of the groove, thereby making it possible to restrain deformation of the outer peripheral portion of the groove due to a centrifugal force acting by rotation of the turbine wheel head.

Abstract: A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a blade assembly. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly. A user-operated pin is positioned below the rotating disk and is moveable between a first position in which the rotating disk is prevented from moving upwardly and downwardly, and a second position in which the rotating disk is permitted to move upwardly and downwardly.

Abstract: A portable rechargeable li-polymer/lithium-ion battery cell operated heating blanket system for providing comfortable heat to a human body and sustaining said comfortable heat. The device provides continuous heat for users. The present invention includes a USB port for charging devices such as cellphones. The portable rechargeable li-polymer/lithium-ion battery cell operated heating blanket system includes microplush comfort on the inside and a water resistant exterior.

Abstract: Plumbing systems utilizing a single pipe with individual heating elements located in close proximity to individual plumbing fixtures. These provide users with the ability to control the temperature of water at the site of the individual fixture without need to mix hot and cold water to obtain a desired temperature.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating surface, a lower housing operatively connected to the upper housing, the lower housing having a second heating surface, and a splash guard having a plurality of peripheral sidewalls. The splash guard is nestable within the lower housing and extendable therefrom to a position wherein the splash guard substantially surrounds the second heating surface.

Abstract: Sausage cookware includes a hollow pan having a cooking surface with multiple undulations that partially conform to the outer circumference of a link sausage. Other embodiments include an insert for converting the flat cooking surface of a conventional frying pan or electric cooker to an undulated surface that more efficiently cooks link sausages.

Abstract: A device for heating an amount of liquid in a container using steam, comprising a steam conduit coaxially arranged in a tubular element which axially extends substantially from the inlet end to the outlet end of the steam conduit from which it is radially spaced thereby forming a first axially-extending annular air gap. Said tubular element is coaxially arranged in a sleeve thereby forming a second axially-extending air gap, said first air gap and said second air gap being closed at both respective axial ends on said tubular element. The steam conduit is made of a polymeric material having a low heat transfer coefficient, the tubular element is made of a metal material and said sleeve is also made of a polymeric material having a low heat transfer coefficient.