Abstract: A slow cooker system including a plurality of slow cooker units including a stand having a pocket for receiving a first of the slow cooker units, a vertical support extending upwardly from the stand, and second and third slow cooker units each having an arm extending radially therefrom and pivotally attached to the vertical support above the first slow cooker unit. The second and third slow cooker units are pivotal between a non-use position and a use position where the first slow cooker may be accessed and slow cooking operations may be performed simultaneously in the first, second and third slow cooker units. The arms of the second and third slow cooker units are each pivotally attached to a ratcheting arrangement disposed in the vertical support to lock the second and third slow cooking units when moved to the use and non-use positions.

Abstract: An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container, including: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly, first and second heat sealing elements, and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements in programmable sequences. One programmable sequence may include energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough, energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough, de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized, delaying a dwell time, and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: A blending appliance is provided including a motorized base, a blending container, and an agitator configuration fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The agitator configuration includes a blade arrangement disposed on a spindle performing blending operations on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container. A blade form is disposed on a shaft connected to the spindle performing additional blending operations on ingredients in an upper portion of the blending container. The blade form includes at least two spiral blades disposed on the shaft, and each of the spiral blades having a first end connected to the shaft at a pre-determined distance from the blade arrangement and a second end connected to opposing ends of a crossbar attached at its midpoint to a distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A vacuum sealing appliance is provided including a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly configured to receive suction and evacuate a food container through an open end, and at least one heat sealing element adjacent the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the open end of the food container after evacuation. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a control unit configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a sensor electrically connected to the control unit configured to detect moisture in exhaust air of the vacuum motor assembly and send electrical signals to the control unit. Based upon the electrical signals, the control unit controls one or both of the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a housing and cooking vessel having a rim. A lid covers the cooking vessel when seated on the rim. At least one latch is disposed on the lid and a complementary engagement member is disposed on a sidewall of the housing. The at least one latch includes a base attached to the lid, a rotating arm having a cammed head at one end that engages the base, and a rod pivotally connected to the cammed head on one end and having a foot disposed at an opposite end. The rod passes through an aperture in the base and the cammed head engages the base as the arm is rotated. The rotation of the arm causes an axial displacement of the rod to cause a stop member on an end of the rod to engage the engagement member to seal the lid to the cooking vessel rim.

Abstract: A slow cooker system including a plurality of slow cooker units including a stand having a pocket for receiving a first of the slow cooker units, a vertical support extending upwardly from the stand, and second and third slow cooker units each having an arm extending radially therefrom and pivotally attached to the vertical support above the first slow cooker unit. The second and third slow cooker units are pivotal between a non-use position and a use position where the first slow cooker may he accessed and slow cooking operations may be performed simultaneously in the first, second and third slow cooker units. The arms of the second and third slow cooker units are each pivotally attached to a ratcheting arrangement disposed in the vertical. support to lock the second and third slow cooking units when moved to the use and non-use positions.

Abstract: A food storage machine is provided that includes a film delivery mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a conditioning assembly and a drive mechanism. The film delivery mechanism has a support cradle for a roll of bag material and a feed roller assembly for dispensing the bag material. The cutting mechanism is disposed adjacent the film delivery mechanism and has a first sealing bumper and a shuttle member with a cutting portion. The shuttle member is arranged to cut transversely across the bag material dispensed from the film delivery mechanism. The conditioning assembly is pivotably disposed below the film delivery mechanism and has a heater member for sealing a portion of the bag material. The drive mechanism is operatively connected to the conditioning assembly and configured to pivot upwards to contact the first sealing bumper of the cutting mechanism and to pivot downwards to contact a second sealing bumper.

Abstract: An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container, including: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly, first and second heat sealing elements, and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements in programmable sequences. One programmable sequence may include energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough, energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough, de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized, delaying a dwell time, and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: A blending appliance is provided including a motorized base, a blending container, and an agitator configuration fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The agitator configuration includes at least a first blade form performing a blending operation on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container and at least a second blade form extending vertically upward from the first blade form and performing a processing operation on the ingredients in the blending container above the first blade form. The at least second blade form includes a pair of opposing elongated spiral shaped Hades that spiral in a direction of rotation of the agitator configuration when the motorized base is energized and configured to stir ingredients and force ingredients down into the first blade form.

Abstract: An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container, including: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly, first and second heat sealing elements, and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements in programmable sequences. One programmable sequence may include energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough, energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough, de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized, delaying a dwell time, and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a housing and cooking vessel having a rim. A lid covers the cooking vessel when seated on the rim. At least one latch is disposed on the lid and a complementary engagement member is disposed on a sidewall of the housing. The at least one latch includes a base attached to the lid, a rotating arm having a cammed head at one end that engages the base, and a rod pivotally connected to the cammed head on one end and having a foot disposed at an opposite end. The rod passes through an aperture in the base and the cammed head engages the base as the arm is rotated. The rotation of the arm causes an axial displacement of the rod to cause a stop member on an end of the rod to engage the engagement member to seal the lid to the cooking vessel rim.

Abstract: A vacuum sealing appliance is provided including a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly configured to receive suction and evacuate a food container through an open end, and at least one heat sealing element adjacent the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the open end of the food container after evacuation. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a control unit configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a sensor electrically connected to the control unit configured to detect moisture in exhaust air of the vacuum motor assembly and send electrical signals to the control unit. Based upon the electrical signals, the control unit controls one or both of the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element.

Abstract: An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container, including: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly, first and second heat sealing elements, and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements in programmable sequences. One programmable sequence may include energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough, energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough, de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized, delaying a dwell time, and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: A beverage brewer and method of using the same is provided. The beverage brewer has the capacity to brew a beverage from variable amounts of prepackaged pods or from free-form brewing material captured between upper and lower filter membrane surfaces.