Abstract: A peeling tool includes a main shaft, a handle affixed to a first portion of the main shaft, a nose rotatbly coupled to a second portion of the main shaft, a blade assembly positioned intermediate the handle and the nose about the main shaft, the blade assembly including a first arcuate blade and a second arcuate blade defining a space for the passage of a slice of a food product, and a peel thickness adjustment mechanism, the peel thickness adjustment mechanism being actuatable to adjust a dimension of the space.

Abstract: A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.

Abstract: A mixing paddle for use in a conventional ice cream maker includes two vertical arms that have outer contact edges that exceed the inner diameter of the freezer bowl in which they are positioned during use. This enables the contact edges to effectively scrape ice cream ingredients from the inner wall of the bowl during use and direct the ingredients toward the center of the bowl. The mixing paddle also comprises two cross-members that have pin-wheel style shapes that move ice cream ingredients vertically during use. The combined effect of the vertical arms and the cross-members optimally and uniformly mixes the ice cream ingredients during use and ensures efficient cooling.

Abstract: A peeling tool includes a main shaft, a handle affixed to a first portion of the main shaft, a nose rotatably coupled to a second portion of the main shaft, a blade assembly positioned intermediate the handle and the nose about the main shaft, the blade assembly including a first arcuate blade and a second arcuate blade defining a space therebetween for the passage of a slice of a food product, and a peel thickness adjustment mechanism, the peel thickness adjustment mechanism being actuatable to adjust a dimension of the space.

Abstract: A mandoline slicer 10 for slicing a food product, the slicer 10 comprising a frame 12 having opposed sidewalls 14,16, a first support plate 18 and a second support plate 20 positioned between the opposed sidewalls 14,16, a slicing member 22 having a slicing edge 58 positioned between the first and said second support plates 28,20, and a slice thickness adjustment mechanism 26 having a lever 80 movable between a first position and a second position and configured to vary a vertical distance between the slicing edge 58 of said slicing member 22 and an edge 42 of said first support plate 16.

Abstract: A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir and a receptacle in the housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size. The receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which the receptacle is angled towards a front of the appliance and a second position in which the receptacle is aligned with a brew head and contacts the brew head. The beverage appliance further includes a mechanism for transforming the particles of the drink ingredient from the first size to a second size within the container, the second size being smaller than the first size.

Abstract: A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, a brewing station disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, a grinding station disposed within the housing and being functionally separate from said brewing station, and a brewing carriage being selectively movable between a first position adjacent the grinding station and a second position adjacent the brewing station. Movement of the brewing carriage between the first and second position shifts a beverage ingredient in the brewing carriage from the first position to the second position and when the brewing carriage is in the in said second position, liquid is dispensed from the liquid reservoir and directed to the brewing carriage to produce a brewed beverage.

Abstract: A beverage making appliance uses a specialized beverage container and a related method of brewing a beverage. The container includes a cup-shaped body having a floor, a circumferential wall, and a top opening, a filter element positioned above the floor, at least one aperture formed in the floor, and a cover releasably attached to the cup body and covering the top opening. The appliance includes a base adapted to receive a beverage receptacle, a reservoir, a housing, a brewing tray in mechanical communication with the housing and dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size, a grinding mechanism and a water delivery mechanism to selectively deliver water from the reservoir to one of a brewed beverage outlet in fluid communication with the receptacle, and a hot-water outlet.

Abstract: A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.

Abstract: A brewed beverage appliance uses a specialized pre-packaged beverage container and a related method of brewing a beverage. The container comprises a cup-shaped base having openings at the bottom. A plurality of roasted, whole coffee beans are contained therein. The appliance has a blade that punctures the cup and then grinds the beans while they are still in the cup. Heated water is delivered to the cup and passes through the ground coffee causing brewed coffee to emit from the openings in the bottom of the cup and into a container such as a coffee mug.

Abstract: A mixing paddle for use in a conventional ice cream maker includes two vertical arms that have outer contact edges that exceed the inner diameter of the freezer bowl in which they are positioned during use. This enables the contact edges to effectively scrape ice cream ingredients from the inner wall of the bowl during use and direct the ingredients toward the center of the bowl. The mixing paddle also comprises two cross-members that have pin-wheel style shapes that move ice cream ingredients vertically during use. The combined effect of the vertical arms and the cross-members optimally and uniformly mixes the ice cream ingredients during use and ensures efficient cooling.

Abstract: A toaster oven features a moving, pivoting heater element to yield improved toasting capability. The toaster oven also cooks food with traditional bake, broil and toast functions, but also has the capability of having an additional heater element that can be positioned closely to the bread rack to give optimum toasting performance. Once the toasting function is completed, the additional heating can be repositioned out of the way, providing increased oven height for cooking bigger sized items.

Abstract: An attachment 1 is attached to a nozzle of a hand held hair dryer. The attachment 1 has a hollow, generally tubular body 2 to direct the heated air flowing out of the dryer through the attachment 1. The distal end 4 includes a grill 5 that is attached to a collar section 6 part of the body 2. A central container 7 is concentrically suspended within the collar section 6 via struts 8 that allow air from the dryer to flow past the container 7 within the collar 6. As air flows past the container 7, it engages a fan 11 in the form of a blade that is rotatably mounted to a hub assembly formed by a bracket 12 and a cap 13 that covers the container 7. As heated air flows out of the hairdryer, the air flow drives the fan 11 rotationally and causes centrifugal forces to be applied to the liquid conditioner that is present in the cap 13 section of the enclosure formed by the cap 13 and container 7.

Abstract: A bath mat blower assembly (1) has a retractable cord reel for efficiently storing a power cord (4) in a bath mat with an electrically driven pump for forcing pressurized air through various conduits to create bubbles that are emitted from a component of the bath mat that is submerged under water in a bathtub

Abstract: A foot massager apparatus (10) includes a flexible membrane (16) that transmits percussive forces to the water above the membrane (16) to provide massaging, percussive water wave effects, audio speakers (100), mp3 player capability (106), and voice data input capability.

Abstract: A shaving device includes an assembly to better maintain the cutting blades in contact with the skin during shaving. A swivel ball joint is preferably located between the shaver head and the housing and enables the head of the shaver to move in any direction from a longitudinal axis through the shaving device. A positioning spring connected to the ball joint and the housing is biased toward the center axis of the shaver and provides a swivel action that causes the shaver head to return back to its center position after adjustment of the head's angle. A motion transfer spring transfers the motor action to the upper shaving mechanism at any angle or direction that the shaver head may be in at any time. As the shaver head changes angles to match the contour of the user's body, the motion transfer spring flexes to follow the angles of the shaver head. This transfers the motion of the motor to the eccentric cam, which helps to control the motion of the trimmers.