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: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface and an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing. The upper housing has an upper heating surface and an air inlet at least partially surrounding the upper heating surface. The cooking appliance further includes a filter disposed in the air inlet. The filter is configured to remove particulates from air passing through the air inlet.

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: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate and a lower housing having a second heating plate. A handle is connected to the upper housing and is operable to move the upper housing between an open position and a closed position. The cooking appliance further includes a drip tray that is slidably received in said lower housing.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate, a lower housing having a second heating plate, and a temperature probe extending through one of the first heating plate and the second heating plate for detecting an internal temperature of a food item.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a first heating plate, a pair of opposed frame members operatively connected to the lower housing, the frame members including a guide track formed therein, and an upper housing having a second heating plate and a guiding wheel on opposed sides of the upper housing. The guiding wheel is received in the guide track such that the upper housing is selectively movable along the guide track.

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 garment treatment system includes a base, a water tank mounted to the base and having water contained therein, a steam generator in fluid communication with the water tank and adapted to convert the water from the water tank into steam, a steam nozzle having a steam reservoir and a steam outlet for distributing the steam to a garment, a first lumen in fluid communication with the steam generator and the steam nozzle for delivering steam to the steam reservoir of the steam nozzle and a second lumen in fluid communication with the steam reservoir of the steam nozzle and the water tank for returning condensed water to the water tank.

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 food processor feed tube assembly includes a first feed tube extension and a second feed tube extension telescopically and slidably received in the first feed tube extension. The second feed tube extension is configured to be movable from a retracted position in which the second feed tube extension is substantially entirely nested within the first feed tube extension, and an extended position in which the second feed tube extension is extended from the first feed tube extension.

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 cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate, a lower housing having a second heating plate, and a temperature probe extending through one of the first heating plate and the second heating plate for detecting an internal temperature of a food item.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface and an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing. The upper housing has an upper heating surface and an air inlet at least partially surrounding the upper heating surface. The cooking appliance further includes a filter disposed in the air inlet. The filter is configured to remove particulates from air passing through the air inlet.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating element, an upper housing having an upper heating element, opposed frame members disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and operatively connecting the lower housing to the upper housing. The cooking appliance further includes a food mounting assembly. The food mounting assembly includes a bracket extending between the opposed frame members for retaining a means for supporting food items over the lower heating element.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface, an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing and having an upper heating surface, and a smoke exhaust system. The smoke exhaust system includes an air inlet in a lower surface of the upper housing adjacent to the upper heating surface, an exhaust vent formed in the upper housing, and a fan disposed in the upper housing. The fan is configured to draw air through the inlet, into the upper housing, and expel the air through the exhaust vent.

Abstract: A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance having an upper housing having a first heating surface and a lower housing having a second heating surface includes a temperature sensing probe, a control panel and a control unit in electrical communication with the temperature sensing probe and the control panel. The temperature sensing probe is removably received by the upper housing and extends through said first heating surface. The control panel has one or more input buttons for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature of a food item.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a first heating plate, a pair of opposed frame members operatively connected to the lower housing, the frame members including a guide track formed therein, and an upper housing having a second heating plate and a guiding wheel on opposed sides of the upper housing. The guiding wheel is received in the guide track such that the upper housing is selectively movable along the guide track.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate and a lower housing having a second heating plate. A handle is connected to the upper housing and is operable to move the upper housing between an open position and a closed position. The cooking appliance further includes a drip tray that is slidably received in said lower housing.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing, a lower housing operatively connected to the upper housing, and a removable baking attachment received on the lower housing. The baking attachment has a bottom surface, a substantially open top and peripheral sidewalls defining a baking cavity.