Abstract: A kitchen appliance comprises a housing including a base member, a side wall member, and a retaining trim encasing the upper end of the side wall. The side wall member includes an external enclosure and an internal liner. At least a portion of the retaining trim is spaced radially outwardly from an external surface of the enclosure, thereby defining a retaining channel between the retaining trim and the external surface of the enclosure. The kitchen appliance includes at least one decorative panel for lining at least a portion of the external surface of the enclosure. An upper end of the panel is slidably receivable into, and retainable by, the retaining channel and a lower end of the at least one decorative panel is supported by the base member. The panel is disengageable from the retaining channel and the base member, such that the panel is interchangeable.

Abstract: A slow cooker includes a housing and a heating element to heat a heating cavity of the housing. The heating element is operable in only a single cooking mode and only a single warming mode. A container is sized and shaped to fit within the heating cavity of the housing. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container. A controller is configured to control operation of the heating element in either the single cooking mode or the single warming mode. A control knob is rotatably mounted to the housing and is operatively connected to the controller. Rotation of the control knob causes a controller to actuate the heating element to heat contents within the container to a first predetermined temperature at a selected amount of time.

Abstract: A method of heating contents within a slow cooker for a user-selected duration includes engaging a control interface to energize a heating element to a first power level for a first time period. The method further includes automatically energizing the heating element to a second power level for a second time period following completion of the first time period to avoid over-heating contents within the slow cooker, the second power level being lower than the first power level. The method also includes automatically energizing the heating element to a third power level for a third time period following completion of the second time, the third power level being greater than the second power level.

Abstract: A combination food steamer and food processor appliance includes a housing surrounding a motor and a heater. A water cavity is positioned within the housing. At least a portion of a drive shaft extends upwardly beyond a first end of the housing. A jar is removably mountable to the first end of the housing. Portions of a bottom wall and a side wall of the jar define a food processing cavity. A steam cavity is also defined in the jar. At least a portion of the drive shaft extends through a portion of the bottom wall of the jar when the jar is mounted to the housing. A lid is removably mountable to a rim of the side wall of the jar. A basket is removably mountable within the food processing cavity of the jar in a first operating configuration. Portions of a bottom wall and a side wall of the basket define a food steaming cavity.

Abstract: There is provided a compass assembly that includes a first member pivotally connected to a second member at a common end. The first member has an anchor point opposite the common end, and the second member retains a marking device opposite the common end. The compass assembly also includes a compressible cover positioned over the anchor point.

Abstract: There is provided a compass assembly that includes a first member pivotally connected to a second member at a common end. The first member has an anchor point opposite the common end, and the second member retains a marking device opposite the common end. The compass assembly also includes a compressible cover positioned over the anchor point.

Abstract: A cutting implement for cutting a pattern in a substrate having a first cutting member and a second cutting member operatively connected to the first cutting member is provided. At least one of the first and second cutting members has two indicia of the pattern. A scissors for cutting a pattern in a substrate having a first patterned cutting blade partially covered by a first overmold shield and a second patterned cutting blade operatively connected to first blade and partially covered by a second overmold shield is provided. At least one of the first and the second overmold shields has visible indicia corresponding to the pattern. A method of making the scissors using a single insert molding step by molding the blades to the respective overmold shields and handles is also provided.

Abstract: A paper trimmer has a base, a movable arm pivotally connected to the base, a blade fixedly connected to the base, and a movable blade connected to the movable arm. The paper trimmer also has an inverted paper-orientating guide on the lower edge of the base for reducing the angle to which the movable blade must be lifted in order to raise the movable blade above the plane of the paper. The paper trimmer preferably further has one or more of the following: a blade guard, a handle connected to the movable arm and disposed in perpendicular orientation to the movable arm for providing controlled and ergonomic cutting action, an automatically engaging locking mechanism for securing the movable blade to the base when the paper trimmer is not in operation, and titanium-bonded fixed and movable blades for providing a sharp and durable cutting edge.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary style trimmer that has a blade carriage for carrying one or more interchangeable cutting blades. The blade carriage has a connector for enabling the blade carriage to be connected to a guide rail, a handle that enables an operator to manipulate and/or guide the one or more cutting blades, and a guard for at least partially covering at least one of the cutting blades. When a new and/or different blade is desired, the entire blade-guard assembly is removed and replaced thereby providing improved safety.