Abstract: A slow cooker for heating of food stuffs includes a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom to define a heating cavity within the housing. A heating element is disposed within the housing to heat the heating cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior. The interior is capable of retaining the food stuffs therein. The container is shaped and sized to fit within the heating cavity of the housing for heating thereof by the heating element. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container rim. The lid includes a handle on a top surface thereof. A utensil is included for manipulating the food stuffs. The utensil is removably engageable with the handle of the lid.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably attached to a body and having a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door, wherein the counterbalance assembly includes a biasing member coupled to the body and serially engaged with a flexible element coupled to the door, and a guide member secured to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, wherein the flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, and wherein the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member is offset from the second guide track of the pulley along the axis thereof.

Abstract: A slow cooker for heating food stuffs includes a housing defining a heating cavity and a housing rim. A heating element is disposed within the housing to heat the heating cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim and is shaped and sized to fit within the heating cavity for heating thereof by the heating element. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover an opening of the container and includes a gasket around an outer edge thereof for sealing engagement with the container rim. The slow cooker further includes at least one clip for selectively retaining the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim to inhibit leakage of the food stuffs. The at least one clip is an over-the-center clip and includes a hook and a catch to selectively retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably engaged with a body and a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door. The counterbalance assembly includes a first and second biasing member, each coupled to the body and serially engaged with a respective first and second flexible element coupled to the door. A guide member is secured to the body and includes a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track. The first flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks. The second flexible element is at least partially wrapped about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably attached to a body and having a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door, wherein the counterbalance assembly includes a biasing member coupled to the body and serially engaged with a flexible element coupled to the door, and a guide member secured to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, wherein the flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, and wherein the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member is offset from the second guide track of the pulley along the axis thereof.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably attached to a body and having a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door, wherein the counterbalance assembly includes a biasing member coupled to the body and serially engaged with a flexible element coupled to the door, and a guide member secured to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, wherein the flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, and wherein the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member is offset from the second guide track of the pulley along the axis thereof.

Abstract: A slow cooker for heating food stuffs includes a housing defining a heating cavity and a housing rim. A heating element is disposed within the housing to heat the heating cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim and is shaped and sized to fit within the heating cavity for heating thereof by the heating element. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover an opening of the container and includes a gasket around an outer edge thereof for sealing engagement with the container rim. The slow cooker further includes at least one clip for selectively retaining the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim to inhibit leakage of the food stuffs. The at least one clip is an over-the-center clip and includes a hook and a catch to selectively retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably engaged with a body and a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door. The counterbalance assembly includes a first and second biasing member, each coupled to the body and serially engaged with a respective first and second flexible element coupled to the door. A guide member is secured to the body and includes a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track. The first flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks. The second flexible element is at least partially wrapped about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.

Abstract: A slow cooker for heating of food stuffs includes a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom to define a heating cavity within the housing. A heating element is disposed within the housing to heat the heating cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior. The interior is capable of retaining the food stuffs therein. The container is shaped and sized to fit within the heating cavity of the housing for heating thereof by the heating element. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container rim. The lid includes a handle on a top surface thereof. A utensil is included for manipulating the food stuffs. The utensil is removably engageable with the handle of the lid.

Abstract: A slow cooker for heating of food stuffs includes a housing having a base and a side wall extending therefrom to define a heating cavity within the housing. A heating element is disposed within the housing to heat the heating cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim defining an opening for accessing the interior. The interior is capable of retaining the food stuffs therein. The container is shaped and sized to fit within the heating cavity of the housing for heating thereof by the heating element. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container rim. The lid includes a handle. A utensil is included for manipulating the food stuffs. The utensil is removably engageable with the handle of the lid.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a tub member defining an opening and a door member configured to operably engage the tub member so as to cover the opening. A hinge portion is operably engaged with each of the tub member and the door member, wherein the respective hinge portions are pivotably secured together by a hinge pin so as to pivot about a substantially horizontal hinge axis. The door member hinge portion is over-center biased by a biasing member. A friction-reducing bushing is operably engaged with the hinge pin so as to isolate the hinge pin from direct contact with the door member hinge portion when the hinge portions are secured together. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: An under-counter mounting system and associated method are provided for mounting a dishwasher under a counter, without direct attachment to the counter. The mounting system comprises a pair of discrete bracket members each slidably received by a receiving member operably engaged with a dishwasher about a forward portion thereof, the receiving members being disposed in opposing lateral relation with respect to the forward portion of the dishwasher and configured such that the bracket members are laterally slidable between an inward position and an outward position, while being longitudinally constrained, wherein each bracket member further includes a longitudinally-extending flange disposed outwardly of the respective receiving member, and wherein the flange defines at least one fastening aperture adapted to facilitate securement of the bracket member to a laterally adjacent cabinet.

Abstract: A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably attached to a body and having a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door, wherein the counterbalance assembly includes a biasing member coupled to the body and serially engaged with a flexible element coupled to the door, and a guide member secured to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, wherein the flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, and wherein the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member is offset from the second guide track of the pulley along the axis thereof.

Abstract: A steam iron including a soleplate, a steam chamber having an upper surface portion with a water inlet opening, a water reservoir having a bottom surface portion with a water outlet opening and a valve assembly for directing controlled amounts of water from the reservoir into the steam chamber. The valve assembly including a valve port member having a body formed of a matrix of material with a bore and hollow bypass conduit. The upwardly-facing surface of the valving portion including an opening for the hollow bypass conduit. The hollow bypass conduit having a lower end open along an inside wall portion of the valving portion of the bore, a valve element extending into the bore, rotatable about an axis for controlling the flow of water through the valving portion. The valving portion including first and second barriers such that rotation of the valving element allows the user to allow or prevent water from flowing to the steam chamber.

Abstract: An improved temperature control and drip valve assembly which provides for a positive control of the amount of water introduced into the steam chamber of a steam iron in relation to the temperature setting of the steam iron. A self-cleaning capability is provided for flushing the steam chamber and its steam vents.