Abstract: A reversible crimper-straightener for hair including a handle, a pair of pivoted clamp halves secured to the handle, a pair of reversible plates, each plate including a crimping surface on one side thereof and a flattening surface on the opposite side thereof, a heater within at least one of the plates, and tracks and rails on the plates and the clamping halves for securing one of the plates within one of the clamp halves and the other of the plates within the other of the clamp halves. The plates are reversible so that, alternatively, the crimping surfaces or the straightening surfaces face and are proximate to one another.

Abstract: A ceramic heater for regenerating a fine particle collecting filter which is exposed to exhaust gases at elevated temperatures. This ceramic heater comprises two electrode potions, a heat generation portion connected to the two electrode portions and a holding projection portion of a ceramic heater connected to the side of the heat generating portion. The two electrode portions, the heat generating portion and the holding projection portion are formed integrally.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food includes two plates, a heating device for heating the plates, a drive for driving one of the plates relative to the other so as to apply heat and pressure to an initial food material, and the drive is formed so that the one plate moves in a stepped manner. One of the plates can be movable or even removable in a different direction to provide for easy handling. A protective element can be placed between the plates and the initial food material during cooking, and withdrawn thereafter.

Abstract: An electrical heating device comprising a substrate having an upper insulating surface, a semi-conductor pattern carried on the insulating surface, and a pair of metallic conductors mounted in face-to-face engagement with said semi-conductor pattern. The semi-conductor pattern includes a pair of spaced connector portions and at least one heating portion extending between and electrically connected to each of said connector portions, the connector portions have a electrical conductivity greater than that of said heating portion, and each of the metallic conductors is in face-to-face engagement with a respective one of said connector portions and has an area that is less than that of said respective one of said connector portions and an area:perimeter ratio greater than D/20 wherein D is the major dimension of the respective conductor portion.

Abstract: A confectionery grill having upper and lower hinged heating elements in which the upper heating element or grill unit can be adjustably spaced at its hinge from the lower heating element or grill unit during the cooking cycle.

Abstract: An easily cleaned and serviced belgian style waffle iron has a cast aluminum base provided with a hollow interior opening downwardly between support legs of the base, an electrical power source component including a housing which is removably secured within the base cavity and includes a pair of electrical conduit plug receiving receptacles, a power line for connection to a source of electrical power, electrical conduit means for electrically connecting the receptacles to the power line and fasteners for holding the housing in the base cavity, a pair of waffle grid providing members are pivotally mounted on the base by a support shaft extending between spaced journal blocks which in turn are removably mounted to the waffle iron base in such a manner to allow easy removal of the blocks, shaft and grid providing members for cleaning or servicing thereof and a pair of detachable thermostat-electrical conduit members are provided to supply electrical power from the electrical power source component to heating ele

Abstract: A first casing provided with an induction coil and a top plate as a first heater at the top thereof and a second casing provided with an electric heater as a second heater at the top thereof are hinged by a shaft and hinges such that the second casing can be opened and closed with respect to the first casing and can be held upright when the casing is opened. The power supply to the induction coil and the electric heater is commonly performed by a power unit provided in the first casing.

Abstract: A heating plate, especially for presses utilized to bond two belt ends together, e.g. in the formation of an endless conveyor belt or in the repair of a conveyor belt. According to the invention, the heating effect over the plate which is rectangular or of rhombic configuration, is held uniform by distinguishing between longitudinal edge zones, transverse edge zones, central zones and corner zones, all of which have essentially the same specific volume of material, i.e. the same volume of material with a unit area of the heating surface. A frame work of longitudinal and transverse edge members of the same cross section and intermediate members parallel to the longitudinal edge member and equidistant from one another is sandwiched between a heating plate and a cover plate and the heating elements lie adjacent the heating plate in the spaces between the longitudinal and intermediate members.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking or otherwise heating food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container. Means are provided for retaining the upper housing in spaced apart relationship with the lower housing to permit baking and similar heating.

Abstract: An electrically heatable broiler, browner and waffle maker comprises a base part including a hot plate and a top part also including a hot plate, the two parts being interconnected by an articulated hinge joint including an extendable linking member and a plurality of stop surfaces permitting different angular positions of the top part relative to the base part.

Abstract: A heating system for dressings comprising a housing having a pair of opposed heating elements. The housing may be opened to place the dressings intermediate the heating elements, and may be closed in order to heat the dressings intermediate the elements.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus for cooking food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container.

Abstract: A device for heating a breast prosthesis which comprises a base on which a liquid filled flexible bag is placed for supporting a breast prothesis. A hinged cover for the base that carries another liquid filled flexible bag on its in surface so that a closing of the cover will cause the under surface of the bag to contact with and conform to the irregular contour of the upper surface of the breast prosthesis. An electric heating element is submerged in the liquid in each bag and a switch and thermostat for the heating elements controls the degreee of heat applied to the breast prothesis.

Abstract: A portable tray warming unit comprising a casing having at least one tray supporting rack, trays to be supported and received upon said rack, and electrical terminal means for interconnecting the tray warming unit with an external electrical source of energy. The casing of this tray warming unit has dimensions and weight small enough so that the unit may be easily carried about or lifted. The upper and lower surfaces of the casing lie in planes parallel to each other so that one unit may be stacked on top of another. To further facilitate such stacking the bottom surface of a unit has protrusions extending downwardly from the bottom and these protrusions correspond to indentations in the top surface of the casing. This correspondence allows the protrusions of one unit to fit into the indentations of the unit on which it is stacked thereby assuring a non-slidable connection between the two units.

Abstract: Device for grilling and broiling food comprising an electrically heated lower plate member adjacent to one end of which is provided an upstanding turret element on which an upper plate member, also electrically heated, is pivotally and adjustably supported so as to perform the cooking operation without, as a consequence exerting any pressure on the food product. Further modified embodiments disclosed herein reveal various concepts for supporting the upper plate member in an adjustable manner.

Abstract: A complete prefrozen meal is placed in a combination heating-serving container. The meal is composed of a plurality of different food items which require different quantities of heat in order to bring each of them to their intended serving temperature. The combination heating-serving container includes self-contained means associated with each food item to be heated to apply the desired quantity of heat to the food items within the same time interval. The container also includes means for isolating each of the food items from each other during the heating process. The container is thermally insulated and also includes means operable by the user to begin the heating cycle when he so desires.

Abstract: An electric grill appliance comprising a main body having a bottom wall, opposed side walls and a top plate of heat conductive material. The top plate has an outer cooking surface and an undersurface facing the bottom wall. At least one resistive heating element is secured directly to the undersurface for heating the top plate. The body is supported above the horizontal plane by support means. A container is removably secured under the bottom wall and has liquid collecting means extending outside one or more of the opposed side walls. The top plate has liquid dispensing means in at least one outside edge thereof to direct liquid on the top plate outer cooking surface into the liquid collecting flange of the container.