Abstract: A chemical composition is provided for the manufacture of devices for storing and/or displaying information, comprising a network having a molecule which is formed from a metallic element Fe(II) which is bonded to a 1-2-4 triazole ligand (H-Trz), which molecule further comprises one or more than one anions A selected from BF4−, ClO4−, CO32−, Br−, Cl−, in accordance with the formulation: FeII (H-Trz)3A2, characterized in that this composition is used in the pure state in either one of the two crystalline phases (&agr;, &bgr;) at least one of which, referred to as the second phase (&bgr;), can be thermally induced on the basis of the other phase, referred to as the first phase (&agr;), at a temperature which is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature (To), which phases each show thermally inducible spin transitions between a low-spin state at a low first temperature (T&agr;1, T&bgr;1) and a high-spin state at a high second temperature (T&agr;2, T&bgr;2), the spin tr

Abstract: A comparator (10) compares the voltage of a battery (2) with a switchable reference voltage (Uref1A, Uref1B, 18) and supplies a signal (IS) if the voltage of the battery passes the reference voltage. The switching point of the reference voltage is defined by means of a first resistor (32). By means of the first resistor the number of cells of the battery is set to one or two. A second resistor (6) in series with the battery enables an additional voltage to be obtained in order to correct the reference voltage for the type of battery cell used.

Abstract: A grilling appliance has two housing sections provided with heating plates and connected to each other by means of a pivotable/slidable hinge construction at both sides of the appliance. The housing sections can be positioned with respect to each other in several positions in which the heating plates should remain parallel to each other. In order to improve the hinge construction a parallel guiding mechanism has been provided, which mechanism comprises a U-shaped rod (9) having a central portion (10) which can slide in slots (7, 8) of the first housing section (1) and having arms (11, 12) carrying trunnions (13, 14) which are pivotable in the second housing section (2) and slidable in the first housing section (1).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of securing an electric contact of a metal to a layer of a sintered thick-film paste which is situated on an electrically insulating substrate. In this method, a layer of a non-sintered thick-film paste is provided, in accordance with a desired pattern, on an electrically insulating substrate. Subsequently, the layer is provided with a, preferably block-shaped, body of metal, such as an NiFe-alloy. Next, the layer of the thick-film paste is subjected to a temperature treatment, thereby forming the layer of the sintered thick-film paste. Finally, an electric contact is secured to the body, preferably by welding. The connections made by means of the method in accordance with the invention proved to be very reliable, both electrically and mechanically. The invention can be very advantageously used in the manufacture of passive elements, such as resistors and inductors, as well as in the manufacture of heating elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food-processor accessory (13) comprising a container (15), a rotatable tool (23), a support (21) for the tool, and a coupling member (27) by means of which the tool can be coupled to a drive member (9) which is arranged in a main housing (1) of a food processor, the container being detachably coupled to the support. According to the invention, the accessory is provided with a safety member (31) and a locking device (33), which co-operates with said safety member. The safety member can be displaced relatively to the coupling member from a first position, in which the safety member prevents the coupling member from being coupled to the drive member, to a second position, in which the safety member allows the coupling member to be coupled to the drive member, the locking device locking the safety member in its first position when the container is uncoupled from the support and releasing the safety member when the container is coupled to the support.

Abstract: A heating apparatus comprises a plastic body and a planar heating element, together defining a liquid heating vessel. The heating element is clamped between a portion of the body and a retaining ring, the body and the retaining ring being fixed together by an induction weld. Uniform compression of a seal is obtained during the welding process. The weld provides a reliable seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing thiophene-containing or furan-containing conjugated compounds such as polythiophene. The method uses a precursor compound having tetrahydrothiophene or tetrahydrofuran precursor units having arylthio or alkylthio substituents. The precursor units can be thermally converted into thiophene or furan units. Due to the presence of the precursor units the precursor compound is soluble and can, unlike the corresponding conjugated compound, be processed from solution.

Abstract: A steam iron with an indicator for indicating calcification is provided in which the iron is provided with a timer for measuring an accumulated time of use of the steam iron, and an actuator for activating the indicator when the accumulated time exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The timer measures the time of use of the steam iron, the accumulated time of use being indicative of the amount of scale deposited in the steam chamber and steam vents. When the accumulated time of use exceeds a threshold the calcification indicator is activated to warn the user that a self-clean action is to be performed. The time of use measurement may be obtained by accumulating the time of use only during steam generation, or it may be obtained by correcting the accumulated time of use with a weighting factor which depends on the steaming rate.

Abstract: An electrical connecting device is provided which includes a housing comprising at least one orifice having disposed therein a connector for making electrical connection between electrical power-providing components and electrical power-receiving components. The connector includes inner and outer flange structures which substantially envelop edge portions of the orifice to provide a substantially continuous seal between at least side and bottom edge portions of the orifice and connector. In especially preferred embodiments, the edge portions of the orifice are contained in a groove formed between the inner and outer flange structures.

Abstract: A heating element for a liquid heating vessel, comprises a metal substrate, an insulating layer provided over the substrate, and an electrically conductive heating track provided over the insulating layer. The heating track comprises a path extending between two contact pads, the heating track defining regions of relatively high density of track portions and regions of relatively low density of track portions. The contact pads are located in regions of relatively low density, and the layout of the heating track is designed such that in the event of thermal overheating of the element, the heating track ruptures at one of a predetermined set of locations in high density regions of the heating track. The heating track itself thereby functions as a thermal fuse.