Abstract: Disclosed are cooked dried farinaceous food products such as cooked cereal doughs, ready-to-eat cereals and grain based snacks fabricated from such cooked cereal doughs containing high levels of soluble fiber supplied at least in part by inulin or other .beta.-2 fructofuranose. The cereals contain about 0.1 to 17% added inulin. The inulin ingredient can be incorporated into the dough and/or topically applied. Also provided are methods for preparing such cooked cereal doughs and finished farinaceous products.

Abstract: A telescoping rack assembly for an oven cavity includes a rack extendable upon a primary rack frame which, in turn, is mounted for sliding movement relative to the oven cavity. Therefore, with this arrangement, multiple extensions for the rack is available. The rack is preferably supported upon guides carried by the rack frame, along with multiple sets of rollers. A secondary rack frame can be provided to slidably support the primary rack frame such that a further extension is available.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus (10) for making a complexly patterned extrudate. The apparatus (10) includes a food cooker extruder (12) for providing at least one extrudable food product, at least one food color supply (18), a pattern forming die (20) for mixing the food color and extrudate food product to form a complexly patterned food product, a reducing passageway for reducing the cross sectional area of the patterned dough from an inlet end (34) to outlet end (36) of at least 50:1 at an average convergence angle of .ltoreq.45.degree. and an extruder exit port at the discharge end of the reducing passageway. The methods comprise the steps of: providing a plastic extrudable food mass; providing at least one color; mixing the food mass and color to form an organized complexly patterned food dough having an initial cross sectional area; reducing the initial cross sectional area by a factor of at least 50:1 with an average convergence angle of .ltoreq.45.degree.

Abstract: A method for coating discrete food pieces with a sweet coating such as in the preparation of a presweetened R-T-E cereal and coated food products prepared by the process. The coating resists dissolution in cold milk. The coating contains a mixture of sugars, gelatin and calcium material. The method of preparation comprises the steps, in sequence of: (A) providing a base of dried food pieces; (B) blending an aqueous sugars solution with an aqueous gelatin solution and calcium material; (C) coating the base of dried food pieces with the aqueous sugar, gelatin solution and calcium material; and (D) drying the coated product to a shelf stable moisture content.

Abstract: A workstation includes a countertop having a substantially planar upper surface below which extends an upstanding post that defines a substantially vertical axis. Further arranged under the countertop is a drawer that is interconnected to the upstanding post through a set of rail members. The set of rail members includes a first rail member fixed to the drawer and a second rail member which is slidably interconnected with the first rail member. The second rail member is further rotatably mounted to the upstanding post such that a drawer can slide between extended and retracted positions and also pivot about the vertical axis of the post. The drawer includes a handle which extends across both front and side wall portions of the drawer to enhance maneuvering of the drawer to a desired position.

Abstract: The present invention is a container for storing fine particles such as bakery flour in a sealed packaging, wherein air in the container such as entrapped during filling can be expelled through compression without loss of the fine particles. The container comprises a main body forming a pouch, terminating in a principal opening, fabricated from an imperforate flexible material such as clear plastic film, a sealing mechanism attached to the pouch for sealing the pouch, and a multiplicity of microscopic pores extending through the flexible material having a dimension ranging from 10 to 150 .mu.m) sufficient to permit air to exit through the exit port, but to prevent the fine particles from escaping through the pores.

Abstract: A water filtering system for a refrigerator includes a mounting head preferably arranged under a temperature control housing in a fresh food compartment. A replaceable filter cartridge is adapted to be selectively attached to the mounting head in order to complete a fluid circuit from a water supply source to at least one of a water dispenser and an ice maker. The filter cartridge and the mounting head have cooperating camming structure which axially draws a stem portion of the cartridge into a port of the mounting head upon rotation of the cartridge relative to the mounting head during installation of the cartridge. Furthermore, camming structure is also provided to at least partially, axially withdraw the stem portion from the port upon rotation of the cartridge a predetermined amount in an opposing direction. Also provided as part of the water filtering system is a plug which can be used to complete the fluid circuit in the absence of a filter cartridge.

Abstract: A ventilation system for an appliance, such as a clothes dryer or a cooking device, includes a blower unit which is located remote from the appliance and connected to the appliance through an elongated duct. To control the operation of the blower unit, a transmitter is used to send signals to a receiver electrically connected to the blower unit. In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the invention, radio frequency, ultrasonic or other similar types of signals are directed through the duct to the receiver. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a power line transmitter is utilized. A method of remotely controlling the operation of the appliance ventilation system is also provided.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive system for a vehicle includes a pressurizing circuit and a working circuit. The pressurizing circuit incorporates a pump driven by a prime mover having a nominal horsepower rating. The prime mover is either shut off or idled when the pressure sensed within the pressurizing circuit is within a desired range and run at an optimum high RPM range when the pressure falls below the desired range. At least one accumulator is provided in the pressurizing circuit. The working circuit includes a plurality of motors for driving at least one vehicle wheel and a motor control valve arrangement which isolates one or more motors from the flow of pressurized fluid while deactivated and drives the motors while activated. As vehicle speed increases and drive resistance decreases, the number of motors propelling the vehicle is progressively reduced. A flow control valve alters flow to the motors.

Abstract: An oven rack for supporting food items to be cooked in a cavity of an appliance includes a support platform defined by a plurality of support elements that establish primary and secondary zones upon which food items to be cooked can be placed. The support elements are located in closer proximity within the primary zones than in the secondary zones. Preferably, the support elements are further interconnected by at least one cross support element in each of the primary zones. With this configuration, a consumer is directed to support food items to be cooked in optimal locations upon the oven rack.

Abstract: An ice dispenser system incorporates a common ice delivery passage for both cubed and crushed ice. A first set of ice crushing blades are mounted upon a shaft that rotates concurrently with an ice delivery element such as an auger. When cubed ice is desired, an unobstructed ice delivery path is provided with the second set of ice crushing blades being pivoted out of the passage and the first set of ice crushing blades simply rotating within the passage to aid in delivering ice to an ice receiving area. Preferably, the second set of ice crushing blades are pivoted through the use of a crank arm that has a first bent end received in a slot formed in the second set of ice crushing blades and a second bent end that is acted upon by an output member of a solenoid attached to a rear portion of an ice collecting bin of the system.

Abstract: A cabinet structure is thermally insulated by placing a first insulation material directly upon a surface of the cabinet structure and then covering the insulation material with a barrier sheet that is affixed along an annular edge portion thereof to the cabinet structure. In this manner, the insulation material is retained within a chamber defined between the barrier sheet and the cabinet structure. This chamber is then evacuated to a low pressure, generally in the order of 0.1-10 mm Hg, and sealed.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave shelf stable popcorn articles that contain real butter. The articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag and an improved popcorn/fat charge. In addition to kernel popcorn and fat, the charge further essentially includes about 1% to 8% of a high fat butter constituent. By virtue of selecting a particularly defined high fat butter ingredient, microwave popcorn articles can be prepared that are shelf stable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assisting an individual, particularly a physically and/or mentally handicapped person, in performing a paper manipulating task includes a base which supports a paper manipulating unit, such as an electric stapler, hole punch, folding mechanism or the like, as well as a platform. In the most preferred form, the platform is vertically adjustable relative to the base in order to enable positioning the platform at a height commensurate with a paper receiving zone associated with the selected paper manipulating unit. A paper tray, selected from a group of trays depending on the particular paper manipulating task desired to be performed, is provided atop the platform for movement between a paper loading position, wherein one or more sheets of paper are arranged in the tray, and an operating position, wherein the one or more sheets are delivered to the paper manipulating unit.

Abstract: A refrigerated product storage system incorporates first, second and third vertically spaced storage sections carried by a unitary support frame attached to an inner wall portion of a fresh food compartment door of a refrigerator. In the most preferred form of the invention, the storage system includes an uppermost dairy compartment, an intermediate chill compartment, and a lower, slidable drawer. The chill compartment is provided with a door which is pivotably mounted about a vertical, inboard pivot axis, with the door being formed with a cut-out handle portion adapted to be aligned with a passageway formed in a partition separating freezer and fresh food compartments of the refrigerator. With this construction, a supply of low temperature air is directed from the freezer compartment directly into the chill compartment through the cut-out handle portion. The door of the chill compartment is provided with a latching mechanism, preferably an over-center acting latching mechanism.

Abstract: A water tank having a body portion that slopes away, in multiple directions, from an outlet thereof is adapted to be mounted within a refrigerator cabinet in a substantially horizontal plane. The water tank is preferably integrally molded with multiple, parallel-arranged flow paths and with a plurality of upstanding tabs for use in mounting the water tank horizontally in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator cabinet. The inlet and outlet areas of the tank are designed to minimize the potential for trapping air within the tank. In addition, the tank is formed with integrally molded clips for use in attaching a water tube to the tank. When used in a top mount refrigerator, the tank is particularly adapted to be mounted at a rear underside portion of a fresh food liner that forms part of a mullion divider assembly so as to be generally out of visual sight of the consumer, while being in direct heat exchange relationship with cooling air within the compartment.