Abstract: In an apparatus for electrically heating flowable material from a pressurized container and having a housing supporting the container, and a heat exchanger connected to receive material from the container and dispense it through a valve actuator assembly and having heating structure to control the temperature of the dispensed material, an improvement is provided in the support and valve actuator assembly structure that comprises a single integral flexible plastic claw-like member supported in the housing with a first set of spaced projections depending through the housing and fixedly locking the member on the housing. A second set of spaced projections depends through the housing to lockingly engage and support a container. A tubular passage in the member telescopically receives the container outlet through one end and receives an actuator stem in the other end of the passage that telescopically moves against the container outlet to dispense material.

Abstract: A hair dryer hood of a smooth outer shell and a smaller rigid perforated inner liner having a space therebetween to distribute heated air from a source of supply and both having an opening for a user's head. To this standard structure an improvement comprises means to change or vary the volume of the inner liner substantially within the fixed confines of the outer shell by providing a separate quick connect/disconnect to easily change or replace inner liners of different size so the inner liners can be selectively connected to the outer shell and the dryer characteristics of inner volume, drying time, drying efficiency, and air penetration can all be varied without changing the basic hair dryer design.

Abstract: A drying hair curler for use with an electric hair dryer having a tubular end through which pumped heated air is expelled. The curler comprises a coupling section mountable on the tubular end and an axially aligned concentric and smaller tubular section adjacent the coupling downstream thereof so that it receives a core of the expelled air from the coupling. The smaller section has peripheral apertures for outward radial air flow and the coupling section forms a bypass directing air axially along the outer surface of the smaller tubular section so that hair wound on the curler receives both radial and axial hot air flow simultaneously for better drying.

Abstract: In a steam iron with a fill opening to an interior water tank above a heated soleplate with a steam generator and ports to direct steam through the soleplate, an improvement is provided for delivery of surge of steam by a generally slanted control/pump assembly from upper forward to lower rear and comprising a pump cylinder communicating through its top with the tank and through its bottom with the generator through a metering orifice. A piston slidable in the cylinder moves between an upper position against a valve seat at the cylinder top to seal the cylinder from the tank for dry ironing, through an intermediate position establishing fluid connection between the tank and generator for continuous steaming, and into a lower position interrupting the fluid connection and trapping fluid below the piston.

Abstract: A combination flash/flood boiler steam iron with a water tank having a fill opening and a liquid fill valve means to close the tank to ambient and having a steam generating soleplate with ports and boiler therein and a water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water to the boiler for generating flash steam. In this combination the improvement is added for selectively operating the iron with a flooded boiler comprising a separate flood valve means operable to partially empty the tank and fill the boiler to a flooded condition to generate saturated steam. A tubular means connects the boiler and water tank to balance both pressure within the iron and water level during flooded operation and to conduct all the generated steam to the tank interior. A steam passage distributing means connects to the soleplate ports and the distributing means is separated from the boiler generating means.

Abstract: An electric drip coffeemaker wherein a dry ground coffee dispenser is supported at an upper overhanging portion of a housing, a carafe is positioned on a lower stand portion of the housing at one side of the dispenser, and a ground coffee basket is selectively positionable on guideways which are provided at the lower portion of the dispenser and at the top wall of the housing above the carafe.

Abstract: An iron with fluid handling means and a removable tank assembly that has a tank support and a conduit that extends from the fluid handling means into the tank when it is disposed on the support. Means are provided to fill the tank when removed and a pliable plug means is disposed in the tank and split to accept the conduit therethrough in a sealing relation permitting fluid flow from the tank to the handling means so that the conduit pierces the pliable plug in a tight seal when the tank is placed in position and the plug seals itself when the conduit and tank are separated for filling.

Abstract: A steam iron soleplate, generator, and distributor subassembly of a thin soleplate with a coverplate spaced from and supported on the soleplate by spaced peripheral rib means to define a steam distributing passage therebetween. The coverplate is integrally attached to the soleplate by a continuous weld between the ribs and soleplate and steam generating means are provided in the upper surface of the coverplate separate and spaced from the soleplate and ducted below to the steam passage means. A heat generating element forms an integral part of the coverplate for heat transfer to the soleplate through the ribs primarily by conduction. Both the method of assembly and the subassembly itself are disclosed.

Abstract: A slinger device for use in a humidifier liquid dispersion system includes blades having a main sloping section tilted in two planes relative to the rotational axis of the assembly and provided with flange means substantially co-extensive with at least one side edge whereby the outer edge of the flange means extends a constant distance from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An alarm vibrator control mechanism for a clock timer wherein an elongated lever extends along the lower portion of the timer for releasing an alarm vibrator at a preset time. The elongated lever is controlled by a selector shaft mechanism which is positioned at one side of the timer, a centrally located 12 hour alarm time gear and a disc cam which is connected to a units shaft at the other side of the timer. The 12 hour alarm time gear tilts the vibrator shutoff lever forwardly a few minutes before the alarm time and then the disc cam moves a right side portion of the elongated lever downwardly at the alarm time to release the elongated alarm shutoff lever from a notch which is formed in a base plate to sound the alarm. A repeat alarm lever cooperates with a tab of the elongated lever to automatically shut off the alarm for a short time interval.

Abstract: An alarm vibrator control mechanism for a clock timer wherein an elongated lever extends along the lower portion of the timer for releasing an alarm vibrator at a preset time. The elongated lever is controlled by a selector shaft mechanism which is positioned at one side of the timer, a centrally located 12 hour alarm time gear and a disc cam which is connected to a units shaft at the other side of the timer. The 12 hour alarm time gear tilts the vibrator shutoff lever forwardly a few minutes before the alarm time and then the disc cam moves a right side portion of the elongated lever downwardly at the alarm time to release the elongated alarm shutoff lever from a notch which is formed in a base plate.

Abstract: A steam iron soleplate, generator, and distributor subassembly of a thin soleplate with a coverplate spaced from and supported on the soleplate by spaced peripheral rib means to define a steam distributing passage therebetween. The coverplate is integrally attached to the soleplate by a continuous weld between the ribs and soleplate and steam generating means are provided in the upper surface of the cover-plate separate and spaced from the soleplate and ducted below to the steam passage means. A heat generating element forms an integral part of the coverplate for heat transfer to the soleplate through the ribs primarily by conduction. Both the method of assembly and the subassembly itself are disclosed.

Abstract: An alarm clock timer mechanism having a pair of coaxially mounted gear driven cam members with one of the cam members being axially movable to actuate an alarm or other form of control mechanism at a preset alarm time. One of the cam members is provided with a resiliently mounted cam follower which moves axially toward the other cam member at the alarm time. The resilient mounting allows the follower to ride smoothly on a lower surface of the other cam after the alarm time, thus precluding any high torque resetting loads on a timing motor. A manually operable reset mechanism is provided for axially moving the cam members away from each other to move the control mechanism to its off position and to simultaneously reset the resiliently mounted cam follower on an upper surface of the other cam.