Abstract: A babycare heating apparatus comprising a vessel (2;102) for containing water and a heating element (15;115) for heating water held in the vessel, characterized by: a temperature sensor (22;42,123) for sensing a temperature rise effected by operation of the heating element (15); and control means (25;125) for controlling the energizing of the heating element (15;115) in dependence on the output of the temperature sensor (22;42;123) and being configured to de-energize the heating element (15;115) if the change in the temperature, sensed by the sensor (22;42;123), meets a predetermined criterion. The apparatus can be used as a sterilizer or a bottle warmer, and its uses a measure of the rate of heating during operation to determine whether the apparatus has been correctly charged with water.

Abstract: A blender arm includes a tubular body equipped at one end with a connection for a power unit. The blender arm further includes a rotary shaft having a tool at the end opposite to the connection end. A peripheral protection is provided around the tool. The rotary shaft with the tool is attached movably in axial direction to the tubular body so that the tool may be positioned in a retracted position for operation or a protracted position for cleaning, without having to touch the tool with the hands. The blender arm may further include a resilient element, functionally connected to the tubular body and the rotary shaft, for moving the rotary shaft between the protracted and retracted positions. When the rotary shaft is releases, the tool automatically returns to the retracted position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically generating a target sequence of a plurality of elements selected in accordance with a plurality of user-defined constraints such as a play list of songs. The apparatus comprises a user interface (102) for inputting a plurality of user-defined constraints, a storage device (106) for storing a plurality of elements or music files; and a processor (104) for automatically generating the target sequence or play list by an iterative process in which a solution sequence is found at each iteration to best fit the user-defined constraints. A small, random or biased change is made to the sequence found and if this improves the solution, the new solution is used for the next iteration. The biased change is used to help predict a better result for user-defined constraints which are, ordinarily, difficult to satisfy.

Abstract: An appliance for personal care, such as skin, dental or hair treatment, comprising a dispensing structure (30) for automatically dispensing a fluid. The dispensing structure (30) includes a fluid reservoir (10), a discharge opening (11) and a fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) for driving the fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir (10) to and out of said discharge opening (11) in accordance with a dispensing rate/time profile (Sx). The fluid drive structure (9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) is arranged for spurting at least once during said dispensing operation for squirting an additional quantity of the fluid to and out of the discharge opening (11) in addition to the fluid being dispensed in accordance with said dispensing rate/time profile (Sx).

Abstract: To allow trimming body hair by pulling as well as pushing with the same hair trimmer device (1), its comb unit (6) is positioned over the trimming head (16) in at least two different positions (8, 9), one (8) pulling and one pushing position (9). In particular, in the different comb positions (8, 9), the tips (20) of the comb unit's fins (13) point in the direction of the respective movement. Preferably, the comb unit (6) is removably attached. In a preferred embodiment, the trimming head (16) includes shaving means (18) besides trimming means (19).

Abstract: A control panel for automatic beverage machines includes a touch screen that visually represents icons saved in a memory unit as the displayed basic setting as a first selector mechanism used for choosing a desired beverage and by which a predetermined preparation process is triggered. The steps of the selected beverage preparation process may be visually represented on the touch screen. Alternatively, the touch screen is used as a second selector mechanism for choosing a desired preparation setting after a beverage is chosen by actuating the first selector mechanism. When a preparation setting is selected, the touch screen displays the icon for the selected beverage in addition to setting key icons that allow an operator to select and save a desired setting.

Abstract: A beverage preparation apparatus with a three-way valve that includes an inlet; a first outlet; a second outlet; a first member movable between first and second extreme positions under the influence of liquid flow from the inlet to the first and/or second outlets from the first extreme position towards the second extreme position which closes off the first outlet so that the liquid flow then extends from the inlet to the second outlet; a second member which is freely moveable under the influence of a liquid flow from the inlet to the second outlet between a third and fourth extreme position wherein under the influence of the liquid flow from the inlet to the second outlet, moves from the third extreme position to the fourth extreme position and in the third extreme position blocks a liquid flow from the second outlet in the direction of the inlet.

Abstract: A multi-function docking assembly electrically coupleable with a portable digital media storage and playback device is provided. The assembly includes a body adapted to receive and retain the media device, an electrical coupling adapted to engage the media device when the same is received by the body, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting media content to an external receiving device, an electrical circuit element to conduct power, and an authentication element. Any of various authentication methods are use to ensure and/or regulate interoperability between the media device and the docking assembly. Multiple discrete tiers of functionality of the audio player and/or portable digital media storage and playback device may be enabled or disabled based on an authentication operation.

Abstract: An optical measurement device for measuring the optical appearance of a surface (12) of a sample (10), in particular a surface (12) of a human skin, wherein the surface is at least partly translucent, comprising: an illumination device (18) for illuminating the surface (12) with an illumination beam (20), wherein the illumination beam (20) is generated from a radiation beam emitted from a radiation source (58), a detection device (56) for intercepting a response beam (30, 32), wherein the response beam (30, 32) is generated as a response of the sample (10) to the illumination beam (20), incident on the surface (12).

Abstract: To provide a hair cutting device permitting the user to really know the remaining hair length without having to do trial cuts, a hair cutting device (1) with hair length indicator means (4) is proposed, wherein the hair length indicator means (4) comprises a fixed delimiter (5) and at least one movable delimiter (6) being movable with respect to the fixed delimiter (5), such that the hair length is indicated by the distance (D) between the fixed (5) and the at least one movable delimiter (6). Preferably, the hair length indicator means (4) comprises more than one movable delimiter (6, 7), all movable delimiters (6, 7) being movable in circumferential direction and functionally couplable with a comb unit (19, 20) such that a change between movable delimiters (6, 7) is caused by attachment of the comb unit (19, 20) to the hair cutting device (1).

Abstract: A beverage device for making a beverage with a foam layer on top includes a foaming device for generating foam from the beverage. The foaming device includes at least one inlet opening for receiving beverage under pressure and at least one outlet opening for the beverage with the foam. To obtain a fine and stable foam layer on the beverage, the foaming device generates a spray of beverage, and includes a collision surface which, in use, is hit by the beverage spray thus generating the foam.

Abstract: Hair cutting apparatus having at least one cutting unit (2) with a stationary cutting member (3) and reciprocable movable cutting member (4) each having cooperating bearing surfaces (7,8) with cutting edges (9,10). To minimize the friction between the bearing surfaces a visco-elastic element is provided between the coupling element (14) and the movable cutting member (4) resulting in a small cutting gap between the bearing surfaces. During cutting of hairs the visco-elastic element behaves as a stiff element whereas during periods in which no hairs are cut the element behaves relatively soft so that the cutting gaps between the cutting edges are closed.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of juice-extracting food processors (1) based on grating fruit or vegetables, wherein the inlet piece (2) forms an interstice (I) with the grating disk (3), interstitial cutting teeth (302) are arranged in the interstice (I). Pieces of fruit or vegetables in the interstice (I) are additionally accelerated in the direction of the sieve 151 due to centrifugal forces by the interstitial cutting teeth (302) acting on these pieces. The juice contained in these pieces is thus more efficiently extracted. For better processing of pieces of fruit or vegetables with a high juice content, the interstitial cutting teeth (302) are preferably higher than the other cutting teeth (301) of the grating disk (3).

Abstract: A method of operating a communication station including queuing data units, estimating the transmission delay of at least one of the data units in the queue, and if the estimated transmission delay exceeds a threshold, requesting permission to transmit at least one data unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin treatment device (1, F). The device comprises a radiation source (13) in a housing, such that radiation can be emitted through an exit opening in the housing. It further comprises at least one skin presence sensor (43, 63) capable of measuring the presence of skin (7) in a number of respective positions, and a control unit (37). The control unit (37) is constructed to determine a covered portion of the exit opening (15) from a measurement signal of the skin presence sensor and to restrict emission of the radiation (13) to the covered portion of the exit opening (15), e.g. by modifying the control of a radiation beam manipulator (11), or by controlling radiation-blocking means, such as blinds, in the exit opening (15). The invention provides a more efficient and yet safe treatment device (1, 1?), since a larger exit opening (15) can be selected, while unwanted emission of radiation (13) through uncovered portions of the exit opening (15) is still prevented.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus (4) for cleaning a hair-cutting portion (2) of an electric hair-cutting device (1) includes a cleaning-liquid basin (5) for receiving the hair-cutting portion of the electric hair-cutting device in a central area such that the hair-cutting portion is at least partially immersed in the cleaning liquid (13). The electric hair-cutting device is cleaned by generating a cleaning-liquid flow revolving within the basin (5) around the central area of the basin, the hair-cutting portion being at least partially immersed in the cleaning liquid. The liquid flow effectively entrains debris away from the hair-cutting portion.