Abstract: A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a thru passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.

Abstract: A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.

Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing, a filter, a photocatalyst reaction unit which can form spiral a air flow, a forced convection device, and an electrocircuit controller. The forced convection device is located between the filter and the photocatalyst reaction unit. Because the air cleaner uses a longitudinal air conduit, an air inlet along a tangential direction of the air conduit and spiral guide vanes at the inlet, air passing through a fan and into the air conduit flows spirally in the conduct conduit to increase the time during which air contacts the photocatalyst and enables the light of the ultraviolet lamp to radiate the photocatalyst directly so that the cleaning efficiency of the photocatalyst is increased.

Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing, a filter, a photocatalyst reaction unit which can form a spiral air flow, a forced convection device, and an electrocircuit controller. The forced convection device is located between the filter and the photocatalyst reaction unit. Because the air cleaner uses a longitudinal air conduit, an air inlet along a tangential direction of the air conduit, and spiral guide vanes at the inlet, air passing through a fan and into the air conduit flows spirally in the conduit to increase the time during which air contacts the photocatalyst and enables the light of the ultraviolet lamp to radiate the photocatalyst directly so that the cleaning efficiency of the photocatalyst is increased.

Abstract: An air cleaner includes a housing, a filter, a photocatalyst reaction unit which can form spiral a air flow, a forced convection device, and an electrocircuit controller. The forced convection device is located between the filter and the photocatalyst reaction unit. Because the air cleaner uses a longitudinal air conduit, an air inlet along a tangential direction of the air conduit and spiral guide vanes at the inlet, air passing through a fan and into the air conduit flows spirally in the conduct conduit to increase the time during which air contacts the photocatalyst and enables the light of the ultraviolet lamp to radiate the photocatalyst directly so that the cleaning efficiency of the photocatalyst is increased.

Abstract: An electric scrubber includes a housing, an electric motor mounted within a housing, a pair of scrubbing blocks mounted to the housing for rotation about a common axis, and a torque transmission transmitting torque from the electric motor to the scrubbing blocks in such manner that the scrubbing blocks rotate simultaneously in mutually opposite directions about the common axis.

Abstract: A coffee machine has a space for receiving coffee grounds. Pressurised fluid is forced into the space. There is a filter screen against which the coffee grounds bear in use and through which coffee-infused fluid from the space passes to be dispensed. A fluid-pervious piston is located within the space and moves toward the filter screen to thereby compress the coffee grounds in use. This prevents the coffee grounds from separating from one another in which case the pressurised fluid might take a path of least resistance, not necessarily an infusion path through the grounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for stirring ingredients includes a base, a receptacle supported by the base for receiving the ingredients, a track mounted to the base, a carriage conveyed along the track, an arm extending from the carriage over the receptacle, and a driven paddle depending from the arm into the receptacle. The apparatus and also include a heater supported by the base for heating the receptacle. The paddle can be specially configured to include a bridge and a pair of blades attached pivotally to the bridge. The blades can yield, should they encounter a hard ingredients in use.

Abstract: A barbecue has a body with a combustion area and a cooking surface. A cover is attached hingedly to the body, and a foot pedal is situated beneath the combustion area and is attached mechanically to the cover to enable the cover to be lifted or lowered pivotally upon manipulation of the foot pedal. The barbecue further includes legs extending downwardly from the body and the foot pedal is attached to a pedal lever that is attached pivotally to one of the legs.

Abstract: A cooking/stirring appliance includes a reservoir to receive liquid to be heated, a heater associated with the reservoir to heat the liquid, a vessel for receiving food to be stirred and cooked, and a drive motor and stirring blade. The appliance is particularly suitable for sauces and soups that tend to burn using conventional cooking/stirring means.

Abstract: A water purifier includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir having an outlet through which filtered water can be dispensed, and a pump for pumping water from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. Water passes through a filter from the first reservoir en route to the second reservoir upon activation of the pump. There is a first water level detector in the first reservoir and a second water level detector in the second reservoir. A switch co-operates with the second water level detector to activate the pump when a reduced water level is detected in the second reservoir by the second water level detector. The switch also co-operates with the first water level detector to deactivate the pump, should the first water level detector detect a low water level in the first reservoir. A single switch performs both tasks.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush apparatus includes a longitudinal drive shaft, an in-use activated tuft block, at least a portion of which is movably associated with the apparatus, and having a bearing surface that is driven directly or indirectly by the drive shaft. The in-use activated tuft block will not oscillate until its bristles are pressed against the user's teeth in use so as to close a gap behind the bearing surface.

Abstract: A bristle head for an electric toothbrush has a casing, a drive shaft within the casing and a flexible membrane mounted to or formed integrally with the casing. A number of bristle tufts extend from the flexible membrane and roots of each tuft extend into the casing. A transmission is provided for transmitting movement of the drive shaft to the roots of the bristle tufts whereupon the flexible membrane flexes as or the bristle tufts move. The design prevents toothpaste and other liquid from entering into the casing where it might wear moving parts and harbour bacteria.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking vessel to receive ingredients to be heated, stirred and cooked, an electric heater associated with the cooking vessel to heat the ingredients, and a drive motor and stirring blade. The appliance also includes provision for maintaining a tilted configuration of the cooking vessel during cooking and stirring. The appliance is particularly suited to unattended cooking of stir-fry and also for stirring of sauces and soup.

Abstract: A food processing appliance includes a reservoir to receive water, a heater to produce steam from any water in the reservoir and a food-containing vessel positioned to receive steam from the heater. The vessel has a number of apertures that are sized to allow ingress of the steam to the vessel, yet curtail egress of any pureed food in the vessel therethrough. A carrier is mounted movably with respect to the vessel and a motor causes relative movement between the carrier and the vessel. A beater extends into the vessel from the carrier.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus for treating ozone with water is disclosed. A treatment carafe has a gas conduit so that off gases which accumulates in the carafe may be vented during a treatment cycle. The gas conduit conveys the off gas from the carafe to an ozone destructor via a passageway. An accumulator is provided in the passageway upstream from the destructor to hinder water entrained in the off gas from contacting and damaging the destructor.

Abstract: An electrical pressure sensing switch for a pressure cooker comprises a plunger slidably and sealingly mounted in a lid of a cooking vessel. The plunger is moved towards one end of a pivoted lever when pressure rises inside the vessel. The other end of the lever is positioned to press down against an operating arm. When the force applied by the plunger as a result of higher pressures in the vessel is sufficient to overcome bias of a spring, the arm is moved down by the lever. This results in operation of micro-switches. Embodiments of the invention are mechanically simple and accommodate wide tolerances without loss of calibration, while necessary electrical parts are separated or separable from the lid to facilitate cleaning and washing.

Abstract: A multi-pie maker of generally conventional form is provided with metallic liners that fit snugly against opposing heatable complex surfaces of platens. The liners are preformed into self supporting complimentary shapes that match and fit snugly against the complex heatable surfaces of the platens. The liners are readily removable for washing and cleaning, or replacement when necessary.