Abstract: A convertible fashion accessory item has a first condition in the form of a bracelet, anklet, necklace or other looped jewelry item, and at least a second condition in the form of a hair or ponytail holder. The accessory apparatus includes an outer elastic member and at least one inner elastic member disposed within the outer elastic tubular member with the at least one inner elastic member defining a hollow interior. The accessory apparatus may include first and second inner elastic members. The first inner elastic member may include filler material within the hollow interior thereof. Alternatively, each of the first and second inner elastic members includes filler material within the hollow interiors thereof. The filler material includes filler yarns or threads, or foam. A decorative element, in the form of, e.g., a chain, may be mounted about the outer elastic member.

Abstract: A food processing device includes a lower container, a processing plate received atop the lower container, the processing container having a floor, a peripheral sidewall, and at least first and second apertures formed in the floor, the lower container and the processing plate defining a collection volume therebetween, a lid received atop the processing plate and defining a processing volume interior to the lid and the processing plate, a first cutting member positioned in the first opening of the processing plate, and a second cutting member positioned in the second opening of the processing plate.

Abstract: The coffee maker of the present invention includes a housing, a water reservoir disposed in the housing and a shower head in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The coffee maker also include a first heating element for heating water from the water reservoir and being controllable between and ON state and an OFF state, and a second heating element located downstream from the first heating element and being controllable between an ON state and an OFF state. The first and second heating elements are operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, the second mode being different from the first mode.

Abstract: The toaster oven of the present invention includes a housing having an internal heating compartment, an upper heating element and a lower heating element. The upper heating element and the lower heating element are independently controllable between zero power and full power in dependence upon a user-selected operating mode.

Abstract: A facial treatment apparatus includes a housing, a facial treatment member mounted to the housing, and dimensioned for application to facial skin of a subject and being actuable to treat the facial skin, a visual display including a facial icon having a plurality of regions corresponding to different areas of the facial skin to be treated by the facial treatment member, an electronic timer adapted to count time associated with a treatment protocol and responsive to actuation of the facial treatment member and a controller associated with the timer and the facial icon and cooperating to visually identify a different region of the facial icon at successive predetermined time intervals of the treatment protocol.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl mounted on the base for containing food items, a lid for covering the bowl and having an opening therein, and a sidewall cleaning mechanism operable to scrape an interior sidewall of the bowl while the lid is engaged with the bowl.

Abstract: A method of removing a tattoo from skin of a human subject. The method has the step of applying to a region of the skin having the tattoo a reducing composition that includes a reducing agent and a penetration enhancer in admixture. The penetration enhancer is present in an amount effective to effect penetration of at least at least a portion of the reducing agent through the skin to the location of the tattoo. The reducing agent is present in an amount effective to at least partially decolorize or break up a pigment of the tattoo. The reducing agent can be selected from the group consisting of sodium oxymethylene sulfoxylate and sodium hydroxymethane sulfinic acid.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl removably coupled to the base, a lid removably coupled to the bowl so as to define a processing chamber, a slicing assembly positioned within the processing chamber and driven by the motor, the slicing assembly being positionable in a plurality of slicing positions to produce sliced food items of varying thicknesses, and a slice thickness adjustment mechanism operable to move the slicing assembly between the plurality of slicing positions. The slice thickness adjustment mechanism includes a cartridge mounted to the bowl, the cartridge including an actuator drivingly coupled to a drive screw. Rotation of the drive screw causes the slicing assembly to move between the plurality of slicing positions.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl mounted on the base for containing food items, a modular lid for covering the bowl and having an opening therein, and a removable attachment receivable by said opening.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl mounted on the base for containing food items, a lid for covering the bowl and having an opening therein, at least one storage container receivable within said bowl, and an indexing mechanism engageable with the at least one storage container and being operable to selectively index the storage container within the bowl.

Abstract: A coffee making appliance includes a housing having a base for supporting a container configured to receive brewed coffee, a reservoir for receiving water to be heated, a hopper configured to receive a quantity of whole coffee beans, the hopper having an outlet, a vertically-oriented burr grinder positioned adjacent to the outlet of said hopper, the grinder being configured to transform the whole coffee beans into coffee grounds, a filter removably received by the housing for receiving the coffee grounds from the grinder, a pump configured to supply water from the reservoir to the filter, and a driving mechanism configured to rotate the filter while the water is supplied to the filter to cause the water to pass radially through the coffee grounds to produce the brewed coffee.

Abstract: A food steamer includes a base, a cooking container receivable by said base, a lid receivable atop said cooking container, a boiler housed within the base, a steam flow pathway extending from said boiler to said lid for directing steam generated by said boiler into said container through said lid, a control unit configured to control operation of said food steamer in response to a user input. The control unit is configured to automatically deactivate the boiler when the lid is removed from the cooking container.

Abstract: A food processor having a removable feed tube is provided. The food processor includes a work bowl and a lid configured to be selectively removable from the work bowl and having a feed tube opening. A removable feed tube is selectively attached to the lid and extends upwards from the feed tube opening when attached to the lid. The food processor also includes a simple cover that can be utilized in place of the removable feed tube to close off the feed tube opening.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface, an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing and having an upper heating surface, and a smoke exhaust system. The smoke exhaust system includes an air inlet in a lower surface of the upper housing adjacent to the upper heating surface, an exhaust vent formed in the upper housing, and a fan disposed in the upper housing. The fan is configured to draw air through the inlet, into the upper housing, and expel the air through the exhaust vent.

Abstract: A food processor having a removable feed tube is provided. The food processor includes a work bowl and a lid configured to be selectively removable from the work bowl and having a feed tube opening. A removable feed tube is selectively attached to the lid and extends upwards from the feed tube opening when attached to the lid. The food processor also includes a simple cover that can be utilized in place of the removable feed tube to close off the feed tube opening.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating element, an upper housing having an upper heating element, opposed frame members disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and operatively connecting the lower housing to the upper housing. The cooking appliance further includes a food mounting assembly. The food mounting assembly includes a bracket extending between the opposed frame members for retaining a means for supporting food items over the lower heating element.