Abstract: A domestic deep fat fryer comprising, in a housing (1), a vessel (2) adapted to contain a cooking bath (3). An electric heating resistance (4) heats the cooking bath. A thermal regulator (6) of high thermal inertia is mounted in series with the heating resistance and operates over a predetermined range of switching temperature. The fryer moreover comprises a thermostatic safety switch (8) mounted in series with the electric heating resistance and operating at a fixed switching temperature higher than the maximum temperature of the temperature range of the thermal regulator (6). This thermostatic safety switch has a thermal inertia less than that of the regulator (6) so as to detect abnormally rapid temperature increases and to cut off the electrical supply in such case to the electric heating resistance.

Abstract: A hand-held electric beater-mixer comprises a drive motor (7), two coupling devices (20, 28) linked to the motor and engageable by a whisk and a mixing accessory (38) respectively, an electrical switch (71) operated by a button (67) having an "off" position, a number of "continuous on" positions and a "selective on" position, a vertical movable ejector (51), and a mechanical assembly (72) for preventing continuous operation when the mixing accessory is in place. The mechanical assembly comprises a movable member (74) which releases the ejector when the whisk is in place. The ejector has an engagement tab (53) enabling operation of the button when the ejector is in the raised position, and locks the ejector (51) in the lowered position when the mixing accessory is in place. The engagement tab (53) of the ejector locked in the lowered position locks the button (67) on the side corresponding to its "continuous on" positions.

Abstract: A pressing iron comprises a housing made of plastic material in the form of a hollow body having a base (3) whose upper portion (H) has an opening (O) closed by a cover (C) and whose outlet (D) is closed by a pressing block comprising an upper portion (4) and a lower portion (5) having at least one pressing sole (6), and surmounted, in the front and rear portions respectively, by two hollow projections (8 and 9) connected at their upper portion by a cross member (10) forming a handle and constituted by a trough (11) closed by a cover (12). The rear projection (9) has a wide opening closed by a cover (14) forming a heel. The hollow body (2) and the cover (14) are formed by a shell (1) molded in one piece and having a transverse cross section of generally inverted V shape. The trough (11) of the handle and the internal surfaces (8' and 9') of the projections (8 and 9) opening inwardly.

Abstract: A method for controlling the power supplied to a load (1) which is powered by an AC voltage source U with a period T via a generalised phase adjustment system, includes the steps of periodically delivering a sequence of p elements to the load (1), in accordance with a predetermined set power, wherein p is an integer and each element comprises n.sub.i periods T, where n.sub.i is an integer, during which the voltage U is divided symmetrically at an angle .alpha..sub.i, the consecutive phase angles .alpha..sub.i and .alpha..sub.i+1 being different, and the combination of angles .alpha..sub.1 . . . .alpha..sub.i , . . . .alpha..sub.p being selected in such a way that they limit current harmonics, and limit a flicker effect. The method is particularly suitable for power control in electric motors.

Abstract: Electric cooking apparatus comprising an insulating enclosure (12) which has spaced inner and outer shells (13, 14). A cooking vessel (22) is mounted removably in the enclosure at a distance from the inner shell (14). An electric heating device (30) comprising a sheathed heating resistance (26) extends flat and in direct contact with the bottom (24) of the vessel (22). The heating device comprises a heat reflector (38) mounted fixedly on the inner shell (14) and disposed at a small distance (d) below the resistance (26) so as to concentrate the thermal radiation of the resistance over all the bottom of the vessel. The apparatus is of particular utility when embodied in an electric deep fat fryer.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises a ground grain container positioned in a matching seat recess in a housing and at least one blade rotated by a motor in the housing and capable of transferring, on rotation, a measure of ground grains through a flow aperture in the container to an outlet in the housing seat recess. The container is removably fitted into the seat recess of the housing through the use of two rotary, mutual coupling elements located at the bottom of the container and at the base of the seat recess of the housing respectively, and connected to the blade and to the motor respectively. The container also comprises elements for closing the flow aperture when the motor is stopped and for opening it when the motor is started. The dispenser is particularly useful in automatic coffee machines.

Abstract: A drip coffee maker comprises a housing (10), and in the housing (10) a filter holder (20) into which ground coffee (23) is to be poured. A measuring device (25) is provided for the ground coffee poured into the filter holder (20). The filter holder (20) is mounted movably in the housing, and the measuring device (25) comprises at least one deformable mechanical member (33) connected to the filter holder (20) and reacting by deformation to the quantity of ground coffee (23) poured into the filter holder. This deformable mechanical member (33) drives by its deformation a member (35) for visual indication of the desired quantity of ground coffee. The deformable member (33) is in stable position when that desired quantity of ground coffee is obtained.

Abstract: An electric toaster with a housing (1) includes a toasting chamber and a slot (2) provided in the top surface thereof for inserting slices of bread, at least one heating element (3), and at least one bread holder (4) movable up and down on a guide device (6) by a lowering and raising mechanism (8) between the housing (1) and the toasting chamber. The guide device (6) comprises a single vertical slide rail (9) with a slide (10) movably mounted thereon, and the holder (4) is attached only to the slide (10) so that it is cantilevered to the post (9).

Abstract: The vacuum cleaner includes a housing (2) having a dust compartment (11) containing a dust bag (17) and a vacuum compartment (12) containing a motor-ventilator set (20); a vacuum hose (3, 5) coupled to a suction unit (7) with a suction aperture; and a device (30) for automatically controlling the power of the motor-ventilator set (20), comprising a sensor (50) for the type of flooring and a fuzzy logic control unit (46). The automatic control device (30) of the invention further includes a sensor (60) for detecting the dynamic movement of the suction unit (7), wherein the fuzzy logic control unit (46) is adapted to apply a fuzzy inference operation to the output of the floor-type sensor (50) and to the output of the suction unit dynamic movement sensor (60), so as to control the motor-ventilator set (20) on the basis of the fuzzy inference operation.

Abstract: A boiler for an espresso coffee maker comprises a metallic body (12) comprising a cover (15) with a peripheral flange (16) and a cup (18) connected in sealed fashion to the cover (15). A downwardly-extending water supply tube (26) extends through the cover. An electric heating resistance (24) is provided. A vertical water outlet conduit (32) opens through the bottom of the cup (18), and a valve (39) is disposed in the conduit (32) and opens only when a certain pressure threshold is reached. The peripheral flange (16) of the cover (15) of the body (12) is shaped as a gutter (22) in which is positioned in intimate thermal connection the electric heating resistance (24).

Abstract: A coffeemaker comprises, in a housing (1), a cold water reservoir (2) supplying a water heater (3) which in turn supplies a water spout (5) whose outlet (6) is arranged above a filter carrier (7) which is movably mounted in the housing (1) and whose bottom has an outlet opening (8) located above a server (9) collecting the infusion, the server resting on a base (10). The cold water reservoir (2) of the coffeemaker overlies the base (10) and the filter carrier (7) of the coffeemaker is arranged behind the cold water reservoir (2).