Abstract: An attachment to a hand-held blender for chopping solids comprising a generally cylindrical receptacle having a closed lower end then an open upper end. The receptacle is generally symmetrical about a central axis and includes an elongated pin extending along such axis into the receptacle from the closed lower end. An elongated shaft having blade means at one end and attachment means at the other end is positionable on the pin for rotation thereabout. The shaft is freely rotatable on the pin with blades being positioned adjacent the closed lower end and the attachment member being positioned adjacent the open upper end. A coupling element having a first coupler for attachment to a rotatable member on the blender and a second coupler for attachment to the attachment member on the shaft is provided to transmit rotation of the rotatable member on the blender to the chopping member.

Abstract: A potato baking device comprising a self-supporting base and lid, wherein the base and lid define a cooking chamber for baking potatoes. A heating plate is provided inside the cooking chamber for conducting heat throughout the cooking chamber. A plurality of detachable heat conductive skewers are provided on which potatoes are mounted and placed into the cooking chamber such that the skewers are in contact with the heating plate. To facilitate mounting the potatoes onto the skewers, a mounting block is provided. A temperature sensing unit is also provided to determine the internal temperature of the potato and indicate when cooking is completed.

Abstract: An appliance for brewing a flavor-carrying material such as coffee, tea or the like. The appliance includes a reservoir for receiving a predetermined amount of water, heating means for heating the water and a brew basket having a chamber adapted to receive a predetermined amount of flavor-carrying particulate therein. The brew basket includes an open upper end, an aperture at the lowest portion of the chamber, and a valve element movable between a first position and a second position to create a drain opening at two locations within the chamber. In the first position, the valve element defines a drain opening a predetermined height above the lowest portion of the chamber and in the second position defines a drain opening at the lowest portion of the chamber.

Abstract: A lid assembly for a portable water treatment device of the type including a vessel with an opened upper end and a replaceable filter cartridge adapted to be contained therein. A lid assembly is adapted to be attached to the opened upper end of the vessel above the replaceable filter cartridge and operable to monitor the number of times the water treatment device is used. The lid assembly includes a housing having a central aperture therethrough communicating with the filter cartridge. A gate member is reciprocally movable between a position closing the aperture in the housing and a position opening the aperture in the housing. In the opened position, water to be treated may be poured into the filter cartridge through the aperture. Indicator means are provided and are movable incrementally in response to movement of the gate member. The indicator means move one increment during a cyclic movement of the gate member from the closed position to the opened position and back to the closed position.

Abstract: An appliance for preparing freshly brewed iced tea with microwave energy comprising a generally funnel-shaped reservoir of molded plastic construction having an open upper end, closed lower end and an aperture near the closed lower end. The reservoir is dimensioned to hold a predetermined amount of water and tea simultaneously. A valve arrangement controls the flow of liquid from the reservoir through the aperture and to move from a closed position to an open position after water in the reservoir has been heated by microwave energy to a predetermined temperature. A receptacle is dimensioned to hold the hot, brewed tea from the reservoir and a predetermined amount of ice, and includes a barrier to shield ice therein from microwave energy.

Abstract: An automatic electric maker for coffee or the like, having user selectable AUTO, BREW, WARM or OFF modes. The temperature of the WARM mode is selectable by applying partial power to the heating element. Full power can be triggered using a phase controlled triggerable semiconductor. Monitoring devices measure temperature and time to control the operator of the apparatus and to detect malfunction. A temperature comparator is provided to determine if the water conduit should be cleaned and to determine if the BREW state of the machine should be converted to the WARM state, and to place the system in the OFF state if necessary.

Abstract: A lid assembly for attachment to a decanter for varying the overall height of the decanter comprising a mounting sleeve which is attachable to the open upper end of the decanter and a lid dimensioned to be attached to the mounting sleeve. The sleeve includes an opening extending therethrough communicating with the interior of the decanter, and at least one column of vertically aligned, horizontally oriented slots. Each of the slots has a side communicating with the opening through the sleeve. A recess is formed in the sleeve adjacent the column of slots, the recess being in communication with the opening through the sleeve and communicating with each of the slots. The lid is dimensioned to be telescopically received within the opening in the sleeve and be rotatable within the sleeve.

Abstract: An electric coffee maker comprised of a housing, having structure defining a carafe receiving position and support means disposed above the carafe receiving position. A filter/brew funnel dimensioned to be supported by the support means above the carafe receiving position is provided to receive brewing particulate and brewing water. The filter/brew funnel includes an outlet port and valve means operable to pen and close the outlet port. The valve means include a valve, a valve lever supporting the valve, which lever is movable between a first position wherein the valve closes the outlet port and a second position wherein the valve is disposed away from the outlet port, and biasing means for biasing the valve lever toward the first position. An elongated actuator is pivotally mounted about a generally horizontal axis to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for brewing coffee or the like with microwave energy comprising a generally funnel-shaped reservoir having an open upper end, a closed lower end and an aperture near the closed lower end. A removable cover is provided for closing the open upper end. A flange extends outwardly from the reservoir and is operable to position the apparatus over a conventionally-known cup or mug wherein the aperture is disposed over the cup or mug. A valve is provided to control flow of liquid from the reservoir and is operable to allow flow upon the existence of a predetermined condition in the reservoir.

Abstract: A device for detecting relative differences in conductivity between filtered and unfiltered states of fluid comprises a differential comparator for measuring the voltage difference of its input ports, a differential bridge connected to the input sorts of the differential comparator for measuring the conductivity of the fluid, the differential bridge having electrodes for contacting the fluid in each of its filtered and unfiltered states and bridge adjustment circuitry for compensating for voltage offsets of the comparator and the bridge, and an indicator connected to the output of the comparator for generating an output indicative of the differential conductivity of the fluid in its filtered and unfiltered states.

Abstract: Apparatus for warming coffee or other beverage includes a warmer plate on which a vessel holding the beverage to be warmed is set, a heater for heating the warmer plate, circuitry for controlling the time the warmer plate is in a heating condition and a weight sensitive switch for enabling the circuitry only when a vessel of pre-determined weight is on the warmer plate. The circuitry further includes components for reinitializing the time the warmer plate is in a heating condition after a vessel is removed from the warmer plate under predetermined time conditions and then replaced thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for brewing coffee or the like with microwave energy comprising a receptacle for receiving a brewed beverage, and a generally funnel-shaped reservoir having an open upper end, a closed lower end and an aperture near the closed lower end. A flange extends outwardly from the reservoir and is operable to position the apparatus over the receptacle wherein the aperture is disposed over the receptacle. A valve is provided to control flow of liquid from the reservoir and is operable to allow flow upon the existence of a predetermined condition in the reservoir.

Abstract: An appliance for automatically brewing a beverage such as coffee, tea or the like comprising a reservoir for receiving a predetermined amount of water, a heating element for heating the water, a container adapted to receive coffee, tea or the like defining a wetting chamber and means for delivering heated water to the wetting chamber. The container includes an outlet port disposed a predetermined distance above the lowest portion of the wetting chamber wherein a predetermined head of water is consistently developed and maintained throughout the brewing cycle.

Abstract: An appliance for automatically brewing a beverage such as coffee, tea or the like comprising a reservoir for receiving a predetermined amount of water, a heating element for heating the water, a container adapted to receive coffee, tea or the like defining a wetting chamber and means for delivering heated water to the wetting chamber. The container includes an outlet port disposed a predetermined distance above the lowest portion of the wetting chamber wherein a predetermined head of water is consistently developed and maintained throughout the brewing cycle.