Abstract: A steam convection oven includes a base, a container positionable on the base for containing food, a lid housing for covering the container, and a steam generator assembly for the instantaneous production of steam to contact and steam cook the food in the container, and a fan and electric heater on the lid housing for convection cooking of the food in the container to cause braising and sealing of the food surface after the food has been steam cooked.

Abstract: A coolmist humidifier appliance which emits liquid in the form of mist or fog to achieve enhanced humidification includes a lower housing part which is positionable on a support surface and an upper housing part which is removably positionable on the lower housing part and includes a motor and an impeller assembly for drawing liquid upwardly from the lower housing part and spraying it radially outwardly against a ring of comb teeth so as to form liquid droplets outside of the ring of comb teeth. The upper housing part includes a discharge opening and a guide wall which extends downwardly toward the lower housing part and toward the discharge opening along a spiral curve so that the liquid droplets will move toward the discharge opening along a volute passageway.

Abstract: A pulse injection steam hairsetter which efficiently and safely heats hair curlers prior to use includes a housing that has a base for placement on a supporting surface and defines a recess for a replaceable water canister, the housing also defining a treatment chamber in which a hair curler can be placed and including a pulse steam supply mechanism for supplying pulses of steam to the treatment chamber, and more particularly to internally of a hair curler placed therein. The pulse steam supply mechanism includes an electric heating device for supplying steam to the treatment chamber, a manually operable bellows pump device, and hoses for delivering water from a water canister positioned in the recess to the bellows pump device and from the bellows pump device to the heating device. A one way valve between the bellows pump device and the heating device controls the flow of water in the proper direction. A cover can enclose the treatment chamber and be used to operate the bellows pump device.

Abstract: A steam generator for use in steam cooking appliances includes an inner wall which provides a boiler chamber around a core of a thermostat-controlled electric heater and an outer wall which defines a buffer chamber around the boiler chamber, the inner and outer walls including openings to enable water to flow from a water reservoir into the buffer chamber and then into the boiler chamber and for the equalization of gas pressures therebetween. The heater core provides high latent heat-continuing steam which passes upwardly into a head chamber and through discharge orifices in an end wall thereof.

Abstract: A drying apparatus such as a hand-held hair dryer comprising a housing including a nozzle and containing an air outlet and a fan assembly contained within the housing for generating a flow of air from the outlet. The apparatus further includes a flow guide including a plurality of holes therein contained within the nozzle, the flow guide forming a closed shape in cross-section and having open ends. The flow guide is separated from the nozzle so as to form a space between the nozzle and the flow guide for flow of air therethrough. The flow guide tends to attenuate noise generated by operation of the apparatus by lowering the frequency of the noise.