Abstract: An adapter having an elastic body with a first inlet for the discharge end of a steam-supplying conduit, a second inlet for the discharge end of an air-supplying pipe, a mixing chamber into which air drawn by pressurized steam which is supplied by the conduit, and an outlet which discharges the mixture of air and steam into a supply of milk to thereby foam the milk so that foamed milk can be used as a topping for regular coffee or espresso coffee. The discharge end of the pipe and/or the discharge end of the conduit is held in the respective inlet exclusively by friction to facilitate ready separation of the body of the adapter. The intake end of the air-supplying pipe carries an elastic cap with one or more channels which supply atmospheric air into the pipe when the conduit supplies pressurized steam. The cap is removed prior to cleaning of the pipe and of the body of the adapter if the body is cleaned jointly with the pipe.

Abstract: An electrically operated portable hair dryer wherein the housing has an air inlet at its rear end and an outlet for heated air at its front end. A grid between the outlet and the air heating unit in the housing has a hollow cylindrical outer wall which is confined in the housing, a hollow frustoconical inner wall which is spaced apart from and is surrounded by the outer wall, and a cylindrical innermost wall which is spaced apart from and is surrounded by the inner wall. The walls are integrally connected to each other by radially extending webs. The walls have a common axis, and the diameter of the inner wall decreases in the direction of flow of heated air through the grid. A perforated filter is installed in the housing adjacent the inlet, and a motor-driven impeller is rotatably mounted in the housing between the filter and the heating unit.

Abstract: A machine for brewing hot beverages, such as coffee, has a container for a supply of fresh liquid with two communicating sections one of which communicates with the atmosphere and the other of which has a bottom wall directly above an electric heater. Two or more siphons are used to convey streams of boiling liquid from the other section into a holder for a supply of flavoring agent. The siphons, the holder and at least the second section of the container are made of a non-metallic material (particularly porcelain, certain plastics, glass, ceramic or earthenware) which does not adversely affect the aroma of the beverage.

Abstract: An electrically operated coffee maker wherein the outlet of a water tank is separably connected with the lower end of a riser for hot water by a conduit which has an inlet fitting directly into the outlet of the tank and an outlet fitting directly into the lower end of the riser. A first O-ring is received in an external circumferential groove of the inlet and is surrounded and deformed by the outlet of the tank. A second O-ring is received in an external circumferential groove of the outlet and is surrounded and deformed by the lower end of the riser. The stream of water in the conduit is heated by one or more electric heating elements which can employ one or more thick film conductors.

Abstract: A portable electric hair dryer wherein the tubular part of the housing has an inlet for atmospheric air and an outlet for heated air. The housing confines an electric motor for an impeller which induces the flow of air from the inlet toward the outlet, and an electric heater for the flow of air. The motor is surrounded by annular first insulating carrier of electric contacts which are connectable to an energy source, and the heater has a second insulating carrier for contacts which are separably connectable with the contacts on the first carrier and serve to supply energy to the heater. The first carrier has surfaces which engage adjacent surfaces on a stationary air guide having a socket for the motor behind the first carrier. The contacts on the first carrier can include flat plugs which are receivable between pairs of elastic prongs constituting the respective contacts on the second carrier, or vice versa.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting electrically operated devices from damage as a result of penetration of moisture has an electric switch or a normally intact conductor, and an explosive or ignitable actuator which initiates an opening or closing of the switch or at least partial destruction of the conductor when operated by one or more sensors which detect the presence of moisture in or close to the electrically operated device. The explosive actuator can be used to clear the path for movement of a movable switch contact from open to closed position or vice versa, or to break up a conductor when ignited or otherwise operated in response to a signal from the moisture sensor or sensors. A combustible actuator can employ a flash light whose envelope confines a portion of a conductor and further contains a combustible material serving to generate heat on ignition in response to a signal from the sensor or sensors whereby the heat destroys the integrity of the portion of the conductor in the envelope.

Abstract: A portable electric hair dryer wherein the housing contains an electric motor for an impeller which induces the flow of air from an inlet of the housing, along an electric heater in the housing and to and through an outlet of the housing. The casing of the motor is surrounded by a ring-shaped diffuser with stationary guide vanes which uniformize the flow of air toward the heater. The controls of the motor are mounted on a circuit board which carries one or more triacs, diodes and/or other electronic components which are heated when connected with a source of electrical energy and must be cooled when the hair dryer is in use. The heatable electronic component or components are mounted on an extension of the circuit board, and such extension is installed directly in the diffuser between two neighboring guide vanes. To this end, one of the guide vanes is removed or omitted and the electronic component or components take the place of the missing guide vane.

Abstract: A vacuum bottle wherein the housing of the insulating jacket has a top section with a circular opening for the extension of a cover which overlies the opening and can be rotated to move one of two apertures in a downwardly extending skirt of the extension into register with a passage at the inlet end of a spout. The cover is separably coupled to the top section of the housing by a bayonet mount which causes the cover to rise during rotation to a pouring position and to descend during rotation to a sealing position. The jacket confines a receptacle for a hot or cold beverage which can be dispensed by way of the spout in the pouring position of the cover.

Abstract: A portable electric hair dryer wherein the insulating carrier of electric contacts for a motor which drives an air impeller between the air-admitting inlet and the air-discharging outlet of the housing is separably coupled to a second insulating carrier which is provided with electric contacts for and supports an electric heater. The latter heats the flow of air between the inlet and the outlet of the housing. One of the carriers has male coupling elements, which can include or constitute the contacts on the one carrier, and the other carrier can have female coupling elements, which can include or constitute the contacts on the other carrier, capable of separably receiving and retaining the male coupling elements.

Abstract: An electric steam iron wherein the path for the flow of water from a permanently installed or detachable water tank to the heater contains a supply of water softening agent which can be observed from the exterior of the housing and can be replaced, when necessary, or discarded jointly with an expandible tank or with a perforable envelope or an apertured cartridge.

Abstract: An electric coffee or tea maker wherein a supply of water softening agent is installed in the region of the outlet of a water tank so that the stream of water which is discharged by the tank when the maker is in use is acted upon by the softening agent before it enters the conduit or conduits which convey the stream through an electric heater and thereupon into a receptacle for comminuted coffee beans or tea leaves. This prevents gradual clogging of the conduits with boiler scale. The supply of softening agent can be replenished or replaced. This is determined by looking through an observation window so as to ascertain the color of the softening agent. The color is indicative of the condition of the softening agent, i.e., whether or not the softening agent is still capable of performing its water-softening function.

Abstract: A machine for making hot tea wherein a pressure-resistant container for the supply of water supports or embodies an insulating carrier for one or more thick film conductors. A riser, which can be caused to move up and down relative to the bottom wall of the container, serves to convey hot water into a steeping receptacle wherein the water comes in contact with tea leaves. The sealable outlet in the bottom of the steeping receptacle can discharge hot tea into a vessel resting on a warming plate. The warming plate is supported by a leg of the housing for the container and steeping receptacle and can be heated by a second heater having a carrier for one or more thick film conductors.

Abstract: A coffee or tea making machine wherein the housing has a container for a supply of water and supports a holder for tea leaves or comminuted coffee beans. A conduit connects the outlet of the container with the holder, and a portion of such conduit is constituted by an electric heater which has one or more thick film conductors in series with an on-off switch and a relay which regulates the flow of current from an energy source to the thick film conductor or conductors. Such conductor or conductors can be applied directly to an insulating carrier which can be made of a ceramic or plastic material and defines a portion of the path for the flow of water from the container to the holder. Alternatively, the carrier can be made of a metallic material, such as aluminum, and then supports one or more insulating covers at least one of which carries a thick film conductor. The conductor or conductors are applied in the form of a paste which is caused to dry on the insulating carrier or on the cover or covers.