Abstract: A device and method for destroying parasites present in a mass of hair or fur growing from a skin surface, the device being composed of a handling body adapted to be gripped by a user; a comb fixed to the body and composed of a plurality of teeth, the teeth having portions adapted to be displaced through the mass of hair or fur when the device is in use; and a source of energy for at least locally raising the temperature of the hair or fur when the teeth are displaced through the mass of hair or fur, wherein at least part of the portions of the teeth are thermally conductive and are operatively associated with a source of energy for supplying sufficient heat energy to destroy parasites on the hair or fur which is in contact with the portions.

Abstract: An iron. The invention relates to a soleplate for an iron, the soleplate comprising a casting (1) secured to a metal ironing cover (4) made up of at least two layers of different materials, said soleplate being characterized in that the metal cover (4) is made up of an assembly comprising at least two layers (5, 6) of co-laminated materials, in which assembly the first layer (5) forms the layer for fixing to the casting (1) and is constituted by the same material as the casting (1) or by a material having similar physical characteristics, and the second layer (6) forms the ironing layer, the thickness of the second layer lying in the range 5% to 40% of the thickness of the first layer (5), and preferably in the range 15% to 17%. A soleplate for an iron.

Abstract: Safety device for an electric part mobile relative to a complementary unit cooperating in use with the electric part in a close together position. The safety device includes a system for controlling operation of the electric part movable between an on position and an off position and a system for sensing the position of the electric part relatively near or relatively far away from the complementary unit. A single switch has a connection position in which the electric element is connected to an electric power supply and a disconnection position in which the electric element is disconnected from the electric power supply. The switch is in the disconnection position if the control system is in the off position or if the sensing system detects the position of the electric element relatively far away from the complementary unit.

Abstract: A cooking vessel has a handle or handles for holding it and a lid having a peripheral lip resting in a substantially sealed manner on an upper rim of the vessel. An inside surface of the lid includes at least one cavity formed between the peripheral lip and an abutment projecting towards the interior of the vessel. The lid moves under gravity on the upper rim of the vessel, upon tilting of the vessel, towards a position in which the cavity is at least in part outside the upper rim of the vessel. A passage is formed between the upper rim of the vessel and the cavity. The abutment bears against the upper rim of the vessel to limit outward displacement of the lid.

Abstract: A device for controlling opening and closing of jaws mounted on a cover of a cooking vessel, the vessel having a central axis and the jaws being movable by drive arms over a radial path relative to the central axis between a locking position in which the cover is locked to a container of the vessel and an unlocking position in which the cover can be removed from the container, the device including a control element mounted on the cover for movement relative to the cover in a radial direction relative to the central axis, the element, during its movement relative to the cover, engaging the drive arms in a manner to control displacement of the drive arms over the radial path.

Abstract: A steam generating device including an evaporation chamber for evaporating a liquid which is delivered from a reservoir while the chamber is being heated, which chamber includes a base composed of: a body of thermally conductive material having an upper surface against which the liquid to be evaporated is directed, the body having a surface layer extending from the upper surface; and hydrophilic fibers distributed across the upper surface and at least partially and locally embedded in the surface layer.

Abstract: An extraction cell of the centrifugal type for a hot beverage preparation machine, including a grounds collection drum on which is mounted, in a sealed manner by a sealing structure, a cover provided with a liquid delivery orifice, and a filtration structure, wherein the filtration structure and the sealing structure are constituted by at least one deformable joint, or seal, interposed in a groove between the drum and cover, the joint having deformation properties, and being mounted to be compressed by an amount which is in a pre-established compression range with the aid of a compression controlling means, to insure that below a pre-established operating pressure existing in the cell, fluid tightness of the cell is maintained, and beyond that pressure, filtration of the grounds-liquid mixture occurs by deformation of the joint.

Abstract: An applicator for a meltable product comprising: a case, a reservoir for holding a quantity of the product, the reservoir having an outlet opening and being made at least in part of a thermally conductive material, heating means in thermal communication with the reservoir, and an applicator roller disposed in the outlet opening, wherein the applicator roller comprises a core composed at least partly of thermally conductive material and a layer of plastic material surrounding the core. An applicator in combination with an extraction gripper for gripping the roller, the gripper comprising two arms which extend substantially parallel to one another, each arm having a projecting finger positioned such that the projecting finger on one of the arms faces the projecting finger on the other one of the arms, the projecting fingers being located and configured to cooperate with the engagement elements of the roller in order to grip the roller.

Abstract: A steam iron has a reservoir from which water is supplied to a vaporization chamber. A plurality of cartridges are placed within a housing of the iron and at least one cartridge contains a product other than a demineralizing product for the purpose of treating water or cloth to be ironed. A ramp is provided for bringing the water of the reservoir into contact with the treatment product. A duct beneath the cartridge conveys the water charged with the treatment product to a vaporization chamber. A plurality of steam discharge orifices in communication with the vaporization chamber distributes the treated water on the cloth to be ironed. The plurality of cartridges are arranged such that at least one is arranged in parallel or in series, or a combination of these, along a path in which water flows as it travels from the reservoir to the vaporization chamber.

Abstract: In an appliance for cooking or frying foodstuffs in a fluid, comprising: a cooking tank; an external housing surrounding the cooking tank, providing an external wall of the appliance and having an opening; a heating member in thermal communication with the cooking tank; pilot units for controlling operation of the appliance; and a support plate carrying at least a part of the pilot units and removably mounted in the opening in the housing to constitute a portion of the external wall of the appliance, the pilot units including a heating control unit for controlling the temperature of fluid in the cooking tank, mounted on the plate in heat exchange communication with the cooking tank.

Abstract: The article is constituted from a plate produced from a relatively soft first metal (1). It has, on one of its faces, a metallic element (2) in the form of a perforated sheet or a grid produced from a second metal or alloy harder than that of the plate (1). The metallic element (2) is fixed to the plate by drop-forging or stamping in order to embed it, at least partially, in this plate. The article is especially useful as a cooking vessel.

Abstract: A cooking vessel produced from a disc (3) of light alloy or metal includes a bottom (1) intended to be placed on a cooking plate, a burner or the like. The bottom (1) includes a plate (2) made of a metal having properties different from those of the metal of the disc (3). This plate (2) is completely or partially embedded in the bottom (1) and its periphery is preferably adjacent to a groove (4). The bottom of such a cooking vessel exhibits improved resistance to deformation.

Abstract: A machine for making hot beverages composed of a chamber having at least one water outlet, a filter holder located beneath the chamber holding a mass of ground product, a water distribution member disposed below the water outlet for directing water onto the surface of the ground product contained in the filter holder, the water distribution member being provided with a plurality of perforations for conducting water into the filter holder, and a device for regulating the distribution of water into the filter holder. The water distribution member is composed of a plate having a center and a periphery, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the plate to divide the member into a plurality of individual sections, and the plate is provided with a plurality of water passage perforations each located in one of the sections. The member and the chamber are mounted in the machine in a relatively movable manner for establishing a desired relative position of the water outlet above the individual sections.