Abstract: A process and apparatus for grilling and/or reheating a food product by subjecting the product, for an operating time T, to infrared radiation from at least one electrically operated unit for producing infrared radiation, the process comprising: setting a preestablished value for a frequency f; and varying, during at least part of the time T, the electrical supply to the electrically operated unit in a discontinuous manner between a first supply level during a time T1 and a second supply level, different from the first level, during a time T2 in cycles having the preestablished frequency f in order to generate infrared radiation of variable wavelength, wherein 1/f=T1+T2 whereby the product is heated by the infrared radiation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a metallic surface permits securing a coating to this latter. The process comprises etching on a matrix (11) of hard metal a series of relief designs (12) separated by empty spaces (13). The etching has the effect of creating microcavities (15) in the metal adjacent to the empty spaces (13). The matrix (11) is applied by pressing to a disc of metal softer than that of the matrix (11) to impress the relief designs (12) and the microcavities of the matrix on the disc. The process is particularly useful for the production of a stamped cooking utensil.

Abstract: A manually operable grooming device for animal coats, the device including: a main body; a scratching unit carried by the main body and including a support member and a plurality of scratching teeth carried by, and extending from, the support member, the scratching teeth having free ends which define a scratching surface; a removable screen penetrated by at least a portion of the scratching teeth for recovering animal fur from between the scratching teeth; and a suction unit mounted in the main body behind the scratching surface for producing an air flow along a path adjacent the scratching unit and in a direction from the scratching surface toward the support member, wherein the screen extends across a surface which is spaced from the scratching surface and includes an annular portion which surrounds the scratching teeth, is free of teeth, and is in the path of the air flow.

Abstract: The cooking appliance includes a cooking plate (1) which is removable and provided with openings (2), heating elements (3) mounted beneath the plate (1) and a container (7) for collecting the fats from cooking. The lower face of the cooking plate (1) includes housings (9) of "U"-shaped cross section above the heating elements (3), the openings (2) not emerging into the housings (9). These housings (9) rest at their lower part on a metal wall (10) separate from the housings (9) and are adjacent to the edges of the cooking plate (1).

Abstract: A flexible heating element is composed of at least one resistive conductor circuit having a first pair of ends, two sheets of electrically insulating material enclosing the conductor circuit, and a member for connecting the conductor circuit to at least one exterior electric unit. The member for connecting is constututed by at least one flexible connection tongue forming a projecting portion of the heating element. Two connection strips are each conductively connected to a respective end of the conductor circuit and are dimensioned to have a resistance appropriate to their connection function.

Abstract: In order to fix a perforated plate (2) to the bottom (1) of a vessel, the plate is fixed by closed-die forging, in particular by cold striking so as to make the metal of the bottom (1) penetrate into the openings (4) in the plate (2). At the same time as the closed-die forging operation, a series of reliefs (5) is formed on the surface of the perforated plate (2) as well as on the surface of the bottom (1) of the vessel.

Abstract: A steam iron including a vaporization chamber (2) connected by a water/steam supply device (8,11) to a flexible hose (9) extending from an external large-capacity reservoir(13). A device (5) regulates the water discharge that is also connected to the vaporization chamber (2), this discharge regulating device (5) being connected to an internal reservoir (4) incorporated in the iron (1).

Abstract: An electric beverage maker comprising: a water reservoir; a water delivery tube for conducting hot water from the reservoir; a water distribution chamber located above a location of a filter holder and disposed for receiving water from the water delivery tube, the chamber being provided with a water outlet opening; a water recycling conduit providing a water flow path between the water distribution chamber and the reservoir; and a valve for blocking or unblocking the water outlet opening for permitting, when the water outlet opening is blocked, recycling of water via the recycling conduit, the improvement wherein the recycling conduit is constituted by a guide member forming a channel enclosing the water delivery tube.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a thermoplastic product in a fluid state, the dispenser including: a case having a manual holding part; a reservoir composed of a wall forming an enclosure for holding a supply of the product; a product applicator disposed in proximity to a reservoir opening for receiving product in a fluid state from the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the reservoir wall is made of an electrically conductive plastic constituting a heat source, and the dispenser further has electrodes connected to the electrically conductive plastic of the reservoir portion for delivering heating current to the heat source.

Abstract: A steam pressing iron having a soleplate presenting an ironing surface and having steam outlet openings; a steam generating structure disposed adjacent the soleplate and defining a water vaporization chamber having a bottom surface; a device for heating water in the vaporization chamber; a covering of a material selected to promote vaporization of water disposed on the bottom surface of the vaporization chamber; and a screen disposed above the covering for distributing water across the covering.

Abstract: The method for firing enamel on a metal article (2), subjected to a prior step for depositing, onto part of its surface, an enamel frit slip, followed by a step for obtaining a bisque on said component, comprises a step for exposing the article to infrared radiation of a maximum emission wavelength in a firing chamber (1).

Abstract: The process permits applying a fluorocarbonated resin base coating on a flat metallic support (4). According to the invention, this coating is applied in a continuous manner, directly on the support (4) by serigraphy. Use particularly to coat cooking utensils with a layer of fluorocarbonated resin. (See FIG. 2).

Abstract: A locking-unlocking device for a cooking vessel having a vertical center axis and composed of a container and a cover, for securing the cover to the container, the container having a side wall with an upper peripheral edge defining an open top, the device including a plurality of locking jaw assemblies mounted on the vessel at locations spaced apart about the center axis of the vessel, each locking jaw assembly including locking jaws which are movable into a locking position for securing the cover to the container; and an unlocking element linked to the locking jaws for moving the locking jaws to an unlocking position in which the cover is separable from the container.

Abstract: Device for controlling a flow limiting valve mounted in a cover of an appliance for cooking under pressure, the appliance further including a container to be closed by the cover, the cover having a central axis and the valve being movable between an open position for permitting flow of fluid out of the appliance and a closed position for blocking flow of fluid out of the appliance, the device comprising a cover handle and a bolt mounted in the cover handle for movement between first and second end positions along a line passing through the central axis, the bolt being operatively associated with the valve for permitting free displacement of the valve when the bolt is in the first end position and for preventing the valve from moving to the closed position when the bolt is in the second end position, and wherein: the bolt comprise biasing for elastically urging the bolt toward the first end position; and the device further comprises defining an automatic locking-unlocking system coupled with the bolt for contr

Abstract: Cooking vessel provided with an imperforate base (6) having a face (6a) adapted to be exposed to a heat source (2). This face has a series of substantially radial grooves (7) and is substantially free from non-radial grooves. The depth of the radial grooves is within the range of one-quarter to one-half the thickness of the vessel base (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for modifying the characteristics of a metal (2) surface (1), by application to the surface (1) of a perforated sheet (3) of another metal (4), the perforated sheet (3) having to be secured onto the surface (1) by die stamping. According to the invention the perforated sheet (3) is shaped so that each perforation (6) has a lip (5) and a lip end (7); the sheet (3) thus shaped is applied to the surface (1), the lips (5) of the perforations (6) forming protuberances directed towards the surface (1); the shaped sheet (3) is crimped by die stamping onto the surface (1), the straightening of the lips (5) and of the lip ends (7) which is associated with the flow of material (2) of the surface (1) into the perforations (6) producing a reliable anchorage of the sheet on the surface.

Abstract: A device for locking a cover of a kettle, the kettle being constituted by a pot (1), a removable cover (2) and a fixed handle (3). The device is a movable member disposed in the handle (3) and manually controlled, permitting maintaining the cover (2) closed and becoming inoperative at rest under the action of a return spring (6). The handle (3) has a recess (7) in which is disposed a pivotally mounted lever (4), comprising at one of its ends a portion (4a) that projects outside the recess (7) and is urged outwardly by the spring (6), and another end adapted to bear against the cover (2) to maintain it closed when the user presses manually on the projecting portion (4a) of the lever (4).

Abstract: In an apparatus such as an electric coffee-maker, a filter (5) is placed at the bottom of a vessel (3) containing the product to be treated such as ground coffee. Resilient tongues (18) cut in the filter are disposed at uniform intervals about the center so as to form normally-closed orifices (17). When a predetermined pressure of liquid such as hot water is attained within the vessel, the orifices are freed to a sufficient extent to permit filtration of the liquid which has been in contact with the product.