Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing objects includes a chamber with a heated base in thermal communication with an electric heating element; a forced air flow device arranged to direct air into the chamber; an electrical power supply circuit; a thermomechanical control in series with the electric heating element and arranged to detect a temperature of the heated base; and a thermally sensitive switch in series with the forced air flow device and arranged to detect a temperature of the heated base. The apparatus is configured to operate in a sterilization mode and in a drying mode.

Abstract: A food heating device includes a plurality of chambers capable of receiving respective food items. The device further includes a steam generator and a plurality of valves for controlling admittance of steam from said steam generator into said chambers. The device is arranged to operate in at least one mode in which during a first period a first one of said valves is open and at least one of said valves remains closed and wherein said steam generator is operated to produce steam for a time less than said first period.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for toasting a food item arranged to receive and support the food item during toasting. The apparatus includes a heating element assembly arranged to heat the surface of the food item by radiant heat. The apparatus is arranged to operate in a first mode where the heating element assembly operates at a first power and a second mode where the heating element assembly operates at a second power. The apparatus further includes a thermally sensitive actuator having a first and a second position and being arranged to switch from the first mode to the second mode at a predetermined temperature by moving from the first position to the second position. The apparatus further includes an arrangement for forcing the actuator to return to its first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for toasting a food item is arranged to receive and support said food item during toasting. The apparatus includes a heating element arranged to heat the surface of the food item by radiant heat and a fan arranged to blow air across the food item. The apparatus is arranged to operate in a first mode in which the fan is operative and a second mode in which the fan is reduced in speed or turned off. The apparatus is arranged to change from the first mode to the second mode automatically upon a predetermined condition being met. Other ways of moving air across the food item that do not use a fan are also disclosed.

Abstract: A water treatment cartridge includes a base having a recess therein. One outlet is located in the recess in the base and at least one further outlet is located away from the recess in the base. The outlet located in the recess in the base may be surrounded by an annular wall which projects away from the base of the water treatment cartridge to cooperate with a hopper in which the cartridge is fitted. The outlets can be designed to restrict the flow of water through the cartridge independently of any hopper in which the cartridge is mounted.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of a warm liquid includes a heater, a pump and a temperature sensor sensitive to the temperature of the liquid upstream of the heater. A controller is arranged to receive upstream temperature data from the temperature sensor, calculate the amount of energy required to reach a desired final temperature, energize the heater for a calculated period of ON time, and dispense liquid for a calculated period of time that is at least partly contemporaneous with the calculated period of ON time. After the heater has been de-energized, the dispensed liquid removes residual heat so that the average temperature after dispensing the predetermined volume is the desired final temperature.

Abstract: A heater for heating liquid to boiling comprises a heating element (48; 106), a first heating region (18, 20; 100) heated by said heating element (48; 106) for heating liquid flowing therethrough to a temperature below boiling, and a second heating region (22; 102) for heating said liquid to boiling. The second region permits the exit of steam therefrom separately from heated water.

Abstract: A flow heater is provided including a heating element, a channel heated by said heating element for heating liquid flowing therethrough, and temperature sensing means in thermal communication with both the heating element and the channel so as to be sensitive to the temperature of the liquid in the channel and the temperature of the heating element.

Abstract: A pressurized boiler (1) for a steam generator appliance comprises an evaporation chamber (78), an electric heater (60) in good thermal contact with a wall (70) of the evaporation chamber (78), a water inlet (77) arranged in a cover (72) of the evaporation chamber (78) separate from said wall (70), and a pump in fluid communication with the water inlet (77) arranged to supply water to the evaporation chamber (78) through the water inlet (77).

Abstract: A cordless electrical appliance comprises an appliance part comprising at least two functional components (T1, M1) and a base for supplying electrical power to the appliance part. A cordless electrical connector (6) makes electrical connection between the appliance part and the base part in use. Both of the functional components (T1, M1) are connected between a pair of electrical connections provided by the connector (6) and arranged such that at least one of the functional components (T1, M1) is selectively energised in response to a change in the relative polarities of the two electrical connections. A switch such as a diode (D1) may be provided between the two functional components (T1, M1), so as to switch ON or OFF the current to a functional component (T1, M1) depending on the polarity of the connections.

Abstract: A flow heater comprises a heating element (48; 248) and a first heating region (18, 20; 218, 220) heated by the heating element (48; 248) for heating liquid flowing therethrough to a first temperature below boiling. The flow heater also comprises a second heating region (22; 222) for heating the liquid to a second temperature below boiling. The second region (22; 222) has means (25; 225) for permitting the exit of steam therefrom separately from heated liquid. The flow heater cannot be operated so that bulk boiling of said liquid takes place in the second region (22; 222).

Abstract: A connector part is provided for supplying power to an independent appliance part in a cordless electrical appliance. The connector part is of the type that makes an electrical connection between the electrical terminations of the appliance connector part and corresponding electrical contacts in the connector part when the independent connector parts are brought together, irrespective or substantially irrespective of their relative angular orientation. The connector part comprises a sub-assembly in which the electrical contacts are permanently attached to respective conductors in a mains power supply cable. The point of permanent attachment may be protected by a plastics overmolding.

Abstract: A control assembly for a cordless liquid heating apparatus comprises a control for mounting to the liquid heating apparatus and a cordless base connector adapted to supply electrical power to the control. The control assembly comprises a switch arrangement for making or breaking an electrical circuit for supplying power to the liquid heating apparatus. The switch arrangement comprises a fixed contact member provided on the cordless base connector, a moveable contact member mounted on a switch lever provided on the control, and resilient means, separate from and acting on the switch lever, so as to bias the moveable contact member into electrical contact with the fixed contact member. The control comprises one or more temperature-sensitive actuators arranged to act on the switch levers.

Abstract: An electrical water heating appliance includes pump means connected to a water heating means via a water flow path. One or more flow-regulating valve means are arranged in the flow path to regulate the flow of water to the heating means so as to achieve a substantially uniform flow rate. The flow-regulating valve means may include a pressure-compensating valve means arranged to achieve a substantially uniform flow rate regardless of the water pressure. A suitable pressure-compensating valve means may include an elastic diaphragm arranged to regulate the flow by distorting in response to the pressure of water entering the valve means. The water heating means may be a water boiler for steam generation.

Abstract: A steam generating appliance such as an electric iron comprises a base unit and a hand-held mobile unit which can be releasably coupled to the base unit. The base unit comprises a reservoir for water and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir into the mobile unit when the mobile unit is coupled to the base unit. The mobile unit comprises a boiler and an on-board reservoir for water, wherein the on-board reservoir is adapted to store water received from the base unit under pressure and to deliver the water to the boiler under the control of a user-operable valve.

Abstract: An infusion beverage making apparatus (100) comprises a liquid heater, an infuser (140) for receiving beverage solid and conveying means for conveying heated liquid from the liquid heater onto the beverage solids. The apparatus (100) is configured to operate in at least one phase in which heated liquid is passed from the liquid heater through the beverage solids and in another phase in which steam is passed through at least a portion of the conveying means. A quantity of water is heated to boiling by the liquid heater and a steam pressure allowed to develop as a result which is sufficient to force steam through at least a portion of the conveying means.

Abstract: A pressurised boiler (1) for a steam generator appliance comprises an evaporation chamber (78), an electric heater (60) in good thermal contact with a wall (70) of the evaporation chamber (78), a water inlet (77) arranged in a cover (72) of the evaporation chamber (78) separate from said wall (70), and a pump in fluid communication with the water inlet (77) arranged to supply water to the evaporation chamber (78) through the water inlet (77).

Abstract: A water treatment cartridge has a major and a minor axis in a horizontal cross-section and mounting lugs provided at the upper end of the cartridge, generally aligned with the major axis of the cartridge.