Abstract: An appliance for vacuum packaging and sealing a container, including: a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly, first and second heat sealing elements, and a microprocessor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the first and second heating elements in programmable sequences. One programmable sequence may include energizing the vacuum motor assembly to provide suction to the vacuum trough, energizing the first heat sealing element at a first predetermined temperature for a first predetermined time when a first predetermined vacuum level is reached in the vacuum trough, de-energizing the vacuum motor assembly after a third predetermined time has elapsed after the first heat sealing element has been de-energized, delaying a dwell time, and energizing the second heat sealing element at the expiration of the dwell time at a second predetermined temperature for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: An appliance for dispensing, forming and vacuum packaging a container is provided including a base, a vacuum motor disposed in the base, a vacuum sealing compartment formed in the base including a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor, a sealing element disposed in the vacuum sealing compartment adjacent the vacuum trough, and a storage compartment formed in the base vertically disposed above the vacuum sealing compartment configured to store a roll of flexible container material. At least one section of the container material may be dispensed from the storage compartment and cut from the roll of container material and sealed on a first free end with the sealing element to form an unsealed container. The unsealed container may then be evacuated by the vacuum motor through a second free end inserted into the vacuum trough and/or sealed on the second free end with the sealing element to form a hermetically sealed container.

Abstract: A coffee maker having a water reservoir, a brew head assembly positioned in front of the water reservoir including a shower head member, a pivotally movable brew basket, and a water reservoir fill port located in front of the coffee maker within the brew head assembly, the water reservoir fill port being in direct communication with the water reservoir such that water can be poured directly into the water reservoir fill port over the top of the shower head member and brew basket to fill the water reservoir. The shower head member includes a first flow channel for delivering heated water to the brew basket and at least one second flow channel having at least one opening associated therewith for allowing steam generated within the brew basket to be channeled back to the water reservoir. A separate compartment for holding and storing a measuring spoon is also provided.

Abstract: An iron is provided including a soleplate having a first surface configured to press a fabric and deliver wrinkle releasing steam, a first plurality of steam exit holes formed in the soleplate, each of the first plurality of steam exit holes connected to an associated first steam channel formed in the first surface and connected to a centrally disposed steam channel formed in the first surface, a second plurality of steam exit holes formed in the soleplate connected to an associated second steam channel formed in the first surface connected to the centrally disposed steam channel, each of the second plurality of steam exit holes disposed symmetrically to an associated one of the first plurality of steam exit holes on an opposite side of the centrally disposed steam channel, and the centrally disposed steam channel extending substantially an elongated length of the soleplate, The soleplate further includes dimples over the majority of the soleplate not covered by the steam channels.

Abstract: Systems (200) and methods (800) for causing certain operations to be performed by a Vacuum Packaging Appliance (“VPA”). The methods comprising: detecting when container material is at least partially disposed within a transparent vacuum chamber of the VPA using a proximity sensor mechanism; communicating a signal from the proximity sensor mechanism to an electronic circuit of the VPA in response to the detection of the container material within the vacuum chamber; and triggering a performance of a first operation by the VPA in response to the reception of the signal by the electronic circuit. The first operation is selected from the group comprising mechanical clamping operations to clamp the container material in position, vacuum operations to extract fluid from within a container defined by the container material, and heat sealing operations to create a heat seal along an open end of the container.

Abstract: A food processor for cutting a food ingredient includes: a motorized base for generating a rotational force; a processor bowl removably attached to the motorized base; a spindle within the processor bowl in which the spindle can be rotated by the rotational force from the motorized base; a spiralizer cutter attached to the spindle within the processor bowl, the spiralizer cutter having a blade along a radius of the spiralizer cutter; a lid for the processor bowl, the lid having a center position corresponding to the spindle and a radial position between the center position and an edge of the lid; and a feed tube for positioning at one of the center position and the radial position, wherein the feed tube can be repositioned between the center and radial positions.

Abstract: A blending appliance is provided including a motorized base, a blending container, and a blade assembly fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The blade assembly includes a lower blade element disposed on a spindle performing blending operations on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container; and an upper working element disposed on a shaft spaced apart from the lower blade element, and including an upper working portion and a lower working portion spaced apart from the upper working portion. The upper working portion acting to reduce cavitation in the lower blades element during the blending process.

Abstract: A blending appliance is provided including a motorized base, a blending container, and an agitator configuration fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The agitator configuration includes a blade arrangement disposed on a spindle performing blending operations on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container. A blade form is disposed on a shaft connected to the spindle performing additional blending operations on ingredients in an upper portion of the blending container. The blade form includes at least two spiral blades disposed on the shaft, and each of the spiral blades having a first end connected to the shaft at a pre-determined distance from the blade arrangement and a second end connected to opposing ends of a crossbar attached at its midpoint to a distal end of the shaft.