Abstract: A slow cooker system including a plurality of slow cooker units including a stand having a pocket for receiving a first of the slow cooker units, a vertical support extending upwardly from the stand, and second and third slow cooker units each having an arm extending radially therefrom and pivotally attached to the vertical support above the first slow cooker unit. The second and third slow cooker units are pivotal between a non-use position and a use position where the first slow cooker may he accessed and slow cooking operations may be performed simultaneously in the first, second and third slow cooker units. The arms of the second and third slow cooker units are each pivotally attached to a ratcheting arrangement disposed in the vertical. support to lock the second and third slow cooking units when moved to the use and non-use positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a self-cleaning litter box. The self-cleaning litter box includes a litter tray having a bottom surface, a first and second side wall, a home end, and a waste end, the bottom surface having an upwardly sloping ramp directed towards the discharge end, A carriage assembly is supported between the first and second side walls, and has a rake positioned thereon. A drive assembly is removably attached to the home end of the litter tray. The drive assembly is operably connected to the carriage assembly to drive the carriage assembly along a path between the home end and discharge end of the litter tray. A waste receptacle positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the litter tray, the waste receptacle includes a selectively openable lid. The drive assembly includes all of the electronics of the litter box. This permits the litter tray to be separated from the drive assembly, and cleaned without damaging the electronics in the drive assembly.

Abstract: A food storage machine is provided that includes a film delivery mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a conditioning assembly and a drive mechanism. The film delivery mechanism has a support cradle for a roll of bag material and a feed roller assembly for dispensing the bag material. The cutting mechanism is disposed adjacent the film delivery mechanism and has a first sealing bumper and a shuttle member with a cutting portion. The shuttle member is arranged to cut transversely across the bag material dispensed from the film delivery mechanism. The conditioning assembly is pivotably disposed below the film delivery mechanism and has a heater member for sealing a portion of the bag material. The drive mechanism is operatively connected to the conditioning assembly and configured to pivot upwards to contact the first sealing bumper of the cutting mechanism and to pivot downwards to contact a second sealing bumper.

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: An expandable food storage bag is provided having gusseted sides so that larger food or other items may be inserted therein before vacuum heat sealing. The bag includes first and second sidewalls having a first thickness and a first oxygen transmission rate. The bag further includes first and second gusseted sidewalls having a second thickness less than the first thickness and a second oxygen transmission rate substantially equal to or less than the first oxygen transmission rate. The first pleated sidewall interconnects one side of the first and second sidewalls. The second gusseted sidewall interconnects an opposite side of the first and second sidewalls. The thinner gusseted sidewalls allow the bag to be heat sealed with the first and second sidewalls that may be otherwise too thick with gusseted sidewalls of the same thickness as the first and second sidewalls while maintaining a substantially equal or less oxygen transmission rate.

Abstract: A circuit integrity detection system for use in detecting the integrity of sensing wire in a heating pad wherein the integrity of the sensing wire is checking the inputs from a first and second A/D converter connected to opposite ends of the sensing wire.

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: Appliances comprising a base unit and a plug connector coupled to the base unit. The plug connector is configured to electrically couple the appliance to a first socket connector of an electrical receptacle. A channel is formed on or in a first sidewall of the base unit. The plug connector is disposed in the channel when in an engaged position. A defines a channel wall of the channel. The lever is configured to facilitate a transition of the plug connector between the engaged position and a disengaged position. The lever engages the plug connector when in the engaged position and does not engage the plug connector when in the disengaged position.

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 at least a first blade form performing a blending operation on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container and at least a second blade form extending vertically upward from the first blade form and performing a processing operation on the ingredients in the blending container above the first blade form. The at least second blade form includes a pair of opposing elongated spiral shaped Hades that spiral in a direction of rotation of the agitator configuration when the motorized base is energized and configured to stir ingredients and force ingredients down into the first blade form.

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 a blending operation on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container and a whisk including a plurality of loops disposed a pre-determined distance from the blade arrangement at a distal end of a rotating shaft interconnected to the spindle.

Abstract: An electric hair cutting apparatus having a motor for rotating a shaft, which rotates an eccentric about the axis of the shaft, but not about the central axis of the eccentric. A cylindrical bearing is positioned around the eccentric. A drive tip is provided with a follower end which is shaped and positioned to engage with the bearing surrounding the eccentric. As the eccentric rotates, the bearing alternately pushes on left and right arms of the follower end of the drive tip, causing the drive tip to oscillate back and forth about a pivot point. The angle of the bearing with respect to the eccentric allows for generally continuous contact between the arms of the follower end of the drive tip with the bearing, even throughout the pivoting of the drive tip.