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.

Abstract: Sealable plastic bag with a vacuum indicator is comprised of first and second sheets, each formed of a thin flexible plastic membrane. At least one perforation is formed in the first sheet. An indicator is disposed on the first sheet over the at least one perforation. The indicator is comprised of a resilient material which forms a resilient convex protrusion on an external surface of the bag. The convex protrusion defines a chamber which is airtight except for the at least one perforation. A containment structure is associated with the perforation to inhibit migration of particles from the interior compartment into the chamber. The resilient material is responsive to an air pressure differential as between the interior compartment and an environment external of the interior compartment to collapse the convex protrusion under a predetermined pressure differential condition.

Abstract: There is provided an appliance including a base having a housing, a motor-fan assembly disposed in the housing, a working implement which is operated by the motor-fan assembly when energized, a pocket integrally formed in a sidewall of the housing configured for use as a carrying handle, and one or more apertures formed in the pocket configured to allow cooling air to enter the housing to cool the motor-fan assembly.

Abstract: A vacuum sealer including a base defining a support surface and a body extending from, the base. A suction head is supported by the body and is moveable along the body toward and away from the support surface. The suction head supports a suction assembly including a suction inlet with a sealing member thereabout. A suction pump is configured to selectively provide a suction force to the suction inlet.

Abstract: A food storage appliance is provided including a housing, a lid pivotally attached to the housing movable between an open and closed position, an elongated heat sealing element, an elongated resilient bumper mounted on an underside of the lid with a plurality of elastic members which bias the bumper into an extended position when the lid is open, and when the lid is moved to the closed position the bumper sandwiches a portion of a food storage container to be sealed against the heat sealing element while the elastic members allow the bumper to adjust to maintain even pressure on the food storage container along the elongated heat sealing element.

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 food storage appliance including a housing, an elongated vacuum trough disposed in the housing, one or more electronic components including a vacuum motor fluidly connected to the vacuum trough and a heat sealing element disposed in proximity of the vacuum trough, an sensor disposed on the housing in proximity to the vacuum trough configured to generate an electrical signal if liquid is detected in a food storage container, the food storage container having a portion inserted into the vacuum trough prior to an evacuation operation, the sensor detecting liquid before it is drawn into the vacuum trough during the evacuation operation, and an integrated electronic circuit connected to the sensor configured to receive the electrical signal and configured to control one of the vacuum motor or the heat sealing element when liquid is detected in the food storage container.

Abstract: A slow cooker having a thermometer such as a capillary thermometer and a graphic display device for indicating a temperature condition of the food product contained within the cooking vessel, the thermometer measuring the temperature of an outer surface of the cooking vessel and the graphic display device displaying the temperature measured by the thermometer but adjusted by a correlation factor to indicate at least an approximate temperature of the food product within the cooking vessel.

Abstract: An animal bathing system is provided which mixes an injectant from a fluid container with water for bating an animal, where the injectant can be a shampoo conditioner, de-flea agent, or other similar type. The animal bathing system can include a support structure having a plurality of fluid containers each including an injectant and a fluid control system, wherein the plurality of fluid containers are in fluid communication with the fluid control system. The plurality of fluid containers can be supporting on the support structure in a vertical orientation. The fluid control system include a system for cleaning the component to prevent cross contamination without the need for back flushing.

Abstract: A cooking appliance comprises a base, a housing pivotally mounted to the base and a lid pivotally attached to the housing forming a cooking chamber when the lid is in the dosed position. A heating means and a blower means are provided for generating a cooking airflow, A latching pivoting means pivotally connects the housing to the base and is configured to allow the housing to be pivoted from a locked horizontal position to one or more angular positions offset from the horizontal position and to releasably lock the housing in said angular position. A cooking bowl is removably mounted in the housing and is rotated during cooking by a drive motor, wherein food contents are placed into the cooking bowl and the cooking airflow cooks the food contents during cooking. A projection formed partially in a bottom wall and a sidewall of the cooking bowl is configured to stir the food contents in the cooking bowl when the cooking bowl is rotated during cooking.

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: The animal deterrent device of the present disclosure utilizes and automatic system to detect the presence of an animal in a designated area. Upon detection, the animal deterrent device releases a deterring stimulus. The deterring stimulus is intended to remove the animal from the designated area, and through continuous use, eventually training the animal from entering the designate area. The designation area can include: furniture, such as a couch, chair, table, etc; a room or portions thereof; plants, indoor or outdoor gardens; and the like.

Abstract: An appliance including a heating and circulating unit immersed in a pot for cooking food inside a cooking bag immersed in the water. A first recess is formed in a base for storing the heating and circulating unit. A second recess is formed in the base for storing the vacuum packaging unit. A third recess is formed in the base for holding a supply of cooking bags. Prior to cooking food is placed into the cooking bag and evacuated with the vacuum packaging unit. The vacuum packaging unit includes an electronic display and an electronic control panel. An electrical cable connects the vacuum packaging unit and the heating and the circulating unit. The heating and the circulating unit and the vacuum packaging unit are controlled from the electronic control panel and data related to the operation thereof is displayed on the electronic display.

Abstract: A beverage maker is provided comprising a housing, a brew head disposed in the housing, a beverage vessel configured to be removably inserted into a recess in the housing and having an interior volume where beverage brewed by the brew head is directed, a removable lid that fits into an opening of the beverage vessel leading to the interior volume, and indicia in the cover configured to display a level of beverage inside the interior volume of the beverage vessel. A hole is provided in the lid where beverage brewed by the brew head flows through before the beverage is directed to the interior volume of the beverage vessel. The indicia includes a plurality of adjacently staggered light tubes of varying length extending downwardly from the lid into the interior volume of the beverage vessel and configured to sense and graphically display the level of be erase within the interior volume.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (2800) for operating a hot beverage brewer. The methods include receiving a brew basket of a plurality of interchangeable brew baskets (900, 1400, 1800) within a basket chamber (402) of the hot beverage brewer. At least two of the plurality of interchangeable brew baskets are of different brew basket types and designed to hold different amounts of a beverage substance. Thereafter, the hot beverage brewer: automatically detects the brew basket type associated with the brew basket residing within the basket chamber; selects first operations from a plurality of operations that should be performed by the hot beverage brewer based on the brew basket type which was previously detected; and performs the first operations by the hot beverage brewer.

Abstract: A sleep system including a thermal pad and a thermal control unit in thermal communication with the thermal pad. The thermal controller is configured to automatically adjusts a temperature of the thermal pad during a sleep cycle time according a programmed routine. During the preprogrammed routine, the thermal control unit maintains the temperature in the thermal pad at a first temperature T1. After a first time period S1 from the initiation of the sleep cycle, the thermal control unit adjusts the temperature in the thermal pad a ?T, for example to a second temperature T2. The second temperature T2 is dependent of the first, preset, temperature T1 and the ?T. The thermal pad temperature is maintained at the second temperature T2 for a majority of the sleep cycle. At a time period S2 before the end of the sleep cycle, the temperature in the thermal pad 12 adjusted a ?T to a third temperature T3.