Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a safety circuit for use in textile heating devices, such as heating pads, heating blankets, and the like. The safety circuit provides a system for checking/verifying the integrity of the controller, which can shut off power to the textile heating device if the controller has lost integrity.

Abstract: A food preparation appliance including a housing containing a sieve having an inner perforated surface for extracting fruits and vegetables into liquids and solid particles, a source of rotatable power for rotating the sieve, and a manually operated cleaning device for removing pulp of food particles from the perforated surface of the sieve. The cleaning device includes a cleaning implement having a first position normally biased into a non-engaged position from the perforated surface and a second position when the cleaning device is operated to an engaged position against the perforated surface. The cleaning implement is biased against the perforated surface in the second position using a biasing member configured to maintain constant engagement of the cleaning implement against the perforated surface while the sieve is rotated. In an embodiment, the biasing member is a coil wave spring.

Abstract: A cooking appliance including a housing and cooking vessel having a rim. A lid covers the cooking vessel when seated on the rim. At least one latch is disposed on the lid and a complementary engagement member is disposed on a sidewall of the housing. The at least one latch includes a base attached to the lid, a rotating arm having a cammed head at one end that engages the base, and a rod pivotally connected to the cammed head on one end and having a foot disposed at an opposite end. The rod passes through an aperture in the base and the cammed head engages the base as the arm is rotated. The rotation of the arm causes an axial displacement of the rod to cause a stop member on an end of the rod to engage the engagement member to seal the lid to the cooking vessel rim.

Abstract: The present disclosure recites a beverage brewing system having beverage brewing machine and a collapsible brew basket. The beverage brewing machine has a housing with a water reservoir and an electrical heating element for heating water. An output system is provided for dispensing the heated water to the brew basket. The brew basket is a collapsible brew basket, positionable between a collapsed position and an expanded portion. The brew basket included and upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion slidingly engaging the upper portion between the collapsed and the exposed position.

Abstract: A chamber for receipt and retention of a bottled beverage has a dispensing cartridge that interacts with a bottle to remove air therein to preserve the beverage under vacuum and to dispense the beverage under pressure. The vacuum and air pressure within the bottle is applied through a concentric pair of tubes introduced into the bottle as a part of the dispensing cartridge. A reversible pump is in fluid communication with the tubes. The chamber is maintained at a user-selected temperature using a thermoelectric cooling unit.

Abstract: A whisk for attachment to a blending appliance including a shaft configured to connect to a source of rotary power, a plurality of flexible filament loops, and a coupling for connecting the shaft to the plurality of filament loops. The plurality of filament loops extend downwardly from the coupling to form a cage. A stem extends downwardly from the coupling in axial alignment with the shaft and disposed centrally within the cage. The stem limits deformation of the plurality of filament loops when force is applied to the shaft of the whisk.

Abstract: A vacuum and sealing appliance comprises a heat sealing element for sealing a container during a sealing cycle. A controller controls the temperature of the heat sealing element during the sealing cycle based on a signal from a temperature sensor that senses the real-time temperature of the heat sealing element. A seal indicator light is provided which is lighted during the sealing cycle and extinguished at its completion. The signal from the controller energizes the heating element for a time to heat the sealing element to a pre-determined temperature for sealing the container and initiates a dwell time corresponding to cooling the heating element after sealing the container. Values of the real-time temperatures of the heat sealing element and values of the sealing times and the dwell times that correspond to the values of the real-time temperatures of the heat sealing element are stored in a look-up table.

Abstract: A circuit integrity detection system for use in detecting the integrity of a 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: A beverage container assembly for use with a blender is provided comprising a beverage container having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion. A first removable cover is for selectively covering the top portion of the beverage container. The first cover is adapted to be removably mountable on and off a blender and comprises an adapter portion for mounting the beverage container on a blender. A second removable cover is for selectively covering the open top portion of the beverage container. The second cover includes a drinking hole. The first and second covers are interchangeable on the beverage container and the second cover is mountable on the closed bottom portion for storage.

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: A misting fan including an electric motor and a fan connected to the electric motor. A protective grill surrounds the fan, and includes a front grill portion and a rear grill portion. A plurality of nozzles are positioned of the front grill portion of the protective grill. A fluid manifold is positioned on the front grill portion and includes a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets, wherein one each of the fluid outlets is in fluid communication with one each of the nozzles.

Abstract: A slow cooker including a housing with a heating element positioned therein, a cooking vessel configured to be positioned within the housing for heating via the heating element and a lid configured to be positioned on the cooking vessel to substantially close a generally pen end thereof. The lid has a releasable handle assembly wherein a motor handle or a non-motor handle may be attached thereto. The motor handle may be configured to selectively activate the motor in a pre-determined interval sequence wherein at the beginning of each interval the motor is activated for a given time and then the motor is deactivated until the beginning of the next interval Lid clips may be pivotally connected to the lid to releasably engage a rim of the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A vacuum sealing appliance is provided including a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly configured to receive suction and evacuate a food container through an open end, and at least one heat sealing element adjacent the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the open end of the food container after evacuation. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a control unit configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes at least one channel disposed proximate the heat sealing element. The channel is fluidly connected to a cooling fan that generates a cooling air flow through the channel to remove excessive heat from the heat sealing element to prevent premature sealing of subsequent food containers between heat sealing events.

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: A blending and dispensing appliance is provided which includes a blending container, a housing having a recess for supporting the blending container, an ice-shaving unit, and an agitator to agitate shaved ice and other beverage ingredients in the blending container. A conduit is disposed on an outer sidewall of the blending container and fluidly connected to the blending container. An auger is disposed in the conduit and is rotated within the conduit when a dispensing arm is depressed. The rotating auger extrudes blended contents through the conduit from the blending container to a dispensing spout. A motorized base containing both an agitator and an auger motor selectively provide rotary power to the agitator and auger, respectively. A control system is provided for controlling the operation of the ice-shaving motor, the agitator, and the agitator so that the contents placed into the beverage container are blended to a desired consistency.

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.