Abstract: A basting brush having a replaceable bristle head provides for economical and hygienic reuse of basting brush handle portions. The brush also permits rapid twist-lock disconnection and replacement of the bristle head element. Angled bristles, a curved neck and a soft-grip hand-piece provide for improved comfort during use for more convenient basting action.

Abstract: An appliance for preparation of heated and stirred beverages and foods has a vessel and a base, with a mixing element rotationally driven within the vessel by magnetic coupling with a driving magnet array attached to an electric motor and covered by a cap. The mixing element is mounted on a rolling contact bearing assembly which fits upon a pin which extends from the cap through an opening in the vessel bottom. The vessel bottom is preferably a cast metal piece with internal cavities in which one or more heating elements are mounted whereby a liquid in the vessel is simultaneously heated and stirred or whipped. Electrical power to a mixing motor and heating elements is controlled either by a manually resettable thermostat, or by a self-latching relay controlled switching circuit which includes a blocking diode to supply rectified AC current to the motor for low torque start ups which will not decouple the magnetic flux drive of the mixing element.

Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having an upper wall with bagel half shaped openings; toasting chambers in the housing accessible through the openings and having bagel half shapes; a bread rack in each toasting chamber; inner/outer heating coils surrounding each toasting chamber; electric contacts in the housing for activation of the heating coils; a raising/lowering mechanism connected with the bread racks for moving the bread racks up and down, and including first and second lateral portions connected to opposite ends of the bread racks; first and second guides mounted to the housing for guiding the first and second lateral portions with a small tolerance, a yoke housing connected with the first lateral portion and slidably movable relative to the housing, a lever slidably moving the yoke housing; a yoke slidably movable relative to the yoke housing and closing the electric contacts when the bread racks and yoke are lowered, and a first spring biasing the yoke upwardly; an electromagnet holding the yoke in the

Abstract: A stand mixer having an electrical speed control circuit for providing a temporary incremental power burst to the motor of the mixer.

Abstract: A humidifier provides an illuminated mist. A lamp produces light directed into the mist which reflects the light and glows. A translucent cylinder transporting the light may have a shaped end or lens for focusing the beam of light, and the shaped end or lens may be angled to direct the beam of light into the mist. The humidifier may be ultrasonic or may be another type of humidifier.