Abstract: The invention is directed to cooktop apparatus wherein a cooktop panel is seated in a frame and is made of glass ceramic, glass or ceramic. The cooktop panel has a cutout for accommodating an atmospheric gas burner in the cooktop panel. A component assembly holds the gas burner in the cooktop panel and the component assembly includes a collar annularly overlapping a portion of the panel in the region of the cutout. The collar has an inner region defining an edge which, in turn, defines a first abutment for engaging the gas burner. A resilient metal element is attached to the gas burner and extends outwardly from the gas burner to engage the panel on the lower side thereof. The lower side of the panel defines a second abutment against which the resilient metal element applies a force F to hold the gas burner on the panel via the collar and the resilient metal element. A seal is sandwiched and clamped between the collar and the panel thereby preventing any spillage from reaching the frame through the cutout.

Abstract: A melody candle assembly for reproducing a melody or music responding to a light signal, comprising a candle provided with at least a recess at its bottom surface and having a wick and an elongate optical fiber embedded therein, said optical fiber being extended over the lower end of the candle; a candlestick element for holding the candle with the top surface provided with a center hole to which the lower end of the optical fiber is extended and at least two apertures spaced apart around the center hole; a melody reproducing unit provided in the candlestick element for selectively reproducing at least two melodies or music. The melody reproducing unit includes a photo sensor fitted opposite the lower end of the optical fiber to sense a light signal transmitted through the optical fiber for making the unit prepared for operation and at least two melody selection switch knobs corresponding to the number of the melodies or music stored therein.

Abstract: Leak preventive structures for cases of flatly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical combustion burners, circularly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical surface combustion burner and a surface combustion burner are provided. Burner elements are composed of fire resistant porous fiber mats are provided wherein the burner element itself may form a peripheral wall of a case of a burner. The walls of the cases of the burners are composed of either ceramic fibers coated or impregnated with sealants to keep the ceramic fibers gas-tight, metallic sheets provided with means for preventing thermal expansion, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: An oven includes a body portion and a door engageable with the body portion, the body portion being generally cylindrical in shape having two lateral sides each formed with a circular groove, each of the lateral sides having two vertical slots extending upwardly from the circular groove, the door having two flanges at two ends thereof each provided with two protuberances at an inner side thereof, the protuberances being configured to be slidable within the circular groove and the vertical slots, whereby the door can be dismantled from the body portion for removing the grease and other drippings extracted from food during the roasting process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hot cup system. The system has a generally cylindrical exterior member with a cylindrical side wall and with an open upper end and an open lower end. The exterior member is molded from a thermally insulating elastomeric material. The system also has a generally cylindrical interior member with a cylindrical side wall with an open upper end and a lower end with a generally planar circular lower portion. The lower portion is formed with laterally spaced downwardly extending parallel projections. The interior member is fabricated of a thermally conductive metallic material. A circular base is next provided with a central section extending downwardly therefrom. The base is fabricated of a resilient clear elastomeric material and is coupled to the interior surface of the exterior member adjacent to the lower end thereof. A chamber is formed between the interior member and exterior member and base. A heat generating fluid is located within the chamber.

Abstract: A pilot assembly includes a two part pilot housing and an orifice member mounted between the two housing parts. One housing part is fixable to a mount in a gas burning device and has a through passage. The orifice member is received in the passage. At least a portion of the other housing part is received in the passage to fix the orifice member in the passage.

Abstract: An outdoor-type cooking device for the heating and cooking of foods is disclosed. The cooking device comprises a base with a support housing extending upwardly to support a grilling enclosure. The grilling enclosure includes a cooking surface and a removable hood. The support housing is made from a non-metal material which is molded into a hollow thin walled structure. The support housing may be configured to have a decoratively shaped exterior. In addition, the support housing forms a working surface adjacent the cooking surface. The base forms a ground engaging support base as well as providing support for a fuel canister. The hollow support housing is also adapted to support and house the fuel canister. The removable hood is configured to cover the cooking surface and has a front and rear surface which extend between two spaced apart sides.

Abstract: A method of monitoring for the presence of a flame in a burner includes the steps of providing a UV bulb sensor (1) whose electrical output signal in response to a voltage applied across the sensor varies according to the presence or absence of UV light radiating from a burner flame, connecting the sensor across a voltage source (2) which is adjustable, the voltage source being set at a first setting, and monitoring the output signal from the bulb sensor during operation of the burner and automatically altering the setting of the voltage source from the first setting in accordance with the monitored output signal to maintain the output signal within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a modular fireplace having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a back wall that is contiguous with the first side wall and the second side wall and defines an interior open-faced firebox region having a substantially "U" shape in top plan view. The first side wall is constructed from a plurality of sequentially stacked modular first side blocks and the second side wall is formed from a plurality of sequentially stacked modular second side blocks. The back wall has a first modular corner block, a second modular corner block, and at least one substantially vertical spacer block that are joined so that the first corner block and the second corner block are contiguous with the spacer block. To aid in the efficient drafting of the fireplace, each of the spacer blocks may have a spacer block air chamber extending therein from an open upper end on the spacer block top end to a closed lower end proximate the spacer block bottom end.

Abstract: A coated glass article is comprised of a transparent infrared reflective coating disposed on each major surface of a glass substrate. The glass article has a particular application as part of the window assembly for an oven door of a self cleaning oven. The window assembly includes a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate and a frame which supports the first and second glass substrates in a spaced apart and mutually parallel relationship. An infrared reflective coating is disposed preferably on both major surfaces of the first and second glass substrates. The invention also includes the method of making the coated glass article.

Abstract: A safety device in a lighting rod comprises a locking member having an engagement section, which interferes with a portion of an operation member and thereby locks the lighting operation of the operation member. The locking member can move in a direction, that intersects with the direction along which the operation member moves. An urging member urges the locking member to a locking direction. The locking member is provided with a lock releasing section, which can be operated in order to move the locking member in a direction, that acts against the urging force of the urging member. The lock releasing section is projected to a position, which stands facing the operating section of the operation member. The lock of the lighting operation is released by operating the lock releasing section of the locking member, and the lighting operation is carried out in this state by operating the operating section of the operation member.

Abstract: A gas-fired burner apparatus includes a porous combustion surface disposed in a combustion chamber substantially sealed to prevent entry of secondary air. A subatmospheric pressure is maintained in the combustion chamber by a natural or aspirated draft. The subatmospheric pressure cooperates with an aspirating flow of fuel to the burner apparatus to provide an increased flow of primary combustion air which reduces the combustion temperature and the emission of pollutants. Alternatively, the subatmospheric pressure may be used to achieve a given flow of primary combustion air with a reduced combustion surface area. Water heater and room heater applications of the burner apparatus are illustrated.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of heat transfer conduits and a heating means for heating fluid flowing through the heat transfer conduits. At least one vortex chamber has at least one inlet opening, at least one outlet opening, and, preferably, at least one baffle positioned therein. A first portion of at least one heat transfer conduit is sealingly connected to a respective inlet opening of a vortex chamber. A second portion of the at least one heat transfer conduit is sealingly connected to a respective outlet opening of the vortex chamber. The vortex chamber has a cross sectional area larger than the cross sectional area of the heat transfer conduit to which it is connected.

Abstract: A safety electronic lighter includes an ignition control switch, which is operated to drive a high voltage coil, causing it to discharge sparks, the ignition control switch being rotatable between the operative position and the non-operative position, a safety lock, which is operated to lock the ignition control switch, prohibiting the ignition control switch from operation, a first power control switch, which is operated to switch on/off the power supply circuit of the electronic lighter, a second power control switch connected in series to the first power control switch, the second power control switch being mounted inside the housing of the electronic lighter and kept from sight and accessible by a rod member through a hole at the housing of the electronic lighter.

Abstract: The burner assembly include a container having a neck with a central opening through which a liquid fuel is introduced into the container and a one-piece cap removably mounted on the container neck. The cap has a crowned central portion with a central opening through which a tubular wick holder made from a crimpable material extends. The wick holder has an outer end through which the exposed outer end of a wick extends and an inner end including a radially outwardly extending flange which engages a first seating portion on the inner surface of the cap and surrounding the cap opening. The wick holder also has an intermediate portion including a crimped area which engages a second seating portion of the outer surface of the cap and surrounding the cap opening. This crimped area cooperates with the inner flange on the wick holder to hold the wick holder in place on the cap.

Abstract: A fireplace candle grate comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed cradle members having a planer candle support surface on the end of one or more cradle members, a hollow sleeve surmounted on the candle support surface, the sleeve slideably receiving an end of said cradle members. Additionally, a lug may depending from the candle support surface, the lug having a mating aperture. A multifaceted mounting surface on an end of the sleeve is slideably received in the mating aperture wherein the incline of the candle support surface may be adjusted.

Abstract: There is described a combustion method which completely incinerates substances to be burned, particularly non-industrial wastes and industrial wastes, without involvement of generation of harmful substances. Under the combustion method, a portion of or substantially all triplet oxygen molecules involved in combustion are excited to singlet oxygen molecules, and substances to be burned are incinerated in the presence of singlet oxygen. Microwave discharge or photosensitization reaction is employed for exciting triplet oxygen to singlet oxygen.

Abstract: There is described a combustion system which completely incinerates substances to be burned, particularly non-industrial wastes and industrial wastes, without involvement of generation of harmful substances. The combustion system has a singlet-oxygen generator for generating singlet-oxygen by excitation of oxygen from the triplet state to the singlet state, and induction means for introducing the thus-generated singlet oxygen into a combustion chamber. More preferably, the combustion system has merging means for merging the singlet oxygen and air. Alternatively, the singlet oxygen generator is built into a combustion chamber. Further, the singlet oxygen generator is arranged so as to excite triplet oxygen to singlet oxygen by means of microwave discharge.

Abstract: A fireplace has a firebox with a controllable outside air vent to provide a source of cooler air for mixing with and modulating the temperature of the air heated by the fireplace. The air vent is vertically formed between a combustion chamber and a surrounding shell so that a convective current causes the air to flow therethrough and pass over the top surface of the combustion chamber to keep it cooler than otherwise possible with heated room air. Convective currents in another air duct formed between the shell and the combustion chamber circulates room air around the combustion chamber to transfer heat to the room air. The warmed outside air and room air mixes in a plenum above the fireplace prior to entering the room, thereby modulating the temperature of the heated air and permitting it to burn without excessively heating the room. A damper regulates the flow of outside air into the air vent, as desired.

Abstract: A low NOx combustion process and burner apparatus in which a mixture of a primary fuel and air, with the air in excess of the stoichiometric requirement, is passed to a surface burner element. The mixture is distributed over the downstream side of the element where it is combusted in a primary combustion zone. Secondary fuel is mixed with surface combustion products from the primary zone and then combusted in a secondary combustion zone with a portion of excess oxygen from the surface combustion products. In certain embodiments the temperature of surface combustion products is reduced by heat transfer to the surface burner element, and in another embodiment by heat transfer to a screen or other element placed within the primary combustion zone, from which the heat is then extracted to a load, and in another embodiment by mixing the additional fuel or combustion products with cooled furnace gases. In other embodiments the placement of the secondary fuel jets is varied to achieve different combustion results.