Abstract: A food preparation appliance, such as a blending, mixing, or food processing appliance, allows for rotatable blade movement by a drive and/or driven shaft relative to a jar holding contents along with movement of the jar relative to the blade in the axial direction of the drive and/or driven shaft. For example, a vertical or axial movement of the blade relative to the jar, or vice-versa can be guided within defined limits. Aspects provide the consumer with an intuitive and proactive way of preventing cavitation and improving the blending performance by allowing the user to manually and indirectly physically agitate the mixture with an up and down motion of the jar during a blending operation. This option for manual operation is part of the disclosed blender design, so is always and conveniently available to the consumer as an anti-cavitation method.

Abstract: An induction cooktop includes a housing defining a cavity, an inner induction coil positioned within the cavity and having a first shape, and an outer induction coil circumscribing the inner induction coil within the cavity and having a second shape different from the first shape of the inner induction coil.

Abstract: A heated appliance generally includes a pair of arms and a hinge attaching the arms together such that the arms are openable and closeable relative to one another via the hinge. Each of the arms includes a heating element having a multi-pane glass substrate and an electrically conductive material deposited on the glass substrate.

Abstract: An iron generally includes a water tank and a steam generator in flow communication with the water tank. The steam generator includes a thin-film heater tube that receives water from the water tank to generate steam inside the heater tube.

Abstract: An induction cooktop includes a housing defining a cavity, an inner induction coil positioned within the cavity and having a first shape, and an outer induction coil circumscribing the inner induction coil within the cavity and having a second shape different from the first shape of the inner induction coil.

Abstract: In a portable container system for heating a beverage generally, the system includes a container for containing a beverage to be heated. The container generally has a bottom and a side wall together defining an internal reservoir containing the beverage to be heated. A base of the system is operable to heat the container at the bottom thereof. The base is constructed of multiple layers generally including at least a top barrier layer, an electrically non-conductive bottom barrier layer and a thin film heating element intermediate the top barrier layer and the bottom barrier layer.

Abstract: In a cooking appliance, the appliance generally includes at least one cooking grate having a first rail, a second rail, and a plurality of rods extending between the first and second rails in spaced relationship with each other, each of the plurality of rods having a respective heating element such that the at least one cooking grate facilitates directly contacting a food product with a plurality of the heating elements during cooking.

Abstract: A heated appliance generally includes a pair of arms and a hinge attaching the arms together such that the arms are openable and closeable relative to one another via the hinge. Each of the arms includes a heating element having a multi-pane glass substrate and an electrically conductive material deposited on the glass substrate.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an inner housing with an inner wall defining an interior space, an outer housing that includes an outer wall having an inner surface opposed to and spaced from an outer surface of the inner wall to define an insulating layer therebetween, and at least one thin-film heating element coupled to the outer surface of the inner wall.

Abstract: An iron generally includes a water tank and a steam generator in flow communication with the water tank. The steam generator includes a thin-film heater tube that receives water from the water tank to generate steam inside the heater tube.

Abstract: In a portable container system for heating a beverage generally, the system includes a container for containing a beverage to be heated. The container generally has a bottom and a side wall together defining an internal reservoir containing the beverage to be heated. A base of the system is operable to heat the container at the bottom thereof. The base is constructed of multiple layers generally including at least a top barrier layer, an electrically non-conductive bottom barrier layer and a thin film heating element intermediate the top barrier layer and the bottom barrier layer.

Abstract: A coffeemaker generally includes a reservoir and a flow control system for regulating a flow of water from the reservoir. The flow control system has a thin-film heating element that defines at least a portion of a heating conduit in which water is heated.

Abstract: In a toaster and method for toasting a food product, the generally includes at least one thin-film heating element, the thin-film heating element including a resistive film coupled to a substrate and extending between a pair of electrical conductors.