Abstract: A blender includes a lid having a pouring spout. The lid is configured to rest on an upper edge of a jar to cover the interior cavity and includes an outer ring having an outer rim and an inner rim that define a gap. The upper edge of the jar is configured to fit within the gap. An inner disk is positioned radially inwardly of and fixed to the outer ring. The inner disk including a main panel, an aperture, a wall surrounding the aperture, and a spout wall extending upwardly from the wall. An access assembly comprising a bridge mounted to the inner disk, and a spout lid hingedly attached to the bridge, and positioned to interact with the spout wall to cover the spout wall, is included.

Abstract: A multi-functional oven includes: a housing; a door attached to the housing, the door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the housing and the door define an enclosed cooking cavity, and in the open position the door is positioned above the housing to provide access to the cooking cavity; a fan positioned within the housing outside of the cooking cavity, the fan positioned and configured to circulate air within the cooking cavity; a rotation assembly mounted in the housing configured to rotate a pan positioned in the cooking cavity about a vertical axis of rotation; a heating element positioned in the cooking cavity; and a controller operatively connected with the fan, the rotation assembly, and the heating element, the controller configured to selectively operate each of the fan, the rotation assembly, and the heating element.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes: a housing; an inner liner positioned within the housing, the inner liner defining a vessel cavity; a motor mounted in the housing, the motor attached to a first fan positioned within the vessel cavity; a heating element mounted within the vessel cavity; and a controller operatively connected with the motor and the heating element. The controller is configured such that, in a first cooking mode, the heating element is activated but the motor is deactivated, and in a second cooking mode the heating element is activated and the motor is activated so that the fan rotates within the inner liner.

Abstract: An air frying cooking appliance includes: a housing; a first cooking compartment defined in the housing having an open front side, a first heating compartment located directly above the first and cooking compartment, the first heating compartment having a first heating element; a first fan positioned to provide air to the first heating compartment; a first cooking basket having a front wall and a cooking container, the cooking container configured to removably reside in the first cooking compartment; and a first handle pivotally mounted to the front wall of the first cooking basket, the first handle being movable between a retracted position, in which a grasping portion of the first handle is generally parallel with the front wall of the first cooking basket, and an extended position, in which the grasping portion of the first handle is generally normal to the front wall of the first cooking basket.

Abstract: An iron-steamer appliance includes: a housing including an internal water reservoir; a sole plate attached under the housing, the sole plate including first vents; first and second steam chambers in fluid communication with the water reservoir, wherein the first steam chamber is in fluid communication with the first vents; and a steamer nozzle in fluid communication with the second steam chamber, the steamer nozzle including second vents. The steamer nozzle is movable between retracted and extended positions, wherein in the retracted position, the nozzle is located directly above a peripheral footprint defined by the sole plate, and in the extended position, the nozzle is located at least partially forwardly of the sole plate peripheral footprint, and wherein in moving from the retracted position to the extended position, the steamer nozzle moves substantially parallel to the sole plate.

Abstract: An electric hand mixer comprises a housing having at least a bottom surface and a rear heel surface, a motor within the housing, one or more holes defined in the bottom surface for receiving a respective rotatable beater, and a power cord extending outward from the housing. A recess is defined in the housing. A first opening to the recess is defined in the bottom surface. A second opening to the recess is defined in the rear heel surface. The first and second openings are continuous with each other. The power cord extends outward from within the recess.

Abstract: An electric hand mixer comprises a housing having at least a bottom surface and a rear heel surface, a motor within the housing, one or more holes defined in the bottom surface for receiving a respective rotatable beater, and a power cord extending outward from the housing. A recess is defined in the housing. A first opening to the recess is defined in the bottom surface. A second opening to the recess is defined in the rear heel surface. The first and second openings are continuous with each other. The power cord extends outward from within the recess.

Abstract: An iron-steamer appliance includes: a housing including an internal water reservoir; a sole plate attached under the housing, the sole plate including first vents; first and second steam chambers in fluid communication with the water reservoir, wherein the first steam chamber is in fluid communication with the first vents; and a steamer nozzle in fluid communication with the second steam chamber, the steamer nozzle including second vents. The steamer nozzle is movable between retracted and extended positions, wherein in the retracted position, the nozzle is located directly above a peripheral footprint defined by the sole plate, and in the extended position, the nozzle is located at least partially forwardly of the sole plate peripheral footprint, and wherein in moving from the retracted position to the extended position, the steamer nozzle moves substantially parallel to the sole plate.

Abstract: A foodstuff grinder attachment kit includes: a lower tray including a plurality of receptacles; a grinder housing positioned in a first one of the receptacles, the grinder housing including a feed tube, a main body, and a conveyor configured to convey a foodstuff from the feed tube to an opening in the main body; and a feed tray having a feed exit, the feed tray configured to engage and overlie the lower tray to provide a cover for the kit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for automatically making a pocket sandwich. The apparatus includes a platform configured to support a wrap (such as pita bread, tortillas, or the like) and a rotatable food pocket arranged at a center of the platform. A folding paddle is configured to rotate toward and away from the center of the platform, being placed at a location with respect to the platform such that motion of the folding paddle toward the center of the platform folds a portion of the wrap. The holding arm has a tip at a free end thereof, being movable in a vertical direction toward and away from the center of the platform. The holding arm is configured to contact the wrap and hold the folded pleat in place while the food pocket rotates with respect to the platform to permit the folding paddle to generate a successive pleat.