Abstract: An electric toaster includes a housing having at least one heating element mounted therein. A source of electric power is selectively connected to the heating element for energization thereof. A carriage is mounted in the housing for supporting a food product to be toasted and is movable between upper non-toasting and lower toasting positions. An electrically operated latch mechanism holds the carriage in its toasting position. A temperature sensing switch is electrically connected to the latch mechanism for releasing the mechanism and returning the carriage to its non-toasting position when the temperature of the food has reached a predetermined level. A time delay mechanism is electrically connected to the temperature sensing switch for disabling the switch during an initial period of time at the start of each toasting cycle when the carriage is moved to its toasting position.

Abstract: A self-feeding and self-emptying food grinder is provided of a walled-hopper type with food receiving and bottom rectangular discharge openings. To this standard structure which may be mounted on a driving shaft, an improvement is provided that includes a foraminated outwardly directed convex grate enclosing and over the discharge opening and a driven cutter and move assembly transporting food from the hopper is provided with the assembly including a split drum smaller than and rotatably mounted off center in the discharge opening substantially along the parting line between the opening and grate, the drum being disposed to contact the grate on rotation at only one portion thereof.

Abstract: A hair dryer includes a casing having an air inlet and an air exit defining an exit plane. A motor driven fan propels air through the casing between the air inlet and exit. Plural wattage electric heating elements are disposed in a heater box in the casing for heating air to a selected temperature for discharge through the casing air exit. A thermostat, positioned downstream of the heating elements substantially centrally across the exit plane of the casing and disposed substantially in the exit plane, is connected in series circuit with at least some of the heating elements. The thermostat rapidly senses the air temperature at the air exit and disconnects the connected heating elements.

Abstract: In a hair dryer having an electric selectively variable motor driven fan, and plural wattage heaters in the fan stream for selectively heating the air and having thermostat means sensing air temperature to shut off the dryer on an over-temperature condition, an improvement is provided in a combination switch and sliding contact variable control for heat and speed that comprises an elongated continuous bus bar connected to one side of the line with two separate sets of discrete spaced contacts being spaced on opposite sides of the bus bar parallel thereto and to each other. Two separate sliding means are provided each being sized to bridge at least two spaced contacts in a set as it moves along the bar parallel to the other sliding means.