Abstract: A stovetop popcorn cooker (popper) contains a rotating shaft inclined with respect to the vertical axis of its bowl and is connected to and rotates a stirrer parallel to the bottom. The unique connection between the shaft and stirrer allows the stirrer to remain in continuous contact with the bottom while being rotated by the inclined shaft. A hinged lid extends over the majority of the top area of bowl. The bowl (pot), the cross-section of which has a flat bottom, may incorporate a first curved portion tangent to the bottom and second curved portion tangent to a cylindrical portion at the top.

Abstract: A valve including a housing defining an interior, entry port, an exit orifice, and a fuel path between the entry port and exit orifice, a magnetic coil associated with the interior of the housing, and a resilient valve element defining an outer section fixedly secured to the housing, an interior section engaging and closing the exit orifice, and a spring section between the outer section and the interior section defining at least one aperture. The resilient valve element will be deflected such that the interior section of the valve element is disengaged and spaced apart from the exit orifice in response to an application of a predetermined voltage to the coil.