Abstract: There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly (21) to froth milk in a container (11). The assembly (21) includes: a body (25); a motor (33) fixed to the body and having an output shaft (34) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (35) of the shaft (34); a frothing device (36) rotatably driven by the shaft (34) and to be submerged in the milk in the container (11); and a perforated member (43) at least partly surrounding the frothing device (36) and spaced from the frothing device (36) by a clearance (44), wherein rotation of the frothing device (36) causes movement of milk in the clearance (44) and movement of milk through the perforated member (43) to be circulated back through the container (11) and the clearance (44) to cause frothing of the milk.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly (21) to froth milk in a container (11). The assembly (21) includes: a body (25); a motor (33) fixed to the body and having an output shaft (34) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (35) of the shaft (34); a frothing device (36) rotatably driven by the shaft (34) and to be submerged in the milk in the container (11); and a perforated member (43) at least partly surrounding the frothing device (36) and spaced from the frothing device (36) by a clearance (44), wherein rotation of the frothing device (36) causes movement of milk in the clearance (44) and movement of milk through the perforated member (43) to be circulated back through the container (11) and the clearance (44) to cause frothing of the milk.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (10) including: a housing (12); a pair of opposing food guards (24a, 24b) located within the housing (12) and defining a toasting cavity (25a, 25b) for receiving foodstuff to be toasted; a pair of heating elements (28) located within the housing (12), each heating element (28) being located on a respective side of the pair of food guards (24a, 24b), wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) is spaced from the corresponding heating element (28) by a clearance (81); and wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) has an upwardly-extending portion (75c, 75d) that extends upwardly to a portion (75a, 75b) that extends transversely from the upwardly-extending portion so as to extend above the corresponding heating element (28), the transversely-extending portion (75a, 75b) of each food guard (24a, 24b) projecting away from the opposing food guard (24a, 24b).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly (21) to froth milk in a container (11). The assembly (21) includes: a body (25); a motor (33) fixed to the body and having an output shaft (34) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (35) of the shaft (34); a frothing device (36) rotatably driven by the shaft (34) and to be submerged in the milk in the container (11); and a perforated member (43) at least partly surrounding the frothing device (36) and spaced from the frothing device (36) by a clearance (44), wherein rotation of the frothing device (36) causes movement of milk in the clearance (44) and movement of milk through the perforated member (43) to be circulated back through the container (11) and the clearance (44) to cause frothing of the milk.

Abstract: A heatable kitchen device such as a toaster has a housing having an outer wall and an inner wall (114), a heating area within the housing for receiving foodstuff to be heated, a heating element located between the heating area and the inner wall (114), a bracket (140) mounted to the inner wall (114) adjacent the heating area. The bracket (140) has a seat (142) located opposite the inner wall (114). The seat receives a sensor assembly (150) and has a first aperture and a second aperture through the bracket (140) to the seat (142). The first aperture has an area and the second aperture has an area, and the inner wall (114) has an opening (148) that is larger than the combined areas of the first and second apertures to allow the sensor assembly (150) to detect a property of the foodstuff.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly (21) to froth milk in a container (11). The assembly (21) includes: a body (25); a motor (33) fixed to the body and having an output shaft (34) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (35) of the shaft (34); a frothing device (36) rotatably driven by the shaft (34) and to be submerged in the milk in the container (11); and a perforated member (43) at least partly surrounding the frothing device (36) and spaced from the frothing device (36) by a clearance (44), wherein rotation of the frothing device (36) causes movement of milk in the clearance (44) and movement of milk through the perforated member (43) to be circulated back through the container (11) and the clearance (44) to cause frothing of the milk.

Abstract: An appliance (210) to heat a liquid, the appliance (21) including: a vessel (212) to receive the liquid to be heated, the vessel (212) having a generally central upright longitudinal axis (218), a bottom housing (220), and a side wall (222) extending upwardly from the bottom housing (220), with a portion of the bottom housing (220) and side wall (222) at least partly enclosing a chamber (234) within which the liquid is heated; and a heating element (238) in thermal communication with the chamber (234) so that heat generated by the element (238) can be delivered to the liquid via convection, wherein the housing (210) includes a deformable sealing member (268) sealingly associated with the element (238) to sealingly connect the element (238) and bottom housing (220), with the member (268) inhibiting transmission of sound from the chamber (234).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (10) including: a housing (12); a pair of opposing food guards (24a, 24b) located within the housing (12) and defining a toasting cavity (25a, 25b) for receiving foodstuff to be toasted; a pair of heating elements (28) located within the housing (12), each heating element (28) being located on a respective side of the pair of food guards (24a, 24b), wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) is spaced from the corresponding heating element (28) by a clearance (81); and wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) has an upwardly-extending portion (75c, 75d) that extends upwardly to a portion (75a, 75b) that extends transversely from the upwardly-extending portion so as to extend above the corresponding heating element (28), the transversely-extending portion (75a, 75b) of each food guard (24a, 24b) projecting away from the opposing food guard (24a, 24b).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly (21) to froth milk in a container (11). The assembly (21) includes: a body (25); a motor (33) fixed to the body and having an output shaft (34) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (35) of the shaft (34); a frothing device (36) rotatably driven by the shaft (34) and to be submerged in the milk in the container (11); and a perforated member (43) at least partly surrounding the frothing device (36) and spaced from the frothing device (36) by a clearance (44), wherein rotation of the frothing device (36) causes movement of milk in the clearance (44) and movement of milk through the perforated member (43) to be circulated back through the container (11) and the clearance (44) to cause frothing of the milk.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for delivering CATV content over a fiber optic network from a transmitter. The transmitter preferably monitors performance attributes of a transmitted signal and selectively configures the transmitter based on the monitored attributes.