Abstract: A vacuum blending system may be used to blend solids, powders, and/or liquids (foodstuff) in an evacuated blender jar and/or evacuated enclosure to reduce or eliminate the air included in the resulting mixture. The vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum lid adaptable for use with any of a wide variety of blending systems. In other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a blender with an integrated vacuum system. In still other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum pump, and optional vacuum tank, for use with a plurality off blender enclosures. Any of these vacuum blending systems may be used to produce blended foodstuff that has superior texture, offer increased nutritional benefit, and/or remain homogeneous for longer than the same foodstuff remains well-mixed when blended in a non-vacuum.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: A vacuum blending system may be used to blend solids, powders, and/or liquids (foodstuff) in an evacuated blender jar and/or evacuated enclosure to reduce or eliminate the air included in the resulting mixture. The vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum lid adaptable for use with any of a wide variety of blending systems. In other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a blender with an integrated vacuum system. In still other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum pump, and optional vacuum tank, for use with a plurality off blender enclosures. Any of these vacuum blending systems may be used to produce blended foodstuff that has superior texture, offer increased nutritional benefit, and/or remain homogeneous for longer than the same foodstuff remains well-mixed when blended in a non-vacuum.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a passive inline oil delivery system for delivering a controlled and variable amount of an oil, such as an aromatic or essential oil, to a user via a positive airway pressure system. A positive airway pressure system may include a tube that delivers pressurized air to a user during, for example, sleep. Examples of such positive airway pressure systems include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems, automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) systems, and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) systems. The inline passive oil delivery system described herein delivers a controlled and/or adjustable amount of oil into the air delivered by the positive airway pressure system to the user.

Abstract: A food preparation apparatus is presented that has fast-stop capability. It includes a base unit, a mixing container attached to the base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move within the mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit within the base unit is connected to the motor. A contact sensor is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to stop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of a human hand. In some cases, contact with the mixing tool stops the motor, and in other cases, contact with an outer surface or user interface of the base unit stops the motor.

Abstract: A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.

Abstract: A variable-engagement planetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixing apparatus is presented. The tool has a body that has a driveshaft engagement portion and a first longitudinal axis. The tool also has a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear has a first helical gear surface. A planet gear with a second longitudinal axis is also included, wherein the second longitudinal axis is non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The planet gear has a second helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planet gear is configured to engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in one or more positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixing member is connected to the planet gear and moves around the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: A food preparation apparatus is presented that has fast-stop capability. It includes a base unit, a mixing container attached to the base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move within the mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit within the base unit is connected to the motor. A contact sensor is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to stop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of a human hand. In some cases, contact with the mixing tool stops the motor, and in other cases, contact with an outer surface or user interface of the base unit stops the motor.

Abstract: A variable-engagement planetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixing apparatus is presented. The tool has a body that has a driveshaft engagement portion and a first longitudinal axis. The tool also has a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear has a first helical gear surface. A planet gear with a second longitudinal axis is also included, wherein the second longitudinal axis is non-parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The planet gear has a second helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planet gear is configured to engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in one or more positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixing member is connected to the planet gear and moves around the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

Abstract: A food mixing machine appliance is presented for mixing ingredients. The machine has a base unit that can rest on a horizontal surface, a motor positioned in the base unit, a bowl attached to the base unit, and a mixing tool positioned in the bowl. The bowl has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle that is non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the base unit is resting on the horizontal surface, and the mixing tool is operably connected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to move within the bowl to mix contents of the bowl. The non-parallel longitudinal axis of the bowl may improve mixing quality and may allow the mixer to better mix small amounts of ingredients in the bowl.

Abstract: Folding splatter shields are presented including: a handle; a middle panel mechanically coupled with the handle along a lateral edge of the middle panel, the middle panel including a middle panel mesh element; a first folding panel pivotally coupled with the middle panel along a first longitudinal edge of the middle panel; and a second folding panel pivotally coupled with the middle panel along a second longitudinal edge of the middle panel. In some embodiments, the first folding panel further includes a first folding panel mesh element and where the second folding panel further includes a second folding panel mesh element. In some embodiments, the middle panel further includes: a middle panel upper frame element defining a middle panel shape; and a middle panel lower frame element defining the middle panel shape.

Abstract: A self-serve drink blending device includes a blend chamber, at least one product source, a water source, an ice source, a liquid level sensor, a controller and a dispenser. The blend chamber includes a blending blade. The at least one product source is configured to deliver a volume of product to the blend chamber. The water source is configured to deliver a volume of water to the blend chamber. The ice source is configured to deliver a volume of ice to the blend chamber. The liquid level sensor is mounted to the blend chamber and configured to create a liquid level signal when contents in the blend chamber reach a predetermined level. The controller is configured to automatically calibrate the at least one product source, the water source, and the ice source based on the liquid level signal. The dispenser is arranged to dispense contents from the blend chamber.

Abstract: Folding splatter shields are presented including: a handle; a middle panel mechanically coupled with the handle along a lateral edge of the middle panel, the middle panel including a middle panel mesh element; a first folding panel pivotally coupled with the middle panel along a first longitudinal edge of the middle panel; and a second folding panel pivotally coupled with the middle panel along a second longitudinal edge of the middle panel. In some embodiments, the first folding panel further includes a first folding panel mesh element and where the second folding panel further includes a second folding panel mesh element. In some embodiments, the middle panel further includes: a middle panel upper frame element defining a middle panel shape; and a middle panel lower frame element defining the middle panel shape.

Abstract: A self-serve drink blending device includes a blend chamber, at least one product source, a water source, an ice source, a liquid level sensor, a controller and a dispenser. The blend chamber includes a blending blade. The at least one product source is configured to deliver a volume of product to the blend chamber. The water source is configured to deliver a volume of water to the blend chamber. The ice source is configured to deliver a volume of ice to the blend chamber. The liquid level sensor is mounted to the blend chamber and configured to create a liquid level signal when contents in the blend chamber reach a predetermined level. The controller is configured to automatically calibrate the at least one product source, the water source, and the ice source based on the liquid level signal. The dispenser is arranged to dispense contents from the blend chamber.

Abstract: A process for molding dimensionally accurate plastic articles using a low pressure injection molding technique. The process utilizes a two-piece silicone rubber mold having a cavity representative of the shape of the article to be molded. The mold is substantially encased on all sides in a rigid mold box to prevent deformation of the cavity during the molding process (10). The mold box and the encased mold are placed in a vacuum chamber, and a vacuum is drawn on the chamber to evacuate the cavity (20). A predetermined amount of a reactive mixture is simultaneously mixed and injected under pressure into the mold to form the plastic article (30). The amount of material injected is sufficient to fill the cavity but not sufficient to distort the cavity. The chamber is vented (40) and the mold is removed from the mold box (50). The mold is flexed in order to remove the plastic article from the mold (60).

Abstract: A rotary control device is provided comprising a light receptor (52), a plurality of light sources (54) radially spaced from the light receptor (52), a light director (14) having means for directing light from the light source (54) to the receptor (52) and means for rotating the director (14) thereby selectively directing light from the light sources (54) to the light receptor (52). In another aspect of the invention, the optical rotary device further comprises an isolator (56) made of opaque material which surrounds four sides of the light receptor (52) and four sides of the light sources (54). In a further aspect of the invention the light director includes a reflector (46) for directing the light from the light sources (54) to the light receptor (52).