Abstract: A highly reliable, accurate humidity measuring device which detects differences in humidity between datum air and measuring air as a time or a phase difference in the propagation velocity of sonic waves, using sonic wave generating and receiving means, and processes this difference using circuitry to provide the humidity condition in the air being tested. Also an oven or heating cooker is disclosed equipped with the humidity measuring device so that it can detect the cooking condition of food by measuring temperature changes due to the steam generated from the food and then using the humidity measuring device to determine when to shut off the heat source of the oven.

Abstract: A method of heating food with microwaves, where in order to avoid uneven heating between the food surface and its interior, which is a problem peculiar to microwave heating, the heat conduction of the food interior is positively used, supplying necessary minimum energies while monitoring the surface temperature of the food, and heating food to the optimum temperature on both the surface of the food and in the interior of the food.

Abstract: A partitioning plate having a configuration which can be inserted into a double wall vacuum container from an opening of vacuum container divides the space of the vacuum container into two spaces. One of the spaces which serves as a heating chamber, is opened and closed by a door. The other space, which serves as a mechanical chamber, accommodates electrical parts. A method for fixing the partitioning plate, on which parts have been installed, to the double vacuum container is faciliated by the provision of a device for regulating the position of the partitioning plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly reliable, accurate humidity measuring device which detects differences in humidity between datum air and measuring air as a time or a phase difference in the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves, using ultrasonic wave generating and receiving means, and processes this difference using circuitry.

Abstract: A coiled slide fastener element made of a synthetic resin monofilament has a coupling head portion, which has an enlarged width by forming bulging portions so that firm coupling of a slide fastener can be realized.

Abstract: A woven slide fastener stringer has a web section and a woven filament section defining a longitudinal edge portion and including successive loops formed from a woven plastic filament and each having upper and lower legs and is provided with a plurality of tensioning warp threads and a plurality of loop fastening warp threads both interposed between binding warp threads and adapted to draw the upper and lower legs closely together and hold the loops stably in place on the stringer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a center pillar designed for a vehicle. According to the invention, an anchor rail, supporting a seat belt anchor in a vertically movable manner, is fixedly provided on a center pillar of a vehicle. A reinforcing frame, containing the anchor rail therein, is fixedly mounted on an inner panel of the center pillar to which the anchor rail is attached. The reinforcing frame has a window facing the anchor rail. In another embodiment, the anchor rail is attached to a rail bracket. The rail bracket is fixedly mounted within the inner panel of the center pillar. A window in the interior side surface of the inner panel faces the anchor rail. In this embodiment, the center pillar is reinforced by the rail bracket.

Abstract: In a woven slide fastener stringer of the type which comprises a row of successively interconnected elongated loops of a plastic filament woven into a longitudinal edge of a stringer tape woven of foundation warp and weft threads, and a pair of groups of upper and lower binding warp threads extending respectively over and under the loops and interwoven with the foundation weft thread, the improvements comprising a gap-filling warp thread extending parallel with and between an outermost one of the upper binding warp threads and the next adjoining upper binding warp thread and also between an outermost one of the lower binding warp threads and the next adjoining lower binding warp thread, and passing alternately over and under the foundation weft thread, thereby tensioning the latter thread to sink substantially halfway between the upper and lower legs of each adjacent pair of loops.

Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus in which a waveguide having a rectangular terminating opening a.times.b is coupled with a heating chamber perpendicularly at the bottom wall thereby. The waveguide is excited in a TE.sub.0,n mode (n is any positive integer), and a turntable of dielectric material having a rotating center is located on a bisector between the crest (loop) and the valley (node) of this mode. A horizontal electric field is generated along the upper surface of the turntable, thereby strongly heating the center of the bottom surface of an article to be heated and improving the uniformity in heating of the article.

Abstract: A turntable drive mechanism for a microwave oven having an oven-defining structure having a bottom wall and a hingedly supported door for selectively closing and opening an access opening leading into the interior of the oven-defining structure. The turntable drive mechanism has a turntable assembly removably positioned on the bottom wall for rotation about its own center through a plurality of rollers situated between the turntable assembly and the bottom wall, and a plurality of magnets. Cooperating with these magnets carried by the turntable assembly are magnets carried by a rotary carriage driven by a drive unit in one direction and situated below the bottom wall and externally of the oven-defining structure. Rotation of the turntable assembly is induced by rotation of the rotary carriage by the effect of magnetic forces of attraction developed through the bottom wall between the magnets on the turntable assembly and the magnets on the rotary carriage.

Abstract: A microwave oven having an improved electric field distribution to allow uniform heating of an article to be heated is disclosed. High frequency exciting means is positioned at the center, both depthwise and lengthwise, of a heating chamber of substantially parallelepiped structure, and the shapes and construction of the reflecting plate, stirrer vane, mount for partition and heating cavity are improved to allow uniform electric field distribution and improvement in cooking performance.

Abstract: A microwave oven with an improved electric field distribution in the oven is provided. By properly establishing the position of a high frequency oscillator when it is directly affixed to a heating cavity or the position of a feeding opening when the feed through a wave guide is employed, with respect to the dimension of the heating cavity, the electric field distribution is improved and the efficiency is enhanced.