Abstract: In a container and method for processing food, the container has a closed end, and open end and a tubular sidewall extending therebetween and together with the closed end defining an interior space of the container. The container is configured to accommodate a blade member within the interior space of the container. The container has a center and the sidewall has at least one rib projecting inward of the interior space of the container and extending heightwise along at least a portion of the sidewall. The rib is asymmetric in transverse cross-section. A blade member is also disclosed and is configured to have different planes in which the blade member moves upon rotation of the blade.

Abstract: A food preparation appliance has a base, a blade member rotatable in a direction of rotation, and a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a tubular sidewall together defining an interior space of the container. The top of the container is configured for releasable connection with the base, with the blade member disposed within the interior space of the container. The sidewall has a rib projecting inward of the interior space of the container and extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the sidewall from the top of the container toward the bottom of the container. The rib has, in the direction of rotation of the blade member, a peak defined as the shortest transverse dimension measured from the center of the container to the sidewall at a respective height along the portion of the sidewall having the rib, the rib being asymmetric in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply is described including a primary side for coupling to a mains supply and a secondary side for coupling to a device, an isolation transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil and arranged to isolate the primary side from the secondary side, and a noise filter coupled between a primary ground at the primary side and a secondary ground at the secondary side, the noise filter having a conductance value that varies with frequency. The noise filter conductance comprises a peak conductance in a peak conductance frequency region. The noise filter is operable to reduce the common-mode noise of the switch mode power supply at frequencies occurring in the peak conductance frequency region.

Abstract: A power strip for conducting electrical power between an electrical power outlet having at least a live receptacle and a neutral receptacle, and at least two electrical device power plugs, each plug having at least a live prong and a neutral prong. The power strip includes a first housing segment having a first receptacle configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a first device plug and a second housing segment having a second receptacle configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a second device plug. The second housing is coupled to the first housing for pivotal movement relative to said first housing.

Abstract: The smoker device disclosed herein provides a small profile device with more control than existing technologies for both cold smoking and smoking in an electric or compact grill. One of the main advantages of the design disclosed herein is a dual concentric or nesting fuel/housing dual structure that allows for adjusting the amount of smoke or aroma that a user wants the smoker device to emit during the smoking process.

Abstract: An improved blender or food processor is provided that moves a blade translationally in the vertical plane while another blade or blade assembly rotates in the horizontal plane to stop the blender from cavitating the contents while blending viscous fluids (an air pocket from forming around the cutting blades or forming a vortex or a disruptive vacuum). Both actions of rotating the lower blades and translationally moving the upper blade are done simultaneously using one motor. In a related embodiment, rotational and translational movements are provided with decoupled gear assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base segment having a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with a signal port. A first assembly includes a first segment movably coupled to the base segment and a second segment movably coupled to the first segment, and a second assembly includes a third segment movably coupled to the base segment and a fourth segment movably coupled to the third segment. The first, second, third, and fourth segments include receptacles configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a device plug. An electrical connection assembly is disposed in the base, first, second, third, and fourth segments and is configured to selectively conductively engage the receptacles of the first, second, third, and fourth segments with a signal port.

Abstract: A wirelessly operable slow cooker for cooking food products includes a wireless communication device. A computing device, such as a smartphone, can wirelessly communicate with the slow cooker to control and monitor the slow cooker.

Abstract: A bleeder circuit controller (11) configured to control a bipolar junction transistor (10) having a collector (12) configured to be connected to an output of a phase cut dimmer (2) for receiving a bleed current, an emitter (13) for connecting to ground and a base (14), the bleeder circuit controller configured to generate a control signal for controlling the bleed current through the bipolar junction transistor (10) and measure a signal indicative of the current flow through the dimmer (2) and apply a current limit to a base-emitter current flow as a function of the measured signal.

Abstract: A heating appliance generally includes a housing having a compartment and a door for selectively accessing the compartment. The compartment is sized to receive a food product. The heating appliance also includes a heating element disposed within the compartment for cooking the food product, and a control unit for operating the heating element to cook the food product without preheating the compartment.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a housing defining an interior space, a tray assembly positionable within the interior space, the tray assembly configured to support a food product. The cooking appliance further includes at least one lower heating element positioned below the tray assembly within the interior space, at least one upper heating element positioned above the tray assembly within the interior space, and a controller configured to operate the at least one upper and lower heating elements in accordance with a selected mode of a plurality of selectable modes, wherein operating parameters for the at least one upper and lower heating elements vary between the plurality of selectable modes.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing cushioning wrap material includes a box having a dispensing opening in communication with an interior of the box. A roll of interleaf material is rotatably positioned within the box such that a free end of the interleaf material can extend through the dispensing opening, and a roll of expandable sheet material in an unexpanded form is rotatably positioned within the box adjacent the first roll of sheet material such that a free end of the expandable sheet material can extend through the dispensing opening. A tensioning assembly is operably associated with the roll of expandable sheet material to control rotational resistance thereof. The interleaf material and the expandable sheet material can be concurrently pulled out of the box in abutting contact by a user and the rotational resistance of the roll of expandable sheet material causes the expandable sheet material to expand in thickness and length.

Abstract: Devices, methods and articles advantageously allow communications between qubits to provide an architecture for universal adiabatic quantum computation. The architecture includes a first coupled basis A1B1 and a second coupled basis A2B2 that does not commute with the first basis A1B1.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base segment having a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with a signal port. A first assembly includes a first segment movably coupled to the base segment and a second segment movably coupled to the first segment, and a second assembly includes a third segment movably coupled to the base segment and a fourth segment movably coupled to the third segment. The first, second, third, and fourth segments include receptacles configured to receive at least an electrically conductive portion of a device plug. An electrical connection assembly is disposed in the base, first, second, third, and fourth segments and is configured to selectively conductively engage the receptacles of the first, second, third, and fourth segments with a signal port.

Abstract: A wirelessly operable cooking appliance for cooking food products includes a wireless communication device. A computing device, such as a smartphone, can wirelessly communicate with the cooking appliance to control and monitor the cooking appliance.