Abstract: A hair iron according to one example embodiment includes a first arm and a second arm movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A contact surface is positioned on an exterior of the first arm for contacting hair during use. The hair iron includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater generates heat by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material. The heater is positioned to supply heat to the contact surface.

Abstract: A hair iron according to one example embodiment includes a first arm and a second arm movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A contact surface is positioned on an exterior of the first arm for contacting hair during use. The hair iron includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater generates heat by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material. The heater is positioned to supply heat to the contact surface.

Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.

Abstract: An appliance for heating fluid includes a reservoir for holding the fluid during use. One or more ceramic heaters mount with the reservoir to heat the fluid. The heater includes electrically resistive traces thick-film printed on a substrate. The heaters optionally mount with a heat transfer element having a relatively large surface area. The heat transfer element typifies a conductive element, such as an aluminum plate of forged aluminum. The plate has cavities to retain the heaters or sections fitted about heaters. Holes through a thickness of the plate induce turbulent fluid flow as the fluid freely passes there through during use. Heater control and mounting are still other aspects of the technology.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. At least one resistive trace of silver and palladium overlies the base as does a conductor of silver and platinum or palladium that electrically connects to the resistive trace to apply an external voltage to the resistive trace for heating thereof. At least four, but optionally five, layers of glass overlie the resistive trace and part of the conductor. A first two consecutive layers of the glass layers define a first glass having a solid content of more than 65% and a viscosity of 100 Pa·s or less. The following two or three consecutive layers of the five layers define a second glass dissimilar to the first.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of modular heaters. Each modular heater includes a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace positioned on the ceramic substrate. Each modular heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the electrically resistive trace. The cooking device includes a thermally conductive heating plate. The plurality of modular heaters are positioned against a bottom surface of the heating plate. The heating plate includes a top surface positioned to transfer heat provided by the plurality of modular heaters to a cooking vessel for cooking an item held by the cooking vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a ceramic heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The ceramic heater has resistive traces that heat up hair during use upon being connected to a power source. On a side of the ceramic heater opposite the resistive traces, a layer of metal is formed to spread out during use the heat from the resistive traces. The metal may be formed as a single or multiple layers. The composition of the metal can be, representatively, pure or alloys of silver, copper, or aluminum with platinum or palladium. The shape of the metal varies as does its coverage on a surface area of the ceramic heater.

Abstract: A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a controller and a heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The controller connects or not the heater to a line voltage to heat hair when placed between the arms during use. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller communicates with a thermistor measuring a current temperature of the heater and makes requests of the controller to operate the heater at a setpoint temperature. In various embodiments, the heater heats to full power during warm-up and operates thereafter at lower temperatures based on a reading of the line voltage and a time to adjust the current temperature to the desired setpoint temperature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a hair iron having a controller and a heater between first and second arms movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The controller connects or not the heater to a line voltage to heat hair when placed between the arms during use. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller communicates with a thermistor measuring a current temperature of the heater and makes requests of the controller to operate the heater at a setpoint temperature. In various embodiments, the heater heats to full power during warm-up and operates thereafter at lower temperatures based on a reading of the line voltage and a time to adjust the current temperature to the desired setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.

Abstract: A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a base having a top surface positioned to contact a cooking vessel configured to hold food during cooking. The base includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace on an exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater is positioned to supply heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrically resistive trace to the top surface of the base for heating the cooking vessel to heat food in the cooking vessel. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace includes an electrical resistor material thick film printed on the exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace is positioned on a top surface of the ceramic substrate that faces upward toward the top surface of the base.

Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.

Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.

Abstract: A heater for a passenger cabin includes a body for holding fluid coolant. A top and bottom lid cover the body and at least one heater module resides between the lids to heat the fluid coolant. The heater module has a base substrate with a longitudinally extending resistive trace and conductor to apply an external voltage to the trace for heating. Glass overlies the trace. Various embodiments teach substrates of alumina, aluminum nitride, and four heater modules parallel to one another. The modules mount parallel, perpendicular, or angled to a fluid inlet of the body.

Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.