Abstract: A roaster includes an upper pan including an upper side wall and an upper pan heating element inside the upper tub. The roaster further includes a lower pan connected to the upper tub, the lower pan including a lower side wall and a lower pan heating element inside the lower tub. An upper pan fixed temperature regulator and a lower pan fixed temperature regulator may be preset to different selected temperatures. The roaster may also include a grease drain opening through the lower tub. Temperature and timer control logic are provided for the upper pan heating element and the lower pan heating element. In order to set cooking time, the roaster includes a control interface that includes, in one embodiment, a time increment button and a time decrement button.

Abstract: A roaster includes an upper pan including an upper side wall and an upper pan heating element inside the upper tub. The roaster further includes a lower pan connected to the upper tub, the lower pan including a lower side wall and a lower pan heating element inside the lower tub. An upper pan fixed temperature regulator and a lower pan fixed temperature regulator may be preset to different selected temperatures. The roaster may also include a grease drain opening through the lower tub. Temperature and timer control logic are provided for the upper pan heating element and the lower pan heating element. In order to set cooking time, the roaster includes a control interface that includes, in one embodiment, a time increment button and a time decrement button.

Abstract: Combination cooking grills and thermal chests are provided. One such combination includes a thermal chest that defines an interior and which includes an opening communicating with and providing access to the interior. The combination also includes a grill that defines a cooking interior and which incorporates a grilling surface mounted within the cooking interior. A repositioning assembly is mounted to the thermal chest. The grill is movable, via the repositioning assembly, between a lowered position in which the grill limits access to the interior of the thermal chest via the opening, and a raised position in which the grill is spaced from the thermal chest such that access to the interior of the thermal chest is provided via the opening.

Abstract: A coffee machine has a space for receiving coffee grounds. Pressurised fluid is forced into the space. There is a filter screen against which the coffee grounds bear in use and through which coffee-infused fluid from the space passes to be dispensed. A fluid-pervious piston is located within the space and moves toward the filter screen to thereby compress the coffee grounds in use. This prevents the coffee grounds from separating from one another in which case the pressurised fluid might take a path of least resistance, not necessarily an infusion path through the grounds.

Abstract: A barbecue has a body with a combustion area and a cooking surface. A cover is attached hingedly to the body, and a foot pedal is situated beneath the combustion area and is attached mechanically to the cover to enable the cover to be lifted or lowered pivotally upon manipulation of the foot pedal. The barbecue further includes legs extending downwardly from the body and the foot pedal is attached to a pedal lever that is attached pivotally to one of the legs.

Abstract: A cooking/stirring appliance includes a reservoir to receive liquid to be heated, a heater associated with the reservoir to heat the liquid, a vessel for receiving food to be stirred and cooked, and a drive motor and stirring blade. The appliance is particularly suitable for sauces and soups that tend to burn using conventional cooking/stirring means.

Abstract: A water purifier includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir having an outlet through which filtered water can be dispensed, and a pump for pumping water from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. Water passes through a filter from the first reservoir en route to the second reservoir upon activation of the pump. There is a first water level detector in the first reservoir and a second water level detector in the second reservoir. A switch co-operates with the second water level detector to activate the pump when a reduced water level is detected in the second reservoir by the second water level detector. The switch also co-operates with the first water level detector to deactivate the pump, should the first water level detector detect a low water level in the first reservoir. A single switch performs both tasks.

Abstract: A bristle head for an electric toothbrush has a casing, a drive shaft within the casing and a flexible membrane mounted to or formed integrally with the casing. A number of bristle tufts extend from the flexible membrane and roots of each tuft extend into the casing. A transmission is provided for transmitting movement of the drive shaft to the roots of the bristle tufts whereupon the flexible membrane flexes as or the bristle tufts move. The design prevents toothpaste and other liquid from entering into the casing where it might wear moving parts and harbour bacteria.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a vessel to receive liquid to be heated, a heater associated with the vessel to heat the liquid, a perforated basket for receiving food to be cooked by immersion in the liquid, and drive motor and threaded shaft for lowering and raising the basket into and out of the liquid as desired. The appliance is particularly suitable for cooking pasta or deep-frying chips.

Abstract: A mouth washing device includes a handle housing a motor and a driveshaft driven by the motor. A head has a wall having an inner surface defining an internal cavity and an outer surface forming part of the device's exterior, the wall has a number of inlet ports and a number of outlet ports, extending directly between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall. An impeller is located in the cavity and is driven by the driveshaft and adapted upon turning by the motor and driveshaft to draw liquid from a user's mouth into the cavity via the inlet ports and expel the liquid via the outlet ports so as to clean the user's mouth in use.

Abstract: Combination cooking grills and thermal chests are provided. One such combination includes a thermal chest that defines an interior and which includes an opening communicating with and providing access to the interior. The combination also includes a grill that defines a cooking interior and which incorporates a grilling surface mounted within the cooking interior. A repositioning assembly is mounted to the thermal chest. The grill is movable, via the repositioning assembly, between a lowered position in which the grill limits access to the interior of the thermal chest via the opening, and a raised position in which the grill is spaced from the thermal chest such that access to the interior of the thermal chest is provided via the opening.

Abstract: An electrical pressure sensing switch for a pressure cooker comprises a plunger slidably and sealingly mounted in a lid of a cooking vessel. The plunger is moved towards one end of a pivoted lever when pressure rises inside the vessel. The other end of the lever is positioned to press down against an operating arm. When the force applied by the plunger as a result of higher pressures in the vessel is sufficient to overcome bias of a spring, the arm is moved down by the lever. This results in operation of micro-switches. Embodiments of the invention are mechanically simple and accommodate wide tolerances without loss of calibration, while necessary electrical parts are separated or separable from the lid to facilitate cleaning and washing.

Abstract: An electrical pressure sensing switch for a pressure cooker comprises a plunger slidably and sealingly mounted in a lid of a cooking vessel. The plunger is moved towards one end of a pivoted lever when pressure rises inside the vessel. The other end of the lever is positioned to press down against an operating arm. When the force applied by the plunger as a result of higher pressures in the vessel is sufficient to overcome bias of a spring , the arm is moved down by the lever. This results in operation of micro-switches Embodiments of the invention are mechanically simple and accommodate wide tolerances without loss of calibration, while necessary electrical parts are separated or separable from the lid to facilitate cleaning and washing.

Abstract: An electric heating element having a central conductor and an outer metallic sheath is welded to a base of vessel to provide a heating container, for hot water in a domestic appliance for example. In order to carry out the welding, the vessel is heated up by an induction heater to a certain temperature and the temperature of the actual contacting welding surfaces raised above the certain temperature to a fusing temperature by applying and controlling electric power supplied to the conductor while the heating element is held firmly in position against the base.

Abstract: A vacuum coffee maker has a starved electric heating arrangement having a solid body providing a reservoir. The chamber is covered by a circular lid that prevents flow of steam directly vertically up a tube from the chamber. At the end of a normal heating cycle, the temperature of the body rises rapidly and power supplied to a heating element is automatically turned off under the control of a thermostat. The heating arrangement is used without alteration (e.g. to the setting of the thermostat) to keep-warm hot coffee in a lower container after the end of the normal heating coffee-making cycle. The effect of having the lid is that during a keep-warm function, the reservoir is generally starved of liquid because any liquid entering the reservoir is immediately evaporated and this restricts flow of more liquid into the reservoir and hence starves the reservoir.

Abstract: A breadmaker having a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor. Because the container is sealed in place in the housing, no foodstuff can enter the housing. Because the heating of the container is direct, less heat is wasted. The paddle may be lifted at the end of the baking cycle to aid removal of the cooled bread loaf. A hinged lid that is partially opened by a spring biassed plunger at the end of each baking cycle allows for ventilation of the container.

Abstract: A single loaf breadmaker has a container sealingly mounted to the top of a housing and an electric heating element is mounted to an outside surface. A paddle is mounted at the bottom of the container and driven in use by an electric motor . Because the container is sealed in place in the housing and because the heating of the container is direct, no foodstuff can enter the housing and much less heat is wasted. Means are described for lifting the paddle at the end of backing to aid removal of each cooked bread loaf.

Abstract: An expresso coffee maker includes a steam outlet valve for supplying steam to froth milk for making cappuccino coffee. A valve member automatically closes off a tube when a water level in a water compartment falls below a low level. This closing off completes each expresso making cycle and ensures that sufficient water is retained, and sealed off, inside the compartment to sustain a supply of steam for frothing the milk.