Abstract: A whisk means for a frother for producing a hot chocolate beverage is adapted to rotate in the liquid to mix the heating liquid. The whisk means comprises a whisk comprising a plurality of coils, which whisk is mounted on a support, the whisk means further comprising a basket located above the whisk means, which basket is provided with one or more slots for allowing the heating liquid to melt or dissolve the hot chocolate beverage precursor.

Abstract: A device for separating infusion capsules comprises a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, the plunger comprising a projection sized to fit within the aperture having a tip for contacting the infusion capsules which is concave. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling.

Abstract: A device for separating infusion capsules comprises a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, the plunger comprising a projection sized to fit within the aperture, and a stop to limit how far the plunger can be pressed down onto the base unit, wherein the height of the projection beyond the stop is approximately the same as but no greater than the height of the infusion capsule, thereby to fully invert the capsule. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling.

Abstract: A device for separating infusion capsules includes a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein a portion of the face surrounding the aperture has a surface that undulates in a longitudinal direction relative to a central axis through the aperture; the plunger including a projection sized to fit within the aperture. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling. The undulating surface ensures that the rim section of the capsule is distorted during this process, which assists in separating any layers that have been provided for example by way of sealant.

Abstract: A device for separating infusion capsules comprises a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein a portion of the face surrounding the aperture has a surface that undulates in a longitudinal direction relative to a central axis through the aperture; the plunger comprising a projection sized to fit within the aperture. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling. The undulating surface ensures that the rim section of the capsule is distorted during this process, which assists in separating any layers that have been provided for example by way of sealant.

Abstract: A toaster has a carriage for raising and lowering a bread support in a pop-up toaster having a toasting cycle. The carriage is adapted to be guided on one or more vertical rods mounted on a housing of the toaster. The carriage includes a first member having an actuator, adapted to actuate a switch on the toaster to start the toasting cycle, the first member being further adapted to be held in a first position once the switch has been actuated. The carriage further includes a second member adapted to be independently moveable of the first member so that the bread support can be raised without actuating the switch or breaking contacts thereon. Once the toasting cycle is complete, the first member is released from a first position into a second position, in which second position the switch is not actuated and/or the contacts on the switch are broken.

Abstract: An electric blender comprises a base unit including an electric motor, a connecting line for connecting the motor to a power supply, a separate glass container incorporating rotatable blades and engageable with the base unit so that the motor, when connected to the power supply will drive the blades, a lid for closing the container but separable therefrom, and interlock switch in said connecting line operable between closed and open conditions, the switch being normally biased to its open condition and an enabling member integral with the lid and arranged to operate the switch to the closed condition only when the container and its lid are correctly engaged with one another and the container is engaged with the base unit.

Abstract: An electric heating element (11) in which electrically conductive tape (23) is wound on a non-electrically conductive former (12) and the tape is completely covered by covers (30) of electrically non-conductive but heat conductive material secured to the former. Preferably the covers and former are of Mica or Micanite. The covers are each made from several pieces and are secured to the former and each other by fastening eyelets (26) or staples extending through the covers and former intermediate the edges and at spaced positions along two opposite edges. For use in an upright toaster the tape is wound continuously round the former with each run thereof extending between the grooves in the opposite side edges of the former, the grooves in the upper portion being spaced from one another by 4.6 to 7 mm while the grooves in the lower portion of the former are spaced by a smaller distance in the range 3.6 to 5 mm.

Abstract: An electric heating element (11) in which electrically conductive tape (23) is wound on a non-electrically conductive former (12) and the tape is completely covered by covers (30) of electrically non-conductive but heat conductive material secured to the former. Preferably the covers and former are of Mica or Micanite. The covers are secured to the former by channel sectioned strips (31) along opposite side edges and by fastening eyelets (26) extending through the covers and former intermediate the edges. For use in an upright toaster the tape is wound continuously round the former with each run thereof extending between the grooves in the opposite side edges of the former, the grooves in the upper portion being spaced from one another by 4.6 to 7 mm while the grooves in the lower portion of the former are spaced by a smaller distance in the range 3.6 to 5 mm. For use in a conveyor toaster the runs adjacent the sides of the conveyor are more closely spaced than those in the center.

Abstract: For an upright toaster, wire guards of spring material of inverted U-section with diverging arms are provided for defining the toaster slots. A toaster has a casing and one or more toaster slots for receiving bread, heating elements on each side of each slot and a plurality of wire guards defining the widths of the toaster slots. The widths of the slots are greater at the top than at the bottom with the base of the arm of the guard on at least one side of each of the slots being movable outwardly and restoring itself under the natural spring of its material.

Abstract: A corkscrew assembly of the self-pull type having a screw member and a holding member. The lower end of the screw member is adapted to be inserted into a cork and an upper end secured to a handle by which the screw member can be rotated. The holding member has a body formed with a bore to loosely receive the screw and a pair of arms adapted to engage a bottle. The lower part of the handle has a projecting portion that snap fits into the bore of the holding member to retain the members together against inadvertent separation.