Abstract: An electric appliance is capable of receiving voltage from an energy source. The appliance includes a battery, a load element that is operable from the battery or the energy source, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a variable resistance element that can be adjusted so that voltage received from the energy source does not drop below a predetermined minimum voltage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an appliance for oral hygiene, in particular an oral irrigating apparatus 10, comprising a hand-held unit 12 and a base unit 14 interconnected by a fluid conducting hose 19 and electrical conductors 21, 23. By means of an operating means 33 arranged on the handle section 28 of the hand-held unit 12, two operating parameters, particularly the On/Off state and the jet pressure of the oral irrigating apparatus 10, can be varied.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an alarm shut-off device for an alarm clock or timer permitting a signal delivered by the clock to be interupted or to be cancelled in that the user of the clock approaches the clock or merely moves a part of his body, for example, his hand, towards the clock. Preferably, the clock is equipped with a transmitter 2, 2' emitting infrared radiation or ultrasonic waves and a corresponding receiver 3, 3' which detects the infrared radiation or the ultasonic waves reflected by the moved body part 1. A signal shaping network 4, 5 and 6 determines the variation of the intensity with time, which variation is compared in a threshold switching stage 7 with a predeterminable value which, when exceeded, causes the alarm signal A to be shut off.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based clock which has both a current time digital display and an alarm time digital display, as well as controls for setting both the current time and the alarm time either ahead or backward at selectable rates such that a single knob provides rapid setting of the setting time and a single knob provides rapid setting of the alarm time. An improved regulating circuit provides the microprocessor with a first substantially constant DC voltage and a second DC voltage limited to a given magnitude. User-accessable controls are provided for effecting a snooze alarm function, alarm setting and for disarming the alarm function for a relatively long period of time, e.g., for 24 hours. One of the controls includes strips bridgable by a conductive member such as a finger.