Abstract: A liquid heating device includes a liquid heating vessel and a ferromagnetic heating plate arranged to be located inside the vessel adjacent to the vessel base. The heating plate is arranged to be movable vertically away from the vessel base. An arrangement to lift the heating plate includes a thermally sensitive actuator. The heating plate is coupled to the thermally sensitive actuator. The thermally sensitive actuator includes a means to store energy, a steam chamber fluidly connected to the vessel, and a releasable latching mechanism for the actuator which incorporates a thermally sensitive device set to operate at a predetermined temperature when influenced by steam entering the steam chamber from the vessel. The thermally sensitive actuator further includes means to facilitate a manual intervention of the actuator's operation that permits a user to set or reset the actuator's position.

Abstract: A liquid heating device, for use with an induction hob, comprises a liquid heating vessel and a ferromagnetic heating plate (5) arranged to be located inside the vessel adjacent to the base (3) of the vessel. The ferromagnetic heating plate (5) is arranged to be movable vertically in a substantially perpendicular direction away from the base (3) of the vessel and return. An arrangement to lift the ferromagnetic heating plate comprises a thermally sensitive actuator (11, 12, 14, 15, 16), wherein the ferromagnetic heating plate (5) is mechanically coupled to the thermally sensitive actuator. The thermally sensitive actuator comprises a means to store energy (11), a steam chamber (13) fluidly connected to the vessel, and a releasable latching mechanism (15) for the actuator which incorporates a thermally sensitive device (14) set to operate at a predetermined temperature when influenced by the proximity of steam entering the steam chamber (13) from boiling water in the vessel.

Abstract: A steam generating appliance such as an electric iron comprises a base unit and a hand-held mobile unit which can be releasably coupled to the base unit. The base unit comprises a reservoir for water and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir into the mobile unit when the mobile unit is coupled to the base unit. The mobile unit comprises a boiler and an on-board reservoir for water, wherein the on-board reservoir is adapted to store water received from the base unit under pressure and to deliver the water to the boiler under the control of a user-operable valve.

Abstract: A steam generating appliance such as an electric iron comprises a base unit and a hand-held mobile unit which can be releasably coupled to the base unit. The base unit comprises a reservoir for water and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir into the mobile unit when the mobile unit is coupled to the base unit. The mobile unit comprises a boiler and an on-board reservoir for water, wherein the on-board reservoir is adapted to store water received from the base unit under pressure and to deliver the water to the boiler under the control of a user-operable valve.

Abstract: A steam generator e.g. for a hand-held portable appliance such as a domestic iron or steam cleaner comprises a water inlet, a boiler, a valve for controlling the entry of water into the boiler and means for delivering a surge of water to the boiler when the valve is opened. Also disclosed is an adaptor for supplying electrical power to a mobile electrical appliance. The adaptor is operable in a corded mode when secured to the appliance for supplying electrical power and water while the appliance is being used; or a cordless mode when secured to a base unit such that electrical and water connection can be made by placing the appliance on or against the base unit; and broken by lifting or moving the appliance away from the base unit.

Abstract: In the present invention relates to sock-like items of footwear commonly used in conjunction with outer articles of footwear such as shoes, boots and the like as an inner liner, in particular the liner is constructed with a durable padded sole, methods of constructing such liners are disclosed.

Abstract: Described is an arrangement for a double acting press, whereby a press is constructed with vertically opposed moving faces, both faces are capable of converging in a substantially parallel motion towards a predetermined point between them and then exert a compressive load. The press has a frame arrangement that contains the load. When a time period has elapsed the vertically opposed faces both diverge in a substantially parallel motion away from the predetermined point to a position from which they may begin the sequence again.