Abstract: A cooking appliance having an upper cooking unit pivotally mounted on a lower cooking unit for rotation substantially about a horizontal axis into three different positions, a first position in which the upper cooking unit is on top of the lower cooking unit to form a contact grill, a second position in which the upper cooking unit is substantially horizontally oriented with and parallel to the lower cooking unit to form therewith a double grooved griddle, and a third, generally upright, position intermediate the first and second positions to provide access to the lower cooking plate when the appliance is being used as a contact grill.

Abstract: A can opener for severing a lid from a can. The can opener includes a housing having a shape generally in the form of a semi-sphere. The housing has a semispherical shell and an opposing working face. A cutting mechanism is positioned on the working face for movement along a circumference of the lid to sever the lid from the can. A drive mechanism is mounted to the housing for moving the can opener relative to the can.

Abstract: Anti-jam J-bar structure for handling workpieces, such as lumber, in a workpiece transport system, such as a lumber sorter. Workpieces travel in a single, common flow direction in the system, and are handed-off through a transfer zone between upstream and downstream conveyors, the latter one of which is equipped with the proposed J-bar structure. The J-bars in this structure include spring-biased, pivoted articulation between inner and outer components, and this articulation allows anti-jam yielding and accommodation to occur should a J-bar inadvertently and incorrectly engage a workpiece.

Abstract: A surgical alignment device is shown that is controlled remotely through the use of an actuator, where the actuator in turn controls at least one local adjustment device. The alignment device is suited for neurosurgery, although it is not exclusively limited to neurosurgery. The alignment device includes an insertion guide that is coupled to the local adjustment device, the insertion guide being used to guide a device such as a catheter into a patient. The alignment device may also be coupled to a control module such as a microcomputer that controls the orientation of the insertion guide in response to inputs from the surgeon as to a location of interest within the patient.

Abstract: A coffee maker has a housing having an upstanding tower, a carafe support platform extending horizontally forward from the lower end of the tower, and a fixed, tubular filter basket support extending horizontally forward from the upper end of the housing above the platform. A horizontal filter basket cover, including a water spreader, is disposed above the filter basket support and carried by the housing for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A cover pivotal about a horizontal axis is provided over a water reservoir defined by the housing. A valve mechanism is provided that operates upon pivoting of the filter basket cover to selectively permit heated water to be supplied to the water spreader, thereby preventing burns or the like from heated water when the water spreader is not located above the filter basket support. The coffee maker also includes an electronic controller having a control pad on the front surface of the housing platform.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having an upper cooking unit pivotally mounted on a lower cooking unit for rotation substantially about a horizontal axis into three different positions, a first position in which the upper cooking unit is on top of the lower cooking unit to form a contact grill, a second position in which the upper cooking unit is substantially horizontally oriented with and parallel to the lower cooking unit to form therewith a double grooved griddle, and a third, generally upright, position intermediate the first and second positions to provide access to the lower cooking plate when the appliance is being used as a contact grill. The cooking plates have elongate grooves which are generally parallel to an axis of the hinge that connects the upper and lower cooking units together and which grooves increase in depth from one side of the cooking appliance to the other for carrying liquid cooking byproducts away from the food being cooked.

Abstract: A household electric can opener operable by vertical movements of a control button. The can opener has an easily removable assembly that includes all of the exposed operating parts, including a cutting blade, a can drive wheel, the control button, and a lid magnet assembly. The entire removable cutter assembly is water immersible or machine washable for improved sanitation.

Abstract: A steam iron having an electronic module with a reset switch in the upper portions of the iron handle covered by a top cover. The top cover includes a plastic body having a reset plate formed integrally therewith and partly surrounded by an opening in the top cover. A pliant overmold covers a portion of the plastic body and extends through the opening to confine the top and bottom of the reset plate, restricting movements of the plate but permitting limited movements thereof. During manufacture of the steam iron, a boss at the rearward end of the top cover is inserted into a bearing on the handle and spring fingers at the forward end of the handle are pushed downwardly along sloping surfaces of a circular flange on the handle, the spring fingers snapping outwardly when they reach the bottom of the circular flange to secure the top cover to the handle.