Abstract: A cooking appliance which includes a lower cooking unit, having a lower cooking surface facing upwards, and an upper cooking unit, having an upper cooking surface. The upper cooking unit is pivotably attached to the lower unit. The upper unit is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the upper cooking surface faces the lower cooking surface, and extends generally parallel thereto, and an open position, wherein the upper cooking surface is oriented at an angle greater than 30 degrees relative to the lower cooking surface. A support member is pivotably attached to the lower unit, and is pivotable between a first position, wherein the support member rests substantially flat against the lower unit, such that the cooking appliance rests level on an underlying surface, and a second position, wherein the support member projects angularly downwardly from the lower unit and onto the underlying surface, thereby inclining the lower cooking surface at an angle relative to the underlying surface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a small cooking appliance with a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. An uppermost cooking cavity is defined in the top housing and may be used to cook or heat a top food layer. The uppermost cooking cavity includes a floor that forms an uppermost cooking surface. The uppermost cooking cavity may an open top. In an alternative embodiment, the appliance may comprise a hinged or pivoting lid to selectively close off the open top of the uppermost cooking cavity. The uppermost cooking surface may be heated by one or more heating elements in the top housing. The appliance cooks a food item in an assembled manner save a top food layer of the food item needs to be manually removed from the uppermost cooking cavity and placed onto the other layers.

Abstract: An appliance for cooking a food item comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a cooking assembly. The cooking assembly comprises a top heated plate, a bottom heated plate, and a center ring therebetween. The top heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a top cooking cavity is selectively formed by the top heated plate and the top housing when the top housing is in a closed position. The bottom heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a bottom cooking cavity is selectively formed by the bottom housing and the bottom heated plate. A center cooking cavity is selectively formed by the top heated plate, the center ring, and the bottom heated plate when the top and bottom heated plates are in their respective closed positions.

Abstract: A grill includes a cooking unit defining a heating cavity for receiving and heating foodstuff. A base supports the cooking unit above a support surface. The base includes a first side baffle and an opposing second side baffle. The first and second side baffles are movable between a compact configuration, wherein the first and second side baffles extend generally parallel to the support surface, and an expanded configuration, wherein the first and second side baffles extend generally perpendicularly to the support surface.

Abstract: A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a cooking assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing is movably attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The cooking assembly is positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position. The cooking assembly comprises a top cooking assembly portion, a bottom cooking assembly portion and a center cooking plate therebetween.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing to heat or cool the cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container. The lid has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface. At least one handle is pivotally mounted to one of the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing and the exterior surface of the lid. The handle is pivotable between an engaged position to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim and disengage position to permit the lid to be removed from the container rim.

Abstract: A method for operating a hot beverage maker includes the steps of infusing fresh water and storing the resulting beverage in a removable brewed beverage tank. An actuator is engaged for dispensing the brewed beverage from the tank. The tank is placed on a platform in a relationship so as to engage a warmer plate to keep the contents of the tank warm. Accordingly, the hot beverage maker produces a brewed beverage that is stored in the tank until it is dispensed by a user.

Abstract: A storage case is removably attachable to a hand mixer for mixing foodstuffs. The storage case includes a bottom wall that extends generally parallel to a bottom surface of the hand mixer when the storage case is attached to the hand mixer. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing side walls extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall of the storage case. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing end walls each extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall and the side walls of the storage case. At least a portion of one of the walls of the storage case is pivotally attached by a hinge. The bottom wall, side walls and end walls in combination with the bottom wall generally define a cavity for storing at least one mixing tool therein.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing to heat or cool the cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container. The lid has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface. At least one handle is pivotally mounted to one of the exterior surface of the side wall of the housing and the exterior surface of the lid. The handle is pivotable between an engaged position to retain the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim and disengage position to permit the lid to be removed from the container rim.

Abstract: A toaster oven comprises a housing, an opening defined in the housing, and a door. The housing comprises an upper panel, a bottom panel, and opposing side panels together defining a food cavity. The door is movably affixed to the housing and selectively movable between a closed position closing off the opening thereby blocking access to the food cavity and an open position enabling access to the food cavity. The door has a front panel and opposing side panels. A portion of a front edge of at least one side panel of the housing is recessed back from the front panel of the door when the door is in the closed position. The recessed portion of the front edge of at least one side panel of the housing is enclosed by the corresponding side panel of the door when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface. The top housing is movably attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The ring assembly is positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position. The ring assembly comprises a top ring, a bottom ring, and a center cooking plate. The center cooking plate is adapted to be removably inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring such that a space defined by the ring assembly is divided into top and bottom cooking cavities when the center cooking plate is inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a housing defining a cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing. A container is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover an opening of the container. A handle is pivotally mounted to an exterior surface of the side wall of the housing. A first end of the handle is pivotally mounted to the side wall of the housing at a first location. An opposing second end of the handle is pivotally mounted to side wall of the housing at a second location diametrically opposed to the first location. The handle is pivotable between an engaged position which at least a portion of the handle retains the lid in sealing engagement with the container rim and disengage position in which the portion of the handle is spaced-apart from the lid.

Abstract: A storage case is removably attachable to a hand mixer for mixing foodstuffs. The storage case includes a bottom wall that extends generally parallel to a bottom surface of the hand mixer when the storage case is attached to the hand mixer. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing side walls extend generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall of the storage case. A pair of spaced-apart and generally opposing end walls each extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom wall and the side walls of the storage case. At least a portion of one of the walls of the storage case is pivotally attached by a hinge. The bottom wall, side walls and end walls in combination with the bottom wall generally define a cavity for storing at least one mixing tool therein.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity. The housing has a housing rim defining an opening to the cavity. A heating or cooling element is disposed within the housing to heat or cool the cavity. A container has a generally hollow interior and a container rim. A lid is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the opening of the container when placed on the container. The lid has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface. At least one latching mechanism or handle is operable to seal the contents of the appliance within the appliance.

Abstract: A grill includes a cooking unit defining a heating cavity for receiving and heating foodstuff. A base supports the cooking unit above a support surface. The base includes a first side baffle and an opposing second side baffle. Each baffle includes a first plate pivotally attached to a second plate. The plates are pivotable between a first configuration in which the plates extend generally parallel to one another and the support surface and a second configuration in which the plates extend generally parallel to and abutting one another and generally perpendicularly to the support surface to form a side baffle. A lid is pivotally attached to at least a portion of the cooking unit to selectively open and close the heating cavity.

Abstract: A method for operating a hot beverage maker includes the steps of infusing fresh water and storing the resulting beverage in a removable brewed beverage tank. An actuator is engaged for dispensing the brewed beverage from the tank. The tank is placed on a platform in a relationship so as to engage a warmer plate to keep the contents of the tank warm. Accordingly, the hot beverage maker produces a brewed beverage that is stored in the tank until it is dispensed by a user.