Abstract: A blender includes a housing with a lower portion and an intermediate portion, the lower portion being movable in relation to the intermediate portion to permit the housing to be extended during use. The housing encloses a motor and a shaft extending axially in the housing. The shaft has a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is coupled to and rotated by the motor, and the second part is slidably coupled to a blending blade structure. A coupler links the blending blade structure to the lower portion of the housing, to enable the blending blade structure to move axially in tandem with the lower portion of the housing.

Abstract: An improved toaster includes a user control panel for receiving and displaying user selections corresponding to a desired toast darkness setting. A toaster shade display displays a user selected toast darkness setting and includes a linear array of LEDs (LED bar), horizontally arranged on an exterior portion of the toaster body. The LEDs are sequentially turned on and off to indicate the user selected toast darkness setting, lighter or darker toast. The user control panel also contains preprogrammed custom settings for one-slice, two-slice, bagel, defrost and reheat mode of operation. A user can select a custom setting or any combination of custom settings thereof.