Abstract: The present invention relates to a lid for a container, which lid is capable of sealing and being removed from the container through simply rotating a handle mounted on the lid. The lid comprises two parts to provide the ease of cleaning of the lid. The two parts of the lid can be conveniently disassembled by pushing at least one locking plate provided on the lid, and can be easily re-assembled. The present invention also provides a sealing ring which provides better sealing effect and easier mounting. A container comprising the sealable lid and the sealing ring is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a whisk comprising a whisk member, which whisk member is transformable between an expanded spiral configuration, which is suitable to be used in a deep container, and a substantially flat configuration, which is suitable to be used in a shallow container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cheese slicer adjustable for slicing cheese in variable thicknesses, comprising a handle; a guiding plate pivotally connected to the handle; a slicing plate having a slicing blade, wherein the slicing blade and the guiding plate together define a gap as slice thickness; a linkage movably resting against the guiding plate so that the movement of the linkage enables the guiding plate to pivot around the handle relative to the slicing blade thereby to provide variable slice thickness for the item to be sliced; an actuator assembly in operative connection with the linkage to move the linkage on the guiding plate. The cheese slicer of the present invention further comprises an indicating mechanism to clearly indicate the selected thickness of the sliced cheese.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cheese slicer adjustable for slicing cheese in variable thicknesses, comprising a handle; a guiding plate pivotally connected to the handle; a slicing plate having a slicing blade, wherein the slicing blade and the guiding plate together define a gap as slice thickness; a linkage movably resting against the guiding plate so that the movement of the linkage enables the guiding plate to pivot around the handle relative to the slicing blade thereby to provide variable slice thickness for the item to be sliced; an actuator assembly in operative connection with the linkage to move the linkage on the guiding plate. The cheese slicer of the present invention further comprises an indicating mechanism to clearly indicate the selected thickness of the sliced cheese.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a condiment mill capable of separately accommodating and grinding two condiments depending on the axial position of the means for driving the grinding mechanisms of the two condiments and independent of the direction of the rotation of the cover part. The condiment mill of the present invention also comprises an indicator mechanism to clearly indicate which one of the condiments is being ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool for preparing an avocado, which comprises a scoop and a slicer. The tool is transformable between a first state in which the scoop and the slicer are positioned at a same end of the tool and used cooperatively to scoop and slice the pulp of the avocado simultaneously, and a second state in which the scoop and the slicer are positioned at opposite ends of the tool and used separately.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a whisk comprising a whisk member, which whisk member is transformable between an expanded spiral configuration, which is suitable to be used in a deep container, and a substantially flat configuration, which is suitable to be used in a shallow container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mandolin slicer adjustable for slicing item in variable thicknesses and variable shapes, wherein the adjustment is enabled by a ballpoint pen ratchet mechanism provided on the mandolin slicer. The mandolin slicer of the present invention further comprises an indicating mechanism to clearly indicate the selected thickness and shape of the sliced item.

Abstract: A salad spinner is disclosed, comprising an outer bowl; an inner basket receivable in the outer bowl; a lid placed over the outer bowl; a drive and brake mechanism combination comprising a rotary drive plate, a drive assembly engageable with the rotary drive plate, and a brake assembly; and a foldable handle operatively connected with the drive and brake mechanism combination, wherein the handle is allowed to be folded up to a locked position where the brake assembly interferes with the rotary drive plate to prevent spinning operation of the inner basket, and to be opened to an unlocked position where the brake assembly disengages from the rotary drive plate and manipulation of the handle in a horizontal direction enables the drive assembly to cause rotation of the driving rotation of the rotary drive plate and the inner basket.

Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signaling information (SU), or only signaling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronizing clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P). The formats and protocols satisfy the requirements of a high data rate satellite communications system.

Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signalling information (SU), or only signalling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronising clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P).

Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signalling information (SU), or only signalling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronizing clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P). The formats and protocols satisfy the requirements of a high data rate satellite communications system.

Abstract: In a radio frequency communications system, a data carrier activation method is implemented such that the carrier is switched off when no data is available for transmission. If repeated signalling information is required to be transmitted, only a predetermined number of repeats is transmitted before the carrier is switched off. The data input for transmission are compared with an idle sequence with different bit alignments to detect the presence of idle signalling, and the carrier is switched off if a match is found. When more user data is received, the carrier is switched on and frames (SM) are transmitted in synchronization with the timing of frames (SM) transmitted before the carrier deactivation. After carrier reactivation, a constant power preamble (P) may be transmitted to assist in level control in the transmitter (27; 40).

Abstract: Data is transmitted in a signal comprising a data signal D.sub.m at a frequency within a range B of discrete frequency tones D.sub.0 to D.sub.m-1 representing a predetermined range of digital values, and a pilot signal (36, 37). The signal is received by a circuit comprising a transformer (44 to 54) which transforms the received signal into a set of frequency samples of the pilot signal and a set of frequency samples of the data signal. The samples are input to a correlator (58) which correlates the set of frequency samples of the pilot signal with the set of frequency samples of the data signal at each of the discrete frequency tones in order to identify the discrete frequency tone to which the frequency of the data signal corresponds. In this way, the digital value represented by the data signal can be identified. The circuit is suitable for use in a radio pager for receiving data signal transmissions from a distant source which may be transmitted from a satellite.