Abstract: A dedicated, sealed driven shaft assembly (28, 30) is mounted in a sealing manner to the floor (24) of a food processor bowl (14). The driven shaft (30) is adapted on one end to engage the motor drive shaft (20) when the bowl is mounted on the base (12). The other end of the driven shaft (30) is adapted to receive one of a plurality of blades (36) and specialized blade attachments.

Abstract: There is provided a coffee maker having a housing with a lid and a base, a control panel for operating the coffee maker, a coffee dispenser, an actuator for dispensing the coffee into a cup or container and a removable drip tray to catch any spilling of the coffee. Within the coffee maker is a fresh water reservoir to hold water to be heated, a heater to heat the water, a filter basket to hold the coffee grinds to be brewed, a water spreader to distribute the heated water into the filter basket, and a brewed coffee reservoir to hold the brewed coffee that drips from the filter basket. A secondary heater can be located within the brewed coffee reservoir to keep the brewed coffee warm. The coffee maker features a mechanical coffee level indicator. The indicator consists of a pivoted arm, a float and an indication gauge. The gauge is located on the front panel of the coffee maker and indicates how much coffee remains in the coffee holding reservoir.

Abstract: A grind and brew coffee making apparatus for providing freshly brewed coffee and having a number of features for easy cleaning, more efficient maintenance and improved safety. The coffee making apparatus has a housing assembly with an upper separable top cover, a grinding assembly with a removable grinding chamber and separable grinding chamber cover, a brewing assembly with a removable brew basket and separable brew basket cover, a control assembly with a safety lock mechanism and a control panel for providing a user with control over the various operations of the coffee making apparatus.

Abstract: A container is provided. The container has a cover that remains thermally, sealingly engaged with the container during the filling and dispensing of the container, and has filling and dispensing channels that are thermally sealed when not in use.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a food processing appliance having a cover that cooperates with a working bowl or container, which in turn cooperates with an operating and/or control base. The cover has an ingress area, and the operating base has a rotatable processing tool with one or more peripheral impact regions. The cover assembly may also have an accessory for cooperating with the ingress area. The accessory and cover may be operatively connected to a safety system associated with the food processing appliance. In operation, the ingress area of the cover overlies the one or more impact regions of the processing tool without overlying the center of rotation thereof, and at least substantially overlies an impact region at the outermost periphery of the diameter of the processing tool.

Abstract: An optical safety interlock is provided for operating a control circuit or control switch that enables operator activation of an electrical appliance such as a food processor. The optical interlock has an emitter for emitting a signal, a detector for detecting the emitted signal, a reflector for relaying the emitted signal to the detector, and an actuator for selectively positioning the reflector in two or more positions. The emitter, detector, and reflector cooperate to close the control switch when the safety interlock is satisfied. The actuator cooperates with the reflector to selectively satisfy the safety interlock.

Abstract: A coffee maker includes a water reservoir, a heater coupled to the water reservoir, a conduit coupled to the heater, a coffee filter holder, a condensate chamber for channeling steam condensate to the water reservoir, and a fluid distributor operatively connected between the conduit, filter holder and condensate chamber. The fluid distributor channels hot water from the conduit to the filter holder and collects and condenses steam produced from the filter holder and conduit, thus preventing escape of steam into the interior of the coffee maker.