Abstract: The tea bag squeezing device includes a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being symmetrically bisected by at least one joint. The joint(s) preferably extends across a symmetrical axis of the planar body such that the planar body may be selectively folded about the joint. A central aperture is further formed through the planar body and the joint. The central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that, in use, the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body. When folded, the tea bag is sandwiched inside the folded planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when lateral pressure is applied by the user's fingers to the opposed upper surfaces of the planar body.

Abstract: A decorative branch extension comprising an elongate stem which supports decorations along the length of the stem and further comprising a flexible circular ring at the end of the stem having an open section of arc to receive the center pole or trunk of a tree.

Abstract: A foldable handle for a cook-pot including a bracket attached to the cook-pot, a handle member, a lock member and a bracing link member. The handle member has an upper end portion pivotally connected to the bracket, and opposed first and second sidewalls, each with an upper opening located in the upper end portion of the handle member and a lower opening located in a lower end portion of the handle member. The handle member has a guide channel with a lock member slidably disposed therein for movement between the upper and lower end portions of the handle member. First and second resiliently flexible members each having a projection for removably fitting within corresponding upper and lower openings of the first and second sidewalls. The link member has a first end rotatable retained by the bracket, and a second end rotatably attached to the lock member.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is directed to a slow cooker accessory comprised of a receptacle configured to fit within existing slow cooker vessels, wherein the receptacle has a walled body with a plurality of openings, an open end with a rim, and handles that engage the slow cooker vessel. The disclosed cooking accessory enables a method of separating food into desired configurations for the duration of the cooking time. The invention also enables food to be easily removed from cooking liquids, juices, and fats at any time during the cooking process.

Abstract: An apparatus for cold brewing coffee includes a filter insert, a filter frame receiving the filter insert therein and a barrel receiving the filter frame and the filter insert, wherein the filter insert has a stainless steel mesh cylindrical side wall and a stainless steel mesh flat bottom perpendicular to the side wall. The filter frame has a perforated cylindrical side wall and a perforated flat bottom, wherein the perforated cylindrical side wall is arranged coaxially with the stainless steel mesh cylindrical side wall of the filter insert.

Abstract: A beverage cartridge system is adapted to brew a beverage through a brewer having a holder adapted to receive the cartridge system. The holder may have a deep well with one or more needles therewithin to pierce through the bottom of the cartridge system when inserted into the well. The cartridge system may include a short cup and a tall cup, where the tall cup is taller than the short cup to pack more beverage grind. The cartridge system may include a filter within an outer cup. The bottom of the filter may be deep enough to be juxtaposed to the bottom of the cup. The filter may be formed from a material that is substantially resistant to piercing by the needle within the holder such that when the outlet needle pierces through the bottom of the cup, the outlet needle raises the filter at a point of contact, and the filter substantially resists the outlet needle from piercing through the filter during a brewing process.

Abstract: A device (1) for frothing a liquid comprises a settling chamber (10) providing space (11) in the device (1) for liquid froth to be formed during operation of the device (1); an inlet (20) for letting in liquid to be frothed to the device (1); an inlet (30) for letting in steam to the device (1) for realizing a pumping effect on the liquid to be frothed and thereby forming a steam/liquid flow to be supplied to the settling chamber (10); a combined inlet/outlet (40) for letting in frothing gas to the device (1) for frothing the liquid and letting out liquid froth from the settling chamber (10); and an obstacle (50) arranged in the device (1) for determining a position in the device (1) where frothing gas that is let in to the device (1) during operation of the device (1) encounters the steam/liquid flow.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for manufacturing exothermic ceramics for a microwave oven and exothermic ceramics for microwaves. In particular, provided is a method for manufacturing exothermic ceramics for a microwave oven, in which the exothermic ceramics are formed by mixing a ceramic body, such as clay, plastic clay or soil, with an exothermic element prepared by combining at least one selected from silicon carbide, carbon ferrite and iron oxide, which are exothermic components. Accordingly, the exothermic ceramics of the present invention can minimize a sense of difference between the exothermic element and the ceramic body component, which is raw material for ceramics, thereby being capable of emitting high-temperature heat in a short time by means of microwaves as well as maintaining stability in the shape. Furthermore, due to integral forming, the exothermic ceramics have an enhanced elegant design.

Abstract: Cookware includes a lid having a handle with a utensil rest, and which is less messy than known devices. Utensil rest includes a utensil handle securing element which holds a utensil handle, and utensil rest likewise includes a utensil resting portion on which utensil handle and working end of the utensil may lie in a rest position. Utensil handle securing element may include a slot, which may extend lengthwise along the lid handle. Lid handle may include an upwardly extending region and an inwardly extending portion extending toward the center of the lid. The utensil rest portion may include a utensil handle rest element on a free end of inwardly extending portion, and a utensil working end rest element as well as a utensil handle securing element on upwardly extending region of utensil handle. Utensil rest may be used for spoons, forks, and knives of a variety of shapes.

Abstract: A warming device that heats and agitates a container. The warming device has a housing having an enclosed chamber and a concentric warming chamber adapted to receive a first fluid. A concentric basket is provided that is adapted to fit within the warming chamber. The concentric basket secures the container partially submerged within the first fluid. At least one heating element is provided to heat the first fluid in the warming chamber to warm an exterior surface of the container. A motor is provided to agitate and warm a second fluid in the container by rotating the concentric basket at a predetermined rate. A control panel provides various signal instructions to the heating element and the motor.

Abstract: The present invention is more particularly concerned with a liquid dispensing device which is connected to a means for capturing a design and then dispensing the liquid on to a cooking surface to form a foodstuff of said design and a means to control the flowrate of the batter and location of the batter dispenser and the batter deposit to result in a desired shape and size of the foodstuff. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus is used in connection with pancake batter to make pancakes (griddlecakes) in any design that the user would desire.

Abstract: An outdoor grill assembly with a cooking grate therein. The cooking grate can be a one-piece structure but is preferably a two-piece structure wherein the upper piece comprises longitudinally extending food support ribs having hollow interiors. The ribs will be positioned over and cover open areas in the lower structure so that combustion gases flowing through the open areas of the lower structure will flow into the hollow interiors of the food support ribs.

Abstract: A grill device includes a coupling mechanism having first and second ratchet teeth that cooperate to permit movement of an upper grill unit in a first direction for uncovering a lower grill unit, and to resist movement of the upper grill unit relative to the lower grill unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: The deep fryer has a frying basin having four lateral walls and a bottom wall having at least one drain, the four lateral walls being arranged in a rectangular cross-section configuration, and the bottom wall has a funnel shape to entrain oil contained therein to the at least one drain during oil drainage; an oil line leading from a drain to an oil recirculation aperture leading back into the frying basin; a filter and a recirculation pump provided within the oil line in a manner for the pump to be operable to pump the drained oil across the filter and to the recirculation aperture. The action of the pump cooperates with the shape of the bottom wall of the frying basin to clean the bottom wall of the frying basin from batter crumbs and to entrain the batter crumbs to the filter when required.

Abstract: A grinding unit having a ring burr and a frustoconical burr that together delimit a grinding gap therebetween. A first angle between a first subset of curved teeth of the frustoconical burr and the first curved teeth of the ring burr provides a grinding gap having an angle smaller than a second angle between a second subset of curved teeth of the frustoconical burr and the first curved teeth of the ring burr. A geometrical outline taken through the cusps of the second curved teeth at the top end face of the frustoconical burr opposite the base is a square or rectangle. This grinding unit produces a ground product, such as ground coffee beans, with fewer turns than known grinding units and with less effort. The properties and qualities of the resulting ground products are superior to those obtained with conventional grinding units because flavour and aroma are retained.

Abstract: A coffee beans grinder includes a main body, a dispensing component, a blade unit for grinding coffee beans having a first blade element and a second blade element facing the first blade element, and a dispensing element provided in the dispensing component for feeding coffee beans to a grinding space defined between the first blade element and the second blade element. The first blade element is provided in the main body, and the second blade element is provided in the dispensing component. The dispensing component is removably attached to the main body with a manually-operable engagement element. The second blade element faces the first blade element to define the grinding space therebetween with the dispensing component being attached to the main body with the manually-operable engagement element.

Abstract: A device for use in a blender comprises a rotatably arranged tool (10) for moving through food to be processed by means of the blender, and a tool cage (20) for partially covering the tool (10). The tool cage (20) is shaped like a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an inner surface (24) with exclusively non-convex areas, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the tool cage (20) deviates from a circular shape and has at least one protruding area which is outside of an imaginary circle being centrally positioned about the longitudinal axis and touching the inner surface (24) while having a minimum radius. The inner surface (24) of the tool cage (20) may have a triangular shape or a square shape about the longitudinal axis. A dimensionless characteristic value and a range for the value are defined for predicting quality of performance of the device.

Abstract: A blender jar for a household type blender. The blender includes a jar and a blender blade assembly provided rotatably around a rotary axis at a bottom of the blender jar. The rotary axis is tilted from a normal axis of a working surface used for operating the blender jar thereon in ordinary use, and the bottom of the blender jar at which the blender blade assembly is positioned has a flat surface configuration.

Abstract: A blender system with a shearing blade assembly is shown and described. The blender system may include a container and a shear blending assembly attached thereto. The shear blending assembly may include a cutting blade, a shearing blade, a shear mechanism, and bearings operably coupled with a blending base. The shearing blade may force foodstuff through apertures of the shearing mechanism. The foodstuff may be drawn through a cut path of the cutting blade. The cutting blade may cut the foodstuff.

Abstract: A food dispensing device or system which dispenses food extracted from pre-packaged food containers is described. One or more food extraction mechanisms retrieve food from storage containers. The food can be packaged and dispensed to a user for subsequent preparation.

Abstract: A combination food and beverage carrier, and method of manufacturing and assembling the carrier, is disclosed. The combination food and beverage carrier includes a sleeve and a food carrier connected to the sleeve. The sleeve has a tapered configuration. The food carrier has a plurality of sides and a base connected to one of the sides and having at least one tab that engages with a corresponding aperture in another one of the sides.

Abstract: An adjustable rack system that is adjustable in length as well as in width. The adjustable rack system may be used to vertically stack and display or store pies or other food or non-food items. The adjustable rack system comprises at least to support members that may be positioned parallel to each other. Each support member comprise a pair of top sliding rails, a pair of bottom sliding rails, and a pair of vertical supports, each vertical support used to couple one of the top sliding rails to a corresponding bottom rail.

Abstract: An inexpensive and simple to manufacture holder for inverted bottles or containers of different sizes, shapes, and materials is described. The holder comprises a housing, a base, and at least one aperture. The housing includes an opening at the top adapted in size to receive and support the container in a stable position. The housing also includes a bottom that connects to a base which rests on a surface and supports the housing. The apertures are located on or near the bottom of the housing to allow water to drain from the housing when the apparatus is resting on the surface of, for example, a shower or bathtub.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating a shower or bath enclosure, in which, given a predetermined area in which to create the shower or bath, a given prefabricated water proof bath or shower floor module is too small to occupy the entire available enclosure space. The apparatus includes the use of one or more additional enclosure components, such as one or more shower benches, to occupy a space between an edge or edges of the floor module and the exterior boundary(ies) of the enclosure space.

Abstract: A scrubbing device simplifies the task of cleaning a person's body. The device includes a housing unit. The housing unit includes a main housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending between the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall has an opening positioned therein defining a compartment extending downwardly into the top wall. The compartment stores soap therein. A handle is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end of the handle is coupled to the housing unit. A brush is coupled to and extends downwardly from the bottom wall of the main housing. A plurality of holes is positioned in the bottom wall between the compartment and the brush wherein the holes are configured to dispense the soap from the compartment outwardly to the brush.

Abstract: An absorbent sheet products strip, the strip including a continuous succession of individual absorbent sheets separated from each other by tear lines. The absorbent sheets are made of at least two plies bonded together by bonding points or lines or curves forming pattern units. Multiple pattern units are distributed all over a surface of the individual absorbent sheets such that the pattern units of one individual absorbent sheet does not superpose with other pattern units of a determined number of successive individual absorbent sheets in the strip when said successive individual absorbent sheets are disposed on each other.

Abstract: A toilet seat cover with an easily assembled and detached child seat includes an upper lid, a parent seat and a child seat. Two fixing shafts are respectively sleeved on two parent shaft sleeves. Two pins of two supports and the two fixing shafts are radially held with each other. Each of the two fixing shafts is axially inserted by a cylindrical shaft post. Two elastic c-shaped rings are respectively disposed at two ends of a child shaft sleeve and radially sleeved on the shaft post. At least one end of the child shaft sleeve disposes a central shaft which is radially inserted into a directional slot. When the child seat is not needed, the shaft post can be removed from the fixing shaft to attain a toilet seat cover with a common appearance.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly. The cyclone bin assembly comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may extend under at least a portion of the suction motor. The suction motor may be oriented at an angle to a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly. The suction motor is oriented at an angle to a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the main body. The actuator for unlocking the cyclone bin assembly is provided on the cyclone bin assembly.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the main body. The cyclone bin assembly may be partially or wholly nested in the body when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the body. The cyclone bin assembly may be removably mounted to a lower surface of the main body. The cyclone bin assembly may be removably mounted as a sealed unit.

Abstract: A construction dust and debris collecting attachment device for a vacuum may include a shell with an interior housing. The shell may have a plurality of holes. The plurality of holes may a drill and arbor port, a vacuum port, and a plurality of dilution holes. A vacuum fitting may removably attach to the vacuum port on the shell. The shell may be a half spherical shape. When producing a hole, the device may allow one person to drill the hole while controlling the dust and debris within the shell, and in turn collected into the vacuum.

Abstract: Provided is a self-propelled electronic device in which performance for running over a level difference of a floor surface of a room is improved.

Abstract: A robot vacuum cleaner includes a housing and a brush roller disposed at a bottom of the housing. The brush roller is configured to be rotatable about a horizontal axle. A blade is disposed above the brush roller in stationary relation with respect to the housing. The horizontal axle is adjustable in height relative to the housing. The brush roller is spaced away from the blade in a lower position and is in engagement with the blade in an upper position.

Abstract: A machine for treating a surface lying in an XY plane. The machine includes a body, a body plate, a cleaning plate, a drive assembly and an attachment assembly. The cleaning plate is located between the body plate and the XY plane. The drive assembly is connected to the cleaning plate to drive the cleaning plate with a cleaning vibration in an oscillating pattern parallel to the XY plane. The attachment assembly flexibly attaches the cleaning plate to the body plate to permit the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to isolate the cleaning vibration from the body. A connector is attached to the body for connecting to a member, such as a handle, to move the machine in the XY plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a maintenance item for cleaning a floor surface, the item comprising a front portion and a rear portion in line with each other and having respective top and bottom faces, said bottom faces defining a “cleaning” surface, the front portion includes, projecting from its bottom face, microfibers and scraping fibers of linear density greater than 1 dtex, and the rear portion includes, projecting from its bottom face, microfibers, and possibly also scraping fibers of linear density greater than 1 dtex, the mean linear density T1 (dtex) of the microfibers and of the scraping fibers on said bottom face of the front portion being greater than or equal to 0.5 dtex, and the mean linear density T2 (dtex) of the microfibers, and optionally of the scraping fibers, on said bottom face of the rear portion being less than or equal to 2 dtex, and in that the mean linear density T1 (dtex) is different from the mean linear density T2 (dtex).

Abstract: A pad mop with a mop handle, a mop head and a mop pad. The mop head or a mop head attachment includes a cleaning material holder for holding cleaning material dispensed around the mop head. The mop head attachment includes a casing open at both ends and configured to fit around the mop head and pad. Alternatively the mop head attachment includes a flat casing with a hole in the middle to slip over a mop handle and/or a U-joint and attach to the top of the mop head. The cleaning material holder can be formed as a recess in a bumper extending from the casing. A roll of cleaning material with perforations dividing the material into individual sheets includes slits for engaging posts or one or more elongate teeth on one or more opposing sides of the casing.

Abstract: The object of this invention is a valve body of a cleaning appliance, specifically a dosing device, whose valve body can open and close the inlet and outlet pipes of the dosing chamber of said dosing device, to release a correct amount of detergent for soaking a cleaning cloth.

Abstract: A method of controlling a dishwasher including washing dishes using washing water in which a detergent is dissolved, draining the washing water in which the detergent is dissolved, first rinsing the dishes using washing water in which no detergent is dissolved, and second rinsing the dishes using washing water in which a descaling agent is dissolved. The dishwasher includes a tub which accommodates the dishes, and a sump which receives the washing water supplied into the tub, and the descaling agent is input during a process of supplying the washing water from the outside of the tub to the sump.

Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes: a tub which defines a space in which dishes are washed; a sump which accommodates washing water to be supplied into the tub; and a descaling solution supply device which supplies a descaling solution to the sump, in which the descaling solution supply device includes: a main flow path which guides washing water to be supplied to the sump; a solution accommodating unit which accommodates a descaling agent and has a solution outlet through which washing water, in which the descaling agent is dissolved, is discharged to the main flow path; a solution discharge valve which opens and closes the solution outlet; and a branch flow path which branches off from the main flow path, supplies the washing water into the solution accommodating unit, and has an atmosphere communicating port that communicates with the atmosphere.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a cabinet having a tub, a pump and at least one spray arm. The at least one spray arm has a flow path guide and first and second flow channels separated from each other. The flow path guide has a first opening to allow wash water to flow to the first flow channel and a second opening to allow wash water to flow to the second flow channel. A valve is coupled to the flow path guide and is configured to open or close one of the first opening and the second opening. The valve includes a rotatable float. The rotatable float closes the first opening while opening the second opening at a first point in time, and the rotatable float rotates to open the second opening while closing the second opening at a second point in time.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a cabinet, a tub providing a washing space, a sump located below the tub and providing a space in which the washing water is stored, racks provided inside the tub and providing a space in which washing targets are received, spray arms for spraying the washing water to the racks, a pump for supplying the washing water stored in the sump to the spray arms, and at least two insulating units for connecting the pump with the sump to allow the pump to be spaced apart from a bottom of the cabinet at a predetermined distance and attenuating transfer of vibration generated in the pump to the sump.

Abstract: A dispenser for a dishwasher having a wash tub includes a fluid reservoir to hold a treating chemistry, a lid operatively mounted to the fluid reservoir, and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a hydraulic actuator fluidly coupled to a fluid source and configured to initiate movement of the lid between its dosed and the open positions in response to fluid pressure applied to the actuator by the fluid source. The dispenser is configured to be mounted at more than one location in the wash tub.

Abstract: A dust suction device includes: a housing having a plurality of inlets for the inflow of impurities formed thereon and an inner region of which is independently divided; and resilient actuating members, provided inside the inlets, for opening or closing the inlets by pressure applied from the outside.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgery device that can easily acquire an image desired by a surgeon, and that has high operability. The endoscopic surgery device includes: an outer tube body that penetrates through a body wall to be inserted into a body cavity; an endoscope insertion path that is provided inside the outer tube body; a treatment tool insertion path that is provided inside the outer tube body; an endoscope drive unit that has a non-operating area where an endoscope insertion part inserted into the endoscope insertion path is not moved, and an operating area where the endoscope insertion part is moved; a position sensor that detects a movement amount of treatment tool insertion part with respect to the outer tube body; and a control unit that controls the endoscope drive unit in accordance with the movement amount of the treatment tool insertion part, detected by the position sensor.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a 3D dental restoration on a 2D image of the mouth of a patient, the method including obtaining a 3D dental model of at least a part of the patient's oral cavity, designing the 3D dental restoration, obtaining the 2D image of the mouth of the patient, estimating a virtual camera comprising at least one virtual camera property corresponding to at least one physical camera property of the physical camera used to obtain the 2D image, viewing the 3D dental restoration using the virtual camera, determining the visible area of the 3D dental restoration, which is not overlapped by surrounding anatomic features when viewed with the virtual camera, imaging the visible area of the 3D dental restoration with the 2D image. This provides an image which with high accuracy gives the dentist and the patient a visual presentation of the final result of a dental treatment.

Abstract: A method for examining the light and/or image transmission properties of an endoscopic or exoscopic system having the components endoscope or exoscope, light carrier, light source and camera, wherein at least the endoscope or exoscope is taken from a first supply quantity of endoscopes or exoscopes and/or at least the light carrier is taken from a second supply quantity of light carriers, wherein the endoscope or exoscope is provided with an identifier and/or the light carrier is provided with an identifier, wherein the identifier or the identifiers contain/s identification data that individualizes the respective endoscope or exoscope and/or the respective light carrier, wherein the components are connected to each other so as to be ready for operation in the form of a current component combination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wirelessly synchronizing operation of an image sensor of an endoscopic video camera unit having a wireless transmitter with operation of a portable endoscopic light source unit includes transmitting a message packet with a target camera shutter period, light source target phase/trigger time/OFF time and light source target ON time to the light source unit. The light source unit controls the start time and the ON time for light output by a light source. The video camera unit includes a light detector for detecting the actual light source start time and duration of light output to provide closed-loop feedback. A camera controller ensures synchronization between the shutter period of the image sensor and actual operation of the light source based on the actual phase and actual ON time sensed by the light detector and the previously communicated target phase/trigger time/OFF time and target ON time.

Abstract: An actuating member for making a flexible elongate member for medical use perform a predetermined action. The actuating member includes a push/pull member, an operating member, and a cam member. The push/pull member includes a first moving portion and a second moving portion, which are movable relative to each other. The push/pull member is pushed/pulled in conjunction with a movement of the first moving portion and the second moving portion. The operating member is rotatable about an axis in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the elongate member. The cam member moves the first moving portion and the second moving portion in conjunction with rotation of the operating member. The push/pull member makes the elongate member perform at least one of (i) an advance/retraction action and (ii) a bending action by transmitting the movement of the first moving portion and the second moving portion to the elongate member.