Abstract: A hanger apparatus includes a body having front and back sides both extending between top and bottom edges, and two spaced-apart lateral sides. The back side defines a backplane for positioning against a wall. The body has a hole inclined toward the bottom edge from the front toward the back to form a first angle ?1 within 15° to 75°. The body further defines a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel wire-receiving slots, each extending horizontally through both sidewalls across the middle portion of the front side and having a front side vertical width sized to allow picture hanging wire to be inserted into the slot from the front side. The wire-receiving slots further have a lower slot edge that is inclined toward the bottom edge extending from the front side toward the back side forming a second angle ?2 within 15° to 75°.

Abstract: A device is disclosed including a pot stand configured to hold a plant within a pot. The device includes a first platform configured to hold the pot and to permit runoff water from the pot to drain through the first platform and a second platform rigidly attached below the first platform holding a removable runoff collection container collecting water from the first platform, wherein the runoff collection container is removable without moving the pot.

Abstract: A lying system including at least one leveling chamber that can be filled with air. The lying system contains a lying side, which forms a lying surface, and a support side. The at least one leveling chamber that can be filled with air is part of a leveling device or forms part of a leveling device and can be filled with air in such a way that the lying system has locally different heights outside of the usage position. Thus, the support side can be at least partially adapted to the inclination and/or the unevenness of the ground, such that the lying surface is more even and/or less inclined than the ground in the usage position.

Abstract: A detachable storage container for a drinks container comprising of: a storage container comprising of a plurality of storage compartments; a plurality of lids, each lid attached to a compartment, each lid openable and closable, and a distinguishing mark on each lid; and a slide track on each side of the storage container to attach and detach to and from a drinks container; a drinks container comprising of a drinks container with a deep wide groove and slide tracks to attach and detach the detachable storage compartments; a drinks container with legs to support the drinks container in a lying position; and a removable cap with a partially flat surface to be used as a drinking cup.

Abstract: A 2-piece disposable lid assembly for a drinking cup enables unhindered drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The assembly includes a dispensing well formed in a drinking spout, and a flat insert supported by a plurality of baffles within the spout so as to form a horizontal channel through which beverage flows in a circuitous path around the baffles and into the dispensing well. A plurality of vent holes can allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes located near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed. Embodiments of the lid can also be used separately as a low-cost, 1-piece lid that reduces splashing. The flat insert is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and installation of the insert in the lid can be automated.

Abstract: A lid for a drinking cup enables drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling. The lid features a drinking spout having an outer wall, an inner wall and a top wall. A dispensing well formed in the spout includes a bottom wall, two end walls, and at least two opposed sidewall openings. Nearly all vertical beverage splashes impinge upon the underside of the bottom wall, while the opposed openings allow splashes entering the dispensing well to be drained through the opposite opening. A plurality of vent holes can be provided to allow air to enter the cup as beverage is consumed. Vent holes near the dispensing well can be blocked during drinking, when the cup is full and the beverage is hot, but unblocked as the beverage cools and is consumed. Interior baffle walls around the dispensing well can inhibit swirling or laterally-splashing beverage from entering the dispensing well.

Abstract: A beverage bottle for a portable electronic device, includes a hand-held container comprising a surrounding wall and having a fluid compartment formed within the surrounding wall, and an accessible station integrated with the hand-held container, wherein the accessible station has a window cavity for accommodating the portable electronic device therein so as to allow the portable electronic device through the window cavity. Therefore, the portable electronic device is carried and protected by the container and is accessible through the accessible station.

Abstract: A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.

Abstract: A garment stretching apparatus includes a strap with an attached bracket at each end to securely fasten the strap on the desired vertical upright and a pair of clamps to secure the garment during the stretching process. The strap includes a plurality of apertures evenly spaced. Each clamp connects to the strap at the aperture selected by the user.

Abstract: A portable device that facilitates and aids in self-dressing lower as well as upper body with single and or multiple articles of clothing with minimal physical motion, and coordination (e.g., exertion, bending, squeezing, gripping, twisting etc.). The portable device includes a base that supports and provides stability for maintaining the portable device in an upright position, and defines a workspace for positioning articles of clothing. Further included is a first retainer associated with the base, a second retainer associated with a handle, and a first and second side posts adjustably and moveably associated with the base.

Abstract: A juicer with a USB connector includes a juicer body and a power socket connected to the juicer body. The juicer is characterized by further including a supporting device, a USB circuit board, the USB connector, and a dust cover. The supporting device is provided on the juicer body and has an engaging groove. The USB circuit board is provided in the juicer body. The USB connector is fixedly provided on the juicer body and electrically connected to the USB circuit board. The dust cover covers the USB connector. The engaging groove can support a portable electronic product while the USB circuit board and the outside USB connector charge the portable electronic product.

Abstract: A cooking container has a bowl including a bottom, a side wall and an electric device provided with at least one insulated conductive element. The conductive element extends from the bottom to the side wall. The conductive element is attached to a rigid mounting by deposition, such as by silk-screen printing, pad printing, thermal spraying, decalcomania or laser sintering. The mounting is separate from the bowl.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking a food item includes a pressure-cooking appliance having a synergistic combination of a housing assembly, a heating assembly, an outer pot, a removable inner cooking pot, a lid assembly, a sensor assembly, a cooking controller, and a memory unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for grease separation during a cooking cycle of a food product in a cooking device. The methods and apparatuses perform grease separation by bifurcating the cooking cycle. In a first portion of the cooking cycle, in which the system is closed to ingress of the atmosphere by creating a water barrier in a collector box to seal a cooking chamber in which the food product is cooking, all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device pass into the water barrier. In a second portion of the cooking cycle, the collector box is emptied and the system is opened to capture all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device in the collector box. During the open portion, a grease/cooking fluid interface is monitored and the captured cooking fluids, containing a high percentage of grease, are pumped out of the collector box.

Abstract: Intelligent cooking apparatuses incorporate wireless communication technology to carryout cooking procedures. More specifically, stoves, ovens, and cookware may send and receive data wirelessly to carryout cooking procedures. An application may guide persons through recipes and automate many of the cooking procedures. Cookware may send batch information to an application for processing, display, and analysis. Cookware may use hardware for automated cooking actions, such as a magnetic stirrer and driver for stirring the contents in cookware, all monitored by various sensors located in the cookware.

Abstract: Coffee makers with features for rapid and/or multiple extraction processes, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. A representative method for brewing coffee includes placing ground coffee on a filter element of a brew chamber, directing heated water into the brew chamber and in contact with the ground coffee and, during a first phase, brewing coffee in the brew chamber without subjecting the coffee to a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and a coffee chamber to which the brew chamber is coupled, the coffee chamber having a capacity of 200 mL or more. The representative method further includes, during a second phase, extracting the coffee from the brew chamber through the filter element and into the coffee chamber via a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and the coffee chamber.

Abstract: A reception interface for a machine for preparing beverages by infusion from a ground product to be infused, wherein the interface removably receives by manual action of a user a filter-holder device for containing the ground product, wherein it comprises a selection element that is movable from a rest position and configured to be reach one of a plurality of work positions each corresponding to a respective operation mode of the machine, wherein the selection element can moved into one or the other of the work positions by the filter-holder device when received in the reception interface. One or more embodiments of the invention also relate to a machine for preparing beverages as well as a method for operating such a machine.

Abstract: An extraction unit (1) has a piercing device (10) for piercing a capsule (20). The piercing device comprises a plurality of piercing elements (11a, 11b). Each element has a piercing extremity (12a, 12b) arranged to pierce the capsule in a piercing direction (10?), such as a direction (10?) generally parallel to an axis (12a?, 12b?) of the piercing elements (11a, 11b). The piercing extremities are arranged to form at corresponding locations (22?) in the capsule either a series of corresponding inlet openings (22?) or a series of corresponding outlet openings. The extremities (12a, 12b) are generally located on different virtual piercing planes (13a, 13b) generally perpendicular to the piercing direction (10?).

Abstract: An extraction unit (1) has a piercing device (10) for piercing a capsule (20). The piercing device includes: a base (14) with peripheral sections, such as generally straight peripheral sections (14a, 14b, 14c1, 14c2); a plurality of blades (11a, 11b, 11c) that protrude from the base along a longitudinal direction (12a?, 12b?, 12c?), each blade extending laterally generally along one of the peripheral sections (14a, 14b, 14c1); and a plurality of assembly members (15a, 15b, 15c), each assembly member (15a, 15b, 15c) extending and protruding from one of the peripheral sections (14b,14c2). At least one assembly member (15a, 15c) of said assembly members (15a, 15b, 15c) is located at least in part generally in the longitudinal direction (12b?, 12c?) under a corresponding blade (11b, 11c).

Abstract: The invention concerns a beverage production machine designed for producing a beverage from a capsule comprising a module (1) for introducing the capsule in the machine, positioning the capsule for the beverage preparation and ejecting the capsule, said module comprising :—a housing (2) having two lateral walls (2a, 2b) and rear and front ends (2c, 2d),—a capsule engagement member (3),—an actuator (4) comprising a handle (41), wherein:—each of the lateral walls of the housing comprises a guiding curve (23a, 23b),—the capsule engagement member comprises two lateral guiding pins (31a, 31b), each of the lateral guiding pins cooperating with one of the guiding curves (23a, 23b) of the housing lateral walls,—the actuator comprises: a fixed axis (42), the actuator being able to rotate around said fixed axis, two lateral walls (43a, 43b) joining the rear end (41a) of the actuator handle to the fixed axis (42), each of said lateral walls comprising a guiding curve (431a, 431b) cooperating with the lateral guiding pin

Abstract: A beverage outlet for a beverage preparation machine, for example for a coffee maker, may include an outlet tube, one end of which can be connected to the beverage preparation machine and the other end of which may have an outlet opening for dispensing a beverage from the beverage preparation machine. The beverage outlet furthermore may have a beverage guide element, which runs coaxially to the outlet tube and a first section of which is arranged inside the outlet tube and a second section of which projects out of the outlet opening of the outlet tube. Provision is made for the outlet tube to have at least one notch, which extends frontally from the outlet opening-side end of the outlet tube opposite to the beverage dispensing direction (D) and which forms a passage opening between inner and outer area of the outlet tube.

Abstract: A foldable container for use in microwave ovens that comprises a first section that defines a hollow volume; with the first section dosed by a second folded section that is adapted to unfold automatically between a folded configuration in a flower pattern and an expanded configuration, providing an open upper base to the unfolded container.

Abstract: There are disclosed cooking devices and methods for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of such devices with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. More particularly, disclosed are structures for automatically emptying the drain/waste water of cooking devices that employ a moveable collection device with minimal spillage of the drain/waste water. The cooking devices of the present disclosure provide increased safety by: reducing the possibility of a slippery floor; reducing the potential of food/food area contamination; and reducing the possibility of water penetrating building construction or causing mold growth. Also disclosed are methods of suing such devices and methods of retrofitting cooking devices with such means for automatically emptying the drain/waste water.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods for a grill with hinged containers, wherein if the grill is opened then the hinged containers may be opened, and if the grill is closed then hinged containers may not be opened.

Abstract: An indoor grill and oven appliance is provided including a cabinet defining an oven cooking chamber with one or more oven heating elements configured to heat the oven cooking chamber. Positioned above the oven cooking chamber, the indoor grill and oven appliance includes one or more grill heating elements disposed within the cabinet and one or more grates. The one or more grates are in thermal communication with the one or more grill heating elements. A hood is disposed above the one or more grates and defines a substantially enclosed grill cooking chamber to facilitate indoor grilling operations while reducing a risk of damaging and/or dirtying indoor ceilings.

Abstract: An indoor grill appliance is provided including a cabinet defining an air exhaust. Positioned within the cabinet of the indoor grill appliance are one or more grill heating elements. Additionally, one or more grates are in thermal communication with the one or more grill heating elements, the grates defining a grilling surface. A hood is positioned adjacent to the one or more grates and defines a substantially enclosed grill cooking chamber. The grill cooking chamber is in flow communication with the exhaust defined by the cabinet to facilitate indoor grilling operations while reducing a risk of damaging and/or dirtying indoor ceilings.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a food support grate includes a plurality of slats. Each of the slats has an upper cooking surface having an upper apex; a lower cooking surface having a lower apex; a rear side; and a front side. The food support grate further includes a plurality of bridges that each couple two or more adjacent slats to each other. The upper apexes define an upper plane and the lower apexes define a lower plane. The rear sides and the front sides each have a portion positioned at an oblique angle with respect to one of the upper and lower planes. The upper apex of each of the slats has a first radius of curvature, and the lower apex of each of the slats has a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature.

Abstract: A pancake making device with a pair of opposed platens that include cooperating wells for making pancakes is provided. The wells of the lower platen receive a quantity of pancake batter. The platens are then closed and rolled over so that the batter spreads across the well of the engaged well. Rolling over the platens engages a control system that heats the platens such that the batter rises to fill both of the engaged wells, and thereby cooks and forms a cooked pancake. When the cooking is complete, the control system sounds a beeper that signals the user to roll the platens over to the starting position, so that the platens can be opened and the pancake removed.

Abstract: An accessory is provided for adapting cooking grills, especially grills including a hinged lid, for improved cooking of pizzas and other foods. The accessory includes a body adapted to be disposed between the base and lid portions of the cooking grill, the body being configured to mate with an inner surface of the lid and to cooperate with the base and lid portions to define therebetween a substantially-enclosed cooking chamber when the lid is positioned in a partially-closed position between the open and closed positions. A hinged-lid grill including the accessory is provided also.

Abstract: A cooking device for roasting and basting food. The cooking device includes a roasting pan and lid forming a defined interior volume. The roasting pan includes a base, one or more sidewalls, and an open upper end. Along the interior of the sidewalls of the roasting pan, one or more tubes extend upwardly onto the lid and towards a centrally located reservoir. A pump is disposed on the exterior of the lid and allows a user to selectively baste food during the cooking process. The tubes and reservoir are operably connected to the pump, wherein the pump, once actuated, draws fluids through each tube and into the reservoir. The reservoir includes one or more openings for dispersing the fluids therefrom for basting food located within the roasting pan.

Abstract: A collapsible insulated bag designed to allow items retained within an inner pouch thereof to remain within predetermined temperature ranges for predetermined periods of time and wherein the bags are designed to be easily compressed or compacted for storage or shipment to end users. The bags include at least an outer reflective layer, an intermediate open foam layer and the inner pouch layer.

Abstract: An electrical food preparation device including a drive mechanism (3) rotated by a motor and a working tool (4, 5, 6, 7) including a bushing that removably engages on the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism including a section provided with at least one drive ramp that mates with a complementary drive ramp carried by said bushing in order to rotate said working tool, the drive ramp having an inclination designed such that the rotation of the drive mechanism in the direction of rotation of the motor generates a force on the bushing that tends to keep it engaged on the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism also including at least one retaining surface (33) that comes into contact with a stop carried by the working tool when the drive mechanism rotates in the reverse direction, the retaining surface and the stop having shapes that mate each other to prevent the bushing from rising back up along the drive mechanism when the motor stops suddenly, wherein the retaining surface is provided on a different part of the

Abstract: A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system comprises a mixing container having a main container that stores one or more first substances. The main container has a first upper opening. The container system also includes a storage repository coupled to main container, and which stores one or more second substances. The storage repository includes a lip defining a second upper opening, which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. Additionally, the container system includes a mixing blade having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. The mixing blade also has a plurality of openings. The container system includes a releasable liner placed over the storage repository's lip, and the storage repository's lip forms a seal with a lower surface of the releasable liner.

Abstract: A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system comprises a mixing container having a main container that stores one or more first substances. The main container has a first upper opening. The container system also includes a storage repository coupled to main container, and which stores one or more second substances. The storage repository includes a lip defining a second upper opening, which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. Additionally, the container system includes a mixing blade having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. The mixing blade also has a plurality of openings. The container system includes a releasable liner placed over the storage repository's lip, and the storage repository's lip forms a seal with a lower surface of the releasable liner.

Abstract: A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system comprises a mixing container having a main container that stores one or more first substances. The main container has a first upper opening. The container system also includes a storage repository coupled to main container, and which stores one or more second substances. The storage repository includes a lip defining a second upper opening, which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. Additionally, the container system includes a mixing blade having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. The mixing blade also has a plurality of openings. The container system includes a releasable liner placed over the storage repository's lip, and the storage repository's lip forms a seal with a lower surface of the releasable liner.

Abstract: A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system comprises a mixing container having a main container that stores one or more first substances. The main container has a first upper opening. The container system also includes a storage repository coupled to main container, and which stores one or more second substances. The storage repository includes a lip defining a second upper opening, which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. Additionally, the container system includes a mixing blade having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. The mixing blade also has a plurality of openings and a non-vertical wall portion adjacent said plurality of openings. The container system includes a releasable liner placed over the storage repository's lip, and the storage repository's lip forms a seal with a lower surface of the releasable liner.

Abstract: A sealing system (10) comprises of a flexible strip (11) having an upper boundary (12) and a lower boundary (13) an inner face (14) and an outer face (15). The inner face (14) has an upper region (16) and a lower region (17). The outer face (15) has an upper region (18) and a lower region (19). The strip inner face (14) and outer face (15) is coated with a film that allows tenacious adhesion between the strip (11) and an adhesive material.

Abstract: A child washing apparatus includes a housing having a top, a basin within the housing, and a plurality of water jets disposed around an inside surface of the basin. In addition, the apparatus includes a water heater within the housing which is configured to supply heated water to the water jets, and an air blower is in fluid communication with an interior of the basin. A countertop is secured to the top of the housing, and having first and second arm rests secured to the countertop on opposing sides of the basin. The apparatus also includes a control module coupled to the water heater and the air blower, and a rocker switch is coupled to the first arm rest and to the control module and is configured to switch between a first position and a second position by applying pressure to the first arm rest.

Abstract: A lavatory system includes a hand dryer with at least a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor to detect an object for drying. A controller is communicatively linked to the first and second proximity sensors. The controller activates a drying operation after a first delay period if the first proximity sensor first detects the object for drying and activates a drying operation after a second delay period if the second proximity sensor first detects the object for drying. A filter flow sensor may also be provided to ensure proper filtering of the dryer's air.

Abstract: A device for dispensing material is described. The device includes a container to hold material to dispense and an opening in the container through which the material in the container is dispensed. The device also includes a scrubbing element covering the opening to incorporate the material into a surface. The device also includes a handle integral to the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a roll of material includes a first and a second conical base. The first conical base has a first through-hole extending completely through the first conical base along a first central axis. The first conical base also has a first tapering section circumscribing and concentric with the first through-hole, the first tapering section configured to be inserted into a first opening of a central bore of the roll. The second conical base has a second through-hole extending completely through the second conical base along a second central axis. The second conical base has a second tapering section circumscribing and concentric with the second through-hole, the second tapering section configured to be inserted into a second opening opposite the first opening of the central bore of the roll. Engagement between the roll and the first and second conical base structures operably stabilizes rotation of the roll.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device that includes a receptacle for urine collection, a flexible tube connecting the receptacle to a storage reservoir that sits on the floor and a receptacle holder that is stabilized by inserting it partially under the mattress, with a protruding section that has an opening used to store the receptacle in an easy to reach location between uses.

Abstract: Provided is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing that has a inlet formed on a lower surface and an exhaust port formed at one of left and right sides at a rear part and that can be self-propelled; and a dust-catching part provided between the inlet and the exhaust port through a ventilation path, wherein the dust-catching part includes a dust box disposed at the side of the inlet and an electrically powered fan disposed at the side of the exhaust port, the dust box and the electrically powered fan being configured to be separable.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, and a portable cleaning unit removably mounted to the upright section and comprising an energy storage member and a portable cleaning unit suction motor. The energy storage member provides the portable cleaning unit suction motor with power at least when the portable cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the upright section.

Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a dirt collection region that is openable while the dirt collection region is attached to the hand vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with an openable door that opens an air flow passage that extends rearwardly from an air treatment member to a suction motor.

Abstract: A cleaning device is proposed which includes a base, an air-conduit device which is arranged on the base, and at least one chamber with a wall which delimits a cavity, an inlet device for a fluid stream and an outlet device being arranged on the wall, and at least one fluid channel running in the cavity between the inlet device and the outlet device, wherein at least one partition wall is arranged in the cavity, said partition producing an acoustic shielding effect between the inlet device and the outlet device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of cleaning, in particular to a cleaning appliance, which comprises a cleaning appliance body. The cleaning appliance body includes a housing, two brush rollers disposed at the bottom of the housing, a drive mechanism disposed in the housing and configured to drive the two brush rollers to rotate, and a dust collector disposed on the housing; a suction port of the dust collector is disposed between the two brush rollers; and both rotation directions of the two brush rollers direct towards the suction port. The cleaning appliance provided by the present invention adopts a combined structure of the two brush rollers and the dust collector; both rotation directions of the two brush rollers direct towards the suction port; dust, particulate waste or flocks are gathered; the waste is sucked into the dust collector through the suction port between the two brush rollers.

Abstract: A positioning system comprises a sweeper and a positioning device arranged on a ceiling. The sweeper has a lighting component for emitting light. The positioning device at least has a height measuring unit and a plurality of light-sensitive units. The positioning device measures a vertical distance between the positioning device and a floor through the height measuring unit. The positioning device receives the light emitted from the emitting light of the sweeper through the light-sensitive units, and calculates an oblique distance between the positioning device and the sweeper based on different strengths of the light respectively received from each of the plurality of light-sensitive units. Therefore, the positioning device can calculates a parallel distance between the positioning device and the sweeper based on the vertical distance and the oblique distance, and further determines a related position of the sweeper opposite to the positioning device.

Abstract: A suction nozzle apparatus for a cleaning device is proposed, including a connector for the application of negative pressure, a suction body and a suction head with at least one intake opening, the suction head being rotatably arranged on the suction body, wherein the at least one intake opening is fluidically connected to the connector, and wherein the suction head is rotatably mounted in an interior space of a housing of the suction body.