Abstract: A deep fryer and related methods of frying a whole turkey in a reduced cooking oil volume. A frying basin can have a rounded profile avoiding dead spaces within the frying basin. The frying basin can include a recessed channel at a bottommost portion of the frying basin to accommodate a heating element, such that the heating element does not project above a floor of the frying basin. The deep fryer can have a rotisserie assembly for mounting and rotating the whole turkey such that only a lower half of the whole turkey is submerged within the cooking oil at any one time. The deep fryer can include a kick-stand feature that allows a user to lower and raise the rotisserie assembly including the whole turkey using only one hand such that a user need not lean over or otherwise put their hands or body above the frying basin.

Abstract: A base power unit for a blender includes a housing supporting a motor coupled to a drive shaft, the drive shaft coupled to a drive element. The base power unit also includes a fan coupled to the drive shaft, where the fan is located between the motor and the drive element. The housing defines an air flow path passing the motor, where the fan receives air after the air enters the housing through an intake vent, and the fan causes the air to pass out of the housing through an exit vent.

Abstract: A beverage container for a blender includes one or more vibrating mechanisms coupled to a bottom portion of the beverage container or integrated within one or more walls of the beverage container. After a beverage has been blended, the one or more vibrating mechanisms are activated as the beverage is being poured. Vibrations from the one or more vibrating mechanisms are mechanically transmitted to the beverage container, thereby promoting the pourability of the beverage from the beverage container, including dislodging ingredients in the beverage that became lodged or trapped in crevices of the beverage container during the prior blending process, and freeing up beverage ingredients that accumulated at the bottom of the beverage container during the prior blending process.

Abstract: A cookware assembly includes a vessel, a rack, capable of supporting food thereon for cooking, positioned removably on the vessel, and a handle mounted to the vessel for movement between an open position detached from the rack and a closed position attached to the rack, wherein the vessel and the rack are separable from one another, when the handle is in the open position; and the vessel and the rack are secured, when the handle is in the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for preparation of grilled domed hamburger patties. The apparatus cooks hamburger patty evenly on the inside, suitable for various gradations of doneness, such as rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, and well done. It also keeps the thickness of the hamburger patty of uniform size and reduces the shrinkage of the hamburger patty in diameter. The excess melted fat is allowed to drain off while making it less greasy. The patty remains juicy and uniformly cooked and the device prevents the charcoaling appearance of the hamburger patty.

Abstract: A grater includes a grater body having a first grater surface forming a first grater body sidewall, and a second grater surface forming a second grater body sidewall, each of the first and second grater surfaces having one or more grating features. A removable grating plane is selectively attachable to the grater body. An optional cover may surround the grater body.

Abstract: EZE CHEF is a device a transparent plastic sheath that when placed over a bottle will measure ingredient levels to insure perfect recipe presentations of finished food entrees is disclosed. My invention improves on others by allowing a user to change the size of the mixing vessel without changing the ratio between ingredients and still come out with the same perfect end result.

Abstract: A cutting board, a plurality of accessories and a method of use is disclosed. The board includes a base with top and bottom surfaces and a hole defined therein. A retaining wall provided on the base partially circumscribes the hole. Wedge-shaped regions of a back wall and a side wall taper outwardly from the retaining wall. Foodstuffs cut on the base are moved toward the hole and the wedge-shaped regions and curved retaining wall funnel the cut foodstuffs through the hole. A scale assembly may be placed into a recess provided in the underside of the cutting board such that a visual display extends through the hole. Cut foodstuffs are constantly weighed by the scale. A container may be positioned under the hole and be engaged with the cutting board. An overlay assembly may be placed on the top surface of the base to provide an additional removable cutting surface.

Abstract: A drain flange cover is provided for covering and hiding a drain flange in a sink or bathtub, which includes a drain cap and which may or may not include a longitudinal shaft and/or a strainer. The longitudinal shaft can be a perforated tube that serves as a strainer. Strainers can be cylindrical, regular-funnel shaped and inverted-funnel shaped. A drain stopper includes an open-close mechanism, a strainer and a drain flange cover. A drain stopper with a push-push mechanism can rest on a cross-member in a drain pipe, allowing easy removal to clean the strainer.

Abstract: Elastomeric holders in the form of toiletry holders, mirrors holders, shower caddies and make-up holders are provided. The holders comprise a body, having a substantially planar rear surface, configured to releasably adhere to a vertical surface without the use of adhesives, and a retainer, for retaining an item and formed at least in part by the body, such that a front surface of the body forms a peripheral edge around the retainer.

Abstract: A shower door assembly includes a door panel having an inner surface to face a bathing enclosure, and a base member having an upper surface positioned between an inner side and an outer side. The base member inner side is positioned between the door panel inner surface and the base member outer side. The inner side at least partially defines a recess and is shaped to receive liquid from and divert liquid back to the bathing enclosure. A base for a moveable door has a substrate defining upper and lower surfaces extending between first and second edge regions, and a first leg section extending from the substrate lower surface and offset from the first edge region. The first leg section and the first edge region of the substrate cooperate to define a liquid diverter extending longitudinally to redirect flow away from the substrate upper surface.

Abstract: The device is a clear shower curtain liner, shower curtain, or similar device (“curtain”) that includes pockets. The pockets are designed with the specific purpose of holding the most popular portable electronic devices such as iPads and iPhones. The curtain acts to protect the device from water damage, while also allowing the user to view, listen to, and interact with the device, by both pressing physical buttons and touch activated screens. The curtain has a wide variety of pockets of various sizes and orientations to increase the likelihood that a person can find a pocket that is close to their eye level and that will snugly fit the device they own in either a vertical or horizontal position.

Abstract: A soap holder designed to hold a soap bar alone or in combination with soap remnants within a perforated cover equipped with two alternate scrubbing surface and converts the bar soap and soap remnants into a self-lathering scrubbing appliance.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing forming a chamber; a dispensing opening; and a regulator fixedly arranged in the chamber. The regulator includes an inner valve for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber; an outer valve for regulating a flow of liquid between the chamber and the dispensing opening; a stem resilient along its length, sideways bendable, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing between the inner valve and the outer valve; and a displacement guide located at an outer portion of the stem on an inner side of the outer valve. An outer perimeter of the displacement guide and a portion of an internal surface of a guide region located adjacent the displacement guide are adapted to transfer the sideways bending of the stem to a relative displacement between the outer valve and the housing along the longitudinal direction of the housing.

Abstract: Various soap dispensers are disclosed. Certain embodiments include a housing, reservoir, pump, motor, sensor, electronic processor, and nozzle. In some embodiments, the pump comprises a peristaltic pump. In certain embodiments, the sensor can be configured to generate a signal based on a distance between an object and the sensor. In certain embodiments, the electronic processor can be configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to determine a dispensation volume of the liquid, such as based on the distance between the object and the sensor. The processor can be configured to control the motor to dispense approximately the dispensation volume of the liquid.

Abstract: A dispenser having a feed roller that at least partially engages sheet material to facilitate dispensing thereof, and a cutting mechanism disposed within a chamber defined by a body of the feed roller. The cutting mechanism comprising a cutting blade and at least one movable support connected thereto. The at least one support further is operatively connected to the body of the feed roller and is actuated with rotation thereof to move the cutting blade into and out from one or more openings defined along the body of the feed roller to at least partially cut or perforate a selected portion of the sheet material as the sheet material is dispensed.

Abstract: A method of dispensing sheet material from two rolls includes dispensing a first sheet of material from a first roll of the material located at a first location, lowering the first roll from the first location as the first sheet of material is being dispensed, lowering a second roll of material onto a second location above the first location when the first roll has been lowered to a location below the first location, and dispensing a second sheet of material from the second roll. A dispenser allowing for dispensing from two rolls includes a first wall having a forward end, a second wall opposite and spaced apart from the first wall and a cam coupled to each wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a sheet material dispenser. The dispenser can include support for supporting a supply of the sheet material, and a feed roller arranged along a feed path of the sheet material downstream from the supply of sheet material that is operable to pull the sheet material from the supply of sheet material for feeding thereof. Additionally, the dispenser can include a controller that is in communication with the feed roller and includes programming for monitoring rotation of the feed roller during a dispensing cycle for feeding a selected length of the sheet material from the supply of sheet material. A material supply monitoring system further can be in communication with the controller, and operative to detect a number of rotations or an angle of rotation of the supply sheet material during at least a series of dispensing cycles.

Abstract: A dispensing device including a housing defining an interior cavity, a lid configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the lid being positioned on a top surface of the housing, a biasing mechanism positioned within the interior cavity to bias objects towards an opening in the housing, and at least one partition positioned in the interior cavity, the at least one partition being adjustable to adjust the width of the objects that can be received within the housing.

Abstract: Provided are a toilet laying material suited to repeated use over long periods of time, and a toilet in which such a laying material is laid out. A toilet laying material is constituted by a granule. The granule is made of a chemically-integrated resin. A recess is formed in the surface of the granule.

Abstract: A device having a base portion operable for accepting a bolt, an interior chamber disposed within the base portion, a compression sleeve disposed within the interior chamber, wherein the compression sleeve is operable for compressing about the circumference of the bolt. A lever implement is operable for at least one of, compressing and relaxing the compression sleeve, wherein a lifting of the lever implement relaxes the compression sleeve, and wherein depressing the lever implement toward the base portion compresses the compression sleeve to constrict upon the inserted bolt and generally secure said inserted bolt.

Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic separating unit and a body that includes a suction generator, a battery and a handle by which the vacuum cleaner is supported during use. The handle is provided with an actuator in the form of a finger-operated trigger for actuating the vacuum cleaner and a trigger guard disposed below the trigger. The battery is disposed below the trigger guard such that the center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner is located below the trigger guard.

Abstract: A vertical vacuum cleaner (1) is provided, including a brushroll (22); a motor assembly (200) including a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), in which the motor (22) is configured to drive the brushroll (22) to roll via a drive belt (13) and is rotatable between a first upright position where the drive belt (13) is tensioned and a first oblique position where the drive belt (13) is loosened; a body assembly (300) including a body (31) and a bridging member (32) rotatably connected with the motor housing (21); a lever driving device rotatably disposed to the motor housing (21) and having two ends respectively fitted with the bridging member (32) and the motor (22), in which the bridging member (32) is configured to drive the motor (22) to move from the first oblique position to the first upright position via the lever driving device.

Abstract: A floor brush assembly for an upright vacuum cleaner (1) and an upright vacuum cleaner (1) having the same are provided, in which the floor brush assembly for the upright vacuum cleaner (1) includes: a brushroll (11); and an electric motor (22) having a rotation axis disposed non-parallel to a rotation axis of the brushroll (11), and configured to drive the brushroll (11) to roll by a drive belt (13).

Abstract: A clutch device (400) for an upright vacuum cleaner and an upright vacuum cleaner (1) having the same are provided, in which the clutch device (400) is disposed between an electric motor assembly (200) and a machine body assembly (300) of the upright vacuum cleaner (1), and the electric motor assembly (200) includes an electric motor housing (21) and an electric motor (22). The clutch device (400) includes: a sliding track (41d) driven (300) to move by the machine body assembly; a toggling tongue (42d) fixed to the electric motor (22) and rotatable with respect to the electric motor housing (21); and a lever member (43d) having a second end of the lever member (43d) slidably fitted to the sliding track (41d) and a first end fitted with an end of the toggling tongue (42d).

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner (1) is provided, including a brushroll assembly (100), a motor assembly (200) and a body assembly (300). The brushroll assembly (200) includes a brushroll casing (12) and a brushroll (11). The motor assembly (200) includes a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), and the motor (22) drives the brushroll (11) to roll via a drive belt (13). The body assembly (300) includes a body (31) and a bridging member (32) mounted to the body (31), and the bridging member (32) is pivotably connected with the motor housing (21) to allow the body (31) to be rotatable between an upright position and an oblique position. When the body (31) is rotated from the upright position to the oblique position, the bridging member (32) pushes the brushroll casing (12) to move in a direction running away from the motor housing (21) so as to tension the drive belt (13).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a foot assembly having a suction inlet thereon, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow there through, and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The foot assembly further comprises a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms, a rotatable agitator on each extension arm, and a drive assembly configured to counter-rotate the agitators. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris towards the suction inlet.

Abstract: A dust collecting apparatus includes a dust separation unit to separate dust from suctioned air; a dust storage unit to store the dust separated in the dust separation unit; a pressing member to compress the dust stored in the dust storage unit, and having a pressing plate support part, and a pressing plate supported by the pressing plate support part; a fixing member disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the dust storage unit and the pressing plate support part; and a path formed by a part of the fixing member, located between the pressing plate support part and the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage unit, and through which the air between the pressing plate and the fixing member passes, wherein one or more holes through which the air between the pressing plate and the fixing member passes are formed at the pressing plate.

Abstract: A blower includes a motor that includes a shaft; an impeller; a motor housing; a blower housing that is disposed on an outer side of the impeller in a radial direction, and that opposes an outer surface of the motor housing in the radial direction with a gap therebetween; a circuit board that is disposed below the motor in an axial direction; and a circuit-board case that is disposed below the motor in the axial direction and that surrounds the circuit board. The circuit-board case includes a circuit-board-case inlet that communicate between an outer side and an inner side of the circuit-board case at an upper end portion of a circuit-board-case cylindrical portion that extends in a direction of a central axis.

Abstract: A robot cleaner comprises: a cleaner body including a controller, and driving wheels having their driving controlled by the controller; a bumper mounted to a bumper mounting portion formed on a front surface of the cleaner body, and configured to be inward moveable by an external force; and a cliff sensor mounted in an opening downward open at a bottom part of the cleaner body, and configured to sense a lower side terrain, wherein the bumper is provided to cover the cliff sensor in a state that the bumper has been inward moved by an external force.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner (1) includes a brushroll (11); a motor assembly (200) including a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), in which a rotating axis of the motor (22) and a rotating axis of the brushroll (11) are disposed in a non-parallel manner, and the motor (22) drives the brushroll (11) rolling by a drive belt (13) and is rotatable between a first upright position of tensioning the drive belt (13) and a first oblique position of loosening the drive belt (13); a body assembly (300) including a body (31), a bridging member (32) and a dirt cup (37) mounted on the body (31), in which the bridging member (32) is rotatably connected with the motor housing (21) to make the body (31) rotatable between a second upright position and a second oblique position, and the motor (22) is moved by the bridging member (32) from the first oblique position to the first upright position when the body (31) moves from the second upright position to the second oblique position.

Abstract: A floor cleaning system that includes a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning a floor surface and a portable accessory device is disclosed. The floor cleaning apparatus includes a control unit, a controllable chassis, at least one cleaning unit, a localization member and a communication member. The portable accessory device includes an operating unit, a control unit and a communication member, wherein a cleaning order to the apparatus is triggerable by the user via the operating unit and said cleaning order is transmittable to the floor cleaning apparatus to clean the floor surface at the user location, wherein position information relating to the user location is transferable to the floor cleaning apparatus and wherein the floor cleaning apparatus is movable to the user location and the floor surface at the user location is cleanable in accordance with the cleaning order by the at least one cleaning unit.

Abstract: Provided are a movable object, a remote controller for controlling the movable object, a movement control system for the movable object, a robot cleaner, a movement control system for the robot cleaner, a movement control method for the movable object, and a movement control method for the robot cleaner, in which the movable object includes at least one infrared receiver configure to receive at least one infrared light among a plurality of infrared lights emitted from a plurality of light sources, the plurality of infrared lights being overlapped with each other on at least a part thereof; and a controller configured to identify a unit zone according to at least one of the emitted or overlapped infrared light and the number of the overlapped infrared lights on the basis of the infrared light received by the at least one infrared receiver, and configured to control the movement of the movable object according to the identified unit zone.

Abstract: A method for operating a floor treatment apparatus that travels by itself within an environment, wherein a control and evaluation unit monitors the operating status of the floor treatment apparatus, detects an error condition of the floor treatment apparatus and initiates the output of an information signal in case an error condition occurs. In order to locate the floor treatment apparatus in a particularly simple and convenient fashion during an error condition, it is proposed that an optical signal output device of the floor treatment apparatus emits an optical information signal, which generates a light projection that represents a directional indicator, wherein the directional indicator points from a projection site within the environment in the direction of the current position of the floor treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A supply unit for a cleaning machine which can be connected via at least one flexible hose, has a heating device for heating water, a water pump for conveying water into or out of the heating device, a hot water and/or steam connector which is connected to the outlet of the heating device, a dirty water tank, a suction device, which preferably includes a suction turbine, for sucking dirty water from a dirty water connector into the dirty water tank. In a preferred embodiment the unit has at least one, preferably precisely one central, drive unit for driving at least one, preferably a plurality of or all components to be driven of the supply unit and/or of a cleaning machine to be connected to it.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine is provided, in particular a hand-guided and/or hand-held floor cleaning machine, including a support device, at least one cleaning roller arranged on the support device, capable of being driven in rotation and provided with a cleaning substrate, said cleaning substrate being made of a textile material; and at least one mouth towards the at least one cleaning roller that includes a first and a spaced second mouth wall having a mouth opening therebetween, wherein the first mouth wall is positioned above the second mouth wall relative to the direction of gravity, wherein the first and/or second mouth wall protrude(s) into the cleaning substrate of the at least one cleaning roller.

Abstract: An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for use in abrading a surface for cleaning the surface includes a resiliently deformable backing member insert, and a chain mail abrader enclosure comprising a chain mail body having a plurality of interlinked rings. The chain mail abrader enclosure is configured to allow for insertion and removal of the resiliently deformable backing member insert. The resiliently deformable backing member is disposable within the chain mail abrader enclosure such that the backing member is positioned against the chain mail body to allow the chain mail body to conform to contours of the surface during abrading.

Abstract: Described herein are disposable floor cleaning slippers. The disposable slipper is configured to be worn on a foot of a user, and include a cloth material sized to cover a bottom of the foot of the user and extend to partially surround an inner side, outer side, heel, and toes of the foot of the user, the cloth material further sized to end below an ankle of the user and leave an upper portion of a bridge of the foot of the user exposed, the disposable slipper further comprising an opening defining an edge at least partially comprising elastic material configured to wrap around the foot of the user to hold the disposable slipper in place when worn by the user.

Abstract: A collection device (10) comprising a receptacle (20) defining a collection chamber (21) with an entrance opening (22) and an exit opening (23). A door (24) is movable from a closed position whereat it covers the exit opening (23) and unclosed condition whereat it uncovers the exit opening (23). When the door (24) is in its closed position, constituents can be conveyed into the collection chamber (21) through the entrance opening (22. And when the door (24) is in its unclosed position, constituents (11) within the collection chamber (21) can be emptied through the exit opening (23) into a separate container, such as a trash can.

Abstract: A fluid circulation system for dishwasher appliances includes a sump and a pump. The fluid circulation system further includes a filter at least partially disposed within a chamber of the sump and surrounding an impeller of the pump. The fluid circulation system includes a diverter. The fluid circulation system further includes a cleaning manifold disposed proximate an outer surface of a sidewall of the filter, the manifold defining a plurality of apertures for flowing fluid towards the outer surface of the sidewall of the filter.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing, a water inlet pipe coupled to the housing and configured to receive washing water, a water outlet pipe coupled to the housing and configured to discharge washing water, an impeller located in the housing and configured to cause washing water to be transferred from the water inlet pipe to the water outlet pipe, a heater that is coupled to the housing, that is configured to heat washing water in the housing, and that is configured to generate steam based on heating washing water, and a steam discharge pipe coupled to the water outlet pipe and configured to discharge steam generated by the heater.

Abstract: There is provided a dish washing machine, including a main body; a washing tank provided inside the main body; and a fixed nozzle assembly fixed in one side of the washing tank and configured to jet washing water, wherein the fixed nozzle assembly includes, a nozzle body having a jet nozzle configured to jet washing water; and a nozzle front cover combined with a front surface of the nozzle body, and wherein the nozzle front cover and/or the nozzle body include corresponding ribs to cover a combining portion between the nozzle front cover and the nozzle body to minimize a foreign substance from being introduced into the combining portion of the nozzle front cover and the nozzle body. According to such a configuration, it is possible to minimize contaminants from accumulating in the fixed nozzle assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a medical control apparatus including: a processing unit configured to restrict a function which is executable at a control target apparatus in a case where an operation is being performed, on a basis of whether or not an operation is being performed.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an endoscope system in which resolution and an S/N ratio are adjusted to be well-balanced depending on an imaging condition, and further capable of changing a processing load depending on the imaging condition, a method for operating the endoscope system, and a program. From an image signal in a body cavity imaged by an endoscope apparatus, a low frequency image including a low frequency component and a high frequency image including a high frequency component are extracted. The low frequency image is reduced by a predetermined reduction ratio, and, after image quality improvement processing is performed, is enlarged by an enlargement ratio corresponding to the reduction ratio. At that time, based on condition information indicating an imaging state, when brightness at the time of imaging is sufficient and the high frequency component does not include noise components a lot, the low frequency image and the high frequency image are added to be output as an output image.

Abstract: In a device for operating an intraoral scanner with at least one handpiece and at least one computer unit, the handpiece and the computer unit are electrically insulated from one another.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus provided in the invention has forced disposability of a cannula by the means and techniques put in place so that the parts in contact with organic tissues or the detection of container extraction cannot be used, re-used, or if re-used, in a way that aligns with their operating limits. Activation of the cannula is detected and traced using sensors or wireless intercommunication devices so that when a certain time lapses or a certain number of activations after the first activation of the cannula, a limited usage means disables the cannula in mechanical or electrical way to ensure forced disposability of the cannula.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an extended working channel, a magnetic field generator, a sensor, a workstation, a computer readable recording medium, and a remote control handle. The extended working channel is sized for insertion into the working channel of a bronchoscope and to receive one or more instruments therethrough. The sensor is associated with a distal end of the extended working channel for detecting a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. The workstation includes a display and is operably connected to the sensor. The computer readable recording medium is associated with the workstation for storing a software program that enables association of the sensed magnetic field with a location of the sensor and that generates one or more images including one or more fields for presentation on the display. The remote control handle enables manipulation of the one or more fields generated by the software.

Abstract: An endoscope according to the invention comprises an endoscope shaft (3), which has a cylindrical shaft tube (4), and an endoscope head (2), which is arranged at a proximal end of the endoscope shaft (3) and, in a distal end region (11), has a cylindrical interior (13) with a peripheral groove (15), wherein the shaft tube (4) is inserted into the cylindrical interior (13) and folded into the peripheral groove (15). According to the invention, the groove (15) is not rotationally symmetrical. The invention further relates to an endoscope head and to a method for producing an endoscope.

Abstract: A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes an insertion section, one or more stiffness variable portion, and a detection unit. The flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a bending information calculator, a main determiner, and a controller that performs control to increase a stiffness of the stiffness variable portion provided in a segment located in a bent part, when the main determiner determines that the bent part is present and the segment provided in the stiffness variable portion is located in the bent part.