Abstract: A test device for a thermally-activated instrument so that the accuracy of the instrument can be determined. In a first form of the invention, a cylindrical enclosure is provided for retaining the instrument and is connected to a power supply via terminals attached to the enclosure. The enclosure is slotted along its length to permit enlargement of the enclosure when necessary. A second enclosure, also slotted along its length and with a temperature sensing thermocouple attached thereto, is provided for retaining the thermally-activated instrument and is shaped to fit within the first enclosure. In a second form, a series of clustered enclosures are provided, with the enclosures being of varying sizes to accommodate thermally-activated instruments of various sizes. In a third form, enclosures are grouped into at least two separate groups, with the groups being capable of being electrically interconnected.

Abstract: A toothbrush sterilizer includes a housing member having a well formed therein for allowing the bristle portion of the toothbrush to be inserted into the interior of the well. The interior of the well defines a sterilization cavity. A closure lid is mounted on the top surface of the well, the lid having an aperture formed therein for enabling of the handle of a toothbrush to pass therethrough. Simultaneously, the lid minimizes circulation of air out of the well. A heat transfer element is juxtaposed with the exterior surface of the well. A heating element is coupled to the heat transfer element and when activated, heats the heat transfer element. The heat transfer element in turn causes the sterilization cavity to be dry heated a sufficient amount to sterilize the toothbrush bristles of the toothbrush positioned within the sterilization cavity.

Abstract: A receptacle for delivering food in a hot condition in the form of a bag formed of insulating material having a closure defined at an end. Within the bag an insert of a high density material capable of retaining heat is located and is heated by an electric resistance heater. Prior to use, the insert mass is heated to the desired temperature and food, such as pizza, placed within the bag will stay warm due to the heat retention of the mass. A plurality of bags are stored in a heated condition so as to be ready for use as needed.

Abstract: A heater unit for heating flexible hair roller curlers includes two spaced pairs of side-by-side, elongated juxtaposed heat transmitting plates. The two plates of each pair are connected to each other in heat transmitting relationship to form a closed heat transmitting path and are so shaped and configured to form a plurality of individual hair curler receiving pockets therebetween. An electric heating element is positioned in the space between the two pairs of plates in heat conductive contact with the confronting plates thereof. The width of the plates is less than the length of the curlers so that the opposite ends thereof extend beyond the edges of the plates and are thus not heated thereby.

Abstract: A portable dryer device is provided which consists of an open top housing for receiving a dish rack therein for drying the dishes. The housing contains an electric heating element and motor driving a fan blade to force hot air past a tilted slotted elevated plate holding the dish rack, wherein manually adjustable hot air deflectors are mounted in the slots to vary the angle of travel of the hot air for more effective drying, while a drain spout in the housing allows excess water to exit therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring temperature dependent changes has a heating arrangement, which includes two pieces of heat insulation material defining a cavity containing a heat sink member and an electrical heater for the heat sink member. The block is perforated to allow entry of a sample tube and to provide a viewing passage. The arrangement is detachably mounted on a neck portion upstanding from a base.

Abstract: A portable container for heating and storing pizza includes a fabric box about 20 inches long, about 20 inches wide, and about 8 inches high supported in its four vertical corners by plexiglass strips positioned inside sleeves. A lower rigid panel located at the bottom of the fabric box is used to support a heating unit. An upper rigid panel located above the heating unit forms a compartment with the sides and top of the fabric box large enough to contain two pizzas in their delivery box containers. The heating unit includes an aluminum pan which contains a block of insulation having a one-half inch depression in its upper surface. A silicon rubber heating element is positioned inside this depression. The temperature inside the portable container is maintained between 165.degree.-180.degree. F. The portable container can be carried with one hand when used for delivery of hot pizzas.

Abstract: An indirectly heatable curling iron (10) has a curling mandrel (12) inserted into the cradle (17) of an electric heating assembly (18) of a separate heating station (11) to establish an intimate thermal contact therebetween for heating the mandrel (12) to a temperature of between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. First and second force components of relatively opposite direction act directly on the inserted curling mandrel such that the first force component, provided by a spring (21) or gravity, causes disengagement of the mandrel (12) from the heating assembly (18), while the second force component causes the mandrel (12) to intimately contact the assembly (18).

Abstract: An electrical baking and roasting oven defining a cooking chamber which can be closed by a door, the oven having side walls bounding the cooking chamber and the oven being composed of an upper heating element and a lower heating element for heating upper and lower regions, respectively, of the chamber, an insertable partitioning member carraying the lower heating element and equipped with a plug-in connection, for partitioning off a lower part of the volume of the cooking chamber, and guide elements mounted on the side walls for supporting the partitioning member, wherein the partitioning member includes a heat insulating body disposed below the lower heating element for thermally shielding the lower part of the cooking chamber, and the oven side walls are provided with breaks at the height of the guide elements for reducing thermal conduction through the side walls to the lower part of the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A reaction system and process for uniformly heating semiconductor substrates and a device for supporting the same and direct conductive heating of IC wafers within a reactor are described. The substrate is held in direct contact with the heating source positioned within the reactor. The heat source is a thermal delivery module made of material such as solid silicon carbide, or high temperature material containing resistive heating elements. The heat is uniformly transferred to the walls of the module by a molten metal having a low melting point and high boiling point such as essentially indium or bismuth or a eutectic of indium and bismuth.

Abstract: An apparatus, and process for insulating a splice with a heat shrinkable tube. The spliced wires and tube are transferred inside an oven by moving means, and after the tube is heat shrunk in the oven the wire assembly is then removed from the oven and automatically ejected.

Abstract: A grilling appliance having a lower housing section containing a lower grill plate and an upper housing section containing an upper grill plate. The upper section is movable between an open position for placing a food article to be grilled on the lower grill plate, and a closed position defining with the lower housing section a heating chamber containing the two grill plates for grilling therebetween food articles. A water container is included in one of the housing sections for receiving water to saturate the heating chamber with water vapor during the grilling of the food article.

Abstract: An aircraft battery assembly to provide a preheated battery to facilitate aircraft operation in cold temperature. The battery assembly includes a battery housed in a battery box and having a heating jacket wrapped around it. The heating jacket is elongate and rectangular with a width less than the height of the battery and a length sufficient to wrap around the battery with vertical edges that approach one another near a quarter of the battery. The edges have grommets with eyelets. The grommets of the respective edges are laced together to secure the jacket around the battery. The jacket is comprised of inner and outer insulative layers with a heating element sandwiched between them. The jacket is very thin so as to able to readily turn the corners on the battery. The heating element is operated responsive to a thermostat sensing temperature.

Abstract: A nail dryer includes a clamshell shaped base for resting the user's hand thereon. A C-shaped heating member is attached to the perimeter of the base by rib braces. The member includes two separated C-shaped channels housing a rope heater. The ribs form segmented air slots between the base and the channels. A clamshell shaped cover fits over the base and the C-shaped heating member. The closed cover forms an air chamber. The channels also have air induction vents below the heater for allowing outside air to pass by the heater and then to enter the air chamber. Air also enters via the air slots and is heated as it flows by the two channels. The hot air entering the air chamber is deflected by baffles. The wet fingernails are positioned in the chamber, and the hot air flow rapidly bakes the polish. The hot air vents at the cutaway rear of the cover. The stepped fashion of the rope heater and the two channels influence the air flow and currents in the chamber.

Abstract: A heater for presenting an object to be heated on a carrier to a pair of heating structures which open from an initially closed position to receive same. The initial position of the carrier results in the heating structures being together initially and its motion then results in opening them to receive the object depending on the position reached by the carrier. The closing of the heating structures, due to further motion of the carrier, about the object to thereby envelop it reduces heating losses during the heating of the object.

Abstract: An electric heating element assembly for a bread toaster having a resistance element disposed in a tortuous configuration on a plate of insulating material and having a heat conducting, electrically insulating sheet secured in parallel relation to said plate to sandwich said element against said plate. The heating element being mounted in a toaster in closer proximity to the bread slice position than the elements of a conventional toaster.

Abstract: A contact lens disinfecting apparatus includes a housing defining a pair of receptacles for receiving a pair of contact lenses and a quantity of liquid therein, a heater responsive to a predetermined electrical current for producing heat, the heater being configured and positioned in the housing for radiating heat to the receptacles for disinfecting contact lenses therein, energizing-and-timing circuit also mounted in the housing for controlling the application of the predetermined electrical current to the heater, an AC connector coupled with the housing for coupling with mating AC connector for energizing the circuit, and a shield interposed between the receptacle on the one hand and both the circuit and the heater on the other hand and providing collecting and draining for respectively collecting and directing outwardly of the housing any liquid which may escape or otherwise exit beneath the receptacle, so as to prevent the liquid from contacting the heater or the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A heating attachment for the mouthpiece of a musical wind instrument for heating the mouthpiece during outdoor playing of the instrument in cold weather. The attachment includes a sleeve which is adapted to be mounted on the mouthpiece and which includes an electrical heating element. The attachment also includes a source of electrical power and a switch for selectively connecting the heating element to the source of electrical power.

Abstract: A hot food stand utilizes heat lamps to keep food warm. The lamps are automatically activated when food is placed on a pressure sensitive support positioned beneath the lamps. A modified embodiment of the invention senses the quantity and positioning of food on the support and activates additional heat lamps if needed.

Abstract: A process for the purpose of the thermostatic control of a sample fluid to be analyzed, as well as reagents and optionally the solvents necessary for performing analyses in an automatically functioning analyzer, wherein the sample container containing the sample fluid as well as the cells containing the reagents are placed in a rack made from good thermally conducting material. The rack is fixed in the analyzer at the individual processing stations between two side walls. At least one of the side walls is heated, so that the rack is thermostatically controlled and, consequently, so is the sample fluid and the reagents.

Abstract: A ceramic heater for regenerating a fine particle collecting filter which is exposed to exhaust gases at elevated temperatures. This ceramic heater comprises two electrode potions, a heat generation portion connected to the two electrode portions and a holding projection portion of a ceramic heater connected to the side of the heat generating portion. The two electrode portions, the heat generating portion and the holding projection portion are formed integrally.

Abstract: The french fry food vending machine has a plurality of frozen foodstuff holding compartments in a refrigeration chamber. A metered dispensing rotatable wheel is positioned below the outlet of each holding compartment to, upon activation, dispense a metered quantity of frozen food stuff to a cooking chamber, preferably by the delivery of the foodstuff to a conveyer position beneath a line of metered dispensing rotatable wheels. An oil circulating, filtering, heating and replenishment system is provided to service a deep frying tank with a quantity of Purified hot oil into which frozen food stuff is emerged for a predetermined period of time for cooking.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus for warming and sterilizing a baby's bottle includes an open container or well provided with a first electrical heating device controlled by a thermostat adapted to warm the bottle. A lid having a valve is hermetically fixed on the well by a rapid-fixing device to form a closed compartment for sterilizing the bottle. A second electrical heating device is provided to generate a temperature higher than 100.degree. C. in the closed compartment. A shunting arrangement controls the second electrical heating device. A temperature limiter disconnects the second electrical heating device when sterilization has been accomplished.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat curing epoxy banded fiber optic connectors includes a housing containing a heater control circuit and an electronic thermometer. An L-shaped jig is attached to a surface of the housing with an interposing insulator. A heating element and temperature sensors are connect to the jig.

Abstract: Contact lens disinfecting apparatus is provided having first and second lens-holding chambers, an electrically conductive heat sink thermally coupled to said chambers, electrically energizable heater thermally and electrically coupled to the heat sink, a thermostat, a second heat sink coupled to the thermostat and a thermally and electrically conductive heat transfer member connected between the heater and the second heat sink.

Abstract: The boiler comprises a vessel (1) and a heating element (2) associated with this vessel (1). The vessel (1) comprises at least two compartments which have mutually facing wall members (3, 4) having a profile complementary to the heating element (2) and deformably connected together by a wall part (5). The heating element (2) is disposed between the wall members (3, 4) and a retainer holds the wall members (3, 4) against the heating element (2). A bridge is formed by a wall part (5) which deformably connects the wall members. The retainer includes a top part (9) of the vessel and a split ring (10).

Abstract: An attachment for a towelette container provides a path through which the towelettes pass as they are removed from the container and a heater warms the towelettes as they are in and move through the path. The attachment is detachably secured to the container so that it can be used on new containers as the original containers become depleted of their contents. The heater can be an incandescent bulb and the outer wall of the attachment can be at least partially light-transmissive, so that the attachment can also function as a lamp or night light.

Abstract: This contact lens sterilization device includes: a main body casing formed as an integral structure, with a main cavity and a power plug storage chamber being defined in the main body casing and being substantially sealed off from communication with one another, the main cavity further being substantially sealed off from communication with the outside, a contact lens sterilization chamber being at least partly defined by a portion of the main body casing which also defines one part of the main cavity; a control system accomodated in the main cavity of the main body casing; a heating system, likewise accomodated in the main cavity of the main body casing, and selectively actuated by the control system to produce heat and to apply the heat to the portion of the main body which partly defines the contact lens sterilization chamber; a power plug assembly, received in the power plug storage chamber, and comprising a pair of terminal portions which according to movement of the power plug assembly within the power p

Abstract: A device for warming and illuminating pre-packaged, pre-wetted disposable towels is provided. The unit also secures a plastic canister of disposable towels so that the towels may be dispensed with one hand. A cup sized to enclose the canister in an upper sector has a supporting dish, upon the upper surface of which is provided a series of lips to engage various diameter plastic canisters containing the towels. The dish has a recessed bowl at its center in which one or more small incandescent light bulbs are mounted to warm the fluid pool within the canister and to provide illumination through a translucent window portion of the cup. The top of the dispenser is capped to retain the container from above, while the dish is spring mounted within the cup to assure a snug vertical fit of the container within the cup. A dispenser opening is provided in the cap of the unit, through which the towels from the container are pulled out.

Abstract: A heating oven for use in ageing semiconductors comprises a heating chamber 5 for receiving a number of trays 10 of semiconductors. Each tray 10 can be passed into the heating chamber 5 and ejected from the heating chamber 5, without disturbing the temperature environment of the remaining trays 10 in the heating chamber 5. This is achieved by the provision of closeable openings 13 on the wall 11 of the heating chamber 5 through which trays 10 may be passed.

Abstract: A cabinet for heating cloth material such as towels, is provided, capable of mounting on a towel rack or other support. The cabinet of the invention, which is capable of warming or drying towels or other cloth materials, includes a pair of opposed covers which are hingedly attached along one edge, a metal plate for supporting a towel, the metal plate being surrounded by resistance heating elements and being hingedly attached intermediate the two covers, associated circuitry for providing power to the resistance heating elements and brackets for mounting the cabinet on a wall-mounted towel rack.

Abstract: A hair styling device includes a hair roller that defines a conical inner chamber open at its larger end and has a jacket containing a heat storing material, a cooperating heating spindle for heating the hair roller, the heating spindle having a conical outer surface matching the inner surface of the inner chamber of the hair roller, and biasing means for causing the hair roller to rise off the heating spindle. Hair roller holding means comprises a body of ferromagnetic material carried by the hair roller adjacent the smaller end of the conical chamber and a magnet, the body of ferromagentic material being movable into the holding range of the magnet when the hair roller is placed on the heating spindle to hold the conical surfaces of the chamber of the hair roller and the heating spindle in mating engagement.

Abstract: A collapsible mirror-heater unit for assisting in the application of ostomy pads is disclosed. A dual-faced mirror is pivotally mounted in a frame to expose either face and a heater is also pivotally mounted on the frame to be located in either of a stored or operative position. The device may be collapsed into its frame to provide a compact, box-like unit for storage.

Abstract: A device for warming or heating an article includes a rack in the form of a hollow shell mounted for movement into a warming chamber of a cabinet. The article is draped over the rack and hangs over vents formed in the rack. A blower in the cabinet directs hot or warm air through the hollow rack, so as to pass through vents into one side of the draped article to warm the article both by conduction through the walls of the rack and by convection through the vents and by passage around the outside of the article.

Abstract: An environmental control apparatus for electronic circuit elements includes an enclosure for the element and standoff brackets supporting the enclosure, the enclosure and support brackets together defining an area of both high heat resistivity and high heat conductivity, with a heating mechanism with the area of high heat conductivity in order to reduce the flow of heat and to maintain a balanced temperature profile along the enclosure.

Abstract: For the partial heat treatment of tools which have a work surface and a clamping in region, there is disclosed a furnace, the useful space of which is subdivided into two separate heating spaces by a plate made of heat insulating material whereby the temperature in these heating spaces is lowered by disconnection of the connecting members between the individual heating elements of the all-around heating and the clamping in region of the work tools may be maintained below the conversion temperature of the metal.

Abstract: A contact lens sterilization device has a case which is generally made of synthetic resin having defined therein: a bottom chamber for receiving the heating element; a middle chamber for receiving a contact lens; a top chamber for receiving an electronic circuit for controlling the heating element therein so as to achieve a better thermal separation between the top chamber and the bottom chamber. A heating element which may be a PTC semiconductor device is secured to the lower surface of the wall separating the middle chamber and the bottom chamber by way of a heat transmission plate and secured by a holding plate and columns appending from the separation wall. The two electrodes of the heating element may be electrically in contact with the heat transmission plate and the holding plate, respectively.

Abstract: An electric barbeque cooker has an electric heating unit dimensioned to fit within a cooker bowl. The heating unit is connected to a power supply and it is mounted within the bowl for movement between a horizontal position and an a nonhorizontal position. In the preferred embodiment, the heat unit may be rotated to a vertical position adjacent to the rear wall of the cooker bowl which is dimensioned to contain said heating element within the volume of the bowl even when the element is in the vertical position. A handle is rotatably mounted on the exterior of the bowl and it is mechanically interconnected with the heating element so that the element may be rotated by pivotally moving the handle. A catch mechanism selectively holds the heating unit in at least two positions but, preferably, the unit may be held in a horizontal position, a slightly inclined position and a vertical position. The heating unit is controlled by a thermostat that is mounted in a housing mounted on the exterior of the bowl.

Abstract: A device for cooking fatty foods such as meat balls or other foods which are characterized by the production of liquid fat during the cooking process is disclosed. A pan having a bottom and upstanding side walls is provided. A removable heat-conductive tray is adapted to be supported in spaced relationship above the bottom of the pan. The tray includes a plurality of food supporting cavities and the bottom of each cavity is provided with a drain for permitting liquids removed from the food during cooking to drain into the bottom of the pan. Removable electric resistance heating means is adapted to be supported beneath the tray in heat conductive relation therewith for conducting heat to and throughout the tray sufficient to cook the food in the cavities, the heating means underlying the tray and positioned above the level of the drains so as to provide unrestricted passage of liquids emanating from food being cooked in the cavities for the drains to the bottom of the pan.

Abstract: A heating bed for therapeutic heat treatment. The heating bed includes a container for accommodating a sand filling which may be heated to a predetermined temperature via a heating device. The sand filling is covered by a cover which is preferably made of textile material.

Abstract: A hair curler set for heating hair curling rollers includes a case accommodating a plurality of cylindrical hair curler rollers arranged in horizontal or slightly inclined parallel alignment and positioned in a row to one or both sides of an elongated heater body containing an electric resistance heater and having its longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally and parallel to one side of the case. The case includes cradles for positioning each of the rollers in perpendicular coaxial alignment with a respective one of a plurality of spaced apart horizontally disposed heat transfer portions on the heater body. Each roller has a metallic bottom end shaped to cooperate with the heat transfer portion of the heater body to provide a large heat transfer contact area therebetween. The case and rollers are designed so that the rollers, when positioned in the cradles, have their bottom ends elastically urged into heat-conductive contact with the heat transfer portions of the heater body.

Abstract: An electric oven has a number of heating elements for heating the cooking chamber. A multi-position switch is arranged to couple power to all of the heating elements, such that the chamber can be used as an oven, or to only selected heating elements such that a grilling operation can be performed. However, when grilling it is best if the door of the cooking chamber is at least partially open so that air can circulate.The invention provides a mechanical linkage between the door and the switch such that if the switch is moved into its grill operating position, the door is automatically opened. In addition, if the door of the cooking chamber is closed, the switch is automatically moved into its oven operating position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a modular contact lens disinfecting system comprising a combination carrying case-and-heater module including a pair of receptacles for receiving a pair of contact lenses therein, a heating arrangement responsive to a predetermined electrical current for producing heat and positioned and configured for radiating heat to the receptacle, and electrical connectors coupled with the heating arrangement for receiving electrical current; and an energizing-and-timer module including a housing, an AC plug coupled with the housing for coupling an AC receptacle to receive electrical current, mating electrical connectors coupled to the housing for complementary mating with the electrical connectors of the case-and-heater module, and a timer coupled in electrical circuit intermediate the plug and the mating electrical connectors for controlling the time duration during which electrical current is applied to the mating electrical connectors.

Abstract: A heater and holder for soft roller hair curlers includes a base having an openable top cover providing access to a shelf provided with at least one row of spaced holes of a size of to admit a hair curler. Each hole is aligned with an open-ended heat conductive metallic tube extending through a heat conductive metallic plate positioned below the shelf and having spaced top and lower panels with a first section of the tube extending upwardly from the top panel in alignment with the hole and a second section extending downwardly from the lower panel. A flexible electric heating element positioned in the space between the panels in a sinuous pattern heats the tubes and the curler inserted therein. The length of the tube is less than the length of the roller curler so that the opposite ends of the curlers are not heated so as to remain relatively cool whereby the heated curler can be easily handled.

Abstract: A toaster oven of variable volume, including a box-like structure having a top oven portion and a bottom oven portion in telescoping relationship, forming a cavity and a front opening, a pin carried by the top portion, offset from and manually rotatable about an axis, a slot carried by the bottom portion adapted to receive the pin to telescope the top portion and the bottom portion, a door carried by the bottom portion adapted to cover the oven opening in all telescoped positions of the top and bottom, and a system of lever arms connected between the door and the food support rack adapted to slide a portion of the rack through the front opening when the door is opened.

Abstract: A vertical grille is disclosed, in which at least two heating elements are arranged in spaced facing relationship in substantially parallel and substantially vertical planes, defining grilling areas between them. Removable racks are associated with each grilling area for suspending the articles of food to be grilled. The rack assembly has two racks, one side of one rack detachably engaging in brackets attached to the corresponding side of the other rack, the other sides of the racks having post and post-engaging slider rods for clamping the racks together in spaced facing relationship to thereby clamp the article of food between them. A water-holding tray is positioned beneath each grilling area for holding a small quantity of water so that fat and the like falling from the articles of food falls into water in the tray and is thereby prevented from being further heated to the point of smoking. Grilling units may be ganged together in side-to-side fashion, so as to produce an array of grilling areas.

Abstract: A heater for microscopes for heating a sample and maintaining the sample, which is mounted on a platform of the microscope, at a preset temperature during observation of the sample. The heater includes a platform for supporting thereon a sample container and a heater for heating at least part of the platform. A first heater box is fitted, open end down, over the platform and is connected thereto to form a first space which surrounds the sample container. A second heater box is then fitted over the first heater box in such a manner that a second space which surrounds the first heater box is formed. Heater means are provided for heating the second space. Accordingly, the temperatures in the first space and in the second space can be controlled independently to achieve better control over the temperature of the sample which is to be observed and to control condensation which may otherwise form in the sample holding container.

Abstract: A device for transferring heat from a heating source to contents of an article to be warmed in which the device includes an outer wall adapted to be heated by a heating source, the heat source having a temperature above 212.degree. F., an inner wall secured to the outer wall, a sealed cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a heat-transfer liquid located in the sealed cavity for transferring heat from the heating source at a temperature above 212.degree. F. through the inner wall to the contents of the article to heat the contents of the article to a temperature below 212.degree. F.

Abstract: An electric toaster oven wherein a unique protective hood and toaster oven construction are provided for supporting a toaster oven under a kitchen cabinet in such a manner that the kitchen cabinet is effectively protected from heat, steam and flames that could come from the toaster oven. Generally horizontal handles are integrally formed on plastic side walls of the toaster oven for cooperating with horizontal guide flanges that are provided on the protective hood for supporting and spacing the toaster oven from the hood.

Abstract: .[.This invention relates to electric warming of towels, with.]. .Iadd.An electric warmer of towels has .Iaddend.a vertical member providing support to a series of spaced parallel horizontal members which receive, store and warm the towels. The heating element, being a line type heater, is enclosed within the vertical support member and is connected to any appropriate standard A.C. power source.