A domestic cooking or defrosting appliance including a heating region and a camera for obtaining images of food cooking or defrosting within the heating region, wherein the camera outputs video signals to a processor that drives a display means associated with the appliance and/or controls the cooking or defrosting operation of the appliance. The display means is conveniently situated on the appliance to show an easily-viewable image of the food obtained by the camera. The camera is sensitive to...

This invention provides a domestic appliance (1) such as a kettle, coffee maker, and toaster or similar that includes a fluid chamber (3). The fluid chamber (3) is provided with a light to diffuse through the fluid and is visible through a transparent or translucent portion in the exterior wall of the wall of the chamber. The light may be controlled to show different operative states of the appliance and provide a large visual area of indication of the operative.

A mixer arranged for crushing food materials immersed in a liquid comprises a motor unit and a mixing foot. A shaft extends within the mixing foot and is coupled at one end to the motor unit. At its other end the shaft carries a mixing screw which is housed in a cover carried by said mixing foot. The mixing screw is movable between a safety position, in which it is located in the cover, and a mixing position, in which it projects outwardly of the cover. The mixing screw is moved into its mixing ...

A kettle is described having a pair of heating elements each connected to a cable with a plug at its end. The two plugs can be inserted into two separate sockets of a wall plug so that each heating element separately receives power from the sockets.

A domestic appliance is provided having a control panel in which a remote control signal passing part is formed on a manipulating member, and the manipulating member is integrated with a display window. The control panel includes a switch to be selectively turned on and off by relative movement of a moving part and a fixed part. The manipulating member is configured to be operated in conjunction with the moving part to selectively turn on and off the switch and is provided with the remote contro...

A domestic composter of molded plastic has an upwardly tapered body comprising an upper and a lower half, with tongue and socket connectors such that the two halves may be firmly assembled together or separated without the use of tools. The upper half fits readily within the lower half, permitting transportation of the composter within a standard size automobile. The tapered construction enables multiples of the respective body portions to be nested, for economical bulk transportation. An access...

A domestic carbonator for gasifying liquid in a container comprising a cap for the container having an injector passage closed by a one-way non-return valve in combination with a main body having pressure-reducing discs, an injector piston for initiating a gas flow, a pressure relief valve and a pressure gauge. The main body is provided with an opening for receiving a CO.sub.2 cylinder with a further piston for cutting off the gas supply under the effect of the back pressure from the container.

A food-comminuting plate includes a pair of parallel rails on which a removable food-holder can be guided for reciprocation and limited rotation relative to the plate. Comminuting blades on the plate are located between the rails. The holder is a concave shell of an extent to span the rails and its hollow opens toward the comminuting plate. The shell hollow has food-impaling pins; and a plunger extends through the shell for pressing the food along the pins toward the plate as the food is reduced...

A device for facilitating the removal of bottle caps and screw-type lids or the like. The device is characterized by the provision of a displaceable striker member which serves to indent the cap or lid upon impacting thereof, thereby releasing such forces which result from the manner in which the closures are installed.

A boiler construction is disclosed which eliminates the need for bolting together of internal parts thereby greatly facilitating mass production and rapid assembly procedures. Internal side protectors, in addition to establishing the size of the boiler in the front-to-back direction, serve as support rails for a removable boiler module and as a retainer for fire bricks which are further retained by a firebox grate. Front and back protectors for the boiler interior rest upon the grate support mem...