Abstract:
Patio furniture (10), for indoor or outdoor use, is formed by frame members made of aluminum tubular extrusions or similar materials. A plurality of straps (92) or a one piece panel (15) with several straps (16) forms a seat (14) and a back (12) for the furniture (10). Each end (166) of the strap (100) is self-locked into a slot (78, 80) in the frame members. The locking element is either a shear formed tab (50, 52) which slides into the slot (78, 80) of the frame members and which is an integral part of the tang (46, 48) of each strap (16), or the locking element is an external fastener (184), such as a canoe clip, a screw, or a Christmas tree clip which is inserted through the end of the strap (92) and into circular holes in the frame members (9).
Abstract:
A blender which includes an improved blade assembly (14). The blade assembly (14) includes an upper blade portion (140) with two distinct blade forms (140A, 140B). The use of two different blade forms ensures consistently good performance across the outer range of normal applications. The upper blade portion (140) is preferably asymmetrical, but may be formed from a symmetrical blank.
Abstract:
A foodstuff dispensing system is provided in which a foodstuff dispensing hopper comprises a gate rotatably mounted adjacent a bottom opening for selectively opening and closing the bottom opening. The hopper further comprises coupling means for detachably and rotationally coupling the hopper to the apparatus, and an interlock mechanism for interoperating with the gate to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into an open position when the coupling means is being rotationally coupled to the apparatus and to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into a closed position when the coupling means is being counter-rotationally decoupled from the apparatus
Abstract:
A beverage maker including a steam generation means, a steam wand, and a control valve for controlling the passage of steam from the steam generation means to the steam wand is described. The steam wand includes an arm, a nozzle located at a distal end of the arm, a steam duct defined within the steam wand through which, in use, steam from the steam generation means is vented, via the nozzle, into a liquid. The steam wand also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the liquid, the temperature sensor being transversely spaced from a central axis of the steam wand and an insulating member for insulating the temperature sensor from heat generated by steam travelling through the steam duct.
Abstract:
A beater for use with a mixing apparatus, the beater including a shaft defining a central axis of rotation and including an upper end adapted to engage with the mixing apparatus and a lower end. The beater includes at least one mixing blade carried on the shaft, the at least one mixing blade secured to the shaft so as to provide a recess in the region of the central axis. The beater also includes a spacer mounted within the recess, the spacer configured to prevent contact between the mixing bowl and at least one mixing blade, the spacer having a thickness which is marginally greater than the depth of the recess to define a marginal mixing clearance between the at least one mixing blade and the mixing bowl.
Abstract:
A combined cooking press and grill (100) has a lower assembly (2) supporting a lower cooking surface, an upper assembly (1) supporting an upper cooking surface and an engagement mechanism (3) for pivotally engaging the lower and upper assemblies. The engagement mechanism allows the cooking press and grill to be located in a number of raised positions in which the upper cooking surface is spaced above and opposite the lower cooking surface, an upright position and a fully open position. The upper assembly includes a cooking surface housing (4) pivoted to left and right side arm assemblies (5) and (6) spanned by a handle (7). An actuating button (9) on the handle releases the engagement mechanism (3) via a linkage to allow the upper and lower assemblies to be moved when in the raised or upright positions.
Abstract:
A domestic rotary lawnmower which provides for compaction of grass cuttings passing to a storage container (11A or 11B) by the use of a vertically disposed augur (28) belt driven beneath the baseplate (7) from the motor drive shaft (18) and which receives cuttings and compresses them through a restriction (35) before delivery to the storage container.
Abstract:
An espresso machine is provided that utilizes a mechanical valve in addition to a flow meter. This results in a low-cost espresso machine while delivering a measured volume of water for the espresso pour. The mechanical valve facilitates a machine with both selectable espresso pour and steam and/or hot water outlets. In this embodiment, the espresso machine utilizes a shared pump and water heater (e.g., a thermoblock, boiler or similar) for multiple functions and/or through different outlets. For example, water from the reservoir may be sent through the flow meter to the pump, then to the water heater, and eventually to either the grouphead or steam wand, or to a pressure release.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a blade assembly for a stick mixer, the blade assembly including: at least three blades each having a blade tip; and at least three prongs each having a prong tip, wherein on rotation of the blade assembly about an axis of rotation the blade tips define a blade tip rotation locus about the axis of rotation and the prong tips define a prong tip rotation locus about the axis of rotation, and wherein the prong tip rotation locus is closer to the axis of rotation than the blade tip rotation locus.
Abstract:
A composite vessel (10) for storing and dispensing a liquid, the composite vessel (10) including an outer container (18) defining a first opening; a flexible inner container (16) for placement inside the outer container (18), the inner container defining a second opening, and a closure (12) for closing the first and second openings, the closure (12) including an air inlet valve (36) and a liquid outlet valve (34), wherein one of the outer and inner containers is arranged to receive pressurised air through the air inlet valve (36) and, under the influence of the pressurised air, the liquid outlet valve (34) is arranged to evacuate liquid from the other of the outer and inner containers.