Abstract:
A domestic carbonation appliance has a replaceable CO2 cylinder and accepts a refillable bottle with a removeable cap. The cap can cooperate with a carbonation head of a domestic carbonation device but lacks bayonette or thread features for engaging the carbonation head. The device provides for “one-touch” carbonation.
Abstract:
There is provided a toaster grill having a lower housing that supports a lower cooking surface and an upper housing that supports an upper cooking surface. The upper housing pivots with respect to a “U” shaped frame that is hinged with respect to the lower cooking surface. A locking hinge allows the pivoting motion of the frame to be automatically arrested in an intermediate orientation between the fully closed and fully open grill orientations. The locking hinge automatically resets when the upper housing is rotated from the fully open grill orientation to the fully closed orientation.
Abstract:
A compacting auger for ground coffee has an automatic cut off that responds to either timing signals or to the torque resistance to the augur offered by the coffee that has been compacted. The automation of the cut off increases the consistency of compaction and reduces the amount of skill required to compact ground coffee for making espresso.
Abstract:
An apparatus for grinding coffee. The apparatus including: a grinder mechanism; a ground discharge region; a user control for enabling a user to select grind preferences; a display element for displaying data indicative of user inputs to the user control; a processor element coupled to the user control and a display element for controlling operation of the grinder mechanism. The apparatus being adapted to provides fine control over grind size and dispense discreet doses according to a users preference and control inputs; and display depictions representing a range of coffee grinder functions.
Abstract:
A distributed software system of communicating software components can be tested for undesirable behavior. A specification of a component can be substituted in place of the component when testing a model of the distributed software system. Thus, the system can be checked to see if it exhibits undesirable behavior without having code for all components of the system. Also, a component can be checked to see if it is in conformance with its specification. If models built with respective components and substituted specifications indicate that the system does not exhibit undesirable behavior, and the components conform to their specifications, then a system assembled from the components will not exhibit the undesirable behavior. Thus, collaborative testing can be achieved, even if no one entity has access to code for the entire distributed system.
Abstract:
A toaster has a user selectable supplementary toasting cycle that is intended to change the shade of a food after or during a toasting cycle.
Abstract:
A tea maker comprises a vessel in which is located a conveyor. The conveyor, preferably vertically, transports a carriage. The conveyor and a carriage are surrounded by a tube and are protected from the water in the vessel. An enclosed basket is coupled to the carriage. An external user interface allows a user to select brewing parameters such as the type of beverage brewed, the brewing temperature, and the steeping time. The selection is sent to a processor. The processor then encodes the selection into a control data for the heating assembly or the conveyor.