Black Decker Inc.

Mid-south Industries, Inc.

Other

Kenneth H Patrick

Michael D Morrissey

Larry E Unger

Arthur H Freeman

Thomas A Mooty

David B Jalbert

Michael E Bitzel

Edward M Kubicz

Bryan P De Blois

Robert Bruce Rummer

David Charles Alexander

Gary W Johnson

Angelo J Rainone

An icemaking assembly (&ldquo;icemaker&rdquo;) is provided which includes an improved construction including an ice mold separate but attached to a structural base. The structural base includes integral elements such as a water fill cup, stripper, and mounting configuration. The integral nature of the stripper, combined with its &ldquo;living hinge&rdquo; feature, allows for an improved method and apparatus for fixing the ice tray in place. The combination provides an icemaker having improved thermal properties, as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies. Other improvements include an improved control system, as well as other cost-saving features.

Method and apparatus for providing ice

An icemaking assembly ('icemaker') is provided which includes an improved construction including an ice mold separate but attached to a structural base. The structural base includes integral elements such as a water fill cup, stripper, and mounting configuration. The integral nature of the stripper, combined with its 'living hinge' feature, allows for an improved method and apparatus for fixing the ice tray in place. The combination provides an icemaker having improved thermal properties, as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies. Other improvements include an improved control system, as well as other cost-saving features.

A pneumatic frosting applicator apparatus designed for dispensing viscous material, primarily frosting for the decoration of baked goods. The device permits the user to dispense frosting using the same natural and easy position utilized by experienced decorators but in a more ergonomically enhanced manner. The device further permits the user to more precisely control the flow of frosting and to dispense the frosting in a smooth continuous fashion. The device is simple to operate and to clean, easy to manufacture, and is affordable.

Pneumatic frosting applicator

An electric iron includes a storage base. The iron includes a switch for selectively connecting the iron to a source of electrical power. The iron is automatically disconnected from the source of electrical power when the iron is placed in the storage base.

Electric iron with storage base and method of storing the iron

A spray nozzle for an electric iron includes a nozzle cap having an outlet orifice formed in a first end wall thereof. The cap includes an axially extending cylindrical wall defining an axially extending bore. A fluid flow coupling is inserted into a second end wall of the cap and includes a valve seat. A movable valve member is disposed within the bore and is operable to direct fluid through the outlet orifice when fluid flows through the bore towards the outlet. The valve member moves within the bore into engagement with the valve seat when flow of fluid through the bore is terminated.

Spray nozzle assembly for an electric iron

An electric iron includes an electrically heated soleplate and a housing including a handle portion and a saddle portion. A thermostat is mounted on the soleplate for sensing the temperature thereof. An actuator is rotatably connected to the thermostat for establishing an operating temperature for the soleplate. A track is formed in the saddle portion of the housing. The track extends arcuately in a horizontal plane through the skirt and has a vertical slope. A control member is movably retained within the track. A linkage interconnects the control member to the actuator for converting the combined arcuate and vertical movement of the control member to rotational movement of the actuator.

Thermostat control for an electric iron

An iron assembly includes a mounting base and an electric iron removably mounted on the base. A water cassette is also removably mounted on the base.

Iron assembly including water cassette and base

An electric steam iron includes a soleplate, an electric heater attached in heat transfer relation to the soleplate and a source of electric current connected to the heater for delivering electric power thereto. The iron includes a housing forming a reservoir. A dam is formed in the water reservoir. The iron further includes a steam generating chamber and a valve controlling the flow of water from the water reservoir to the steam generating chamber. The valve is positioned within the water reservoir relatively rearwardly of the dam so that a head of water is formed above the valve when the iron is placed upright with the iron heel rest in a relatively horizontal plane and the iron soleplate in a relatively vertical plane.

Steam iron with a vertical steaming feature

An ice maker comprising an elongated freezing tray (100) having arcuately shaped cross sectional configuration with equal-spaced separators (120) formed therein each in a plane normal to the axis of the elongated freezing tray (100) and comprising a rotatable assembly comprising a first hollow, cylindrical shaft (100) rotatably secured near both ends of the tray (100) substantially coincident with the axis of the tray (100) and having generally flat paddle-shaped ejector elements (114 and 115) formed thereon a second hollow, cylindrical non-rotatable shaft (160) positioned within the first cylindrical shaft (106) and non-rotatably secured at one end to the tray (100) assembly; a heating element (113) positioned within the second, hollow cylindrical shaft (160) comprising a power source (309) for supplying power thereto to heat the heating element (113) and by conduction to heat the first and second hollow, cylindrical shaft 160 and the ejector elements (114 and 115) to release the full crescent shaped ice pieces from the ejector element.

Half crescent shaped ice piece maker

A half crescent shaped ice piece maker comprising a freezing tray (100) having an inner surface arcuately shaped about a longitudinal radial axis and divided into crescent shaped water fillable cavities (112) in which the ice pieces are formed, and an ejector assembly (102) for rotatively moving the ice pieces out of the cavities (122) comprising a rotatable shaft (106) supported in bearings with its axis coincident with the radial axis, and with ejector assembly (102) further comprising a row of primary flexible, spring-like ejector elements (114) lying in a common plane and each secured at a first end to the shaft (106) and having its second end extend into one of the crescent shaped cavities (122) to divide the cavity (122) into rotatively leading and lagging partial crescent shaped cavities while water is injected and frozen therein and before the ejector assembly (102) is rotated to form leading and lagging rows of partial crescent ice pieces with ice bridges (152) around the edges of the ejector elements (114) between the leading and lagging partial crescent ice pieces (130) and (132) of each full crescent shaped ice piece, and a prime mover for rotating the ejector assembly. A fixed position ice stripper assembly (104) is positioned in the path of the ice pieces being rotated by the ejector assembly (102) to stop the rotation of the ice pieces and bend back the row of flexible spring-like ejector elements to create a potential force therein and to break the ice bridge between the leading and lagging half crescent ice pieces and enable the flexible, spring-like ejector elements to spring forward to eject the leading row of half crescent ice pieces from the freezing tray. A second row of ejector elements functions to eject the lagging row of partial crescent ice pieces from the tray.

Growing community of inventors

Rainbow City, AL, United States of America

Kenneth H Patrick