Black Decker Inc.

Other

Robert E Kubicko

Gregory E Moores

Charles Z Krasznai

Michael E Bitzel

Burton E Gerke, Jr

Paul D Johnson

Louis C Martone

Richard J Carbone

Lee H Eckert

Julian Watt

William H Younger

A flexible core for a hand-held device such as a flashlight includes a pair of conductive wires which electrically connect a source of power to a power using implement. A flexible spine surrounds the pair of conductive wires and includes a plurality of interconnected universally rotatable members. A resilient sleeve engages the outer surface of the rotatable members forming the spine. An adaptor including one conductor made from nickel chromium wire may be used to selectively connect the flashlight to a 12 volt source of electrical power in lieu of two standard C cells housed within the flashlight.

Flashlight with flexible core

The present invention is a vacuum cleaner recharging assembly. The assembly includes a vacuum cleaner having a motor, a housing enclosing the motor, a fan driven by the motor for producing a vacuum, and a canister for at least the reception of foreign matter and air drawn into the canister in response to the vacuum produced by the fan. The vacuum cleaner has a power source for powering the motor and electrical wiring interconnecting the motor and the power source. The assembly also includes a charging unit cooperable with the vacuum cleaner for charging the power source. The assembly further includes circuitry for disconnecting the flow of electrical power from the power source to the motor when the vacuum cleaner and the charging unit are operatively engaged to allow optimum charging of the power source.

Internal contact for a charging circuit

The present invention is a vacuum cleaner and accessory attachment assembly including a vacuum cleaner and an accessory attachment. The vacuum cleaner includes a motor, a housing enclosing the motor and a fan driven by the motor for producing a vacuum. The vacuum cleaner also includes a canister removably attached to the housing for reception of air and foreign matter into the canister in response to the vacuum produced by the fan. The vacuum cleaner further includes a power source and electrical wiring interconnecting the power source and the motor. The accessory attachment is removably mounted to the vacuum cleaner and includes a motor, and means for electrically connecting the motor to the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes means for allowing the speed of the motor of the vacuum cleaner to change while allowing the speed of the motor for the accessory attachment to remain constant.

Electrical power circuit for a vacuum cleaner

A coffee brewing unit is disclosed which enables a brew cycle to be initiated automatically upon insertion of a coffee receiving vessel into its coffee receiving position, but which prevents a brew cycle from proceeding if a number of required operating conditions are not implemented. If all operating conditions again become implemented after a brew cycle, once underway, is interrupted, the brew cycle continues on to completion. Visual signals indicate that a brew cycle is in progress and also when sufficient mineral deposits are present that cleaning of the unit is recommended. An insulated carafe is used as the vessel to receive brewed coffee thereby eliminating the need for a warmer plate. The unit may be mounted under a cabinet to thereby maximize usable countertop space and a coffee basket for the unit utilizes a dispensing valve which is opened by the carafe when inserted into position but which closes when the carafe is withdrawn. A thermostat which is used in association with the water generator for the unit has a manual reset switch which is actuated by a self contained water reservoir when moved into its operating position.

Carafe-operated coffee brewing system

A coffee brewing machine utilizes an insulated carafe to receive the brewed coffee and automatically turns itself off a short time after completion of a brew cycle. The machine also turns off automatically a specified time after a brew cycle is initiated when calcification is so extreme that flow of water through the unit is totally prevented. Additionally, as a safety feature, the system also turns off automatically in the case of a 'dry run', that is, a short specified time after accidental energization when no water is in the reservoir. A lamp is lighted when a brew cycle is in progress but is extinguished at other times.

Auto-off coffee brewing system

For a coffee brewing machine, an indicating system which operates to notify the user when it is time to clean the water supply conduit of accumulated mineral deposits. When a self contained removable reservoir is inserted into its operative position connecting to the water supply conduit, it closes the contacts of a temperature sensitive switch. During normal operation, the switch opens when water is depleted from the reservoir and the brewing cycle is completed. However, if the switch opens while water remains in the supply conduit upstream of the heater mechanism, this is a sure indication that there is a substantial accumulation of mineral deposits in the supply conduit. Thus, a sensing mechanism is employed to detect the presence of water in the supply conduit after the temperature sensitive switch opens, and a lamp is energized to indicate the condition. In one embodiment, the sensing operation is performed by an electromechanical device, and in another embodiment by logic circuitry.

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Shelton, CT, United States of America

Robert E Kubicko