Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.

Hamilton Beach/proctor-silex, Inc.

William D Starr

David R Hawks

Patrick T Mulvaney

Adam Hanes

Jennifer Danich O'Flynn

Jeffrey Thomas Mauch

James H Hallar

Larry R Olson

Francesco Leopoldo Carnevale

Steve Williamson

Stephen C Williamson

Michael S Garman

Mark C Steiner

Drew Carlson

Paul M Blankenship

Terry L Myers

Nhiem Viet Nguyen

Roy B Bates

Adam Steinman

Amy Hollister

Rong Liu

A shut-off mechanism for a toaster includes a damper arm pivotally mounted on a frame that includes a damper unit. The damper unit including (a) a cavity in which a viscous fluid is stored, (b) a rotor that resides partially in the cavity and partially outside of the cavity, the viscous fluid resisting rotation of the rotor relative to the cavity, and (c) an engagement member attached to the rotor that engages a track on the frame. The damper arm is movable between a deactivated position and an activated position. An electrical switch configured to engage an electrical contact when the damper arm is in the activated position and to disengage from the electrical contact when the damper arm is in the deactivated position.

Toaster with mechanical delay shut-off mechanism

An apparatus and method are provided for automatically making a pocket sandwich. The apparatus includes a platform configured to support a wrap (such as pita bread, tortillas, or the like) and a rotatable food pocket arranged at a center of the platform. A folding paddle is configured to rotate toward and away from the center of the platform, being placed at a location with respect to the platform such that motion of the folding paddle toward the center of the platform folds a portion of the wrap. The holding arm has a tip at a free end thereof, being movable in a vertical direction toward and away from the center of the platform. The holding arm is configured to contact the wrap and hold the folded pleat in place while the food pocket rotates with respect to the platform to permit the folding paddle to generate a successive pleat.

Apparatus and method for making sandwich

A toaster oven comprising a housing defining a food cavity, an opening defined in the housing, a door movably affixed to the housing, a cooking grid selectively mountable within the housing, one or more heating elements within the housing, a timer controlling activation of the heating elements, and a timer control knob engaged with the timer. The timer control knob is selectively rotatable in a second direction from the off position to a third position to activate at least one of the one or more heating elements until the timer control knob is selectively rotated in the first direction back to the off position. The timer control knob has a selectively movable button, such that the timer control knob is only selectively rotatable in the second direction from the off position to the third position when the button is moved from a first position to a second position.

Toaster oven control knob and method of controlling a toaster oven

A kitchen appliance includes a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage. A hot water generator ('HWG') has an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending therebetween. The inlet end of the HWG is connected to the first reservoir. Liquid from the first reservoir flows into the HWG through the inlet end. A selector valve is connected to the outlet end of the HWG. At least a portion of the selector valve is movable by a user between a first valve position and a second valve position.

Kitchen appliance for preparing a beverage and method of operating same

A toaster oven comprising a housing defining a food cavity, an opening defined in the housing, a door movably affixed to the housing, a cooking grid selectively mountable within the housing, one or more heating elements within the housing, a timer controlling activation of the heating elements, and a timer control knob engaged with the timer. The timer control knob is selectively rotatable in a second direction from the off position to a third position to activate at least one of the one or more heating elements until the timer control knob is selectively rotated in the first direction back to the off position. The timer control knob is only selectively rotatable in the second direction from the off position to the third rotational position when a main body of the timer control knob is moved longitudinally from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position.

A kitchen appliance includes a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage. A hot water generator ('HWG') has an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending therebetween. The inlet end of the HWG is connected to the first reservoir. Liquid from the first reservoir flows into the HWG through the inlet end. A second reservoir is connected to the outlet end of the HWG. The second reservoir includes a discharge port, a gas vent and a skirt extending from a wall of the second reservoir further than the gas vent. The skirt at least partially surrounds the gas vent. At least a portion of the skirt is spaced laterally inwardly from an outer sidewall of the second reservoir.

Pod holder

A beverage maker including a housing, a roll top lid, a brew chamber, a removable fresh water reservoir, and a reversible, storable stand is provided. The roll top lid rotates selectively permit access to the brew chamber, which is enclosed by the housing. In the open position, the roll top lid is substantially concealed within the housing. The fresh water reservoir is located beneath the brew chamber, and the reservoir includes an optional, selectively removable lid with an integrated water level gauge. The stand is stored within the housing beneath the fresh water reservoir. The stand supports a brewed beverage receptacle on a step. In use, the beverage maker dispenses coffee to a brewed beverage receptacle, such as a travel mug, coffee cup or the like.

Brewed beverage maker

A lid for a bowl of a food processor for processing a relatively large size or large volume of foodstuff including a top lid wall and a feed tube extending from the top lid wall along a feed axis. The feed tube including an inner feed surface defining a feed cavity and a mouth for accessing the feed cavity. A feed tube lid is movably secured to the mouth of the feed tube. A food pusher is movably mounted to the feed tube lid. The food pusher and feed tube lid cover the mouth of the feed tube when the feed tube lid and food pusher are in a working position. The food pusher is movable relative to the feed tube in first and second directions in the working position. The first direction is generally parallel to the feed axis and the second direction is generally perpendicular to the feed axis.

Food processor lid

The invention relates to a brewed beverage maker with a diverter valve assembly placed between a heater and a showerhead, the diverter valve assembly fluidly connected to both the heater and showerhead. Opening the beverage maker during a brew cycle automatically causes at least a portion of the fluid passing through the diverter valve assembly to be diverted to a channel that directs the fluid to a point downstream of the showerhead in the brew cycle. In one embodiment of the invention, the diverted fluid is directed to a filter basket. The channel may optionally include a basin to collect and direct the diverted fluid. The outlet of the diverter valve assembly may form the showerhead.

Diverter valve and channel for brewed beverage maker

A brew basket for a hot beverage maker has a funnel-shape with a relatively wide top end and relatively narrow bottom end. A stepped support ring is integral in and defines a ledge around a circumference of the brew basket. A filter pod is supported on its periphery by the support ring during brewing. An adaptor can be integrally attached to the brew basket to give a user an option to place a second filter pod in the brew basket to yield more or stronger brewed beverage.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

William D Starr