A hand-held appliance having a housing with a top portion and a bottom portion that houses a motor and a temperature sensor configured to monitor the motor temperature and, if the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power until the temperature is below the threshold. The motor is controlled via a power button located on an external face of the housing. The housing includes a speed-set-button located on an external face of the housing controlling the speed of the motor and a plurality of lights corresponding to the respective speed thereof. The bottom of the housing includes a coupling portion configured to receive an attachment such as a blending assembly, whisk, frothing assembly, or other attachment. The housing further includes a sensor configured to monitor motor performance and applied load and, if the load exceeds a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power from the motor.

A hand-held appliance having a housing with a top portion and a bottom portion that houses a motor and a temperature sensor configured to monitor the motor temperature and, if the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power until the temperature is below the threshold. The motor is controlled via a power button located on an external face of the housing. The housing includes a speed-set-button located on an external face of the housing controlling the speed of the motor and a plurality of lights corresponding to the respective speed thereof. The bottom of the housing includes a coupling portion configured to receive an attachment such as a blending assembly, whisk, frothing assembly, or other attachment. The housing further includes a sensor configured to monitor motor performance and applied load and, if the load exceeds a predetermined threshold, trigger removal of power from the motor.

A device is disclosed for peeling foodstuffs, the device comprising a rotatable disc having a first friction surface; and a second, preferably friction, surface encircling the first friction surface. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A closure for a lid that has at least one opening may include an activator pivotally coupled to the lid, a cover pivotally coupled to the lid, and a connecting member pivotally coupled to the activator and the cover. The activator, the cover and the connecting member may form an over center latching mechanism. In addition, the activator may be pivotally connected to the lid about a first axis of rotation, the cover may be pivotally connected to the lid about a second axis of rotation, the connecting member may pivotally connected to the activator about a third axis of rotation, and the connecting member may be pivotally connected to the cover about a fourth axis of rotation. The distance between the first and second axes of rotation may be constant, and the distance between the third and fourth axes of rotation may change as the cover is moved.

A drive assembly for driving an implement is provided. The drive assembly includes a gear drive mechanism comprising a first drive gear rotatable about a first axis of rotation; a second drive gear rotatable about a second axis of rotation and engaged to the first drive gear; a driven member driven by the second drive gear, engaged to the implement, and rotatable about a third axis of rotation; a lobe; and a flexible link engaged to the first drive gear and the lobe, the flexible link comprising a first loop engaged to the lobe and a second loop engaged to the first drive gear. The drive assembly also includes a handle member engaged to the gear drive mechanism and configured to drive the lobe. The implement is rotated about the third axis of rotation as the handle member is moved from an unfired position to a fired position.

The invention relates to a stirring member (9) for using in a system for preparing a food product, the product being prepared by the stirring member (9) moving inside a container (8), the stirring member (9) being configured in such a way that it can adopt different configurations depending on its direction of rotation inside the container (8). Preferably, the stirring member (9) can adopt a spoon configuration or a whisk configuration. The invention further relates to a method for using such a stirring member (9) in a system for preparing a food product, the method varying the direction of rotation of the stirring member (9) so that it adopts a different configuration depending on the type of product prepared in the container (8).

A straw/stirring/crushing device is provided. The straw/stirring/crushing device has a top, a bottom, a generally cylindrical shaft and a generally hollow interior. Located at the bottom of the straw/stirring/crushing device may be a generally flat base portion which may allow the straw/stirring/crushing device to stand upright. An opening at the bottom of the generally flat base portion may allow the device to intake a liquid while the device stands upright. A plurality of protrusions on the bottom of the generally flat base portion may allow the device to operate as a straw while resting at the bottom of a glass or cup. Further, the plurality of protrusions allow the device to act as a crusher for lemons, olives, ice or the like. In an embodiment, the device may have multiple openings for receiving a liquid located within a glass or cup.

A straw/stirring/crushing device is provided. The straw/stirring/crushing device has a top, a bottom, a generally cylindrical shaft and a generally hollow interior. Located at the bottom of the straw/stirring/crushing device may be a generally flat base portion which may allow the straw/stirring/crushing device to stand upright. An opening at the bottom of the generally flat base portion may allow the device to intake a liquid while the device stands upright. A plurality of protrusions on the bottom of the generally flat base portion may allow the device to operate as a straw while resting at the bottom of a glass or cup. Further, the plurality of protrusions allow the device to act as a crusher for lemons, olives, ice or the like. In an embodiment, the device may have multiple openings for receiving a liquid located within a glass or cup.

A blender comprises a base, a blending mechanism and a fixing mechanism. The blending mechanism is formed by the encirclement of a plurality of thin and long curved blending units. The end portions of the two ends of each of the blending units are respectively inserted into the base. Parts of the end portions of all blending units in connection with the base are positioned on the same circumference. The clearances between two adjacent blending units are equal or similar. The fixing mechanism comprises a plurality of fixing units corresponding to the blending units one-to-one, and the fixing units are inserted into the base and fix the end portions of the corresponding blending unit that extend into the base in the base. The blender has the advantages of stable operation and uniform blending of the pulp and mediums after blending and beating.