Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein an interrupt mechanism is provided for interrupting operation of a toast timer controller when the oven toaster door is opened. An interrupt lever is positioned between a door operated rod and a heat-up/cool-down bi-metal timer controller so that when the door is opened the interrupt lever moves the toasting period controller to its off position. Thus, when the door is opened during a toasting cycle operation, the toasting period controller is returned to its off position so that a user is required to reset a new full-toast cycle when the door is reclosed. This arrangement prevents undertoasted bread that could result if fresh bread is inserted in the middle of a toasting cycle.

Abstract: A toast load selector mechanism for use with toasters accommodating varying toast loads of from one to a plurality of bread slices or other food items for toasting and having a toasting time interval timer including a manually operable brownness control knob for adjusting the toasting time interval, the brownness control movable through an adjustment range between a first position setting a minimum time interval for toasting a minimum toast load to the lightest brown condition and a second position setting a maximum time interval for toasting the maximum toast load to the darkest brown condition. The toast load selector mechanism comprises a toast load selector member which is mounted concentrically with the brownness control knob, the toast load selector member defining first and second stops limiting the adjustment range of the brownness control to a subrange applicable to a given toast load selected by the toast load selector member.