Slice Toaster Or Broiler (e.g., Grid Types) Patents (Class 99/385)
  • Patent number: 6006656
    Abstract: A toaster has heating elements (H1, H2) arranged at opposite sides of a product (5) to be toasted. The size of the product to be toasted (5) is detected by a sensor, for example a mechanical sensor (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) or an optical sensor device with a photo-emitter and a photo-receiver. The power delivered by the heating elements (H1, H2) is controlled in dependence on the detected size. Thus, the power consumption of the toaster is adapted to the size of the product to be toasted and overheating of the product is avoided and a constant toasting time is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Klaas J. Lulofs, Roelf Van Der Wal
  • Patent number: 5970851
    Abstract: A grilling appliance includes a housing having a vertical food compartment for receiving a food article in a vertical position, a heated first grill plate mounted in a vertical position in one side of the food compartment, a heated second grill plate mounted in a vertical position in the opposite side of the food compartment, and a drive for driving the second grill plate to an extended position towards the first grill plate, or to a retracted position away from the first grill plate. Also described are food holders particularly useful with such grilling appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Dime Group Corp.
    Inventors: Ruben Masel, George Valdshtein
  • Patent number: 5960702
    Abstract: A toasting apparatus for bread products (15), consisting of a frame (2) provided with an insertion slot (3) communicating with a toasting chamber (3a) that receives the products and is located between heating elements (10) combined with heat reflectors (6) for directing the thermal energy generated by the heating elements (10) at the products, particularly in the form of radiation. The apparatus is provided with an observation system for visually monitoring the degree of toasting of the products (15) in the toasting chamber (3a). The observation system includes a lighting device (11) for illuminating the toasting chamber (3a) in such a way that an accurate indication of the color of the products (15) being prepared is provided. The toasting apparatus may be in the form of a toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Thiriat, Michel Klinger
  • Patent number: 5960704
    Abstract: An improved contact toaster for heating sandwich buns and other food items features a housing containing a toasting chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The toasting chamber contains a pair of conveyor belts with a heated platen positioned between them. Each conveyor belt features a platen-facing portion so that two pathways are defined. Each conveyor belt also features a heat-distributing surface. Two auxiliary heaters are positioned so that one of each heats one of each of the platen-facing portions of the conveyor belts. One of each of a pair of tensioners engages one of each of the platen-facing portions of the conveyor belts so that each pathway tapers inward to a minimum thickness and then expands outward again. As a result, food items moving through the pathways via the conveyor belts are toasted on both surfaces and also absorb heat from both the platen and the conveyor belt surfaces in a sponge-like manner as they are compressed and released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: A.J. Antunes & Co.
    Inventors: Scott P. March, Clark R. Agcaoili
  • Patent number: 5934183
    Abstract: The grills (10,1010,1011) disclosed have many modular components, each being supported by horizontal support members (30,32). These components include the firebox (100), a hood assembly (1300), two or more work shelves (1430), two opposed extension members (1410) and one or more storage bins (1750). A new thermometer (1800) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, J. Michael Alden, Robert T. Stephen
  • Patent number: 5934184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable gas grill (10) supported on a cart (20) with sliding covers (210), pivoting cooking guards (31), a fire box (100) of both cast sides (120) and sheet metal ends (140) hung on the cart (20), with an internal support structure (160) supporting a plurality of sear bars (410) and a cooking grid (101), a plurality of burners (510), a grease collector (62) and a tank support means (910) with a scale (913,914,915) for a fuel tank (900).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, J. Michael Alden, Robert T. Stephen, James C. Stephen
  • Patent number: 5924355
    Abstract: A low cost toaster having a metal body and plastic end panels. The end panels have cooling inlet vents near their lower ends and the top wall of the metal body has air outlet vents. Ambient air admitted through the inlet vents flows upwardly through the toaster and outwardly through the outlet vents to provide a cooling effect sufficient to allow the use of inexpensive plastic material for molding the end panels. The toaster has a bread lifter made entirely from a wire rod, a bread lifter extension made entirely from a wire rod, and a toast color cam made entirely from a single piece of sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Belknap, John W. Foster
  • Patent number: 5916466
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for an enclosure including at least a ceiling and a side wall, the apparatus includes a plurality of electrical resistance heating wires or sections of electrical resistance heating wire, and support means therefor. The support means include support members each having a first part adapted to be secured relative to the ceiling or side wall and a second part which projects inwardly of the enclosure, the second part including a plurality of spaced apart heating wire support formations. The support members and the heating wire support formations are arranged such that in use substantial portions of the length of each of the plurality of the heating wires or sections of heating wire, are supported side by side by the support members each parallel to or generally parallel to each other and to the ceiling or side wall of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: TFW Dixon & Son Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Gildroy Shaw Dixon
  • Patent number: 5901639
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive timing assembly for a toaster appliance includes a single bimetallic element having a first portion connected to a support bracket, which in turn is mounted on a mounting bracket for pivotal movement relative to the mounting bracket. A spring is positioned between the mounting bracket and the support bracket to bias the support bracket toward the mounting bracket. A stop is mounted to the mounting bracket which locks the support bracket in a fixed position when actuated by the toaster carriage assembly at the beginning of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element has a second portion which operatively activates the toaster lock release assembly at the end of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element also has a third portion which operatively allows the support bracket to reposition at the end of a toasting cycle so as to provide virtually immediate initiation of the next toasting cycle providing substantially the same toast color as the previous toasting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Toastmaster Inc.
    Inventor: Peter E. Huggler
  • Patent number: 5896808
    Abstract: A portable electrically powered broiler including a base element connected to a source of power, and a lid element having a heating source which electrically communicates with the base element when the lid element is in position upon the base element. The base element includes selectively removable grill and pan members. In an alternate embodiment, the lid element is at least partially formed from electrically resistive tempered glass to form the heating source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Walter Graur
  • Patent number: 5853781
    Abstract: A container supporting French fries to be heated in a toaster. The toaster has an article receiving slot. The container comprises an upright structure having a closed bottom and a front and a back parallel to the front which are held together along adjacent side edges by mechanical means. The upright structure has an openable top for access to heated French fries. The front and back have apertures located above the closed bottom. The apertures provide an open area in the front and the back to pass toaster radiation heat into the container to heat the food article and for steam from heated French fries to exit the container. The upright structure has a portion extending sufficiently above the toaster which is cool-to-the-touch and electrically non-conductive to enable a user to lift the container from the toaster without a finger burn or electrical shock. The closed bottom of the container forms a drip trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: James L. Bono, Lewis A. Tucker, Deborah J. Yee
  • Patent number: 5819637
    Abstract: A Toaster having heating elements whose heating area depends on the slice size. A toaster has heating elements (H1, H2) divided into sub-elements (H1A, H1B; H2A, H2B) which can be activated individually. The size of the product to be toasted (5) is detected by means of a sensor, for example a mechanical sensor (2) or an optical sensor device with a photo-emitter and a photo-receiver. The sub-elements are activated selectively in dependence on the detected size. Thus, the power consumption of the toaster is adapted to the size of the product to be toasted and overheating of the product in the proximity of the unused heating area of the heating elements is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob H. Botma, Roelf Van Der Wal, Klaas J. Lulofs
  • Patent number: 5771782
    Abstract: A conversion broiler assembly to adapt a single-sided cooking apparatus to a double-sided cooking apparatus. The conversion broiler assembly has a rear housing that is mountable to the single-sided cooking apparatus. The rear housing movably receives left and right stanchions that are pivotally attached to left and right support arms with a broiler positioned therebetween. The left and right stanchions and support arms are generally hollow and provide passageways for combustion air, exhaust air, gas lines and electrical lines to and from the broiler. A rail system having two rails with running surfaces and one rail with an inclined running surface support rollers on the left and right stanchions to provide for smooth and easy lateral translation of the broiler relative to the rear housing. The conversion broiler assembly has a flue system for directing air flow and high temperature exhaust away from the assembly when in use while maintaining a substantially cool rear wall of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Lang Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Taber, Bradley Allen, Michael Quiring, Bradley J. Miner
  • Patent number: 5694831
    Abstract: Electrical household appliance which permits simultaneous toasting of bread and cooking of food in separate cavities which are arranged within a housing in perpendicular relationship and each of the cavities being provided with respective heating elements. Bread slices are inserted into the toaster cavity from slots on the top of the appliance and are toast in the vertical position while other articles of food are inserted horizontally into the oven cavity through an opening on the front side of the appliance. The food articles in the oven cavity can be cooked while bread is toasting in the toaster cavity. The appliance is provided with controls for adjusting the temperatures and times for toasting and cooking. One of the heating elements utilized in the toaster cavity may be shiftable from a first position in the toaster compartment to a second position in the oven cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: Robert M. Haroun, Joseph Sofer
  • Patent number: 5692432
    Abstract: An appliance (5) for toasting a product (10) comprises detection means (12) for detecting variations of a toasting condition of the product during toasting and for allowing a user to adjust the toasting result as desired. The appliance comprises a temperature sensor (13) which measures the temperature of the product. Timing means (14) are started when a predetermined temperature (Td) is reached. The timing means (14) are stopped when either another predetermined temperature (Tf) is reached or when a predetermined period has elapsed. The appliance is also capable of controlling a process of defrosting of the product prior to toasting of said product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Hazan, Jean-Louis Nagel, Serge Gourrier
  • Patent number: 5676046
    Abstract: A conversion broiler assembly to adapt a single-sided cooking apparatus to a double-sided cooking apparatus. The conversion broiler assembly has a rear housing that is mountable to the single-sided cooking apparatus. The rear housing movably receives left and right stanchions that are pivotally attached to left and right support arms with a broiler positioned therebetween. The left and right stanchions and support arms are generally hollow and provide passageways for combustion air, exhaust air, gas lines and electrical lines to and from the broiler. A rail system having two rails with running surfaces and one rail with an inclined running surface support rollers on the left and right stanchions to provide for smooth and easy lateral translation of the broiler relative to the rear housing. The conversion broiler assembly has a flue system for directing air flow and high temperature exhaust away from the assembly when in use while maintaining a substantially cool rear wall of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Lang Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Taber, Bradley Allen, Michael Quiring, Bradley J. Miner
  • Patent number: 5676048
    Abstract: A gas barbecue having a rectangular body, gas control means, a cooking grill, and a burner assembly. The burner assembly includes an elongate tube burner and a generally L-shaped tube burner having a primary tube member and a secondary tube member intersecting the primary tube member thereby forming the general L shape. The free end of the secondary tube member is positioned in close proximity to the elongate tube burner such that the ignition of the elongate tube burner causes cross-ignition of the L-shaped tube burner when gas is supplied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Napolean Appliance Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schroeter, Cliff Lilley, Steven Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5673608
    Abstract: A food cutting holder mounted in conjunction with a toaster for toasting bagels, muffins, bread slices and other similar types of foodstuff. The food cutting holder is to be confinable within the housing of the toaster when in the storage position and removable from the housing when it is intended to be used. The food cutting holder confiningly locates the food item in a precise position facilitating division of the food item into a plurality of separate pieces. It is intended that these separate pieces are then to be toasted within the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Robert A. DeMars
  • Patent number: 5664483
    Abstract: An electric toaster which comprises a body having a compartment (20) for accommodating a slice of bread, a vertically movable support for supporting a said slice of bread in the compartment (20), an operating member (36/42) operable to move the support downwards, heating elements provided on opposite sides of the compartment (20) for heating a said slice of bread, and a movable holder (16 & 18) having opposite sides (16 & 18) supported for movement towards each other upon operation of the operating member (36/42) in order to hold therebetween a said slice of bread in a stationary position between the heating elements. Each said holder side (16/18) has upper and lower end portions which are guided to move along respective slots (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: G.E.W. Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Kit Chuen Yip
  • Patent number: 5655437
    Abstract: A new Flameless Charcoal Side Burner System for providing a charcoal grill allowing a user to prepare food with an adjustable continuous charcoal heating source without flames singing the food or flaring toward the user. The inventive device includes a side burner structure for retaining charcoal, a lower grill structure, and an upper grill structure supporting the side burner structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Leonard J. Vitacca
  • Patent number: 5655435
    Abstract: An outdoor patio deck is outfitted with a metal grate having a central fire bowl. The fire bowl can be used as a barbecue pit or a campfire retainer. The metal grate dissipates the heat from the fire and prevents damage to the deck. A cooking chamber is created by the addition of a pair of racks, a spit, and a lid. An ash chute can be installed at the bottom of the fire bowl for high decks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Stan Rachesky
  • Patent number: 5655438
    Abstract: A diversified cooking appliance for use outdoors or indoors which can readily be transformed to perform all the cooking modes normally performed in conventional kitchen ovens. The main body of this invention comprises two separate chambers, the lower being stationary and the upper being separably hinged to the lower. Platforms of various materials can be placed in the lower chamber to facilitate various arts of cooking while withstanding cooking temperatures. A heat source consists of the two separate adjustable burners suspended in the upper chamber. Two cold air intake apertures are provided at each side of the base of the lower chamber, with the updrafted cold air being the driving force which stimulates the hot cooking temperatures. The air is subsequently deflected between the suspended burners and the heat deflecting baffle, thereby distributing evenly hot temperatures throughout the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Carmen A. Rossi
  • Patent number: 5653158
    Abstract: A toasting or heating appliance, particularly an electrical food toasting or heating appliance such as a toaster, including a housing (1) with a fixed toasting subassembly (5) and a movable toasting subassembly (6) moved by a holder (20) to form a variable-width toasting slot (7), the holder (20) including two side arms (21, 22) rotatably mounted at their ends on the housing (1), a bread rack (15) axially movable in the slot, and a control handle (16) which controls the movement of the movable bread rack (15) and is combined with an actuating member (19) for causing relative movement of the two subassemblies (5, 6), wherein the appliance further includes at least one stabilizing arm (30) arranged behind the movable subassembly (6) and connected to the back thereof via a first hinge (31), as well as to the housing (1) via a second hinge (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Balandier, Alain Rousseau
  • Patent number: 5647270
    Abstract: A toasting or heating appliance, particularly an electric toaster comprising a housing with a toasting slot (7) defined by two movable squeezing grills (13), a bread rack (15) axially movable within the toasting slot (7), a carriage (40) which controls the movement of the movable bread rack (15) and is combined with a control handle (16), and a resilient return member (46) for returning the bread rack (15) to its raised receiving position, wherein the control carriage (40) is axially and resiliently movable relative to the movable bread rack (15) and provided with a member (19) that actuates a drive element (45) for moving at least one squeezing grill (13). The appliance is suitable for use as a toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Rousseau, Dominique Marx
  • Patent number: 5642657
    Abstract: A toaster having a mechanically actuated cover for each of one or more toasting volumes. Each cover at least partially covers a toasting volume within the toaster during toasting, thereby reducing heat transfer (primarily due to convection) away from the toaster and the object being toasted. In preferred embodiments, each cover is a pair of slidably mounted plates. When a carriage (supporting an object to be toasted) is manually lowered by a user, a mechanical linkage attached to the carriage cause the plates to slide together to cover (substantially or totally) a toasting volume. When the carriage springs up (at the end of the toasting operation), the mechanical linkage slides the plates away from each other to allow removal of the toasted object from the toaster. In other preferred embodiments, each cover is a pair of rotatably mounted plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: SEMK Industrial (Holding) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Pat Hok-Kwong Yeung, Miu-Choy Yeung, Eric Wah Ho
  • Patent number: 5579680
    Abstract: A smokeless grill suitable for use upon a conventional gas or electric range in which a lower base element is of shorter longitudinal dimension than a mating cover element which defines a transversely extending horizontal opening adapted to be positioned directly over a gas or electric heating element or burner. Heat emanating from the burner rises under convection as well as radiation to enter the opening and heat air enclosed by the cover. The heated air circulates in a continuous loop between the base element and the cover element to cook food supported upon a grill element disposed therebetween, the configuration of the grill allowing the heated air to pass both above and below the grill. Because no air is introduced into the device, the food cooks essentially without burning or smoking, and all combustion occurs externally of the interconnected base element and cover element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Walter Graur
  • Patent number: 5528980
    Abstract: The pop-up toaster has a toaster body provided with a slot for insertion of an article to be toasted, a toaster carriage for the article, electric toasting elements in an interior of the toaster body for toasting the article and a flame barrier device for preventing a flame produced by inadvertent combustion of the article from issuing from the slot while permitting escape of heated air from the slot. The flame barrier device can be made of wire gauze or expanded metal and is connectable to the toaster body for motion between a closed position closing the slot to prevent flame from issuing therefrom and at least one open position in which the article can be inserted into the interior through the slot. The flame barrier device can be connected to the toaster carriage so that it automatically closes when the article to be toasted is inserted in the toaster and automatically opens when the article has been toasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Breville R & D Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. McClean
  • Patent number: 5522306
    Abstract: A toaster (10) for toasting bagels, muffins, bread slices and other similar foodstuff (18 and 126), where the foodstuff (18 and 126) is inserted within an access opening (14) in the top of the toaster (10) onto a holding rack (186, 188), and the toasted foodstuff (18, 126) is then automatically exited through an exit opening (26) located in the bottom area of the toaster (10). Associated with the exit opening (26) is a planar member (30) which has a work surface (28) upon which the toasted foodstuff (18, 126) is to be deposited. The planar member (30) is to be pivotally mounted on the toaster housing (12) to move between a stowage position and a usage position. A safety protected foodstuff cutter (36) is mounted on the toaster housing (12) with this foodstuff cutter (36) to be operable to divide certain foodstuff (18, 126) into two pieces to facilitate its toasting operation. A novel mechanism is included within the toaster (10) to achieve the toasting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: Robert A. DeMars
  • Patent number: 5487328
    Abstract: A toaster having a toaster body, and a bread inlet port formed of a longitudinally extended opening opened at the top portion of the toaster body is composed of a pair of heating members respectively including heaters being parallely installed to a lower portion of the inlet port at adjacent a lengthwisely extended side wall of the toaster body horizontally movably toward and apart therefrom, a carriage member downwardly movably installed to the bottom portion of the inlet port to receive the sliced bread inserted therefrom, and a space regulating member including a link of which a first end being pivotably fixed to the widthwisely extended side surface of the heating member at adjacent gravity center thereof and a second end being pivotably supported by the toaster body, and a spring attached to the position where the second end of the link being supported and linearly extended toward the bottom of the carriage member to receive the carriage member moved toward the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Yamada Electric Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Fujii
  • Patent number: 5458052
    Abstract: A toaster is disclosed capable of retaining a fire within the body of the toaster should such a fire commence for any reason, the toaster comprising an outer housing, an inner enclosure defining a toasting compartment, an open access slot enabling access to the toasting compartment, movable flameproof member means either closing the access slot or opening same, movable carriage means in the toasting compartment to carry a product to be toasted, and latch means to hold the movable flameproof member means closed until manually released thereby ensuring a person is at the toaster should a fire have commenced in the toasting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McNair, Howard C. Schulz, Aik P. Cheah, Gerard P. Gilliland
  • Patent number: 5438914
    Abstract: An electric circuit operating on a single-phase power supply system for controlling the heat output of at least two heating resistances which are electrically connected in parallel and are installed in electric household appliances, particularly toasters, wherein the control is being effected in compliance with flicker standards and without feeding interference back into the power supply system. A switch is connected in series with each heating resistance, wherein the switches are activated by an electronic energizing arrangement. During a heating phase, the switches of the circuit are repetitively asymmetrically cycled in such a way that always only one switch is closed and all other switches are open, wherein the switch which is closed at a given time exclusively permits the through-passage of full waves from the power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Hohn, Michael Steinle
  • Patent number: 5427017
    Abstract: A toaster attachment comprises a wire basket 20 that may be fitted to a conventional toaster. The attachment includes securing means 9 and means 15 for rotating the basket member 20 above the bread receiving opening of a conventional toaster. In this was a conventional toaster may be used to toast or warm through food products other than flat slices of bread, for example bread rolls, muffins, marshmallows, nuts etc, using the heat generated by the heating elements within the toaster. The attachment may be a completely seperate element from the toaster, or certain elements may be incorporated into the toaster itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: Chun-Kong Cheung
  • Patent number: 5423246
    Abstract: A cover for a toaster capable of retaining flame from a fire within the body of the toaster. The cover comprises a first wall adapted to overlie an access opening to a toaster compartment within the toaster, the first wall having a plurality of slot-like apertures formed therein with a second member partially or fully overlying each slot-like aperture but being located in a plane spaced from that of the first wall. The slot-like apertures are disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the toasting compartment whereby flame within the toasting compartment is substantially prevented from passing through the cover but convection heat from within the toasting compartment is capable of passing through the slot like apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McNair, Gerard P. Gilliland
  • Patent number: 5402708
    Abstract: A control for a toaster for varying the toasting cycle includes a switch for connecting the toaster heater to a source of electrical power. A temperature responsive resistance element senses the temperature within the cavity. A capacitor is responsive to the magnitude of the voltage of the electrical power. The capacitor and the temperature responsive resistance element are included within a timing circuit such that a selected duration of time for a toasting cycle to obtain a desired toast color is varied if the voltage of the power supply increases above a predetermined magnitude during the toasting cycle. The duration of time for the toasting cycle is also varied as the temperature in the cavity increases as a consequence of operation of the toaster for consecutive toast cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Z. Krasznai, Leonard Horey, Duc Tran
  • Patent number: 5400697
    Abstract: An electric toaster includes a grate heating body having a reflector. A barlike heating element is disposed in front of the reflector. A shielding device is disposed in front of the heating element. The shielding device includes a field having a plurality of spaced-apart substantially round or polygonal shielding bars with a reflective surface extending approximately parallel to the heating bar and to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Bosch-Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Dax, Maximilian Beutlrock, Werner Reith
  • Patent number: 5385082
    Abstract: A toaster having an automatic shut-off. The toaster includes a cavity to receive bread and which includes a heating element which may be selectively energized by a switch to cause toasting of the bread. The toaster also includes a carriage mechanism to move the bread between up and down positions. The carriage mechanism includes a bread support extending into the cavity. The bread support is connected to a support frame which rides upon a vertical slide rod. Also mounted upon the slide rod is a lock frame mounted to allow limited movement with respect to the support frame. A spring is connected to the lock frame to bias it into an up position, and the lock frame includes a lock mechanism to releasable maintain it in a down position. The switch for activating the heating elements is activated when the lock frame is in this down position. A release mechanism is provided to release the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Toastmaster Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Huggler, Charles Martin
  • Patent number: 5317960
    Abstract: Bread toaster includes a housing with a top opening and a cage for containing bread which is movable through the opening from a loading position outside the housing to a heating position inside the housing. The cage includes a first half and a second half which are hinged to move from an open position outside the housing to a closed position inside the housing in response to movement of the cage from the loading position to the heating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: Donald A. Cumfer
  • Patent number: 5309826
    Abstract: A toaster housing is arranged to accommodate a plurality of tortilla type shells therewithin, wherein a top wall of the housing includes a row of alternatingly oriented U-shaped openings, with each of the openings aligned with an underlying U-shaped cage. A sineusoidal heating plate extends between ends of the housing about the cages to effect heating and toasting of the tortilla shells directed therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Carlos R. Ortiz
  • Patent number: 5265521
    Abstract: A toast shade selector includes a rotatable shaft interposed between aligned openings in upstanding plates of a mounting bracket. A cam on the shaft is rotated in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to regulate the toasting time intervals. A spring carried by the shaft biases the cam against an adjusting nut and also biases a portion of the shaft into one of the openings. Both the shaft and the cam are made from sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Procter-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee J. Belknap
  • Patent number: 5237913
    Abstract: A bread toaster includes a cooling system for the casing which includes structure for dividing the air flow rising in an air guide duct into a laminar part and a second part which is supplied to the upper region of the toasting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrea Hahnewald, Stefan Schamberg
  • Patent number: 5216944
    Abstract: A cover door structure is arranged for mounting to a top wall of a toaster assembly to selectively overlie the bread receiving slots directed through the top wall of the associated toaster for heat conservation and accelerated toasting of bread directed within the toaster structure. Manual or automatic cooperation of the doors are arranged relative to an associated toaster assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Arthur S. Trujillo
  • Patent number: 5193439
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the automatic toasting of bread and other bakery products. The toaster includes a cool wall housing with a single elongated toast slot and a digital display and control panel. Provided within the housing is an automatic elevator controlled by a programmable microchip control device for selectively timing the operation of the elevator and toasting functions. In the preferred embodiment, three programs may be entered into memory and recalled according to personal taste or variety of bakery products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Sanyei Corporation of Nagoya
    Inventors: Alvin B. Finesman, Yosuke Shiotani
  • Patent number: 5170039
    Abstract: The toaster comprises a housing for receiving the pieces of bread to be toasted or to be reheated and on both sides of this housing an electric heating element having an electric resistor (R.sub.1, R.sub.2) wound on an elongated support made of insulating material (10, 11).On both sides of the housing there is provided at least one second electric resistor (R.sub.3, R.sub.4), commutation being provided to connect to the mains, as desired, one or both of the abovementioned resistors.Use: to permit a plurality of heating modes in toasters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: SeB S.A.
    Inventor: Roger Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 5138938
    Abstract: A sandwich toaster or griller in which the upper die mold half is constituted by a plurality of flat sheets of glass or other suitable material having between them an electric heater element consisting of a flat nichrome wire or a printed element parallel lengths which extend across the sheets of glass. The spacing of the lengths of heater element is such as to provide a more or less uniform toasting effect on the surface of the sandwich, the toasting of which is visible through the glass or other transparent sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Breville R & D Pty Limited
    Inventor: John W. McClean
  • Patent number: 5133248
    Abstract: Gas-fired cooking apparatus comprising a combined griddle and broiler unit, including a hinged broiler heat source which can be selectively raised or lowered over the cooking surface of the griddle is disclosed. The heat source is ignited by an electro-mechanical system responsive to the position of the broiler top, and which ignites the heat source only when the top is lowered. An exhaust system is provided for removing combustion products from the cooking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Craig A. Farnsworth, Steven R. Walzer
  • Patent number: 5097751
    Abstract: The device is intended to support the mechanical and electrical members of a toaster (1).The device consists of a plate (2) in plastic material comprising protuberances or tongues (3, 4, 5, 6) molded in the plastic material and projecting on one of the faces of the plate (2), these protuberances or tongues being shaped in order to receive and to ensure the fixing of conducting (7, 8) or mechanical elements by translation of the latter perpendicularly to the plate (2), these elements being intended to form the mechanical and electrical control members of the toaster.Application particularly in vertical toasters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Roger Eisenberg, Jean-Marie Balandier, Alain Didierlaurent, Alain Rousseau
  • Patent number: 5095814
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a bread toaster comprising a carriage (4) which is manually slidable in a guide (3) between an upper and a lower limit position by means of a handle (6). Moving in conjunction with the carriage (4) is a toasting rack (2) which is adapted to receive an article to be toasted (22), with the upper limit position of the carriage (4) serving to receive or withdraw the article (22), while the lower limit position serves for turning the power on and for toasting the article (22). The bread toaster includes an extra-lift device (11) which is operated by a control knob (8) to enable the toasting rack (2) to be raised relative to the carriage (4). According to the invention, the extra-lift device (11) is carried by the carriage (4) and/or by the toasting rack (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gabriele Ott, Bernd Pfeiffer, Stefan Schamberg, Karl Kurth
  • Patent number: 5094154
    Abstract: An electric toaster includes a housing having at least one heating element mounted therein. A source of electric power is selectively connected to the heating element for energization thereof. A carriage is mounted in the housing for supporting a food product to be toasted and is movable between upper non-toasting and lower toasting positions. An electrically operated latch mechanism holds the carriage in its toasting position. A temperature sensing switch is electrically connected to the latch mechanism for releasing the mechanism and returning the carriage to its non-toasting position when the temperature of the food has reached a predetermined level. A time delay mechanism is electrically connected to the temperature sensing switch for disabling the switch during an initial period of time at the start of each toasting cycle when the carriage is moved to its toasting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Esko J. Nopanen
  • Patent number: 5088389
    Abstract: A household toaster is operated at will asymmetrically, e.g. at one side, or at low power, or so as to keep a toast warm after a given toasting cycle. The toaster has a power control circuit which includes a power stage which controls heating resistors of the toaster. The power stage comprises two triacs, tripped at zero passage due to a provision of a zero passage detector. The higher or lower power supplied to the resistors in the various operating modes is always carried out by means of full cycles of the system, either continuously in the case of top output, or by means of cycle trains, controlled by a power control, a selector circuit and a heat holding timer. The toaster is provided with a start button and an ejector-and-stop button as well as a toaster control timer, indicators and actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventor: Miguel Labadia del Fresno
  • Patent number: D371715
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Legion Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Brown