Movable Or Adjustable Carrier Or Grid Patents (Class 99/391)
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Patent number: 11677901Abstract: An infrared toaster and a method of toasting use a support configured to hold a food product relative to an infrared source. A light source and a camera are arranged relative to the support to illuminate the food product and capture digital images of the food product. A processor receives and analyzes successive images from the camera. The processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the food product. The processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the predetermined toasting level is reached.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Shei, Nick Mandarino, Dave Paton, Benjamin Slotarski, Jason Pittenger
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Patent number: 11517148Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Revolution Cooking, LLCInventors: Philip C. Carbone, Peter J. Loftus, Ryan O'Donnell, Cody O'Sullivan, James Poon, Aurelio Reyes, Richard Simmers
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Patent number: 11019961Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.Inventor: William D Starr
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Patent number: 10631685Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having a toasting chamber therein. An upper end of the toasting chamber has an inlet for feeding sliced bread. A lower end of the toasting chamber has an outlet for discharging the sliced bread. The outlet is provided with a door for opening and closing the outlet. The door is driven by a door opening structure. The door opening structure includes a door locking mechanism, a lift door opening mechanism, a magnetic suction mechanism, a power switch mechanism, and a PCB control board.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: DONGGUAN TANGXIA NYHANG ELECTRICAL CO., LTD.Inventor: Xiaoping Leng
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Patent number: 9888810Abstract: A toaster for evenly toasting bread products is provided. The toaster comprises at-least one heating zone inside a toasting chamber, the heating zone having at-least one baffle provided on top of at-least one heating element, the baffles trapping the hot air and reducing the rate at which hot air moves up maintaining a minimum temperature gradient along the toaster, thereby evenly toasting the bread product.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Inventor: Bipin Prabhakar Deshpande
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Patent number: 8921742Abstract: A toaster cover control device with fireproofing function comprises a cover sliding-frame or a cover opening-closing mechanism and a power switch (K), a cover switch (K1) and a control circuit that are provided in the toaster. The said control circuit is provided with a microprocessor. An output terminal of the control circuit is connected with a transistor (Q1). The said control circuit is connected with a sensor (S). The sensor detects the temperature of the toaster. The control circuit provides a control signal when the detected temperature exceeds the set temperature value, so that a circuit controlling cover action keeps the cover closed. The cover can be opened normally when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature value. It is also provided with an application method of the said control device.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Crastal Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bei Zhang, Huajin Chen
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Patent number: 8863654Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Asami, Takashi Utsumi, Shinya Ueda, Hiroyuki Kato
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Patent number: 8846124Abstract: A method for forming a pressed, baked food product including providing a dough intermediate puck. The dough intermediate puck is processed through a first, compression station that applies a compression force and heat to the dough intermediate puck, resulting in a pressed puck. The pressed puck is processed through a second, dwell and heating station that contacts opposing major surfaces of the pressed puck in a manner allowing the pressed puck to naturally rise and applies heat to the puck, resulting in a pressed, at least partially-baked, food product. The above steps are characterized by continuous movement of the puck from an upstream end of the first station to a downstream end of the second station. In one embodiment, residual heat from the first station is applied in the second station.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventor: Thomas E. Heinzen
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Patent number: 8808780Abstract: An apparatus (1) for making shaped food chip products (2) including hotplates (3) (4) that are arranged in such way that, when in use, food snacks are hold between the hotplates and where at least one hotplate surface is covered with a steam permeable membrane (5). Also a method for making food chip product (2) including feeding slices of food in a monolayered between hotplates (3, 4) where at least one of the hotplate surfaces pressing on the food snack is covered with a membrane (5) that guidance the steam away.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Inventor: Anders Fredlund
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Publication number: 20140144331Abstract: A countertop multi-function oven has a baking and a toasting mode. The oven uses a rotating input dial as a function selector. A second rotating input dial is used to allow a user selection of a bake time or a toasting load.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Breville Pty LimitedInventors: Keith James Hensel, Ze Kang Li
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Patent number: 8707858Abstract: An oven serves for heat-treating food pieces laid upon a grid in a cabinet by a heat source. The grid has an upper part of an endless chain running around a number of chain supports of which a lower and upper support defines a lower and upper end of the upper chain part. Portions of food pieces such as French fries can be quickly and easily heat-treated in rapid succession in this oven in a simple and economical manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: MOM's A/SInventor: Per Heindorf Iversen
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Patent number: 8656828Abstract: An electric oven includes a cooking chamber having at least one heating member and at least one support member for supporting food, the cooking chamber being provided with a movable pressing member for pressing the food against the support member to cook the food while kept pressed.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: De' Longhi S.p.A.Inventor: Giuseppe De' Longhi
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Patent number: 8561527Abstract: The present invention discloses a cooking apparatus having a pan with a sidewall, a bottom wall and a grill top. The bottom wall has a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface facing a heating source and the top surface facing an air space. A grill covering is disposed on top of the sidewall, with the air space forming between the grill covering and the top surface of the bottom wall. The sidewall also contains at least one handle.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Eden Variety Products, LLCInventor: Wilfredo Ganuza
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Patent number: 8561526Abstract: A bread toaster includes an outer cover, a toaster base, a toaster frame mounted on the toaster base, a first sliding member slidably provided on a predetermined side of the toaster frame, a second sliding member also provided on the same predetermined side of the toaster frame, a front supporting frame and a rear supporting frame provided at a front side and a rear side of the toaster frame respectively, a lid arrangement, and a control circuitry, wherein the lid arrangement is arranged to be operated between a closed position and an opened position for closing and opening the toasting slots of the bread toaster.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Crastal Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.Inventors: George Mohan Zhang, Bei Zhang, Huajin Chen, Faxi Huang
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Publication number: 20130220144Abstract: A toaster has a housing has an operation cavity and a heating cavity. One side of the housing has a first opening, at least one second opening is disposed at the bottom of the housing, the operation cavity is connected to the heating cavity; a longitudinal groove with same number with the second opening, the longitudinal groove is disposed inside the housing, the longitudinal groove is extended upwards from the second opening; at least one transparent movable baffle, which is sliding and connected to the longitudinal groove from the bottom of the housing from down to up, part of the side surface of the movable baffle is exposed to the first opening; and at least one positioning mechanism, which is fastened to the housing and positioned or supported the movable baffle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: TSANN KUEN (ZHANG ZHOU) ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.Inventor: TSANN KUEN (ZHANG ZHOU) ENTERPRISE CO. LTD.
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Patent number: 8372459Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking food, such as meat, protein, vegetable, or soup is disclosed. In one embodiment, the food items are supplied in a flexible polymer package that can withstand the temperature needed to cook the item. The cooking apparatus has two cooking surfaces in the form of heated platens, which may be arranged in a vertical orientation. These platens come together to simultaneously contact both sides of the food item. The cooking apparatus further includes a controller, configured to prepare the food using various control system algorithms. The apparatus cooks the food item from both sides to affect rapid and even cooking. It uses a combination of temperature, time, food thickness, platen force and a cooking code that is unique for each food type. The control system algorithm uses some or all of these parameters to determine precisely when the food item is cooked correctly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Owensby, Vincent A. Piucci, Charles R. Sperry, Dennis F. McNamara, Stephen D. Smith, Suzanne M. Scott
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Patent number: 8291813Abstract: A variable-width toaster is described, in which the food-supporting carriage (5, 60) adapts readily, robustly and in a cost-effective manner to different width settings of the toasting chamber (2, 70). Respective elongate members (51, 52; 61, 62) are mounted to either side of the toasting chamber and are linked together by linking members (53a-53n; 63a, 63b) which form part of the food-supporting surface and are pivotally attached to the elongate members to accommodate lateral relative movement between the elongate members as the width of the toasting chamber is varied. In one embodiment, unitary linking members (53a-53n) link the two elongate members (51, 52) and the elongate members are urged apart by a spring (54). In another embodiment, chevron-like linking members, comprising pairs of pivotally associated linking members (63a, 63b) are employed.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Kenwood LimitedInventor: Keith Leaman
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Patent number: 8240246Abstract: A removable toaster basket assembly to be removably received in a toasting slot of an electric pop-up toaster facilitates inserting and removing food articles in the toasting slot for toasting of the food article. The removable toaster basket assembly includes an elongate substantially planar frame for resting on an upper surface of the toaster and defines a rectangular slot therethrough. A handle extends from one end of the frame. An elongate basket is slidably received in the slot, the basket having ends and sides which define an open top for receiving a food article. A stop on the basket limits translation of the basket with respect to said frame to maintain the basket captive within the frame.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Inventor: Rick Davis
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Patent number: 8234972Abstract: An automated grill automatically transfers frozen food from a freezer component to grilling component by an automatic loading device in response to a signal. Frozen food is loaded in a loading side in the freezer component. When the signal is received indicating that the food is to be grilled, food in a feeding side is raised and delivered to the loading device. When a sensor detects that food is positioned in the loading device, the loading device removes the food from the freezer component and into the grilling component. The food is then grilled as it travels between two substantially vertical grilling structures each surrounded by a conveyor belt. Preferably, the conveyor belt is made of a non-stick coated Invar. A lateral sensor detects and compensates for lateral movement of the conveyor belts. After the food exits the grilling component, the food slides onto a heated holding area for serving.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sands, James D. Conlin, Thomas J. Franken, Andrew Paul Franklin, Randy L. Ginner, Ronald J. Glavan, Scott A. Glawe, David A. Hill, Michael J. Newberry, Jack Pellicane, Manuel Calzada, Henry Thomas Ewald
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Patent number: 8127666Abstract: An electric toaster with a toasting carriage which is automatically raised from a toasting position to a first ejection position has a manually-operated mechanism for raising the carriage above the first ejection position to assist in removing smaller items from the toasting carnage. The carriage is slidably supported on an upright rail together with, and moveable independently of an actuating member, to which a handle is fixed, and a support member urged by a spring to an uppermost position. The actuating member abuts the carriage to move the carriage, the actuating member, and the support member simultaneously, both when the handle is moved downwards towards the toasting position and when the carriage, the actuating member and the support member are released by a hold-down mechanism to return the carriage to the first ejection position.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: G.E.W. Corporation LimitedInventor: Thomas Chung Lik Yip
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Patent number: 8069776Abstract: A toaster in which spaced, vertically oriented heating assemblies are nested within a cover that pivots between open and closed positions. In the open position, an consumer can add food slices to or remove toasted food slices from baskets in the toaster remotely from the heating assemblies. When the cover closes, the heating assemblies pivot to be positioned on both sides of the baskets. When energized, the heating assemblies toast the food slices.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Appliance Development CorporationInventors: Dov Z. Glucksman, David Normand Belanger
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Publication number: 20110277643Abstract: A commercial toaster apparatus having a “quick start” feature that nearly instantly changes from a “standby” mode to a “toasting” mode. The “quick start” mode is provided by changing the circuitry of some of the quartz heating elements from a series configuration to a parallel one wherein a higher voltage can be applied for a controlled amount of time to regulate the quartz heaters without adversely affecting the life span of the heating elements. Temperature probes are used to adjust the duty cycle of the apparatus to enable a uniform toast color as the cavity chamber temperature of the toaster changes over time. A sensor is also provided that determines when a last product is placed on the conveyer and the duty cycle has been completed so that the unit will automatically switch to a “standby” mode, thus reducing the energy requirements of the toaster.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Roger Schwierking, Douglas L. Hornbeck
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Patent number: 8033213Abstract: A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. The automatic cooking devices include a conveyorized cooking surface for alignment and discharge of food products, an altering/pulsating infrared energy radiation heat sources, and a control system. The arrangement and method facilitate a combination of batch preparation and made-to-order assembly of fast-food sandwiches.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Burger King CorporationInventors: Jeffrey R. Cook, Robert J. Wenzel, Mark Finck, Steven M. Shei, Clement J. Luebke
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Patent number: 8015916Abstract: Provided is a toaster chassis, comprising at least one heating chamber, a pair of steel meshes, a bread-elevating mechanism, a pair of supporting plates, a pair of grooves, a pair of sliding rods and an extension spring; wherein the supporting plates are disposed on both ends of the heating chamber, the grooves are disposed on the supporting plate, the sliding rods are disposed on the steel mesh, pass through the supporting plate and abut against the grooves, the extension spring is disposed below the bread-elevating mechanism, and both ends of the extension spring are connected to the sliding rods. The invention is applicable for breads with different thickness and capable of ensuring uniformity of heat and consistency of colors on both sides and the upper and lower portion of each thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Ningbo Changsheng Electric Appliances Co., Ltd.Inventor: Huandong Pan
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Publication number: 20110185918Abstract: A bread toaster includes an outer cover, a toaster base, a toaster frame mounted on the toaster base, a first sliding member slidably provided on a predetermined side of the toaster frame, a second sliding member also provided on the same predetermined side of the toaster frame, a front supporting frame and a rear supporting frame provided at a front side and a rear side of the toaster frame respectively, a lid arrangement, and a control circuitry, wherein the lid arrangement is arranged to be operated between a closed position and an opened position for closing and opening the toasting slots of the bread toaster.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: George Mohan Zhang, Bei Zhang, Huajin Chen, Faxi Huang
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Patent number: 7958817Abstract: One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Prince Castle LLCInventors: Terry Tae-Il Chung, Loren Veltrop, Brian Hee-Eun Lee, Donald Van Erden, Christopher B. Lyons
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Patent number: 7921767Abstract: A flexible automatic broiler and method of use for variable batch cooking for particular use in quick serve and fast food service restaurants. The automatic cooking devices include a conveyorized cooking surface for alignment and discharge of food products, an altering/pulsating infrared energy radiation heat sources, and a control system. The arrangement and method facilitate a combination of batch preparation and made-to-order assembly of fast-food sandwiches.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Burger King CorporationInventors: Jeffrey R. Cook, Robert J. Wenzel, Mark Finck, Steven M. Shei, Clement J. Luebke
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Publication number: 20100294136Abstract: An electric toaster with a toasting carriage which is automatically raised from a toasting position to a first ejection position has a manually-operated mechanism for raising the carriage above the first ejection position to assist in removing smaller items from the toasting carriage. The carriage is slidably supported on an upright rail together with, and moveable independently of, an actuating member, to which a handle is fixed, and a support member urged by a spring to an uppermost position. The actuating member abuts the carriage to move the carriage, the actuating member, and the support member simultaneously, both when the handle is moved downwards towards the toasting position and when the carriage, the actuating member and the support member are released by a hold-down mechanism to return the carriage to the first ejection position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: G.E.W. CORPORATION LIMITEDInventor: Thomas Chung Lik Yip
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Patent number: 7726235Abstract: A relatively compact cooking assembly includes means for selectively positioning a cooking element above several cooking zones of a lower grill. In addition to a lower heated metal surface having several cooking zones, which may be delineated by vertical barriers or splash plates, the system includes an upper assembly comprising an upper member in which a radiant heating element is positioned, said assembly being adapted to fit over the back splash plate of the grill and extending the depth (back to front) of the grill, and further adapted to be raised or lowered and selectively raised or lowered as well as positioned by a sliding motion above a designated zone in predetermined sequence.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: In-N-Out BurgersInventor: Howard Jay Frantz
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Publication number: 20090223382Abstract: A toaster has a carriage for raising and lowering a bread support in a pop-up toaster having a toasting cycle. The carriage is adapted to be guided on one or more vertical rods mounted on a housing of the toaster. The carriage includes a first member having an actuator, adapted to actuate a switch on the toaster to start the toasting cycle, the first member being further adapted to be held in a first position once the switch has been actuated. The carriage further includes a second member adapted to be independently moveable of the first member so that the bread support can be raised without actuating the switch or breaking contacts thereon. Once the toasting cycle is complete, the first member is released from a first position into a second position, in which second position the switch is not actuated and/or the contacts on the switch are broken.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventor: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten
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Publication number: 20090064870Abstract: Provided is a toaster chassis, comprising at least one heating chamber, a pair of steel meshes, a bread-elevating mechanism, a pair of supporting plates, a pair of grooves, a pair of sliding rods and an extension spring; wherein the supporting plates are disposed on both ends of the heating chamber, the grooves are disposed on the supporting plate, the sliding rods are disposed on the steel mesh, pass through the supporting plate and abut against the grooves, the extension spring is disposed below the bread-elevating mechanism, and both ends of the extension spring are connected to the sliding rods. The invention is applicable for breads with different thickness and capable of ensuring uniformity of heat and consistency of colors on both sides and the upper and lower portion of each thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventor: Huandong PAN
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Patent number: 7472644Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Edgecraft CorporationInventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
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Patent number: 7467583Abstract: A compact combined toaster and cooker includes in a single housing a toaster and a cooker that has first and second food-heating locations. The toaster is in most ways conventional, having at least one slot and at least one electrical heating element. The cooker has a separate electrical heating element. The first food-heating location of the cooker is recessed within the housing above the cooker's heating element. This first food-heating location opens upwardly from the housing to receive a cooking pan. The first food-heating location also opens through an opening in a face of the housing. The cooking pan has a handle that projects through this opening. The second food-heating location is within the housing and below the heating element. The second food-heating location receives a warming receptacle through a slot in the wall of the housing. The cooking pan handle is pivotally attached to the pan and locks in either an outwardly extended position or in a downwardly pivoted, contracted storage position.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: South Asia InternationalInventor: Raymond Hoi-Tak Lam
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Publication number: 20080115676Abstract: A retractable structure of a grill includes a lower grill base with a connecting groove at a rear end of the lower grill base and a limit portion on the connecting groove, and an upper grill cover and the lower grill base define a space for containing a foodstuff. The upper grill cover has a combining portion connected to the connecting groove, and the combining portion has a limit member to define a limit relation, such that the upper grill cover is connected horizontally with the lower grill base for providing a displacement travel and a rotation travel of the foodstuff. The upper grill cover can be turned over from the lower grill base and moved horizontally to fit the thickness of different foodstuffs. The distance between the upper grill cover and the lower grill base can be adjusted to evenly heat the whole surface of the foodstuff.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventor: Samson Tsen
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Patent number: 7314000Abstract: A toaster composed of a case having lateral walls that constitute the outer cover of the toaster, the case containing a frame forming a toasting chamber having an opening at an upper part of the case and an opening at a lower part of the case, a base removably connectable to the case and facing the opening at the lower part of the case, and a heating unit for the chamber having heating elements situated in proximity to the chamber and connected to a device for supplying electric power and for controlling the heating elements. The base is completely removable from the case, and the base and the case have respective elements that interact with one another when the case is disposed on the base, such that withdrawal of the case from the base suppresses the interaction to prevent the supply of electric power to the heating elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2004Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Jean-Pierre Houel
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Patent number: 7189945Abstract: A toaster for heating foodstuffs includes a chassis having a cavity therein and having at least one chassis opening for accessing the cavity. A door is movable with respect to the chassis between a closed position in which the door substantially covers the chassis opening, and an open position in which the cavity is accessible through the chassis opening. A carriage with at least one slot is movable between a first position disposed completely within the cavity and a second position extending at least partially from the cavity through the chassis opening. The toaster has a heating configuration in which the carriage is in the first position and the door is in the closed position to confine the foodstuff being heated and create a generally enclosed chamber within the cavity in which heat and moisture loss is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: William D. Starr, Nhiem V. Nguyen, Terry L. Myers, Paul M. Blankenship, Adam D. Steinman
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Patent number: 7094991Abstract: A device is disclosed for warming tortillas and other foods. The device operates with a standard electric alternating current ranging from 110 to 120 volts in the US and 220v–240v in other countries. This appliance is to be used in homes or in businesses for the purpose of warming either corn or flour tortillas in quantities ranging from one up to six at a time. The electric current provides energy to heater elements located within the unit and thus provide the heat necessary to warm the tortillas placed on a plurality of circular loading trays. The loading trays are specially designed to lock-in-place in the open and closed positions and are designed to work with a vertical pivot tube which allows the loading trays a pivot-swivel action for efficiency in the loading and unloading of tortillas.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: IJN International, Inc.Inventors: Ivan J. Naranjo, Pedro M. Ojeda
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Patent number: 7047871Abstract: Apparatus 10 for a toaster appliance having at least one circular-like carriage 14 forming a support element for food articles 12 such as tortillas, pita, naan and other flatbreads during a warming/toasting session. The support walls 16, 20 are comprised of wire mesh 18 with one side having a partial lower peripheral rim or lip 38 positioned flange extending thereinbetween acting as a carriage for the food article. Diametrically opposed is the other support wall that is spaced over the depending flange 38 extending from the other wall. Adjacent coplanar posts or pins 36 extend from the mesh-walls 16, 20 traveling in and through guide tracks 40 located at each end of the interior housing 24 with tensioning members 34 fastened to the post distal ends keeping the support walls compressed. One of the tracks 40 is of greater width thereby providing for variable thickness of the food article, which is held by the tensioned mesh walls 16, 20.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Inventor: Brett M Christoffel
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Patent number: 7013798Abstract: A toaster having: a frame enclosing an open heating chamber; a bread supporting carriage mounted in the chamber and vertically movable relative to the frame, the carriage being retainable in a lowered position for toasting; an extension piece fixed to the carriage; a restoring element coupled between the frame and the extension piece for urging the carriage upwardly away from the lowered position to a first bread discharge position; and a control mechanism for controlling the position for the carriage. The control mechanism includes: a lever mounted for rotation about a first axis, a crank element extending perpendicular to the first axis and connected to the lever for rotation as a unit therewith, and a cam device connected to the extension piece and engaged by the crank element at a location spaced from the first axis for converting rotational movements of the actuating lever into vertical movements of the carriage.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Guy Mauffrey
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Patent number: 6998582Abstract: An open-air cooking apparatus for cooking pizza and the like, includes a horizontal, rotatable, circular turntable cooking surface, sized to support and cook several items simultaneously. The turntable should preferably structured to provide constant, even heat throughout its surface. As the oven is open-air, the cooking of the items will be primarily conduction of heat from the surface of the turntable through the bottom of the item. As the items rotate, they will pass under a static radiant heat source located above the turntable. The radiant heat source will thus direct heat towards the top of the item only periodically, i.e. at one point per rotation. This allows the item, such as a pizza, to cook thoroughly from below by way of the cooking surface, while cooking and/or browning the top portion at a different, desired degree.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Hickory Industries, Inc.Inventor: Steven Maroti
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Patent number: 6979803Abstract: A taco shell heating apparatus for providing a fast, convenient, oil free way to heat taco shells. The taco shell heating apparatus includes a housing with four slots positioned through a top wall of the housing. Each one of the four slots is for selectively receiving a taco shell. A heating assembly is positioned within the housing. The heating assembly toasts the taco shell when the taco shell is received within the housing. The heating assembly further comprises a plurality of heat reflecting elements, at least one heating element, a timing assembly, and at least one extraction device.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Inventor: Jesse Webb
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Patent number: 6973871Abstract: An electrical toaster includes a case unit having a laterally extending supporting wall and defining a heating chamber that is disposed below the supporting wall, at least a lower slot that is formed in the supporting wall and that is in spatial communication with the heating chamber, and a warming chamber that is disposed above the supporting wall and that is in fluid communication with the lower slot. An electrical heating unit is disposed in the heating chamber. A cover is mounted removably on the case unit for covering at least a top side of the warming chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Yi Chuang, Li-Hsuan Lin
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Patent number: 6899019Abstract: A grilling apparatus is provided with a grill of an improved structure, thus preventing food from being burnt due to overheating of the grill and reducing a cooking period to cook the food. The grilling apparatus includes a cabinet defining an external appearance of the grilling apparatus. An opening is formed at a top of the cabinet. A grill comprises a plurality of pipes, is set in the cabinet through the opening of the cabinet, and is downwardly bent, at a portion thereof, to form a food supporting part supporting opposite side surfaces of the food. The grilling apparatus includes two water tanks which are connected to respective ends of the plurality of pipes to supply the water to the plurality of pipes. One or more heating units are provided at predetermined positions adjacent to respective sides of the food supporting part in the cabinet so as to irradiate heat to the food supporting part.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-Woon Han, Seong-Deog Jang, Han-Seong Kang, Joo-Yong Yeo, Dae-Sung Han
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Patent number: 6868775Abstract: A toaster includes a toaster housing having a toaster slot for the bread slice disposing therein, a toasting device for toasting the bread slice in the toaster slot, and a toast racking arrangement including a bread supporting rack movably mounted in the toaster slot, a motor having a driving shaft for producing a rotational force, and a rack driving unit including a driving member having two ends respectively engaged with the driving shaft and the bread supporting rack to drive the bread supporting rack to slidably move along the toaster slot between an upper releasing position and a lower toasting position. At the releasing position, the driving member is driven to lift up the bread supporting rack along the toaster slot, and at the toasting position, the driving member is driven to lower the bread supporting rack for toasting the bread slice.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Crastal Technology (shenzhen) Co. Ltd.Inventor: Hua-Jin Chen
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Patent number: 6829983Abstract: The invention relates to a toaster in which the housing (1) comprises: a toasting chamber (2); a toast rack (5), which can move vertically inside said chamber (2) between an eject position and a toasting position; a driver (6), which is linked to the toast rack (5), is slide mounted on a vertical column (7) and is used to lower the toast rack (5) from the eject position, in which the driver (6) is returned by an elastic means (9), to the toasting position, in which the driver (6) is held in place by an unlockable means (10); and a rising damping device comprising a piston (16) which can slide vertically along a determined path in a housing (17) that is solidly connected to the drive and the upper face of which can come into contact with a stop end (19) located in the top part of the housing (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: SEB S. A.Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora
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Publication number: 20040221745Abstract: A toaster includes a toaster housing having a toaster slot for the bread slice disposing therein, a toasting device for toasting the bread slice in the toaster slot, and a toast racking arrangement including a bread supporting rack movably mounted in the toaster slot, a motor having a driving shaft for producing a rotational force, and a rack driving unit including a driving member having two ends respectively engaged with the driving shaft and the bread supporting rack to drive the bread supporting rack to slidably move along the toaster slot between an upper releasing position and a lower toasting position. At the releasing position, the driving member is driven to lift up the bread supporting rack along the toaster slot, and at the toasting position, the driving member is driven to lower the bread supporting rack for toasting the bread slice.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventor: Hua-Jin Chen
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Patent number: 6799505Abstract: The toaster shell (2) is open at the top, and is reinforced by a ring (30) which is mechanically attached to the top edge of the walls (2a) forming the toaster shell. The ring has a ‘U’-shaped cross-section which fits over the edges of the walls. The ring is made of a material with low thermal conductivity, ideally molded from a heat-resistant plastic.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Guy Mauffrey
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Patent number: 6789464Abstract: An automatic toaster, comprising heating means (2) with slices of bread pass passing in front of said heating means, and means for transporting slices of bread to said heating means, characterized in that the means for transporting the slices of bread include a spiral-shaped rotating element (6) defining a plurality of housings (11) for slices of bread (30), the length of said housings corresponding essentially to the pitch of the spiral (6).Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Alain Rousseau
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Patent number: 6772678Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven having a toaster, in which slices of bread can be baked. The microwave oven has a heating chamber for heating food therein; an instrument compartment containing electric components for generating microwave oven supplied to the heating chamber; a toaster casing disposed in front of the instrument compartment with its front open; a toaster door for opening and closing the open front of the toaster casing; and at least a heater disposed in the toaster casing so as to heat bread. In the microwave oven, the toaster section is arranged in front of the instrument compartment, so that the space in the microwave oven is most effectively utilized.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seong-Soo Choi, Sang-Jin Oh, Yoon-Gun Baek
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Publication number: 20040149141Abstract: The invention relates to a toaster in which the housing (1) comprises: a toasting chamber (2); a toast rack (5), which can move vertically inside said chamber (2) between an eject position and a toasting position; a driver (6), which is linked to the toast rack (5), is slide mounted on a vertical column (7) and is used to lower the toast rack (5) from the eject position, in which the driver (6) is returned by an elastic means (9), to the toasting position, in which the driver (6) is held in place by an unlockable means (10); and a rising damping device comprising a piston (16) which can slide vertically along a determined path in a housing (17) that is solidly connected to the drive and the upper face of which can come into contact with a stop end (19) located in the top part of the housing (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora