Abstract: A digitally controlled, manually actuated press comprising a housing having a lower platen attached thereto. The lower platen defines a generally planar top surface. Pivotally connected to the housing are left and right actuation handles, each of which is selectively movable between a loading/unloading and a press position. The press further comprises left and right transitional leveling members which are cooperatively engaged to respective ones of the actuation handles. Also included in the press are left and right upper platens which are cooperatively engaged to respective ones of the leveling members. Each of the upper platens define a generally planar bottom surface. In the press, each of the leveling members is configured to facilitate the rotation of the bottom surface of the corresponding upper platen into generally parallel relation to the top surface during the movement of the corresponding actuation handle from its loading/unloading position to its press position.

Abstract: A food grill assembly for cooking a food product is disclosed which comprises a base, a lower platen ensemble associated with the base, the lower platen ensemble having a heat source and a surface upon which a food product to be cooked is placed, the lower platen ensemble further comprising a back wall and a pair of side walls which are integral with the lower platen ensemble with the walls forming a splash guard, an upper platen ensemble having a heat source, the upper platen ensemble having a surface which is adapted to be in contact with a food product to be cooked, a counterbalance assembly connected to the base, and a handle mechanism connected to the counterbalance assembly and the upper platen ensemble for providing pivoting movement of the upper platen assembly relative to the base, the counterbalance assembly for leveling the upper platen assembly relative to the lower platen assembly when the upper platen assembly is within a predetermined distance from the lower platen assembly.

Abstract: A tortilla forming machine for molding dough into a tortilla shell having a top, a bottom, a peripheral edge, and a thickness. The forming machine includes a first member having a first forming surface, a second member having a second forming surface moveable toward and away from the first forming surface, and at least one removable sizing ring. The sizing ring includes a first edge and an opposing second edge, an inner surface and a height defining a cavity between the first and second forming surfaces when the first forming surface is adjacent the first edge and the second forming surface is adjacent the second edge such that the inner surface of the ring forms the peripheral edge of the tortilla shell and the height of the ring forms the thickness of the tortilla shell.

Abstract: The flatbread maker includes a support structure which has a base portion, a short rear portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion angles upwardly as it extends forwardly from the rear portion, wherein the base portion includes a central track which extends inwardly from the front edge for receiving a roller element portion of an actuating arm. The actuating arm is generally L-shaped, having a roller element at the joining portion between vertical and lower leg portions thereof, the roller element being configured and arranged to slide along the track when the vertical leg portion of the arm is rotated downwardly, such that the roller element moves along the track and the free end of the lower leg moves upwardly, forcing a lower flatbread plate which is hinged to the rear portion of the support structure to rotate thereabout into a position adjacent an angled lower surface of the upper portion. This results in the pressing, heating and partial cooking of the flatbread.

Abstract: A grilling appliance has two housing sections provided with heating plates and connected to each other by means of a pivotable/slidable hinge construction at both sides of the appliance. The housing sections can be positioned with respect to each other in several positions in which the heating plates should remain parallel to each other. In order to improve the hinge construction a parallel guiding mechanism has been provided, which mechanism comprises a U-shaped rod (9) having a central portion (10) which can slide in slots (7, 8) of the first housing section (1) and having arms (11, 12) carrying trunnions (13, 14) which are pivotable in the second housing section (2) and slidable in the first housing section (1).

Abstract: A household electric flat bread making appliance has a heated lower pressure plate fixed to a frame, an upwardly biased upper heated pressure plate pivotally mounted on the frame, and a heated skillet mounted on the frame in general vertical alignment with the pressure plates. A handle is connected to the upper pressure plate to enable the upper pressure plate to be manually pivoted downwardly toward the lower pressure plate to flatten a mass of dough between the two pressure plates.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled grill apparatus for simultaneous two-sided cooking of food items. The grill apparatus includes a stationary lower cooking platen, and an upper cooking platen which is raised and lowered by a unique linear actuator. This actuator provides for two distinct types and phases of movement. The upper platen is lowered from its uppermost, angled open position first by an arcing movement which rotates the rear edge of the upper platen about a slide or thrust bearing and arcs the front edge of the upper platen downward until the upper platen is substantially parallel to but raised, or floating, above the lower platen and uncooked food. Next, the linear actuator lowers the upper platen toward the food, while keeping the upper platen horizontal and parallel to the lower platen.

Abstract: A broiler assembly connectable to a cooking apparatus and provided with a broiler surface that generates a substantially even heat distribution pattern for cooking. The broiler assembly has a broiler housing defining a broiler interior area. Plenum members defining a plenum in the broiler interior area, wherein the plenum is connectable to a gas source and adapted to receive combustion gas from the gas source. A lower one of the plenum members is a burner tile holder that retains one or more burner tiles that define a broiler surface. The burner tiles have a plurality of burner apertures therein that communicate with the plenum to channel the combustion gas from the plenum to the broiler surface for ignition. The burner tiles form a burner portion having an outer set of burner apertures extending therethrough, an inner set of burner apertures extending therethrough, and a middle set of burner apertures between the outer and inner sets of burner apertures.

Abstract: A grill has top and bottom cooking surfaces with the top surface movable upward to load the grill and movable downward onto the food and bottom surface to cook the food. Different cooking surface zones may be heated individually to accommodate the amount and type of food. The top surface is lowered and pressed onto the food at about 140 psi to provide positive contact with the food. The cooking surfaces have grooves through which vapor from a heated marinade cup is channeled to steam the food and drain fat for removal. The marinade vapor replaces fat and natural juices producing a relatively low fat, moist cooked meat.

Abstract: A clamshell or two-sided cooking system utilizes an upper platen and a lower platen. The upper platen is movable to a non-cook and to a cook position. In the cook position, the upper platen is separated from the lower platen by a gap. The gap can be electronically adjusted for various thicknesses of foodstuffs. Preferably, an electronic adjustment mechanism is located within the upper platen assembly. The adjustment mechanism utilizes a stepper motor.

Abstract: A cooking grill having upper and lower cooking plates supported between first and second supports is disclosed. The upper and lower cooking plates are each hingedly connected to the supports at a rear hinge axis. The upper cooking plate may be manually tipped to a raised position. The lower cooking plate is automatically tipped downwardly to a food ejection or second position by means of an actuator. An ejector may be provided for positively ejecting the cooked food at the end of the cooking cycle, onto a support or receiving tray, from which cooked food may be removed by hand. Alternatively, the lower cooking plate may be rotated past the second position to a removed, where the cooked food may then be removed by hand.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled grill apparatus for simultaneous two-sided cooking of food items. The grill apparatus includes a stationary lower cooking platen, and an upper cooking platen which is raised and lowered by a unique linear actuator. This actuator provides for two distinct types and phases of movement. The upper platen is lowered from its uppermost, angled open position first by an arcing movement which rotates the rear edge of the upper platen about a slide or thrust bearing and arcs the front edge of the upper platen downward until the upper platen is substantially parallel to but raised, or floating, above the lower platen and uncooked food. Next, the linear actuator lowers the upper platen toward the food, while keeping the upper platen horizontal and parallel to the lower platen.

Abstract: A cooking grill having upper and lower cooking plates supported between first and second supports is disclosed. The upper and lower cooking plates are each hingedly connected to the supports at a rear hinge axis. The upper cooking plate may be manually tipped to a raised position. The lower cooking plate is automatically tipped downwardly to a food ejection position by means of an actuator. An ejector is provided for positively ejecting the cooked food at the end of the cooking cycle, onto a support or receiving tray, from which cooked food may be removed by hand.

Abstract: A clamshell or two-sided cooking system utilizes an upper platen and a lower platen The upper platen is movable to a non-cook and to a cook position. In the cook position, the upper platen is separated from the lower platen by a gap. The gap can be electronically adjusted for various thicknesses of foodstuffs. Preferably, an electronic adjustment mechanism is located within the upper platen assembly. The adjustment mechanism utilizes a stepper motor.

Abstract: A top side cooker includes a cooking head that is counterbalanced by a pair of gas cylinders. A lift arm couples the gas cylinders to the cooking head. A compression spring is fitted on the rod of each gas cylinder to provide a positive force at the end of the rod travel for precluding the heavy cooking head from crashing into the grill surface.

Abstract: A clamshell or two-sided cooking system utilizes an upper platen and a lower platen. The periphery of the upper platen is marked on the lower platen by a laser-etched marking. The laser-etched marking provides a wear resistent marking which withstands the scraping and scrubbing operations associated with using and cleaning the clam cooking system. The laser-etched markings are preferably comprised of a plurality of slanted lines disposed 1/16 of a inch apart.

Abstract: A cooking grill having upper and lower cooking plates supported between first and second supports is disclosed. The upper and lower cooking plates are each hingedly connected to the supports at a rear hinge axis. The upper cooking plate may be manually tipped to a raised position. The lower cooking plate is automatically tipped downwardly to a food ejection position by means of an actuator. An ejector is provided for positively ejecting the cooked food at the end of the cooking cycle, onto a support or receiving tray, from which cooked food may be removed by hand.

Abstract: A clamshell or two-sided cooking system utilizes an upper platen and a lower platen. The upper platen is movable to a non cook and to a cook position. In the cook position, the upper platen is separated from the lower platen by a gap. The gap can be electronically adjusted for various thicknesses of foodstuffs. Preferably, an electronic adjustment mechanism is located within the upper platen assembly. The adjustment mechanism utilizes a drive means which inherently provides float to accommodate variations in thicknesses of the foodstuffs.

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.

Abstract: A top side cooker has a pivotally mounted cooking head that is movable from an open position to a cooking position where its flat cooking surface is urged, by the weight of the cooking head, into engagement with the flat cooking surface of a grill. A simultaneously adjustable front foot and rear foot are coupled to the cooking head for establishing a distance between the cooking surface and the grill surface. A handle operates a worm gear arrangement coupled to a shaft, which extends from the front to the back of the cooking head. A front and a rear pinion gear engage front and rear racks that are coupled to the front foot and the rear foot, respectively. The handle rotates the shaft which simultaneously moves the front foot and the rear foot to adjust the distance between the cooking surface and the grill surface. The front foot includes indicia for indicating the distance.

Abstract: A clamshell griddle is designed so that the rising, lowering and rotating motions of the platen and the setting of distance between the griddle and the platen main body can be effected automatically and in one stroke by the operation of a single motor, thereby resulting in simple structure and low price.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable hinge apparatus and spacer means for use with a low temperature grill having multiple stacked heating plates and at least one support rod extending across one side of the grill to form a common pivot axis. The hinge apparatus includes an array of adjustable floating hinges formed to be positioned adjacent one another pivotally supported on the support rod. Each hinge includes a hinge block having a slide aperture therethrough sized and shaped for receiving a support arm member extending therethrough in the vertical plane and being slidably supported therein at a selected position in order to support the plates at a selected height. The support blocks also include a pivot aperture therethrough positioned substantially normal to the support arm aperture being sized and shaped for receiving the horizontal support rod therethrough. The support arm members of adjacent hinge blocks are formed with offset bends for attachment with consecutively stacked heating plates.

Abstract: A cooking grill apparatus having superposed, vertically separable, heated grill plates, the uppermost one of which is pivotally connected to the outer ends of two laterally spaced arms which pivot simultaneously about an elevated horizontal pivot axis whereby the upper grill is moveable about such pivot axis with and selectively relative to such spaced arms. The upper grill carries a pair of like parallelogram linkage systems along its lateral margins which include adjustable stop means for engaging parallel stationary reference surfaces paralleling the plane of the cooking surface for the stationary lower grill plate. Selected movement of the parallelogram linkage system to change the vertical position of the stop means is determined by selectively operable gauge means for limiting movement of the linkage systems and thus movement of the stop means towards the references surfaces whereby the spacing between the two grill plates during cooking operation is correspondingly selectively limited.

Abstract: A contact grill apparatus, having at least two grill plates for laying on the food to be grilled, is designed to be particularly effective and efficient in use and easy to handle and operate. At least one of the grill plates is formed in the manner of a sandwich plate and comprises an aluminium core having at least one layer of high-grade steel on the side of the plate facing towards the food. The resulting grill surface thus has both a hard surface constitution and smoothness allowing easy cleaning, while the grill plate itself has excellent heat distribution properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable hinge apparatus for use with a cooker having multiple stacked heating plates and a support pin extending across one side of the cooker to form a common pivot axis. The hinge apparatus includes an array of adjustable hinges formed to be positioned adjacent one another on the support pin. Each hinge includes a hinge block having a pivot aperture sized for sliding movement of the support pin therein and an arm extending away from the hinge block. The arms of adjacent hinges are formed for attachment with consecutively stacked heating plates and the hinge block of each hinge is formed to slide on the support pin perpendicular to the pivot axis and independently of adjacent hinges. Thus, the hinging apparatus in accordance with the present permits variable spacing and free floating vertical movement between heating plates, and prevents relative horizontal movement between the plates by maintaining a common pivot point for all plates in the various positions.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus having an upper cooking platen mounted on a support arm for swinging movement between a lower cook position and a raised position. The upper platen is mounted on the support arm for limited floating movement and upper platen adjusting mechanism is provided which engages the lower platen at a plurality of spaced points and which is adjusted by a single manually operated control. Upper platen lift assist mechanism has pressurized gas cylinders arranged so that the gas cylinders do not exert substantial upward or downward force on the upper platen arm when the upper platen is in a cook position, and assist raising the upper platen when the platen support arm is lifted out of the cook position.

Abstract: A double contact grill for cooking foods, the grill comprising: top and bottom cooking plates having heating elements; a pivotal connection between the bottom cooking plate and the top cooking plate wherein the top cooking plate is moveable between a lower position adjacent to the bottom cooking plate and a raised position; and a counterbalance disposed on an opposite side of the pivotal connection from the side of the pivotal connection on which the top plate is disposed, wherein the counterbalance is of a weight and a position to provide a seating force causing the top cooking plate to seat against the bottom cooking plate when the top cooking plate is in the lowered position and wherein when the top cooking plate is in the raised position the counterbalance provides a resisting force to maintain the top cooking plate in the upright position.

Abstract: A cooking device including a upper unit having an upper grilling plate hingeably attached to a lower unit having a lower grill plate. The upper unit movable relative to the lower unit from an open position to a closed position to form an enclosed cooking chamber to cook foodstuffs. The lower grill plate includes a well to contain liquid and a heating unit for heating the well to vaporize the liquid during cooking and supply vapor to the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A gas-fired, double-sided griddle apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen having a horizontal lower cooking surface and an upper platen having an upper cooking surface; a positioning mechanism for moving the upper platen of each griddle into a horizontal position in contact with the food, permitting the upper platen to press downward against the food until the cooking surface reaches a predetermined level above the cooking surface of the lower platen, stopping the downward movement at that level, and lifting the upper platen away from the food after a predetermined cooking time; a counterflow heater for heating a supply of oil to desired temperatures; and apparatus for circulating the heated oil through a serpentine path wherein the oil contacts, and transfers heat to, a first region of the lower platen and a similar path wherein the oil transfers heat to a second region of the upper platen that is positioned directly above, and parallel to, the

Abstract: A gas-fired, double-sided griddle apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen having a horizontal lower cooking surface and an upper platen having an upper cooking surface; a positioning mechanism for moving the upper platen of each griddle into a horizontal position in contact with the food, permitting the upper platen to press downward against the food until the cooking surface reaches a predetermined level above the cooking surface of the lower platen, stopping the downward movement at that level, and lifting the upper platen away from the food after a predetermined cooking time; a counterflow heater for heating a supply of oil to desired temperatures; and apparatus for circulating the heated oil through a serpentine path wherein the oil contacts, and transfers heat to, a first region of the lower platen and a similar path wherein the oil transfers heat to a second region of the upper platen that is positioned directly above, and parallel to, the

Abstract: Apparatus for two-sided cooking comprises one or more upper housing assemblies each having a pair of spaced bayonette members which are removably insertable in a holster brackett. The bracket is readily attachable to the rear of a conventional cooking grill thus retrofitting the grill conveniently for two-sided cooking. A plurality of lightweight platens are mounted in the upper housing by quick release pins which permit the upper platens to float relative to the housing. Because of the lightweight, multiple and floating nature of the upper platens, the housing can be lowered to the grill surface as to completely enclose the items being cooked, thus containing heat and trapping moisture in the cooked product. In addition, food products having differing thicknesses can be cooked simultaneously without appreciable sticking.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously grilling food from above and below is provided having upper and lower grilling surfaces of gas fired tubes. The upper grill is hinged to lift up and provide access to the food and is vertically adjustable to accommodate variations in thickness of the item being cooked. The upper and lower grills are supported on a frame having a supply of combustion gases and induced draft exhaust system.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food stuffs especially for frying batter into tortillas. The apparatus has two separate cooking areas. One area has an upper and a first lower heating surface for precooking the tortilla and one area has a single second lower heating surface for additional preparation of the tortilla such as adding and warming a filling or finishing the cooking of the tortilla batter. There is a separate temperature control for each cooking area, an on/off switches and power on indicator light for each cooking area. The apparatus has a tension means that biases the upper heating surface in an open position relative to the first lower heating surface. The heating surfaces have a coating on them to reduce adherence of food stuffs during cooking and to aid in the cleaning of the heating surfaces. There are suction cup feet on the lower housing to reduce any undesirable movement.

Abstract: A cooking grill having dual heating platens for cooking meats, poultry, fish and like products; the grill having a stationary lower grill platen superposed by a top grill platen selectively moveable to and between four operating positions about one or two pivotal axes; the grill platens being formed with longitudinal lands and grooves to facilitate speed of cooking and moisture release from the cooking products; the lands serving to char spaced areas of the cooked product to emulate charcoal broiling thereof.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus has two plates which apply heat and pressure to cook an initial food material, wherein one plate is movable toward the other plate manually to close a cooking space, then is moved by a drive to apply a pressure to the food material, and is urged to an open position by a spring.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food includes two plates, a heating device for heating the plates, a drive for driving one of the plates relative to the other so as to apply heat and pressure to an initial food material, and the drive is formed so that the one plate moves in a stepped manner. One of the plates can be movable or even removable in a different direction to provide for easy handling. A protective element can be placed between the plates and the initial food material during cooking, and withdrawn thereafter.

Abstract: An improved removable cooking surface assembly for the upper movable heated platen of a two-sided cooking device is disclosed. The assembly includes a planar rigid heat conducting metal plate which is coated on its lower surface with a layer of non-stick synthetic plastic material. The coated platen is removably connected with the heated platen and extends in contiguous relation across the lower surface thereof for uniform heat transfer from the platen to the food product being cooked. Following cooking of the product when upper platen is raised, the food product remains on the lower grill surface since the coating of the upper surface prevents the product from sticking thereto. After extended use, the cooking surface assembly is easily removed from the upper movable platen for refurbishing or replacement.

Abstract: A top grill assembly for use with a conventional grill apparatus includes a J-shaped support bracket for mounting over the back of a grill enclosure and a generally elongated U-shaped supporting handle having legs pivotally mounted on the support bracket. A top grill is pivotally supported from the supporting handle near its front and captivated thereto near its rear to permit a limited range of angular movement with respect to the supporting handle. A pressurized gas cylinder is positioned between the support bracket and a cross member joining the supporting handle legs for counterbalancing the weight of the top grill. The gas cylinder may be attached to a bracket in a plurality of positions for varying the pressure applied by the top grill when lowered into the cooking position. A thermostat housing is mounted to the cross member and a cord guide maintains the electrical cord in a safe orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food includes two solid plates which subject an initial food material to high heat and pressure, and the pressure is adjusted in dependence upon the nature of the initial food material by an adjusting device.

Abstract: An adjustable meat press for two-sided cooking of food products is disclosed, characterized by a movable cooking device having a planar heated cooking surface which is connected with a grill having a fixed heated cooking surface for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. The movable cooking device includes a plurality of incrementally adjustable cams having a camming surface which protrudes beyond the cooking surface of the movable device to space the movable cooking surface from the grill cooking surface by a selected distance. Owing to the provision of a plurality of cams, the movable cooking surface is accurately maintained parallel to the grill cooking surface when the movable device is in its closed position to uniformly press and cook one or more food products arranged therebetween. A unique spring and slide mechanism controls the movement of the movable cooking device relative to the grill between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A clamshell type grill having an upper cooking platen mounted on a platen support arm for swinging movement between a lower cook position overlying a lower cooking platen and a raised position inclined upwardly from the lower cooking platen. The upper platen is manually operable to its lower cook position in which an arm stop in the arm engages an arm stop abutment and a pneumatic clamp cylinder is arranged to press and hold the platen support arm in its lower cook position. The upper platen is mounted on the platen support arm for limited floating movement in a direction perpendicular to the upper platen and adjustable platen stops on the platen support arm are arranged to engage platen stop abutments on the upper platen to limit downward movement of the upper platen to a preset lower position relative to the platen support arm and thereby control spacing of the upper platen from the lower platen.

Abstract: An adapter for association with a conventional grill for readily and selectively converting the grill for two-sided cooking of food products. Three different types of adjusting means are provided for varying the spacing between the platen and the grill cooking surface or compensating for warpage of the platen. With such fine adjustments, optimum cooking conditions can be achieved for all types and thicknesses of food products.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking or otherwise heating food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container. Means are provided for retaining the upper housing in spaced apart relationship with the lower housing to permit baking and similar heating.

Abstract: An electrically heatable broiler, browner and waffle maker comprises a base part including a hot plate and a top part also including a hot plate, the two parts being interconnected by an articulated hinge joint including an extendable linking member and a plurality of stop surfaces permitting different angular positions of the top part relative to the base part.

Abstract: The electrically heatable household appliance is assembled of a stationary lower part and a swingable upper part connected to the former by an adjustable hinge joint, each part supporting an electrically heated plate and at least one part comprising a protective plate of ceramic material transparent to infrared radiation. The protective plate is preferably removably connected to a supporting frame which is disconnectably mounted to the assigned part to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: A sandwich grill or similar cooking appliance is disclosed. The sandwich grill is adapted to heat both upper and lower surfaces of a sandwich or other article to be cooked, under controlled conditions. The appliance includes a main housing unit with a lower platen supported thereon, an upper platen, and a heat source for both platens. The upper platen is supported by a mounting arm or the like, for movement between a raised position and a range of lowered positions. In the raised position, sandwiches can be placed on or removed from the grill. The upper platen is mounted so that, in the lowered position thereof, the platen may pivot freely so that its lower surface will engage the upper surface of the sandwich. This permits the upper platen to lie parallel to the lower platen or to the upper surface of the sandwich.

Abstract: A clamshell type grill having an upper cooking platen mounted on a platen support arm for swinging movement between a lower cook position overlying a lower cooking platen and a raised position inclined upwardly from the lower cooking platen. The upper platen is manually operable to its lower cook position in which an arm stop in the arm engages an arm stop abutment and a pneumatic clamp cylinder is arranged to press and hold the platen support arm in its lower cook position. The upper platen is mounted on the platen support arm for limited floating movement in a direction perpendicular to the upper platen and adjustable platen stops on the platen support arm are arranged to engage platen stop abutments on the upper platen to limit downward movement of the upper platen to a preset lower position relative to the platen support arm and thereby control spacing of the upper platen from the lower platen.