Slice Toaster Or Broiler (e.g., Grid Types) Patents (Class 99/385)
  • Patent number: 7164106
    Abstract: A toaster-cum-microwave oven includes a toasting chamber, a heating device, a humidity measuring device for measuring an inside humidity of the toasting chamber and producing a humidity signal indicating the measured inside humidity, a switching device for selectively cutting or allowing a power supply to the heating device, and a controlling device. The controlling device receives the humidity signal, calculates a rate of change of humidity using the humidity signal, compares the rate of change of humidity with a predetermined value, and controls the switching device to cut the power supply to the heating device after a remaining cooking time has lapsed if the rate of change of humidity is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hak Seok Yu, Seung Hoe Kim
  • Patent number: 7132633
    Abstract: Toaster cum microwave oven having a heater for toasting bread, including a memory for storing a voltage level to a heater according to the function of the toaster the user selects, a temperature sensor for sensing an inside temperature of the toaster, and a microcomputer for controlling a toasting time period according to a kind and a toasting level of bread the user selects, and an inside temperature of the toaster, and controlling the microwave oven according to a command received through the first key input part, thereby permitting toasting bread to a desired degree of toasting regardless of the inside temperature and continued user of the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Yong Lee, Dong Hun Youn, Young Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 7067777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined toaster and microwave oven that can obtain uniformly toasted slices of bread even when the slices of the bread are toasted successively several times. The combined toaster and microwave oven includes a key input unit for selecting user's favorite kind of the bread and baking level, a memory for storing heating time of the heaters according to the favorite kind of the bread and the favorite baking level, a temperature sensor for sensing internal temperature of the toaster, a controller for counting an elapsed time for the heaters to operate after the heaters stop and adjusting the heating time of the heaters according to the counted time and the internal temperature of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Yong Lee, Sung Un Shin, Shin Jae Jeong, Won Kyoung Park
  • Patent number: 7047871
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Brett M Christoffel
  • Patent number: 7041948
    Abstract: A microwave oven with a toaster includes a toaster casing, a heating chamber inserted in the toaster casing, a bread receiver slidably inserted in the toaster casing, and a toaster door attached to a front side of the bread receiver. The bread receiver is selectively placed in the heating chamber. The microwave oven further includes a crumb tray slidably inserted in the toaster casing for collecting crumbs of bread and a holding unit for holding bread put in the bread receiver. The crumb tray is placed under the bread receiver. Further, there is provided a process for controlling a heater of the toaster, which is capable of properly baking bread even when the toaster is continually operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Hyun Lee, Gil Ju Jung, Yun Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 7004063
    Abstract: A barbeque grill assembly includes a grill housing, a support frame, and a side rack. The grill housing includes a lower housing part that has an upright lower lateral wall. The support frame is mounted movably on the lower lateral wall, has an inner end that extends into the lower housing part and an outer end that is disposed outwardly of the lower housing part, and is movable horizontally between extended and retracted positions relative to the lower lateral wall. The side rack is coupled pivotally to the outer end of the support frame, and is pivotable to a horizontal unfolded position, in which the side rack is disposed on top of the support frame, when the support frame is at the extended position. The side rack is further pivotable from the unfolded position to a vertical folded position to permit retraction of the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Shuan Li
  • Patent number: 6979803
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Jesse Webb
  • Patent number: 6973871
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yi Chuang, Li-Hsuan Lin
  • Patent number: 6946630
    Abstract: Disclosed is a combined toaster and microwave oven, including: a plurality of heaters disposed close to both surfaces of a slice of bread so as to apply a heat to the slice of bread inserted into a slot in a toaster; a control panel for selecting a bread kind and a bread baking level which a user desires; a display unit for displaying the bread kind and the bread baking level selected in the control panel; and a controller for controlling to selectively operate the heater according to the bread kind and the bread baking level selected in the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Su Lee, Sung Un Shin, Young Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 6945159
    Abstract: A microwave oven incorporating a toaster (400) includes a toaster door (440) provided on a toaster panel (430) for opening and closing at least one toaster entrance (421) and a tray assembly (460). The tray assembly (460) includes a tray support (462) provided inside the toaster (400) and at least one tray securely provided on top of the tray support (462) for holding a food item. The tray (461) is declined toward a front end of the tray (461) so as to enable the food item to slide down toward the front end of the tray (461), and it includes at least one elevating bracket (465) for maintaining a predetermined angle and a predetermined distance between the tray (461) and the tray support (462). The microwave oven incorporating a toaster (400) further includes a support wall provided at the front end of the tray (461) for supporting the food item so as to prevent from falling off from the tray (461).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Woog Lee
  • Patent number: 6921887
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven having a toasting function and compact dimensions. The microwave oven comprises a cavity and a component chamber; a toaster case at a front of the component chamber and having an opening at a front thereof; a toaster door at a front of the toaster case for opening/closing the opening; a tray assembly installed in an interior of the toaster case for supporting at least one slice of bread; and a heater assembly installed in an interior of the toaster case, for heating the bread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronic Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Gun Back, Sang Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 6829983
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: SEB S. A.
    Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora
  • Publication number: 20040211324
    Abstract: A toaster has a housing with one or more bread receiving holes and an aperture. One or more bread carriages are positioned in the one or more bread receiving holes. The toaster has a first tray positionable in the aperture. The first tray has a first crumb collecting position and a second crumb removing position. The first tray also has a trough. A second removable tray is positionable in the trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventor: David J. Wanat
  • Patent number: 6799505
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Mauffrey
  • Publication number: 20040182253
    Abstract: A toaster including a housing with a toasting compartment, a heater located in the housing, a food cage movably supported in the toasting compartment for movement between a gripping position and a receiving position and a carriage movably supported in the housing. The carriage is permitted movement between a toasting position adjacent a lower portion of the toasting compartment and a loading position adjacent an upper portion of the toasting compartment. The carriage may receive and support a food item to be toasted in the loading position. The food cage is positioned in the receiving position when the carriage is positioned in the loading position and is positioned in the gripping position when the carriage is positioned in the toasting position. The food cage is urged toward the gripping position by gravitational forces as the carriage moves toward the toasting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Nhiem Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6789464
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6789463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an indicator on a household appliance to alert a user to clean the appliance. For example, the indicator alerts the user when to clean a crumb tray in a toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Salton, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lile
  • Patent number: 6772678
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong-Soo Choi, Sang-Jin Oh, Yoon-Gun Baek
  • Publication number: 20040144257
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the thermal condition of a heat chamber of a toaster wherein extend grilling and/or heating means, said toaster having in particular means for triggering a grilling or heating cycle and means for adjusting the desired degree of grilling. The invention is characterised in that it consists in: measuring, at two different times (t1) and (t2) after triggering the grilling or heating cycle, respective values (A1) then (A2) of a thermally variable capacitor (C) or a quantity representative of said value, said capacitor (C) being subjected to the influence of the grilling and/or heating means; calculating the ratio (r) of the two measurements (A1, A2) produced so as to determine the thermal condition of the heat chamber at the triggering time of the grilling or heating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Claude Battu
  • Publication number: 20040129148
    Abstract: A method and system for designing, manufacturing and selling thematic cooking plates that are interchangeable with removable cooking plates in various waffle irons, sandwich grillers and waffle iron/sandwich griller combinations. The cooking plates may have a pattern on one or both sides. The plates may be packaged in a variety of combinations, but most often as a group of three cooking plates each with different patterns representing a single theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Mary F. Romano
  • Publication number: 20040083900
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Alain Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6730888
    Abstract: Method and device for controlling the grilling, or toasting, of a food product placed in a toaster or toaster oven that has heating elements, a heating chamber, a grilling selector for adjusting the level of browning of the food product, an element for stopping the supply of electricity to the heating elements when the level of toasting is achieved and a light-receiving system composed of at least one photo-resistive element of the LDR type disposed for detecting light reflected by the food product being grilled or toasted. The grilling or toasting is controlled by measuring the evolution in time of a signal G representative of the light reflectivity of the food product, and converting at least one characteristic of that evolution into at least one of the grilling or toasting states of the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Battu
  • Patent number: 6708602
    Abstract: A toaster including a housing with a toasting compartment, a heater located in the housing, a food cage movably supported in the toasting compartment for movement between a gripping position and a receiving position and a carriage movably supported in the housing. The carriage is permitted movement between a toasting position adjacent a lower portion of the toasting compartment and a loading position adjacent an upper portion of the toasting compartment. The carriage may receive and support a food item to be toasted in the loading position. The food cage is positioned in the receiving position when the carriage is positioned in the loading position and is positioned in the gripping position when the carriage is positioned in the toasting position. The food cage is urged toward the gripping position by gravitational forces as the carriage moves toward the toasting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Nhiem Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6675700
    Abstract: A toaster has a chassis, a pair of end plates, a frame positioned in between and supported by the end plates. There is a pair of heating elements supported by the frame and a receiving bay between the frames. A carriage is movable within the receiving bay between a receiving/dispensing position and a cooking position. The carriage interacts with the frame during movement to transfer the frame and thereby re-size the receiving bay. As a result, the heating elements move closer to the bread during toasting and more away from the toast when toast has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Tian Tan Hong
  • Patent number: 6655262
    Abstract: The invention concerns a toaster comprising a housing (1) containing a bread-holder carriage (4) mobile between an ejecting position wherein it is returned by an elastic device (5) and a toasting position wherein it is retained by an electromagnetic device (14), the electromagnetic device (14) including a ferromagnetic component (15) secured to the bread-holder carriage (4) and an electromagnet (16) secured to the housing (1), and a control device acting on the circuit powering the coil (L) of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora Sanjuan
  • Publication number: 20030213374
    Abstract: A portable electric grilling appliance (20) for household use which has first and second heating units (22, 24) which, in use, overlie one another has substantially identical housing shells to make it evident to the user that the grilling appliance (20) can be used with either one of the heating units as the lower heating unit and provide support for the other heating unit. The two heating units (22, 24) have substantially the same exterior appearance and both are designed to function as either the top heating unit or the bottom heating unit. The two heating units (22, 24) are substantially symmetrical about a horizontal plane extending between them when the heating elements are arranged one on top of the other to indicate to the user of the appliance that either heating unit could be placed on top and the other on the bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Martin Brady, Xiaogang Guo
  • Publication number: 20030196559
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel
  • Patent number: 6626090
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for improved heat circulation and containment when smoking or grilling using electric, gas, or charcoal as the heat source. The base pan design enhances heat containment, and offers a channel design in the bottom of the base pan. A flame disk for even heat distribution is provided and can be used in conjunction with the base pan, and prevents internal food drippings from escaping through the disk. The disk design enhances the heat efficiency, and safeguards against drippings or ashes falling through to the burner or ground. The holes in the disk are raised, and has attached covers strategically placed over the holes to deter drippings or ashes from falling through. A fire pit container is also provided and designed for use with the base pan. The fire pit container supports a heat source such as a gas burner which directs a flame toward the base pan open hole and also toward the underside of a flame disk when a flame disk is suspended above the base pan hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventors: John D. McLemore, Don McLemore
  • Publication number: 20030172814
    Abstract: The invention concerns a toaster comprising a housing (1) containing a bread-holder carriage (4) mobile between an ejecting position wherein it is returned by elastic means (5) and a toasting position wherein it is retained by an electromagnetic device (14), said electromagnetic device (14) including a ferromagnetic component (15) secured to the bread-holder carriage (4) and an electromagnet (16) secured to the housing (1), and control means acting on the circuit powering the coil (L) of said electromagnet. The invention is characterised in that the control means are adapted to act on interrupting means (I1, I2) of the circuit powering the coil (L) so as to apply a positive voltage (UL) at the terminals of the coil during toasting, then a negative voltage of less absolute value when toasting is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora Sanjuan
  • Publication number: 20030159594
    Abstract: A toaster has a chassis, a pair of end plates, a frame positioned in between and supported by the end plates. There is a pair of heating elements supported by the frame and a receiving bay between the frames. A carriage is movable within the receiving bay between a receiving/dispensing position and a cooking position. The carriage interacts with the frame during movement to transfer the frame and thereby re-size the receiving bay. As a result, the heating elements move closer to the bread during toasting and move away from the toast when toast has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Tian Hong Tan
  • Patent number: 6595118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toaster having a housing (11) that is provided with one or more slots (14) each for accommodating one or more slices of bread for making toast. To improve the handling of the toaster while making toast and to simplify keeping it warm, the housing (11) is provided with a compartment (20) for accommodating a slidably mounted drawer (21) onto which a collapsible toast rack device (26) is mounted. When the toast rack device is in the collapsed condition, the drawer is adapted to be pulled out of and pushed into said housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Pro-duct SDA Manufacturers Ltd.
    Inventor: Neil Gould
  • Patent number: 6595111
    Abstract: In an electric toaster, a power switch unit is switched by a actuator provided on a support seat, which is movable together with a carriage, from an OFF-mode, where power to an electric heating unit is cut-off, to an ON-mode, where power is supplied to the heating unit, when the carriage is moved from an upper limit position to a lower limit position. A control unit energizes an electromagnet when the switch unit is switched to the ON-mode to attract a magnetically-attracted plate on the seat so that, once a force to move the carriage to the lower limit position is relieved, a biasing device biases the carriage to move from the lower limit position to a toasting position, thereby holding the seat in a lower retaining position against biasing action of a biasing member and thereby holding the carriage in the toasting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Cheng Chiu, Po-Wen Hsiao
  • Patent number: 6584889
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030116031
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Seong-Soo Choi, Sang-Jin Oh, Yoon-Gun Baek
  • Patent number: 6581512
    Abstract: The toaster has a top that fits into the opening at the top of the toaster. The top consists of a peripheral plate (17) at the opening of the toasting chamber and having an upper rim (18), which may be pierced with a number of holes (20a,20b). A peripheral flange (24) is connected to the plate by bridges (23) between the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Guy Mauffrey, Dominique Marx
  • Publication number: 20030106436
    Abstract: A combination slicer and toaster which is particularly suitable for slicing and toasting bagels and other similar food items, which comprises in combination a slicing section and a toasting section, such that a bagel, or other similar food item, is inserted into an opening slot in one end of the slicing section, wherein said bagel or other food item is forced into intimate contact with a slicing means located within the slicing section by the downward action of a plunger means located in rotational contact with the opening slot. Upon passing through the slicing section, the bagel is simultaneously deposited in the toasting section of the device, where the now sliced food item is toasted and, upon completion of the toasting operation, is elevated through an exit slot in the other end of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce Ancona, Robert A. Varakian
  • Patent number: 6571688
    Abstract: A toaster structure comprises a rear plate, a rear door, and a safety switch. The rear plate has an opening at center portion with a pair of rails formed at respective sides of the opening, and a step below the lower end of the opening. The rear door comprises a pair of edges at respective sides, which align with the rails of the rear plate and will guide the rear door to slide along the rails up and down, whereas the step will receive the rear door and confine further movement. The safety switch is formed on the rear plate in align with one side of the step, and will be pressed by the rear door when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Lundar Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tony Hsu
  • Patent number: 6571687
    Abstract: An electric toaster includes a power switch unit driven by an electromagnet, for holding a spring-loaded carriage mounted in a toasting compartment when the carriage is moved from an upper position to a lower position, so as to switch from an OFF-mode, where the electromagnet is disposed in a deactivated position, to an ON-mode, where the electromagnet is disposed in an activated position. A control unit enables the electromagnet to be excited when the carriage is moved from the upper position to the lower position so as to attract the carriage such that the electromagnet subsequently moves with the carriage from the deactivated position to the activated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventors: Tsan-Kuen Wu, Chi-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 6561081
    Abstract: An automatic bread slice-toasting oven comprises a case, a toasting chamber, a guide rail form toasting shelf, an electrical transmission mechanism and a timing control circuit. A push rod provided with push claws is provided beneath the toasting shelf, the push claws are hinged to the two ends of the push rod via pivot pins respectively, the push rod is connected to the transmission mechanism. The motor rotates in the positive and negative directions by the controlling of the timing control circuit so as to reciprocate the push rod, so that the front claw on the push rod pushes the toasted bread slice out of the toasting chamber and the rear claw pushes a bread slice to be toasted into the toasting chamber. The toasting can be carried out automatically, continuously and alternatively by setting the time period of toasting with safety and convenience, thus increasing the efficiency of toasting greatly and ensuring the quality of the toasted bread slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Hairong Xu
  • Publication number: 20030075052
    Abstract: A bread toaster comprising a housing and at least one slot opening for receiving an article to be toasted. The bread is progressively traversed by a linear heat source in a pair of passes. A first pass is at a rate which is sufficient to drive moisture from at least the surface of the bread, but which is insufficient to significantly darken the bread. A second pass is at a rate which is sufficient to darken and toast the surface to a desired degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Nesco, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Saunders, Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars
  • Publication number: 20030070556
    Abstract: Vertical toaster including a housing having a front open face, at least one pair of rails parallelly disposed in the housing, several heaters arranged in the housing and spaced from the rails by a certain distance and at least one grill bridged between the rails and reciprocally movable between a first and a second positions. A predetermined section of the rail gradually inward and upward extends. At least one locating member is disposed in the housing corresponding to the grill, whereby a slice of toast can be horizontally placed on the grip to be heated by the heater. The locating member serves to fix the grill in the second position. After the toast is toasted, the locating member releases the grill and makes the grill slide to the first position for a user to take out the toast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Ming-Hsiu
  • Patent number: 6546844
    Abstract: A tortilla warming appliance for warming one or more tortillas in a manner similar to a toaster. The tortilla warming appliance comprises a collapsible tortilla cage for each tortilla and a push-down, pop-up, arc-shaped cradle assembly slidably coupled in a respective tortilla cage. The cradle assembly has a concave center section, which defines an arc that approximates a curved perimeter edge of the tortilla. Furthermore, the width of the front and back tortilla cage wall is greater than the diameter of a commercially available tortilla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Alberto Trevino
  • Publication number: 20030066434
    Abstract: A bread toaster comprising a housing and at least one slot opening for receiving an article to be toasted. The bread is progressively traversed by a linear heat source in a pair of passes. A first pass is at a rate which is sufficient to drive moisture from at least the surface of the bread, but which is insufficient to significantly darken the bread. A second pass is at a rate which is sufficient to darken and toast the surface to a desired degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars, Craig M. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6543337
    Abstract: The present invention relates to toasting devices for toasting food which automatically control the degree browning of food toasted within them. The present invention particularly relates to such toasters that use a sensor to sense some quality of the food being toasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Michael Brown
  • Patent number: 6543338
    Abstract: A toaster oven includes a modular storage compartment. The sidewalls of the storage compartment are vertically aligned with the sidewalls of the toaster oven. The respective sidewalls of the toaster oven and the storage compartment are connected to each other for securing the modular storage compartment to the toaster oven. The front wall of the storage compartment is movable relative to the sidewalls to provide access to the interior of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Chasen, James A. Sandor, M. Anthony Melito
  • Patent number: 6539840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Seong-Soo Choi, Sang-Jin Oh, Yoon-Gun Baek
  • Patent number: 6539843
    Abstract: A vertical hearth barbecue grill having a removable, vertical firebox that is backwardly inclined so as to provide a combination of direct and indirect heating. Multiple cooking grids positionable at various heights across the firebox provide an substantial cooking area for grilling, broiling, and searing. Inclination minimizes ash avalanche during briquette burning. A top grid located directly over the firebox provides a surface for searing or high-temperature cooking (i.e., direct heating), a mid-level cooking grid provides medium temperature indirect and/or partial direct heating cooking, and a lower main cooking grid provides indirect medium temperature for broiling or baking. A pair of opposed insulated sidewalls help confine heat in and about the cooking grids and may also support a removable, hinged cover lid that establishes an oven-like enclosure about the mid-level and main cooking grids to provide a baking/broiling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Alphonso G. Andress
  • Publication number: 20030051605
    Abstract: A device for simultaneously and evenly toasting articles of differing contours and dimensions arranged upon a heated griddle. A clamshell plate, positioned in stand-off relationship above said griddle-arranged articles, has a plurality of slideably moveable fingers or pins mounted therein which float, that is, are brought into contacting and resting relation with the upper surfaces of said articles to provide a gentle pressure thereon to urge the lower surfaces into more intimate contact with the griddle until the toasting process is completed, thereby accelerating the toasting process without undesirable side effects such as distortion of, and condensation on, the upper surfaces and caramelization of the lower surfaces of said articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Howard Jay Frantz, John James Boyer
  • Patent number: 6532864
    Abstract: A combination slicer and toaster which is particularly suitable for slicing and toasting bagels and other similar food items, which comprises in combination a slicing section and a toasting section, such that a bagel, or other similar food item, is inserted into an opening slot in one end of the slicing section, wherein said bagel or other food item is forced into intimate contact with a slicer located within the slicing section by the downward action of a pusher located in rotational contact with the opening slot. Upon passing through the slicing section, the bagel is simultaneously deposited in the toasting section of the device, where the now sliced food item is toasted and, upon completion of the toasting operation, is elevated through an exit slot in the other end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Lectrix, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Ancona, Robert A. Varakian
  • Patent number: 6530309
    Abstract: An apparatus for toasting bread, includes a housing (2) with a slot (3) which leads into a toasting space (4). Heater elements (5) are arranged on both sides of this space which each cooperate with a reflector (7) for reflecting radiation in the direction of the toasting space. Grille elements (8) are located to center the bread in the toasting space. A bread support element (9) is provided for moving the bread up or down. The grille elements (8) and the support element (9) are moveable in a coordinated way. The grille elements (8) and/or the heater elements (5) are arranged on two pairs of arms (6) which are hinged (14) to a base part (1), while the support element (9) cooperates with a lever (19) which is also hinged (18) to the base part (1), the arms (6) and the lever (19) cooperating with openings (17) in a slide (10) which is movable in the base part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels