Slice Toaster Or Broiler (e.g., Grid Types) Patents (Class 99/385)
  • Patent number: 6523458
    Abstract: A portable toast warmer apparatus is described having a lower part detachably coupled to an upper part. The lower part of the portable toast warmer is connectable to an external electric power supply and is capable of transmitting electromagnetic energy to the upper part when the upper part is coupled to the lower part. The upper part of the portable toast warmer comprises a means for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic energy so that foodstuff slices may be warmed with the plurality of heaters mounted on the walls of the upper part when the upper part is coupled to the lower part. The upper part of the portable toast warmer also comprises a battery so that the toasted foodstuff slices may continue to be heated when the upper part is decoupled from the lower part so that the upper part containing the toasted foodstuff slices may be conveniently delivered to any desired location such as a dining room table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Neil Turner
  • Patent number: 6502502
    Abstract: A toaster having a heating enclosure including a first support wall and a second support wall extending outwardly from a base. A pair of opposed racks extend between the first and second support walls along the sides of the heating enclosure. Each rack has a bottom edge hingedly supported by the support walls and a top edge wherein the top edges are biased toward each other. The racks have one end rotatably supported by a plastic bearing and are biased along their axis of rotation against the bearing to provide smooth and quiet rotation. A toast carriage extends from a plastic arm hub which is slidingly supported adjacent the second support wall between an upper and lower limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy B. Sutton, Arlene Richardson
  • Publication number: 20020189465
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Hairong Xu
  • Patent number: 6484623
    Abstract: A baking apparatus with a toaster comprises a main body; a baking part disposed at one side of the main body, and having a lid mounted at an upper portion thereof so as to be opened and closed by a hinge, a pot mounting portion for receiving a pot, a first heat generator formed at an inside wall of the pot mounting portion, and a rotational shaft protruded at a lower center portion of the pot mounting portion so that a stirring wing is inserted thereon; a toasting part disposed at the other side of the main body, and having a toasting chamber for receiving a slice of bread, a second heat generator formed at an inside wall of the toasting chamber, a lever for applying power source to the second heat generator and guiding the slice of bread, a crumb tray for removing bread crumbs, a driving motor for driving the rotational shaft of the baking part, and an operating portion for applying the power source to the driving motor and the first heat generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kaiser Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-Man Yoon, Jong-Deuk Jeong, Jin-Kook Park
  • Patent number: 6481341
    Abstract: A toaster mechanism includes a base, a carriage movable relative to the base and including a hook and a switch bar, a first switch associated with heating elements of the toaster and supported by the base and being activated by the switch bar, a timer-deactivated electromagnet supported by the base, a catch block movably supported by the base and including a bearing surface against which the hook can bear to move the block, a catch surface to catch the hook, a ferrous part interacting with the electromagnet, and an activating surface. A second switch is associated with the electromagnet and is in series electrically with the first switch. The first switch receives electric current only when the second switch is closed by the activating surface of the catch block. This ensures that toast does not burn if it is jammed in the toaster after a specified toasting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Way Plastic & Metal Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hon Chung Choi
  • Patent number: 6476360
    Abstract: A unitary shell for a heating appliance is formed having first and second side panels and first and second end panels. The first end panel has first and second sub panels, each sub panel having a vertical edge and the vertical edges of the first and second sub panels being spaced apart to form an opening between the vertical edges. The first end panel allows the insertion of components through the opening during assembly of the heating appliance. An assembly for a heating appliance may also be formed including the unitary shell and a first heating element attached on the inside of the first side panel. A second heating element is attached on the inside of the second side panel. Each heating element includes at least one terminal adapted to receive a power signal and operates responsive to power being applied to the terminal to generate heat. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing an assembly for a toaster includes providing a shell having first and second side panels and first and second end panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Salton, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Huggler, Leon Gurevich
  • Publication number: 20020117057
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels
  • Patent number: 6435081
    Abstract: A toaster cover, such as for use with a toaster, that safely and effectively covers a toaster while enhancing usability is described. The toaster cover includes first and second rigid side panels spaced apart from one another. The toaster cover also includes rigid front and back panels extending between the first and second side panels and spaced apart from each other. A rigid top panel is attached to the side panels and the front and back panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Jesse L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6431057
    Abstract: A toaster includes a toasting rack moveable between upper and lower positions. A lever arm with a handle is operable to move the toasting rack between the upper and lower positions. A user releasable latch retains the toaster rack in the upper position. When the latch is released the toasting rack falls to the lower position and a toasting cycle begins. At the end of a toasting cycle the toasting rack is moved to the upper position by manual operation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Wah Leung, Chi Chung Fung, Shek Chuen Luk
  • Publication number: 20020104444
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc. comprising a housing (2) with a slot (3) which issues into a toasting space (4) into which products to be toasted can be introduced, while heater elements (5) are arranged on both sides of this space (4) which each cooperate with a reflector (7) for reflecting radiation in the direction of the toasting space (4), and the housing (2) is made at least partly of a transparent material. In order to obtain an evenly distributed browning and a good view of the products in the toasting space (4), the reflectors (7) cover the whole area of the toasting space (4) and are made of a transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels
  • Patent number: 6428886
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an object to attenuate thermal sensation when handling the object at non-body temperature, and an object fabricated in accord with the method. There is first provided a substrate which has a first surface subject to handling. There is then formed upon the first surface of the substrate a coating. The coating has an optimal density, an optimal thermal conductivity and an optimal thickness such that when the substrate having the coating formed thereupon is equilibrated at a non-body temperature differing from a body temperature and the coating is subsequently contacted with a body at the body temperature during handling, the temperature of the surface of the coating at a contact point of the body with the coating changes precipitously to a temperature near the body temperature and subsequently returns towards the non-body temperature at a rate which permits handling of the coating at the location of the first surface of the substrate by the body with attenuated thermal sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Andrew Lewis, Lawrence Shungwei Mok
  • Patent number: 6415709
    Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a toaster comprises a first arm (2) pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis (8) for movement between a lowered position and a raised position; a second arm (3) pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis (9) spaced from and parallel to the first horizontal axis for movement between a lowered position and a raised position; and a raising device connected to at least one of the arms for raising it from its lowered position in its raised position. The arms (2, 3) cross one another at cut outs (4, 5) intermediate their length and interact so that movement of the first arm (2) from its lowered position to its raised position causes movement of the second arm (3) from its raised position to its lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Lincat Group plc
    Inventor: Andrew Richard Jackson
  • Publication number: 20020073854
    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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Chasen, James A. Sandor, M. Anthony Melito
  • Patent number: 6397732
    Abstract: A toaster that includes a housing, a carriage that is operatively connected in the housing for racking the bread to be toasted, an audio alarm that is operatively connected to the housing and in electrical communication with the timer for activating eight seconds before termination of toasting so as to give a user ample time to reach the toaster up until toasting is terminated so as to prevent the toasted bread from getting cold, a color selector that is operatively connected to the housing and in electrical communication with the carriage for selecting the color of the toasted bread. The housing has a top wall and is completely transparent for allowing viewing of all surfaces of the bread as it is being toasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Dierre B. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6382084
    Abstract: In an otherwise well-known electric pop-up toaster, an auxiliary power switch is provided and is arranged to be opened by a timer after each toasting cycle. This ensures, in contrast to the well-known toaster arrangements, that power is interrupted to heating elements even if a carriage supporting slices of toast fails to move up at the end of a toasting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Wai-Kin Chan, Wing Chung Li
  • Patent number: 6380519
    Abstract: An electrical oven includes a housing defining an inner space and having a bottom wall, two opposite side walls, a lid that is mounted pivotally on the side walls and that confine the inner space at rear and top sides of the housing, and a front opening for access to the inner space. A door is mounted on the side walls for closing the front opening. The lid is turnable relative to the bottom wall between a closed position, in which the lid confines the inner space at the rear and top sides of the housing, and an open position, in which the lid turns away from the door so as to permit the inner space to be exposed at the rear and top sides of the housing. A locking device is mounted on the lid so as to lock the lid unto the side walls when the lid is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventor: Tsan Kuen Wu
  • Publication number: 20020014484
    Abstract: A device and method for the storage and retrieval of a variety of cooking utensils is disclosed. The invention may include a sleeve, can or tracking system that is capable of receiving and storing and dispensing a stand alone appliance, or a kitchen utensil that is to be used on another kitchen appliance such as a stovetop/hob. The device may also include a latching system for securing the appliance/appliance carrier or utensil in its stored position. The device may be used with existing appliances and utensils as an appliance/utensil carrier or incorporate its own proprietary appliance(s) or utensil(s). This new and novel product or system for the storage and retrieval of food preparation appliances, allows the workplace to remain uncluttered, and at the same time allows the user ready access to the appliances, devices or utensils when desired. Additionally, the appliances are stored in a more efficient manner than is currently available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Steven Jerome Caruso
  • Patent number: 6343543
    Abstract: A low cost toaster having a metal body and plastic end panels. The end panels have cooling inlet vents near their lower ends and the top wall of the metal body has air outlet vents. Ambient air admitted through the inlet vents flows upwardly through the toaster and outwardly through the outlet vents to provide a cooling effect sufficient to allow the use of inexpensive plastic material for molding the end panels. The toaster has a bread lifter made entirely from a wire rod, a bread lifter extension made entirely from a wire rod, and a toast color cam made entirely from a single piece of sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Belknap, John W. Foster
  • Patent number: 6341554
    Abstract: A toaster having a base and at least two substantially vertical heating elements defining a cooking space that is open at least at the upper part of the toaster, the heating elements being in the form of transparent glass walls composed of a glass substrate covered, on one of its faces, with a layer of metal oxide or oxides, the layer being connected to an electric supply circuit for supplying heating current. At least two of the glass walls have an upper rim, or lip, the rim or lip being made of a transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: .SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Sylvain Thiriat
  • Publication number: 20010042447
    Abstract: A toaster having a base and at least two substantially vertical heating elements defining a cooking space that is open at least at the upper part of the toaster, the heating elements being in the form of transparent glass walls composed of a glass substrate covered, on one of its faces, with a layer of metal oxide or oxides, the layer being connected to an electric supply circuit for supplying heating current. At least two of the glass walls have an upper rim, or lip, the rim or lip being made of a transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Sylvain Thiriat
  • Patent number: 6311609
    Abstract: A food handling appliance particularly useful as a toaster, includes a food compartment for receiving a food article to be heated, at least one heating element (43b) located laterally of the food compartment for heating a food article therein, and a heat transfer-plate (44) located between the food article compartment and the heating element (43b). When the appliance is a toaster for toasting a slice of bread, there would be two heating elements and two heat-transfer plates for toasting the opposite side of a slice of bread mounted on a pop-up stand with the heat transfer plates being brought into contact with the slice of bread when the stand is in its lower position, and being moved out of contact therewith when the stand is in its upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Home Care Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Simon Dotan
  • Patent number: 6311608
    Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having an upper wall with bagel half shaped openings; toasting chambers in the housing accessible through the openings and having bagel half shapes; a bread rack in each toasting chamber; inner/outer heating coils surrounding each toasting chamber; electric contacts in the housing for activation of the heating coils; a raising/lowering mechanism connected with the bread racks for moving the bread racks up and down, and including first and second lateral portions connected to opposite ends of the bread racks; first and second guides mounted to the housing for guiding the first and second lateral portions with a small tolerance, a yoke housing connected with the first lateral portion and slidably movable relative to the housing, a lever slidably moving the yoke housing; a yoke slidably movable relative to the yoke housing and closing the electric contacts when the bread racks and yoke are lowered, and a first spring biasing the yoke upwardly; an electromagnet holding the yoke in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
  • Patent number: 6298772
    Abstract: A toaster having a ferromagnetic armature movable between an engaged position adjacent to a solenoid and closing a switch and a disengaged position away from the solenoid and opening the switch. A displacement assembly is adapted to move from an up position through a toasting position to a down position, whereupon the displacement assembly displaces the armature from the disengaged position to the engaged position, closing the switch and energizing a heating element and the solenoid, thus retaining the armature in the engaged position. The armature engages the displacement assembly when the armature is in its engaged position to retain the displacement assembly in the intermediate toasting position. A timer de-energizes the solenoid upon completion of toasting, releasing the armature to return to the disengaged position, thus opening the switch and causing de-energization of the heating element independently of the displacement assembly returning to the up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Nhiem Viet Nguyen, John J. Datovech
  • Patent number: 6279466
    Abstract: For an upright toaster, wire guards of spring material of inverted U-section with diverging arms are provided for defining the toaster slots. A toaster has a casing and one or more toaster slots for receiving bread, heating elements on each side of each slot and a plurality of wire guards defining the widths of the toaster slots. The widths of the slots are greater at the top than at the bottom with the base of the arm of the guard on at least one side of each of the slots being movable outwardly and restoring itself under the natural spring of its material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Dualit Limited
    Inventor: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten
  • Publication number: 20010016222
    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: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars, Craig M. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6267044
    Abstract: A batch type toaster includes a cool remote waiting zone and an intrinsically controlled transport mechanism that retains the bread in said waiting zone while the toasting zone is heating to optimum toasting conditions and subsequently moves the bread into the preheated toasting zone until the desired browning is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Edgecroft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6263783
    Abstract: A broiler frame includes a base, a net, an ash plate, two sloping side plates and a net frame combined together. The broiler frame has good heat concentration, and possible to broil food in various ways, with food to be broiled not sticking to the net, easy to assemble and disassemble for washing and convenient for storing away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: I-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 6257126
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Star Manufacturing International Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Veljkovic, Theodore A. Surgant, Philip M. Ranft
  • Patent number: 6257130
    Abstract: A smoker attachment for heating and burning smoker particles in a barbecue grill, and further for dispersing the produced smoke throughout the grilling chamber of the grill. The smoker attachment includes a container having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls defining an interior cavity. The smoker particles are heated in the interior cavity of the container. The smoker attachment further includes a duct member having an outer wall and a passageway extending through the duct member, and a plurality of openings about a length of the duct extending from the passageway through the outer wall. The passageway of the duct member associates with the interior cavity of the container to allow smoke produced in the container to flow out of the container, into the passageway of the duct member, and to exit the duct through the openings and into the chamber of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products Co.
    Inventor: Erich J. Schlosser
  • Patent number: 6244166
    Abstract: A child proof toaster with touch pad controls including a housing having a generally rectangular configuration. The housing has a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an interior. The top wall has a pair of slots formed therein. The slots are in communication with the interior. The slots receive toastable items therein. The interior has toasting elements disposed therein. The front wall has an opening therein in communication with the interior. A cover member is hingedly coupled with the top wall of the housing. The cover member has an open orientation exposing the pair of slots and a closed orientation covering the pair of slots. A tray portion is removably received within the opening in the front wall of the housing. The tray portion is positionable under the pair of slots in a closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Rebecca Lebron
  • Patent number: 6240834
    Abstract: An electric cut-off device for a toaster is disclosed including a housing, a timer for setting a toasting time, the timer including a core and an armature attracted by the core upon its actuation, a slidable support mounted for slidable movement within the housing, a button for controlling the movement of the slidable support, a carrier carried by the slidable support for carrying the toast, a heater for heating the toast, a switch for actuating the heater, the switch juxtaposed with the armature whereby the switch is actuated when the armature is adjacent to the core and the heater, the core and the timer are deactivated after expiration of the toasting time, and the slidable support is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Huajin Chen, Xiaoxing Shen
  • Patent number: 6230611
    Abstract: A toaster is disclosed including a main frame with a toasting compartment including an electrical resistance heater, a carriage mounted for reciprocation within the toasting compartment so that the bread product to be toasted can be loaded when the carriage is in an upper position and the bread product can be toasted when the carriage is in the lower position, an electromagnet for holding the carriage in the lower position, and a safety assembly for interrupting the supply of electricity to the electrical resistance heater at the end of a toasting cycle independent of the position of the carriage with the subassembly and including a lock to lock the carriage in the lower position, an armature for carrying the lock mounted adjacent to the electromagnet, and a resilient contact to establish electrical contact with the electrical resistance heater when the assembly is in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Mauffrey
  • Patent number: 6205910
    Abstract: A toaster/heater assembly for toasting and heating food products has a housing containing a frame, and a heating chamber having a toaster/heater ensemble which heats two compartments of the chamber. The ensemble has a middle unit and two side units, each of which are divided into two insulating boards having side edges with nibs separated by notches. A pair of lower terminals are spaced from each other and connected to ends of a heating element. For the side units, the heating element winds from a terminal around the nibs and notches of one board section to then cross to the other board section to likewise wind, so that almost all of the strands of the element face a heating compartment. The middle unit heating element winds through the notches and nibs and crosses to the other board section and likewise winds about it so that heat radiates from both of its sides to two different compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Star Manufacturing International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Daro Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6205911
    Abstract: A toasting apparatus is provided which includes a housing, a base having first and second side walls and a plurality of slots disposed within the housing at an angle less than about 45° from top planar surfaces of the first and second side walls of the base. Each slot has a width less than about 0.5 inches (about 1.27 cm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Emilio Ochoa
  • Patent number: 6192788
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jan H. Benedictus, Klaas Kooyker
  • Patent number: 6192790
    Abstract: Appliance for grilling a flat slice of food, the appliance being composed of a housing with a slot permitting access to a parallelepiped grilling chamber in the opposite main faces of which are respectively arranged facing each other two heating subassemblies. At least one of the subassemblies having a substantially homogeneous radiation plate heated by heating elements. The radiation face of this plate may be completed by elements which maintain a predetermined spacing of less than 1 centimeter with the slice, this face or this slice being in contact with these spacing elements along surfaces less than 1 millimeter wide. At least one of the subassemblies may be mounted to be relatively displaceable farther and closer with respect to the other in order to be applied to one side and the other of the slice with a predetermined pressure. The plates may be of a material and have dimensions such that they constitute heat storage plates for heating by convection or by radiation at a short distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Balandier
  • Patent number: 6170388
    Abstract: A cooking device for evenly cooking the food without having to turn the food over in the cooking vessel. The cooking device includes a bottom heating member which includes a housing having a top side with one or two heating elements securely disposed in the top side; and also includes a top heating member which includes a housing having a top side and a bottom side and having one or two heating elements securely disposed in the bottom side; and further includes a plurality of support members for supporting the top heating member above the bottom heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Robert C. Shovick
  • Patent number: 6129007
    Abstract: An electric automatic pop-up toaster has a carriage and a pivotably connected manually operative arm for moving the carriage to a lowermost position for toasting in well-known manner. At the beginning of each toasting cycle, the arm is horizontal and a latching plate is magnetically held down to hold the arm and the carriage in a lowermost position. The arm presses against a wire spring to hold closed a power switch (not shown) that supplies power to heating elements of the toaster. The latching plate is (magnetically) released at the end of each toasting cycle by a timer. This allows the carriage to move upwards to pop-up toasted bread in a usual way. However should the carriage fail to move upwards when the latching plate is released, the arm is pivoted by a spring and tilted to the position shown in the Figure. The wire is therefore released and enters a slot in a bracket mounted to the carriage. The switch opens and remains open to prevent power being re-instated to the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Tong Chan, Chun Ying Yeh
  • Patent number: 6123012
    Abstract: A toaster includes a housing having an upper wall with bagel half shaped openings; toasting chambers in the housing accessible through the openings and having bagel half shapes; a bread rack in each toasting chamber; inner/outer heating coils surrounding each toasting chamber; electric contacts in the housing for activation of the heating coils; a raising/lowering mechanism connected with the bread racks for moving the bread racks up and down, and including first and second lateral portions connected to opposite ends of the bread racks; first and second guides mounted to the housing for guiding the first and second lateral portions with a small tolerance, a yoke housing connected with the first lateral portion and slidably movable relative to the housing, a lever slidably moving the yoke housing; a yoke slidably movable relative to the yoke housing and closing the electric contacts when the bread racks and yoke are lowered, and a first spring biasing the yoke upwardly; an electromagnet holding the yoke in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
  • Patent number: 6116148
    Abstract: A space-saving multiple tier vertical flow toaster for simultaneously toasting items loaded vertically from the top of the toaster. The first items loaded into the toaster pass through an upper tier and are arrested in a lower tier. The next items loaded are arrested in the upper tier and both the upper tier and lower tier items are toasted sequentially. A control system discharges the lower tier items first and then discharges the upper tier items enabling them to pass through the lower tier and be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Vardon Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Dillis V. Allen
  • Patent number: 6116149
    Abstract: A toaster has a guide mechanism for a slice support (7), which mechanism comprises a substantially U-shaped rod (15) having a central portion (16) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slice support and having two arms (17, 18) which are each supported in the respective ends (8, 9) of the slice support as well as in a frame (1) of the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jan H. Benedictus, Klaas Kooijker
  • Patent number: 6112648
    Abstract: In a toaster, when a supporting member on which a sliced bread is placed is moved down to hold the sliced bread in a bread holding space, a pressing member almost straightly keeps and presses the sliced bread toward the plate heater with a pattern plate in conjunction with a downward movement of the supporting member. When heating is started, radiation heat from the plate heater to the sliced bread is shielded by the pattern plate attached to the plate heater. Thus, the sliced bread is toasted with a pattern in the shape of the pattern plate, and a peripheral region of the pattern plate is almost uniformly browned by radiation heat from the plate heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Home Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Origane
  • Patent number: 6109169
    Abstract: A grilling appliance includes a housing having a vertical food compartment for receiving a food article in a vertical position, a heated first grill plate mounted in a vertical position in one side of the food compartment, a heated second grill plate mounted in a vertical position in the opposite side of the food compartment, and a non-electrical drive for driving the second grill plate to an extended position towards the first grill pate, or to a retracted position away from the first grill plate. In one disclosed embodiment, the drive is pneumatically actuated, and in a second disclosed embodiment, the drive employs a screw, gear, and electromagnetic clutch mechanism. Also described are food holders particularly useful with such grilling appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Dime Group Corp.
    Inventors: Ruben Masel, George Valdshtein
  • Patent number: 6105486
    Abstract: A low cost toaster having a metal body and plastic end panels. The end panels have cooling inlet vents near their lower ends and the top wall of the metal body has air outlet vents. Ambient air admitted through the inlet vents flows upwardly through the toaster and outwardly through the outlet vents to provide a cooling effect sufficient to allow the use of inexpensive plastic material for molding the end panels. The toaster has a bread lifter made entirely from a wire rod, a bread lifter extension made entirely from a wire rod, and a toast color cam made entirely from a single piece of sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Belknap, John W. Foster
  • Patent number: 6079320
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Lang Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Taber, Bradley Allen
  • Patent number: 6062128
    Abstract: A toaster with at least one toasting chamber for receiving goods to be toasted such as slices of toast is disclosed. The toaster has at least one loading opening and at least one discharge opening for loading goods to be toasted and for removing toasted goods. It also includes a transport device for transporting toasted goods through the toaster. The functional elements of this toaster are surrounded by a wall of a housing supported on a chassis. The transport device moves one or several pieces of toasted goods in the toasting chamber by means of a spiral guiding system on a spiral transport path from the loading opening to the discharge opening. At the same time, the toasted goods are continuously and substantially uniformly exposed to the heat irradiated by at least one spiral heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Glenn Rolus Borgward
  • Patent number: 6058829
    Abstract: A food preparation device is provided with a toaster portion and an attached slicing mechanism. The device may be used to prepare toasted bagels and other food products. The toaster portion and the slicing mechanism are arranged to provide a compact construction. The slicing mechanism may be provided with slot-shaped guides for guiding a knife. A press plate may be used to hold the food product in a desired position for cutting. In addition, a device may be provided for removing the food product after it has been sliced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Windmere Corporation
    Inventor: W. Eric Endres
  • Patent number: 6053094
    Abstract: An Apparatus for baking pita bread dough utilizing a source of electrical power. A pair of heat resistant elements are each fitted with an electrical heating element. The pair of heat resistant elements so constructed are mated to one another to form an oven chamber. A heat conductoring screen is supported midway between the heat resistant elements within the chamber and permits cooking of the pita bread dough in uniform manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Dimitri Cados
  • Patent number: 6037580
    Abstract: Safety device composed of a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver disposed for receiving radiation which is produced by the emitter and which traverses a radiation path between the emitter and the detector, the detector producing an output signal representative of the quantity of radiation received by the detector, and an electronic circuit coupled to the detector for analyzing the output signal produced by the detector and identifying a reduction in the magnitude of the output signal as a result of an obstruction in the radiation path, wherein the emitter and the detector are mounted on a cooking appliance in a manner which allows extraneous radiation in the vicinity of the cooking appliance to traverse the radiation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Remi Renk
  • Patent number: 6014925
    Abstract: A toaster comprises a housing (1) enclosing a toasting chamber (2) in which is movably mounted a bread carrier (4) between an ejection position and a toasting position in which it is retained by an electromagnetic actuating device (5) comprising a control winding (6) with a hollow support (7) which is secured to a plate (20) carrying electrical connection members (22), and which surrounds a magnetic core (8), as well as a movable armature (9) adapted to retain the bread carrier (4) in its toasting position. The magnetic core (8) is mechanically mounted independently of the support (7) of the winding (6) and of the plate (20), and is secured to a member (24) on the housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Moulinex S.A.
    Inventors: Sanjuan Antonio Basora, Julian Arnedo