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.

Abstract: Prior ice cream cone baking machines were manually raised and lowered, causing the cone to be sometimes overcooked or burnt. The present invention automatically raises the upper cooking plate after a pre-set cooking time, and maintains the baked cake at a warm temperature until removed from the lower cooking plate.

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.

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.

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

Abstract: A toaster includes a toaster body having a top wall, at least one toasting chamber in the top wall, a bottom, side walls, and end walls. A seat is adjacent to, and extends along at least a portion of one of the side walls (and preferably along both of the side walls). The seat allows toast to be placed in contact with the wall of the toaster to be kept warm by heat radiating through the toaster wall. In one embodiment, the seat is simply an exposed shelf. In another embodiment, the seat forms a bottom surface of an enclosed warming chamber. The warming chamber is defined by an outer wall which is spaced from the toaster body side wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall, and the seat. A door is provided to allow access to the chamber. Preferably, the door can be removed from the toaster. The toaster includes oversized controls (a start lever and a darkness control lever) to allow the controls to be easily seen and manipulated.

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.

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.

Abstract: An electric broiler-toaster-oven with the broiling heaters installed above the food to be cooked. In order to direct heat down to the food, it uses a reflector unit which consists of the absorber plate and a series of reflectors. This arrangement increases efficiency and the speed of cooking, and provides for extremely clean operation: no fumes are emitted, very few parts are to be cleaned, and no burnt deposits are created on food.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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: An improved contact toaster for heating bagels, muffins and other food items features a housing containing a toasting chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The toasting chamber contains a pair of conveyor belts with a removable platen positioned between them. Two auxiliary heaters are positioned so that they heat both the platen and the conveyor belts. A pair of tensioners engage the conveyor belts so that pathways between the conveyor belts and platen taper inward to a minimum thickness and then expand outward again. As a result, food items moving through the pathways via the conveyor belts are toasted on both surfaces and also absorb heat from both the platen and the conveyor belt surfaces as they are compressed and released. The platen may be diamond shaped to increase the rate and degree of compression and release and removable so that thicker food items may be accommodated.

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.

Abstract: An electrical cooking device (10) for a single serving of pizza including a lower cooking plate (16) with peripheral walls (36) extending upward, hinged to a upper cooking plate (18) with peripheral walls (40) extending downward. When these are in a closed position a substantial cooking chamber (22) is formed in which up to a quarter of a round pizza of various thickness can be cooked easily and efficiently.

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.

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

Abstract: Electrical apparatus for thermal processing of food includes a casing which has a transparent portion for viewing the food disposed within the casing. At least one heating element is mounted within the casing for heating the food, the heating element including a heat resistant and mechanically rigid transparent first substrate having a first surface which faces the food and a second opposite facing surface. At least one electrical resistance element is disposed on the second surface, the at least one electrical resistance element being connected to a source of electrical current. At least one second transparent substrate is disposed adjacent the second surface, the at least one second transparent substrate including a transparent infrared reflective coating. Thus, the food disposed within the casing is viewable from the exterior of the casing through at least the first substrate while the food is being heated by the first substrate.

Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method is provided. The cooked food staging device allows previously cooked food items, particularly sandwich fillings such as hamburger patties, fish fillets, biscuits, Canadian bacon, pork sausage, eggs, chicken patties, chicken fillets and nuggets, to be stored over extended periods of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food while avoiding risk of bacterial contamination. The food staging device is composed of a plurality of discrete compartments bounded by upper and lower heated compartment surfaces. Food can be stored within the compartments in trays having side walls of a height such that a gap is achieved between the top of the tray and the upper compartment heated surface to limit and control the evaporation of liquid from the food stored therein.

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.

Abstract: A vertically extending, cylindrical toaster having a plurality of modules which may be integrally joined together in a single housing or may be separably stacked one upon the other. Each module comprises at least one individual heating unit having a horizontally oriented aperture opening into the unit. Each heating unit is separated from its vertical neighbors by a heat insulating layer and includes a food receiving grill, an upper heating element located above the grill, a lower heating element located below the grill, and a removable tray below the lower heating element for catching crumbs or other food particles which fall from the grill. The grill may also be movable and/or removable for easy access to the food thereon or for cleaning. Master controls for all the modules and individual controls for each separate module are contemplated to provide versatile control of the cooking processes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Prior ice cream cone baking machines were manually raised and lowered, causing the cone to be sometimes overcooked or burnt. The present invention automatically raises the upper cooking plate after a pre-set cooking time, and maintains the baked cake at a warm temperature until removed from the lower cooking plate.

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).

Abstract: A toaster has heating elements (H1, H2) arranged at opposite sides of a product (5) to be toasted. The size of the product to be toasted (5) is detected by a sensor, for example a mechanical sensor (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) or an optical sensor device with a photo-emitter and a photo-receiver. The power delivered by the heating elements (H1, H2) is controlled in dependence on the detected size. Thus, the power consumption of the toaster is adapted to the size of the product to be toasted and overheating of the product is avoided and a constant toasting time is obtained.

Abstract: A grilling appliance includes a housing having a vertical food compartment for receiving a food article in a vertical position, a heated first grill- plate mounted in a vertical position in one side of the food compartment, a heated second grill plate mounted in a vertical position in the opposite side of the food compartment, and a drive for driving the second grill plate to an extended position towards the first grill plate, or to a retracted position away from the first grill plate. Also described are food holders particularly useful with such grilling appliance.

Abstract: A grilling appliance includes a housing having a vertical food compartment for receiving a food article in a vertical position, a heated first grill plate mounted in a vertical position in one side of the food compartment, a heated second grill plate mounted in a vertical position in the opposite side of the food compartment, and a drive for driving the second grill plate to an extended position towards the first grill plate, or to a retracted position away from the first grill plate. Also described are food holders particularly useful with such grilling appliance.

Abstract: A toasting apparatus for bread products (15), consisting of a frame (2) provided with an insertion slot (3) communicating with a toasting chamber (3a) that receives the products and is located between heating elements (10) combined with heat reflectors (6) for directing the thermal energy generated by the heating elements (10) at the products, particularly in the form of radiation. The apparatus is provided with an observation system for visually monitoring the degree of toasting of the products (15) in the toasting chamber (3a). The observation system includes a lighting device (11) for illuminating the toasting chamber (3a) in such a way that an accurate indication of the color of the products (15) being prepared is provided. The toasting apparatus may be in the form of a toaster.

Abstract: An improved contact toaster for heating sandwich buns and other food items features a housing containing a toasting chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The toasting chamber contains a pair of conveyor belts with a heated platen positioned between them. Each conveyor belt features a platen-facing portion so that two pathways are defined. Each conveyor belt also features a heat-distributing surface. Two auxiliary heaters are positioned so that one of each heats one of each of the platen-facing portions of the conveyor belts. One of each of a pair of tensioners engages one of each of the platen-facing portions of the conveyor belts so that each pathway tapers inward to a minimum thickness and then expands outward again. As a result, food items moving through the pathways via the conveyor belts are toasted on both surfaces and also absorb heat from both the platen and the conveyor belt surfaces in a sponge-like manner as they are compressed and released.

Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method is provided. The cooked food staging device allows previously cooked food items, particularly sandwich fillings such as hamburger patties, fish fillets, biscuits, Canadian bacon, pork sausage, eggs, chicken patties, chicken fillets and nuggets, to be stored over extended periods of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food while avoiding risk of bacterial contamination. The food staging device is composed of a plurality of discrete compartments bounded by upper and lower heated compartment surfaces. Food can be stored within the compartments in trays having side walls of a height such that a gap is achieved between the top of the tray and the upper compartment heated surface to limit and control the evaporation of liquid from the food stored therein.

Abstract: In a toaster having a housing, a bread-supporting carriage movably mounted in the housing for movement between a toasting position, a temperature-maintaining position, a rest position and a supplementary raised position, and a spring coupled with the carriage to apply a force which urges the carriage in a direction from the toasting position toward the supplementary raised position, a manually operable control element is operatively associated with the carriage and is movable to a selected one of a plurality of control positions for retaining the carriage at a selected one of the temperature-maintaining position and the rest position.

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.

Abstract: An indirect heat barbecue grill includes a frame body having an opening at the top section thereof, which defines/grilling a heating area. A heat source area is located at one lateral side of the heating/grilling area, within the barbecue grill. A charcoal tray is located at the heat source area. The present invention is characterized in that a linking hood is mounted to the heat source area and located across the charcoal tray which insulates direct heat from the charcoal to reach the frame body and directs heat energy to the heating/grilling area.

Abstract: A toaster comprises a housing (1) enclosing a carriage (4) movable between an ejection position and a toasting position to which it can be brought by a handle (6) connected to one end (7) of the carriage (4) by a driver (8) secured to a finger (11) adapted to actuate a control switch (12) for the electrical supply of a heater (3). The driver (8) is movably mounted on the end (7) of the carriage (4) for movement along a vertical path (l) so as to permit the finger (11) to free the switch (12) when the carriage remains blocked in its toasting position after unlocking a retaining device (10).

Abstract: A bread toaster comprising: a frame; a bread-supporting carriage mounted in the frame for vertical movement between a toasting portion and a first bread discharge position, the carriage having an extension; first cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the first bread discharge position; return means mounted between the frame and the extension of the carriage; and a control means having an abutment and being movable in the frame for limiting ascent of the carriage to a second position by interaction of the abutment with a part of the carriage, wherein: the second position is a second bread discharge position for discharging bread having a first size and the first bread discharge position is a position for discharging bread having a size smaller than the first size; and one of the abutment and the part of the carriage which interacts with the abutment is provided with second cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the second position.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive timing assembly for a toaster appliance includes a single bimetallic element having a first portion connected to a support bracket, which in turn is mounted on a mounting bracket for pivotal movement relative to the mounting bracket. A spring is positioned between the mounting bracket and the support bracket to bias the support bracket toward the mounting bracket. A stop is mounted to the mounting bracket which locks the support bracket in a fixed position when actuated by the toaster carriage assembly at the beginning of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element has a second portion which operatively activates the toaster lock release assembly at the end of a toasting cycle. The bimetallic element also has a third portion which operatively allows the support bracket to reposition at the end of a toasting cycle so as to provide virtually immediate initiation of the next toasting cycle providing substantially the same toast color as the previous toasting cycle.

Abstract: A Toaster having heating elements whose heating area depends on the slice size. A toaster has heating elements (H1, H2) divided into sub-elements (H1A, H1B; H2A, H2B) which can be activated individually. The size of the product to be toasted (5) is detected by means of a sensor, for example a mechanical sensor (2) or an optical sensor device with a photo-emitter and a photo-receiver. The sub-elements are activated selectively in dependence on the detected size. Thus, the power consumption of the toaster is adapted to the size of the product to be toasted and overheating of the product in the proximity of the unused heating area of the heating elements is avoided.

Abstract: An improved toaster includes a user control panel for receiving and displaying user selections corresponding to a desired toast darkness setting. A toaster shade display displays a user selected toast darkness setting and includes a linear array of LEDs (LED bar), horizontally arranged on an exterior portion of the toaster body. The LEDs are sequentially turned on and off to indicate the user selected toast darkness setting, lighter or darker toast. The user control panel also contains preprogrammed custom settings for one-slice, two-slice, bagel, defrost and reheat mode of operation. A user can select a custom setting or any combination of custom settings thereof.

Abstract: An electric toaster with a housing (1) includes a toasting chamber and a slot (2) provided in the top surface thereof for inserting slices of bread, at least one heating element (3), and at least one bread holder (4) movable up and down on a guide device (6) by a lowering and raising mechanism (8) between the housing (1) and the toasting chamber. The guide device (6) comprises a single vertical slide rail (9) with a slide (10) movably mounted thereon, and the holder (4) is attached only to the slide (10) so that it is cantilevered to the post (9).