Movable Or Adjustable Carrier Or Grid Patents (Class 99/391)
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Patent number: 6708602Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventor: Nhiem Viet Nguyen
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Patent number: 6686564Abstract: A food preparation device such as toaster includes a chassis, a heating element, and a carriage for directly or indirectly supporting a food item. The carriage is movable with respect to the chassis to move the food item to or from a cooking position adjacent to the heating element. A Shape Memory Alloy resistance member is connected between the carriage and the chassis. Electric circuitry controls voltage/current to the Shape Memory Alloy resistance member to selectively heat the resistance member and alter its shape to move the carriage to or from the cooking position.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityInventor: Li Min Zhou
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Patent number: 6675700Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Inventor: Tian Tan Hong
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Patent number: 6668706Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Nesco, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars, Craig M. Saunders
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Patent number: 6639187Abstract: A vertical toaster comprising a housing, heating elements, a food support and a drive. The heating elements are connected to the housing and comprise at least one calrod. The calrod comprises an electric wire surrounded by heat conductive electrical insulation and a metal cover. The food support is movably mounted to the housing for up and down motion. The drive is for moving the food support relative to the housing. The drive comprises a motor and a linkage between the motor and the food support for moving the food support both down and up such that food on the food support passes by the calrod. The calrod prevents an electrical shock to a user if the user accidentally contacts the calrod with an electrically conductive member.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.Inventors: Robert W. Arel, Joseph Gelb, Jr., Charles Z. Krasznai, James A. Sandor
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Publication number: 20030196559Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventor: Daniel D. Friel
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Publication number: 20030168438Abstract: A food preparation device such as toaster includes a chassis, a heating element, and a carriage for directly or indirectly supporting a food item. The carriage is movable with respect to the chassis to move the food item to or from a cooking position adjacent to the heating element. A shape Memory Alloy resistance member is connected between the carriage and the chassis. Electric circuitry controls voltage/current to the Shape Memory Alloy resistance member to selectively heat the resistance member and alter its shape to move the carriage to or from the cooking position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Applicant: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityInventor: Li Min Zhou
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Patent number: 6595117Abstract: A cooking appliance which is capable of rapidly toasting a food product disposed therein by air impingement and infrared heating to provide a cooked food product having the desired color and crunchiness about its surface. The appliance is particularly adapted for cooking sandwich products, toasting the bread and heating the sandwich filler. The appliance includes an air impingement assembly that delivers columns of heated air to the food product and an infrared heater assembly that produces infrared energy. The appliance delivers the impingement air from above the food product and the infrared energy from below. Alternatively, the appliance delivers the impingement air from above and below the food product and the infrared energy from below.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: The Frymaster CorporationInventors: Douglas Jones, William Day, David Harter, Gerald W. Sank, Paul Molloy
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Patent number: 6595118Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Pro-duct SDA Manufacturers Ltd.Inventor: Neil Gould
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Patent number: 6595111Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.Inventors: Chin-Cheng Chiu, Po-Wen Hsiao
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Patent number: 6584889Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Edgecraft CorporationInventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
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Patent number: 6581512Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Guy Mauffrey, Dominique Marx
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Patent number: 6571687Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.Inventors: Tsan-Kuen Wu, Chi-Ting Chen
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Patent number: 6571688Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Lundar Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tony Hsu
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Patent number: 6561081Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Inventor: Hairong Xu
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Patent number: 6546844Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Inventor: Alberto Trevino
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Patent number: 6543337Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2002Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Inventor: Paul Michael Brown
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Patent number: 6539840Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven having a toaster, in which slices of bread can be baked. The microwave oven has a heating chamber for heating food therein; an instrument compartment containing electric components for generating microwave oven supplied to the heating chamber; a toaster casing disposed in front of the instrument compartment with its front open; a toaster door for opening and closing the open front of the toaster casing; and at least a heater disposed in the toaster casing so as to heat bread. In the microwave oven, the toaster section is arranged in front of the instrument compartment, so that the space in the microwave oven is most effectively utilized.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Seong-Soo Choi, Sang-Jin Oh, Yoon-Gun Baek
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Patent number: 6532864Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Lectrix, LLCInventors: Bruce Ancona, Robert A. Varakian
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Patent number: 6530309Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels
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Patent number: 6502502Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 1997Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Timothy B. Sutton, Arlene Richardson
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Patent number: 6484623Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Kaiser Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chong-Man Yoon, Jong-Deuk Jeong, Jin-Kook Park
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Patent number: 6481341Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Hon Way Plastic & Metal Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Inventor: Hon Chung Choi
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Patent number: 6476360Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 1999Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Salton, Inc.Inventors: Peter Huggler, Leon Gurevich
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Publication number: 20020117057Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for toasting of bread etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: August 29, 2002Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels
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Patent number: 6431057Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chi Wah Leung, Chi Chung Fung, Shek Chuen Luk
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Publication number: 20020104444Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: August 8, 2002Inventors: Sijtze Van Der Meer, Albertus Peter Johannes Michels
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Patent number: 6415709Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 1, 2001Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Lincat Group plcInventor: Andrew Richard Jackson
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Publication number: 20020073851Abstract: A controllable electric toasting apparatus primarily for use in the home permits power to be safely disconnected when items become jammed inside. In addition, a carriage assembly inside the toasting apparatus can be raised during a toasting cycle so that the items can be viewed without interrupting the toasting cycle. Also, if an item is smaller than usual and placed in the toasting apparatus, the carriage assembly can be raised beyond its initial raised position to allow convenient removal of the small item.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2000Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventors: C. K. Chung, C. F. Ho
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Patent number: 6397732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Inventor: Dierre B. Jenkins
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Patent number: 6382084Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Stephen Wai-Kin Chan, Wing Chung Li
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Patent number: 6357343Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Nesco, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars, Craig M. Saunders
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Patent number: 6343543Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Lee J. Belknap, John W. Foster
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Patent number: 6311609Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Home Care Technologies Ltd.Inventor: Simon Dotan
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Patent number: 6311608Abstract: 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 theType: GrantFiled: July 6, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
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Publication number: 20010029823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: Bruce Ancona, Robert A. Varakian
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Patent number: 6298772Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Nhiem Viet Nguyen, John J. Datovech
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Patent number: 6279466Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 25, 2000Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Dualit LimitedInventor: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten
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Publication number: 20010016222Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2001Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Robert J. Tomsich, Mark E. Baskin, William T. Mars, Craig M. Saunders
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Patent number: 6267044Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Edgecroft CorporationInventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
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Patent number: 6250212Abstract: A toaster for facilitating removal of food items by allowing the bread carriage to be raised from a loading position to a raised position. A toaster is provided having a housing frame having an upper portion defining at least one opening for receiving an item to be toasted. A carriage for supporting the item is mounted to the frame and movable relative to the frame to at least three positions: a toasting position, a loading position and a raised position which is located vertically higher than the loading position. A flange is fixed to the carriage, and an abutment member is provided for engagement with the flange. The member includes a slot defining at least a first flange-receiving area adjacent one end of the slot and a second flange-receiving area adjacent another end of the slot. When the carriage is moved to the loading position, the flange is positioned and may be locked within the first flange-receiving area.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: The Rival CompanyInventors: Pat Hok-Kwong Yeung, Francis E. Marino
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Patent number: 6240834Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Huajin Chen, Xiaoxing Shen
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Patent number: 6205911Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Inventor: Emilio Ochoa
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Patent number: 6205910Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Star Manufacturing International Inc.Inventor: Thomas Daro Vaughn
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Patent number: 6192790Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventor: Jean-Marie Balandier
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Patent number: 6129007Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chi Tong Chan, Chun Ying Yeh
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Patent number: 6123012Abstract: 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 theType: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.Inventors: George Hardin, Cliff Spencer
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Patent number: 6116149Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Jan H. Benedictus, Klaas Kooijker
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Patent number: 6116150Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1999Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Inventor: Walter Greenfield, Jr.
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Patent number: 6112648Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 25, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Home Tech Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Origane