AU2005209686B2 - Toaster - Google Patents

Description

Toaster Field of the Invention The invention pertains to toasters and more particularly to a toaster 5 that combines a self-centering toast rack with a feature which allows for mid cycle inspection without cycle interruption. Background of the Invention Toasters with wider toast slots are able to accommodate thicker slices 10 of bread, waffles, muffins and prepared frozen items which are generally thicker than a conventional slice of bread. In order that thinner slices do not become misaligned in a wider slot, self-centering mechanisms have been adopted. The present invention seeks to combine such self-centering mechanisms with a feature that permits toasted items to be visually inspected 15 during a toasting cycle without interruption of power to the heating elements. Objects and Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a toaster with a self-centering mechanism as well as a visual inspection feature. 20 In preferred embodiments, the visual inspection mechanism does not interrupt the supply of power to the toaster's heating elements. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toaster chassis illustrating aspects 25 of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the components depicted in Figure 1, with some of the chassis parts removed for clarity; Figure 3 is a perspective view of certain toaster chassis components illustrating electrical contact between the power coupling and 30 the leaf contacts; Figure 4 is a side elevation of certain toaster chassis components illustrating the latch and carriage in an elevated position, with power to the heating elements being disconnected and toasting guides open; 1 Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a latch and carriage fully depressed with power being supplied to the heating elements and toasting guides closed; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the latch and carriage in an elevated 5 position with power being supplied to the heating elements and with toasting guides open; Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the self-centering mechanism in an open position; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the latch end and carriage 10 maintaining the self-centering mechanism in a closed position. Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention As shown in Figure 1, a portion of the internal chassis 10 of a toaster 15 comprises a pair of end plates 11 between which extend one or more toasting stations 12. In this example, each end plate 11 has a top flange na. Each station 12 receives and delivers an item through a slot in the exterior shell of the toaster (not shown). Items are received and supported by a reciprocating carriage 13. The carriage is connected to a latch 14 having a handle or lever 15 20 that extends through the external shell and which is manipulated by the user. The latch 14 reciprocates along a guide rod 16 that in this example is supported at one end by the top flange na and located along the centre line of one of the end plates 1. The body of the latch is affixed to a latch plate 17 that includes a bracket 18. The bracket has an opening in it, which receives the 25 guide rod 16. In preferred embodiments, the guide rod passes through the body of the latch 14. At the extreme of its vertical movement on the guide rod 16, the bracket 18 contacts a damping spring 19 that prevents impact between the bracket 18 and the upper flange na of the end plate 11. A second guide rod 20, generally parallel to the central guide rod 16 30 carries a reciprocating power coupling 21. As will be explained, the power coupling performs two primary functions. The coupling has a horizontal arm 22 and loosely attached to the arm "U" shaped metallic keeper 23. The keeper 23 can accommodate a certain amount of misalignment when it contacts a stationary electromagnet 24. The power coupling body also includes a pair of 2 fingers or extensions 21a. As shown in Figure 3, the fingers 21a are adapted to depress leaf style switches 30 when the power coupling 21 is in its lowest position. Depressing the leaf style switches 30 delivers power to the electromagnet 24 and the heating elements of the toaster. 5 As shown in Figure 2, each toasting station 12 further comprises a pair of pivoting toasting guides 25. The lowest horizontal member 26 of each guide 25 pivots in a pair of openings formed in the end plates 11. The movement of the self-centering toasting guides 25 is controlled by a resilient clamp 27 as will be further explained with reference to Figure 7-10. 10 As suggested by Figure 1, the resilient clamping mechanism 27 is generally separated from the remainder of the toasting station 12 by an end plate 11. With further reference to Figure 2, it can be seen that the moulded polymer power coupling 21 carries a metal bracket 28 in which is formed a notch 29. When the latch or handle 15 is depressed by a user, the handle 15 portion 15 is received by the notch 29 so that downward motion of the handle 15 is transmitted to the power coupling 21. A tension spring 29a extends between the upper flange of the end plate 11 and the power coupling's bracket 28. Thus, the power coupling 21 is biased into an upper position even when it is retained in a lower position by the electromagnet 24. 20 As shown in Figure 4, a toasting cycle begins when an item 40 is inserted through a slot and onto a carriage 13. The tension spring 29a has drawn the power coupling 21 upward, taking the handle 15 and latch body 14 to its uppermost position. Because the extensions or fingers 21a are not in contact with the switches 30, no power is supplied to either the electromagnet 25 24 or to the toaster's heating elements. In this initial position, the toasting guides are open. As suggested by Figure 5, the toaster's heating elements are activated when the handle 15 is depressed. When depressed, the toasting guides 25 close. Lowering the handle, causes the handle 15 to engage the notch 29 that 30 in turn drives the fingers 21a into contact with the switches 30. In this position, the electromagnet 24 is activated. The electromagnet retains the "U" shaped keeper 23 thereby retaining the power coupling 21 in its lower position. When contact with the switches 30 are made, the toaster's timing mechanism is activated. This supplies power to the electromagnet and to the 3 heating elements for a time that is determined by the user. When the user selected time expires, power to the electromagnet 24 and to the heating elements are cut off thereby causing the carriage 13 to rise under the influence of the tension spring 29a. 5 As shown in Figure 6, the toasting item 40 may be inspected in mid cycle simply by lifting the lever 15. Note that the handle may be lifted to a position corresponding essentially to the initial position shown in Figure 4, the toasting item 40 being elevated during a toasting cycle at least partially out of the slot. When the lever 15 is lifted, the power coupling 21 and its keeper 23 10 remain in contact with the electromagnet 29. Thus, power is supplied to both the electromagnet and to the heating elements. As will be explained with reference to Figure 7-10, the user's action in lifting the lever 15 also serves to simultaneously separate the guides of the self-centering mechanism so that the guides do not interfere with the upward movement of the toasted item 40. 15 The operation of the self-centering guide mechanism is shown with reference to Figures 7 and 8. As better shown in Figure 8, the resilient clamp 27 is in its relaxed or closed position when the carriage 13 is fully depressed. In this orientation, the hook-like ends 90 forming the upper extent of the clamp are close together. This urges the guides toward one another. The 20 hook-like ends 90 retain the upper margins 8o of each pivoting toasting guide 25. In this orientation, the clamp crosses over itself at a point 91 near its base. The carriage 13 passes through the clamp 27 at a location below the cross over point 91. As the carriage 13 rises, it interferes with the clamp 27 in a way that causes the arms 92, 93 to spread or separate from one another. As shown in 25 Figure 7, this causes the upper ends of the clamp 27 to move apart, thereby driving apart the upper margins 80 of the pivoting toasting guides 25. Lowering the carriage 13 allows the pair of toasting guides 25 to move toward each other, symmetrically and automatically owing to the inherent resilient bias in the clamp 27. Thus, the toasting guides 25 are capable of being open, 30 for example as shown in Figure 7 while power is still being delivered to the electromagnet 24 as well as the toaster's heating elements. In preferred embodiments, the resilient clamp 27 comprises a single wire bent to form a horizontal base portion and a pair of symmetrical arms. The arms cross over one another in two positions and each arm terminates in 4 a retainer or hook 27. The clamp is formed into a normally closed position where the retainers 27 are closest together when at rest. The clamp is opened under the influence of the movement of the carriage 13. The clamp closes automatically when the carriage 13 is lowered. 5 While the present invention has been described with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope of spirit or the invention. 5

Claims (10)

1. A toaster, having a chassis comprising toasting station accessible through a slot, the station having in it a reciprocating a carriage that is operated by a 5 lever, wherein: the carriage mechanism cooperates with a power coupling; the power coupling being retainable in a lower switch engaging position by an electromagnet and also being biased into an upper position by a tension 10 spring; the toasting station also having a self-centering guide mechanism comprising a pair of toasting guides that are urged toward one another by the bias of a clamp, the lifting of the lever acting to overcome the bias of the clamp so that the toasting guides separate from one another as the lever is lifted; 15 the lifting of the lever enabling an inspection of an item being toasted by elevating the item at least partially out of the slot, the carriage being separable from the power coupling during the inspection so that when the lever is lifted, the power coupling is not displaced from the switch engaging position. 20

2. The toaster of claim 1, wherein: the carriage further comprises a latch plate onto which is mounted the latch, the latch plate having a bracket that is carried by a first vertical guide rod. 25

3. The toaster of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein: the clamp comprises a single wire bent to form a horizontal base portion and a pair of symmetrical arms; the arms crossing over one another in two positions. 30

4. The toaster of claim 3, wherein: each arm terminates in a retainer that engages a portion of one of the guides. 6

5. The toaster of either of claims 3 or 4, wherein: the clamp is formed into a normally closed position so that the arms are closest together when at rest; 5 the clamp being opened under the influence of the movement of the carriage, and closing automatically when the carriage is lowered.

6. The toaster of any one of claims 1-5, wherein: 10 the power coupling reciprocates along a second guide rod.

7. The toaster of any one of claims 1-6, wherein: a metallic keeper is carried by the power coupling, the keeper selectively 15 retainable in a lower position by an electromagnet.

8. The toaster of any one of claims 1-7, wherein: the power coupling further comprises at least one finger that is adapted to 20 depress a power switch when the power coupling is in the lower position.

9. The toaster of any one of claims 1-8, wherein: the lever is not biased into an upper position unless it is acted upon by the 25 upward motion of the power coupling and thus by the spring.

10. A toaster having a chassis as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the drawing figures. 30 For the Applicant Breville Pty Limited by their Patent Attorney Molins & Co. 7