AU5658200A - Improvements in toasters - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 7523990 P/00/012 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT .r Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Breville Pty Ltd Building 2, Port Air Industrial Estate 1A Hale Street Botany New South Wales 2019 Australia DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Improvements in toasters The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5028 P:\WPDOCS\CABSPECI 7523990.doc-8/09A/o -1- IMPROVEMENTS IN TOASTERS The present invention relates to toasters and more particularly to domestic toasters for toasting bread and which are also suitable for producing toasted sandwiches and the like in a single appliance.

In the home or domestic environment it is common for there to be one appliance for producing toasted bread and another for producing toasted sandwiches. Bread toasters typically comprise vertical slots containing a lifting mechanism and electrically operated heating coils or similar which heat and toast opposite surfaces of a bread slice. Once toasting is complete the slice is then raised by the lifting mechanism and the electrically powered radiating heating elements are open-circuited. A sandwich toaster typically comprises a clam shell arrangement which clamps together two bread slices containing a sandwich filling at a perimeter of those slices. Before fitting the bread slices to the sandwich toaster their outer faces must be oiled by the addition of butter, margarine or other cooking oil to prevent the outer surfaces of the bread slices adhering to the heated surfaces of the clam shell sandwich toaster.

S.Both of those existing appliances are substantially limited to a particular thickness of bread slice to be toasted or quantity of filling for the sandwich, respectively. More recently, wider slot toasters have become available and which are able to accept thicker 20 bread slices for toasting but they are not adjustable to toast substantially thicker bread products such as focaccia.

The usual manner for dealing with toasting of thicker bread slices and products has been to revert to an electric or gas grill normally associated with an oven. That mode of toasting needs to be closely supervised due to the rapidity of its toasting action without any shut-off of the toasting element as is provided by a conventional pop-up toaster.

The present invention aims to provide a single appliance suitable for toasting bread slices of a wide range of thicknesses and which is also adapted to produce toasted sandwiches without having to seal the edges of those sandwiches and which also has good function with or without pre-oiling of the outer surfaces of the bread slices of the sandwich.

P:\WPDOCS\CABSPECI7523990.dmc-0809AX) -2- Throughout this description and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

S" One form of the present invention is provided by an electrically powered toaster/sandwich maker appliance formed from a planar horizontal hotplate having a complementary hotplate mounted to be spaced apart in a substantially parallel arrangement with the first mentioned hotplate whereby the two hotplates can be held apart over a range of infinitely variable distances while still maintaining their parallel orientation and wherein there is provided a fastening means for holding the two hotplates securely together in clamped relation when not in use. A simple mode of achieving that relation between the hotplates can be provided by a hinged bar mounted to the first mentioned hotplate with the S"hinge line along an edge of that hotplate. The second hotplate is then pivotally mounted to the bar along an axis through the centre line of that second hotplate to form a floating S. "hinge for the second hotplate. By this arrangement the second hotplate pivots freely to adopt a desired orientation relative to the first hotplate when the surface of an article to be toasted is laid on the first hotplate and the second hotplate is lowered to contact an opposite surface of that article.

The article to be toasted is in contact with the heating surfaces of the upper and lower hotplates giving the appearance of being clamped in a press. The loading applied by the upper hotplate can be as a result of the weight of that hotplate or by additional downward force applied to the upper hotplate to more intensively clamp the article between the two hotplates.

Testing has also shown that a preferred form of toaster of the present invention does not have additional weight added to the uppermost hotplate to achieve the best results.

There could be circumstances where the upper hotplate was weighted to achieve a particular effect.

P:\WPDOCS\CAB\SPECI\7523990.dom-08)90 -3- Toasting or sandwich making with a device of the present invention is done at a lower temperature than employed in a conventional toaster or sandwich maker. The toasting temperature employed in the present invention is typically in the range of 190- 200'C which compares with approximately 225°C for a conventional sandwich toaster.

A substantial advantage in toasting at lower temperatures than are used with a conventional sandwich toaster is that the durability of a non-stick coating applied to each of the hotplates is substantially improved. The lower cooking temperatures also reduces the risk of burning or charring as compared with conventional toasters and sandwich makers.

Toast produced by use of the present invention is believed of a better quality than that produced by conventional toasters. It appears that moisture is retained in the final product produced by a toaster of the present invention whilst still forming the required degree of toasting on the bread surfaces. Moisture is rapidly driven off in a conventional toaster which functions as more of a dehydrating process to the entire bread slice whereas *go9 in the present invention there is a much reduced surface area for the escape of moisture during toasting. In operation of the present invention the bread is effectively sandwiched between two hotplates instead of being exposed to intense radiant heat in an open environment, as in a conventional toaster.

•A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides the fastening means in 20 the form of a locking clip which is slidably retained on the hinged bar of that embodiment and wherein the locking clip is slidably movable between a locking position at which the hotplates are in abutting relation and an unlock position at which a portion. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a portion of the locking clip, of the aforementioned preferred embodiment, is spaced apart from the slidably retained part of the clip and is adapted to contact a part of the toaster in fixed relation to the bottom hotplate to space apart the top and bottom hotplates and resist closure of the hotplates to the abutting relation.

Preferably, a portion of the locking clip of the particularly preferred embodiment, or a separate component, is slidable along an edge forming the part of the toaster. In this embodiment the spacing between the upper and lower hotplates can be infinitely adjustable. In a further preferred form, a slidable contact surface is formed with a friction P:\WPDOCS\CAB\SPECI\752390.doc-4)8/09/i0 -4inducing material to resist inadvertent closure of the hotplates when set a desired distance apart.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one toaster embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 with the toaster arranged for toasting two sandwiches; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but arranged for toasting two focaccia bread 10 sandwiches; s::a Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but arranged for toasting two open face sandwiches; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the toaster embodiment shown in the drawings in its oe o storage configuration; Fig. 8 is a magnified perspective view of a corner of the toaster embodiment S"showing the locking clamp in its unlocked position; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but with the locking clamp in its locking position; S- "Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the toaster incorporating one embodiment of the still further aspect of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view XI-XI of Fig. Fig. 12 is a similar view to Fig. 10 with the toaster unlocked and the locking clip at a first adjusting position; Fig. 13 is a sectional view XIII-XIII of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 with the spacing adjuster at a different position; Fig. 15 is a sectional view XV-XV of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a toaster of the form of Fig. 11 incorporating modifications to the edge of the lower hotplate.

The drawing figures show a toaster 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which comprises an upper planar hotplate 11 and a lower planar hotplate 12 joined together by handle 13.

P:\WPDOCS\CAB\SPECI\7523990.doc-08/09/0 Handle 13 is pivotally connected to the rear of hotplate 12 on horizontal axis 14 and to hotplate 11 on horizontal axis 15. In the arrangement of the depicted embodiment, hotplate 11 can be raised and lowered by handle 13 relative to hotplate 12. By freely pivoting about axis 15, hotplate 11 can adapt to the planar shape of an upper surface of bread slice 16 or 17 or the irregular shape of, say, the upper surface of focaccia slice 18.

Fig. 3 depicts the toasting position for upper and lower bread slices 17, 19 of the sandwich arrangement of Fig. 2. Upper hotplate 11 rests on top of slice 17 under its own weight and that of handle 13 including the weight of cover 20 and heating elements (not shown) embedded in hotplate 11 beneath cover 10 Fig. 5 includes a spacer 21 sitting on lower hotplate 12. Spacer 21 prevents upper hotplate 11 from being lowered toward hotplate 12 any further than the height of the upper edge of spacer 21 above hotplate 12. As shown in Fig. 5 a pair of open-faced sandwiches 22 are positioned on hotplate 12 for toasting while lowering hotplate 11 to contact spacer 21 enables hotplate 11 to radiate heat onto the top of the open-faces of sandwiches 22 without contacting those faces.

To hold the two hotplates together when storing toaster appliance 10 of the embodiment a slidable clip 23 is fitted to one side of handle 13. Fig. 7 shows toaster 10 in its upright storage position with clip 23 clamping handle 13 and upper hotplate 11 to lower hotplate 12 so that handle 13 can be used as a carrying handle for the appliance.

Electrical cord 24 is coiled in its storage position in Fig. 7 between base rails upon which the appliance stands when in use.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the sliding operation of clip 23 from its released position in Fig.

8 to its clamping position in Fig. 9. Arrow 26 shows the motion of clip 23 as it moves between clamping and unclamping positions.

Figs. 10-15 show another embodiment of the present invention wherein clip 23 of Figs. 1-9 has been replaced by clip 51.

Clip 51 comprises part 52 which is slidably retained on handle 53. Depending from part 52 is projection 54 formed at its lower end with a hooked portion 55 and channel 56.

As can be seen in Fig. 10 hooked portion 55 slidably mates with projection 57 depending from the perimeter of the lower half of toaster 50. In the configuration of Fig.

clip 51 holds handle 53 in fixed relation to the lower half of toaster 50 while handle 53 P:\WPDOCS\CABSPECI\7S23990.doc-8419O0 -6in turn holds the upper half of toaster 50 in abutting relationship with the lower half as shown by Fig. 11. Arrow 60 shows the direction of sliding movement for clip 51 to attain its unlocking while arrow 62 demonstrates the direction for sliding clip 51 to lock the coupling between hook 55 and projection 57 as shown in Fig. 10. After clip 51 has been unlocked from the configuration of Fig. 10, handle 53 can then be raised so that channel 56 can be located on the upper perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate of toaster 50 as shown in Fig. 12. In a preferred arrangement, channel 56 is coated with a low-slip material that is durable at the temperatures experienced along edge 58 when the toaster is in operation.

The placement of clip 51 as shown in Fig. 12 provides a set spacing between upper and lower hotplates as best seen in Fig. 13.

The sliding of clip 51 along side arm 53 of the handle in the direction of arrow 62 b: increases the magnitude of the minimum spacing between upper and lower hotplates as can be best seen from Figs. 12 and 14. Movement of clip 51 in the direction of arrow 62 promotes sliding contact between channel 56 and the perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate. The closer clip 51 is moved toward hinge 63 while channel 56 is in contact with the perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate, the greater is the minimum spacing between S"the upper and lower hotplates of toaster In the embodiment of Fig. 16 the perimeter edge 58 includes a length of serrations S* or saw-toothed notches 59 towards hinge 63. Engagement between notches 59 and the web of channel 56 acts to positively position clip 51 on edge 58 without relying on friction to retain the fixed spacing between upper and lower hotplates as shown in Fig. 16. This modification is particularly appropriate where large spacings are to be set between upper and lower hotplates which corresponds to clip 51 approaching hinge 63.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (3)

1. An electrically powered toaster/sandwich maker appliance formed from a planar horizontal hotplate having a complementary hotplate mounted to be spaced apart in a substantially parallel arrangement with the first mentioned hotplate whereby two hotplates are separable over a range of infinitely variable distances while still maintaining their substantially parallel orientation and comprising fastening means adapted to releasably hold the two hotplates together in clamped relation. 10

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for variably adjusting the minimum spacing between the substantially parallel arrangement of the hotplates when the two hotplates are released from the clamped relation.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 2 wherein the minimum spacing is stepwise adjustable. *O DATED this EIGHTH day of SEPTEMBER 2000 Breville Pty Ltd By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE