CN105794906A - Sandwich making appliance and method of making sandwich with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sandwich making appliance and a method of making a sandwich with the same. The appliance for cooking a food item comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a cooking assembly. The cooking assembly comprises a top heated plate, a bottom heated plate, and a center ring therebetween. The top heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a top cooking cavity is selectively formed by the top heated plate and the top housing when the top housing is in a closed position. The bottom heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a bottom cooking cavity is selectively formed by the bottom housing and the bottom heated plate. A center cooking cavity is selectively formed by the top heated plate, the center ring, and the bottom heated plate when the top and bottom heated plates are in their respective closed positions.

Description

Sandwich making apparatus and the method making sandwich with this sandwich making apparatus

The cross reference of related application

The application is the serial number submitted on February 21st, 2014 is 14/186, the part continuation application of the U.S. Patent application of 812 and require the priority of this U.S. Patent application, U.S. Patent application the 14/186th, 812 so be on January 14th, 2013 submit to serial number be 13/740, the part continuation application of the U.S. Patent application of 594 and require the priority of this U.S. Patent application, the content of said two U.S. Patent application is integrally incorporated herein by way of reference.

Technical field

This patent disclosure relates generally to apparatus, and more particularly, to small-sized cook utensil.

Background technology

Hot sandwich, particularly breakfast sandwiches, no matter at the restaurant in making of ordering or be in, be all popular food item.Hot sandwich can include the multiple different independent filling component that layer is added between two panels bread.Such as, hot breakfast sandwiches can be made by english muffin, Bei Gu circle, pancake, Waffle etc..The filling component of hot sandwich alters a great deal.The typical filling component of breakfast sandwiches can include Petaso, butcher's meat, Canada butcher's meat, sausage patties, vegetable, cheese, egg etc. and various combination thereof.

It is in and makes hot sandwich, particularly breakfast sandwiches, it may be possible to task complicated and consuming time.Multiple apparatus must be used to prepare independent composition respectively, then independent component lines is dressed up in complete sandwich.It is, for example possible to use bread baker toasts english muffin, and microwave can be used to heat pre-cooking Petaso.It is likely to need saucepan or frying pan apparatus or be placed in the saucepan on kitchen range top apparatus or frying pan apparatus to cook egg.Using multiple apparatus to cause to be difficult to coordination and prepare independent element to guarantee that all independent elements complete in the almost identical time and are ready to, thus produce complete sandwich, wherein, all the components is all suitably cooked and at a desired temperature.And, the process cleaning each apparatus increases the additional period of family cooking process, setback and complexity.

Up to now, not yet discover how to produce to prepare hot sandwich thus all the components is heated, baking and/or the cooking make to provide a user with the kitchen utensils of the fully sandwich of assembling.Following disclosed apparatus achieves above-mentioned and other purpose and overcome at least the disadvantages mentioned above of conventional kitchen utensils and the method making hot sandwich.

Summary of the invention

Disclosed herein is a kind of for preparing, assemble and the kitchen utensils of hot sandwich of heating/cook.In an embodiment of theme apparatus, sandwich making apparatus includes drain pan, top shell and culinary art assembly, and this culinary art assembly includes two hot plates (such as, top hot plate and end hot plate) and the adapter ring between the two hot plate.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan between closed position and open position.Top hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, and in a closed position, when top shell is in its closed position, top cooking cavity is formed selectively by the basal surface pushing up hot plate and top shell.End hot plate can between (i) open position and (ii) closed position selectively moved, in a closed position, end cooking cavity is formed selectively by top surface and the end hot plate of drain pan.When pushing up hot plate and end hot plate is in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking cavity is formed selectively by pushing up hot plate, adapter ring and end hot plate.When top shell, top end hot plate and end hot plate are in they corresponding closed positions, culinary art assembly is selectively positioned between the top surface of drain pan and the basal surface of top shell.

Theme apparatus may further include hinge, and this hinge is fixed to top shell and drain pan, in order to top shell is hingedly attached to drain pan.Culinary art assembly can be movably attached to hinge, so that culinary art assembly can move between lower position and upper position.Culinary art assembly can be selectively attached to drain pan and removable between lower position and upper position.In one embodiment, top hot plate can be pivotably attached to adapter ring, so that top hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) its open position and (ii) its closed position, and end hot plate can be pivotably attached to adapter ring, so that end hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) its open position and (ii) its closed position.

In an embodiment of theme apparatus, semicircle ridge projects upwards from the top surface of drain pan.Additionally, semicircle ridge can be downwardly projected from the basal surface of end hot plate.When top shell is in its closed position and end hot plate is in its closed position, one or two protuberance can coordinate to form annulus.Therefore, end cooking cavity can be formed by annulus, the top surface of drain pan and end hot plate.

In use, food item is formed by being placed in end cooking cavity by least ground floor of food item, and end cooking cavity is formed selectively by the top surface of the drain pan of apparatus and the end hot plate of apparatus.End hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, and in a closed position, end cooking cavity is formed selectively.Another step includes being placed into by least second layer of food item in middle cooking cavity；Middle cooking cavity is formed selectively by the top hot plate of apparatus, the adapter ring of apparatus and the end hot plate in its closed position.Top hot plate optionally may move between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, and in a closed position, middle cooking cavity is formed selectively.Another step includes at least third layer of food item being placed in the cooking cavity of top；Top cooking cavity is formed selectively by the basal surface of the top hot plate being in its closed position and the top shell of apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan and optionally may move between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, and in a closed position, top cooking cavity is formed selectively.Top hot plate and end heater plate are continued for some time.

Except sandwich making apparatus, as described above, the method that other embodiment of the disclosure relates to use above-mentioned apparatus cooking food project.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Now with reference to the accompanying drawing being not necessarily drawn to scale, the present invention is described synoptically.When understanding in conjunction with accompanying drawing, the summary of the invention of the disclosure and following detailed description will be better understood when.However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to shown accurate layout and mechanism, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus that embodiment of the disclosure.

Fig. 2-6 is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the Fig. 1 of the various configurations illustrating apparatus.

Fig. 7 is that the part removing top shell is to illustrate the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1 of internal part.

Fig. 8 is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the Fig. 1 removing ring assemblies.

Fig. 9 is the top view of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the Fig. 1 removing apparatus.

Figure 10 is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 11 is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 12 is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 13 A-B is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 14 is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 15 A-B is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 16 A-B is the normal axomometric drawing of the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus removing apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 17 is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 18 A-B is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 19 A-C is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 20 A-B is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 21-26 is the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of the various configurations illustrating apparatus of the alternate embodiment according to the disclosure.

Figure 27 is the normal axomometric drawing of the top cooking plate of the sandwich making apparatus of the Figure 21-26 removing apparatus, adapter ring and end cooking plate.

Detailed description of the invention

It is not restrictive for employing some term in the following description only for convenient and these terms.Word D score, " end ", " on " and " top " refer to the direction in the accompanying drawing of institute's reference.According to the disclosure, word " inwardly ", " outwards ", " upwards " and " downwards " represents the geometric center toward and away from device and specified portions thereof respectively.Unless clearly illustrated herein, otherwise term " ", " one " and " being somebody's turn to do " are not limited to an element, but should be read as expression " at least one ".Term includes the word of above-mentioned word, its derivative words and similar importing.

The embodiment of apparatus disclosed herein provides a kind of sandwich making apparatus, this sandwich making apparatus allows users to easily and effectively assemble and cook sandwich (or arbitrarily suitable food item), then easily removes the sandwich fully assembling and cooking from apparatus.Advantageously, the independent filling component (that is, constituting the one in internal layer) that this apparatus can heat to be cooked in sandwich.Apparatus reduces the setback of such sandwich, complexity and the time of individually assembling.Additionally, other has an advantage that, this apparatus is easy to clean relative to the traditional method of the independent element of culinary art individually, heating and/or baking sandwich.

Referring now to Fig. 1-6, wherein, identical accompanying drawing labelling indicates similar element all the time, it is shown that according to the kitchen utensils 10 that embodiment of the disclosure.Apparatus 10 includes top shell 12 and drain pan 14.Top shell 12 is movably attached to drain pan 14 so that top shell is removable between closed position or lower position (shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) and open position or upper position (shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 6).In the embodiment shown, top shell 12 is hingedly attached to drain pan 14.But, arbitrarily suitable removable attachment structure or method can be used to top shell 12 is attached to drain pan 14, such as pivot or prism.Top shell 12 has the basal surface of the top cooking surface 16 forming apparatus.Drain pan 14 has the top surface of the end cooking surface 18 forming apparatus.Top cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 usually general plane and generally include the conducting metal with non-sticking lining.In operation, top surface 16 and basal surface 18 are by the one or more heating element heats laid respectively in (being discussed further below) top shell and drain pan.

Apparatus 10 farther includes ring assemblies, when top shell in the closed position middle time, ring assemblies be positioned at top cooking surface and end cooking surface between.The ring assemblies of illustrated embodiment includes apical ring 20, base ring 22 and middle cooking plate 24.In embodiment illustrated herein, apical ring 20 and base ring 22 are movably attached to each other (referring to Fig. 9).Ring assemblies can be movably attached to drain pan by selectivity so that ring assemblies may move between closed position (ring assemblies completely closed shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) and open position (figure 6 illustrates full opening of ring assemblies) with its entirety.In the illustrated embodiment, ring assemblies (including apical ring 20 and base ring 22) is hingedly attached to drain pan 14.But, arbitrarily suitable removable attachment structure or method can be used to ring assemblies (including apical ring 20 and base ring 22) is attached to drain pan 14, such as pivot or prism.Ring assemblies can move independent of top shell.In the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, ring assemblies in use may be located on end cooking surface, and when but top shell is closed is not attached to apparatus 10, ring assemblies is interposed between end cooking surface and top cooking surface.

In one embodiment, apical ring 20 selectivity together with base ring 22 is movably attached to drain pan 14.This configuration makes apical ring 20 can move between closed position (referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) and open position (shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6).Similarly, base ring 22 can move between closed position (illustrating in figs. 1-5) and open position (referring to Fig. 6).Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.In the illustrated embodiment, top shell 12, apical ring 20 and base ring 22 are all hingedly attached at public hinge point 60 place.

In an alternative embodiment, apical ring and base ring are attached to each other immovablely but are only attached to drain pan.Being not attached in the alternate embodiment of apparatus 10 at ring assemblies as discussed above, apical ring and base ring can not be movably attached to drain pan.In such embodiments, apical ring and base ring can be movably attached to each other, it is possible to be pivotably attached to each other, it is possible to be attached to each other in any other suitable manner, but or can contacting one another not be attached to each other.Being not attached to each other or be not attached at apical ring and base ring in such embodiment of drain pan, apical ring can be stacked on base ring.Suitable guide portion or other structure may reside on apical ring and/or base ring to contribute to maintaining in such stacking configuration ring.

Middle cooking plate 24 can move between closed position and open position.The closed position of middle cooking plate is most broadly limited by following location: wherein, the circumference of at least one in the overlapping apical ring 20 of middle cooking plate 24 or base ring 22 (referring to Fig. 2).In the closed position of middle cooking plate 24, when apical ring 20 and base ring 22 are also in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 24 is positioned between apical ring 20 and base ring 22 (referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).The open position of middle cooking plate 24 is the places (referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) between apical ring 20 and base ring 22 of some or all no-fix in middle cooking plate 24 place not exclusively overlapping with the circumference of at least apical ring 20 or base ring 22 or centre cooking plate 24.In one embodiment, middle cooking plate 24 moves pivotly between its open position and its closed position.Alternatively, middle cooking plate 24 can be slidably moved between its open position and its closed position.Advantageously, middle cooking plate 24 can move between its open position and its closed position, and apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions.In the 5 embodiment of figure 5, wherein, apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, and middle cooking plate is in its open position, and middle cooking plate 24 is pivotably attached to apical ring 20 at pivotal point 26 place.Middle cooking plate 24 can be made to be pivoted to the closed position of middle cooking plate around pivotal point 26 under apical ring 20 or the non-wiping situation of base ring 22.Alternatively, middle cooking plate 24 can be pivotably attached to base ring 22 at pivotal point (not shown).

Top cooking surface 16 is formed selectively together with ring assemblies, top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity with end cooking surface 18.When pushing up cooking surface 16, apical ring 20 and middle cooking plate 24 and being each properly located (referring to, for instance, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), top cooking cavity is formed by pushing up cooking surface 16, apical ring 20 and middle cooking plate 24.Such as, when top shell and middle cooking plate are in they corresponding closed positions, top cooking cavity exists.When end cooking surface 18, base ring 22 and middle cooking plate 24 are each properly located, end cooking cavity is formed by end cooking surface 16, base ring 20 and middle cooking plate 24.Such as, when base ring and middle cooking plate are in they corresponding closed positions and middle cooking plate is positioned in parallel to end cooking surface (referring to, for instance Fig. 1 and Fig. 3), end cooking cavity exists.

Apparatus 10 can include being fixed to the handle 30 of top shell 12, being fixed to the handle 32 of apical ring 20 and be fixed to the handle 34 of base ring 22.These separate and distinct handles allow users to independently move top shell, apical ring and base ring.Apparatus 10 may further include the handle 36 being fixed to middle cooking plate 24 and enables a user to make center cooking plate 24 slide relative to apical ring 20 or base ring 22 or pivot.One or more in handle 30,32,34,36 can have the part that the user that the one or more through holes 38 limited wherein are delivered to handle to suppress heat will catch.Handle 30,32,34,36 can also include hollow structure to isolate handle further.Lock bolt (not shown) or other type of locking mechanism (such as, in conjunction with top shell handle 30) can be included during cooking apparatus to be maintained at fully closed position.

Apparatus 10 includes display/control dish 40.Display/control panel 40 can include the combination of any desired of user's input element (such as button, switch, knob, rotating disk etc.), enable a user to the operation controlling apparatus 10 and/or display element (such as, lamp, aplhanumeric visual display etc.) to provide a user with information.Such as, display/control panel 40 can include " power supply " display lamp and " preheating " lamp.As another example, display/control panel 40 can include for apparatus switching on and off (such as, simple ON/) and/or being used for controlling the device of any appropriate of cooking time (such as, timing ON/).Alternatively, it is convenient to omit ON/etc., and can only by inserting in power supply and switching on and off apparatus from power supply extraction tool.Additionally, display/control panel 40 can include intervalometer (dynamo-electric or numeral), the cooking timing of food item is not still controlled the power to apparatus by this intervalometer simply.

The ring assemblies of apparatus 10 can include at least one spacer element to maintain desired spacing between apical ring and base ring.Desired spacing is corresponding to the thickness of middle cooking plate.Spacing should be large enough that middle cooking plate is prone to slide or pivot between its open position and its closed position, and apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, and spacing should be sufficiently small to reduce, when middle cooking plate is in its closed position, the probability that food item (especially uncooked egg) inadvertently falls off.Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, spacer element top 70 is fixed to apical ring 20, and 72 is fixed to base ring 22 bottom spacer element.Bottom spacer element top 70 and spacer element, the installation position selection of 72 is, the described part when apical ring and base ring are in their closed position is engaged, and make, when middle cooking plate is in its open position, to maintain the desired spacing between apical ring and base ring.

The ring assemblies of apparatus 10 can include closed position stop guiding piece, to guarantee that middle cooking plate is suitably overlapping with the top open end of the end open end of apical ring and base ring when middle cooking plate is in its closed position.Therefore, top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity are suitably limited, and therefore when middle cooking plate is in its closed position, reduce the probability that the food item of the egg etc. such as do not cooked surprisingly is escaped.Spacer element top 70 can serve as closed position stop guiding piece.Such as, when middle cooking plate 24 is in its fully closed position, the handle 36 of middle cooking plate 24 can contact interval element crests 70.

Fig. 7 is that the part removing top shell is to illustrate the normal axomometric drawing of the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1 of internal part.Apparatus 10 can include one or more heating element heater 50 in top shell, in drain pan or in both.Heating element heater 50 can include the heating element heater of any known type, such as stratie, and it is one or more that this heating element heater can add in hot top cooking surface and end cooking surface.Radiator 51 can be placed between heating element heater 50 and the inner surface of top cooking surface 16 (that is, and the relative surface of cooking surface).Conduction heat transfer between such radiator auxiliary heating element 50 and top cooking surface 16.Be arranged in the embodiment in top shell and drain pan at heating element heater, similar parts will reside in (not shown) in the drain pan of apparatus.

In embodiment of the disclosure, heating element heater is arranged in top shell and drain pan, and top heating element heater will add hot top cooking surface with conduction pattern, and end heating element heater will heat end cooking surface with conduction pattern.When top shell in the closed position middle time, at (i) base ring and end cooking surface, (ii) base ring and middle cooking plate, cooking plate and apical ring in the middle of (iii), and maintain contact between (iv) apical ring and top cooking surface.Therefore, conduction heat transfer occurs from top cooking surface and/or end cooking surface to apical ring, base ring and middle cooking plate.

Heating element heater in the disclosure is arranged in the embodiment in top shell and drain pan, except being extended to wall power sockets (not shown) from drain pan to provide except the power line of power supply for apparatus, power supply is transported to top shell to supply top heating element heater from drain pan by power line 82.

Fig. 8 is the normal axomometric drawing that selectivity removes the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1 of ring assemblies.In the illustrated embodiment, it is removable that ring assemblies selectivity is movably fixed to the unit of drain pan and therefore conduct (such as, be used for cleaning), and top shell keeps being movably attached to drain pan.Top shell 12 includes the topmast bar 84 from substantially vertical two the prominent elongations of top cooking surface 16.Similarly, drain pan 14 includes the end pole 86 from substantially vertical two the prominent elongations of end cooking surface 18.Pivotal point 60 is formed at the far-end of topmast bar 84 and the far-end of end pole 86 crosses or the place of overlap, and top shell 12, apical ring 20 and base ring 22 all jointly pivot around pivotal point 60.The elongated structure of each pole makes it possible to fit between top shell and drain pan ring assemblies, and makes when top shell is in its closed position, and top cooking surface can be roughly parallel to end cooking surface.First joint pin (unmarked) or similar mechanism hingedly connect topmast bar and end pole on side, and the second joint pin (unmarked) or similar mechanism hingedly connect topmast bar and end pole on the opposite sides.

Apical ring 20 and base ring 22 are hingedly attached to each other through joint pin 76.As shown in Figure 8, when ring assemblies is selectively attached to apparatus 10, topmast bar 84 has opposite end, opposed slot portion 62 therebetween, the opposite end for holding joint pin 76.Joint pin 76 has opposite end, and each opposite end has different diameters (referring to Fig. 9).Opposed slot portion each have different width (described herein as groove portion width size Fig. 8 illustration in arrow instruction), described different width is corresponding in the different-diameter of the opposite end of joint pin 76.The different-diameter of the opposite end of joint pin 76 and the corresponding different in width in opposed slot portion 62 will ensure that ring assemblies can be only attached to apparatus 10 in one specific direction, therefore ensure that the ring assemblies correct top in apparatus 10/end is directed.

Shown in the illustration of Fig. 8, it is shown that the close-up view of the far-end of a topmast bar 84 on direction residing for pole 84 when top shell 12 is in its closed position., as shown in the illustration of Fig. 8, when top shell 12 is in its closed position, groove portion 62 is inclined upwardly.Although it is not shown, opposed slot portion has identical angle.When ring assemblies being attached to apparatus 10 and top shell is in its closed position, the end of joint pin 76 is positioned in the upper end of corresponding slot portions.Ring assemblies will be sandwiched between upper casing 12, lower casing 14.Can only by applying force to remove ring assemblies along the plane being parallel to top or end cooking surface 16,18.Therefore, if when top shell 12 is in its closed position while cooking (be at this moment probably food item), user attempts to pull out ring assemblies from apparatus 10, then the angle in groove portion 62 will hinder such movement, make when top shell is in its closed position, it is impossible to remove ring assemblies from pin joint.

Fig. 9 is the top view of the such as ring assemblies only removed from apparatus 10 for cleaning.Apical ring 20 and base ring 22 open 180 degree, and middle cooking plate 24 is opened pivotally.Ring assemblies may further include open position stop guiding piece 78, and it is the structure division supporting pivotal point 26.Open position stop guiding piece 78 limits and limits how far middle cooking plate 24 can pivot.Specifically, to engage middle cooking plate 24 rotationally constrained to produce for open position stop guiding piece 78.Part contact open position stop guiding piece 78 (as shown in Figure 9) for middle cooking plate 24 so that middle cooking plate can not pivot further out.The size of middle cooking plate 24 and shape, the position of pivotal point, the limit that set by open position stop guiding piece 78 are combined and guarantee, when middle cooking plate 24 is in its open position, when ring is in they closed positions in apparatus 10, remaining at least partially between apical ring 20 and base ring 22 of middle cooking plate 24.Help to maintain between apical ring 20 and base ring 22 desired spacing in fig .9 with this overlap shown in 80 further or otherwise promote from its open position centre cooking plate 24 is easily switched to its closed position, while apical ring 20 and base ring 22 be in the ability of they corresponding closed positions.

Although top cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 above are described as usual general plane, but any one or both in top cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 can include one or more spine, edge (rims), projection or arbitrarily other suitable protuberance to engage with the top edge of the feather edge of base ring 22 and/or apical ring 20 respectively, with particularly in contribute to during opening and closing centre cooking plate 24 side of limit collar assembly to side or other move.Alternatively, push up any one in cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 or both can include one or more groove portion, pit or arbitrarily other suitable caving in engage with the one or more corresponding spine on base ring 22 and/or apical ring 20, edge, projection or other suitable protuberance respectively.Such structure for being bonded between ring assemblies and top, end cooking surface 16,18 is especially desired in embodiment as described above, and in this embodiment, ring assemblies is not attached to apparatus 10 but is only shelved on lower cooking surface 18.Additionally, the one or both in top cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 can be carinate or ribbed and nonplanar.

The embodiment of apparatus shown in this article has horizontal cross sectional geometry round generally, and the horizontal cross sectional geometry of this circle is well suited for the round bread using such as english muffin and bagel to prepare sandwich.But, the alternate embodiment of apparatus can have the horizontal cross sectional geometry of any desired.Such as, an alternate embodiment of apparatus can have horizontal cross sectional geometry square generally.Another alternate embodiment of apparatus can have horizontal cross sectional geometry, and horizontal cross sectional geometry is similar to standard section (that is, three straight flanges and a convex surface) of bread.

Now with reference to Fig. 1-6, a kind of method for cooking the food item including multiple layers is described.Generally, starting a few minutes before cooking food project, apparatus 10 is preheated.Preheat the apparatus 10 that can pass through to be in fully closed position to occur, as shown in Figure 1.Top cooking surface 16 and end cooking surface 18 are such as heated by the heater element 50 of Fig. 7.When apparatus 10 is in fully closed position, the top surface 16 of heating and the basal surface 18 of heating transfer heat to apical ring 20 and base ring 22 by means respectively of conduction heat transfer.Apical ring 20 heats removable cooking plate 24 with base ring 22 together with conduction heat transfer.Apparatus 10 can include the indicator lamp when having arrived at desired preheating temperature in order to indication appliance.Such instruction maybe can be able to be simply time-based based on the temperature measured actual in apparatus.

When apparatus is preheated, top shell 12 and apical ring 20 rise to the position that they are opened, and base ring 22 is kept closedown, as shown in Figure 2.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 22 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface 18.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After being placed in base ring 22 by desired layer, apical ring 20 (the middle cooking plate together with attached) drops to its closed position, as shown in Figure 3.When middle cooking plate is in its closed position, end cooking cavity is limited by end cooking surface 18, base ring 22 and middle cooking plate 24 now.Alternatively, when middle cooking plate 24 is pivotably attached to base ring 22, bottom cavity limits possibly through making middle cooking plate 24 rotate to closed position independent of making apical ring 20 decline.

Once middle cooking plate 24 is in the closed position and apical ring 20 declines, then additional food layer can be placed in apical ring 20 so that the first additional food layer is located immediately on middle cooking plate.Advantageously, because middle cooking plate is heated, so this food layer can include the food item of needs culinary art or heating, but such food layer is not necessarily.For example, it is possible to uncooked egg is placed on middle cooking plate 24.Egg can suitably be cooked or heat to food safety temperature by the middle cooking plate of heating.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 24.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After being all placed in apical ring 20 by all desired layers, top shell 12 is made to drop to its closed position, as shown in Figure 4.When top shell 12 is in its closed position, top cooking cavity is limited by top cooking surface 16, apical ring 12 and middle cooking plate 24 now completely.Apparatus 10 is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Time period can be predetermined, and predetermine can based on one or more (such as, the type of food item, the type of layer and/or quantity, desired final temperature, the user preferences etc.) in several factors.Apparatus can follow the tracks of cooking time and to user, such as timed device informs when cooking time passes through.Alternatively, user can manually follow the tracks of from closing the time that top shell 12 begins to pass through.

After passing through the sufficient time, middle cooking plate 24 moves to its open position, and in the open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated by removable cooking plate 24 with end cooking cavity, as shown in Figure 5.Being moved from its closed position by middle cooking plate 24 to its open position promotes the layer the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate 24 so that these layer stack are laminated on any food item in end cooking cavity.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell 12, apical ring 20 and base ring 22 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now, as shown in Figure 6 so that can easily remove, from apparatus 10, the sandwich assembled.

Referring now to Figure 10, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 100 of Figure 10 is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 100 of Figure 10 is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 100 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 100 of Figure 10 is similar to the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.But, the ring assemblies of Figure 10 has the middle cooking plate that can remove from ring assemblies.Ring assemblies 100 includes apical ring 102, base ring 104 and middle cooking plate 106.Apical ring 102 selectivity together with base ring 104 is movably attached to the drain pan (not shown) of cook utensil.This configuration makes apical ring 102 to move between a closed position and a open position.Similarly, base ring 104 is removable between closed position and open position.Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.

Middle cooking plate 106 is suitable to be removably inserted between apical ring 102 and base ring 104.Middle cooking plate 106 can be removably inserted between apical ring 102 and base ring 104, and apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions simultaneously.When inserted, middle cooking plate 106 is located so that middle cooking plate 106 is overlapping with the circumference of at least one in apical ring 102 or base ring 104.When middle cooking plate 104 is inserted between apical ring 102 and base ring 104, middle cooking plate 106 limits top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.When top shell is in its closed position and is inserted between apical ring 102 and base ring 104 when middle cooking plate 106, top cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 102 and middle cooking plate 106.When drain pan is in its closed position and is inserted between base ring 104 and base ring 104 when middle cooking plate 106, end cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 102 and middle cooking plate 106.

Ring assemblies 100 farther includes one or more stop guiding piece 108.When middle cooking plate 106 is inserted between apical ring 102 and base ring 104, middle cooking plate 106 engages stop guiding piece 108.When middle cooking plate 106 engages two stop guiding pieces 108, it is ensured that middle cooking plate 106 will be in it and be properly inserted position.

Ring assemblies 100 farther includes one or more spacer element 116, in order to when apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, and the one or more spacer element 116 in order to maintain desired spacing between apical ring and base ring.In ring assemblies 100, when apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, corresponding with stop guiding piece 108 one of each spacer element 116 engages.

Ring assemblies 100 farther includes handle 110 and 112, handle 110 and 112 be respectively fixed in apical ring 102 and base ring 104 each enable a user to independently move apical ring and base ring.Ring assemblies 100 farther includes handle 114, and handle 114 is fixed to middle cooking plate 106 and enables a user to insert and remove middle cooking plate 106.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 100 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 104 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed in base ring 104, apical ring 102 is dropped in its closed position, and centre cooking plate 106 is inserted in ring assemblies.It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 102 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately on middle cooking plate 106.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 106.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring 102, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, remove middle cooking plate 106 so that top cooking cavity is no longer separated by it with end cooking cavity.Removing middle cooking plate 106 from ring assemblies 100 promotes the layer the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate 106 so that they are stacked to any food item in end cooking cavity.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell, apical ring 102 and base ring 104 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now so that can easily remove the sandwich assembled from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 11, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 160 of Figure 11 is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 160 of Figure 11 is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 160 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 160 of Figure 11 is similar to the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.But, the ring assemblies of Figure 11 has the middle cooking plate being divided into two independent movable sections.Ring assemblies 160 includes apical ring 162, base ring 164 and middle cooking plate 166.Apical ring 162 selectivity together with base ring 164 is movably attached to the drain pan (not shown) of cook utensil.This configuration makes apical ring 162 to move between a closed position and a open position.Similarly, base ring 164 can move between closed position and open position.Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.

Middle cooking plate 166 includes relative to each other moveable left half 172 and right half 168.Left half 172 and the right half 168 of middle cooking plate 166 relative to each other move pivotly.Left half 172 and right half 168 can move between closed position and open position, and in a closed position, left half and right half abut one another, and in the open position, left half and right half separate ultimate range.Figure 11 illustrates partial open position.When apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, left half and the right half of middle cooking plate may move.

When the left half 172 of middle cooking plate 166 and right half 168 are in their closed position, middle cooking plate 166 limits top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.When top shell is in its closed position and is in their closed position when the left half 172 of middle cooking plate 166 and right half 168, top cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 162 and middle cooking plate 166.When drain pan is in its closed position and is in their closed position when the left half 172 of middle cooking plate 166 and right half 168, end cooking cavity is formed by the end cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, base ring 164 and middle cooking plate 166.No matter which kind of position left half 172 and right half 168 are in, left half 172 and/or at least some of of right half 168 will generally remain between apical ring and base ring, apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions simultaneously, to guarantee the suitable spacing between apical ring 162 and base ring 164.

Ring assemblies 160 farther includes handle 176 and 178, and handle 176 and 178 is respectively fixed to each in apical ring 162 and base ring 164, enables a user to independently move apical ring and base ring.Ring assemblies 160 farther includes left handle 174 and right handle 170, and left handle 174 and right handle 170 are respectively fixed to left half 172 and the right half 168 of middle cooking plate 166, enable a user to independently move left half 172 and right half 168.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 160 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 164 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After being placed in base ring 164 by desired layer, make apical ring 162 drop to its closed position, and make the left half 172 of middle cooking plate 166 move (if but without) together with right half 168.It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 162 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately on middle cooking plate 166.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 166.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring 162, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, the left half 172 of centre cooking plate 166 and right half 168 are removed so that top cooking cavity is no longer separated by middle cooking plate 166 with end cooking cavity.Left half 172 and right half 168 are removed and promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate 166 so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell, apical ring 162 and base ring 164 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now so that can easily remove the sandwich assembled from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 12, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 120 of Figure 11 is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 120 of Figure 12 is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 120 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 120 of Figure 12 is differ considerably from the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.Ring assemblies 120 includes integral left ring assemblies part 124 and integral right ring assemblies part 122.Left ring assemblies part 124 includes top 134, bottom 138 and the middle cooking plate part 136 between top 134 and bottom 138.Top 134 and bottom 138 each include the semi-circular portion of ring.Middle cooking plate part 136 includes the semi-circular portion of surface plate.Top 134, bottom 138, middle cooking plate part 136 are overall and therefore as one man may move.

Right ring assemblies part 122 includes top 126, bottom 130 and the middle cooking plate part 128 between top 126 and bottom 130.Top 126 and bottom 130 each include the semi-circular portion of ring.Middle cooking plate part 128 includes the semi-circular portion of surface plate.Top 126, bottom 130, middle cooking plate part 128 are overall and therefore as one man may move.

Left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 are relative to each other removable and may move relative to top shell and drain pan.Left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 are pivotally secured to each other at pivotal point 142 place so that left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 towards each other and move pivotly away from each other.

Left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 are removable between closed position and open position, and in a closed position, left components and right components abut one another, and in the open position, left components and right components separate ultimate range.Figure 12 illustrates partial open position.When top shell is in its closed position, left components and right components are moveable.When left components and right components abut one another, the top 134 of left ring assemblies part 124 and the top 126 of right ring assemblies part 122 collectively form apical ring.Similarly, when left components and right components abut one another, the bottom 138 of left ring assemblies part 124 and the bottom 130 of right ring assemblies part 122 collectively form base ring.Additionally, when left components and right components abut one another, in the middle of two, cooking plate portion 136,128 collectively forms middle cooking plate.

When left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 in the closed position middle time, top cooking cavity is formed by pushing up cooking plate portions 136,128 in the middle of cooking surface, the top 134 of left ring assemblies part 124, the top 126 of right ring assemblies part 122 and two.When left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 in the closed position middle time, end cooking cavity is formed by cooking plate portions 136,128 in the middle of end cooking surface, the bottom 138 of left ring assemblies part 124, the bottom 130 of right ring assemblies part 122 and two.

Ring assemblies 120 farther includes handle 140 and 132, handle 140 and 132 be respectively fixed in left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 each enable a user to independently move left ring assemblies part and right ring assemblies part.

The operation with the apparatus of ring assemblies 120 has the operation of the apparatus not being same as Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed on end cooking surface, left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 can be moved in closed position adjacent to one another, be consequently formed base ring and apical ring and the food layer on end cooking surface closed on earth in cooking cavity.It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in the middle cooking plate portion 136,128 of adjacent two.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately in the middle of adjacent two in cooking plate part 136,128.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 are removed.Left ring assemblies part 124 is removed with right ring assemblies part 122 and promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.

Referring now to Figure 13 A-B, thus it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.The sandwich making apparatus of Figure 13 A-B includes drain pan 328 and top shell 326.Drain pan 328 has the top surface (unmarked) of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 326 has the basal surface (unmarked) of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 326 is movably attached to drain pan 328.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 320 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 320 of Figure 13 A-B is similar to the ring assemblies 120 of Figure 12.Ring assemblies 320 includes integral left ring assemblies part 324 and integral right ring assemblies part 322.As, in the ring assemblies 120 of Figure 12, each in left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies 322 includes top, bottom and the middle cooking plate part between top and bottom.Top and bottom each include the semi-circular portion of ring.Middle cooking plate part includes the semi-circular portion of surface plate.The top of each in left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies part 322, bottom and middle cooking plate part are overall and therefore as one man may move.Left ring assemblies part 124 and right ring assemblies part 122 are relative to each other removable and may move relative to top shell and drain pan.

Unlike the ring assemblies 120 of Figure 12, the left ring assemblies part 324 of ring assemblies 320 and right ring assemblies 322 non-pivotally move.On the contrary, the left ring assemblies part 324 of ring assemblies 320 and right ring assemblies part 322 are all fixed to tooth bar and pinion gear mechanism so that left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies part 322 can towards each other and being moved linearly by away from each other.Tooth bar shown in Figure 13 A-B and pinion drive are arranged and are promoted left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies part 322 (towards each other or away from each other) as one man to move.Left ring assemblies part 324 is fixed on left front rack gear 334a and left back rack gear 334b on the opposite sides.Similarly, right ring assemblies part 322 is fixed to before the right side rack gear 336b after rack gear 336a and the right side on the opposite sides.Before left front rack gear 334a and the right side, rack gear 336a engages with the front pinion drive (in Figure 13 A-B invisible) being arranged on front pinion drive support 330a.After left back rack gear 334b and the right side, rack gear 336b engages with the rear pinion drive 332 being arranged on rear pinion drive support 330b.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 320 is similar to the apparatus of the ring assemblies 120 with Figure 12.The bottom of food item is placed on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed on end cooking surface, left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies part 322 can be moved in closed position adjacent to one another, be consequently formed base ring and apical ring and the food layer on end cooking surface closed on earth in cooking cavity.It is then possible to additional food layer is positioned in the middle cooking plate portion of adjacent two.It is then possible to the one or more extra plays in food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately in the middle of adjacent two on cooking plate.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, left ring assemblies part 324 and right ring assemblies part 322 are removed.Left ring assemblies part 324 is removed with right ring assemblies part 322 and promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.

In above-mentioned embodiment of the disclosure, then one or more extra plays of food item can be placed on the top of the food layer being placed directly on middle cooking plate.The food layer being placed directly on middle cooking plate may often be such that the egg do not cooked.User may not want that and is directly placed on the egg do not cooked by food layer, if being especially placed on the words that the food layer on uncooked egg is bread project (such as, the top of english muffin half).This bread project being directly placed on the top of the egg do not cooked can absorb some eggs do not cooked before cooking, and this sandwich that may result in cooking has less desirable character (such as, texture).For this reason, it may be desirable to raise one or more food layer (such as, bread project) to keep the project of the project and the lower section that raise to be physically separated, until cook and till sandwich gets out assembling.The ring assemblies of Figure 14-19 and/or sandwich making apparatus include food item support/hoisting mechanism, and when the second food item is in the cooking cavity of top, food item support/hoisting mechanism optionally supports the first food item above the second food item.

Referring now to Figure 14, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 200 of Figure 14 is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 200 of Figure 14 is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 200 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 200 of Figure 14 is similar to the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.But, the ring assemblies of Figure 14 has food item support/hoisting mechanism 214, and when the second food item is in the cooking cavity of top, food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 optionally supports the first food item above the second food item.Ring assemblies 200 includes apical ring 202, base ring 206 and middle cooking plate 204.Apical ring 202 selectivity together with base ring 206 is movably attached to the drain pan (not shown) of cook utensil.This configuration makes apical ring 202 to move between a closed position and a open position.Similarly, base ring 206 can move between closed position and open position.Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.

Middle cooking plate 204 moves pivotly between closed position and open position.In the closed position of middle cooking plate 204, when apical ring 202 and base ring 206 are also in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 204 is positioned between apical ring 202 and base ring 206.The open position of middle cooking plate 204 is the places between apical ring 202 and base ring 206 of some or all no-fix in middle cooking plate 204 place not exclusively overlapping with the circumference of at least apical ring 202 or base ring 206 or centre cooking plate 204.When apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 204 can move between its open position and its closed position.Middle cooking plate 204 is pivotably attached to apical ring 202 at pivotal point (invisible in fig. 14) place.Under making apical ring 202 or the non-wiping situation of base ring 206, it is possible to make middle cooking plate 204 be pivoted to the closed position of middle cooking plate around pivotal point.

When apical ring 202, base ring 206 and middle cooking plate 204 are all in they corresponding closed positions, as shown in figure 14, middle cooking plate 204 limits top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.When top shell, apical ring 202 and middle cooking plate 204 are all in they corresponding closed positions, top cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 202 and middle cooking plate 204.When top shell, base ring 206 and middle cooking plate 204 are all in they corresponding closed positions, end cooking cavity is formed by the end cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, base ring 206 and middle cooking plate 204.

When the second food item is in the cooking cavity of top, food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 is optionally supported on first food item (such as, bread project) of the second food item (such as, egg) top.Food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 include two elongation parallel arms 216, two elongation parallel arms 216 project through slidably in the wall of apical ring 202 limit opening 218 in corresponding one.Handle 220 is fixed to arm 216, so that user makes arm 216 slide between closed position and open position, in a closed position, the far-end of arm 216 is (namely, the end relative with handle 220) contact or almost in contact with the relative sidewall of apical ring 202, in the open position, the far-end of arm 216 is at opening 218 place or close opening 218 (the embodiment that can remove food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 from ring assemblies 200) or removes (the embodiment that can optionally remove food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 from ring assemblies 200) completely from opening 218.The embodiment that can not remove food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 from ring assemblies 200, it is possible to maintaining body is fixed to one or two far-end of arm 216 to stop food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 away from ring assemblies 200.Food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 is shown as having two arms 216 in fig. 14, and the two arm 216 each has circular section shape.In the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, food item support/hoisting mechanism can have many different structures and shape.Such as, food item support/hoisting mechanism can include arm more more or less of than two arms, and arm can have different cross sectional shapes (such as, square).In another example, food item support/hoisting mechanism can include the single elongated flat arm with rectangular cross sectional shape.

Ring assemblies 200 farther includes handle 208 and 210, and handle 208 and 210 is respectively fixed to each in apical ring 202 and base ring 206, enables a user to independently move apical ring and base ring.Ring assemblies 200 farther includes handle 212, and cooking plate 204 in the middle of handle 212 is fixing is so that user moves middle cooking plate 204 pivotly.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 200 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 206 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed in base ring 206, make apical ring 202 drop to its closed position, and make middle cooking plate 204 be pivoted to its closed position (as not in the words of that position).It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 202 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately at middle cooking plate 204.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 204.Make food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 move in its closed position, and top layer (that is, last layer being placed in apical ring, it can be second half of such as english muffin) is placed on arm 216.

After all desired layers are all placed into apical ring 202, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Make apparatus maintain this fully closed position to continue for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate 204 is pivoted to its open position, middle cooking plate 204 is made no longer to make top cooking cavity separate with end cooking cavity, the layer in the cooking cavity of top is thus promoted to separate with middle cooking plate 204 so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 moves in its open position so that top food layer drops on the food layer of underface.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell, apical ring 202 and base ring 206 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now so that can easily remove the sandwich assembled from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 15 A-B, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 240 of Figure 15 A-B is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Figure 15 A illustrates the ring assemblies 240 being under unassembled state, and Figure 15 B illustrates the ring assemblies 240 being under confined state.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 240 of Figure 15 A-B is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason place is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell can move between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 240 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 240 of Figure 15 A-B is similar to the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.But, the ring assemblies 240 of Figure 15 A-B has food item support/hoisting mechanism, and when the second food item is in the cooking cavity of top, food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 optionally supports the first food item above the second food item.Ring assemblies 240 includes apical ring 242, base ring 244 and middle cooking plate 246.Apical ring 242 selectivity together with base ring 244 is movably attached to the drain pan (not shown) of cook utensil.This configuration makes apical ring 242 to move between a closed position and a open position.Similarly, base ring 244 is removable between closed position and open position.Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.

Middle cooking plate 246 can move pivotly between closed position and open position.In the closed position of middle cooking plate 246, when apical ring 242 and base ring 244 are also in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 246 is positioned between apical ring 242 and base ring 244.The open position of middle cooking plate 246 is the places between apical ring 242 and base ring 244 of some or all no-fix in middle cooking plate 246 place not exclusively overlapping with the circumference of at least apical ring 242 or base ring 244 or centre cooking plate 246.When apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 246 can move between its open position and its closed position.Middle cooking plate 246 is pivotably attached to apical ring 242 at pivotal point (in Figure 15 B invisible, and only intermediate plate pivotal point part 247 is visible in Figure 15 A) place.Under making apical ring 242 or the non-wiping situation of base ring 244, it is possible to make middle cooking plate 246 be pivoted to the closed position of middle cooking plate around pivotal point.

When apical ring 242, base ring 244 and middle cooking plate 246 are all in they corresponding closed positions, as shown in fig. 15b, middle cooking plate 246 limits top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.When top shell, apical ring 242 and middle cooking plate 246 are all in they corresponding closed positions, top cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 242 and middle cooking plate 246.When top shell, base ring 244 and middle cooking plate 246 are all in they corresponding closed positions, end cooking cavity is formed by the end cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, base ring 244 and middle cooking plate 246.

Middle cooking plate 246 includes auricle 248, and auricle 248 is from the lateral edges of middle cooking plate 246 outwardly so that when middle cooking plate is in its closed position (as shown in Figure 15 B), auricle 248 is maintained at apical ring 242 and the outside of base ring 244.Apical ring defines approximate horizontal slit 252.Food item support/hoisting mechanism includes the support member arms 250 being fixed to auricle 248.Support arm 250 projects upwards from auricle 248, then substantially horizontally at the middle upper part of middle cooking plate 246.When middle cooking plate 246 is in its closed position (as shown in fig. 15b), support arm 250 projects through slit 252.When middle cooking plate 246 is in its open position, support arm 250 does not project through slit 252 and completely in the outside of apical ring 242 and base ring 244.When middle cooking plate 246 moves to its open position from its closed position, support arm 250 is removed slidably from slit 252, thus promotes any food item supported by support arm 250 to drop to below following project.

Support arm 250 in Figure 15 A-B is shown as the far-end having at them to be passed through to connect two arms that ring connects, and arm has circular section shape.In the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, support arm can have many different structures and shape.Such as, support arm can include arm more more or less of than two arms, and arm can have different cross sectional shapes (such as, square).In another example, support arm can include the single elongated flat arm with rectangular cross sectional shape.

Ring assemblies 240 can include handle (not shown), handle be respectively fixed in apical ring 242 and base ring 244 each enable a user to independently move apical ring and base ring.Auricle 248 can serve as the handle of middle cooking plate 246 and enables a user to move middle cooking plate 246 pivotly, and auricle 248 can have heat-resisting lid (not shown).

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 240 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 244 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed in base ring 244, make apical ring 242 drop to its closed position, and make middle cooking plate 246 be pivoted to its closed position (as not in the words of that position).It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 242 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately on middle cooking plate 246.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 246.Top food layer (that is, last layer being placed in apical ring, it can be second half of such as english muffin) is placed on support arm 250.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring 242, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate 246 is pivoted to its open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated by middle cooking plate 246 with end cooking cavity, the layer in the cooking cavity of top is thus promoted to separate with middle cooking plate 246 so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Centre cooking plate 246 is pivoted to its open position also promotes support arm 250 to leave apical ring 242 so that top food layer drops on the food layer of underface.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell, apical ring 242 and base ring 244 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now so that can easily remove the sandwich assembled from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 16 A-B, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the ring assemblies of the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.In order to clearly, the ring assemblies 300 of Figure 16 A-B is shown as removing from its sandwich making apparatus.Figure 16 A illustrates the ring assemblies 300 being under unassembled state, and Figure 16 B illustrates the ring assemblies 300 being under confined state.Sandwich making apparatus including the ring assemblies 300 of Figure 16 A-B is similar with the sandwich making apparatus of Fig. 1-9, and reason is in that it includes drain pan and top shell.Drain pan has the top surface of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell has the basal surface of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell is movably attached to drain pan.Top shell is removable between closed position and open position.When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 300 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 300 of Figure 16 A-B is similar to the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9.But, the ring assemblies 300 of Figure 16 A-B has food item support/hoisting mechanism, and when the second food item is in the cooking cavity of top, food item support/hoisting mechanism 214 optionally supports the first food item above the second food item.Ring assemblies 300 includes apical ring 302, base ring 304 and middle cooking plate 306.Apical ring 302 selectivity together with base ring 304 is movably attached to the drain pan (not shown) of cook utensil.This configuration makes apical ring 302 to move between a closed position and a open position.Similarly, base ring 304 is removable between closed position and open position.Apical ring can move independent of top shell and independent of base ring, and base ring can move independent of top shell and independent of apical ring.

Middle cooking plate 306 can move pivotly between closed position and open position.In the closed position of middle cooking plate 306, when apical ring 302 and base ring 304 are also in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 306 is positioned between apical ring 302 and base ring 304.The open position of middle cooking plate 306 is the places between apical ring 302 and base ring 304 of some or all no-fix in middle cooking plate 306 place not exclusively overlapping with the circumference of at least apical ring 302 or base ring 304 or centre cooking plate 306.When apical ring and base ring are in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking plate 306 can move between its open position and its closed position.Middle cooking plate 306 is pivotably attached to apical ring 302 at pivotal point (invisible in fig. 16b, and only intermediate plate pivotal point part 307 is visible in Figure 16 A) place.Under making apical ring 302 or the non-wiping situation of base ring 304, it is possible to make middle cooking plate 306 be pivoted to the closed position of middle cooking plate around pivotal point.

When apical ring 302, base ring 304 and middle cooking plate 306 are all in they corresponding closed positions, as shown in fig 16b, middle cooking plate 306 limits top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.When top shell, apical ring 302 and middle cooking plate 306 are all in they corresponding closed positions, top cooking cavity is formed by the top cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, apical ring 302 and middle cooking plate 306.When top shell, base ring 306 and middle cooking plate 304 are all in they corresponding closed positions, end cooking cavity is formed by the end cooking surface (not shown) of apparatus, base ring 304 and middle cooking plate 306.

Substantially vertical slit 310 is limited in apical ring 302, and slit 310 extends from the feather edge of apical ring towards the top edge of apical ring 302, but is less than reaching the top edge of apical ring 302.Food item support/hoisting mechanism, i.e. the substantially vertical spine 308 of bending, the top surface cooking ring from centre projects upwards.Spine 308 extends past the midpoint of middle cooking plate 306 from the edge of middle cooking plate 306.When middle cooking plate 306 moves between its open position and closed position, spine 308 is collaboratively through slit 310.When middle cooking plate 306 is in its closed position, as illustrated in figure 16b, spine 308 is primarily or entirely in apical ring 302 and can support another food item above the food item on centrally located cooking plate 306.When middle cooking plate 306 is pivoted to open position from closed position, apical ring 302 leaves slidably by slit 310 in spine 308, thus promotes any food item supported by spine 308 to drop to the lower section of following project.

Spine 308 shown in Figure 16 A-B has rectangular cross sectional shape, and slit 310 has corresponding rectangular shape.In the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, spine and slit can have many different structures and shape.Such as, spine can have edge, pinnacle so that spine has triangular cross-sectional shape, and slit has triangular shaped accordingly.In another example, spine can have top edge smooth greatly, thus it has " T " cross sectional shape, and groove has corresponding "T"-shaped shape.

Ring assemblies 300 includes handle 312,314, handle 312,314 be respectively fixed in apical ring 302 and base ring 304 each enable a user to independently move apical ring and base ring.Handle 316 is fixed to middle cooking plate 306 and enables a user to move middle cooking plate 306 pivotly.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus of ring assemblies 300 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 304 so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer being placed in base ring 304, make apical ring 302 drop to its closed position, and make middle cooking plate 306 be pivoted to its closed position (as not in the words of that position).It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 302 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately on middle cooking plate 306.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 306.Top food layer (that is, last layer being placed in apical ring, it can be second half of such as english muffin) is placed in spine 308.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring 302, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus maintains this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate 306 is pivoted to its open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated by middle cooking plate 306 with end cooking cavity, the layer in the cooking cavity of top is thus promoted to separate with middle cooking plate 306 so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Centre cooking plate 306 is pivoted to its open position also promotes spine 308 to leave apical ring 302 so that top food layer drops on the food layer of underface.Therefore, top food layer is assembled on the food layer being positioned in end cooking cavity.Therefore, the sandwich of fully culinary art is assembled now.Top shell, apical ring 302 and base ring 304 rise to they corresponding open position/upper positions now so that can easily remove the sandwich assembled from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 17, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.Figure 17 sandwich making apparatus 280 can use arbitrarily suitable ring assemblies, any one in the ring assemblies of such as Fig. 1-12.In order to clearly, omit ring assemblies from Figure 17.Sandwich making apparatus 280 includes drain pan 284 and top shell 282.Drain pan 284 has the top surface 2888 of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 282 has the basal surface 286 of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 282 is movably attached to drain pan 284.Top shell 282 is removable between closed position (not shown) and open position (figure 17 illustrates).When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.Sandwich making apparatus 280 includes support arm 290, and support arm 290 is pivotally secured to top shell at pivotal point 292 place.Support arm 290 optionally supports the food item above the another food item of on centrally located cooking plate.

The operation of the apparatus 280 of Figure 17 is similar to the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.Main difference is in that, top food item (generally, bread project) before cooking be whenever placed between support arm 290 and top cooking surface 286 so that top food item is kept by support arm 290.For Fig. 1-9, other food item is placed in ring assemblies as above.Top shell 282 drops in its closed position.Apparatus is maintained at this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate is pivoted to its open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated with end cooking cavity by middle cooking plate, thus promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Assemble now the sandwich of fully culinary art, except the food item of top.Top shell 282, apical ring and base ring rise in they corresponding opening/upper positions now.Top food item is removed (this is likely to need to make support arm 290 rotate) from support arm 290 and top food item can be placed on the top of other stacking food item.It is then possible to easily the sandwich of assembling is removed from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 18 A-B, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.Sandwich making apparatus 360 includes drain pan 364 and top shell 362.Drain pan 364 has the top surface 372 of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 362 has the basal surface 374 of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 362 is movably attached to drain pan 364.Top shell 362 is removable between closed position (not shown) and open position (shown in Figure 18 A-B).When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.The sandwich making apparatus 360 of Figure 18 A-B can use arbitrarily suitable ring assemblies, any one in the ring assemblies of such as Fig. 1-12.Ring assemblies shown in Figure 18 A-B is identical with the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9 and serves the same role.The ring assemblies of Figure 18 A-B includes apical ring 366, base ring 370 and middle cooking plate 368.

Top shell 362 includes ring 376, and ring 376 forms the top shell chamber for keeping top food item.Sandwich making apparatus 360 includes support arm 380, and support arm 380 is pivotally secured to top shell 362.Support arm 380 optionally may move between primary importance (Figure 18 B) and the second position (Figure 18 A), in described primary importance, block the opening in top shell chamber at least in part to be maintained at by food item in ring 376, in the described second position, the opening not blocking top shell chamber makes food item be not kept in ring 376.Therefore, support arm 380 is optionally kept food item and is maintained at by food item above another food item on centrally located cooking plate by ring 376.

The operation of the apparatus 360 of Figure 18 A-B is similar to the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.Main difference is that, the food item (usual bread project) that whenever will push up before cooking is placed in ring 376, then, makes support arm 380 be pivoted in the position shown in Figure 18 B so that top food item is maintained in ring 376.For Fig. 1-9, other food item is placed in ring assemblies as above.Top shell 362 drops in its closed position.Apparatus maintains this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate is pivoted to its open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated with end cooking cavity by middle cooking plate, thus promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Support arm 380 is pivoted in the position shown in Figure 18 A so that top food item drops in the project of lower section.Assemble now the sandwich of fully culinary art, then it can be easily removed from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 19 A-B, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.Figure 19 C illustrates the parts of the sandwich making apparatus of Figure 19 A-B.Sandwich making apparatus 400 includes drain pan 404 and top shell 402.Drain pan 404 has the top surface 412 of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 402 has the basal surface 414 of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 402 is movably attached to drain pan 404.Top shell 402 is removable between closed position (not shown) and open position (shown in Figure 19 A-B).When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.The sandwich making apparatus 400 of Figure 19 A-B can use arbitrarily suitable ring assemblies, any one in the ring assemblies of such as Fig. 1-12.Ring assemblies shown in Figure 19 A-B is identical with the ring assemblies of Fig. 1-9 and serves the same role.The ring assemblies of Figure 19 A-B includes apical ring 406, base ring 410 and middle cooking plate 408.

Top shell 402 includes ring 416, and ring 416 forms the top shell chamber for keeping top food item.Sandwich making apparatus 400 includes relatively moveable claw 418a, 418b, and described relatively moveable claw 418a, 418b are positioned at top shell intracavity for keeping the first food item.First and second relatively removable claw 418a, 418b can for holding or take out the primary importance (illustrating in fig. 19 a) of the first food item and for using top shell chamber to keep selectively moved between the second position (illustrating in fig. 19b) of the first food item.Each relatively removable claw 418a, 418b project through the bending slit 430 (only one is visible in Figure 19 A-B) in basal surface 414.The moving handle 420 of driving lever 424 makes claw move between the two positions.Move in the driving lever 424 slit 422 in top shell 402.Figure 19 C illustrates a possible structure for selectively moved relatively removable claw 418a, 418b.As in Figure 19 C see, the first lever arm 426 is pivotally secured to first-phase at one end and to removable claw 418a and is pivotally secured to driving lever 424 at other end place.Similarly, the second lever arm 428 is pivotally secured to second-phase at one end and to removable claw 418b and is pivotally secured to driving lever 424 at other end place.Such as driving lever 424 is moved to right (as observed in Figure 19 C) by gripping handle 420, promotes the first and second lever arms 426,428 to remove, this so that promote first and second relatively removable claw 418a, 418b to remove.On the contrary, such as by gripping handle 420, driving lever 424 is moved to left (as observed in Figure 19 C), promote the first and second lever arms 426,428 to move toward each other, this so that promote first and second relatively removable claw 418a, 418b to move toward each other.

The operation of the apparatus 400 of Figure 19 A-C is similar to the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 1-9.Main difference is that, being placed in ring 416 by top food item (usually bread project), relatively moveable claw 418a, 418b separate simultaneously.Then, moving handle 420 so that relative to removable claw 418a, 418b move closer to so that top food item be maintained in ring 416.For Fig. 1-9, other food item is placed in ring assemblies as above.Top shell 402 drops in its closed position.Apparatus maintains this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, middle cooking plate is pivoted to its open position, top cooking cavity is no longer separated with end cooking cavity by middle cooking plate, thus promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate with middle cooking plate so that they are stacked on any food item in end cooking cavity.Moving handle 420 is to remove relatively removable claw 418a, 418b so that top food item drops in the project of lower section.Assemble now the sandwich of fully culinary art, then it can be easily removed from apparatus.

Referring now to Figure 20 A-B, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.The sandwich making apparatus 440 of Figure 20 A-B includes drain pan 444 and top shell 442.Drain pan 444 has the top surface 446 of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 442 has the basal surface 448 of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 442 is movably attached to drain pan 444.Top shell 442 is removable between closed position (shown in Figure 20 B) and open position (shown in Figure 20 A).When top shell is in its closed position, ring assemblies 460 is positioned between top cooking surface and end cooking surface.

The ring assemblies 460 of Figure 20 A-B includes apical ring 450, base ring 454 and middle cooking plate 452.Apical ring 450 and base ring 454 are attached to hinge 456, and hinge 456 includes falling hinger parts and vertical hinge pin.Apical ring 450 and base ring 454 are attached to the falling hinger parts of hinge 456 so that apical ring 450 and base ring 454 each can move up and down pivotly by selectivity between vertical closed position (shown in Figure 20 A) and vertical open position (not shown).Apical ring 450 and base ring 454 selectivity independently from each other move up and down pivotly.

The falling hinger parts of hinge 456 are attached to the vertical hinge parts of hinge 456 so that between apical ring 450 and each comfortable horizontal closed position (shown in Figure 20 A) of base ring 454 and horizontal open position (shown in Figure 20 B), selectivity edge-to-edge pivotly moves.

Middle cooking plate 452 is attached to hinge 458 so that middle cooking plate 452 is at vertical closed position (shown in Figure 20 A-B) and vertically between open position (not shown), selectivity moves up and down pivotly.In the illustrated embodiment, middle cooking plate 452 can not move on edge-to-edge ground.

When being in they corresponding horizontal closed position and vertical closed position when apical ring 450 and base ring 454, and when middle cooking plate 452 is in its vertical closed position, form top cooking cavity and end cooking cavity.Top cooking cavity is formed by pushing up cooking surface 448, apical ring 450 and middle cooking plate 452.End cooking cavity is formed by end cooking surface 446, base ring 454 and middle cooking plate 452.

Although it is not shown, handle can be fixed to each in apical ring 450, base ring 454 and middle cooking plate 452, enable a user to independently move these parts.

There is the operation that the operation of the apparatus 440 of ring assemblies 460 is similar to the apparatus of Fig. 1-9, except removing the step of cooked sandwich.The bottom of food item is placed in base ring 454 (when being in its horizontal closed position and vertical closed position when base ring 454) so that bottom is positioned on end cooking surface.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After being placed in base ring 454 by desired layer, middle cooking plate 452 drops in its closed position, and apical ring 450 is positioned in its horizontal closed position and vertical closed position.It is then possible to additional food layer is placed in apical ring 450 so that the first additional food layer (such as, uncooked egg) is located immediately on middle cooking plate 452.It is then possible to one or more extra plays of food item are placed on the top of the food layer being located immediately on middle cooking plate 452.Top layer (that is, is placed into last layer in apical ring) and can be second half of such as english muffin.

After all desired layers are placed into apical ring 450, top shell is made to drop in its closed position.Apparatus maintains this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.Passing by after the sufficient time, apical ring 450 and base ring 454 are pivoted in they corresponding horizontal open position (shown in Figure 20 B).Making apical ring 450 and base ring 454 be pivoted to they corresponding horizontal open position promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top separate with middle cooking plate 452 and promote to pull out all food layers from apparatus.When apical ring 450 and base ring 454 are in they corresponding horizontal open position, layer drops from apical ring and base ring and drops on the surface (such as, plate) below apical ring and base ring, produces fully culinary art and the sandwich assembled from the teeth outwards.

Referring now to Figure 21-27, it is shown that the normal axomometric drawing according to the sandwich making apparatus of the alternate embodiment of the disclosure.The sandwich making apparatus 500 of Figure 21-27 includes drain pan 504 and top shell 502.Drain pan 504 has the top surface 506 of the end cooking surface forming apparatus.Top shell 502 has the basal surface 508 of the top cooking surface forming apparatus.Unlike the embodiments above, in the embodiment shown in Figure 21-27, top surface 506 and basal surface 508 are not themselves directly heated.It is, be absent from top surface 506 or basal surface 504 are directly applied the heating element heater (but, top surface 506 and/or basal surface 504 can be heated indirectly by following hot plate) of heat in drain pan 504 or top shell 502.However, alternatively, heating element heater can be arranged in drain pan 504 and/or top shell 502 to directly heat top surface 506 and/or basal surface 504 respectively, except the possible heating indirectly provided by following hot plate.Top shell 502 is movably attached to drain pan 504.Top shell 502 optionally may move between lower position or closed position (shown in Figure 24 and Figure 25) and upper position or open position (shown in Figure 21-23 and Figure 26).

The culinary art components of apparatus 500 includes top hot plate 510, end hot plate 514 and the adapter ring 512 between top hot plate 510 and end hot plate 514.Top hot plate 510 usually circular (but other shape can be used) and general plane, and generally include (at least its top surface and basal surface) there is the conducting metal of non-sticking lining.End hot plate 514 usually circular (but other shape can be used) and general plane, and generally include (at least its top surface and basal surface) there is the conducting metal of non-sticking lining.Adapter ring 512 usually cylindric (but other shape can be used), and generally include (at least its inwall) there is the conducting metal of non-sticking lining.Top hot plate 510 can include the heating element heater in the portion that is embedded within (such as, heating element heater 528 in Figure 27), maybe can include the heating element heater (heating element heater of such surface attachment can include such as thin-film heating element) being attached to its top surface and/or basal surface.Similarly, end hot plate 514 can include the heating element heater in the portion that is embedded within (such as, heating element heater 530 in Figure 27), maybe can include the heating element heater (heating element heater of such surface attachment can include such as thin-film heating element) being attached to its top surface and/or basal surface.No matter it is built-in wherein also being attached on it, heating element heater for pushing up hot plate and end hot plate heats up when applying a current on it, this so add hot top hot plate and end hot plate (generally, the top surface of each in top hot plate and end hot plate and basal surface are heated).The heating of top surface and basal surface will be heated each layer food item, as described further below.Certainly, such heating element heater will have electrical connector, to provide power supply when needed.Such electrical connector is traditional and omits from figure for the sake of simplicity.

Top hot plate 510 optionally may move between (i) open position (shown in Figure 22, Figure 25 and Figure 26) and (ii) closed position (shown in Figure 21, Figure 23 and Figure 24).When pushing up hot plate 510 and being in its closed position, top cooking cavity is formed selectively by the basal surface 508 pushing up hot plate 510 and the top shell when top shell 502 is in its closed position 502.

End hot plate 514 optionally may move between (i) open position (shown in Figure 25 and Figure 26) and (ii) closed position (shown in Figure 21-24).When end hot plate 514 is in its closed position, end cooking cavity is formed selectively by top surface 506 and the end hot plate 514 of drain pan 504.When pushing up hot plate 510 and end hot plate 510,514 is in they corresponding closed positions, middle cooking cavity is formed selectively by pushing up hot plate 510, adapter ring 512 and end hot plate 514.

When being in position, its underpart or closed position when top shell 504 and when top hot plate 510, end hot plate 514 are in they corresponding closed positions, cook assembly and be optionally adequately positioned between the top surface 506 of drain pan 504 and the basal surface 508 of top shell 502.

Apparatus 500 farther includes hinge 518.As seen in Figure 21-26, top shell 502 is hingedly attached to drain pan 504 through hinge 518.It addition, adapter ring 512 is hingedly attached to drain pan 504 through hinge 518.Specifically, the flange 517 of adapter ring 512 is fixed to hinge 515.The flange 519 of top hot plate 510 and the flange 521 of end hot plate 514 are pivotably attached to the flange 517 of adapter ring 512 and are attached to hinge 515 at pivotal point 516 place.The structure of top hot plate 510, adapter ring 512 and end hot plate 514 and flange thereof the most clearly illustrates in figure 27, and in figure 27, these parts are shown as removing from apparatus 500.By adapter ring 512 through hinge 518 be attached to drain pan 504 and top hot plate 510 and end hot plate 514 are attached to the flange 517 of adapter ring 512 be connected so that whole culinary art assembly can between lower position or closed position (shown in Figure 22, Figure 23, Figure 24 and Figure 25) and upper position or open position (shown in Figure 21 and Figure 26) selectively moved.On this point, top shell 502 and culinary art assembly can be considered to be movably attached to hinge 518 and selectivity is movably attached to drain pan 504.In the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, culinary art assembly can use linkage selectivity to be movably attached to drain pan 504, enabling culinary art assembly (all structures as shown in Figure 8) is carried out selectivity attachment and removed.

Top described above hot plate 510 and end hot plate are pivotably attached to adapter ring 512, top hot plate 510 can optionally be pivoted between its open position (shown in Figure 22, Figure 25 and Figure 26) and its closed position (shown in Figure 21, Figure 23 and Figure 24), and end hot plate 514 optionally can be pivoted in its open position (shown in Figure 25 and Figure 26) and its closed position (shown in Figure 21-24).

Apparatus 500 farther includes from the downward projection of circular ridge 520 of the basal surface 508 of top shell 502.When top shell 502 be in position, its underpart or closed position and push up cooking plate 510 be in its closed position time, this circular ridge 520 (top cooking plate 510 and basal surface 508 together with top shell 502) also formed top cooking cavity part.

Apparatus 500 farther includes semicircle ridge 526 that the top surface 506 from drain pan 504 projects upwards and the downward projection of corresponding semicircle ridge 524 of basal surface from end hot plate 514.The semicircle ridge 526 projected upwards from the top surface 506 of drain pan 502 and the downward projection of semi-circular ridge 524 of basal surface from end hot plate 514 coordinate, to form annulus when culinary art assembly is in position, its underpart or closed position and end hot plate 514 is in its closed position.On this point, being in its closed position and when end hot plate 514 is in its closed position when cooking assembly, end cooking cavity is formed by annulus (being formed by semicircle ridge 524 and semicircle ridge 526), the top surface 506 of drain pan 502 and end hot plate 514.

(not shown) in the alternate embodiment of the disclosure, replace two semi-circular ridge, unitary circular ridge can project upwards from the top surface 506 of drain pan 504, making to be in its closed position and when end hot plate 514 is in its closed position when cooking assembly, end cooking cavity is formed by the annulus projected upwards from the top surface 506 of drain pan 502, the top surface 506 of drain pan 504 and end hot plate 514.

Apparatus 500 can include multiple handle 528, in order to each parts making apparatus 500 are selectively moved between multiple positions.Such as, handle can be fixed to top shell 502 and enables a user to make between top shell 502 position at an upper portion thereof or open position and position, its underpart or closed position selectively moved.Similarly, handle can be fixed to each in top hot plate 510 and end hot plate 514, enables a user to the plate making each heating and independently moves between its corresponding open position and closed position.It addition, handle can be fixed to adapter ring 512, enable a user to make culinary art assembly selectively moved between position, its underpart or closed position and its upper position or open position.

The operation of apparatus 500 is described now with reference to Figure 21-26.When top shell 502 and culinary art assembly are in their upper position or open position, as shown in figure 21, the bottom of food item is placed on the top surface 506 of drain pan 504.This bottom can be the half of such as english muffin.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of end food layer.After desired layer is placed on top surface 506, makes culinary art assembly drop to position, its underpart or closed position, and make top cooking plate 510 be pivoted to its open position, as shown in figure 22.The bottom of this layout food item of being enclosed in end cooking cavity of culinary art assembly and allow access to middle cooking cavity.The intermediate layer of food item is placed on end hot plate 514.The intermediate layer of food item can be such as raw egg.Adapter ring 512 contributes to being contained in by raw egg in middle cooking cavity, and (duration of work at apparatus) end hot plate 514 directly heats raw egg to cook egg.One or more extra plays can be placed on the top of middle food layer.Then, making top hot plate 510 be pivoted in its closed position, as shown in figure 23, it surrounds the intermediate layer of the food item in middle cooking cavity.

The top layer of food item is placed on the hot plate 510 of top.Such top layer can be second half of such as english muffin.As shown in figure 24, after the top layer making food item is in position suitable on the hot plate 510 of top, top shell 502 is made to drop to position, its underpart or closed position, thus around the top layer in the cooking cavity of top.

Such as by being inserted in supply socket by the power line (not shown) of apparatus and/or by excitation power source or ON/(not shown), power being applied to apparatus 500, thus add hot top hot plate and end hot plate.After power is applied to apparatus 500, apparatus 500 maintains this fully closed position and continues for some time to toast top layer or bottom or if necessary so that arbitrarily internal food item is heated/culinary art.After passing through the sufficient time, end hot plate 514 and top both hot plates 510 are pivoted to they corresponding open positions, as shown in figure 25.The order that hot plate is pivoted to they corresponding open positions is unessential in general, and they can pivot simultaneously.Top hot plate 510 is pivoted to its open position and promotes the layer in the cooking cavity of top to separate and be stacked to top hot plate 510 on any food item in middle cooking cavity.End hot plate 514 is pivoted on any food item that its open position promotes the layer in middle cooking cavity to separate and be stacked in end cooking cavity with end hot plate 514.When two hot plates have been pivoted into they corresponding open positions, assemble the sandwich of fully culinary art.Culinary art assembly rises to its corresponding upper position or open position, as shown in figure 26 so that can easily remove the sandwich of assembling from apparatus.

Term as used herein is merely for the purpose describing detailed description of the invention, rather than is intended to the restriction disclosure.As it is used herein, unless context clearly indicates, otherwise singulative " ", " one " and " described " is also intended to include plural form.Should be further understood that, when using term " including (comprises) " and/or " including (comprising) " in this specification, it is specified exists the feature of statement, complete thing, step, operation, element and/or parts, but is not excluded for existence or the increase of one or more further feature, complete thing, step, operation, element, parts and/or their combination.

All devices or the corresponding structure of step, material, action and equivalent are intended to include any structure, material or action plus the function element in following claims, in order to combining with other element claimed of such as special requirement protection performs function.Description of the invention provides for purposes of illustration and description, but that it is not intended to limit or limit the invention to disclosed form.When without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and spirit, those ordinarily skilled in the art be will be apparent from by many amendments and modification.Selection and description to embodiment are to explain principles of the invention and practical application best, and in order to make others of ordinary skill in the art it will be appreciated that the present invention of each embodiment for having the various amendments as suited for intended special-purpose.

Claims (14)

1., for an apparatus for cooking food project, described apparatus includes:

Drain pan, it has top surface；

Top shell, it has basal surface, and described top shell is movably attached to described drain pan, and described top shell can be selectively moved between closed position and open position；With

Culinary art assembly, it includes top hot plate, end hot plate and the adapter ring between described top hot plate and hot plate of the described end；

Wherein, described top hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, in described closed position, when described top shell is in its closed position, top cooking cavity is formed selectively by the described basal surface of described top hot plate and described top shell；

Wherein, hot plate of the described end can between (i) open position and (ii) closed position selectively moved, in described closed position, end cooking cavity is formed selectively by described top surface and the hot plate of the described end of described drain pan；

Wherein, when described top hot plate and hot plate of the described end are in the closed position of each of which, middle cooking cavity is formed selectively by described top hot plate, described adapter ring and hot plate of the described end；And

Wherein, when described top shell, described top hot plate and hot plate of the described end are in the closed position of each of which, described culinary art assembly is selectively positioned between the described top surface of described drain pan and the described basal surface of described top shell.

2. apparatus according to claim 1, farther includes hinge, and described hinge is fixed to described top shell and described drain pan so that described top shell is hingedly attached to described drain pan.

3. apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, described culinary art assembly is movably attached to described hinge, so that described culinary art assembly can move between lower position and upper position.

4. apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, described culinary art assembly selectivity is movably attached to described hinge, so that described culinary art assembly can move between lower position and upper position.

5. apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, described culinary art assembly is movably attached to described drain pan, so that described culinary art assembly can move between lower position and upper position.

6. apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, described culinary art assembly selectivity is movably attached to described drain pan, so that described culinary art assembly can move between lower position and upper position.

7. apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, described top hot plate is pivotably attached to described adapter ring, so that described top hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) its open position and (ii) its closed position；And wherein, hot plate of the described end is pivotably attached to described adapter ring, so that hot plate of the described end can be selectively moved between (i) its open position and (ii) its closed position.

8. apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, described top hot plate includes being embedded or be attached to heating element heater thereon；And wherein, hot plate of the described end includes being embedded or be attached to heating element heater thereon.

9. apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the described top surface of described drain pan includes being embedded or be attached to heating element heater thereon；And wherein, the described basal surface of described top shell includes being embedded or be attached to heating element heater thereon.

10. apparatus according to claim 1, farther include circular ridge, described circular ridge is downwardly projected from the described basal surface of described top shell, making when described top shell is in its closed position and described top hot plate is in its closed position, described top cooking cavity is formed by described circular ridge, the described basal surface of described top shell and described top hot plate.

11. apparatus according to claim 1, farther include:

From the semicircle ridge that the described top surface of described drain pan projects upwards；With

From the downward projection of semicircle ridge of the basal surface of hot plate of the described end；

Wherein, when described top shell is in its closed position and hot plate of the described end is in its closed position, the semicircle ridge projected upwards from the described top surface of described drain pan and the downward projection of semicircle ridge of the described basal surface from hot plate of the described end coordinate to form annulus so that cooking cavity of the described end is formed by described annulus, the described top surface of described drain pan and hot plate of the described end.

12. apparatus according to claim 1, farther include circular ridge, described circular ridge projects upwards from the described top surface of described drain pan, making when described top shell is in its closed position and hot plate of the described end is in its closed position, cooking cavity of the described end is formed by the annulus projected upwards from the described top surface of described drain pan, the described top surface of described drain pan and hot plate of the described end.

13. for the method cooking the food item including multiple layers, described method includes:

At least ground floor of described food item is placed in end cooking cavity, cooking cavity of the described end is formed selectively by the top surface of the drain pan of apparatus and the end hot plate of described apparatus, hot plate of the described end can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, in described closed position, cooking cavity of the described end is formed selectively；

At least second layer of described food item is placed in middle cooking cavity, described middle cooking cavity is formed selectively by the top hot plate of described apparatus, the adapter ring of described apparatus and the hot plate of the described end being in its closed position, described top hot plate can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, in described closed position, described middle cooking cavity is formed selectively；

At least third layer of described food item is placed in the cooking cavity of top, described top cooking cavity is formed selectively by the basal surface of the top shell of the top hot plate and described apparatus that are in its closed position, described top shell is movably attached to described drain pan and can be selectively moved between (i) open position and (ii) closed position, in described closed position, described top cooking cavity is formed selectively.

Described top hot plate and heater plate of the described end are continued desired a period of time.

14. method according to claim 13, further include at after described desired a period of time pass by:

Hot plate of the described end is moved to its open position to allow the described second layer to drop on described ground floor；

Being moved by described top hot plate to its open position to allow described third layer to drop on the described second layer, the described second layer is on the first layer so that described food item is assembled；

Described adapter ring is moved to upper position；And

The food item of described assembling is removed from described apparatus.