GB2117627A - Improvements in or relating to electric toasters - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric toaster is fitted with a crumb tray (23) positioned beneath the heating elements to receive crumbs and other debris. The tray (23) is completely separable from the toaster being detachably secured thereto by means of a tongue (33) and groove (formed in one end wall of toaster frame) connection at one end of the tray (23) and resilient lugs (31) and co-operating slots (formed in opposite end wall of toaster frame) at the other end of the tray (23). The tray (23) has a handle (30) that projects from the toaster. The tray (23) is detachable from the toaster by tilting it about said other end to separate the resilient lugs (31) from the slots (35) and then moving the tray (23) endwise to withdraw the tongue from the groove. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to electric toasters This invention relates to electric toasters which have at least one compartment into which a slice of bread to be toasted is inserted and which contains a platform that supports the slice. When moved against one or more springs, the platform brings the slice into close proximity to electric radiant heating elements which toast the slice. Such toasters may be of the so-called "pop-up" type or of the so-called "serve sideways" type.

It is found that as the slice is inserted and during the toasting process crumbs of bread fall from the slice and drop to the bottom of the toaster. After a number of toasting operations, an accumulation of crumbs and other debris builds up inside the toaster.

To deal with this, the toaster is, conventionally fitted with a sheet metal base panel pivotally secured to the metal frame of the toaster and held in a closed position by a removable screw. The pivotal connection between the frame and the base panel allows the latter to be electrically connected to the frame of the toaster that is itself earthed whilst the toaster is connected to a mains supply of electricity.

To remove an accumulation of crumbs and other debris a user must turn the toaster upside down to obtain access to the base panel, the screw is then undone using a screwdriver or other tool, after which the base panel can be opened. It is then necessary to return the toaster to its normai upright position and shake it vigorously after which the inside face of the base panel has to be cleaned to remove crumbs and other debris deposited thereon.

The procedure takes time and the need to invert the toaster means that crumbs on the panel fall back into the interior of the toaster and do not always drop back through the opened base of the toaster.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric toaster in which the removal of crumbs can be carried out more easily and effectively as compared with the procedure described above and without the use of tools, for example a screwdriver.

According to the present invention, an electric toaster comprises a housing accommodating at least two spaced electric heating elements, a toaster supporting platform movable between the elements, and, located beneath the space between the elements a crumb tray that is supported by the toaster in such a manner that the tray is separable completely from the toaster.

Preferably the crum tray is of an electrically-insulating, heat resistant material.

The toaster, preferably, has a base plate beneath which the crumb tray is located, the base plate having at least one aperture sized to permit passage of crumbs and similarly-sized debris to the crumb tray but insufficient to prevent entry of a finger.

The crumb may be detachably secured to the toaster and may be so secured at both ends of the tray. The securing means at one end of the tray may comprise one or more resilient fastening members.

The securing means at the other end of the tray may comprise a tongue and groove connection.

Preferably, the or each resilient fastening member is or are releasable by upward movement of the toaster relatively to the crumb tray. Such movement may be effected by tilting the toaster about that said other end.

Alternatively, the crumb tray may be slidably supported at both ends by the toaster and be completely separable from the latter by a sideways movement of the tray relatively to the toaster.

The crumb tray may be formed with a tongue at each end whilst the toaster has co-operating grooves in which the tongues locate when the tray is in position in the toaster.

Preferably, means are provided for ensuring that the crumb tray is withdrawable from one side only of the toaster and is replaceable from the same side.

Additionally, other means may be provided for locating the tray in the toaster.

By way of example only, domestic electric toasters embodying the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1, with certain components omitted, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inside face of a part of the first embodiment, Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inside face of the another part of the first embodiment, Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further part of the first embodiment, Fig. 7 is an explanatory side elevation of the first embodiment, and, Figs. 8,9 and 10 are diagrammatic side views of other embodiments.

The toaster shown in the drawings has an internal metal frame with a sheet metal base plate 1 having two symmetrically-disposed recesses 2 along its length. Each recess 2 has downwardly and inwardly sloping walls 3 that terminate in horizontal ledges 4 separated by a slot 5.

Secured to the base plate 1 adjacent the ends thereof are vertical end members (not show) of rectangular form. The ends members support between them frameworks 6,7 and 8 each including a heat-resistant sheet 9 supporting a radiant heating element and a series of vertically aligned rods spaced along the length of the frameworks. Fig. 2 shows one rod 10 of each framework. The rods act in conventional manner to hold in spaced relationship with the heating elements in a slice of bread to be toasted.

Shown in Fig. 2 in diagrammatic form only are the limbs 11 of a bread support platform. The limbs shown in their uppermost position in Fig. 2 are joined to a handle projecting from an end wall of the toaster and operable by a user to lower the platform downwardly against springs (not shown) to a position in which slices of bread on the platform are located centrally with respect to the heating elements. As is well known, downward movement of the handle also energises the heating elements at the commencement of a toasting operation. At the end of that platform is released automatically and moves upwardly to the Fig. 2 position and at the same time, the heating elements are de-energised.

A one piece sheet metal casing 12 of inverted U shape encloses the internal frame and is secured to the base plate 1 by screws which pass through inturned lips 13 on the casing and into the base plate 1. The casing 12 has slots 14 in its upper surface that are aligned with the gaps between the centre framework 7 and the frameworks 6, 8 on either side thereof. The metal round the slots 14 is turned inwardly as at 15 for aesthetic resasons and also to facilitate the entry of slices of bread into the toaster.

The open ends of the casing 12 are closed by end walls 16, 17 of a mouided plastics material.

End wall 16 is slotted as at 18 to permit connection of the handle 19 to the toast platform referred to above and is also apertured at 20 and 21 to allow the connection of knob 22 to an internal control concerned with the presetting of the toasting period and of a "stop-eject" button (not shown) to that control.

Operation of the button by a user terminates a toasting operation and releases the platform for upward movement under the springs referred to above.

As can be seen from Fig. 1,the end walls 16,17 are of somewhat greater overall dimensions than the transverse cross section of the casing 12 to conceal the end wdges of the casing and to give the toaster a pleasing appearance. End wall 16 is spaced from the adjacent end member of the internal metal frame, the intervening space accommodating both the mechanism for locking the toasting platform in a "toasting" position and the timing control that times the duration of the toasting operation.

The downward extension of the end wall 16, 17 provide feet on which the toaster rests and also sufficient clearance between the base plate 1 and a surface on which the toaster rests to accommodate a crumb tray 23 shown in detail in Fig. 6.

The crumb tray 23 is a one piece moulding of a suitable electrically-insulating material which may be a plastics material and has a flat base 24 with an upstanding peripheral wall 25 contoured at 26 to enclose a slot 27 through the base 24 and at 28 to accommodate a cable termination cover (not shown) carried by the base plate 1.

Extending from an end portion of the wall 25 and integral therewith are spaced arms 29 that between them support a transverse handle 30. Spaced from the arms 29 but integral therewith are lugs 31. The lugs 31 connect with the arms 29 by supports cantilvered from the arms 29 adjacent the lower edges thereof. The inner faces of the lugs 31 have rounded projections 32 whose functions will be described later. The lugs 31 are slightly resilient and can be flexed towards the respective adjacent arm 29.

At the end of the base 24 remote from handle 30 is a projecting tongue 33.

As can be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the downward extension of end wall 16 is formed with a transverse recess 34 sized to receive the tongue 33 when the crumb tray 23 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the downward extension of end wall 17 is formed with two spaced downwardly open vertical slots 35, the inner wall of each which has a rounded recess 36. The slots 35 are positioned and sized to receive the lugs 31, as will be described below, when the crumb tray 23 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In that position, the handle 30 of the crumb tray extends beyond the end wall 17.

During use, most crumbs and other debris that accumulate inside the toaster fall through the slots 5 in the base plate 1 and are deposited upon the crumb tray 23. The sloping walls 3 assist passage of the crumbs and debris towards the slots 5.

When a user wishes to empty the crumb tray 23, it is not necessary to invert the toaster as is the case with conventional constructions to obtain access to the base panel. The user merely holds down the handle 30 which, as can be seen from Figs. 1 and 7, projects beyond end wall 17 by an amount sufficient for that purpose and by tilting the toaster about the feet on end wall 16 moves the toaster away from the handle end of the crumbtray. Such movement withdraws the lugs 31 from the slots 35, the rounded projections 32 disengaging from the recesses 36 in the process.

When a sufficient degree of tilt has been imparted to the toaster, the user can then slide the crumb tray 23 away from the toaster, the tongue 33 on the tray disengaging the recess 34. This is illustrated in Fig. 7, arrow 36 showing the direction of movement of the crumb tray to withdraw it from beneath the toaster.

Once the tray has been withdrawn, the toaster can be returned to an upright position while the user cleans the crumb tray. If necessary, the user can take the crumb away and wash it. This can be done in complete safety because of the separation of the crumb tray and the remainder of the toaster. There is then no risk of water coming into contact with electrical wires and components in the toaster.

When the crumb tray has been cleaned, it can be replaced by first tilting the toaster to the position shown in Fig. 7 and then sliding the tray in the direction indicated by arrow 37 until the tongue 33 on the tray locates fully in the recess 34. The toaster is then lowered to position the lugs 31 in the slots 35 with the projections 32 engaged in the recesses 36.

The crumb tray 23 being of electrically insulating material is quite safe for a user to handle even if, as is not recommended, the tray is removed whilst the toaster is still connected to the mains supply.

As a further precaution, the slots 5 in the base plate 1 are of insufficient width to permit the insertion through the slot of a normal-sized human finger. In that way, the user is prevented from making dangerous contact with any eiectrically-live components inside the toaster. The space beneath the base plate 1 accommodates only the crumb tray so that the movement of crumbs on to the crumb tray from the slots 5 is completely unimpeded.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a toaster of the "serve sideways" type with a platform 38 of the form associated with this type of toaster and which is movable from a "toast" position shown in dotted lines to a "serve" position shown in dotted and full lines.

The toaster comprises a housing with a lateral extension 39 accommodating the toaster controls and platform mechanism. The base of the toaster is adapted to accommodate a crumb tray 40 of the form described above and having a tongue 41 at one end and a handle 42 at the other end. The tongue 41 is accommodated in a groove 43 whilst the handle 42 projects from the end of the toaster housing in a manner similar to that of the handle 30 described above. The handle is supported by arms that carry resilient lugs similar to the lugs 31 described above and which coact with downwardly open vertical slots in the toaster to retain the crumb tray in the position shown in Fig. 8.

The tray 40 is removed from and replaced in the toaster by following the procedure described above with reference to Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a pop-up type toaster with a crumb tray 44 located beneath the toast platform but withdrawable sideways from the toaster. The tray 44 is of the same general form as the tray shown in Fig.

6 but instead of having a handle 30 with its associated arms 29 and lugs 31 has, at each end, a projecting tongue 45 similar to the tongue 33 of the tray shown in Fig. 6.

The toaster itself is of generally similar construction to that described above with reference to Figs.

1-5 except that the end walls 46,47 have grooves 48, 49 respectively adjacent their lower ends and into which slide the tongues 45 on the crumb tray 44 when the latter is in place beneath the toaster.

Additionally, the grooves 48,49 may be closed at one end to ensure that the tray can be entered into position from one side only of the toaster. Alternatively, a small projection on the toaster may be employed instead of closing the groove ends.

One or both grooves or some other surface on the lower part of the toaster may have a small projection or recess that co-operates with a recess or projection on the crumb tray when the latter is in its correct position beneath the toaster. In that way, the toaster is located and lightly held in position. Alternatively, a more positive securing device may be used but it must be one that permits complete separation of the tray at the toaster and does not need a tool to release it.

Fig. 10 is a side view of a "serve sideways" type toaster fitted with a sideways removable crumb tray 50. The general form of the toaster is similar to that of the toaster shown in Fig. 8 but the crumb tray 50 and the way in which it is supported is similar to that described with reference to Fig. 9.

Claims (21)

1. An electric toaster comprising a housing accommodating at least two spaced electric heating elements, a toast supporting platform movable between the elements, and, located beneath the space between the elements a crumb tray that is supported by the toaster in such a manner that the tray is separable completely from the toaster.

2. A toaster as claimed in claim 1 in which the crumb tray is of an electrically-insulating and heat resistant material.

3. A toaster as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and having a base plate beneath which the crumb tray is located, the base plate having at least one aperture sized to permit passage of crumbs and similarly-sized debris to the crumb tray but insufficient to prevent entry of a finger.

4. A toaster as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 in which the crumb tray is detachably secured to the toaster in such manner that the crumb tray and the toaster are separable without the use of a tool.

5. A toaster as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4 in which the crumb tray is completely separable from the toaster by sideways movement of the tray relatively to the toaster.

6. A toaster as claimed in claim 5 in which the crumb tray has a tongue at each end, the tongues locating in grooves in the toaster.

7. A toaster as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which means are provided which permit the tray to be withdrawable from one side only of the toaster and to be replaceable from the same side.

8. A toaster as claimed in claim 5,6 or7 in which means are provided for locating the crumb tray in position in the toaster.

9. A toaster as claimed in claim 5,6,7 or 8 in which further means are provided for holding the tray in position in the toaster.

10. A toaster as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4 in which the crumb tray is supported at both ends of the tray.

11. Atoaster as claimed in claim 10 in which the tray is supported and secured at a first end thereof by means of a resilient fastening member or members.

12. A toaster as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the tray is supported at a second end thereof by means of a tongue and groove connection with the toaster.

13. A toaster as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 when appended to claim 11 in which the resilient fastening member of members is or are releasable by upward movement of the toaster relatively to the first end of the tray.

14. A toaster as claimed in claim 11, or 13 in which each resilient fastening member comprises a resilient lug which co-operates with a slot to secure the tray to the toaster.

15. A toaster as claimed in claim 14 in which the tray has two resilient lugs, and in which the toaster has two downwardly open slots.

16. Atoaster as claimed in any one of claims 12-15 in which the tray is formed at the second endwith a tongue, and in which the toaster has a groove sized to receive the tongue.

17. A toaster as claimed in claim 16 in which the tray handle that projects outwardly from the toaster when the tray is secured thereto.

18. Atoaster as claimed in claim 17 in which the handle is integral with the tray and is supported therefrom by spaced arms.

19. A toaster as claimed in claim 18 in which each arm carries a resilient lug.

20. A toaster as claimed in claim 19 in which the toaster includes first and second end walls that extend downwardly to provide supports on which the toaster rests when in use, the downward extension of the first end wail having tow downwardly open slots each having a recess in one of its vertical ealls, the downward extension of the second wall having a horizontal recess sized to receive the tongue on the crumb tray and in which the latter has two upwardly extending resilient lugs each formed with a projection adapted to fit the recess.

21. An electric toaster substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1-7 or Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 or Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.