GB2159872A - Cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooking apparatus 1 comprises hingedly interconnected base and upper parts 2,3 mounting respective heated plates adapted to engage and thereby toast a sandwich therebetween in a first closed condition of the apparatus. The hinge mechanism which connects the upper and lower parts 2,3 is extensible and may be locked in an extended condition (not shown) by a spring loaded pivot pin 13 which is movable to allow locking member 15 to engage shoulder 23 so that the apparatus may also be used for open grilling if desired. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooking apparatus This invention relates to cooking apparatus of the type having hingedly interconnected parts which mount heated plates arranged closely to engage e.g. a sandwich therebetween in use in a closed condition of the apparatus.

Such apparatus are very well known and have become increasingly popular in recent years as a quick and convenient means for making toasted sandwiches both in the home and in establishments such as public houses and cafes. However, a drawback with. know apparatus of this type is lack of versatility in that generally such apparatus is only suitable for toasting sandwiches, and it is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus of this kind which may perform additional cooking operations.

Accordingly the invention provides cooking apparatus comprising a base part and and an upper part hingedly connected thereto, such parts mounting respective heated plates arranged closely to engage and thereby toast a sandwich therebetween in one closed condition of the apparatus, wherein the parts are interconnected by means of an adjustable hinge mechanism which permits the height of the upper part and thus the spacing between the parts in the closed condition of the apparatus to be varied, said hinge mechanism being lockable in a first, retracted condition thereof wherein the upper part is arranged for the toasting of sandwiches as aforesaid, and a second, extended condition thereof wherein the upper part is arranged for open grilling or other operations.

Thus, with the hinge mechanism locked in its first retracted condition, apparatus in accordance with the invention may be used in the manner of a conventional sandwich toaster, the parts being so arranged that the plates thereof to engage closely therebetween one or more sandwiches in the closed, operational condition of the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus may be used to carry out alternative cooking operations. Thus, the hinge mechanism may be locked in its extended condition wherein the upper part is spaced from the lower part, and in this condition the apparatus may be used e.g. to grill open sandwiches, meat or fish. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment the hinge mechanism also has an unlocked condition wherein the apparatus may be used to carry out contact grilling of e.g. steaks or chops engaged between the upper and lower plates.In this case, the food to be grilled is simply placed on the grill plate of the base part, and the height of the upper part is then adjusted by means of the hinge mechanism such that the grill plate of the upper part engages directly the top surface of the food. Whilst it is envisaged that the hinge mechanism may if desired be lockable in partially extended conditions thereof, this will not generally be necessary for contact grilling since engagement of the parts with the food therebetween is itself effective to maintain the parts at the appropriate spacing, and therefore in a particularly preferred embodiment the hinge mechanism is freely movable between the retracted and extended conditions thereof.In an advantageous embodiment, the upper part is arranged to be rotated through slightly greater than 90 into an open condition wherein open sandwiches may if desired be grilled.

The hinge mechanism and the manner in which such is adapted to be locked in either a retracted or extended condition may vary, although it will be appreciated that the arrangement should enable the user quickly and conveniently to adjust the apparatus to one or other of its modes of operation. Furthermore, it is important that the hinge mechanism provides a sufficiently robust mounting for the upper part of the apparatus in both the retracted and extended conditions of the mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge mechanism comprises extendible hinge linkages, respective locking means being provided to retain the linkages in either retracted or extended conditions thereof.In a preferred such embodiment each linkage comprises a base portion fixedly secured to the lower part of the apparatus, and an elongate link member slidably engaged in a slot or groove in the base portion and pivotally secured at its upper end to the upper part of the apparatus. Preferably, each such linkage comprises locking means in the form of a spring biased locking member mounted either to the link member or to the base portion and arranged to cooperate with formations on the other component whereby to retain the linkage in either its extended or retracted condition.In the presently preferred such embodiment the link member of each hinge linkage is secured to the respective base portion by means of a pin which extends laterally through a vertical slot in the base portion, the free end of the pin mounting the locking member of the linkage which is spring biased against the base portion and which cooperates with formations on such portion whereby to lock the linkage in either its retracted or extended condition. Preferably, the locking member is adapted to be rotated by the user of the apparatus through 90 between first and second orientations thereof wherein the linkage is adapted to be retained in either the retracted or extended condition thereof respectively.

It will be appreciated that whether in a retracted or extended condition of the hinge mechanism, the upper part is pivotable between an open condition of the apparatus wherein the parts are inclined at preferable slightly greater than 90 to one another such that food may be placed on the lower heating plate, and a closed condition wherein the parts are parallel and overlie one another. In the sandwich making mode of the apparatus, catch means are preferably provided to hold the free ends of the parts remote from the hinge mechanism in a tightly interengaged condition. Furthermore, support means are also preferably provided adjacent the free ends of the parts to hold the parts substantially parallel in the open grilling mode whereby to prevent excess strain being imposed on the hinge mechanism.In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned catch means and support means are provided by a singie latch member adapted for engagement between respective handle portions of the apparatus formed on the respective parts.

It should be appreciated that different heated plates may be required for different modes of operation of the apparatus, and in particular the plates for grilling will generally be different to those for closed sandwich toasting. Thus, apparatus in according with the invention preferably includes suitable means enabling the heated plates readily to be interchanged.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of cooking apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, one of the hinge linkages being shown partially in cross-section; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus in the closed sandwich toasting mode; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus in the contact grilling mode; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus in the open grilling mode; and Figures 6(a) to 6(c) illustrate one of the hinge linkages in various conditions thereof.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, cooking apparatus 1 comprises a base part 2 and an upper part 3 each mounting a heated plate 4,5 (of which only the side edges are illustrated). The parts 2,3 are hingedly interconnected by means of a hinge mechanism 6 whereby the upper part is pivotable between an open condition wherein the parts are inclined at slightly greater than 90 to one another and (not shown) food may be placed on the lower heated plate 5, and a closed condition for the toasting of sandwiches and other operations to be described below. The apparatus may conveniently be stored in its closed condition, and may be transported by means of handle members 7. As shown in Fig. 2, an electrical connector 8 is provided for connection of the apparatus to a source of electrical connection between the upper and lower parts.As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hinge mechanism 6 includes two hinge linkages 10 each of which comprises an elongate link member 11 vertically slidable engaged in a groove 40 formed in a respective base portion or housing 1 2 fixedly secured to the lower part of the apparatus. The link members 11 are pivotally interconnected at their upper ends to the upper part 3 of the apparatus.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, a pin 1 3 is secured to the lower end of each link member 11 and extends laterally through a vertical slot 14 formed in the respective housing 1 2. Mounted on the free end of each pin 1 3 is a hinge linkage locking member 15, each member 1 5 being slidable on the pin 1 3 and being urged inwardly against the respective housing 12 by means of a biasing spring 1 6. The locking member cooperates with the housing so as to lock the respective link member 11 either in a retracted condition as shown for example in Figs. 2 and 3, or an extended condition as shown in Fig. 5 and as described in more detail below.

The side of the housing 1 2 which faces the locking member 1 5 includes spaced side walls 20 which define a vertical channel therebetween arranged to accommodate vertical movement of the locking member 1 5. The side walls 20 are recessed at their lower ends whereby to define first stops 21 arranged to cooporate with flanges 22 provided on the locking member as described in more detail below. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear surface of the channel defined between the side walls 20 is constituted by the region of the housing adjacent the slot 14, and this surface is stepped towards its upper end to provided second stops 23 (Fig. 1) arranged to cooperate with the locking member 1 5.

The manner in which the hinge mechanism is adjusted and locked for the different modes of operation of the apparatus will now be described in more detail. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in a first condition of the apparatus, the link members 11 are in a fully retracted condition such that the parts 2,3 are firmly inter-engaged in the closed condition of the apparatus. In this condition each locking member 1 5 is orientated such that the flanges 22 thereof engage under the stops 21 formed at the lower ends of the side walls 20 whereby the hinge linkages are locked in the fully retracted condition. Thus, in this condition the apparatus is equivalent to a conventional toaster, a catch member 30 being provided to hold the parts together at the ends thereof remote from the hinge mechanism as is usual with such apparatus.

However, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6a the locking member 1 5 of each hinge linkage may be pulled outwardly and then rotated through 90 such that the flanges 22 thereof are vertically disposed and no longer foul against the stops 21 formed at the lower ends of the side walls 20. Thus, in this condition each locking member 1 5 together with the associated pin 1 3 and link member 11 may be raised whereby to increase the spacing between the parts 2,3. In this way, as shown in Fig. 4 the upper and lower plates of the apparatus may directly engage e.g. steaks and chops.In such contact grilling mode it is not necessary to lock the hinge linkages in their extended condition, since the spacing between the parts 2,3 is maintained by the direct engagement thereof with the food being cooked.

In a third mode of operation illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6b, the hinge linkages are in a fully extended condition wherein the springs 1 6 urge the locking members inwardly such that the members engage over the second stops 23 formed towards the upper end of the channel defined between the side walls 20 thereby to lock the link members in the extended condition. As shown in Fig. 5, in this mode of operation the latch 30 is effective to support the free ends of the parts 2,3 in a parallel condition, and the apparatus can therefore be used for grilling e.g. sandwiches, meat or fish. A fourth possible mode of operation is with the upper part in its open condition wherein it is inclined at slightly greater than 90 to the lower part. In this condition an open sandwich placed on the lower plate may be grilled on its underside only.

Finally, referring to Fig. 6c when it is desired to release the hinge linkages from the fully extended condition, each locking member is simply urged outwardly against the spring biasing and rotated through 90 such that the flanges 22 thereof engage cam surfaces 31 formed at the upper ends of the side walls 20. In this condition, the locking member becomes disengaged from the stop 23, and each link member 11 can therefore be lowered. Once the lowermost, fully retracted condition of the link member is reached, the locking member 1 5 snaps back into the condition shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the flanges 2 engaging under the stops 21, whereby to lock the linkages in their retracted condition.

Claims (11)

1. Cooking apparatus comprising a base part and an upperpart hingedly connected thereto, such parts mounting respective heated plates arranged closely to engage and thereby toast a sandwich therebetween in one closed condition of the apparatus, wherein the parts are interconnected by means of an adjustable hinge mechanism which permits the height of the upper part and thus the spacing between the parts in the closed condition of the apparatus to be varied, said hinge mechanism being lockable in a first, retracted condition thereof wherein the upper part is arranged for the toasting of sandwiches as aforesaid, and a second, extended condition thereof wherein the upper part is arranged for open grilling or other operations.

2. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge mechanism has an unlocked condition enabling the apparatus to perform contact grilling of food items engaged between the upper and lower plates.

3. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper part is arranged to be rotated through slightly greater than 90 into an open condition.

4. Cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hinge mechanism comprises extendible hinge linkages, respective locking means being provided to retain the linkages either in their extended or retracted condition.

5. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each linkage comprises a base portion fixedly secured to the lower part of the apparatus, and an elongate link member slidably engaged in a slot or groove in the base portion and pivotally secured at its upper end to the upper part of the apparatus.

6. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the locking means for each linkage comprises a spring biased locking member mounted either to the respective link member or base portion and arranged to co-operate with formations on the other component whereby to retain the linkage either in its retracted or extended condition.

7. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the link member of each hinge linkage is secured to the respective base portion by means of a pin which extends laterally through a vertical slot in the base portion, the free end of the pin mounting the locking member of the linkage which is spring biased against the base portion and which cooperates with formations on such portion whereby to lock the linkage in either its retracted or extended condition.

8. Cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the locking member is adapted to be rotated by the user of the apparatus through 90 between first and second orientations thereof wherein the linkage is adapted to be retained in either the retracted or extended condition thereof respectively.

9. Cooking apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a latch member arranged for engagement between respective handle portions of the apparatus to hold the parts in a tightly closed condition when desired, such latch member also being adapted to provide support for the upper part remote from the hinge mechanism in the open grilling condition of the apparatus.

1 0. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said heated plates are interchangable.

11. Cooking apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.