GB2197578A

GB2197578A - An electric toaster

Info

Publication number: GB2197578A
Application number: GB08626783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Basckin
Original assignee: BASCKIN DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: BASCKIN DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-10
Filing date: 1986-11-10
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-10
Also published as: GB2197578B; GB8626783D0

Abstract

A drop-through type toaster comprises a toasting compartment (15) communicating with a bread infeed opening (16) and a bread discharge opening (17). A retractable stop in the form of a pivotable gate (19) is provided adjacent to the discharge opening (17) to hold bread in the compartment (15) during a toasting operation, and a solenoid (20) operable in the response to a timer (21, 22) is provided to retract the gate and allow toasted bread to fall from the compartment (15) and through the discharge opening (17). Alternatively an electronic digital timer may be used. The toaster is pivotally mounted on supports 13 and can be folded for storage (Fig 7 not shown) or locked at an angle relative to the supports 13 for wall mounting (Fig 6 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

AN ELECTRIC TOASTER This invention relates to an electric toaster.

According to the invention there is provided an electric toaster comprising a toaster body and a support for supporting the body at an elevated position, the body having a toasting compartment communicating with a bread infeed opening at an in use upper end of the body and a bread discharge opening at an in use lower end of the body, heating means within the body, retractable stop means adjacent the lower end of the toasting compartment for holding bread therein during a toasting operation, and means for retracting the stop means to allow toasted bread to fall from the toasting compartment and through the bread discharge opening.

The toaster may further comprise a timer, e.g. an electronic digital timer, or a temperature sensor, e.g. a bimetallic device, for operating the stop retracting means, which may, for example, comprise a solenoid.

Further heating means may be provided at the lower end of the toaster body for keeping toasted bread discharged from the toaster substantially free of condensation.

Preferably, the support comprises a base mountable on a work surface or a wall and two arms extending away from the base and connected to the toaster body. In this case, the toaster body may be pivotably connected to the arms of the support and means may be provided to releasably retain the toaster body at a desired angular position relative to the support.

Thus it is possible to provide a toaster which may be wall-mounted or free standing according to a user's choice and which can be made relatively compact by swinging the body into the support for ease of packaging.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front side view of one embodiment of a toaster according to the present invention, in a preferred operating position and free standing on a work surface, Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view through the toaster of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the toaster of Figure 1, Figure 4 is an exploded view of the gate and solenoid of the toaster of Figure 1, showing the gate in its first position, Figure 5 is an exploded view similar to Figure 4 but showing the gate in its second position, Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 2 again in a preferred operating position but wall-mounted, and Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the toaster in a relatively compact storage or packaging condition.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric toaster shown therein comprises a U-shaped support 10 and a toaster body 11. The support 10 comprises a rectangular base 12 and two generally triangular arms 13 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The base 12 is provided with two keyhole slots 9 so that the support may be freestanding on a work surface (see Figures 1-3) or may be mounted on a wall (see Figure 6) by screw fasteners extending through the keyhole slots 9.

The body 11 is pivotably connected to the free ends of arms 13 at a position adjacent to an in use lower end of the body and means, such as a friction applying locking knob 14 or ratchet mechanism (not shown), is provided to fix the angular position of the toaster body 11 relative to the support 10.

The toaster body 11 has a single horizontally elongate toasting compartment 15 communicating with a bread in feed opening 16 at the upper end of the body and a toast discharge opening 17 at the lower end of the body. Heating means in the form of radiant heating elements 18 are provided on front and rear sides of the compartment 15. Wire bars 8 are provided in conventional manner within the compartment 15 to space bread in the compartment from the heating elements 18.

Retractable stop means in the form of an elongate gate 19 is provided at the lower end of the compartment 15 for holding bread in the compartment 15.

The gate 19 is pivotable by a spring loaded solenoid 20 about a horizontal axis from a first position (see Figure 4) in which it closes the lower end of the compartment 15 to a second position (see Figure 5) in which it allows toasted bread to fall from the compartment 15 and through the opening 17.

An electronic digital countdown timer is accommodated in the body 11. The timer has an associated LCD display 21 and operating buttons 22. The timer is connected to the solenoid 20 so that after a preset time interval the solenoid 20 is energised momentarily to pivot the gate 19 from its first to its second position. The timer allows the toaster to be programmed by a user for individual requirements while freeing the manufacturer from having to compromise ideal suggested cooking times which are a function of uncontrolled variables such as thickness and consistency of bread.

The provision of the single toasting compartment 15 gives the consumer a wide choice of bread slices to be toasted.

The support 10 can either be placed on a work surface (as shown in Figures 1-3) or attached to a wall (as shown in Figure 6).

Normally, the angular position of the toaster body 11 will be set (as shown) so that the infeed opening 16 is vertically aligned with the discharge opening 17.

Toasted bread can then be discharged into a receptacle mounted on the base 12 when the support 10 is placed on a work surface or into a receptacle mounted on a work surface below the toaster body 11 when the support 10 is wall mounted. With such an arrangement even small (French) slices can be toasted without having to be physically removed from the toaster by hand on completion as they simply drop out of the toasting compartment 15. Such small slices are difficult to toast in conventional pop-up toasters.

The body 11 may be provided with a further heater (not shown) in the form of a radiant heater or an infra red bulb at its lower end so that toasted bread discharged into said receptacle is kept warm and hence substantially free of condensation until it is removed. In this case the toaster could also be used as a temporary warming area for inter alia plates and food when not being specifically employed as a toaster.

Instead of setting the toaster body in the angular position shown the toaster body could be set with the infeed opening 16 horizontally aligned with the discharge opening 17 so that large single slices, e.g. long slices of longitudinally cut French bread, can be toasted for special presentations.

For ease of packaging, the toaster can be made relatively compact by swinging the body 11 into the support 10 as shown in Figure 7.

The above embodiment is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the solenoid 20 could be actuated by a conventional bimetallic device instead of the aforementioned digital timer.

Claims

1. An electric toaster comprising a toaster body and a support for supporting the body at an elevated position, the body having a toasting compartment communicating with a bread infeed opening at an in use upper end of the body and a bread discharge opening at an in use lower end of the body, heating means within the body, retractable stop means adjacent the lower end of the toasting compartment for holding bread therein during a toasting operation, and means for retracting the stop means to allow toasted bread to fall from the toasting compartment and through the bread discharge opening.

2. An electric toaster according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for operating the stop retracting means.

3. An electric toaster according to claim 2, wherein said timer is an electronic digital timer.

4. An electric toaster according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for operating the stop retracting means.

5. An electric toaster according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the stop retracting means comprises a solenoid.

6. An electric toaster according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the stop means comprises an elongate gate pivotably mounted about an in use horizontal axis adjacent to the lower end of the toasting compartment.

7. An electric toaster according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the heating means comprises radiant heating elements.

8. The electric toaster according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein further heating means are provided at the lower end of the toaster body for keeping toasted bread discharged from the toaster warm.

9. An electric toaster substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An electric toaster according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the support comprises a base mountable on a work surface or wall and two arms extending away from the base and connected to the toaster body.

10. An electric toaster according to claim 9, wherein the toaster body is pivotably connected to the arms of the support and wherein means are provided to releasably retain the toaster body at a desired angular position relative to the support.

11. An electric toaster substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The preceding claims have been superseded by the following claims: CLAIMS 1. An electric toaster comprising a toaster body and a support for supporting the body at an elevated position, the body having a toasting compartment communicating with a bread infeed opening at an in use upper end of the body and a bread discharge opening at an in use lower end of the body, heating means within the body, retractable stop means adjacent the lower end of the toasting compartment for holding bread therein during a toasting operation, and means for retracting the stop means to allow toasted bread to fall from the toasting compartment and through the bread discharge opening, and the support comprising a base mountable on a work surface or wall and two arms extending away from the base, the toaster body being pivotably connected to the arms and there being means to releasably retain to toaster body at a desired angular position relative to the support.