GB2201334A - An electrical appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined waffle and toasted sandwich maker comprises two parts (10, 11) pivotably connected together, each part including a heating element and a cooking plate (14, 15) which faces the cooking plate of the other part when the parts are in a closed position, and a baffle plate (32) between the cooking plates. First cooking chambers are defined between the cooking plate (14) and the baffle plate (32) for cooking the one food product e.g. toasted sandwiches and second cooking chambers are defined between the cooking plate (15) and the baffle plate (32) for cooking the other food product e.g. waffles. Preferably, the baffle plate (32) and the two parts (10, 11) are pivotably connected together about a common axis. In a further embodiment the sides of the baffle plate are contoured to match the adjacent cooking plate (Figure 7). <IMAGE>

Description

An electrical appliance This invention relates to an electrical appliance for cooking food products.

It is known to provide electric sandwich toasters and waffle makers, for example, with two hinged parts, each part including a cover, a cooking plate, and an electric heating element between the cover and the cooking plate.

However, the shape of the cooking plates of these known appliances is particularly adapted either on the one hand to toasting sandwiches or on the other hand to making waffles and therefore separate appliances are required.

The present invention seeks to mitigate this drawback of known appliances and to this end provides an electrical appliance for cooking food products, comprising two parts pivotably connected together for relative movement between closed and open positions, each part including a heating element and a cooking plate which faces the cooking plate of the other part when the parts are in a closed position, one of the cooking plates being adapted to one food product and the other cooking plate being adapted to another food product, and a baffle plate between the cooking plates for defining one or more first cooking chambers between the baffle plate and one of the parts for cooking the one food product and one or more second cooking chambers between the baffle plate and the other part for cooking the other food product.

Conveniently, the first cooking plate has a shape appropriate to toasting sandwiches and the second cooking plate has a shape appropriate to making waffles.

Preferably, the two parts and the baffle plate are pivotably connected together about a common pivot axis. Advantageously, in this case, means are provided for releasably fastening the baffle plate to at least one of the two parts.

Alternatively, the baffle plate is selectively and releasably mountable on one or other of the cooking plates.

Each -of the two parts may have surface engageable support members so that the appliance can be inverted. In this case, if the baffle plate is pivotably connected to the two parts, means are preferably provided for selectively and releasably fastening the baffle plate to each of the two parts.

The major surfaces of the baffle plate could be planar or could be contoured or patterned to correspond to or be compatible with the co-operating cooking plates, respectively. Alternatively, one major surface could be planar with the other being contoured or patterned as aforesaid.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electrical appliance according to the present invention, shown in an open position, with the baffle plate fastened to one of the cooking plates, Figure 2 is a perspective- view of the appliance of Figure 1, shown inverted with the baffle fastened to the other cooking plate, Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2, but with the baffle plate separated from the other cooking plate, Figure 4 is a perspective partly broken away view of the appliance shown in Figure 1, Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an electrical appliance according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an electrical appliance according to the invention, shown in a closed position, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the appliance shown in Figure 6, shown in an open position with the baffle plate separated from the two cooking plates, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the appliance shown in Figure 6, shown in an open position with the baffle plate on the lower cooking plate.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the electrical appliance shown therein comprises two parts 10 and 11 pivotably connected together for movement between closed and open positions. Each part 10, 11 comprises a cover 12, 13, respectively, a cooking plate 14, 15, respectively, secured to the inside of the cover 12, 13, respectively, and a heating element 16 (Figure 4) located in a housing 17 formed as an integral part of the rear wall of the cooking plate.

The two heating elements 16 are connected electrically by wires contained within a coiled metal sheath 18. The cooking plate 15 is connected to an electrical supply lead 19.

The covers 12, 13 each have a handle 20 and stops 21 to limit the extent by which the parts 10 and 11 can be opened.

One of the covers 12, 13 may accommodate a warning light (not shown) to alert a user when the heating elements 16 are energised.

The covers 12 and 13 each have work surface engageable members 24 (Figure 4) for supporting the appliance in a stable condition in two alternative positions, one inverted with respect to the other.

Lugs 25 and 26 projecting rearwardly from each cooking plate 14, 15 of the parts 10, 11 provide the pivotable connection between the two parts 10 and 11. The lugs 26 are bifurcated and spindles 27 extend through aligned holes in the two limbs of each lug 26 and the single limb of a cooperating lug 25.

The cooking plate 14 of the part 10 is shaped so as to be appropriate for toasting sandwiches and has two multiply stepped depressions 28 each of which may be provided with a raised diagonally extending ridge 29.

On the other hand the cooking plate 15 of the part 11 is shaped so as to be appropriate for making waffles and has two depressions 30 each provided with a regular matrix of upstanding protuberances 31 of truncated pyramidical form.

The appliance is further provided with a baffle plate 32 pivotably connected by two single limbed lugs 33 to the two parts 10 and 11, for pivotable movement about the pivot axis thereof.

Releasable fastening means comprising hinged latches 22 on the baffle plate 32 and latch pins 23 on the cooking plates 14 and 15 is provided to selectively and releasably fasten the baffle plate 32 to one or other of the cooking plates 14, 15, and in the event that the appliance is not invertible to releasably fasten the baffle plate 32 to at least the cooking plate 14 of what will then be the upper part 10 as waffles, because of their nature, must be cooked in the chambers below the baffle plate 32..

The baffle plate 32 conforms to the outer peripheral shape of the two cooking plates 14, 15 and as shown has two planar major surfaces. However one or other or both of the major surfaces may be contoured or patterned to correspond to or be compatible with the adjacent face of a- co-operating cooking plate 14, 15.

This appliance can be used either to make waffles or toast sandwiches. The cooking compartments defined between the cooking plate 15 and the baffle plate 32 can be used to make waffles and the cooking compartments between the plate 14 and the baffle plate 32 can be used to toast sandwiches. Whe used to toast sandwiches the baffle plate 32 is releasably fastened to the cooking plate 15 and when used to make waffles the baffle plate 32 is releasably -fastened to the cooking plate 14.

This appliance can therefore replace two conventional appliances.

By allowing the appliance to be inverted cooking. is made simpler in that cooking can take place always in the cooking compartment below the baffle plate 32.

Moreover, although the cooking plates 14, 15 each define two cooking compartments, they may be designed to define only a single cooking compartment or more than two such compartments.

The appliance of Figure 5 differs from that of Figures 1 to 4 in that the baffle plate 32' is selectively and removably attached to one of the two cooking plates 14' and 15' rather than being pivotably connected thereto. The baffle plate 32' has a handle 35 at one end, a stop 36, and lugs 37 and 38 projecting from opposite sides.

The cooking plates 14 and 15 each have hook members 39 and 40 which co-operate with the lugs 37 and 38, respectively, on the baffle plate 32' when the latter is slid along a selected cooking plate to fasten the plate thereto and when the stop 36 bears against the end of the selected cooking plate.

The appliance of Figures 6 to 8 differs from that of Figures 1 to 4 in that it is not designed to be inverted and in that the baffle plate 32" has a pattern on its two opposite major surfaces, which patterns are compatible, respectively, with the shape of cooking plates 14 and 15".

The lower part 11 has four legs 24" provided with rubber pads 41 at their free ends. The upper part 10" has no such legs but has a warning light 42 to alert a user when the heating elements (not shown) are energised.

There is a single latch 22 on the baffle plate and a single latch pin 23t on the cooking plate 14" only.

The lower surface of the baffle plate 32" has raised waffle patterns 43 thereon compatible with the shape of the cooking plate 15" and the upper surface of the baffle plate 32" has raised sandwich patterns 44 thereon compatible with the shape of the cooking plate 14w. -The latter pattern is provided primarily to serve as a positioning guide for a user placing bread thereon and could- therefore take various different forms.

To cook waffles only, the waffle mixture (normally in liquid form at ambient temperature and pressure) is poured onto the cooking plate 15" and the upper part 10" with the baffle plate 32" fastened thereto is lowered onto the lower part 11".

To toast sandwiches only, the baffle plate 32" is unfastened from the upper part 10" and lowered onto the cooking plate 15". The sandwiches to be toasted are placed on the upper surface of the baffle plate 32" and the upper part 10" is then lowered.

To toast sandwiches and cook waffles simultaneously, a waffle mixture is first poured onto the cooking plate 15". The baffle plate 32t is unfastened from the upper part 10" and lowered onto the cooking plate 15". The sandwiches are then placed on the upper surface of the baffle plate 32" and the upper part 10" is then lowered.

Whilst the appliances described above are designed to make waffles and toast sandwiches they could be designed to cook any two different appropriate food products. Other appropriate food products for which the appliance can be designed include biscuits, burgers, and steaks.

Other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and it is intended to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical appliance for cooking food products, comprising two parts pivotably connected together for relative movement between closed and open positions, each part including a heating element and a cooking plate which faces the cooking plate of the other part when the parts are in a closed position, one of the cooking plates being adapted to one food product and the other cooking plate being adapted to another food product, and a baffle plate between the cooking plates for defining one or more first cooking chambers between the baffle plate a.nd one of the parts for cooking the one food product and one or more second cooking chambers between the baffle plate and the other part for cooking the other food product.

2. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cooking plate has a shape appropriate to toasting sandwiches and the second cooking plate has a shape appropriate to making waffles.

3. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the two parts and the baffle plate are pivotably connected together about a common pivot axis.

4. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 3 wherein means are provided for releasably fastening the baffle plate to at least one of the two parts.

5. An electrical appliance as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two parts has surface engageable support members so that the appliance can be inverted.

6. An electrical appliance as -claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one major surface of the baffle plate is planar.

7. An electrical appliance as claimed in claim 2, or any other preceding claim when dependent on claim 2, wherein at least one major surface of the baffle plate is contoured or patterned to correspond to or be compatible with the co-operating cooking plate.

8. An electrical appliance substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.