GB2233879A

GB2233879A - Toast rack

Info

Publication number: GB2233879A
Application number: GB8915421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Harvard Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-05
Filing date: 1989-07-05
Publication date: 1991-01-23
Also published as: GB8915421D0

Abstract

A toast rack 8 adapted to keep toast warm comprises a base member 4 and means 2 for supporting a number of pieces of toast on top of the base member 4. The base member 4 comprises a hot plate including an electric heating element 6, the element 6 being supplied with electrical energy via two rechargeable batteries 5, 5'. The support means 2 comprises a plurality of vertical support members disposed parallel to one another and substantially equally spaced along the length of the base 4 to define a plurality of slots 3 for receiving and supporting the slices of toast. An electrical socket 7 electrically is connected to the batteries 5, 5' such that the batteries 5, 5' may be connected to a recharger unit without having to remove the batteries 5, 5' from the base 4. <IMAGE>

Description

TOAST RACK The present invention relates to a rack suitable for holding toast, and in particular to a toast rack which provides means for keeping the toast warm.

Often in domestic or commercial catering situations after making toast, slices of the toast are cut into -suitable pieces and placed in a toast rack, generally formed from metal and comprising a plurality of vertical support members spaced from one another to define a number of slots adapted to receive the pieces of toast, the slots being equally spaced along the length of the rack. The toast rack is then transferred from the kitchen to the dining area. A problem arises however in that the toast will cool down while being taken from the kitchen to the dining area, and also while sitting in the toast rack before being eaten.

It is therefore a purpose of this invention to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problem.

Accordingly the present invention comprises a toast rack providing means for heating the rack in order to keep the toast warm.

Preferably, the toast rack comprises a base member and means for supporting a number of pieces of toast on top of the base member, said base member comprising a hot plate including an electric heating element, and said support means comprising a plurality of vertical support members disposed parallel to one another and spaced along the length of the base to define a plurality of slots for receiving and supporting the slices of toast.

Preferably also, the heating element is supplied with electrical energy via a battery or batteries.

Preferably also, the battery or batteries are of a rechargeable type.

Preferably also, each support member comprises a generally triangular frame positioned across the width of the base and upstanding therefrom.

Preferably also, the support members are connected to one another at their lowermost corners, the assembly being adapted to be slidable on and off the base member.

Preferably also, each support member is made from a material of low thermal conductivity.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view from the front of a toast rack embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view from one side of the toast rack of Fig. 1; Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, generally designated 8, comprises a base member 4 , the base member 4 comprising a hot plate. The base 4 is partially hollow in order to contain two rechargeable batteries 5,5' and circuity (not shown) allowing the rechargeable batteries 5,5' to deliver electrical energy to a heating element 6 also contained within the base 4.

Also contained within the base 4 is an electrical socket 7 electrically connected to the batteries 5,5', the electrical socket 7 being suitable to be connected to a conventional recharger unit (not shown) such that the batteries 5,5' may be recharged without having to be removed from the base 4.

Further provided are means for supporting a number of pieces of toast on top of the hot plate 4, the support means 1 comprising a plurality of vertical support members 2 disposed parallel to one another and substantially equally spaced along the length of the base 4 to define a plurality of slots 3 suitable for receiving and supporting pieces of toast. In the embodiment disclosed herein each support member 2 comprises a generally triangular frame positioned across the width of the base and upstanding therefrom. The support members 2 are further connected to one another at their lowermost corners, the assembly 1 of support members 2 being adapted to be slidable on and off the base 4 via runners 9,9' for ease of cleaning of the toast rack 8. In this embodiment six slots are provided, the assembly 1 therefore being suitable for receiving six pieces of toast, i.e. three slices of toast.

In operation the toast rack 8, containing the batteries 5,5' within the base 4, may be electrically connected to a recharger unit (not shown) via socket 7 in order to recharge the batteries 5,5' for the time taken to recharge the batteries 5,5'. It can be envisaged that the recharging process may be carried out overnight so that the toast rack 8 is ready to be used in the morning. It can further be envisaged that the recharger unit may be adapted to receive a plurality of toast racks 8, this being of particular importance in commercial catering applications.

When the rack 8 is desired to be used and/or when the batteries 5,5' are recharged the rack 8 may be disconnected from the recharger unit, and toast placed within all or some of the slots 3. The rack 8 may then be transferred from the kitchen area to the dining area.

In this way, it can be seem that the rechargeable batteries 5,5' will deliver electrical power to the heating element 6. The heat produced by the element 6 will then be radiated from the top surface of the base 4 to maintain the temperature of the toast contained within the slots 3.

It is further desirable that each support member 2 be made from a metal having a low thermal conductivity. In this way the toast may be kept warm while reducing the likelihood of users burning their hand when removing the toast from the rack 8.

It can be envisaged that rather than leaving a single heating element 6, a plurality of heating elements may be provided, each element being supplied by the rechargeable battery or batteries 5,5'.

It can further be envisaged that a switch (not shown) may be provided within the circuitry connecting the rechargeable batteries 5,5' to the heating element 6, the switch allowing the flow of electrical current from the batteries 5,5' to the element 6 to be started and stopped.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiment, and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A toast rack comprising a base member and means for supporting a number of pieces of toast on top of the base member, said base member comprising a hot plate including one or more electric heating elements, said support means comprising a plurality of vertical support members disposed parallel to one another and spaced along the length of the base to define a plurality of slots for receiving and supporting the slices of toast wherein in use heat emanating from the hot plate is transferred from the hot plate to the toast in order to keep the toast warm.

2. A toast rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more heating elements are supplied with electrical energy via a battery or batteries, the battery or batteries being provided within the base member.

3. A toast rack as claimed in claim 2 wherein the battery or batteries are of a rechargeable type.

4. A toast rack as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base member is provided with an electrical socket which is electrically connected to the battery or batteries such that the battery or batteries may be connected to a recharger unit without having to remove the battery or batteries from the base member.

5. A toast rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each support member comprises a generally triangular frame positioned across the width of the base and upstanding therefrom.

6. A toast rack as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support members are connected to one another at their lowermost corners, the assembly being adapted to be slidable on and off the base member for ease of cleaning of the toast rack.

7. A toast rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein each support member is made from a material of low thermal conductivity.

8. A toast rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.