GB2355390A

GB2355390A - Toaster with spaced apart, parallel hotplates

Info

Publication number: GB2355390A
Application number: GB0020818A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Mcclean
Original assignee: Breville Pty Ltd; Breville R&D Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Breville Pty Ltd; Breville R&D Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-24
Filing date: 2000-08-23
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-23
Also published as: GB0020818D0; GB2355390B; CA2316527A1

Abstract

A toaster or sandwich maker (10, fig.1) has a planar horizontal hotplate (12, fig.1), and a complementary hotplate (12, fig.1) spaced apart from the first and parallel to it. They can be held apart over a range of distances whilst still remaining parallel to one another. A handle 13 maybe mounted to a hinge line (14, fig.1) at an edge of the lowermost hotplate (12, fig.1), and the uppermost hotplate (11, fig.1) may be pivotally mounted to the handle 13 along an axis 15 at the centreline of the upper hotplate. Spacer means 31 are preferably provided to hold the hotplates the desired distance apart. They may be infinitely adjustable or stepwise adjustable. The spacer means 13 may comprise a frame (40, fig.14) placed on the lower hotplate (12, fig.1) and contacted by the upper hotplate (11, fig.1), or a clip 31 slideably received on the toaster. The clip 31 may contact a fixed part of the toaster and abut the handle 13 to form a stop means. The spacer means 31 may be slidable along an edge of the lowermost hotplate 12 to increase or decrease the desired spacing. The underside of the handle 13 may include stepwise indentations which contact the spacer means (fig.26).

Description

2355390 IMPROVEMENTS IN TOASTERS The present invention relates to toasters

and more particularly to domestic toasters for toasting bread and which are also suitable for producing toasted sandwiches and the like in a single appliance.

In the home or domestic environment it is common for there to be one appliance for producing toasted bread and another for producing toasted sandwiches. Bread toasters typically comprise vertical slots containing a lifting mechanism and electrically operated heating coils or similar which heat and toast opposite surfaces of a bread slice. Once toasting is complete the slice is then raised by the lifting mechanism and the electrically powered radiating heating elements are open-circuited. A sandwich toaster typically comprises a clam shell arrangement which clamps together two bread slices containing a sandwich filling at a perimeter of those slices. Before fitting the bread slices to the sandwich toaster their outer faces must be oiled by he addition of butter, margarine or other cooking oil to prevent the outer surfaces of the bread slices adhering to the heated surfaces of the clam shell sandwich toaster.

Both of those existing appliances are substantially limited to a particular thickness of bread slice to be toasted or quantity of filling for the sandwich, respectively. More recently, wider slot toasters have become available and which are able to accept thicker bread slices for toasting but they are not adjustable to toast substantially thicker bread products such as focaccia.

The usual manner for dealing with toasting of thicker bread slices and products has been to revert to an electric or gas grill normally associated with an oven. That mode of toasting needs to be closely supervised due to the rapidity of its toasting action without any shut-off of the toasting element as is provided by a conventional pop-up toaster.

The present invention aims to provide a single appliance suitable for toasting bread slices of a wide range of thicknesses and which is also adapted to produce toasted sandwiches without having to seal the edges of those sandwiches and which also. has good function with or without pre-oiling of the outer surfaces of the bread slices of the sandwich.

Throughout this description and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or 11comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

One form of the present invention is provided by an electrically powered toaster/sandwich maker appliance formed from a planar horizontal hotplate having a complementary hotplate mounted to be spaced apart in a parallel arrangement with the first mentioned hotplate whereby two hotplates can be held apart over a range of infinitely variable distances while still maintaining their parallel orientation. A simple mode of achieving that relation between the hotplates can be provided by a hinged bar mounted to the first mentioned hotplate with the hinge line along the edge of that hotplate. The second hotplate is then pivotally mounted to the bar along an axis through the centre line of that second hotplate. By this arrangement the second hotplate pivots freely to adopt a desired orientation relative to the first hotplate when the surface of an article to be toasted is laid on the first hotplate and the second hotplate is lowered to contact an opposite surface of that article.

The article to be toasted is in contact with the heating surfaces of the upper and lower hotplates giving the appearance of being clamped in a press. The loading applied by the upper hotplate can be as a result of the weight of that hotplate or by additional downward force applied to the upper hotplate to more intensively clamp the article between the two hotplates.

In one embodiment of a toaster of this invention there is provided an adjustable spacer fitted to the toaster to hold the upper and lower hotplates a predetermined distance apart. By this means compression of the bread slice being toasted can be limited other than by its resistance to the force applied by the weight of the upper hotplate. Limiti.ng the compressive force applied to the bread being toasted may give a more desirable appearance to the toasted slice than if compressed by the weight of the upper hotplate and associated components.

Toasting or sandwich making with a device of the present invention is done at a lower temperature than employed in a conventional toaster or sandwich maker. The toasting temperature employed in the present invention is typically in t111_- range of 190 200'C which compares with approximately 225'C for a conventional sandwich toaster.

A substantial advantage in toasting at lower temperatures than are used with a conventional sandwich toaster is that the durability of a non-stick coating applied to each of the hotplates is substantially improved. The lower cooking temperatures also reduces the risk of burning or charring as compared with conventional toasters and sandwich makers.

Toast produced by use of the present invention is believed of a better quality than that produced by conventional toasters. It appears that moisture is retained in the final product produced by a toaster of the present invention whilst still forming the required degree of toasting on the bread surfaces. Moisture, is rapidly driven off in 'a conventional toaster which Rinctions as more of a dehydrating process to the entire bread slice whereas in the present invention there is a much reduced surface area for the escape of moisture during toasting. In operation of the present invention the bread is effectively sandwiched between two hotplates instead of being exposed to intense radiant heat in an open environment, as in a conventional toaster.

By providing a spacing surround between the hotplates it is also possible to use an embodiment of the present invention to form open-faced sandwiches whereby the uppermost hotplate is kept spaced apart from contact with the open-face of a sandwich being toasted on the lower hotplate but does provide a source of radiation to heat and/or melt the exposed sandwich topping.

Testing has also shown that a preferred form of toaster of the present invention does not have additional weight added to the uppermost hotplate to achieve the best results.

There could be circumstances where the upper hotplate was weighted to achieve a particular effect.

In one preferred form of the invention there is provided a fastening means for holding the two hotplates securely together in clamped relation when not in use.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a spacer in the form of a frame or surround adapted to be used as a means for limiting the separation between two heated cooking surfaces wherein that frame or surround is formed by two hingedly connected parts which nest together in one orientation and which when separated from the nested together position opens out to form a spacer frame adapted to function as a separating means between two spaced apart cooking surfaces and to contain food products to be cooked by those spaced apart cooking surfaces.

A still further aspect of the present invention provides a locking clip in a toaster of the present invention wherein the locking clip is slidably retained on the hinged bar of an embodiment and wherein the locking clip is slidably movable between a locking position at which the hotplates are in abutting relation and an unlock position at which a portion of the locking clip spaced apart from the slidably retained part of the clip is adapted to contact a part of the toaster in fixed relation to the bottom hotplate to space apart the top and bottom hotplates and resist closure of the hotplates to the abutting relation.

Preferably, a portion of the locking clip of this still further aspect or a separate component is slidable along an edge forming the part of the toaster. In this embodiment the spacing between the upper and lower hotplates can be infinitely adjustable. In a particularly preferred forin, the slidable contact surface is formed with a friction inducing material to resist inadvertent closure of the hotplates when set a desired distance apart.

In yet a further aspect of the present invention there is a slidable spacer fitted to one side edge of a toaster. The upper surface of that slider is adapted to interact with the lower edge of the hinged bar or arm to pivotally raise the handle as the slide is moved toward the rear of the toaster. The shape and size of the lower surface of the bar or arm that interacts with the upper-most surfaces of the slide are such as to retain the upper hotplate at a variably fixed height above the lower hotplate the separation between the hotplates increases as the slide is moved toward the hinge between the bar and the lower hotplate.

Preferably, the underside of the bar or arm that interacts with the upper surfaces of the slide is formed with saw teeth or notches toward the rear of the handle.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view of one toaster embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. I with the toaster arranged for toasting two sandwiches; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. I but arranged for toasting two focaccia bread sandwiches; Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. I but arranged for toasting two open face sandwiches; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the toaster embodiment shown in the drawings in its storage configuration; Fig. 8 is a magnified perspective view of a comer of the toaster embodiment showing the locking clamp in its unlocked position; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but with the locking clamp in its locking position; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a height adjuster fitted along the right- hand edge of a lower hotplate; Fig. I I is the sectional view XI-XI of Fig. 10 but with the upper hotplate in its lowered position; Fig. 12 is a right-hand side elevation view of the toaster of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a similar view to Fig. 12 with the height adjuster differently located; Fig. 14 is a transverse cross sectional view through a sandwich toaster of Fig. 5 wherein the spacer 21 of that figure is replaced by a foldable spacer in accord with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the spacer of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a transverse cross sectional view of the spacer of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the spacer of Fig. 15 when folded so that its two halves are nested together; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the toaster incorporating one embodiment of the still ftirther aspect of the present invention; Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view XIX-XIX of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a similar view to Fig. 18 with the toaster unlocked and the lockihg clip at a first adjusting position; Fig. 21 is a sectional view XXIAXI of Fig. 20; 5. Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 with the spacing adjuster at a different position; Fig. 23 is a sectional view XXIIIAXIII of Fig. 22; Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a toaster of the form of Fig. 19 incorporating modifications to the edge of the lower hotplate; Fig. 25 is a side elevation of a toaster incorporating an embodiment of the yet further aspect of the present invention; Fig. 26 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 25 with the spacing adjuster positioned to provide a greater separation between upper and lower hotplates than in Fig. 25; Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a side of the bottom half of the toaster of Figs. 25 and 26; Fig. 28 is the section view XXVIII-XXVIII of Fig. 27 with the upper hotplate in its lowered position; and Fig. 29 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 27 with the spacing adjuster near to the rear of the toaster.

The drawing figures show an embodiment of a toaster 10 in accordance with the present invention which comprises an upper planar hotplate I I and A lower planar hotplate 12 joined together by handle 13.

Handle 13 is pivotally connected to the rear of hotplate 12 on horizontal axis 14 and to hotplate I I on horizontal axis 15. In the arrangement of the depicted embodiment, hotplate I I can be raised and lowered by handle 13 relative to hotplate 12. By freely pivoting about axis 15, hotplate I I can adapt to the planar shape of an upper surface of bread slice 16 or 17 or the irregular shape of, say, the upper surface of focaccia slice 18.

Fig. 3 depicts the toasting position for upper and lower bread slices 17, 19 of the sandwich arrangement of Fig. 2. Upper hotplate I I rests on top of slice 17 under its own weight and that of handle 13 including the weight of cover 20 and heating elements (not shown) embedded in hotplate I I beneath cover 20.

Fig. 5 includes a spacer 21 sitting on lower hotplate 12. Spacer 21 prevents upper hotplate I I from being lowered toward hotplate 12 any further than the height of the upper edge of spacer 21 above hotplate 12. As shown in Fig. 5 a pair of open- faced sandwiches 22 are positioned on hotplate 12 for toasting while lowering hotplate I I to contact spacer 21 enables hotplate I I to radiate heat onto the top of the open-faces of sandwiches 22 without contacting those faces.

To hold the two hotplates together when storing toaster appliance 10 of the embodiment a slidable clip 23 is fitted to one side of handle 13. Fig. 7 shows toaster 10 in its upright storage position with clip 23 clamping handle 13 and upper hotplate I I to lower hotplate 12 so that handle 13 can be used as a carrying handle for the appliance.

Electrical cord 24 is coiled in its storage position in Fig. 7 between base rails 25 upon which the appliance stands when in use.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the sliding operation of clip 23 from its released position in Fig.

8 to its clamping position in Fig. 9. Arrow 26 shows the motion of clip 23 as it moves between clamping and unclamping positions.

The toaster 3 0 of Fig. 10 is the same as toaster 10 depicted in Figs. 19 apart from the addition of a height adjusting device or spacer 3 1.

Device 31 is slidably mounted on the raised right-hand side lip or edging 32 of bottom hotplate 12. Arrows 33 indicate the sliding directions of device 31 along edge 32.

The height adjustability of device 31 is clearly shown between the two positions thereof in Figs. 12 and 13. Bottom edge 34 of handle 13 rests on device 31 at different positions along handle 13 as device 31 is slid along edging 32 of hotplate 12. As top hotplate I I is pivotally connected to handle 13 at axis 15 it is restrained from moving lower towards hotplate 12 by the interaction between edge 34 of handle 13 and height adjustor 3 1.

Bread slice 35 will be more or less compressed as exemplified by the differing displacements between hotplates I I and 12 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, respectively.

In the drawings of Figs. 14-17 a spacer 40 of an embodiment of the present invention is shown fitted in place of spacer 21 in Fig. 5 between upper hotplate I I and lower hotplate 12 of toaster 10. Upper hotplate I I rests on the upper edges of spacer 40 and is brought into contact with those edges by means of handle 13.

As seen from Fig. 15 spacer 40 is formed in two halves 41, 42 joined together by hinges 43, 44.

The leading part of frame 40, when in its ready to use position as shown by Fig. 15, is formed with a flange 45 which, as shown in Fig. 14, prevents hot air escaping-when hotplates 11, 12 are held in spaced apart relation by frame 40.

Fig. 17 shows that in this embodiment frame part 41 is adapted to pivot about hinges 43 and 44 to fold over the front of half 42 so that parts 41 and 42 nest together to give the appearance of a handle.

When folded as shown in Fig. 17 frame 40 is reduced in size for greater ease in packaging and for storage in kitchen drawers in domestic environments.

The top and bottom edges of frame 40 are folded inwardly to form a curved surface along those edges. The curvature of the edge surfaces ameliorates problems associated with scratching or scoring of non-stick coatings on the hotplates I I and 12 when the frame is in use.

Figs. 18-23 show an embodiment of the still further aspect of the present invention wherein clip 23 of Figs. 1- 13 has been replaced by clip 5 1.

Clip 51 comprises part 52 which is slidably retained on handle 53. Depending from part 52 is projection 54 formed at its lower end with a hooked portion 55 and channel 56.

As can be seen in Fig. 18 hooked portion 55 slidably mates with projection 57 depending from the perimeter of the lower half of toaster 50. In the configuration of Fig. 18 clip 51 holds handle 53 in fixed relation to the lower half of toaster 50 while handle 53 in turn holds the upper half of toaster 50 in abutting relationship with the lower half as shown by Fig. 19. Arrow 60 shows the direction of sliding movement for clip 51 to attain its unlocking while arrow 62 demonstrates the direction for sliding clip 51 to lock the coupling between hook 55 and projection 57 as shown in Fig. 18. After clip 51 has been unlocked from the configuration of Fig. 18, handle 53 can then be raised so that channel 56 can be located on the upper perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate of toaster 50 as shown in Fig. 20. In a preferred arrangement, channel 56 is coated with a low- slip material that is durable at the temperatures experienced along edge 58 when the toaster is in operation.

The placement of clip 51 as shown in Fig. 20 provides a set spacing between upper and lower hotplates as best seen in Fig. 21.

The sliding of clip 51 along side arm 53 of the handle in the direction of arrow 62 increases the magnitude of the minimum spacing between upper and lower hotpla tes as can be best seen from Figs. 20 and 22. Movement of clip 51 in the direction of arrow 62 promotes sliding contact between channel 56 and the perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate. The closer clip 51 is moved toward hinge 63 while channel 56 is in contact with the perimeter edge 58 of the lower hotplate, the greater is the minimum spacing between the upper and lower hotplates of toaster 50.

In the embodiment of Fig. 24 the perimeter edge 58 includes a length of serrations or saw-toothed notches 59 towards hinge 63. Engagement between notches 59 and the web of channel 56 acts to positively position clip 51 on edge 58 without relying on friction to retain the fixed spacing between upper and lower hotplates as shown in Fig. 24. This modification is particularly appropriate where large spacings are to be set between upper and lower hotplates which corresponds to clip 51 approaching hinge 63.

In Figs. 25-29 there is shown a toaster 70 of the general form shown in the previous drawing digures. That toaster comprises an upper half 71 and a lower half 72 which support upper and lower hotplates 73 and 74, respectively.

A slidable spacing adjuster 75 is fitted along edge 76 of the lower hotplate 74. The upper surface 77 of adjuster 75 functions as a rest to support the lower edge of handle 78.

As is apparent from Figs. 25, 26 and 29 as spacing adjuster 75 is moved along edge 76 toward the rear of toaster 70, handle 78 is raised which in turn increases the separation between upper hotplate 73 and lower hotplate 74.

Sawtooth zone 79 at the rear of handle 78 functions to provide a positive locater between adjuster 75 and handle 78 so that adjuster 75 does not slide forwardly of toaster along edge 76 as the angle between handle 78 and adjuster 75 increases when adjuster 75 is moved toward the rear of toaster 70.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

Claims:

I An electrically powered toaster/sandwich maker appliance formed from a planar horizontal hotplate having a complementary hotplate mounted to be spaced apart in a parallel arrangement with the first mentioned hotplate whereby two hotplates can be held apart over a range of infinitely variable distances while still maintaining their parallel orientation.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim I wherein the parallel orientation between the hotplates is formed by a bar or arm hingedly mounted via a hinge line having an axis parallel to an edge of a lowermost one of said hotplates when in use, the other or uppermost hotplate being pivotally mounted to the bar or arm along an axis at or adjacent a centreline of the other hotplate parallel to the firstmentioned axis whereby the upper hotplate is pivotal to adopt said parallel orientation relative to the lower hotplate when a planar article to be toasted is placed on the lower hotplate and the upper hotplate is lowered to contact an opposite surface of the article.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein spacer means are fitted to the appliance to hold the hotplates a predetermined minimum distance apart.

4. An appliance as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spacer means are infinitely adjustable in setting the predetermined minimum distance between the hotplates.

5. An appliance as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spacer means are stepwise adjustable in setting the predetermined minimum distance between the hotplates.

6. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the maximum operating temperature of the hotplates is in the range of 190-200'C.

- I I - 7. An appliance as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spacer means comprises a frame or surround placed on the lower hotplate adapted to be contacted by the upper hotplate to maintain the predetermined minimum distance between the hotplates.

8. In an appliance as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spacer means is formed in two parts hingedly joined together so as to be foldable such that the two parts nest together for storage of the spacer means.

9. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a locking clip slidably retained on the appliance, the locking clip being slidable movable between a locking position retaining the hotplates in abutting relation and an unlock position pennitting separation between the hotplates.

10. An appliance as claimed in claim 9 when appended to claim 2 wherein the locking clip is slidably retained on the bar or arm.

11. An appliance as claimed in claim 10 wherein when the locking clip is in its unlock position, said locking clip is slidable to contact a part of the toaster which is in fixed relation to the lowermost hotplate so as to provide spacer means which varies the minimum spacing between the upper and lower hotplates by resisting movement of the hinged bar or arm to a position where the upper and lower hotplates are in abutting relation.

12. An appliance as claimed in claim 10 wherein slidable spacer means are mounted on the appliance separately from the locking clip.

13. An appliance as claimed in claim 12 wherein the slidable spacer means is slidable along an edge of the lowermost hotplate, a top surface of the spacer means being adapted to contact an underside of the bar or arm and raise the bar or arm relative to the lowermost hotplate as the spacer means is moved torward the firstmentioned axis.

14. An appliance as claimed in claim 13 wherein the underside of the bar or arm includes sawteeth or stepwise indentations which define discrete spacings between the hotplates when said indentations contact the spacer means.

An appliance substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I to 9, Figures 10 to 13, Figures 14 to 17, Figures 18 to 23, Figure 24, or Figures 25 to 29.

1.