GB2388303A

GB2388303A - Toasters

Info

Publication number: GB2388303A
Application number: GB0200539A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Saba
Original assignee: Salton Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2002-01-11
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Also published as: GB0200539D0

Abstract

A toasting compartment (110) for a toaster, the compartment comprising a support (114) for items to be toasted. The support (114) is movable between a first position, and a second position suitable for toasting the item. The compartment further includes a movable control (116), and a movement mechanism (120, 122, 128) arranged to move the support from the first position to the second position. The movement mechanism includes a mechanical amplifier arranged to amplify the movement of the control to result in a correspondingly larger movement of the support.

Description

( 1 2388303

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND REhATING TO TOASTERS Field of the Invention

5 The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to toasters, and in particular to improvements in and relating to carriage mechanisms and controls for toasters. 10 Background of the Invention

Toasters are well known devices, typically used in kitchens for toasting food items such as bread. Toasters are normally electrical, and typically comprise an upright outer housing or cover, having rectangularly shaped slots defined in the top surface of the housing for receiving the items to be toasted. Within the housing lies a toasting compartment (also referred to as a toasting body or frame) arranged to receive the item to be toasted.

Figures 1A to IF show a typical toasting compartment i.e. a toaster from which the outer housing has been removed.

As can be seen, the toasting compartment comprises two slots 12 arranged to receive the items to be toasted.

g5 Within the slots 12 are located movable supports 14 (or carriages), which are directly connected to and controlled by the carriage control 16. The carriage control 16, and consequently also the supports 14, are movable between a first position (shown in figures lA-lC) suitable for 30 receiving the item to be toasted, and a second position (shown in figures lD-lF) in which the supports have been displaced so as to move the item to a position suitable for toasting. As the toasting compartment shown is for an

( upright toaster, the displacement is downwards i.e. the carriage control has been moved downwards so as to lower the support, and hence any items on the support.

5 Typically the support or carriage is slidably mounted and upwardly biased. A locking mechanism (not shown) is normally provided so as to lock the carriage into the lowered position whilst the item is being toasted.

lo Many toasters are also arranged such that supports 14 are movable to a third position, suitable for easily removing the toasted items. In a typical upright toaster, this third position is such that the supports 14 are higher than when in the first position, so that a proportionately 15 larger area of the toasted items will project outwardly from the slots 12. In such an upright toaster, the supports are normally moved from the first to the third position by a user lifting the carriage control 16.

20 Normally, the toaster will also comprise a browning control (not shown) by which a user can select to what extent the item is toasted. Such a browning control can function in a number of ways e.g. it can directly control the amount of power applied in toasting the item (normally 25 by controlling the length of time for which power is applied), or it can control the applied power in dependence upon other parameters such as the temperature or colour of the item being toasted. Such a browning control normally consists of a projecting knob that is 30 rotated to select different browning settings.

People with movement disabilities can have difficulties in operating a conventional toaster. It has been recognized

by the present inventors that the browning control can be difficult to rotate for people who have limited control over their movements. Similarly, it can be difficult for such people to operate the carriage control 16, which must 5 be displaced through a relatively large travel so as to move the supports 14 between the first and second positions, and hence to allow an item to be toasted.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome, or at 10 least substantially alleviate, one or more of the problems of the aforesaid prior arts

Statement-: of the Invention

15 In a first aspect, the present invention provides a toasting compartment for a toaster, the compartment comprising a support for supporting an item to be toasted, the support being movable between a first position, and a second position for toasting; a movable control; and a 20 movement mechanism responsive to said control, arranged to move the support from said first position to said second position; wherein the movement mechanism comprises a mechanical amplifier arranged to amplify a movement of the control to result in a correspondingly larger movement of 25 the support.

Preferably, the mechanical amplifier comprises a mechanical lever.

30 Preferably, the mechanical amplifier comprises a cam.

Preferably, the cam is pivotably mounted.

Preferably, the cam is rotatable.

Preferably, the cam is aligned so as to impart a linear movement to a cam follower, the cam follower being 5 connected to the support.

Preferably, said control is rotatable, such as a rotary knob. 10 Preferably, said control is linearly displaceable, such as a button.

Preferably, a protrusion is located in the proximity of the button, so as to allow the button to be displaced by 15 an operator simultaneously squeezing the button and the protrusion. Preferably, the support is moveable to a third position for removing toasted items.

Preferably, said movement mechanism is arranged to move the support from at least one of said first and second positions to said third position.

25 In another aspect, the present invention provides a toaster comprising a toasting compartment as described above. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a 30 method of operating a toaster, the toaster comprising a support for supporting items to be toasted, the support being movable between a first position, and a second position for toasting, and a movable control, the method

( comprising moving of the control so as to provide, by mechanical amplification, a correspondingly larger movement of the support.

5 In another aspect, the present invention provides a toaster comprising a control, the control being rotatably mounted adjacent to a surface, with the rotational axis of the control lying generally parallel to the surface.

lo Preferably, said control is a browning control.

Preferably, said control is mounted at least partially within said surface.

15 Preferably, said control is a longitudinally extending body. Preferably, the shape of the control comprises at least one of a cylinder, a barrel, a substantially cylindrical 20 body, or a longitudinally extending body with a hexagonal cross section.

Preferably, the axis lies generally within the body of said toaster.

Brief Description of Drawin s

g For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, 30 reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

( Figures lA, 1B, and 1C show a prior art toaster from

respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a first position; 5 Figures ID, 1E, and IF show a prior art toaster from

respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a second position; Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show a toasting compartment in lo accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a first position; Figures 2D, 2E, and 2F show a toasting compartment in 5 accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a second position; Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C show a toasting compartment in 20 accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a first position; Figures 3D, BE, and 3F show a toasting compartment in 25 accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being in a second position; Figure 3G shows a toasting compartment in accordance with 30 a second embodiment of the present invention from an end view, with the support of the toaster being in the second position due to an alternative movement of the carriage control from that shown in figure 3D;

( 7 Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C show a toasting compartment in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being 5 in a first position; Figures 4D, BE, and 4F show a toasting compartment in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention from respectively an end view, a side view, and a perspective view, with the support of the toaster being lo in a second position; and Figures 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show a browning control for a toaster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention from respectively a perspective view, an end view when mounted in contact with a roller, an end view 15 when mounted on a first surface, and an end view when mounted on a second surface.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

20 Figures 2A to 2F show a toasting compartment 110 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The toasting compartment 110, like a conventional toasting compartment, comprises slots 112 for receiving the items to be toasted, and within the slots 25 112 are movable supports 114 for supporting the item to be toasted. The supports 114 are movable between a first position (shown in figures 2A-2C) suitable for receiving the item to be toasted, and a second position (shown in figures 2D-2F) suitable for toasting an item placed on the 30 supports.

In this embodiment, the carriage control takes the form of a button 116. The button 116 is connected to a mechanical

( amplifying system (120, 122, 124, 126, 128) such that a relatively small movement of the button (in the orientation shown in the figures, a depression of the button) will result in a larger movement (a lowering) of 5 the carriages or movable supports 114.

The movement mechanism comprises a first member 120 extending (downwardly) from the button 116. The first member 120 is attached to a second member 122 via a 0 rotatable coupling 124. A first end of the second member 122 is attached to the toasting compartment 110 via a pivot 126. The second end of the second member 122 is slidably coupled to a third member 128, with the third member 128 being also fixedly attached to the carriage 5 114.

The rotatable coupling 124 is attached to the second member between the pivot 126 and the slidable coupling to the third member 128. In this particular embodiment, the 20 first member is L-shaped such that the rotatable coupling 124 lies closer to the pivot 126 than to the slidable coupling. In use, this positioning of the coupling 124 so as to be closer to the pivot 126 results in a greater amplification of the movement of the button 116.

As can be seen by comparing figures 2A-2C with 2D-2F, when the button 116 is depressed this moves the first member 120 downwards. This results in a rotation of the second member 122 about the pivot 126 (in the example shown, in 30 an anti clockwise direction). This rotation of the second member, via the slidable coupling to the third member, results in the third member being moved downwards and consequently the carriage 114 is also moved downwards. It

( 9 will be appreciated that as the distance from the coupling 124 to the pivot 126 is smaller than the distance from the slidable coupling to the pivot 126, then the movement mechanism acts as a lever, or mechanical amplifier, with a 5 relatively small movement of the button (and hence the first member) resulting in a larger movement of the carriage. Consequently, only a relatively small displacement of the lo button is required to move the carriage from the first position to the second position. Thus, it is easy for people with movement disabilities, who only have a relatively small range of movement, to easily operate the toaster. It will be appreciated that an outer housing is normally placed around the exterior of the toasting compartment 110. 20 In the prior art toaster shown in figures lA-lF, it will

be appreciated that the outer housing would normally have to comprise one or more slots in the side, so as to accommodate the movement of the carriage control 16. Such slots are known to collect crumbs from items being toasted 25 such as bread, and can be difficult to clean.

Additionally, as the prior art carriage control 16

projects outwardly from the side of the toaster, this can limit the positioning of the toaster within a kitchen, as access must be provided on the side to utilize the 30 carriage control 16. Designers are also limited in the design of the outer housing of the toaster, as all designs most incorporate one or more slots to allow for the use of the carriage control 16.

In contrast, it will be appreciated that the above embodiment allows the toaster to be located almost anywhere within a kitchen, as the control is on the upper 5 surface of the toaster. Further, as the control is on the upper surface of the toaster, no slots are required inside of the outer housing that could collect crumbs. Further, as no such slots are required, this allows designers to modify the outer housing in a number of ways that would lo not be possible in prior art toasters, including designing

the toaster to be more aesthetically pleasing.

If desired, due to the relatively short travel of the control 116, the button arrangement shown in figures 2A-2F 15 can be modified to become a "squeeze" control. This achieved by fixably locating a rib or other protrusion in relation to the toasting compartment. Such a protrusion could, for instance be located directly on the toasting compartment 110 or alternatively on the outer housing.

20 The protrusion should be located in the proximity of button 116, and should be located along the direction of travel of the button, or adjacent to the direction of travel. For instance, in the embodiment shown in figures 2A-2F, a ridge could be located underneath the button 116.

25 It will be appreciated that someone grasping both the ridge and the button could squeeze both the rib and the button together so as to more easily result in the movement of the button.

30 Figures 3A-3G show a toasting compartment according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As previously, the toasting compartment 310 comprises slots 312 to allow the insertion of items to be toasted, and

located within the slots are supports/carriages movable between a first and a second position.

In this particular embodiment, the carriage control 5 comprises a knob rotatably attached to the toasting compartment 310. In the example shown, the knob comprises a ridge, so as to facilitate a user rotating the knob.

Fixedly attached to the knob is a wedge--shaped cam 320.

Fixedly attached to the carriage 314 is a carriage member 322. Protruding members 324 are located at each end of the carriage member 322, and act as cam followers.

In use, the knob 316 is rotated, resulting in a rotation I 15 of the wedgeshaped cam. This results in a linear displacement of the protruding members 324 acting as cam followers, and hence a linear displacement of the carriage member, and consequently the carriage.

20 Figures 3A-3C show the carriages in the raised position.

As shown in figures 3D-3F, when the knob is rotated in a clockwise direction, the wedge shaped cam is similarly rotated in a clockwise direction, pushing down the -

carriage member and hence the carriages. As shown in 25 flqure 3G, as in this particular example the carriage member has a protruding member located at each end, the knob can equally be rotated in an anti clockwise direction so as to lower the carriages. This advantageously allows the toaster to be comfortably usable by both left and 30 right handed people.

By use of the above cam and cam follower arrangement, a i relatively small rotational movement of the knob results

in the relatively large displacement of the carriage from the raised position to the lowered position i.e. the movement mechanism acts as a mechanical amplifier. This consequently allows people with limited movement to easily 5 operate the toaster. Further, by utilising a rotary knob to control the carriage movement, rather than the carriage control 16 of the prior art, which requires a relatively

long linear displacement, again this opens up the aesthetics of design. For instance, as other toaster lo controls are frequently rotational (e.g. the browning control), then it is relatively easy to match up all the controls into a single style. As well as being more pleasing to the eye, this also allows a reduction in the number of different manufacturing parts required, as 15 identical parts can be used to form both the browning control and the carriage control.

Figures 4A-4F show another embodiment of the present invention. As previously, the toasting compartment 410 20 comprises slots 412 for receiving the item to be toasted, and supports (or carriages) 414 for supporting the items, the supports being movable between a first position and a second position.

25 In this embodiment, the carriage control takes the form of a button 416 The button 416 is mounted on a first member 420 extending laterally away from the toasting compartment 410. A carriage member 426 is fixedly connected to the carriages 414, such that moving the carriage member 426 30 downwards will move the carriages from the first, raised position to the second, lowered position.

( Connecting the button to the carriage member 426 is a lever member 422, which is mounted on a pivot 424 connected to the first member 420. The lever member is mounted at the pivot point such that a relatively small 5 movement of the end of the pivot nearest the button will result in a larger movement at the end of the lever member attached to the carriage member 426.

In use, an operator will depress the button 416, causing lo the lever member 422 to rotate about the pivot 424, and move the carriage member 426 downwards, thus lowering the carriage. The lever arrangement acts as a mechanical amplifier, such 15 that only a relatively small movement of the button is required to move the carriage through a larger movement, and hence to be moved from the raised position to the lowered position. Consequently, a person with movement disabilities would find the operation of this device to be 20 relatively easy compared with the prior art.

It will be appreciated that any of the toasting compartments described above could be adapted so that the supports are movable to a third position (in an upright 25 toaster, a raised position), suitable for the easy removal of any items from the toaster. Preferably, the mechanism utilised to move the supports to the third position will also comprise a mechanical amplifier, so that only a relatively small movement of the respective control is 30 necessary to move the support to the third position. It will be appreciated that the control could be the same control used to move the support from the first to the second position, or a separate control.

( Equally, another embodiment of the present invention is arranged with a mechanical amplifier substantially as described above, but with the full movement of the 5 supports being from the raised (third) position to the lowered (second) position. The carriage is upwardly biased (e.g. with a spring), to return from the second position to the third position. In this embodiment, the toasting carriage also includes a further control, lo arranged to switch the carriage movement between two modes of operation. In the first mode of operation, the carriage has a full travel i.e. when released from the second, lowered position, the carriage will return to the third, raised position due to the biasing. In the second 5 mode of operation, the carriage travel (range of movement) is limited to between the first and second positions i.e. when released from the second, lowered position, the carriage will only return to the first position due to the biasing. If the carriage is in the second mode and first JO position, and then switched to the first mode, the biasing is such that the carriage will be moved from the first to the third position.

Whilst various embodiments of the invention have been 25 described above, it will be appreciated that various modifications and implementations will be made by the skilled person, and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

30 For instance, whilst only a few embodiments have been described which utilise a mechanical amplifier, it will be appreciated that other mechanical amplifiers could be implemented by the skilled person. For instance, a worm

( 15 and gear arrangement could be utllised to move the carriage. Whilst normally it is envisaged that the present invention would be implemented using pressed steel, it could equally be implemented using any other 5 suitable materials, such as plastic, aluminium, nylon etc. Figures 5A-5D show a control for a toaster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Such a control could be used for instance for a browning control.

As shown in the perspective view shown in figure 5A, the control takes the form of a longitudinally extending body 510, preferably a cylindrical body, arranged for rotation about its longitudinal axis. In the embodiment shown in 5 figure 5A, a shaft 512 extends from each end of the body 510, and the body is arranged for rotation about the axis defined by this shaft, and for instance in the direction shown by the arrow marked "A" in figure 5A.

20 Movement of the control can be detected by various methods. For instance, the rotation of the shaft 512 could be directly monitored. Alternatively, as shown in figure Ss, a body 514 such as a roller could be placed in contact with the surface of the control 510, such that 25 when the control 510 rotates, the body 514 also rotates, the motion of this body being subsequently detected e.g. by driving the control of a variable resistor or capacitor. 30 The control 510 is located in use such that the rotational axis lies generally parallel to a surface of the toaster adjacent to the control. For instance, from the cross sectional view shown in figure 5C it can be seen that the

body of the control may lie partially embedded within a surface 520. Equally, as shown by the cross sectional view of figure 5D, the control can be mounted adjacent to the joining of two surfaces i.e. an edge or a corner, with 5 the rotational access of the control lying generally parallel to at least one of the surfaces 522.

Use of such a longitudinally extending control (as compared to a rotational knob of the prior art) easily

lo allows a person with limited movement ability to manipulate the control, as a relatively large surface is presented to the user. Further, movement of the control can easily be conducted with, for instance, the palm or the back of the hand, rather than the control having to be 15 gripped so as to rotate it, as is required by the prior art controls.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to 20 this specification in connection with this application and

which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and

documents are incorporated herein by reference.

25 All of the features disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features 30 and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including

any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be

( replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series 5 of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features lo disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims:

1. A toasting compartment (110) for a toaster, the 5 compartment comprising a support (114) for supporting an item to be toasted, the support being movable between a first position, and a second position for toasting; a movable control (116); and a movement mechanism (120, 122, 128) responsive to said lo control, arranged to move the support from said first position to said second position) wherein the movement mechanism comprises a mechanical amplifier arranged to amplify a movement of the control to result in a correspondingly larger movement of the support.

2. A toasting compartment as claimed in claim l, wherein the mechanical amplifier comprises a mechanical lever (2, 324, 326).

20

3. A toasting compartment as claimed in claim l or claim 2, wherein the mechanical amplifier comprises a cam (320).

4. A toasting compartment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cam (320) is pivotably mounted.

2s

5. A toasting compartment as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cam (320) is rotatable.

6. A toasting compartment as claimed in any one of claims 30 3, 4, or 5, wherein the cam (320) is aligned so as to impart a linear movement to a cam follower (324), the cam follower being connected to the support.

( 19

7. A toasting compartment as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein said control is rotatable, such as a rotary knob (316).

5

8. A toasting compartment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said control is linearly displaceable, such as a button (116).

9. A toasting compartment as claimed as claimed in claim lo 8, wherein a protrusion is located in the proximity of the button, so as to allow the button to be displaced by an operator simultaneously squeezing the button and the protrusion. 1E

10. A toasting compartment as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein said support is movable to a third position for removing toasted items.

ll. A toasting compartment as claimed in claim 10, wherein 20 said movement mechanism is arranged to move the support from at least one of said first and second positions to said third position.

12. A toasting comprising a toasting compartment as 25 claimed in any one of the above claims.

13. A method of operating a toaster, the toaster comprising a support (114) for supporting items to be toasted, the support being movable between a first 30 position, and a second position for toasting, and a movable control (116), the method comprising moving of the control so as to provide, by mechanical amplification, a correspondingly larger movement of the support.

14. A toaster comprising a control (510), the control being rotatably mounted adjacent to a surface (520), with the rotational axis of the control lying generally 5 parallel to the surface.

15. A toaster as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control (510) is a browning control.

lo

16. A toaster as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said control (510) is mounted at least partially within said surface (520).

17. A toaster as claimed in any one of claims 14, 15 or 15 16, wherein said control (510) is a longitudinally extending body.

18. A toaster as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the shape of the control (510) comprises at least 20 one of a cylinder, a barrel, a substantially cylindrical body, or a longitudinally extending body with a hexagonal cross section.

19. A toaster as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, 25 wherein the axis lies generally within the body of said toaster.