GB2433693A

GB2433693A - A device for toasting a design onto bread

Info

Publication number: GB2433693A
Application number: GB0526537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Nutley; Gary De Bruin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-29
Filing date: 2005-12-29
Publication date: 2007-07-04
Also published as: GB0526537D0

Abstract

A bread toaster includes at least one length of electrically heated wire e which is formed into a shape capable of imparting a scorched design onto the surface of a slice of bread m. The shaped heating element may be incorporated into a replaceable cartridge and it's performance regulated by a variable resistor.

Description

A Bread Toaster incorporating an interchangeable cartridge which brands

individual designs onto the surface of toasting bread.

This invention relates to individual pre-engineered designs, such as football team names or corporate logos, being branded or burned onto the surtace of sliced bread but makes use of a devise hereafter known as the cartridge'. The cartridges can be tailor made to suit consumer or corporate demands. As with a conventional bread toaster, it uses an electrical heating element, heated red-hot and placed a set distance from sliced bread so that it toasts and browns. Where it differs, is that it brands the piece of toasted bread, on one or both sides during the toasting process, with a pre-designed and pre-engineered image which can be selected from one of many hundreds and thousands available prior to the customers purchase of the Scorch-Brand Toaster. Once purchased, other cartridges may be purchased and interchanged so that the design to be branded onto the bread can be alternated.

The Scorch-Brand Toaster uses an electrical heating element as per conventional toasting machines but also merges existing technology with the cartridge' which comprises a single ength of conducting wire, pre shaped so that when heated the hot element will toast the bread at varying temperatures as per the elements design, thus causing the design' portion of the element to cook the bread at a higher temperature than the non-design' portion of the heating element. This leads to the impression of the design portion being branded onto the surface of the bread slice. Where the Scorch Brand Toaster cartridge differs from any existing bread toaster is to be found within the layout of the heating element. The Scorch-Brand Toaster has a design pre bent into the cartridge, and this design is advanced in profile so that the design portion of the heating element is closer to the bread than the non-raised portion of the heating element.

The resulting effect is thus, the area on the surface of the bread directly opposite the cartridge portion of the element is subjected to higher temperatures than the surrounding bread surface and therefore cooks and colours at a different rate.

This process (hereafter known as branding') causes the individual design portion of the element to be burned' or branded onto the surface of the toast slice.

The Scorch-Brand Toaster makes use of existing technology in that temperature throughout the heating element can be controlled by means of a temperature control, in effect a variable resistor controlling the flow of electricity to the element. The design portion of the heating element is pre bent into the wire at the manufacturing stage and each cartridge design is unique, suiting the personal tastes and requirements of the user. The Scorch-Brand toasting method will not only allow the user to toast bread with the novelty factor of having his/her favourite football -basketball -baseball teams name (and / or logo) branded onto the toasted slice, but it also allows sponsors and advertisers to reach consumers in a new and exciting way, with users of the Scorch-Brand toaster literally consuming the sponsors image, identity and product. At purchase, the consumer will buy the toaster unit with a specific design as per their requirements; the choice thereafter remaining with the consumer to purchase additional cartridges as per their needs. The cartridge is easily removed and inserted into the toasting unit and is easy and safe to use.

Figure 1, shows the cartridge core (excluding all packaging) Figure 2, shows a 3 dimensional and flat profile of a cartridge connecting module Used for the transfer of current from the main circuit to the cartridge.

Figure 3, shows a 3 dimensional image of the cartridge ready for insertion into the toasting unit Figure 4 shows a side profile of the cartridge ready for insertion into the toaster unit.

Figure 5 shows a side profile of the cartridge inserted into the toaster unit.

In a conventional toaster, the slice of uncooked bread is placed into the toasting machine through the top of the toaster. In the Scorch Brand Toaster, the bread rests with its widest surfaces' facing the heating elements but is protected from making direct contact with the heating elements by means of protective safety bars The scorch Brand toaster differs in two fundamental ways from a conventional toaster. Firstly the scorch brand toaster is designed to brand the toasting bread with a pre determined design, secondly, this design is advanced in profile toward the bread. The design is pre engineered into conducting heat wire and is inserted into the toaster for ease of use and versatility. The cartridge, seen in figure 1 (excluding packaging) comprises, 2 x electrical transfer modules (a) that serve to transfer electrical current into the main heating loop (d). The modules are machined with skirts and fittings ( c & f) which allow the cartridges to be easily inserted and then held in place once installed into the toaster unit. Electrical current passes from the toaster unit to the cartridge through (b). The cartridge is lowered into place by (Al) which is a housing cover. The modules, which are integral to the cartridge, fit neatly into the female terminal, Figure 2 (g) and are thus locked into place. The cartridge is lowered into the toaster unit Figure 3, 4 and 5, 50 that the design portion of the heated design element is advanced in profile toward the toasting bread. The design portion of the element (e) is advanced and therefore cooks or brands the bread (m) at a quicker rate than the integral heating circuit wire (d).

The cartridge, seen fitted into place in figure 5, is interchangeable and can be seen in the removed position in figure 4.

Claims

Claims 1. A bread toasting device comprising single or multiple lengths

of electrical heating element wire which is pre-engineered to any one of numerous designs so that it may brand or scorch burn a pre determined design onto one or both surfaces of a slice of bread during the toasting process.

2. A bread toasting device according to claim 1, in which a section or sections of the heating element wire is pre-engineered to a designed pattern so that this pattern may be housed in a cartridge insert, then inserted, removed and interchanged to meet the consumers requirements.

3. A bread toasting device according to claim 1, in which a minority section or sections of pre-engineered heating element, contained in the cartridge housing, is raised in profile when compared to the remaining heating element so that a pre-engineered pattern, afore mentioned in the cartridge, is branded or burned onto the surface of the bread because that section of bread is exposed to higher temperatures.

4. A bread toasting device according to claim 1, in which any pre-engineered design pattern may be branded onto the surface of a slice of bread, the amount of branding or scorching being controlled by means of a variable resistor controlling the intensity of heat within the heating element in the cartridge, by means of restricting or controlling electricity flow.

5. A bread toasting device as per any preceding claim in which a pre designed pattern, to be branded onto the bread, is advanced in profile toward the bread slice within the heating element wiring circuit so that the determining factor in the breads scorching or branding during the toasting process Is its proximity to the heat source, in this case, the electrical heating wire.