US3808730A

US3808730A - Toy oven

Info

Publication number: US3808730A
Application number: US00330527A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Cooper; H Berkin
Original assignee: Ideal Toy Corp
Current assignee: Ideal Toy Corp; Tyco Industries II Inc
Priority date: 1973-02-08
Filing date: 1973-02-08
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07
Also published as: GB1414104A

Abstract

A toy oven and a telescopic food mold are provided for use in reconstituting a compressible food product thereby to simulate baking of a cake or the like. The toy oven has an oven cavity defined between a fixed upper wall and a lower wall which is adapted to be moved towards the upper wall upon closing of the oven door. The compressible telescopic mold is first filled with a compressible food product and then seated on the lower movable wall of the oven cavity. When the oven door is closed the telescopic mold is compressed between the upper and lower oven walls, thereby compressing the mold and thus compressing and reconstituting the food product contained therein.

Description

United States Patent [191 Cooper et a1.

[451 May 7,1974

[ TOY OVEN [73] Assignee: Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 330,527

[52] US. Cl. 46/1 R, 425/409, 425/412 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/00 [58] Field of Search 46/1 R, 11, 14; 425/156,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,698 4/1941 Knaust 425/409 X 2,317,316 4/1943 Walter 425/409 X 2,890,317 6/1939 Savignac 425/409 X 3,552,71 l 1/1971 Delaney et a1 425/409 X 2,833,654 5/1958 Sonnenshein et al 425/412 X Wright 425/412 X Whelan 425/412 X Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard M. Rabkin [57] ABSTRACT A toy oven and a telescopic food mold are provided for use in reconstituting a compressible food product thereby to simulate baking of a cake or the like. The toy oven has an oven cavity defined between a fixed upper wall and a lower wall which is adapted to be moved towards the upper wall upon closing of the oven door. The compressible telescopic mold is first filled with a compressible food product and then seated on the lower movable wall of the oven cavity. When the oven door is closed the telescopic mold is compressed between the upper and lower oven walls, thereby compressing the mold and thus compressing and reconstituting the food product contained therein.

19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PA TENTEDI 7 I974 SHtU 1 [1F 4 Pmmmm 71974 3808730 SHEET 2 OF 4 mmmm 71974 3.808.730

SHEET 3 [IF 4 Ill/I'll I III I], II

t I III I II, III/II FIG] PATENTEDMY H974 :3 808730 SHEET 4 [1F 4 TOY OVEN The present invention relates to a toy oven and in particular to a toy oven with which a child may simulate the activity of cooking a food product such as a cake, but without the use of heat, and yet still produce an edible food product.

Toys which are adapted to simulate the activities of adults are generally more pleasing to children than other types of toys and games. This is particularly true with respect to conventional kitchen appliances which might be used by the childs parents in normal day to day living. Accordingly, many types of toy appliances have been previously proposed which will carry out or simulate functions actually performed in the kitchen. One such type of appliance which probably has been most simulated in toys is the home oven.

Although many types of toy ovens have been previously proposed they in general suffer from numerous disadvantages, particularly from the aspect of safety. That is, most previously proposed toy ovens utilize heat provided by an electric filament, a light bulb, or the like, in order to perform an actual baking or cooking function. Such toy appliances require the manufacturer to meet relatively high safety standards imposed within the toy industry itself, by the Federal Government, or various certifying agencies. Thus, the manufacture of toy ovens which will actually produce a finished edible product has become relatively expensive, particularly due to the various safety devices required to avoid injury to the child using the toy from excessive heat or electrical shock.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to produce an edible food product in a toy oven without the use of heat or electricity.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and simply constructed toy oven which is adapted to produce an edible food product.

Another object of the present invention is to produce an edible foodproduct in a simple and readily manufactured toy oven which does not utilize heat or electricity.

In accordance. with one aspect of the present invention, a toy oven is provided for use with a telescopic type food mold in which a food product is adapted to be made by a child playing with the toy, without the use of heat or electricity. This food product preferably is of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,393,074, issued to Joseph R. Ehrlich. That patent describes a food product in which pre-baked dough particles are mixed with an edible water activated binder or adhesive and food flavorings, preservatives and the like. This mixture is preserved within a packaged container for storage over extended periods of time. When it is desired to utilize the food product the packaged dough particles are mixed with water or other liquid to form a damp mixture. Upon compression of this mixture in a baking pan or the like, the dough particles become adhered to each other, because of the iivater activated adhesive mixed therein, thereby forming a reconstituted cake, or other food product.

The food product described in the Ehrlich patent is used with the toy mold and oven construction of the present invention to pennit a child to simulate the activities of an adult in baking a cake and to produce an edible cake product or the like without the use of heat. The mold provided in the present invention comprises a two-piece telescopic construction having a container or bottom portion in which the wet food product mixture is inserted. A cover portion, which is adapted to be telescoped into the lower container portion, is seated on the top of the food product within the container and this assembly is then ready for insertion into the toy oven. The latter includes a housing which simulates the configuration of a home oven and range combination and which has a front opening therein providing access into an oven cavity. This cavity is defined between an upper fixed horizontal wall and a lower wall which is adapted to be moved towards and away from the upper wall upon closing or opening of the oven door.

After the Erhlich food product is properly prepared and placed in the mold assembly, the mold is inserted within the oven cavity and seated on the lower wall of the oven. As the oven door is closed, the cover of the mold is engaged against the fixed upper wall of the oven cavity and forced into the lower mold portion, thereby compressing the food product within the mold container. As a result of this compression, the food mixture in the mold is compressed and thus reconstituted. The child thus produces a completed edible cake in a toy oven without the use of heat. Of course, the child may now safely remove the reconstituted cake from the oven and decorate or consume the cake as desired.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy oven, mold and accessory utensils, constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded elevational view of the mold illustrated in FIG. I of the drawings;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the lower portion of the mold used in the present invention showing the compressible food product inserted therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the completed mold assembly inserted within the oven cavity prior to compression therein;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing compression of the food product in the mold as the oven door is closed;

. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the configuration of the mold and oven in the fully closed position of the oven door;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the telescopic mold of the present invention during removal of the compressed reconstituted food product therefrom.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it is seen that the toy of the present invention includes an oven 10 having an oven cavity 12 to which access is provided through an opening 14. The latter is selectively opened or closed by an oven door 16 more fully described hereinafter.

One or more molds 18 are provided in conjunction with oven 10 and these are adapted to be inserted into oven cavity 12 for reconstituting the food product utilized with the invention. This food product, as mentioned above, preferably constitutes the food product described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,074 and normally is supplied in one or more individual packages 20.

When it is desired to use the present invention, one of the packages 20 is opened and the contents thereof, constituting the prebaked comminuted dough particles having a binder therein, are deposited in a mixing bowl 22 or the like. Water, milk or another type of fluid is then supplied to the mixture in bowl 22 by a suitable measuring cup 24 in the proper proportions. This mixture is stirred with a spatula 26 or the like to thoroughly wet all of the food particles within bowl 22 and thereby activate the binder. It is noted that only sufficient water is provided by measuring cup 24 to wet the particles without forming a fluid paste or slurry. This activity, of course, allows a child using the toy to simulate the actions of an adult in mixing the ingredients required to bake a cake. When this activity is completed, i.e., when the dough particles are sufficiently damp or wet, the mixture is inserted in mold 18 with the aid of a spoon 28 or the like.

Mold 18 comprises, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a three-piece telescopic unit (see FIG. 2) including a container or bottom portion 30, insert 32, and cover 34. It is noted that although a generally cylindrical mold is shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes, other mold configurations, such as heart and clover leaf shapes, can be provided for the same purpose. In any case, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, mold portion 30 includes a base 36 hav- 'ing peripheral side walls 38 extending upwardly therefrom. Base 36 includes an aperture 40 therein which is useful in removing the compressed and reconstituted cake from the mold, as more fully described hereinafter. Insert 32 has substantially the same configuration, in plan, as base 36 of the mold and is placed in the bottom of the mold, as illustrated in FIG. 3, prior to insertion of the wet food product therein.

After insert 32 is placed within the mold, thereby to cover opening 40, the wet food product 47 is inserted in the mold to a level 45 which is close to but below the top edge 42 of container 38. Then cover 34 is seated upon and inserted within the container 38. Cover 34 has a generally dish or saucer shaped configuration which is complementary in plan to base 36 of container 38 so that it may be inserted within the container, as seen in FIG. 4. Cover 38 also includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange 44 which limits the downward movement of the cover into the container 38 upon application of the compressive force and which also provides a bearing surface against which the compressive force may be applied, as described hereinafter.

Oven 10, most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, includes an upper fixed wall 46 therein which defines the upper wall of oven cavity 12. A lower relatively horizontally extending wall 48 is also provided within oven cavity 12 and it effectively defines the lower portion of the cavity. Lower wall 48 is pivotally connected at 49 to a pair of links 50 respectively located on opposite sides of the wall, adjacent the rear end 52 thereof. Links 50 are in turn pivotally connected at the opposite ends thereof to the exterior wall 56 of oven 10, at pivot points 58.

The forward end 60 of lower wall 48 is pivotally connected at 62 to oven door 16. The latter is, in turn, pivotally connected, inwardly of pivot 62 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4), to the side walls 56 of oven at pivot points 64. By this construction, links 50 of lower wall food product 47 acts on pivot 62 to bias or urge that,

48 and door 16 form a linkage arrangement which causes wall 48 to move upwardly with respect to fixed wall 46 upon clockwise pivotal motion, i.e., closing of door 16. Likewise, upon opening or counterclockwise pivotal motion of door 16, wall 48 is moved downwardly. By this construction, wall 48 moves towards and away from wall 46 in a relatively flat or horizontal configuration.

When it is desired to bake a cake, the cake mix is prepared as described above and inserted in container 30 as shown in FIG. 3. Then cover 34 is seated on the top 45 of the food product 47 within container 38 and the assembly is seated on wall 48, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thence, the child playing with the toy beings to close door 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5, causing flange portion 44 of cover 34 to engage the upper wall 46 of the oven. Continued pivotal movement of door 16 urges lower oven wall 48 closer to wall 46, thereby increasing the compressive force on the food product 47. This compressive force causes cover 34 to move into container 38 to fully compress the food product contained therein. This compression continues until door 16 is fully closed, or until the flange 44 engages the upper edge 42 of container 38. Thus, the amount or degree of compression of the food product 47 is limited.

The closed position of door 16 is maintained by the frictional engagement of an extended tab 17 (formed integrally with the door) in a complementary aperture 19 formed in the front wall of the oven. However, when a cake or the like is being formed with the oven, the

natural springiness of the food product 47 in mold 18 produces a compression force between oven walls 46 and 48 which resists the frictional force on tab 17 that holds door 16 closed; thus this springiness could tend to open the door. This problem is avoided by the construction of the present invention wherein the distance between pivot points 62, 64 is less than the distance between pivot points 49, 58 and wherein the pivot points 62 and 64 are located in a predetermined position with respect to each other and to pivot

points

49, 58 so that, in the closed position of door 16, the upper pivot point 62 is located slightly closer to the rear wall of the oven than pivot point 64. By this construction the linkage formed by door 16 and the oven housing, between

p'ivots

62 and 64, is an over-the-center type linkage. As a result, the force applied to wall 48 by the compressed pivot point in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 5, so as to insure that door 16 will remain closed. Similarly, pivot points 49 and 58 are located so that, in the closed position of door 16, link 50 is inclined slightly towards door 16 (as also shown in FIG. 6). Accordingly, when door 16 is opened pivot point 49 is moved downwardly, in a counterclockwise direction, thereby permitting pivot point 62 to move upwardly and over center and allowing door 16 to open.

With door 16 in its fully closed position, food product 47 is fully compressed within container48, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and is held in that condition by the door linkage arrangement described above. Generally the compressed product could be immediately removed from the oven for consumption by simply manually opening the door. However, in order to provide a highly realistic oven for the child playing with the game, the oven is provided with a timing mechanism which provides a signal after a predetermined time period. The signal is provided to indicate to the child that the cake is ready to be removed from the oven. This time period simulates a period of baking time, as would normally be required with a cake, and thus provides greater interest to the child in the use of the toy than would be present if the child simply closed and opened the door of the oven to form the cake.

Timing or signal mechanism 70, most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawing, comprises a suction cup 72 having a collar portion 74 which is adapted to receive a stud or projection 76 extending from a rear wall portion 78 of oven 10. Suction cup 72 is normally biased away from wall 78 by a helical spring 80 surrounding stud 76 and received within the collar 74. The latter is secured in a pusher arrangement 82 which is slidably mounted in any convenient manner on guide tracks 84 or the like in the upper portion of oven 10, above wall 46. Pusher 82 includes a projection 86 which extends through an aperture 88 in the front wall 90 of the oven and is adapted to be urged to the right upon application of a manual pushing force to projection 86. Movement of pusher 82 to the right causes suction cup 72 to engage and become adhered to rear wall 78. Spring 80 then acts against suction cup 72 to overcome the force of suction created thereby against wall 78. Eventually, the force applied by spring 80 causes release of suction cup 72 from wall 78 and urges pusher 82 towards the'left. This movement of pusher 82 to the left causes a bell to ring, through the operation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 7.

As seen in FIG. 7, pusher 82 includes a lateral projection 92. The latter is adapted to engage a striker lever 94 which is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis within housing 10. Striker lever 94 includes a shoulder 96 located in the path of travel of projection 92; thus, upon movement of pusher 82 to the left, projection 92 engages shoulder 96, causing clockwise movement of lever 94. The latter includes a metal striker disk 98 mounted thereon which is adapted to strike a metal bell 100, also mounted within the oven, thereby to provide the ring signal upon clockwise movement of lever 94 in this manner. I

Accordingly, after the child playing with the toy of the present invention closes door 16, he can press projection 86 to set the timer mechanism 70. As pusher 82 moves to the right, projection 92 engages the cam surface 102 of lever 94 and rotates the lever to its original position in preparation for the next ring. After a predetermined period of time (determined by the size of spring 80), preferably about 1 minute, the force of spring 80 overcomes the suction force of suction cup 72 and causes the bell 100 to ring, indicating to the child that the cake is ready.

Pusher 82 includes a downwardly extending tab 83 which is located in horizontal alignment with aperture 19 in the front wall of the oven. Thus, when door 16 is closed, as shown in FIG. 6, and bell 100 is rung by the operation of timing mechanism 70, the tab 83 of pusher 82 will be moved into contact with and pushed against the free end 17 of tab 17. In accordance with the present invention spring 80 has sufficient strength to cause disengagement of tab 17 from opening 19 upon impact of member 83 therewith, thereby to cause door 16 to pivot slightly in a counterclockwise direction (to the dotted line position thereof shown in FIG. 6) and thus move pivot point 62 over center. Thereupon the child opens the oven door 16 completely and removes the compressed mold l8 therefrom.

In order to remove the reconstituted baked product from the mold 18, the child inverts the mold, as illustrated in FIG. 8, so that cover 34 will serve as a pedestal or support for the completed cake. By inserting a finger through the aperture 40 in base 36 of container 38, the child can slidably remove the container portion 38 from the reconstituted food product or cake 47. The cover 38 then forms a pedestal for the reconstituted cake product so that the child can easily ice" or other wise decorate the cake with various decorating materials provided with the toy.

Accordingly, it is seen that a relatively simple toy oven is provided which permits a child to simulate the activity of baking a cake, but without the use of heat or electricity. Thus, the toy is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture. More importantly, the toy is safe for the child to use and produces a safe edible product.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

What is claimed: l. The combination of a toy oven and a food mold for use therewith in reconstituting a compressible food product, said oven comprising a housing having a first fixed wall and a second wall mounted therein for movement towards and away from said fixed wall; and said food mold comprising a container having an open top through which said food product is inserted and a cover for said container having a substantially complementary configuration with respect to said container for insertion therein and being adapted to be seated on top of a food product placed in said container, said mold being adapted to be positioned on said second wall between said second wall and said fixed wall, whereby upon movement of said second wall towards said first wall, said cover is engaged with said fixed wall and urged into said container, thereby to compress and reconstitute said food product therein.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 including means for moving said second wall towards and away from said fixed wall.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said oven housing includes a simulated oven cavity having upper and lower horizontally extending wall portions defined respectively by said fixed wall and said second wall, and said moving means comprising a door for selectively opening and closing said cavity, said door being pivotally mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said second wall for raising and lowering said second wall, in a relatively horizontal position, with respect to said fixed wall.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 including at least one link member pivotally connected at one end to said housing and at its other end to said second wall, thereby to pivotally mount said second wall in said housing, and said second wall being pivotally connected to said door, thereby to define a linkage in said housing for raising and lowering said second wall upon pivotal movement of said door.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the pivotal connection of said door to said housing and the pivotal connection of said second wall to said door are located in a predetermined relationship to one another to define an over-the-center type linkage for maintaining said door in its closed position.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said mold has a generally dish shaped configuration in cross-section and having a freeperipheral edge and a relatively flat flange extending outwardly therefrom to define a bearing surface for engagement against said fixed wall upon movement of said second wall towards said fixed wall.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said mold container has a relatively flat base having an aperture therein, said mold including a relatively flat insert member adapted to be inserted in said container prior to insertion of said food product therein, whereby after compression of said food product in said oven the reconstituted food product is adapted to be removed from the mold by manually urging said insert against said foodproduct through said aperture.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1 including selectively operable timing means for producing a signal after the elapse of a predetermined time period from the setting of said timing means.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said oven includes a door for selectively opening and closing the oven door and said timing means includes means for opening said door after lapse of said predetermined time period.

10. The combination as defined in claim including means for releasing said over the center linkage after expiration of a predetermined time period thereby to open said door.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said oven has an aperture formed therein adjacent said cavity and said door includes a tab located to be frictionally engaged in and extend through said aperture in the closed position of said door and said releasing means comprises a spring biased impact means adapted to impact against said tab when said door is closed for said predetermined time period and move said tab out 1 of said aperture thereby releasing said over the center linkage and opening said door.

12. The combination of a toy oven and a food mold for use therewith in reconstituting a compressible food product, said oven comprising a housing including a fixed generally horizontally extending upper wall and a lower horizontally extending wall movably mounted in said housing below said upper wall for vertical movement towards and away from said upper wall, said upper and lower walls defining an oven cavity therebe tween and said housing having an opening therein providing access to said cavity, door means pivotally mounted in said housing for selectively opening and closing said access opening and being operatively connected to said lower wall for moving said lower wall towards and away from said upper wall as said door is respectively. pivoted to close and open said access opening; said food mold comprising a container having a base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly therefrom to define an open top through which said compressible food is inserted into said container, and a cover for said container having a generally disk shaped configuration complementary in plan to said container base for insertion in said container, thereby to define a closed mold, said cover being adapted to be seated on top of a food product placed in said container, and said mold being adapted to be inserted into said oven cavity through said opening and positioned with its base seated on said lower wall between said lower wall and said upper wall, whereby upon closing of said door said lower wall lifts said mold and said cover is engaged with said upper wall and urged into said container, thereby to compress and reconstitute said food product therein.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 including at least one link member pivotally connected at one end to said housing and at its other end to said lower wall, thereby to pivotally mount said lower wall in said housing, said lower wall being pivotally connected to said door to define therewith a linkage in said housing for raising and lowering said lower wall in a substantially horizontal position upon pivotal movement of said door.

14. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said cover includes a relatively flat outwardly extending flange adjacent its upper edge to define a bearing surface for engagement against said upper wall upon movement of said lower wall towards said upper wall.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein said mold container has a relatively flat base having an aperture therein and said mold includes a relatively flat insert membet adapted to be inserted in said container prior to insertion of said food product therein, whereby, after compression of said food product in said oven, the reconstituted food product is adapted to be removed from the mold by manually urging said insert against said food product through said aperture.

16. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein the pivotal connection of said door to said housing and the pivotal connection of said second wall to said door are located in a predetermined relationship to one another to define an over-the-center type linkage for maintaining said door in its closed position.

17. The combination as defined in claim 16 including selectively operable timing means for producing a signal after, the elapse of a predetermined time period from the setting of said timing means.

18. The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein said timing means includes means for releasing said over-the-center linkage after expiration of said predetermined time period, thereby toopen said door.

19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said oven has an aperture formed therein adjacent said cavity opening and said door includes a tab located to be frictionally engaged in and extend through said aperture in the closed position of said door and said releasing means comprises a spring biased impact means mounted in said oven for impacting against said tab when said door is in its closed position for said predetermined time period, thereby to move said tab out of said aperture and release said over-the-center linkage to open said door.

l l l l

Claims

1. The combination of a toy oven and a food mold for use therewith in reconstituting a compressible food product, said oven comprising a housing having a first fixed wall and a second wall mounted therein for movement towards and away from said fixed wall; and said food mold comprising a container having an open top through which said food product is inserted and a cover for said container having a substantially complementary configuration with respect to said container for insertion therein and being adapted to be seated on top of a food product placed in said container, said mold being adapted to be positioned on said second wall between said second wall and said fixed wall, whereby upon movement of said second wall towards said first wall, said cover is engaged with said fixed wall and urged into said container, thereby to compress and reconstitute said food product therein.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said mold has a generally dish shaped configuration in cross-section and having a free peripheral edge and a relatively flat flange extending outwardly therefrom to define a bearing surface for engagement against said fixed wall upon movement of said second wall towards said fixed wall.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said mold container has a relatively flat base having an aperture therein, said mold including a relatively flat insert member adapted to be inserted in said container prior to insertion of said food product therein, whereby after compression of said food product in said oven the reconstituted food product is adapted to be removed from the mold by manually urging said insert against said food product through said aperture.

10. The combination as defined in claim 5 including means for releasing said over the center linkage after expiration of a predetermined time period thereby to open said door.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said oven has an aperture formed therein adjacent said cavity and said door includes a tab located to be frictionallY engaged in and extend through said aperture in the closed position of said door and said releasing means comprises a spring biased impact means adapted to impact against said tab when said door is closed for said predetermined time period and move said tab out of said aperture thereby releasing said over the center linkage and opening said door.

12. The combination of a toy oven and a food mold for use therewith in reconstituting a compressible food product, said oven comprising a housing including a fixed generally horizontally extending upper wall and a lower horizontally extending wall movably mounted in said housing below said upper wall for vertical movement towards and away from said upper wall, said upper and lower walls defining an oven cavity therebetween and said housing having an opening therein providing access to said cavity, door means pivotally mounted in said housing for selectively opening and closing said access opening and being operatively connected to said lower wall for moving said lower wall towards and away from said upper wall as said door is respectively pivoted to close and open said access opening; said food mold comprising a container having a base and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly therefrom to define an open top through which said compressible food is inserted into said container, and a cover for said container having a generally disk shaped configuration complementary in plan to said container base for insertion in said container, thereby to define a closed mold, said cover being adapted to be seated on top of a food product placed in said container, and said mold being adapted to be inserted into said oven cavity through said opening and positioned with its base seated on said lower wall between said lower wall and said upper wall, whereby upon closing of said door said lower wall lifts said mold and said cover is engaged with said upper wall and urged into said container, thereby to compress and reconstitute said food product therein.

17. The combination as defined in claim 16 including selectively operable timing means for producing a signal after the elapse of a predetermined time period from the setting of said timing means.

18. The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein said timing means includes means for releasing said over-the-center linkage after expiration of said predetermined time period, thereby to open said door.