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US 11,019,961 B2Granted
Toaster with mechanical delay shut-off mechanism
AssigneeHamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
InventorWilliam D Starr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shut-off mechanism for a toaster includes a damper arm pivotally mounted on a frame that includes a damper unit. The damper unit including (a) a cavity in which a viscous fluid is stored, (b) a rotor that resides partially in the cavity and partially outside of the cavity, the viscous fluid resisting rotation of the rotor relative to the cavity, and (c) an engagement member attached to the rotor that engages a track on the frame. The damper arm is movable between a deactivated position and an activated position. An electrical switch configured to engage an electrical contact when the damper arm is in the activated position and to disengage from the electrical contact when the damper arm is in the deactivated position.
Claims20
A shut-off mechanism for a toaster, comprising:
- a frame having a base, a vertical wall and a track with opposed first and second ends;
- a damper arm pivotally mounted on the frame that includes a damper unit attached to one end of the damper arm, the damper unit including (a) a cavity in which a viscous fluid is stored, (b) a rotor that resides partially in the cavity and partially outside of the cavity, the viscous fluid resisting rotation of the rotor relative to the cavity, and (c) an engagement member attached to the rotor that engages the track on the frame, wherein the damper arm is movable between a deactivated position, in which the damper unit is adjacent the first end of the track, and an activated position, in which the damper unit is adjacent the second end of the track;
- a first biasing member that biases the damper arm toward the deactivated position;
- a cocking member pivotally attached to the frame and positioned between the damper arm and the vertical wall of the frame, the cocking member movable between a toasting position and a rest position, wherein movement of the cocking member from the rest position to the toasting position moves the damper arm from the deactivated position to the activated position;
- and
- an electrical switch positioned and configured to engage an electrical contact when the damper arm is in the activated position and to disengage from the electrical contact when the damper arm is in the deactivated position.
3 more elements
A toaster, comprising:
- a housing with at least one bread slot;
- a heating element positioned within the housing to toast bread in the at least one bread slot;
- an electrical system connected with the heating element;
- a bread-lifting carriage mounted to the housing;
- and
- a shut-off mechanism, comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotary damper assembly pivotally mounted relative the frame that includes a damper member and a damper unit including (a) a cavity in which a viscous fluid is stored, (b) a rotary member that resides partially in the cavity and partially outside of the cavity, the viscous fluid resisting rotation of the rotor relative to the cavity, and (c) an engagement member selectively rotatable relative to the rotary member that engages the frame, wherein the damper member is movable between a deactivated position and an activated position relative to the frame;
- a first biasing member that biases the damper arm toward the deactivated position;
- a cocking member mounted to the frame, the cocking member movable between rest and toasting positions;
- a second biasing member that biases the cocking member toward the rest position;
- wherein the carriage includes a member that engages the cocking member, such that lowering of the carriage drives the cocking member to the toasting position;
- wherein the cocking member drives the damper assembly to the activated position as the cocking member moves from the rest position to the toasting position, but wherein the cocking member is free to return to the rest position independently of the damper assembly;
- and
- wherein the toaster further comprises an electrical switch connected with the electrical system positioned and configured to engage an electrical contact when the damper member is in the activated position and to disengage from the electrical contact when the damper member is in the deactivated position.
12 more elements
A toaster, comprising:
- a housing with at least one bread slot;
- a heating element positioned within the housing to toast bread in the at least one bread slot;
- an electrical system connected with the heating element;
- a bread-lifting carriage mounted to the housing;
- and
- a shut-off mechanism, comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotary damper assembly pivotally mounted relative the frame that includes a damper member and a damper unit including (a) a cavity in which a viscous fluid is stored, (b) a rotary member that resides partially in the cavity and partially outside of the cavity, the viscous fluid resisting rotation of the rotor relative to the cavity, and (c) a pinion selectively rotatable relative to the rotary member that engages teeth in the frame, wherein the damper member is movable between a deactivated position and an activated position relative to the frame;
- a first spring that biases the damper arm toward the deactivated position;
- a cocking lever mounted to the frame, the cocking lever movable between rest and toasting positions;
- and
- a second spring that biases the cocking lever toward the rest position;
- wherein the carriage includes a member that engages the cocking lever, such that lowering of the carriage drives the cocking lever to the toasting position;
- wherein the cocking lever drives the damper assembly to the activated position as the cocking lever moves from the rest position to the toasting position, but wherein the cocking lever is free to return to the rest position independently of the damper assembly;
- and
- wherein the toaster further comprises an electrical switch connected with the electrical system positioned and configured to engage an electrical contact when the damper member is in the activated position and to disengage from the electrical contact when the damper member is in the deactivated position.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.