Toaster With Mechanical Delay Shut-Off Mechanism

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.

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.