Thermostat for popcorn cooking containers or the like

In a cooking apparatus for popcorn popping or the like, including a cooking container, an electric heating element for heating said container and a cooking temperature thermostat mounted on said container and connected in series with said electrical heating element, said cooking temperature thermostat being arranged to open when the temperature reaches a preset value and to close when the temperature drops below a value somewhat below the preset value, a safety thermostat arranged to be mounted directly on said cooking container for connection between said cooking temperature control thermostat and said heating element, said safety thermostat comprising:

• a support structure arranged to be firmly mounted on said cooking container, a temperature sensitive member having a first portion secured to said support structure to directly receive heat from said container through said support structure and having a second portion movable relative to said first portion in proportion to the temperature of said temperature sensitive member and in proportion to the temperature of said cooking container, trip means operable between a stable reset condition and a stable tripped condition and connected to said second portion of said temperature sensitive member for operation by said temperature sensitive member from a reset condition to said tripped condition when the temperature of said temperature sensitive member is at a certain high temperature of on the order of at least 500.degree. F., said trip means being thereafter operative to remain in said tripped condition irrespective of lowering of the temperature of said temperature sensitive member to a temperature of on the order of 70.degree. F. or less, and electric switch means including said electrical contacts connected to said trip means for operation therefrom.