Toaster
AssigneeMorphy Richards Limited
InventorsEric Charlesworth, Stephen D. Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical toaster is provided with timer means which is initiated when a food product carrier is secured in an operative position adjacent a toasting element. The timer means normally releases the carrier from its operative position after a toasting interval. In the event of a malfunction, the timer means operates a cut-out to interrupt the supply of power to the toasting element within a predetermined period to prevent combustion or ignition of the food product. The latter period is longer than the normal toasting interval. The timer means may include first and second timing devices for respectively timing the toasting interval and the predetermined cut-out period. Alternatively the timer means provides respective outputs for controlling the toasting interval and the cut-out period.
Claims10
A toaster comprising a food product carrier for supporting a food product to be toasted;
- one or more toasting elements;
- means for securing the carrier in an operative position adjacent the toasting element or elements;
- timing means which is initiated when the food product carrier is secured in the operative position adjacent the toasting element or elements, the timing means releasing the carrier from its operative position after a predetermined interval to allow the carrier to move into a position where it is removed from the toasting element or elements, the predetermined interval being the time intended for toasting a food product supported by the carrier, said timing means also being adapted to interrupt the supply of power to the toasting element or elements within a predetermined period for preventing combustion or ignition of the food product when the carrier does not move into said position where it is removed from the toasting element or elements, the latter period being longer than the predetermined interval for toasting the food product.
A toaster comprising:
- (a) a food product carrier for supporting a food product to be toasted;
- (b) one or more heating elements for toasting a food product supported by said carrier when said carrier is in an operative toasting position adjacent said element or elements;
- (c) means for biasing said carrier into a non-operative position whereby said food product is removed from said toasting element or elements;
- (d) means for securing said carrier in said operative position;
- (e) a bimetallic actuator which is supplied with power when said carrier is in said operative position, said bimetallic actuator being provided for timing a predetermined interval intended for toasting said product and being operative to actuate said securing means in order to release said carrier after said predetermined interval;
- (f) electronic timing means which is also supplied with power when said carrier is in said operative position, said electronic timing means being provided for timing a predetermined period which is longer than said predetermined interval and which is intended to prevent combustion or ignition of said food product;
- (g) switch means responsive to movement of said carrier and provided for supplying power to said bimetallic actuator and to said electronic timing means when said carrier is in said operative position, said switch means normally being actuated by said carrier, after said carrier has been released from said securing means, so as to interrupt the supply of power to said bimetallic actuator and to said electronic timing means, but said switch means continuing to supply power to said electronic timing means after said securing means has been actuated by said bimetallic actuator but said carrier has not moved into said non-operative position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.