Combined user actuation and thermostat switch assembly
AssigneeHP Intellectual Corp.
InventorsJames A. Sandor, Charles Z. Krasznai, Charles S. Mertler, Jr., deceased
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric toaster comprising a heating element; and a combined user actuation and thermostat switch assembly connected to the heating element. The switch assembly comprises a thermostat having a bi-metal electrical contact blade and a snap-acting electrical contact blade, and a user actuated member for moving the snap-acting blade towards the bi-metal blade. The switch assembly provides an electrical path between the heating element and an electrical power supply cord without an additional separate user actuated power switch along the path.
Claims13
An electric toaster comprising:
- a heating element;
- and
- a combined user actuation and thermostat switch assembly connected to the heating element, the switch assembly comprising a thermostat having a bi-metal electrical contact blade and a snap-acting electrical contact blade, and a user actuated member for moving the snap-acting blade towards the bi-metal blade,
- wherein the switch assembly provides an electrical path between the heating element and an electrical power supply cord without an additional separate user actuated power switch along the path.
In an electrical heating appliance having a heating element and an electrical power supply cord having a plug for connection to an electrical outlet for supplying electricity to the heating element, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a combined user actuated power ON and thermostat switch assembly connecting the electrical power supply cord to the heating element, wherein the switch assembly comprises a user actuated member and a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a bi-metal electrical contact blade and a snap-acting electrical contact blade, wherein the user actuated member and the bi-metal electrical contact blade are adapted to move the snap-acting blade, and wherein the switch assembly provides an electrical path between the heating element and the power supply cord.
A method of controlling heating in an electrical heating appliance comprising steps of:
- providing the appliance with a thermostat having a snap-acting electrical contact blade and a bi-metal electrical contact blade;
- actuating a user actuated member to push against the snap-acting blade and thereby snap move the snap-acting blade from a first position into contact with the bi-metal blade at a second position, wherein an electrical path is provided through the thermostat to a heating element of the appliance;
- and
- the bi-metal blade moving with a temperature increase in the appliance to move the snap-acting blade to snap move away from the bi-metal blade back towards the first position,
- wherein the thermostat and user actuated member function as a power ON switch for the appliance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.