US 6,202,544 B1Granted

Flatbread maker with movable lower plate and sliding actuating arm

OwnerMarvin G. Martinezinventor

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Abstract

The flatbread maker includes a support structure which has a base portion, a short rear portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion angles upwardly as it extends forwardly from the rear portion, wherein the base portion includes a central track which extends inwardly from the front edge for receiving a roller element portion of an actuating arm. The actuating arm is generally L-shaped, having a roller element at the joining portion between vertical and lower leg portions thereof, the roller element being configured and arranged to slide along the track when the vertical leg portion of the arm is rotated downwardly, such that the roller element moves along the track and the free end of the lower leg moves upwardly, forcing a lower flatbread plate which is hinged to the rear portion of the support structure to rotate thereabout into a position adjacent an angled lower surface of the upper portion. This results in the pressing, heating and partial cooking of the flatbread.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A flatbread maker, comprising:

a support structure having a base portion and an angled upper portion which joins with the base portion at a rear edge part thereof, wherein the base portion includes a track for receiving a roller element, the track extending from a front edge of the base portion inwardly of the base portion a selected distance;
a lower flatbread plate, hinged to the support structure at the rear thereof for rotation thereabout;
an actuating arm having a generally L-shaped configuration, the arm having a roller element at a corner thereof, the roller element configured and arranged to slide along said track in the base portion of the support structure, wherein, when downward pressure is applied against a free end of the actuating arm, the roller element moves along the track, such that the other end of the actuating arm moves upwardly, forcing the lower flatbread plate to rotate into a position adjacent the angled surface of the upper portion, tending to flatten dough positioned therebetween into a flatbread portion of desired dimensions;
and
a heating element in at least one of (a) the lower flatbread plate and (b) the angled surface so as to heat and at least partially cook the flatbread element.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.