Automatic electric muffin maker

#The present invention relates to home cooking appliances and, more particularly, to an automatic electric muffin maker for baking muffins and related foodstuffs.

#Batch type appliances for baking foodstuffs from batter are known in the prior art. One example of such an appliance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,949 to Ferrara, Jr. et al. which provides a batch baker comprising a compact oven for baking breads, muffins and other baked items of a general disc shape. This device includes a housing in which a lower cooking cavity having a plurality of alternating vertically aligned disk-shaped members and semicircular troughs for receiving batter is disposed. A serpentine heating element is configured to pass between adjacent troughs such that heat may be applied to each disc face, which defines the vertical sides of the muffin.

#Another example of a batch type appliance for baking comestibles from batter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,513 to Carbon provides a cone baker including a mold assembly and a core assembly which are pivotally connected to a frame. Heating elements are positioned in the mold and the core assemblies to heat batter, which is poured into the mold cavity to form the cone or related food item of a tapered cylindrical shape.

#The novel features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as other features and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures wherein:

#FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the present automatic muffin maker;

#FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the present muffin maker showing the orientation of section plane 8-8;

#With further reference to the drawings, there is shown therein an automatic muffin maker in accordance with the present invention, indicated generally at 10 and illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The present muffin maker 10 is comprised of a housing assembly, indicated generally at 20 including an upper housing section or lid member 30 having a handle 32 and a lower housing section 40.

#The lid member 30 and the lower housing section 40 are provided with interconnecting means, including but not limited to, the following structures. In the embodiment shown the lid member 30 and the lower housing section 40 are interconnected by a pivoting hinge mechanism, indicated generally at 50 as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

#The housing assembly 20 is mounted on a base support plate, indicated generally at 60, whereon a temperature selector switch 65 is disposed in relation to numerical indicia 62 (FIG. 1A) for temperature regulation. A power ON/OFF indicator light 61 is also provided on the base support plate 60. In operation the automatic muffin maker 10 is electrically connected to a standard 110 volt power source by power cord 80.