Hamilton Beach/proctor-Silex, Inc.

John J Datovech

Nhiem Viet Nguyen

James Robert Gaynor

Jim Gaynor

An electric toaster includes a chassis with one or more toasting compartments. At least one electric heater is located in each compartment, and a cage is positioned in each compartment adjacent the heater. The cage includes lateral sides with a gap therebetween for receiving a food item and stationary supports that extend into the gap from the lateral sides for supporting the food item during a toasting operation. The electric toaster also includes a movable food support rod that is positioned in the toasting compartment for movement between an upper rest position and a lower toasting position below the stationary supports. The movable food support rod is adapted to support the food item above the stationary support and to transfer support of the food item to the stationary support when the movable food support rod travels below the stationary supports. A switch is positioned for activation by downward movement of the movable support from the stationary supports toward the lower toasting position to energize the electric heater. The switch is deactivated upon upward movement of the movable support from the lower toasting position toward the stationary supports to deenergize the at least one electric heater before reengagement of the movable support with the food item. In this manner, operation of the toaster can be stopped at the end of a toasting cycle independently of the presence or absence of a food jam.

Toaster chassis assembly with improved food support and safety mechanism

An electric toaster with a safety shut-off mechanism includes a carriage bracket with a user-manipulated knob that is movable between an upper rest position and a lower actuation position. A food support member is supported by the carriage bracket between the upper rest position and a lower toasting position. An electromagnet is connected to one of the chassis and the carriage bracket for holding the carriage bracket in the actuation position when the electromagnet is energized. A switch is movable to a closed position upon downward movement of the carriage bracket to the actuation position to energize the electromagnet and heating elements associated with the toaster. The carriage bracket is upwardly movable upon deenergization of the electromagnet to open the switch between the actuation position and the lower toasting position to deenergize the heating elements. With this arrangement, the heating elements are deenergized while the food support member is in the lower toasting position to thereby prevent further operation of the heating elements in the event of a food jam.

Toaster chassis assembly with improved safety device

A toaster having a ferromagnetic armature movable between an engaged position adjacent to a solenoid and closing a switch and a disengaged position away from the solenoid and opening the switch. A displacement assembly is adapted to move from an up position through a toasting position to a down position, whereupon the displacement assembly displaces the armature from the disengaged position to the engaged position, closing the switch and energizing a heating element and the solenoid, thus retaining the armature in the engaged position. The armature engages the displacement assembly when the armature is in its engaged position to retain the displacement assembly in the intermediate toasting position. A timer de-energizes the solenoid upon completion of toasting, releasing the armature to return to the disengaged position, thus opening the switch and causing de-energization of the heating element independently of the displacement assembly returning to the up position.

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Ashland, VA, United States of America

John J Datovech