Toastmaster, Inc.

Mcgraw-Edison Company

Robert H Clark

Joel J Terrell, Iii

An apparatus is provided for serving the dual purposes of baking bread and for churning butter. The apparatus includes a processing chamber which releasably receives a pan which retains the ingredients to be processed. The pan includes a paddle which rotates to stir bread and to churn butter. The processing chamber further includes a heating element surrounding the pan which heats the pan during a bread baking operation. A power controller controls a motor which drives the stirring paddle and controls the heater during a bread baking operation. A switch is supplied between the power controller and the power supply to disconnect the power controller during a butter churning operation. The switch further connects the motor which drives the stirring paddle directly to the power source when the switch is set in a butter churning position.

Combined bread baker and butter churn

A control system for a humidifier having operative components housed within a casing. The casing includes an upper portion which is removable to provide access to the interior such that a refillable water supply bottle may be removed from, and placed into, the casing. A first control system senses depletion of the water within the water bottle and activates an indicator or disables operation of the humidifier. This first control system includes a spring biased switch which presses laterally against a side of the water bottle. When the weight of the water bottle has sufficiently decreased, due to dispensing of the water therefrom, the spring bias may overcome the weight of the bottle to tip it slightly laterally, enabling the switch. A second control system is an interlock which disables operation of the humidifier upon the casing being open. A finger element extends downward from the lid of the casing and engages against a switch mounted within the casing. When the lid is removed to inspect the interior, or remove and replace the water bottle, the finger is removed from abutment against the switch, which allows the switch to open.

Control system for humidifiers

A long wavelength counter top radiation oven in which the top and bottom surfaces of the oven cavity are formed by metal radiator panels each heated by an electric resistance heating element. A low temperature cured ceramic surface coating applied to each panel gives it a surface emissivity near unity to enhance the thermal efficiency of the oven. Separate high temperature thermostats control the upper and lower heating elements independently.

Method of effecting long wavelength radiation cooking

An electric skillet or the like cooking vessel includes a cooking pan and a removably attachable insulative handle having a temperature control assembly with a spring loaded temperature sensing 'shoe'. One portion of the side wall of the pan defines a raised temperature sensing area against which the 'shoe' is pressed upon joining the pan and handle. A lip extends from the raised area and forms a recess between the lip and sidewall of the pan. A first end of a torsion spring mounted on the handle for rotation is received in the recess for engagement with the lip subsequent to joining the handle and pan and rotating the spring to a first, locked position. The opposite end of the spring is received beneath a shoulder provided on the handle, thereby twisting the torsion spring to cause the first end thereof to forcibly engage the lip. Release of the opposite end of the torsion spring by rotation in the opposite direction disengages the first end of the spring and lip thereby to unlock the handle and pan, permitting the two to be separated.

Electric skillet having removably attachable handle

A donut making appliance includes upper and lower electrically heated grids movable into and out of mating engagement along first surfaces. Each of the first surfaces of the grids includes a predeterminedly placed annular recess having a central core. Upon bringing the grids into engagement, the recesses are aligned to define a toroidally shaped cavity in which cake or the like batter is placed for baking donut shaped cakes. The central core of the lower grid defines a well preferably having the shape of a truncated cone, open at the first surface of the grid. The central core of the upper grid comprises a plunger having a shape complementary to that of the well and extending outwardly from the first surface of the grid, for receipt in the well upon engagement of the grids. The plunger-well arrangement ensures the alignment of the recesses and the displacement of cooking oil deposited in the well upon bringing the grids into engagement. The cooking oil is displaced from the well upon receipt of the plunger therein, thereby covering the cake batter with oil to produce a finished crust on the donuts upon baking.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MO, United States of America

Robert H Clark