Automatic breadmaker with interior lamp

• US 5,568,764 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Bend Housewares LLC (Focus Products Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: West Bend Company LLC
• Inventors: Belongia, David C., Kruepke, Annette T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/463,721
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 99/348, 99/341, 99/467, 99/468, 99/474, 99/476
• US Class Current: 99/341
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 7/005 in combination with mixing or kneading devices

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic breadmaker of the type having an oven chamber for baking bread. The chamber is formed by a floor and wall members, including top, front, rear and side wall members. The breadmaker also has a pan in the oven chamber for containing a bread product. The improvement comprises a lamp secured to the top wall member, whereby light is directed downwardly to illuminate the bread product during baking. Preferably, the lamp is over the pan and the breadmaker includes a barrier interposed between the lamp and the region from which a user views the contents of the pan. Unreflected light from the lamp is thereby substantially prevented from entering the viewing region and impairing the user'"'"'s view of the bread product.

Claims

1. In an automatic breadmaker of the type having an oven chamber for baking bread, the chamber formed by a door, a floor and wall members, including top, front, rear and side wall members, and a pan in the oven chamber for containing a bread product, the improvement wherein:

the door is mounted for movement with respect to the top wall member; and

a lamp is secured away from the door and in a fixed

position with respect to the rear wall member, whereby light is directed downwardly to illuminate the bread product during baking.

2. The automatic breadmaker of claim 1 wherein the lamp is substantially centered over the pan.

3. The automatic breadmaker of claim 1 further including a viewing window forward of the pan and at an angled position with respect to the floor.

4. The automatic breadmaker of claim 3 wherein the lamp is substantially centered over the pan.

5. The automatic breadmaker of claim 3 wherein:

a user views the bread product from a viewing region and at an angle with respect to the pan; and

the breadmaker includes a light barrier interposed between the lamp and the viewing region and fixed with respect to the floor,

whereby unreflected light from the lamp is substantially prevented from entering the viewing region.

6. In an automatic breadmaker of the type having an oven chamber for baking bread and a pan in the chamber for containing a bread product, the improvement comprising a lamp over the pan, such lamp being fixed with respect to the chamber, being mounted above the and centered laterally with respect to such pan, thereby directing light downwardly onto the bread product.

7. The automatic breadmaker of claim 6 further including a viewing window forward of the lamp.

8. The breadmaker of claim 6 further including a door and wherein the lamp is stationary when the door moves.