Toaster with improved safety device

• US 6,380,520 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Nhiem Viet
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US09/888,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 219/392, 219/412-414, 219/385, 219/386, 993/27, 993/32, 993/37, 993/38
• US Class Current: 219/392
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0814 with automatic bread ejection or timing means A47J37/0857 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety shut-off device for an electric toaster having a food support member includes at least one switch that is movable between a closed position to thereby energize one or more heating elements associated with the toaster and an open position for deenergizing the at least one heating element. A rotatable support beam is pivotally connected to the chassis. An armature is connected to one end of the beam and a first locking member is connected to an opposite end of the beam. A second locking member associated with the food support member engages the first locking member during a toasting operation. During a toasting operation, the beam is rotated to close the at least one switch and an electromagnet is energized to hold the beam, and thus the food support member, in a toasting position. At the end of the toasting operation, the electromagnet is deenergized, causing the beam to rotate and open the switch to deenergize the at least one heating element and release the food support member. Rotation of the beam to open the switch and deenergize of the at least one heating element is independent of movement or non-movement of the food support member. In this manner, the toaster does not continue to operate in the event of a food jam.

Claims

1. An electric toaster comprising:

a chassis having at least one toasting compartment;

at least one heating element located in the compartment;

a food support member positioned in the compartment for supporting a food item, the food support member being biased toward an upper rest position and being movable between a lower toasting position and the upper rest position;

an electromagnet connected to the chassis for holding the food support member in the lower toasting position when energized;

at least one switch movable between a closed position to thereby energize the at least one heating element and an open position for deenergizing the at least one heating element;

a rotatable support beam pivotally connected to the chassis for pivotal movement between a first pivot position wherein the rotatable support beam moves the switch to the closed position and a second pivot position wherein the switch is in the open position;

an armature connected at a first end of the rotatable support beam for pivotal movement therewith between the first and second pivot positions, the armature being held by the electromagnet in the first pivot position when the electromagnet is energized and being separated from the electromagnet in the second pivot position when the electromagnet is deenergized;

a first locking member at a second end of the rotatable support beam opposite the first end; and

a second locking member operably connected to the food support member for movement therewith;

wherein the first and second locking members interengage and the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the first pivot position when the food support member is moved toward the lower toasting position thereby closing the switch and energizing the at least one heating element and, upon energization of the electromagnet, holding the food support member against movement in the lower toasting position.

2. An electric toaster according to claim 1, wherein deenergization of the electromagnet causes the rotatable support beam to pivot to the second pivot position to disengage the first and second locking members and open the switch to deenergize the at least one heating element independent of movement or non-movement of the food support member.

3. An electric toaster according to claim 2, wherein the first locking member comprises a catch that extends beyond the second end of the rotatable support beam.

4. An electric toaster according to claim 3, wherein the second locking member comprises a hook that engages the catch when the food support member is in the lower toasting position to thereby prevent movement of the food support member toward the upper rest position when the electromagnet is energized.

5. An electric toaster according to claim 4, wherein the catch is constructed of a flexible material.

6. An electrical toaster according to claim 5, wherein the catch is supported by the rotatable support beam against flexure in one direction to thereby stop movement of the hook toward the upper rest position, and is free to flex away from the rotatable support beam during movement of the hook toward the lower toasting position.

7. An electric toaster according to claim 6, and further comprising a leaf spring connected to the rotatable support member, the leaf spring including a first ring-shaped portion and a second portion that comprises the catch.

8. An electric toaster according to claim 7, wherein movement of the hook toward the upper rest position causes the ring-shaped portion to flex against a surface of the chassis adjacent the ring-shaped portion so that the hook can move past the catch during hook movement toward the upper rest position.

9. An electric toaster according to claim 8, and further comprising:

a carriage bracket connected to the food support member for movement therewith; and

a compression spring extending between the chassis and the carriage bracket for biasing the food support member toward the upper rest position.

10. An electric toaster according to claim 9, wherein a bias force of the compression spring is greater than a bias force of the ring-shaped portion of the leaf spring.

11. An electric toaster according to claim 2, wherein the rotatable support beam pivots from the first pivot position to the second pivot position under gravity.

12. An electric toaster according to claim 11, wherein the rotational support beam pivots about a pivot point that is located between a center of the rotational support beam and the second end.

13. An electric toaster according to claim 1, wherein the rotational support beam pivots about a pivot point that is located between a center of the rotational support beam and the second end.

14. An electric toaster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises:

a pair of spaced contact fingers, one of the contact fingers being relatively movable with respect to the other contact finger between the closed position where the fingers are in contact with each other to thereby energize the at least one heating element, and the open position where the fingers are spaced from each other for deenergizing the at least one heating element, the rotatable support beam being operably engageable with the one contact finger to move the one contact finger to the closed position when the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the first pivot position and permitting movement of the one contact finger to the open position when the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the second pivot position.

15. An electric toaster according to claim 14, and further comprising a circuit board supported by the chassis adjacent the first end of the rotatable support beam, with the spaced fingers extending from the circuit board in cantilevered fashion.

16. A safety shut-off device for an electric toaster having a food support rod movable in a toasting chamber between an upper rest position and a lower toasting position and at least one heating element located in the toasting chamber, the safety shut-off device comprising:

a switch movable between a closed position to thereby energize the at least one heating element and an open position for deenergizing the at least one heating element

a rotatable support beam pivotally connected to the chassis for pivotal movement between a first pivot position wherein the rotatable support beam moves the switch into the closed position and a second pivot position wherein the switch is in the open position;

an armature connected at a first end of the rotatable support beam for pivotal movement therewith between the first and second pivot positions;

a first locking member connected at a second end of the rotatable support beam opposite the first end for pivotal movement therewith between the first and second pivot positions;

a second locking member adapted for movement with the food support rod and engageable with the first locking member in the lower toasting position for holding the food support rod in the lower toasting position;

an electromagnet fixedly positioned with respect to the armature for engaging and holding the armature when energized and releasing the armature when deenergized to thereby hold and release the food support in the lower toasting position;

wherein the first and second locking members interengage and the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the first pivot position when the food support member is moved toward the lower toasting position to thereby close the switch and energize the at least one heating element and, upon energization of the electromagnet, holding the food support member against movement in the lower toasting position.

17. A safety shut-off device according to claim 16, wherein deenergization of the electromagnet causes the rotatable support beam to pivot to the second pivot position to disengage the first and second locking members and open the switch to deenergize the at least one heating element independent of movement or non-movement of the food support member.

18. A safety shut-off device according to claim 17, wherein the first locking member comprises a catch that extends beyond the second end of the rotatable support beam.

19. A safety shut-off device according to claim 18, wherein the second locking member comprises a hook that engages the catch when the food support member is in the lower toasting position to thereby prevent movement of the food support member toward the upper rest position when the electromagnet is energized.

20. A safety shut-off device according to claim 19, wherein the catch is constructed of a flexible material.

21. A safety shut-off device according to claim 20, wherein the catch is supported by the rotatable support beam against flexure in one direction to thereby stop movement of the hook toward the upper rest position, and is free to flex away from the rotatable support beam during movement of the hook toward the lower toasting position.

22. A safety shut-off device according to claim 21, and further comprising a leaf spring connected to the rotatable support member, the leaf spring including a first ring-shaped portion and a second portion that comprises the catch.

23. A safety shut-off device according to claim 22, wherein movement of the hook toward the upper rest position causes the ring-shaped portion to flex so that the hook can move past the catch during hook movement toward the upper rest position.

24. A safety shut-off device according to claim 17, wherein the rotatable support beam pivots from the first pivot position to the second pivot position under gravity.

25. A safety shut-off device according to claim 24, wherein the rotational support beam pivots about a pivot point that is located between a center of the rotational support beam and the second end.

26. A safety shut-off device according to claim 16, wherein the rotational support beam pivots about a pivot point that is located between a center of the rotational support beam and the second end.

27. A safety shut-off device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one switch comprises:

a pair of spaced contact fingers, one of the contact fingers being relatively movable with respect to the other contact finger between the closed position where the fingers are in contact with each other to thereby energize the at least one heating element, and the open position where the fingers are spaced from each other for deenergizing the at least one heating element, the rotatable support beam being operably engageable with the one contact finger to move the one contact finger to the closed position when the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the first pivot position and permitting movement of the one contact finger to the open position when the rotatable support beam is pivoted toward the second pivot position.

28. A safety shut-off device according to claim 27, and further comprising a circuit board supported by the chassis adjacent the first end of the rotatable support beam, with the spaced fingers extending from the circuit board in cantilevered fashion.