Lifting mechanism for a toaster

• US 6,415,709 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lincat Group, PLC (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lincat Group, PLC (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Jackson, Andrew Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US09/921,990
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 993/27--33, 993/85--91, 993/93, 993/96, 994/00--02, 219/492, 219/494, 219/497, 219/489, 219/521, 219/525, 219/528, 392/365, 392/337, 392/373, 392/375, 426/523
• US Class Current: 99/391
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0814 with automatic bread ejection or timing means A47J37/0857 takes precedence

Abstract

A lifting mechanism for a toaster comprises a first arm (2) pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis (8) for movement between a lowered position and a raised position; a second arm (3) pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis (9) spaced from and parallel to the first horizontal axis for movement between a lowered position and a raised position; and a raising device connected to at least one of the arms for raising it from its lowered position in its raised position. The arms (2, 3) cross one another at cut outs (4, 5) intermediate their length and interact so that movement of the first arm (2) from its lowered position to its raised position causes movement of the second arm (3) from its raised position to its lowered position.

Claims

1. A lifting mechanism for a toaster comprising:

a first arm mounted for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, upwardly inclined;

a second arm mounted for movement between a lowered position and a raised, upwardly inclined position;

and raising means connected to at least one of the arms for raising it from its lowered position to its raised position;

wherein the arms cross one another intermediate their length and interact with each other such that movement of one of the arms from its lowered position to its raised position causes movement of the other arm from its lowered position to its raised position.

2. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first arm is pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis for movement between the lowered and raised portions and the second arm is pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis spaced from and parallel to the first horizontal axis for movement between the lowered and raised positions.

3. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm is formed as a flat elongate finger having a cut out intermediate its length and wherein the arms cross over one another at the cut out portions such that the arms substantially overlie one another when in their lowered positions.

4. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the raising means is connected to the first arm and wherein one end of the cut out in the first arm defines a shoulder which underlies the second arm and raises the second arm when the first arm is raised.

5. A lifting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of first and second arms is provided with the pairs operating in vertical planes parallel to and spaced from one another.

6. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein in each case the first and second arms are formed integrally with one another, each extending from a connecting bar.

7. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein each connecting bar has bent over portions at each end by means of which the bar and associated fingers is pivotally mounted about its horizontal axis.

8. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for raising the arms is manually operable.

9. A lifting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for raising the arms is electromechanically operable.