U.S. patent number 3,693,538 [Application Number 05/090,890] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-26 for electric oven toaster construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Paul V. Synder.
United States Patent |
3,693,538 |
Synder |
September 26, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
ELECTRIC OVEN TOASTER CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
An electric oven toaster construction wherein two sheet metal
side plates are provided with a plurality of slots and apertures
for readily mounting upper and lower reflectors, upper and lower
heating elements, and a front door of the oven toaster.
Inventors: |
Synder; Paul V. (Whitehall,
PA) |
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22224816 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/090,890 |
Filed: |
November 19, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/447; 99/391;
99/337; 219/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
37/0635 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
37/06 (20060101); A47j 037/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;99/447,339,385,389,391,393,401 ;126/19,273,275
;219/391,393,402,405,552,553 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scheel; Walter A.
Assistant Examiner: Henderson; Arthur O.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. two side plates spaced from each other, each of said side plates
having a plurality of slots formed in the upper portion thereof, an
aperture formed in each of the upper portions of said side plates
below said upper slots, an aperture formed in the front lower
portions of each of said side plates, and a plurality of slots
formed in the lower portions of each of said side plates;
b. an upper member having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs
positioned within the upper slots of said side plates;
c. an upper sheathed electric heating element including an
electrical resistance wire having two end portions which project
outwardly from opposite ends of a sheath which surrounds the
resistance wire;
d. a pair of insulators positioned over each of the ends of said
upper heating element in coaxial relationship therewith, each of
said insulators including an inner shoulder abutting an end of the
sheath and a reduced inner bore for permitting an end portion of
the heating element to extend therethrough, each of said insulators
also including a reduced outer portion for insertion into a
respective one of the upper apertures formed in said side plates,
and each of said insulators further including an outwardly
extending enlarged outer portion of a size larger than the
respective side plate aperture in which the insulator is mounted,
said enlarged outer portions being positioned against the inside
surfaces of said side plates for holding the insulators and the
sheathed heating element in assembled positions between the side
plates;
e. a front door having a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly
from the lower portion thereof, each of said pivot pins being
inserted within a respective aperture formed at the lower front of
each of said side plates for pivotally mounting said door on said
toaster oven; and
f. a lower member having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs
positioned within the lower slots of said side plates whereby all
of the parts are effectively held to each other, said sheathed
electric heating element being effectively confined and supported
between the insulators and the side plates.
2. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. two side plates spaced from each other, each of said side plates
having a plurality of slots formed in the upper portion thereof, a
circular aperture formed in each of the upper portions of said side
plates below said upper slots;
b. a grill-like food supporting rack supported in a generally
horizontal position between said side plates;
c. an upper reflector generally horizontally positioned above said
food supporting rack, said upper reflector including a generally
horizontal short rear surface, a rear reflecting surface extending
forwardly and upwardly from said generally horizontal rear surface,
a central generally horizontal surface extending forwardly from
said upwardly extending rear surface, a downwardly extending front
reflecting surface extending downwardly from said generally
horizontal central surface, and a short generally horizontal
surface extending forwardly from the downwardly extending front
surface, a tab extending outwardly from each of the side surfaces
of said generally horizontal short rear surfaces, and a pair of
tabs extending outwardly from the central generally horizontal
surface, said tabs being positioned within the upper slots of said
side plates;
d. an upper sheathed electric heating element having two ends, said
heating element being positioned below said rear reflecting surface
which extends forwardly and upwardly from said generally horizontal
short rear surface and behind the central surface so that said rear
reflecting surface reflects heat forwardly to the forward portion
of said grill-like food supporting rack; and
e. a pair of insulators positioned over each of the ends of said
upper electric heating element in coaxial relationship therewith,
each of said insulators being inserted into a respective one of the
upper circular apertures formed in said side plates.
3. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. two side plates spaced from each other, each of said side plates
having a plurality of slots formed in the upper portions thereof, a
circular aperture formed in each of the upper portion of said side
plates below said upper slots, a pair of apertures formed in each
of the lower portions of said side plates, and an aperture formed
in the front lower portions of said side plates;
b. an upper reflector having a plurality of outwardly extending
tabs positioned within the upper slots of said side plates;
c. an upper sheathed electric heating element having two ends;
d. a first pair of insulators positioned over each of the ends of
said upper electric heating element in coaxial relationship
therewith, each of said insulators being inserted into a respective
one of the upper circular apertures formed in said side plates;
e. a pair of lower sheathed electric heating elements;
f. a second pair of insulators, each of said second pair of
insulators having a pair of spaced apertures for receiving one of
the ends of said pair of heating elements, each of said second pair
of insulators being inserted within one of the pairs of apertures
formed in the lower portion of said side plates; and
g. a front door having a pair of pivot pins extending outwardly
from the lower portion thereof, each of said pivot pins being
inserted within a respective aperture formed at the lower front of
each of said side plates for pivotally mounted said door on said
toaster oven.
4. An electric oven toaster as defined in claim 3 wherein an
apertured baffle is positioned above said lower heating elements
for deflecting the heat radiating from said heating elements, said
baffle having two ends, and tabs formed at each of the ends of the
baffle for connecting the baffle to said second pair of
insulators.
5. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. a grill-like food supporting rack supported in a generally
horizontal position within the electric oven toaster;
b. an upper reflector generally horizontally positioned above said
food supporting rack, said upper reflector including a generally
horizontal short rear surface, a rear reflecting surface extending
forwardly and upwardly from said generally horizontal rear surface,
a central generally horizontal surface extending forwardly from
said upwardly extending rear surface, a downwardly extending front
reflecting surface extending downwardly from said generally
horizontal central surface, and a short generally horizontal
surface extending forwardly from the downwardly extending front
surface; and
c. an upper sheathed electric heating element positioned closely
adjacent to the upwardly extending rear reflecting surface, said
first upper heating element being positioned rearwardly of the
juncture line between the upwardly extending rear reflecting
surface and the central reflecting surface so that the heat from
said sheathed heating element reflected by both the upwardly
extending rear reflecting surface and the central reflecting
surface will be reflected toward the front of the food supporting
rack.
6. An electric oven toaster construction as defined in claim 5
wherein:
a. an upper front heating element is positioned closely adjacent to
the forward portion of said central horizontal reflecting surface,
said upper front heating element being positioned rearwardly of the
juncture line between the upper central horizontal reflecting
surface and the downwardly extending forward reflecting surface for
directing the heat emanating from the upper front heating element
generally rearwardly toward the bread rack, the heat reflected from
the forward upper heating element by the central reflecting surface
being directed from the front of the rack to the rear of the rack
with its greatest intensity at the forward portion of the rack and
the heat reflected by the forward downwardly extending reflecting
surface being directed from the front of the rack to the center
portion of the rack.
7. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. two side plates spaced from each other, each of said side plates
having a plurality of slots formed in the upper portion thereof, a
pair of apertures formed in each of the lower portions of said side
plates;
b. an upper reflector having a plurality of outwardly extending
tabs positioned within the upper slots of said side plates;
c. a pair of lower sheathed electric heating elements;
d. a pair of insulators, each of said insulators having a pair of
spaced apertures for receiving one of the ends of said pair of
heating elements, each of said pair of insulators being inserted
within one of the pairs of apertures formed in the lower portion of
said side plates; and
e. a baffle positioned above said pair of lower heating elements
for deflecting the heat radiating from said heating elements, said
baffle being connected to said insulators for securely holding the
baffle within said oven toaster.
8. An electric oven toaster as defined in claim 7 wherein each of
said insulators is formed of ceramic material and includes an
upwardly extending projecting lug, and complementary slots are
formed in the side portions of said baffle so that the baffle may
be placed on top of the insulators with the projecting lugs
extending through the slots formed in the baffle for connecting the
baffle to the insulators.
9. An electric oven toaster construction comprising:
a. two side plates spaced from each other, each of said side plates
having an aperture formed in the front lower portions thereof;
b. an electric heating element positioned between said side
plates;
c. an upper reflector positioned between said side plates above
said heating element;
d. a front door pivotally mounted between said side plates, said
front door including
an inner panel and an outer panel,
securing means for holding said inner panel and outer panel in
assembled position with respect to each other,
two pivot pin hinges mounted on the lower portion of said door
between said inner and outer panels, each of said pivot pin hinges
being inserted within one of the apertures formed in the front
lower portions of said side plates, and
an abutment positioned between said panels for preventing axial
movement of one of said pins when the panels are in assembled
position but permitting axial movement of said pin out of its
aperture in one of the side plates when the panels are separated
with respect to each other to thereby permit complete removal of
the door from the toaster without disassembling the side plates and
other toaster components.
10. An electric oven toaster construction as defined in claim 9
wherein a bracket is fixed to the inner panel of the door and an
outwardly extending flange on the bracket is provided as the
abutment for holding the removable pivot pin.
11. An electric oven toaster construction as defined in claim 9
wherein said removable pivot pin is U-shaped with one of the arms
of the U being longer than the other arm of the U, the end of the
longer arm of the U being inserted within the aperture in the side
plate, and wherein said abutment engages the generally horizontal
bottom arm of said U-shaped pivot pin for securely holding the long
arm portion of said "U" shaped pivot pin in the aperture when the
inner and outer panels of the door are held in assembled position
with respect to each other while permitting rotation of said
U-shaped pivot pin about its long arm portion for removing the
bottom arm of the pin from behind the abutment to thereby permit
quick removal of the U-shaped pivot pin when the inner and outer
panels of the door are separated from each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric oven toaster of the type
which may be used for toasting bread or cooking a number of
different food products such as sandwiches, pastry, frozen pizzas
and other instant foods.
Electric oven toasters conventionally include sheet metal frames,
side plates, heating elements, reflectors for reflecting heat to
the food being cooked and a front door which may be opened to
enable the food to be cooked to be inserted within the toaster and
removed from the oven toaster at the end of the cooking or toasting
cycle. While these electric oven toaster components have been
constructed, subassembled and assembled in a number of different
ways, it is especially desirable that they be sturdily constructed
and securely assembled in an electric oven toaster. It is also
desirable to provide an electric oven toaster which may be
manufactured at relatively low cost. It is most important therefore
to reduce to a minimum the number of parts required, the number of
manufacturing operations to be performed on each part and the
number of operations required to assembled the parts to each
other.
Such electric oven toasters also conventionally include a glass
window in the front door of the toaster, and it is also desirable
to provide a front door construction for such an electric oven
toaster which may be readily removed from the oven toaster and
disassembled for replacing the glass window or performing other
repairs on the toaster.
Electric oven toasters of the type having a horizontally disposed
toasting rack for supporting food to be cooked as varied as thin
slices of bread and relatively large TV type dinners present a
particular problem in providing just the right amount of heat to
evenly toast both sides of bread at the same time, and naturally,
when the oven toaster is used as an oven the heat pattern in the
toaster should be such as to properly and evenly cook a TV dinner
or frozen pizza, for example.
Accordingly, it is a particular object of this invention to provide
an arrangement of heat reflectors and heating elements in a
relatively large toaster oven which are so arranged that slices of
bread may be evenly toasted, and other food products such as
pastry, frozen pizzas and TV dinners may be readily cooked.
It is another object of this invention to prove an improved low
cost construction for an electric oven toaster having a minimum
number of parts which may be easily manufactured and assembled to
each other.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a front
door construction for an oven toaster having a minimum number of
parts which may be readily assembled to each other and incorporated
in an electric oven toaster, and which also may be quickly
disassembled from such an electric oven toaster without removing
any parts other than parts of the door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one of the aspects of this invention, two sheet
metal side plates are provided with a plurality of slots and
apertures for receiving structural, heating and reflecting
components of an oven toaster. A uniquely formed generally
horizontal upper reflector is provided with a plurality of
outwardly extending tabs for insertion within complementary slots
formed in the side plates for connecting the reflector to the side
plates. An aperture is provided in each of the side plates for
receiving a sheathed electric heating element and a ceramic
insulator which is coaxially positioned between the heating element
and the edge of the aperture. Apertures are also provided in the
front lower portions of each of the side plates for receiving pivot
pin hinges of a front door for the electric toaster. With this
unique construction it can be appreciated that all of the
aforementioned components may be readily be assembled to each other
in one operation by simply moving the side plates toward each other
to thereby hold the tabs, pivot pin hinges, ceramic insulators and
the ends of the sheathed heating element between the side
plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric oven toaster
construction embodying my invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary lower left front perspective view partially
broken away to show details of a pivot pin hinge arrangement for
the front door of the oven toaster shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the pivot pin hinge and
retaining bracket shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of the oven toaster
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the electric oven toaster taken
substantially on the plane of 5--5 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the lower heating element
assembly of the toaster oven shown in FIG. 1, the heating elements
being broken away to show details of construction and all of the
parts being shown in unattached positions.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary right front perspective view partially
broken away to show details of the right pivot hinge arrangement
for the front door of the oven toaster shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of one of the insulators for
holding one of the upper heating elements of the electric toaster
shown in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of FIG. 5 showing the reflection
system of the oven toaster.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing and first particularly to FIG. 1,
there is shown an electric oven toaster which includes a toasting
and oven chamber 2 in which is mounted a generally horizontal food
supporting rack 4 for holding the food to be cooked or the bread to
be toasted. The oven toaster includes a generally horizontal top
wall 8, generally parallel vertical side walls 10 and 12, and a
front opening 14 to provide access to the inside of the toaster
oven. A front door 16, pivoted at its lower portion 18, is provided
for closing the front opening. As shown in FIG. 1, the door 16 is
in its generally horizontal full open position. It can be
appreciated that the front wall 20 of the toaster is slanted
slightly so that the front door 16 is in a somewhat rearward
vertical position when it is fully closed, the door being tilted
slightly so that the top of the door is somewhat to the rear of the
lower portion of the door.
With particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the basic components of
my unique electric oven toaster may be readily observed. The
toaster includes two inner sheet metal side plates 22 and 24, upper
sheathed electric heating elements 26 and 28, an upper reflector
30, lower reflectors 31 and 33, lower heating elements 32 and 34,
and a lower slotted baffle member 36.
In accordance with my invention, the two sheet metal side plates 22
and 24, the upper reflector 30, upper heating elements 26 and 28,
lower reflectors 31 and 33, lower heating elements 32 and 34,
baffle member 36, and the front door 16 are all connected to each
other without the use of separate fastening means. As shown more
particularly in FIG. 4, the two sheet metal side plates 22 and 24
are provided with a plurality of slots and apertures for receiving
these structural components. Upper slots 40 are formed in the left
sheet metal side plate 22, and upper slots 42 are formed in the
right sheet metal side plate 24 for receiving connecting tabs 46
and 48, respectively, which are integrally formed on opposite sides
of the upper reflector 30. Spaced generally circular apertures 50
and 52 are formed in the left side plate 22 and generally circular
apertures 54 and 56 are formed in the right side plate 24 for
receiving the upper sheathed heating elements 26 and 28,
respectively, along with their ceramic insulators 60, 62, 64 and
66.
It can also be seen that a lower rear slot 68 is formed in the left
plate 22, and a lower rear slot 72 is formed in the right plate 24
for receiving tabs 76 and 78 which are integrally formed with the
lower rear reflector 31. Apertures 94 and 96 are integrally formed
in the side walls 22 and 24, respectfully, for readily receiving
the lower sheathed heating elements 32 and 34 along with their
ceramic insulators 75 and baffle 36. The front door 16 is provided
with hinge pivot pins 104 and 106, and suitable apertures 108 and
110 are integrally formed in the side plates 22 and 24 for
receiving the pivot pins. With this unique arrangement of parts, it
can be appreciated that all of the aforementioned components may be
readily assembled to each other in one operation by simply holding
the reflectors, the heating elements, the door and its pivot pins
adjacent to the appropriate slots and apertures, then moving the
side plates toward each other to thereby insert the tabs, pivot pin
hinges and ceramic insulators and the ends of the sheathed heating
elements into the appropriate slots and apertures in the side
plates 22 and 24, and then holding the side plates in spaced
relationship to each other. This may be accomplished by bending or
upsetting the tabs formed on the upper reflector and lower
reflector, and in addition, a lower front plate 80 may be connected
to the side plates 22 and 24 by screws or other securing means in
order to hold the side plates in assembled position.
In accordance with my invention, the insulators 60, 62, 64, 66 and
75 are shaped and positioned with respect to the sheathed heating
elements and the side plates 22 and 24 that they uniquely support
the heating elements 26, 28, 32 and 34 on the side plates and
insulate the heating elements from the side plates without
utilizing any separate securing means. The reflectors 30, 31 and 33
and the side plates 22 and 24 form a unitary construction which
holds the insulators and heating elements in position.
As shown more particularly in the lower portion of FIG. 6, each of
the elongated sheathed heating elements 26, 28, 32 and 34 includes
two electrically hot terminal pins 51 and 53 which project from
opposite ends of a metal sheath 55 which encircles the heating
element 57. In a conventional manner, suitable insulation 59 is
positioned between the heating element 57 and the sheath 55 for
insulating the heating element and the terminal pins from the metal
sheath 55. The insulation 59 is somewhat compacted at the ends of
the sheath in order to form a smooth generally curved surface of
insulation between the ends of the sheath 55 and the terminal pins
51 and 53.
The four insulators 60, 62, 64 and 66 for the upper heating
elements are preferably formed of ceramic material and are
generally cylindrical in shape. As shown in FIG. 8, they include an
enlarged outer cylindrical wall 61, a smaller outer cylindrical
wall 63 for insertion within one of the apertures 50, 52, 54 and 56
formed in the side plates, and a generally curved outer wall 65
connecting the enlarged outer cylindrical wall 61 with the smaller
outer cylindrical wall 63. The curved wall 65 is placed in abutting
relationship with the inner surface of the side plate in the
vicinity of the apertures 50, 52, 54 or 56 into which it is placed.
As shown in FIG. 8, each of the generally cylindrical insulators
60, 62, 64 and 66 includes an enlarged inner bore 67 for receiving
the outer cylindrical end surface of a sheath 55 of one of the
heating elements and a smaller cylindrical bore 69 for receiving
the terminal pin 53 of the heating element over which the insulator
is placed. A slanted inner wall 71 connects the enlarged bore 67
with the reduced bore 69 and serves as a seat for the end of the
sheath 55 and the compacted insulation 59 at the end of the
sheath.
As shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the lower heating
elements 32 and 34 are arranged one above the other, and a pair of
uniquely shaped insulators 75 are provided for suitably holding the
heating elements 32 and 34 along with their baffle 36. The
insulators 75 are shaped in the form of a generally rectangular
block and are provided with two reduced cylindrical outer surfaces
77 for reception in one of the pair of enlarged openings 94 or 96
which are formed in the side plates 22 and 24. The ceramic
insulators 75 for holding the lower heating elements 32 and 34 have
reduced and enlarged inner bores 100 and 102 which are generally
similar to the inner bores 67 and 69 of the cylindrical insulators
60, 62, 64 and 66 for receiving the projecting ends of the upper
heating elements.
The lower ceramic insulators 75 also support the heating element
baffle 36. As shown more particularly in FIG. 6, an upstanding lug
83 is formed on each of the ceramic insulators 75 for receiving
complementary slots 85 which are formed in end portions of the
baffle 36. With this arrangement, the baffle 36 may be placed on
top of the lower insulators with the projecting lug 83 extending
through the slots 85, and as shown more particularly in FIG. 6,
tabs 87 formed on the downwardly extending walls of the baffle may
be crimped over the end of a generally horizontal top wall 89 of
the insulators. The lower heating elements 32 and 34 along with
their insulators and baffle 36 may be subassembled to each other
for insertion as a unit within the apertures 94 and 96 formed in
the side plates 22 and 24, respectively. For this purpose, as shown
more particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, a suitable bracket 91 may be
utilized for connecting the central portions of the heating
elements to each other so that the lower heating element assembly
may be readily moved to its appropriate position with respect to
the side plates, reflectors and other elements of the toaster.
With this unique arrangement it can be appreciated that the
insulators very securely and effectively support the heating
elements on the electric toaster oven without the use of any
additional connecting devices. Moreover, the integrally formed
upwardly extending lug 83 on the lower insulators is provided for
supporting and mounting the baffle member 36. Thus, a low cost
construction having a minimum number of parts is achieved.
REFLECTION SYSTEM
In accordance with my invention, the upper reflector 30 is provided
with a plurality of generally flat heat reflecting surfaces, and
the sheathed heating elements 26 and 28 are uniquely arranged and
positioned with respect to the heat reflecting surfaces to reflect
heat from the heaters downwardly at an essentially uniform
intensity over the entire rack area. As shown more particularly in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper reflector 30 includes a generally flat
horizontal portion 39 at the rear of the reflector, a generally
flat portion 41 extending forwardly and upwardly at an angle with
respect to the generally flat reflector 39, an enlarged generally
flat horizontal reflector portion 43 extending forwardly from
reflector 41, a generally flat downwardly extending reflector
portion 45 which extends forwardly from reflector 43, and a
relatively short generally horizontal reflector portion 47 which
extends forwardly from the downwardly extending reflector portion
45. The forward and rearward upper heating elements 26 and 28 are
uniquely positioned with respect to each other and to the
reflecting surfaces of the upper reflector to provide for a uniform
reflection of the heat emanating from the heating elements toward
the food being cooked on the rack 4 below.
The heating elements and the reflecting surfaces are particularly
arranged with respect to each other so that the heat emanating from
the heating elements is evenly distributed to the toasting area.
Clearly, should such a condition not exist, a slice of bread being
toasted would be darker in that area where the heat may be
concentrated due to the reflection of both heating elements to the
same area. To avoid concentrated reflections to the same area and
to provide a very even distribution of the reflected heat, the apex
of an angle or the line 49 which is formed by the juncture of the
upper horizontal reflecting portion 43 and the upwardly extending
rear reflector portion 41 is positioned forwardly of the heating
element 28. By this construction, the heat reflected by reflector
41 will appear from the rear of the rack to a forward portion of
the rack, and the heat reflected by the upper horizontal reflector
43 will also be directed toward the forward portion of the rack.
The heat of heating element 26 reflected by reflector 43 will be
directed from the front of the rack 4 to the rear of the rack with
its greatest intensity at the forward portion of the rack. The heat
reflected by the reflector 45 extends from the front of the rack to
the center portion of the rack. With this arrangement, the
reflected heat cooperates with the heat directly radiated from the
heating elements to provide an even distribution of heat at the top
of the food rack.
In accordance with my invention, the two lower sheathed heating
elements 32 and 34 are uniquely arranged with respect to each other
and to a uniquely shaped and slotted baffle member 36 to provide
just the right distribution of the convection heat currents from
the heaters upwardly to the slices of bread being toasted or the
food being cooked. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 6 and 9, the
heating elements 32 and 34 are generally vertically arranged with
respect to each other and the baffle 36 is positioned above the
upper heating element 32. The baffle 36 includes a generally
horizontal wall 79 and two downwardly extending vertical walls 80
and 81. A plurality of longitudinally arranged slots 82 are formed
in the upper horizontal surface 79 of the baffle. With this
construction, some convection currents along with some small amount
of radiant heat may flow through the slots 82 formed in the upper
surface of the baffle.
From the foregoing description and from the reflection lines and
convection heat current flow illustrated in FIG. 9, it can be
appreciated that the heat pattern in the toaster allows just the
right amount of heat to uniformly appear at both sides of the food
toasting rack 4 in order to evenly toast slices of bread or evenly
cook a TV dinner or other food which may be placed on the food
rack. It can be further appreciated that this is achieved with the
use of a minimum number of parts which may be readily connected to
each other. The radiant heat and the reflected heat from the upper
heating elements 26 and 28 is uniformly applied at the food
toasting rack 4 by appropriately bending the upper reflector 30 to
the shape illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9. Moreover, the heating
elements 26 and 28 are readily positioned at the desired distance
and angle from the various reflecting portions of the reflector by
simply locating the apertures 50, 52, 54 and 56 at appropriate
locations in the sheet metal side plates 22 and 24. Thus, an
exceedingly simple, yet effective and reliable heating arrangement
has been provided which is suitable for cooking items as large as
frozen TV dinners.
FRONT DOOR CONSTRUCTION
My reliable and low cost front door construction for an oven
toaster having a minimum number of parts which may be readily
assembled to each other, and which may be also quickly disassembled
from the oven toaster without removing any parts other than parts
of the door, will now be more particularly described.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7, the basic components for the front
door include an inner sheet metal panel member 150, an outer panel
member 152, a glass window 154, a handle 156 and pivot hinge pins
104 and 106. The parts are specifically constructed and arranged so
that the glass panel 154 may be removed and replaced without
performing any disassembly operations on the toaster itself. As
shown, both the inner panel member 150 and the outer panel member
152 are formed of sheet metal and include enlarged openings 162 and
164, respectively. Raised flanges 166 and 168 are formed along the
outer periphery of both of the panel members and raised flanges 170
and 172 are formed along the periphery of the enlarged openings 162
and 164, respectively, of the panel members. With this arrangement,
it can be appreciated that the door will have sufficient thickness
to receive the glass window 154 and two hinge pin brackets 174 and
176.
As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the hinge pin
brackets are uniquely shaped to perform a plurality of functions.
The left hinge pin bracket 176 is constructed so that a uniquely
formed hinge pin 180 may be readily removed from the bracket and
door assembly in order to be able to remove the door components
from the toaster oven without disassembling any of the other
components of the oven toaster. As shown in FIG. 3, the left
bracket 176 includes a generally flat wall portion 182 which may be
utilized to securely fix the bracket to the inner panel member 150
by means of a rivet 184 or other suitable securing means. The
bracket also includes outwardly extending flange portions 186, 188,
190 and 192. As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the flange
portions 186 and 188 are utilized for forming two bearing apertures
194 and 196 which are arranged in line with a suitable slot 198
which is formed in the outer peripheral flange of the inner panel
member in order to receive the hinge pivot pin 180. Raised flange
192 is provided as an abutment portion for engaging a horizontal
bottom arm 200 of the generally U-shaped pivot pin 180 to prevent
axial slidable movement of the pin 180 out of the apertures 194 and
196 formed in the bracket flanges and aperture 108 formed in the
side panel of the toaster oven.
With particular reference to FIG. 3, it can be appreciated that the
left hinge pin is generally U-shaped and includes two generally
parallel arms 202 and 204, a bottom arm 200 and a short arm 206
arranged generally perpendicular to the plane of the other arms.
The arm 206 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the front
door in order to suitably confine the hinge pin between the front
door panel members without rattling. In accordance with my
invention, the left hinge pin 180 is initially assembled within the
front door in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, and the completed
door is assembled to the side panels 22 and 24 by inserting the end
portions of the long arm 202 of the hinge pin into the aperture 108
formed in the side plate 22 of the toaster oven.
As shown more particularly in FIG. 7, the right hinge pin bracket
174 is generally similar to the left hinge pin bracket; however,
should it not be desired to utilize a removable hinge pin, a fixed
hinge pin 106 may be suitable riveted to the upwardly extending arm
210 of the right bracket.
Both of the brackets 174 and 176 include generally flat flange
portions 210 and 212, respectively, for holding the glass panel 154
between the outer panel and the inner panel. With reference to
FIGS. 5, 7 and 2, it can be seen that these flanges cooperate with
inturned tab 163 on the outer panel member 152 to restrict vertical
up and down movement of the glass panel 154. Upwardly extending
flange portions 219 and 190 are integrally formed with the brackets
174 and 176, respectively, for restricting leftward or rightward
movement of the glass panel member 154, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7.
The flange arms 220 and 190 of the brackets 174 and 176 also
perform the additional function of pivotally mounting links 232 and
230, respectively, for controlling operation of the door.
With this unique arrangement of parts, it can be appreciated that
the door may be readily constructed by simply riveting the hinge
pin brackets 174 and 176 to the inner panel of the door, inserting
the hinge pin 104 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, and
placing the glass panel 154 between the flanges 219, 190, 210 and
212 of the brackets.
As shown in FIG. 1, in order to present a neat outer appearance,
the outer panel 152 is constructed to be slightly larger than the
inner panel 150 so that the peripheral flanges 166 of the inner
panel are positioned inside of the peripheral flanges 168 of the
outer panel 152.
With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, suitable enlarged
openings 250 are formed in the outer panel, and suitable screw
receiving apertures 254 are formed in the inner panel for receiving
inwardly extending bosses 260 which may be integrally formed with
the door handle. Thus, the door handle 156 and the inner and outer
panel members 150 and 152 may be securely fixed to each other by
simply placing the bosses 260 of the door handle through the
enlarged apertures 250 of the outer panel, and inserting screws 252
or other suitable securing means through the apertures 254 of the
inner panel and into the apertures 264 which may be performed in
the door handle bosses 260. Accordingly, the completed door is held
together by two screws 252.
Should it be desired to remove the door from the toaster oven, it
is merely necessary to open the door as shown in FIG. 1, unscrew
the screws 252, fold the inner panel away from the front panel 152,
remove the glass plate 154, grasp the upper arm 180 of the left
hinge pin and rotate the pin forwardly about the long arm 202 until
the bottom arm 200 of the pin is removed behind the abutment 192.
Then the left pivot pin may be pulled to the right to slide the
long arm 202 out of the apertures 108 of the side plate and the
apertures 194 and 196 of the bracket. The links 230 and 232 may
then be disconnected from a door operating mechanism 234 by simply
moving the ends of the links 230 and 232 inwardly to slide the
aperture bearings 231 and 233 of the inks off of the operating pins
235 of the door operating mechanism 234. Then the left portion of
the inner panel is tilted somewhat forwardly and to the left to
slide the fixed pivot pin 106 out of the aperture 110 formed in the
right side plate 24. Naturally the reverse procedure may be
followed in order to reassemble the front door to the oven
toaster.
With this unique arrangement of parts, it can be appreciated that
upon initial manufacture the oven door may be completely assembled
as a subassembly and then connected to the toaster side plates 22
and 24 at the same time that the heating elements and reflectors
are connected to the side plates. It can also be seen that after
manufacture of the toaster has been completed, the oven door may be
disassembled from the toaster and reassembled to the toaster by
simply removing the two screws 252 and separating the door parts
without disturbing the side plates 22 and 24 or other basic
components of the electric toaster oven. Thus, an exceedingly
simple and unique oven toaster door construction having a minimum
number of parts has been achieved.
* * * * *