AU666892B2 - Safe toast - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5191 Regulation 3.2 Aft dAUS'JRALIA Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT In e toIT

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- I 1 J 4.7/ _I 610 1. 11111111- 7549 t?.4kP/: CAQ /0 L: 15 i C p~p The present invention relates to electric toasters and more particularly to electric toasters in which the article, for example, a slice of bread, to be toasted is inserted through a slot in the top of the toaster to lie between two heating elements which when energised toast both sides of the slice at the same time. Such toasters are normally equipped with electromechanical means that act to raise or eject the slice of bread and switch off the toaster once the toasting operation has been completed. Such toasters are for this reason commonly known as "pop-up" toasters and for convenience this term will be used in this specification While millions of such toasters are in use and generally prove satisfactory there have been a not insignificant number of cases in which fires have been caused by the article being toasted becoming jammed, for one reason or another, in the toaster with the result that the electrical supply to the heating elements is not switched off automatically and the toaster commences first of all, to char and thereafter, to ignite the article of flame.

In some cases, where a toaster has been placed beneath the bottom of a window curtain, the flames have set light to the curtain and caused a serious conflagration.

Proposals have been made to provide pop-up toasters with imperforate removable covers. While such covers will prevent the passage flames they have serious disadvantages in that they do not permit the escape of convection heat produced during the normal toasting operation and could give rise to excessive and damaging temperatures within the 00 toaster.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means for :"protecting against the effect of such fires. 0*0o :The present invention consists in a pop-up toaster having as a part thereof cover means that prior to the toasting operation can be caused to extend over the slot of the toaster, such means consisting of a metal cover having in it perforations or slots which while permitting the escape of heated air from the interior of the toaster during toasting acts as a barrier that will prevent the passage of flames produced by combustion of material in the toaster.

In order that the invention may be better understood and put into practice a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows cover means for a pop-up toaster according to the invention.

The accompanying drawing shows only the cover means as the toaster which it might form pa-' is of purely conventional construction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated there is a frame which in use is secured to the top of a pop-up toaster of any conventional construction. The base 10 is secured to the body of the toaster by means of four hook shaped clips 11. The base is in two parts joined by winged set screws 12 which can be screwed up to expand the base laterally and cause the clips to grip the body of the toaster.

To the base a cover 13 is attached by means of hinges 14, The cover 13 is of arcuate shape and is perforated with holes 15. The size of the holes is chosen so that while they permit the escape of convection heat from the toaster during toasting they will act to prevent the passage of flames produced by any conflagration occurring in the toaster. While the size of the holes 15 is not critical they must be small enough to prevent the passage of flames. In any particular construction this can be ensured by simple trial and error. The holes 15 need not be round but can be in the form of slots provided that they meet the requirements of the invention, The ends of the lid 13 are closed by in members 16 to one of which is attached a knob 17 by o..means of which the cover may be raised or lowered. Preferably, the cover means is made of stainless steel.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly claimed. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (2)

1. A pop-up toaster having cover means as a part thereof that prior to the toasting operation can be caused to extend over the slot of the toaster, such means consisting of a metal cover having in it perforations or slots which while permitting the escape of heated air from the interior of the toaster during toasting acts as a barrier that will prevent the passage of flames produced by combustion of material in the toaster.

2. A pop-up toaster as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover is hingedly attached to the toaster and is provided with means whereby it may be raised to give access to the slot of the toaster or moved to cover the slot. DATED this 2nd day of January 1996 BREVILLE R D PTY LTD Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. C* s C. *C e o fti ft ft