US 12,232,648 B2
Toaster and convection oven with variable controls
Andrew J. Klein, Westport, CT (US)
Assigned to Conair Corporation, Stamford, CT (US)
Filed by Andrew J. Klein, Westport, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2014, as Appl. No. 14/447,885.
Prior Publication US 2016/0029829 A1, Feb. 4, 2016
Int. Cl. A47J 37/08 (2006.01); A47J 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 37/0641 (2013.01) [A47J 37/08 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toaster and convection oven, comprising:
a housing having an internal compartment;
a heating mechanism in thermal communication with said compartment and configured to heat said compartment;
a user interface including a plurality of user controls to be manipulated by a user, said user controls configured to allow independent selection of a first and a second cooking mode as part of a dual mode cooking method;
a control unit operatively connected to said user interface and to said heating mechanism, said control unit being configured to receive a signal generated by said user interface and to control operation of said heating mechanism in dependence upon said signal, thereby executing said first cooking mode and said second cooking mode sequentially without further input from said user;
a display unit in communication with said control unit, said display unit selectively displaying parameters of said first and said second cooking modes;
said heating mechanism includes at least one upper heating element adjacent to a top of said heating compartment, said at least one upper heating element being operable at a first wattage between zero and full power, and at least one lower heating element adjacent to a bottom of said heating compartment, said at least one lower heating element being operable at a second wattage between zero power and full power;
wherein said control unit and said user interface are configured such that operation of said user interface selectively controls said display unit to display said parameters of said second cooking mode while said toaster and convection oven is operating in said first cooking mode;
wherein said control unit and said user interface are configured to allow a user to change at least one parameter of the second cooking mode while the toaster and convection oven is operating in the first cooking mode;
wherein said display unit displays a plurality of cooking functions for said first cooking mode and said second cooking mode for selection and execution, said plurality of cooking functions including at least toast, bagel, waffle, dual cook, bake, broil, roast, pizza, sandwich, keep warm and leftover functions; and
wherein the display unit is configured to flash an indicator to prompt a user to select a frozen or not frozen condition of a food item in dependence upon the cooking function selected.