US 12,324,539 B2
Tortilla toaster
Elliot Benitez, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to Nuni Toaster, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Nuni Toaster, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/161,040.
Application 16/161,040 is a division of application No. 14/773,753, granted, now 10,098,504, issued on Oct. 16, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2014/029236, filed on Mar. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/785,976, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0386244 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A47J 37/08 (2006.01); A21D 13/42 (2017.01); A23L 5/10 (2016.01)
CPC A47J 37/08 (2013.01) [A21D 13/42 (2017.01); A23L 5/15 (2016.08); A47J 37/0807 (2013.01); A47J 37/0842 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heating compartment for a device for heating food, comprising:
a left end cap having a left socket that rotatably supports a left pivot rod;
a right end cap having a right socket that rotatably supports a right pivot rod;
wherein the left and right pivot rods extend coaxially on opposite sides of an oven assembly to define a pivot axis such that the oven assembly is rotatable relative to the left and right end caps;
two heating modules disposed in a fixed and spaced relation on the oven assembly, the two heating modules forming two spaced apart walls extending in parallel to one another and defining an area therebetween;
wherein the two heating modules are rotatable together with the oven assembly about the pivot axis relative to the left and right end caps;
wherein each of the two spaced apart walls has a generally flat, planar shape that is circular and has a center adjacent the pivot axis such that the area defined between the said two spaced apart walls is fixed, generally cylindrical and has a diameter and a height, the height defining a distance between the two spaced apart walls, the distance between the two spaced apart walls remaining unchanged during food loading, unloading, and cooking processes;
wherein each of the two heating modules includes a heating wire wound around a heating board;
wherein each of the two heating modules includes a thermal diffuser disposed adjacent the heating wire such that a total of two thermal diffusers are disposed, one each, on opposite sides of the area; and
wherein each of the two heating modules includes a guard disposed adjacent the thermal diffuser opposite the heating wire such that a total of two cage guards are disposed, one each, on opposite sides of the area between the area and a corresponding one of the two thermal diffusers in fixed relation;
wherein the area defines a loading zone that is open and extends peripherally around at least a portion of the area that exposes the diameter of the area;
wherein the guards are adapted to contact the food directly during a cooking process; and
wherein the two heating modules and the oven assembly are rotatable together relative to the left and right end caps such that the loading zone is rotated to a downward angled position in an unloading position adapted to remove food from the area.