Toaster

This invention relates to a toaster and in particular to one including a body portion, a holding mechanism, a linking mechanism and baking panels whereby the bread may be provided with brown pattern on the surface thereby stimulating one's appetite and increasing the additional value thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is found that the prior art toaster is used to make the bread brown and 
crisp by heating. However, such break only has brown surfaces which is too 
monotonous. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
toaster which may obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawback. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improved toaster. 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a toaster 
which may make a brown pattern on the bread. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a toaster which 
may stimulate one's appetite. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a toaster 
which may increase the additional value of the bread. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a toaster 
which is simple in construction. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a toaster 
which is economic to produce. 
Other objects and merits and a fuller understanding of the present 
invention will be obtained by those having ordinary skill in the art when 
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is read in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the 
toaster according to the present invention mainly comprises a body 
portion, a holding mechanism, a linking mechanism and a toasting mould. 
The body portion includes a housing 1 on which there are two bread slots 
11, a heater 12, two supporting racks 13, a lift knob 14 and a timer (not 
shown). As the above-mentioned component parts are well known in the art, 
there is no need to describe them here in detail. 
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the holding mechanism is composed of four 
clamping frames 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D which are engaged with slots 151 of 
supporting plates 15A and 15B by means of transverse rods 21. The space 
between the clamping frames 2A and 2B and the space between the clamping 
frames 2C and 2D are just located under corresponding bread slots 11. The 
transverse rods 21 for fixing the clamping frames 2B and 2C are connected 
with a spring 16 so as to provide an appropriate springing space for the 
clamping frames 2B and 2C. The clamping frames 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are 
provided at both vertical and bottom sides with L-shaped lugs 22 so that 
the bread may be received between the clamping frames 2A and 2B, and the 
clamping frames 2C and 2D. 
Looking now at FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the linking mechanism comprises connecting 
rods 3A, 3B and 3C, and both sides of the supporting plates 15A and 15B 
are provided with two linking mechamisms. The upper end of the connecting 
rod 3A is engaged with the rod 21 on the clamping frames 2A and 3D, while 
the other end thereof is connected with the upper end of the connecting 
rod 3B. Further, the connecting rod 3A is pivoted on the supporting plates 
15A and 15B. The lower end of the connecting rod 3B is pivotally connected 
with an end of the connecting rod 3C and provided with a pull back spring 
31. The upper end of the connecting rod 3C is engaged with the transverse 
rod 21 at the lower side of the clamping frames 2A and 2D. In addition, 
the connecting rod 3C has an arm 32 making an angle of 90 degrees with the 
middle arm of the connecting rod 3C. The arm 32 is locating under and 
activating plate 141 of the lift knob 14. As the lift knob 14 is pressed, 
the connecting rods 3A, 3B and 3C are driven to urge the clamping frames 
2A and 2D inwards. 
The baking panel 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) is a metal plate with a hollow 
pattern 41 and inserted between the clamping frames 2A, 2B and 2C, 2D and 
kept in position by the L-shaped lugs thereof. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when in use, simply insert the bread into the 
slot 11 so that the lower edge of the bread is received by the supporting 
rack 13 and held in position by the clamping frames 2A, 2B and 2C, 2D. 
Then, press the lift knob 14 so that the connecting rods 3A, 3B and 3C 
will driven the clamping frames 2A and 2C to go inwards thereby urging the 
baking panel 4 on the bread and therefore making a brown pattern on the 
bread. 
Turning to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the bread is dehydrated, the width thereof 
will decrease and the clamping frames 2B, 2D will move outwards to grip 
the bread 5 thereby keeping the bread 5 in contact with the baking panel. 
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way 
of example only and that numerous changes in the detail of construction 
and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter 
claimed.