Abstract:
A waffle baker is disclosed which is of tubular frame construction having a pair of shell members which have a food receiving part, a handle, and a hinge. The shell members include a heater coil for connecting to a power source and a thermocouple to monitor the heat index of the shell members. A timing system is incorporated into the system, preferably through a magnetic and proximity switch, such that the baker turning and cooking time is monitored with either visual and/or audio warnings.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/108,042, filed Nov. 12, 1998. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved baker for confectionary items such as waffles and pancakes. 
     Heretofore waffle bakers such as the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,940, which is incorporated herein by reference, required at least some minimal skill of the user. In cooking a waffle for example, once the batter is placed within the lower shell of the baker and the upper shell closed over the batter, the cooking process immediately begins since the baker is already at its cooking temperature. Thus it is imperative that the baker user rotate the closed cooking shells so as to evenly distribute the batter within the interior of the baker and thereafter, either through the setting of an individual timer, the observing of a clock or just by guesswork, determine the proper cooking time in which to remove the food item. If the food item is removed too early it is undercooked; if it is removed too late it is overcooked. Even in those situations where a timer is provided for the user of the baker, it must be manually set for each cooking cycle which further introduces errors into the cooking cycle by either setting the timer too late or setting it at an improper cooking time. 
     In this invention a timing system is incorporated into the baker by which, through a unique switching system utilizing magnets and a proximity switch, the baker turning and cooking time is monitored with either visual and/or audio warnings being given to the user to prompt the user&#39;s course of action. Additionally, the improved baker of this invention includes a uniquely constructed shell member to base pivot connection in which a tubular member forming a part of the base extends into the pivot bracket or yoke to which the shell members are hinged so as to provide the journal by which the shell members when closed may be rotated 180° during the cooking cycle. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a confectionary baker which is of simplified and reliable operation. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a baker for waffles, pancakes and similar items and which is of simplified construction. 
     Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the side of the baker of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view as seen from the general rear of the baker. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view taken from the general rear of the baker but with the control panel removed for purposes of illustration. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pivot yoke of the baker connected to the baker base. 
     FIG. 5 is an isolated view of the pivot yoke and the pivot tube separated from the base of the baker. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the yoke rotated into a vertical orientation about the pivot tube. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view showing, the pivot yoke journaled about the pivot tube connected to the base with a retainer plate interconnecting the yoke to the tube for relative rotational movement. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial side view like FIG. 7 but with the retainer plate and housing plate removed to expose the pivot tube and yoke. 
     FIG. 9 is an isolated perspective view of the pivot yoke. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing the baker with the pivot yoke partially disassembled to expose the pinion pivots of the baker shell members. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the electrical connections for the heating elements carried within the shell members. 
     FIG. 12 is an isolated perspective view showing the heating elements housed within each of the shell members in isolated form. 
     FIG. 12A is a fragmentary plan view of one shell member of the baker shown in conjunction with the pivot yoke and pivot tube illustrating the location in broken lines of the heating element, with the remaining shell member being of like form as a mirror image. 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the yoke/shell member pivot connection and pivot tube illustrating the electrical connections from the heating elements to the control panel. 
     FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the baker showing the upper shell member being raised. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  15 — 15  of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the control elements for the baker. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed but rather is to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. 
     Baker  10  includes a base  12  which is of a tubular frame construction and a pair of shell members  14  and  16 . Each of the shell members  14  and  16  includes a concave food receiving part  18 , a handle  20  and a hinge part  22 . Hinge part  22  of each shell member  14  and  16  includes a pintle  24  and a spaced coaxial eyelet  26 . Shell members  14  and  16  are joined together for pivotal movement relative to each other by having pintle  24  of shell member  14  inserted through eyelet  26  of shell member  16  and pintle  24  of shell member  16  inserted into eyelet  26  of shell member  14 . Thus far, the construction and manner of operation of baker  12  is very similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,940. 
     A T-shaped bracket or yoke  28 , shown in two parts for ease of assembly, enclose and journal the oppositely protruding ends of pintles  24 . The parts of yoke  28  are held together by suitable screws or similar fasteners. The laterally projecting leg  30  of yoke  28  is provided with a center bore  32  which extends into the hollow interior of the yoke. An annular groove  34  extends about leg  30  of the yoke and is inwardly spaced from the end face  36  of leg  30 . Base  12  at its aft or rear end includes a horizontally positioned tube  38  which extends both forwardly and rearwardly relative to the converging vertical frame parts  40  of the base. Tube  38  protrudes into bore  32  of yoke  28  and forms a fixed pivot or journal about which shell members  14  and  16  are rotated during the cooking process. Base  12  includes at its forward end a U-shaped support  42  which cradles the handles  20  of shell members  14  and  16  so as to locate at least the lower shell member in a horizontal position such as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Each shell member  14 ,  16  includes a heater coil  44  which is connected to a power source through wiring  46  passing through the interior of yoke  28  and tube  38 . A thermocouple  48  is placed in one of the shell members  14 ,  16  and is connected by wiring  50  (see FIG. 13) through the interiors of yoke  28  and tube  38  to a control panel  52 . Thermocouple  48  serves to monitor the heat index of shell members  14 ,  16 , thus regulating the power applied to the heating coils which in turn affects the temperature of the coils and cooking temperature of the shell members. 
     A housing plate  54 , as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is applied over and secured to the rearwardly protruding end of tube  38 . The forward flange  56  of plate  54  is located just adjacently rearwardly of end face  36  of yoke leg  30 . A retainer plate  58  overlies and is mounted to housing plate  54  such as by screws or similar fasteners. Retainer plate  58  includes a front-depending flange  60  which extends with slight clearance into the annular groove  34  about yoke leg  30  as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. In this manner, shell members  14 ,  16  and attached yoke  38  are prevented from being withdrawn from tube  38  yet allowed to rotate about the tube. In order to protect the wiring of  46 ,  50  from becoming twisted during rotative movement of shell members  14 ,  16  relative to base  12 , a rib  62  carried upon and forming a part of yoke  28  is provided. In turn, retainer plate  58  includes two tabs  64  which project forwardly from the lower edge of its flange  60 . Tabs  64  are located at generally diametrical locations on opposite sides of yoke leg  30  and act as stops which are contacted by rib  62  of the yoke as shell members  14 ,  16  are rotated upon base  12  about tube  38 . In this manner, the shell members when in their closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1 are limited to rotative movement of 180° relative to base  12  which serves to limit the twisting movement applied to the wiring  46 ,  50 . 
     A magnetically responsive proximity switch, preferably of the reed type,  66  is mounted to tube  38  just rearwardly of yoke face  36  and extends to the upper surface  68  of the plate within an opening therein. Three magnets are imbedded within yoke  28  as best seen in FIG. 3. A magnet  70  is imbedded in face  36  of yoke leg  30  at a diametrical side location so that it will pass switch  66  once upon each 180° rotation of the shell members relative to base  12 . A magnet  72  is carried by an outwardly protruding stop  74  extending from shell member  14 , and a magnet  76  is carried by an outwardly protruding stop  78  extending from shell member  16 . Magnets  72  and  76  are so located that when the particular shell member  14 ,  16  is in its raised or open position such as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the stop  74 ,  78  of the shell member rests upon retainer plate  58  so as to maintain the raised shell member in its open position with the magnet  72 ,  76  carried by the shell member adjacently overlying switch  66 . Switch  66  is connected by wiring  80  to control panel  52  through tube  38 . 
     Control panel  52  which is mounted upon tube  38  rearwardly of base frame parts  40  serves to house circuitry for the heating and timing operations of baker  10 . FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the circuit components for the baker. A power cord  82  is provided for connection to a suitable voltage power source. A relay connects the power source through cord  82  to coils  44 . Thermocouple  48  serves to monitor the heat of shell members  14 ,  16  and through the microprocessor actuates the relay which controls the power input to coils  44 . Proximity switch  66  through the microprocessor activates a time circuit which provides a timed readout visible at faced  84  located at the front of the control panel. Similarly, the microprocessors provide a shell member temperature readout from thermocouple  48  at face  84 . In conjunction with the time and temperature readouts, an audio alarm in the form of a beeper  86  also provides an audio warning indication. Certain programmable inputs are provided the microprocessor in the nature of cooking time duration, shell member temperature, chase pattern which will be later explained, and the beeper sound duration which is usually between 0 and 30 seconds. 
     The operation of baker  10  is as follows. With power cord  82  inserted into an electrical receptacle, shell members  14 ,  16  are preheated to the desired cooking temperature inputted into the microprocessor and controlled by thermocouple  48 . The uppermost shell member  14  is raised to expose concave food part  18  of the lower shell member  16  with the upper shell member being supported in its open position by its stop  74  engaging and resting upon retainer plate  58  as seen in FIG.  15 . When in this position, the magnet  72  housed within stop  74  is positioned adjacently over switch  66  and the timing cycle for the baker is reset. Once the cooking batter has been placed within the lower open shell member  16 , shell member  14  is immediately closed with proximity switch  66  being activated due to the lack of the magnetic influence of magnet  72  to start the chase pattern within control panel  52 . If shell members  14 ,  16  are not rotated within a specific amount of time, such as two seconds, alarm  86  sounds to advise the user of the baker of the failure to rotate the shell members. Shell member rotation is necessary to distribute the batter within the interior of the shell members so as to promote even and desirable cooking of the food article. The chase pattern and its associated warning can be eliminated at the option of the user should the user, between cooking cycles, desire simply to rest the empty shell members in their closed positions. As the closed shell members  14 .  16  are rotated, magnet  70  passes in close proximity to switch  66  by virtue of its position upon the rotating yoke  28 . again activating the switch and causing the timing circuit to begin the cooking countdown. 
     As the cooking countdown progresses, the user may observe the countdown upon readout face  84 . Again the amount of time inputted for the cooking countdown will vary depending upon the type of food product being baked. At the end of the cooking cycle when the countdown is timed out, another audio sound is emitted by buzzer  86  indicating to the user that the cooking cycle is finished and that the now upper shell member  16  should be lifted and placed in its open position so as to allow the removal of the cooked food item. Buzzer  86  preferably continues sounding at the finish of the cooking cycle until the upper shell member is raised by the user of the baker. With shell member  16  now in its open position, its magnet  76  is located adjacently over switch  66  so as to place the cooking cycle in its reset mode. Once new batter has been placed in the concave food part  18  of now lower shell member  14 , upper shell member  16  can be closed to again cause activation of the switch  66  and the operation of the chase mode to warn the user to rotate the closed shell members within the specific time period. Again, as previously described upon rotation of closed shell members  14 ,  16 , magnet  70  in passing switch  66  causes activation of the cooking timer with its countdown as previously described. 
     The invention is not to be limited to the details above given but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.