Enclosed toaster

Abstract

A toaster for heating foodstuffs includes a chassis having a cavity therein and having at least one chassis opening for accessing the cavity. A door is movable with respect to the chassis between a closed position in which the door substantially covers the chassis opening, and an open position in which the cavity is accessible through the chassis opening. A carriage with at least one slot movable between a first position disposed completely within the cavity and a second position extending at least partially from the cavity through the chassis opening. The toaster has a heating configuration in which the carriage is in the first position and the door is in the closed position to confine the foodstuff being heated and create a generally enclosed chamber within the cavity in which heat and moisture loss is controlled. The door is motorized for mechanized opening and closing and the carriage is motorized to slide at least partially out of the cavity when the door opens and to slide back into the cavity when the door closes.

1 . A toaster for heating foodstuffs, the toaster comprising: 
 a chassis defining a cavity within an interior thereof, the chassis having at least one chassis opening to allow access to the cavity from outside of the chassis;    a door movable with respect to the chassis, the door having at least an open position and a closed position, such that, when in the closed position, the door substantially covers the chassis opening, and, when in the open position, the cavity is accessible through the chassis opening;    a carriage slidable in a generally horizontal direction with respect to the chassis, the carriage having a first position disposed completely within the cavity and a second position extending at least partially out of the cavity through the chassis opening;    at least one slot on the carriage, the slot being of a sufficient size and shape to accommodate a foodstuff to be heated; and    at least one heating element engaged with the chassis and positioned within the cavity to be proximate the at least one slot when the carriage is in the first position;    wherein the toaster has a heating configuration in which the carriage is in the first position and the door is in the closed position to confine the foodstuff being heated and create a generally enclosed chamber within the cavity in which heat and moisture loss is controlled, the door is pivotably engaged with the chassis, such that, when the door is pivoted into the open position, the carriage can be slid at least partially from within the cavity in order to at least partially expose the at least one slot to allow the loading of foodstuff therein, the door is motorized for mechanized opening and closing thereof, and the carriage is motorized to slide at least partially out of the cavity when the door opens and to slide back into the cavity when the door closes.    
   
   
       2 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing engaged with and at least partially surrounding the chassis, the housing having at least one housing opening corresponding to the chassis opening.  
   
   
       3 . The toaster of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is insulated from the chassis, such that the housing remains cooler than the chassis when heating foodstuffs within the chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The toaster of  claim 3 , wherein the housing has vents therethrough to facilitate dissipation of heat from within the toaster to further aid in keeping the housing cooler than the chassis when heating foodstuffs within the chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The toaster of  claim 2 , further comprising a middle layer engaged with and at least partially surrounding the chassis and disposed between the chassis and the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed between the door and the chassis when the door is in the closed position to further control heat and moisture loss from within the chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The toaster of  claim 1 , wherein the door is fixedly engaged with an end of the carriage, such that the carriage and door form a drawer which can be opened in order to at least partially expose the at least one slot to load foodstuff into the at least one slot.  
   
   
       8 . The toaster of  claim 7 , wherein the drawer is motorized for mechanized opening and closing thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The toaster of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot includes generally parallel, spaced apart holding members extending outwardly from a top of the carriage so that the slot is oriented in a generally vertical direction.  
   
   
       10 . The toaster of  claim 9 , wherein the holding members are movable toward one another in order to confine and generally center a foodstuff within the slot.