Granted Patent B2

US 7,238,921 · App. 11/519,983 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A method for toasting bread and simultaneously cooking or warming another food with a single device, comprising:

inserting at least one piece of bread into a bread slot of a combination bread toaster and steamer device;

placing water into a heater pan of a steamer compartment on the combination bread toaster and steamer device;

placing another food into the steamer compartment;

activating at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot and a steamer heating element disposed adjacent the steamer compartment; and

activation of the steamer heating element reducing wattage to the bread heating element that would be used by the bread heating element operating alone.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein activating the bread heating element and the steamer heating element further includes:

activating only a single input on the combination bread toaster and steamer device that activates the steamer heating element and activates the bread heating element.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein activating the bread heating element and activating the steamer heating element further includes activating a controller shared by both the bread heating element and the steamer heating element.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the steamer heating element draws approximately 400 watts; and wherein the at least one bread heating element draws approximately 1600 watts when operated alone and approximately 1400 watts when operated together with the steamer heating element.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein activating the at least one bread heating element further includes:

activating bread heating elements disposed on both sides of the bread slot at a higher temperature or for a longer time period to toast;

activating at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot at a lower temperature or for a shorter time period to warm; or

activating a bread heating element disposed only on one side of the bread slot to toast only one side.

6. A method for toasting bread and simultaneously cooking or warming another food with a single device, comprising:

inserting at least one piece of bread into a bread slot of a combination bread toaster and steamer device;

activating at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot for a first time period and at a first wattage;

placing water into a heater pan of a steamer compartment on the combination bread toaster and steamer device;

placing another food into the steamer compartment;

activating a steamer heating element disposed adjacent the heater pan, and the bread heating element for a second time period longer than the first time period and at a second wattage lower than the first wattage.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein activating the bread heating element and the steamer heating element further includes:

activating only a single input on the combination bread toaster and steamer device that activates the steamer heating element and activates the bread heating element.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein activating the bread heating element and activating the steamer heating element further includes activating a controller shared by both the bread heating element and the steamer heating element.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the steamer heating element draws approximately 400 watts; and wherein the at least one bread heating element draws approximately 1600 watts when operated alone and approximately 1400 watts when operated together with the steamer heating element.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein activating the at least one bread heating element further includes:

activating bread heating elements disposed on both sides of the bread slot at a first temperature or for a third time period to toast;

activating at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot at a second temperature lower than the first temperature or for a fourth time period shorter than the third time period to warm; or

activating a bread heating element disposed only on one side of the bread slot to toast only one side.

11. A combination bread toaster and steamer device, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one bread slot extending into the housing;

c) at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot;

d) a steamer compartment, disposed on the housing, including a heater pan configured to receive water;

e) a steamer heating element disposed adjacent the heater pan; and

f) a controller operatively coupled to the bread heating element and the steamer heating element; and

g) the at least one bread heating element including a variable wattage heating element and the controller being configured to reduce wattage to the variable wattage heating element when the steamer heating element is operated.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the steamer heating element draws approximately 400 watts; and wherein the at least one bread heating element draws approximately 1600 watts when operated alone and approximately 1400 watts when operated together with the steamer heating element.

13. A device in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising: a selection control operatively coupled to the bread heating element and the steamer heating element, and selectable between at least three operating conditions, including:

operation of only the bread heating element;

operation of only the steamer heating element; and

operation of both the bread heating element and the steamer heating element.

Assignments (13)