Sandwich making appliance and method of making a sandwich

Abstract

A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a cooking assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing is movably attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The cooking assembly is positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position. The cooking assembly comprises a top cooking assembly portion, a bottom cooking assembly portion and a center cooking plate therebetween.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An appliance for cooking a food item, the appliance comprising:
 a bottom housing having a top surface, the top surface forming a bottom cooking surface of the appliance;   a top housing having a bottom surface, the bottom surface forming a top cooking surface of the appliance, the top housing being movably attached to the bottom housing, the top housing moveable between a closed position and an open position; and   a cooking assembly selectively positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position, the cooking assembly comprising a top cooking assembly portion, a bottom cooking assembly portion, and a center cooking plate therebetween;   wherein a top cooking cavity is formed within the top cooking assembly portion when the cooking assembly is selectively positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces and when the top housing is in its closed position; and wherein a bottom cooking cavity is formed within the bottom cooking assembly portion when the ring assembly is selectively positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the top cooking assembly portion is stackable on the bottom cooking assembly portion. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the top cooking assembly portion and/or the bottom cooking assembly portion comprise guides to help maintain the top cooking assembly portion and the bottom cooking assembly portion in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein one or more indentations are defined in the bottom cooking surface to engage the bottom cooking assembly portion. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking assembly sits upon the bottom cooking surface when the appliance is in use but is otherwise unattached to the appliance. 
     
     
         6 . An appliance for cooking a food item, the appliance comprising:
 a bottom housing having a top surface, the top surface forming a bottom cooking surface of the appliance;   a top housing having a bottom surface, the bottom surface forming a top cooking surface of the appliance, the top housing being movably attached to the bottom housing, the top housing moveable between a closed position and an open position; and   a cooking assembly selectively positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position, the cooking assembly comprising a center cooking plate dividing a space within the cooking assembly into top and bottom cooking cavities.   
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the cooking assembly further comprises a top cooking assembly portion and a bottom cooking assembly portion;
 wherein the center cooking plate is selectively positioned between the top and bottom cooking assembly portions;   wherein the top cooking cavity is formed within the top cooking assembly portion; and   wherein the bottom cooking cavity is formed within the bottom cooking assembly portion.   
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the top cooking assembly portion is stackable on the bottom cooking assembly portion. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the top cooking assembly portion and/or the bottom cooking assembly portion comprise guides to help maintain the top cooking assembly portion and the bottom cooking assembly portion in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein one or more indentations are defined in the bottom cooking surface to engage the bottom cooking assembly portion. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the cooking assembly sits upon the bottom cooking surface when the appliance is in use but is otherwise unattached to the appliance.