Combination toaster and pizza oven

Abstract

A portable combination toaster and pizza oven is operable as a toaster when the cooking appliance is in a vertical orientation and as a pizza oven with a closeable door when the cooking appliance is in a horizontal orientation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable combination toaster and pizza oven comprising:
 (a) a housing defining a cooking chamber therein, the cooking chamber having an opening through which food is insertable into the cooking chamber;   (b) the housing is removably positionable on a horizontal countertop and, when positioned on the horizontal countertop, the housing is rotatable between a vertical orientation wherein the opening is provided in an upper end of the combination toaster and pizza oven such that the combination toaster and pizza oven is configured as a top loading toaster, and a horizontal orientation wherein the opening is provided at a front end of the combination toaster and pizza oven such that the combination toaster and pizza oven is configured as a front loading oven; and,   (c) an openable wall that is positionable in an open position wherein a user has access to insert food into the cooking chamber and in a closed position wherein the openable wall closes the cooking chamber whereby heat is retained within the cooking chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein the openable wall is a door. 
     
     
         3 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein the openable wall covers the front of the opening when the combination toaster and pizza oven is positioned on the horizontal counter top and is in the horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the openable wall is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         5 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein the openable wall is pivotally mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 5 , wherein, when the combination toaster and pizza oven is positioned on the horizontal counter top and is in the horizontal orientation, the openable wall is pivotally mounted to the housing at a location below the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein the openable wall is slidable with respect to the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  further comprising a steam generator associated with the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  further comprising an air mover whereby the cooking chamber is operable using forced convection. 
     
     
         10 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an inner shell that defines the cooking chamber and an outer shell that is spaced from the inner shell. 
     
     
         11 . The portable combination toaster and pizza oven of  claim 10  wherein the inner shell comprises a plurality of inner shell panels including a top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels and the top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels are spaced from corresponding outer shell panels. 
     
     
         12 . A portable cooking appliance comprising:
 (a) a housing defining a cooking chamber therein, the cooking chamber having an opening through which food is insertable into the cooking chamber;   (b) the housing is removably positionable on a horizontal countertop and, when positioned on the horizontal countertop, the housing is rotatable between a vertical orientation wherein the opening is provided in an upper end of the cooking appliance such that the cooking appliance is configured as a top loading toaster, and a horizontal orientation wherein the opening is provided at a front end of the cooking appliance such that the cooking appliance is configured as a front loading oven; and,   (c) an openable wall that, when in a closed position, closes the cooking chamber whereby the openable wall retains heat in the cooking chamber and the openable wall is slidable to an open position wherein a user has access to insert food into the cooking chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein the openable wall is a door. 
     
     
         14 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein the openable wall covers the front of the opening when the cooking appliance is positioned on the horizontal counter top and is in the horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the openable wall is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         16 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein the openable wall is slidably mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  further comprising a steam generator associated with the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  further comprising an air mover whereby the cooking chamber is operable using forced convection. 
     
     
         19 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein the housing comprises an inner shell that defines the cooking chamber and an outer shell that is spaced from the inner shell. 
     
     
         20 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 19  wherein the inner shell comprises a plurality of inner shell panels including a top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels and the top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels are spaced from corresponding outer shell panels. 
     
     
         21 . A portable cooking appliance comprising:
 (a) a housing defining a cooking chamber therein, the cooking chamber having an opening through which food is insertable into the cooking chamber;   (b) the housing is removably positionable on a horizontal countertop and, when positioned on the horizontal countertop, the housing is rotatable between a vertical orientation wherein the opening is provided in an upper end of the cooking appliance and a horizontal orientation wherein the opening is provided at a front end of the cooking appliance such that the cooking appliance is configured as a front loading oven; and,   (c) an openable door that is pivotally mounted to the housing and is moveable between a closed position wherein the door closes the cooking chamber and retains heat in the cooking chamber and an open position wherein a user has access to insert food into the cooking chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 21  wherein at least a portion of the openable door is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         23 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 21  wherein, when the cooking appliance is positioned on the horizontal counter top and is in the horizontal orientation, the openable wall is pivotally mounted to the housing at a location below the opening. 
     
     
         24 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 21  further comprising a steam generator associated with the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 21  further comprising an air mover whereby the cooking chamber is operable using forced convection. 
     
     
         26 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 21  wherein the housing comprises an inner shell that defines the cooking chamber and an outer shell that is spaced from the inner shell. 
     
     
         27 . The portable cooking appliance of  claim 26  wherein the inner shell comprises a plurality of inner shell panels including a top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels and the top panel, a rear panel and transversely opposed side panels are spaced from corresponding outer shell panels.