U.S. patent application number 10/703248 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for kitchen safety device and method for controlling operation of a heating appliance.
Invention is credited to Raynor, Berry W..
Application Number | 20050098170 10/703248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34551850 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050098170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Raynor, Berry W. |
May 12, 2005 |
Kitchen safety device and method for controlling operation of a
heating appliance
Abstract
A kitchen safety device automatically deactivates a heating
appliance. The safety device includes an operator control panel
which communicates with the appliance. The control panel includes
input buttons for entering minimum weight and minimum time criteria
for items placed on a cooking surface of the appliance. A weight
sensor is operatively connected to the cooking surface of the
appliance and communicates with the control panel. Upon activation
of the appliance, the sensor operates to detect a positive
application of the minimum weight onto the cooking surface within
the prescribed minimum time. In the absence of a positive
application within the prescribed minimum time, the sensor signals
the control panel to deactivate the appliance.
Inventors: |
Raynor, Berry W.;
(Mooresville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Schwartz Law Firm, P.C.
SouthPark Towers
Suite 530
6100 Fairview Road
Charlotte
NC
28210
US
|
Family ID: |
34551850 |
Appl. No.: |
10/703248 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/42 ;
126/39BA |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 7/08 20130101; H05B
2213/05 20130101; H05B 3/68 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/042 ;
126/039.0BA |
International
Class: |
F24C 003/12 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A kitchen safety device for automatically deactivating a heating
appliance, said safety device comprising: (a) an operator control
panel communicating with the appliance, and comprising means for
entering minimum weight and minimum time criteria for items placed
on a cooking surface of the appliance; and (b) a weight sensor
operatively connected to the cooking surface of the appliance and
communicating with said control panel, whereby upon activation of
the appliance, said sensor operates to detect a positive
application of the minimum weight onto the cooking surface within
the prescribed minimum time, and in the absence of a positive
application within the prescribed minimum time, said sensor signals
said control panel to deactivate the appliance.
2. A kitchen safety device according to claim 1, wherein said
operator control panel comprises an LED alert for indicating
activation of said safety device.
3. A kitchen safety device according to claim 1, wherein said
operator control panel comprises a message display screen for
communicating a device status message to the operator.
4. A kitchen safety device according to claim 1, wherein said
operator control panel comprises a system reset button.
5. A kitchen safety device for automatically deactivating a heating
appliance, said safety device comprising: (a) an operator control
panel communicating with the appliance, and comprising means for
entering minimum weight and minimum time criteria for items placed
on a cooking surface of the appliance, said operator control panel
comprising: (i) an LED alert for indicating activation of the
safety device; (ii) a message display screen for communicating a
device status message to the operator; and (iii) a system reset
button; (b) a weight sensor operatively connected to the cooking
surface of the appliance and communicating with said control panel,
whereby upon activation of the appliance, said sensor operates to
detect a positive application of the minimum weight onto the
cooking surface within the prescribed minimum time, and in the
absence of a positive application within the prescribed minimum
time, said sensor signals said control panel to deactivate the
appliance.
6. In combination with a kitchen heating appliance, a safety device
for automatically deactivating the heating appliance, said safety
device comprising: (a) an operator control panel communicating with
said appliance, and comprising means for entering minimum weight
and minimum time criteria for items placed on a cooking surface of
said appliance; and (b) a weight sensor operatively connected to
the cooking surface of said appliance and communicating with said
control panel, whereby upon activation of said appliance, said
sensor operates to detect a positive application of the minimum
weight onto the cooking surface within the prescribed minimum time,
and in the absence of a positive application within the prescribed
minimum time, said sensor signals said control panel to deactivate
said appliance.
7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said operator
control panel comprises an LED alert for indicating activation of
said safety device.
8. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said operator
control panel comprises a message display screen for communicating
a device status message to the operator.
9. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said operator
control panel comprises a system reset button.
10. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said kitchen
heating appliance comprises a stove.
11. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said kitchen
heating appliance comprises an oven.
12. A method for controlling operation of a heating appliance, said
method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting a kitchen safety
device to the appliance, the safety device including an operator
control panel; (b) entering into the control panel minimum weight
and minimum time criteria for items placed on a cooking surface of
the appliance; and (c) determining a positive application of the
minimum weight onto the cooking surface within the prescribed
minimum time, and in the absence of a positive application within
the prescribed minimum time, signaling the control panel to
deactivate the appliance.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said step of
determining comprises operatively connecting a weight sensor to the
cooking surface of the appliance.
14. A method according to claim 10, and comprising the step of
alerting the operator when the kitchen safety device has been
activated.
15. A method according to claim 10, and comprising the step of
communicating a device status message to the operator.
16. A method according to claim 10, and comprising the step of
resetting the kitchen safety device after activation.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a kitchen safety device and method
for controlling operation of a heating appliance, such as a gas or
electric stove or oven. The invention is applicable for both home
use and in commercial kitchens.
[0002] Most kitchen fires occur because food is left unattended on
the stove or in the oven. To address this problem, certain prior
art safety devices have been developed to sense the presence of
food on or inside the cooking appliance, and to provide an alarm or
other indicator designed to alert the operator of the cooking food.
While such devices may effectively limit the number of kitchen
fires resulting from unattended cooking, they fail to address the
problem of a heating appliance which has been inadvertently left on
after the food item is removed. This situation presents an equally
hazardous condition. Prior attempts to address this problem are of
limited practical application. According to one such effort
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,761, the kitchen appliance
utilizes a sensor device to detect the absence of a cooking
utensil. If the cooking utensil is present on or within the
appliance, then the appliance can be activated for normal use. If
the cooking utensil is absent, then the appliance will not
activate. While this device addresses the general problem, it
overly restricts use of the kitchen appliance by, for example,
limiting its ability to preheat in the absence of a cooking
utensil. In addition, the device would fail to deactivate the
appliance in the presence of an empty cooking utensil.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a
safety device which effectively prevents inadvertent operation of a
kitchen appliance.
[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide a safety
device which is readily adjustable to enable normal intended uses
of the kitchen appliance.
[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a safety
device which is either hard wired or which utilizes wireless
technology.
[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a safety
device which is applicable for home use or in commercial
kitchens.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a safety
device which may be factory installed inside the kitchen appliance
or incorporated as a retrofit item.
[0008] These and other objects of the present invention are
achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing
a kitchen safety device for automatically deactivating a heating
appliance. The safety device includes an operator control panel
which communicates with the appliance. The control panel includes
means for entering minimum weight and minimum time criteria for
items placed on a cooking surface of the appliance. A weight sensor
is operatively connected to the cooking surface of the appliance
and communicates with the control panel. Upon activation of the
appliance, the sensor operates to detect a positive application of
the minimum weight to the cooking surface within the prescribed
minimum time. In the absence of a positive application within the
prescribed minimum time, the sensor signals the control panel to
deactivate the appliance.
[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the operator control panel includes an LED alert for indicating
activation of the safety device.
[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the operator control panel includes a message display screen for
communicating a device status message to the operator.
[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the operator control panel includes a system reset button.
[0012] In another embodiment, the invention is a kitchen heating
appliance in combination with a safety device for automatically
deactivating the heating appliance. The safety device includes an
operator control panel which communicates with the appliance. The
control panel includes means for entering minimum weight and
minimum time criteria for items placed on a cooking surface of the
appliance. A weight sensor is operatively connected to the cooking
surface of the appliance and communicates with the control panel.
Upon activation of the appliance, the sensor operates to detect a
positive application of the minimum weight onto the cooking surface
within the prescribed minimum time. In the absence of a positive
application within the prescribed minimum time, the sensor signals
the control panel to deactivate the appliance.
[0013] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
kitchen heating appliance is a stove.
[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the kitchen heating appliance is an oven.
[0015] In yet another embodiment, the invention is a method for
controlling operation of a heating appliance. The method includes
the steps of connecting a kitchen safety device to the appliance.
The safety device includes an operator control panel. Minimum
weight and minimum time criteria for items placed on a cooking
surface of the appliance are then entered into the control panel. A
positive application of the minimum weight onto the cooking surface
within the prescribed minimum time is then determined. In the
absence of a positive application within the prescribed minimum
time, the control panel is signaled to deactivate the
appliance.
[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the step of determining includes operatively connecting a weight
sensor to the cooking surface of the appliance.
[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the method includes the step of alerting the operator when the
kitchen safety device has been activated.
[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the method includes the step of communicating a device status
message to the operator.
[0019] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the method includes the step of resetting the kitchen safety device
after activation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth
above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as
the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the
following drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the kitchen safety device
according to one preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing
the weight sensor positioned adjacent the eye of a stove;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a front view of the operator control panel and
showing its connection to the weight sensor positioned adjacent the
stove eye; and
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a kitchen heating appliance
with a portion broken away and showing the safety device
operatively connected to the stove eyes and oven rack.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
[0024] Referring now specifically to the drawings, a kitchen safety
device according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1,
and shown generally at reference numeral 10. The safety device 10
is applicable for automatically deactivating a kitchen heating
appliance 11 after a prescribed time delay, and in the absence of a
food item carried on a cooking surface 12 of the appliance 11. The
safety device 10 is especially adapted for stoves and ovens as a
factory installed or retrofit item. The cooking surface 12 may be a
stove eye "E" (or burner) or an oven rack "R", as indicated in FIG.
3.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the safety device 10 includes
an operator control panel 15 which mounts on or adjacent the
appliance 11, and is connected through wiring 16 and 17 to an
existing appliance control knob 18 and a weight sensor 19. The
control knob 18 cooperates with an electric switch to control
activation and deactivation of the appliance heating element. The
weight sensor 19 is operatively positioned adjacent the cooking
surface 12 of the appliance 11. Examples of conventional weight
sensors applicable in the present device 10 are disclosed in prior
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,253,761; 5,693,886; 5,486,685; and 4,672,181. The
complete disclosure of these prior patents is incorporated herein
by reference.
[0026] The control panel 15 has data input buttons 21 and 22 which
allow the operator to preset minimum weight and time criteria for
items placed on the cooking surface 12. The weight and time data
are clearly displayed on the control panel 15, as indicated at 23
and 24, and are readily and conveniently adjusted by the operator
using the up/down input buttons 21, 22. In one example, the minimum
weight is set to 8 ounces with a minimum time limit of 1.5 minutes.
In this case, upon activation of the appliance 11, the control
panel 15 initiates an internal timer. The sensor 19 then operates
to detect a positive application of at least 8 ounces onto the
cooking surface 12 within the prescribed minimum time--1.5 minutes.
In the absence of this minimum weight application, the sensor 19
signals the control panel 15 to immediately deactivate the
appliance 11. Adjustability of the weight and time criteria helps
limit unintended operation of the safety device 10. For example,
the operator may desire to preheat an oven to a given temperature
prior to placement of an item onto the cooking rack "R". In this
case, sufficient time is entered into the control panel 15 allowing
the oven to preheat without triggering activation of the safety
device 10. In another example, the operator may wish to boil water
in a pot on a stove eye "E" prior to inserting a food item, such as
pasta, for cooking. In this case, the control panel 15 is set to a
minimum weight sufficient to account for the pot and water. If the
operator fails to insert the pasta into the boiling water within
the prescribed time limit, then the safety device 10 will
automatically deactivate the appliance 11.
[0027] When the safety device 10 is activated, a flashing LED alert
31 located on the control panel 15 indicates to the operator that
the heating element of the appliance 11 has been automatically
turned off, and that the appliance control knob 18 should be
rotated back to the "off" position. Preferably, a scrolling message
screen 32 displays a message regarding the current status of the
safety device 10. In the case of activation, the message may read
"The Kitchen Safety Device has disengaged your cooking surface due
to inactivity for 1 minute and 30 seconds." A system reset button
33 clears the safety device 10 and allows the operator to resume
normal use of the appliance 11.
[0028] A kitchen safety device is described above. Various details
of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope.
Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment
of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are
provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the
purpose of limitation--the invention being defined by the
claims.
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