Safety and convenience system for a gas grill

• US 10,323,846 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Donald Roe, Scott Michael Schroer, William Lawrence Sweet
• Original Assignee: Alexander Donald Roe, Scott Michael Schroer, William Lawrence Sweet
• Inventors: Sweet, William Lawrence, Schroer, Scott Michael, Roe, Alexander Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Pereiro, Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US15/017,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20160230992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/002 using electronic means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/38 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/20 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/022 using electronic means F23N5/04 - F23N5/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means

Abstract

The present disclosure introduces a safety and convenience system for a gas grill. The disclosed system can have a grill assembly, a sensor assembly, and a system controller. The grill assembly can include a grill body, a grill lid, a grilling surface, one or more burners, a gas feed line, a grill adjustment valve, and an igniter. The sensor assembly may include gas sensors, temperature sensors, and these sensors can reside in a single or multiple sensor housings. The system controller can be connected to the sensors and receive a gas sensor value and a temperature sensor value. Based on the gas sensor value and the temperature sensor value, the system controller can be able to indicating a condition of the grill to a user, or control a feature of the grill for convenience or safety.

Claims

1. A grilling system comprising:

a grill comprising a grill body, a grill lid, a grilling surface, a burner, a gas feed line, a gas tank, a grill adjustment valve, and an igniter;

a shutoff valve located in the gas feed line;

a sensor assembly comprising;

a gas sensor;

a temperature sensor; and

a sensor housing; and

a system controller wirelessly communicative with the gas sensor and the temperature sensor and receiving a gas sensor value and a temperature sensor value;

wherein the system controller indicates a condition of the grill responsive to the gas sensor value and the temperature sensor value;

wherein the system controller can receive user commands inputted via a mobile application on a mobile device;

wherein responsive to a delay user command, the system controller delays the actuation of the shutoff valve until after an amount of time from receipt of the delay user command; and

wherein responsive to an ignition user command, the system controller activates the igniter.

2. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller indicates an unsafe condition of the grill when receiving a temperature sensor value of less than about 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and receiving a gas sensor value of greater than about 500 ppm.

3. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller indicates a safe condition of the grill when receiving one or both a temperature sensor value of greater than about 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and a gas sensor value of less than about 500 ppm.

4. The grilling system of claim 1 further comprising one or more indicator lights;

wherein the system controller indicates the condition of the grill by activating one or more of the indicator lights.

5. The grilling system of claim 1 further comprising an audible alarm;

wherein the system controller indicates the condition of the grill by activating the audible alarm.

6. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is removably attached to at least one of the grill body, the grill lid, and the grilling surface.

7. The grilling system of claim 6, wherein the sensor housing is magnetic.

8. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller actuates the shutoff valve in response to the condition of the grill.

9. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller disables the igniter in response to the condition of the grill.

10. The grilling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller further comprises a wireless radio;

and

wherein the system controller indicates the condition of the grill by transmitting a signal via the wireless radio to the mobile device.

11. The grilling system of claim 10, wherein the wireless radio is a Bluetooth transceiver;

and

wherein the signal is sent via the mobile application on the mobile device.

12. The grilling system of claim 10, wherein the wireless radio is a Wi-Fi transceiver;

and

wherein the signal is sent via the mobile application on the mobile device.

13. The grilling system of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment valve actuator communicative with the system controller;

wherein the adjustment valve actuator actuates the grill adjustment valve responsive to the system controller; and

wherein actuating the grill adjustment valve adjusts the temperature of the grill.

14. The grilling system of claim 13, wherein the system controller:

actuates the grill adjustment valve to adjust the temperature of the grill to a cleaning temperature for a predetermined cleaning time; and

thereafter

actuates the shut off valve.

15. The grilling system of claim 1 further comprising a tank weight sensor positioned underneath the gas tank and configured to output a tank weight signal to the system controller;

wherein the system controller indicates an amount of gas remaining in the gas tank based on the tank weight signal.

16. The grilling system of claim 15, wherein the system controller indicates the amount of gas remaining via the mobile application.