Heat warning safety device using fiber optic cables

• US 20050064354A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William S. Lerner
• Original Assignee: William S. Lerner
• Inventors: Lerner, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,173,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 431/13
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/72 Safety devices, e.g. operative in case of failure of gas supply
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/24 Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements F23N5/02 - F23N5/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges

Abstract

Heat warning device for warning that a surface is hot. Fiber optic cable having a plurality of fibers surrounded by a protective sheathing runs from an electric light source controlled by a controller. The plurality of fibers at first end of the cable adjacent the light source transmit light to illuminate a predetermined warning symbol adjacent the side of the cable, on the protective sheathing of the cable as a cut-out, at a long spaced interval from the second end of the cable or anywhere else. The illuminated heat warning symbol is visible to an observer who sees that the surface is dangerously hot. Whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the symbol is lit and remains lit. Alternatively, the cable transmits to a receiving medium spaced from a second end of the cable an image of the symbol positioned between the light source and the first end of the cable.

Claims

1. A heat alert safety device for warning individuals that a surface of an object is too hot or cold, comprising

a light source that generates a light beam,

a fiber optic cable formed of a plurality of optical fibers, said fiber optic cable receiving light from the light source and oriented so that the plurality of fibers are directly in a path of the light beam, said fiber optic cable transmitting the light beam through the plurality of fibers to a point outside the fiber optic cable,

a predetermined warning symbol visible only when illuminated to an observer who can also readily see the surface, said symbol communicating that the surface is temperature excessive,

a controller controlling the light source so that whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the warning symbol is illuminated and remains illuminated as long as said specified surface temperature is maintained, and

a heat sensor adjacent the surface and connected to the controller for ascertaining a surface temperature and communicating the surface temperature to the controller.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined warning symbol is outside the fiber optic cable.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the predetermined warning symbol is at a distance from the fiber optic cable in excess of approximately eight inches.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein a space between the fiber optic cable and the predetermined warning symbol is in an area where a flammable gas passes or resides.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein a space between the fiber optic cable and the predetermined warning symbol is in an area where a toxic chemical passes or resides or is in an area where a dangerous amount of vibrations exist.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the fiber optic cable has a first end facing the light source and a second end facing the predetermined warning symbol.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the fiber optic cable is flexible and the second end of the fiber optic cable can be moved by a user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second end of the fiber optic cable can be moved by an automatic mechanism.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable includes a protective sheathing that at least partially encloses the plurality of fibers and the predetermined warning symbol is adjacent a side of the protective sheathing.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable includes a protective sheathing that at least partially encloses the plurality of fibers and wherein the predetermined warning symbol is on the protective sheathing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the predetermined warning symbol is formed from a cut-out portion of the protective sheathing.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the protective sheathing has a coating and the predetermined warning symbol is on the coating.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the predetermined warning symbol is formed from a cut-out portion of the coating.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the object.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said symbol, in communicating that the surface is excessively hot, illuminates a border to warn against entry into an area in which the surface is located.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said device also includes a switch for turning the device on or off.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein a device indicator notifies the user whether the device is functional.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein a degree of brightness of the light source is controlled by the controller based on a setting set by a user.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein a sound producing component controlled by the controller produces a sound alarm whenever the light source is turned on.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the sound alarm is proportionate to a degree to which the surface is temperature excessive.

21. The device of claim 2, wherein a first light-traversing medium containing the predetermined warning symbol is fixed between the light source and a first end of the fiber optic cable and a light receiving medium is positioned facing a second end of the fiber optic cable, an image of the predetermined warning symbol being received and fixed in the light receiving medium.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the light traversing medium is a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a direction that the light travels in between the light source and the first end of the fiber optic cable.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the light receiving medium is on the surface of the object.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein a space between the light receiving medium and the second end of the fiber optic cable exceeds approximately one foot.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the fiber optic cable is flexible and the second end of the fiber optic cable can be moved by a user.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the second end of the fiber optic cable can be moved by an automatic mechanism.