ACCESSORY FOR INDICATING STATUS OF STOVE BURNER

• US 20140208958A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew L. Porraro
• Original Assignee: Matthew L. Porraro
• Inventors: Porraro, Matthew L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,605,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/344
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/12 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

An indicator device for proving an announcement of the status of a burner control knob, A base plate attaches to and rotates with a burner control shaft on a stove. An attitude sensing switch mounted with the base plate changes its conductive state when a burner control shaft moves from an “off” position. An annunciator senses the change in conductive state to initiate an announcement of that event.

Claims

1. An indicating device that provides an annunciation of rotation of a burner control shaft in a stove from an off position to any of a range of angularly displaced positions, said indicating device comprising:

A) reference means mounted on the stove for defining the off position; and

B) a control system for indicating an angular displacement of the control shaft from the off position including;

i) a base attached to the control shaft for rotation therewith,

ii) electrically-operated annunciator means mounted on said base,

iii) a battery operated power supply mounted on said base, and

iv) switching means mounted on said base and connected between said power supply and said annunciator for establishing an open circuit when the control shaft is at the off position whereby said annunciator is inactive and for activating said annunciator means when the control shaft is displaced from the off position.

2. The indicating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said annunciator means includes means for producing a visual announcement.

3. The indicating device as recited in claim 2 wherein said annunciation means comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The indicating device of claim 1 wherein said annunciator means includes means for generating inaudible annunciation.

5. The indicating device as recited in claim 4 wherein said audible annunciating means includes means for broadcasting to remote locations.

6. The indicator device as recited in claim 4 wherein said audible annunciation means includes a speaker.

7. The indicating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said reference means includes a magnet means for generating a magnetic field and said switching means includes a magnetically responsive switch, said magnet means and said magnetically responsive switch being positioned such that they are in alignment when the burner control shaft is at the “

off”

position.

8. The indicating device as recited in claim 7 wherein said magnetically responsive switch comprises a Hall effect switch.

9. The indicating device as recited in claim 8 wherein said reference is a permanent magnet.

10. A burner alert control for annunciating rotation of a burner control shaft in a stove from an off position to any of a range of angularly displaced positions, said burner alert device comprising:

A) a magnet mounted on a stove proximate the burner control shaft at a position corresponding to an off position of the burner control shaft, and

B) a control system for indicating an angular displacement of the burner control shaft from the off position including;

i) a base attached to the burner control shaft for rotation therewith,

ii) electrically-operated annunciator means having at least a portion thereof mounted on said base,

iii) a battery operated power supply mounted on said base,

iv) switching means mounted on said base whereby said magnet and said switching means portion on said base are aligned when the burner control shaft is in its off position, said switching means establishing an open circuit when the burner control shaft is at the off position whereby said annunciator is inactive and a closed circuit for activating said annunciator means when the burner control shaft is displaced from the off position.

11. The burner alert controller as recited in claim 10 in accordance with an annunciator means includes a controller that, upon rotation of the burner control shaft from the “

off”

position, produces an output corresponding that indicates that a burner control shaft has moved from the “

off”

position.

12. The burner alert control as recited in claim 11 wherein said annunciator means includes means on said base for generating an alert.

13. The burner alert control as recited in claim 12 wherein the annunciator generates an audible alert.

14. The burner alert control as recited in claim 12 wherein said annunciator means generates a visual alert.

15. A burner alert control as recited in claim 14 wherein said annunciator additionally includes means for generating an audible alert.

16. The burner alert control as recited in claim 11 wherein said controller is located on said base along with said annunciator means.

17. The burner alert control as recited in claim 11 wherein said annunciator means includes, as a portion thereof mounted on the base, a programmable controller, a means for producing an alert that is remote from said burner alert control, and wireless communication means connected between said controller and said remote structure.

18. The burner alert control as recited in claim 11 wherein said annunciator means includes visual and audible alert generating means remote from said burner alert control, a controller, and wireless control means for establishing communications between said controller and said remote annunciator means.

19. The burner alert control as recited in claim 18 wherein said controller generates patterns of signals that are applied to said remote audible and visual announcing devices.