Multi-functional safety apparatus for use in a bathroom or kitchen

• US 5,371,491 A
• Filed: 10/14/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ting K. Wu
• Original Assignee: Ting K. Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Ting K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/137,276
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 340/623, 340/628, 340/632, 340/641, 340/693, 340/622
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A security apparatus is used in a kitchen or a bathroom for detecting the gas leakage and controlling the water temperature and water level in a bathtub or a container. This apparatus is capable of detecting the gas leakage and monitoring the water temperature and level in a container or a bathtub via three relays. The security apparatus further provides an emergency lamp circuit for illumination and a radio circuit for user(s) to listen to a radio program when the users are in a kitchen or a bathroom. The radio program may be replaced with an alarm when a gas leakage occurs, water temperature is too hot or the container or the bathtub is full.

Claims

1. A security apparatus contained within a single housing for controlling water temperature and water level of a bathtub and detecting a gas leakage comprising:

a first relay, a second relay and a third relay, each having a coil, a first normally closed contact, a second normally closed contact and a normally open contact;

a gas detector circuit being connected to the coil of the first relay for detecting a gas leakage;

a water temperature control circuit being connected the coil of the second relay and having a temperature sensor for detecting a water temperature and a switch for selecting a preferable water temperature, said water temperature control circuit activating the second relay when the detected water temperature is higher than the selected water temperature;

a water level control circuit being connected to the coil of the third relay for activating the third relay when the water level reaches a desirable level;

a gas control valve being serially connected to the first normally closed contacts of the first relay for controlling a gas flow flowing therethrough;

a hot water control valve being serially connected to the first normally closed contact of the second relay for controlling a hot water flow flowing therethrough;

a cold water control valve being serially connected to the first normally closed contact of the third relay for controlling a cold water flow flowing therethrough.

2. A security apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an alarm generator connected to the normally open contacts, which are parallelly connected for sending an alarm signal when any of the normally open contacts closes;

a speaker means connected to the normally open contacts for outputting the alarm signal.

3. A security apparatus as claim in claim 1 further comprising:

a radio circuit serially connected to the second normally closed contacts for receiving a radio program;

a speaker means connected to the second normally closed contacts for outputting the radio program.

4. A security apparatus as claim in claim 2 further comprising:

a radio circuit connected to the speaker means via the second normally closed contacts, which are serially connected to the second normally closed contacts for the speaker means to output a radio program.

5. A security apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth relay having a normally closed contact connected to a battery;

an emergency lamp being parallelly connected to the normally closed contact and the battery for illumination when the fourth relay is disabled.

6. A security apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said water temperature control circuit comprises a display unit for displaying a detected water temperature.

7. A security apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said water level control circuit comprises a tube and a magnetic float encircling the tube and moving upward and downward in response to a change in water level and a stopper being provided above the magnetic float, a magnet and a reed switch being respectively provided within the magnetic float and the stopper for triggering the water level control circuit.

8. A security apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said temperature sensor is placed within the tube.

9. A security apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said tube is secured on an inner wall of the bathtub.

10. A security apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said stopper is secured on an inner wall of the bathtub.