Electric stove warning system

• US 5,608,378 A
• Filed: 12/14/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kit W. Mclean, Lynda G. Mclean
• Original Assignee: Kit W. Mclean, Lynda G. Mclean
• Inventors: McLean, Kit W., McLean, Lynda G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/355,592
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/332, 340/331, 340/545, 340/286.11, 340/454, 340/522, 340/568, 340/635, 340/658, 340/540, 340/457, 340/555, 340/556, 362/92, 219/518, 219/519, 219/452, 219/453, 361/179, 361/189
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A fire-preventing warning system for alerting an occupant leaving the premises that a stove burner is on, includes (a) a sensor to detect whether a gas or electric stove is "on", connected to (b) a warning indicator located by the exit door. If the stove burner is on, the warning indicator will light up, or, in the alternative, emit an audible warning, or both, as the door is opened. The sensor and the indicator circuitry may be connected by electrical conductors or by radio frequency transmission; the system may be battery-operated or powered from household current.

Claims

1. A system for use with a building having a door in which there is a stove within the building having an on-condition and an off-condition, said system warning that said stove is in said on-condition to a user exiting said building, said system comprising:

a sensor for generating a first electrical signal responsive to said on-condition of said stove;

comparing means in electrical connection with said sensor for comparing said first electrical signal with a preselected value to determine if said first electrical signal is greater than said preselected value, said first electrical signal being greater than said preselected value when said stove is in said on-condition and less than said preselected value when said stove is in said off-condition, said comparing means issuing a second electrical signal when said stove is in said on-condition;

detecting means for detecting when said user is exiting said building and issuing a third electrical signal when said user is exiting said building; and

indicating means responsive to said first and said third electrical signals from said sensing means and said detecting means, said indicating means for indicating to said user when said user is exiting said building that said stove is in said on-condition.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said building has a door and wherein said indicating means is an alarm located proximate to said door, so that said user visually perceives said indicating means as said user is exiting said building through said door.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said building has a door and wherein said system further comprises:

a transmitter in electrical connection with said sensor, said transmitter transmitting said first electrical signal from said sensor; and

a receiver in radio communication with said transmitter, said receiver receiving said first electrical signal transmitted from said transmitter, and

said detecting means is a switch in operative connection with said door and in electrical connection with said receiver, said switch closing in response to said user opening said door.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stove is an electrical stove and wherein said sensor is a current sensor.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said stove is a gas stove wherein said sensor comprises:

a gas flow valve; and

a transducer connected to said gas flow valve.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises means for conditioning said first electrical signal.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical connection with said sensor for rectifying said first electrical signal; and

filter means in electrical communication with said sensor for filtering electrical noise from said first electrical signal.

8. A system for use with a building having a door and an electrical stove, said electrical stove having an electrical conductor and an on-condition and an off-condition, said system warning a user exiting said building that said electrical stove is in said on-condition, said system comprising:

an electrical current sensor in electrical connection with said electrical conductor, said electrical current sensor issuing a first electrical signal related to the electrical current drawn in said electrical conductor;

comparing means in electrical connection with said electrical current sensor for comparing said first signal with a preselected value to determine if said first electrical signal is greater than said preselected value, said first electrical signal being greater than said preselected value when said electrical stove is in said on-condition and less than said preselected value when said electrical stove is in said off-condition, said comparing means issuing a second electrical signal when said electrical stove is in said on-condition;

detecting means for detecting when said user is exiting said door, said detecting means generating a third electrical signal when said user is exiting said door; and

an indicator in electrical connection with said detecting means and located proximate to said door, said indicator visually indicating to said user, as said user is exiting said building through said door, that said electrical stove is in said on-condition.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said current sensor is a coil, said coil proximate to said electrical conductor wherein said first electrical signal is induced in said coil when said electrical stove draws an electrical current through said electrical conductor.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said comparing means includes a first switch in electrical connection with said comparing means, said first switch closing in response to receiving said second electrical signal, and said detecting means includes a second switch in series connection with said first switch and closing in response to said door being opened.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises:

a transmitter in electrical connection with said comparing means, said transmitter transmitting said second electrical signal from said comparing means; and

a receiver in radio communication with said transmitter, said receiver receiving said second electrical signal from said transmitter,

said detecting means having a second switch in electrical connection with said receiver, said second switch closing in response to said door being opened to pass said second electrical signal from said receiver to said indicating means, said indicating means indicating said stove is in said on-condition when said second and said third signals are received by said indicating means.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises means for conditioning said first electrical signal.

13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical connection with said electrical current sensor for rectifying said first electrical signal; and

filter means in electrical connection with said electrical current sensor for filtering electrical noise from said first electrical signal.

14. A system for use with a building having a door and a gas stove, said gas stove having a gas supply pipe through which gas flows at a flow rate, and an on-condition and an off-condition, said system warning a user exiting said building that said gas stove is in said on-condition, said system comprising:

sensing means in fluid communication with said gas supply pipe for sensing said flow rate of said gas in said gas supply pipe, said sensing means issuing a first electrical signal related to said flow rate of said gas in said gas supply pipe;

comparing means in electrical connection with said sensing means for comparing said first electrical signal with a preselected value to determine if said first electrical signal is greater than said preselected value, said first electrical signal being greater than said preselected value when said gas stove is in said on-condition and less than said preselected value when said gas stove is in said off-condition, said comparing means issuing a second electrical signal when said gas stove is in said on condition;

detecting means for detecting when said user is exiting said door, said detecting means generating a third electrical signal when said user is exiting said door; and

an indicator in electrical connection with said detecting means and located proximate to said door, said indicator indicating to said user, as said user is exiting said building through said door, that said gas stove is in said on-condition.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said comparing means includes a first switch that closes in response to receiving said second electrical signal, and said detecting means includes a second switch in series connection with said first switch and that closes in response to said door being opened.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said system further comprises:

a transmitter in electrical connection with said comparing means, said transmitter transmitting said second electrical signal from said comparing means; and

a receiver in radio communication with said transmitter, said receiver receiving said second electrical signal from said transmitter,

said detecting means having a second switch in electrical connection with said receiver, said second switch closing in response to said door being opened so that said second signal passes from said receiver to said indicating means.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said sensing means comprises:

a gas flow valve; and

a transducer connected to said gas flow valve.

18. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said system further comprises means for conditioning said first electrical signal.

19. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said system further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical connection with said sensing means for rectifying said first electrical signal; and

filter means in electrical connection with said sensing means for filtering electrical noise from said first electrical signal.

20. A system for use with a building in which there is a stove having an on-condition and an off-condition, said system warning that said stove is in said on-condition to a user exiting said building through a door, said system comprising:

a sensor for generating a first electrical signal responsive to said on-condition of said stove; and

comparing means in electrical connection with said sensor for comparing said electrical signal with a preselected value to determine if said electrical signal is greater than said preselected value, said electrical signal being greater than said preselected value when said stove is in said on-condition and less than said preselected value when said stove is in said off-condition, said comparing means issuing said electrical signal to said indicating means when said electrical signal is greater than said preselected value; and

indicating means proximate to said door and responsive to said electrical signal from said sensor, said indicating means for indicating to said user when said user is exiting said building that said stove is in said on-condition.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said indicating means is an alarm located proximate to said door, so that said user visually perceives said indicating means as said user is exiting said building through said door.

22. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said system further comprises:

a transmitter in electrical connection with said sensing means, said transmitter transmitting said electrical signal from said sensing means; and

a receiver in electrical connection with said indicating means and in radio communication with said transmitter, said receiver receiving said electrical signal transmitted from said transmitter.

23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said stove is an electrical stove and wherein said sensing means includes a current sensor.

24. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said stove is a gas stove wherein said sensing means comprises:

a gas flow valve; and

a transducer connected to said gas flow valve.

25. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said system further comprises means for conditioning said electrical signal.

26. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said system further comprises:

a rectifier in electrical connection with said sensing means for rectifying said electrical signal; and

filter means in electrical communication with said sensing means for filtering electrical noise from said electrical signal.