Fire safety device for stove-top burner
First Claim
1. An automated fire safety device for a gas or electric stove-top burner utilizes a motion detector governed temperature sensor switch to reduce fire risks in unattended cooking, said motion detector having a built-in timer deactivates the said temperature sensor switch when a user is present or if the period since user motion has last been detected is within a preset time to allow a user a full control of burner operation and resumes sensor switch functions when there is no user present and the said preset time has expired, said temperature sensor switch having a temperature sensor, a power shut-off switch, a linking or controlling mechanism between the sensor and the shut-off switch and an optional load-sensing switch, operable to measure a temperature of a utensil placed on the said burner and to positively shut off power to said burner when the following condition, referred to as condition B is met:
- there is no user present, the preset time on the said motion detector timer has expired and the temperature measured by the said temperature sensor has reached a preset level indicating an overheating condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Most residential fires originated in the kitchen areas and were the results of negligence during cooking. As the least regulated cooking appliance in a kitchen, stove-top burners were often the culprits. Burners were left on without user presence and caused utensil melt down, igniting fire. It is the objective of this invention to minimize such risks. An electric or gas burner can be improved by the installation of an automated fire safety device that first determines whether the burner is being attended to and if not, senses the temperature of the cooking utensil on it and automatically shuts off the flow of electricity or gas to the burner when the temperature of the cooking utensil begins to exceed a predetermined temperature range.
A motion detector is integrated into the safety device and serves as the front-end to a temperature sensor switch. The switch is designed to trigger a power shut-off mechanism when high utensil temperature is encountered. The mechanism will be deactivated if motion is detected within a set periphery of the stove appliance. It will automatically be reactivated a set time later after no motion is detected. This invention will not interfere with normal cooking procedures while drastically reducing the possibility of kitchen fires due to cooking.
74 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An automated fire safety device for a gas or electric stove-top burner utilizes a motion detector governed temperature sensor switch to reduce fire risks in unattended cooking, said motion detector having a built-in timer deactivates the said temperature sensor switch when a user is present or if the period since user motion has last been detected is within a preset time to allow a user a full control of burner operation and resumes sensor switch functions when there is no user present and the said preset time has expired, said temperature sensor switch having a temperature sensor, a power shut-off switch, a linking or controlling mechanism between the sensor and the shut-off switch and an optional load-sensing switch, operable to measure a temperature of a utensil placed on the said burner and to positively shut off power to said burner when the following condition, referred to as condition B is met:
- there is no user present, the preset time on the said motion detector timer has expired and the temperature measured by the said temperature sensor has reached a preset level indicating an overheating condition.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
Specification