Appliance attendance monitoring apparatus

• US 6,294,994 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wendy Hoellerich
• Original Assignee: Wendy Hoellerich
• Inventors: Hoellerich, Wendy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US09/520,651
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/655, 340/568.1, 340/588, 340/500, 361/179, 361/189, 361/190, 219/446.1, 219/448.12, 219/490, 219/445.1, 219/506, 307/141, 307/140
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

An attendance monitoring apparatus is provided for an appliance, such as an electrical appliance, and includes a housing and a motion sensor assembly contained in the housing. A timer assembly is electrically connected to the motion sensor assembly, and an alarm assembly is electrically connected to the timer assembly. The timer assembly is adjustable for selecting a range of predetermined time intervals. Optionally, a current controller is electrically connected to the timer assembly. The current controller controls electric power to the appliance, such as an electric stove. The attendance monitoring apparatus of the invention signals a person with an audible alarm when the person has not attended to the electric stove for a predetermined period of time. Optionally, the attendance monitoring apparatus can turn off electrical power to the stove under these conditions. In this way, the attendance monitoring apparatus of the invention increases an operator'"'"'s freedom and electric stove safety when the stove is in use. As a result, the attendance monitoring apparatus can prevent fires and save lives.

Claims

1. An attendance monitoring apparatus for an appliance, comprising:

a housing,

a motion sensor assembly contained in said housing,

a timer assembly electrically connected to said motion sensor assembly,

an alarm assembly electrically connected to said timer assembly, and

further including means responsive to the output of the motion sensor to reset said timer assembly and disenable said alarm assembly for a predetermined time period determined by said timer assembly;

wherein said timer assembly is adjustable;

wherein said means responsive to the output of said motion sensor comprises a current controller connected to said timer assembly and said motion sensor for electrically controlling electric power to the appliance in response to said motion sensor; and

wherein said current controller is adapted to activate said alarm assembly simultaneously upon disconnecting electrical power to said appliance in response to the motion sensor detecting no motion during the reset time period determined by said adjustable timer assembly.