Appliance hazard warning device
First Claim
1. A pre-contact warning device for a front door of an automatic dishwasher, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the dishwasher when loading and unloading dishes, said device comprising:
- a pre-contact sensorially perceivable warning signal emitter;
an activation control which energizes said signal emitter into a standby mode ready to emit a warning signal when the front door is open;
a proximity sensor operably interconnected in said device between said signal emitter and said activation control for activating said signal emitter when the front door is open and a person moves into a predetermined proximity to the front door whereby said warning signal emitter produces a sensorially perceivable warning signal to alert the person in predetermined proximity to the dishwasher that the front door is open and is to be avoided.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-injury contact warning device for a front door of an automatic dishwasher or oven, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal very low position above the floor. In one embodiment, the device includes a housing attachable to a surface of the front door. A warning signal emitter sensorially perceptible by a person receives electric power from a miniature storage battery mounted within the housing. An angle-sensitive switch mounted in the housing is operably interconnected between the warning signal emitter and a proximity sensor. The switch is open and the proximity sensor and the warning signal emitter off when the front door is closed, while the switch is closed and the warning signal emitter is armed and on standby when the front door is open. When a person gets within a predetermined distance from the open door, the proximity sensor activates the warning signal emitter. The warning signal emitter, when on, is sufficiently sensorially perceivable to warn or alert the person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and to be avoided.
20 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A pre-contact warning device for a front door of an automatic dishwasher, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the dishwasher when loading and unloading dishes, said device comprising:
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a pre-contact sensorially perceivable warning signal emitter;
an activation control which energizes said signal emitter into a standby mode ready to emit a warning signal when the front door is open;
a proximity sensor operably interconnected in said device between said signal emitter and said activation control for activating said signal emitter when the front door is open and a person moves into a predetermined proximity to the front door whereby said warning signal emitter produces a sensorially perceivable warning signal to alert the person in predetermined proximity to the dishwasher that the front door is open and is to be avoided. - View Dependent Claims (2)
said warning signal emitter provides a visual queue to the person.
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3. A pre-contact warning device attachable to a front door of an automatic dishwasher, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the dishwasher when loading and unloading dishes, said device comprising:
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a housing attachable to a surface of the front door;
said housing including a pre-contact warning signal emitter and a miniature storage battery mounted within said housing;
an angle-sensitive switch mounted in said housing and operably connected to said storage battery, said switch being open when the front door is closed, said switch being closed when the front door is open;
a proximity sensor operably interconnected between said switch and said warning signal emitter, said proximity sensor activating said warning signal emitter only when the front door is open and a person moves within a predetermined distance from said proximity sensor;
said warning signal emitter, when on, being sufficiently sensorially perceivable to warn or alert a person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and is to be avoided. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
said signal emitter emits visible light;
said housing is structured for attachment to an outside surface of the front door whereby light is reflected upward from the support surface when the front door is open.
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5. A pre-contact warning device as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said signal emitter also emits an audible sound when the front door is open.
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6. A pre-contact warning device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
said signal emitter emits a pulsed and variable signal for enhanced warning discernment by the person.
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7. A pre-contact warning device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
said signal emitter produces sound.
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8. An appliance warning device for a front door of an appliance, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the appliance, said device comprising:
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a pre-contact sensorially perceivable warning signal emitter;
an activation control which energizes said signal emitter into a standby mode ready to emit a warning signal when the front door is open;
a proximity sensor operably interconnected in said device between said signal emitter and said activation control for activating said signal emitter when the front door is open and a person moves into a predetermined proximity to the front door whereby said warning signal producing a sensorially perceivable warning signal sufficient to alert the person in the predetermined proximity to the appliance that the front door is open and is to be avoided. - View Dependent Claims (9)
said warning signal emitter provides a visual queue to the person.
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10. An appliance warning device for a front door of an appliance, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the appliance, said device comprising:
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a housing attached or attachable to an exposed surface of or in close proximity to the front door when closed;
said housing including a pre-contact warning signal emitter;
an angle-sensitive switch mounted in said housing and operably connected to a storage battery, said switch being open when the front door is closed, said switch being closed when the front door is open;
a proximity sensor operably interconnected between said switch and said warning signal emitter, said proximity sensor activating said warning signal emitter only when the front door is open and a person moves within a predetermined distance from said proximity sensor;
said warning signal emitter, when on, being sufficiently sensorially perceivable to warn or alert a person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and is to be avoided. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
said signal emitter emits visible light;
said housing is structured for attachment to an outside surface of the front door whereby light is reflected upward from the support surface when the front door is open.
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12. The warning device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:
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said signal emitter emits visual light;
said housing includes a mounting plate pivotally and biasingly connected to said housing, said mounting plate adhesively attachable to a top counter surface in close proximity to a top margin of the front door;
said housing positioned for contact and pivotal movement from the open position to the closed position of said switch as the front door is opened whereby said signal emitter emits light each time the front door is opened.
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13. The warning device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:
said signal emitter produces sound.
Specification