Cooking appliance lockout

• US 7,045,748 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Consumer Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Ayers, James Lewis, Pryor, William Michael, Fisher, Gary, Blackson, Chris Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US11/093,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/448.11, 219/448.12, 219483-486, 219501-509
• US Class Current: 219/446.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/106 electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/68 Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates

Abstract

A cooking device for cooking an item where the device includes an input for a source of cooking energy; a cooking element for applying the cooking energy to the item; a cooking control for controlling the application of the cooking energy to the item; a lockout selectable for preventing application of the cooking energy to the cooking element, the lockout being non-selectable when the cooking control is activated; and a user interface, the interface providing an indication of selection of the lockout in response to a user attempt to activate the cooking control when the lockout is selected.

Claims

1. A cooking device for cooking an item, said device comprising:

an input for a source of cooking energy;

a cooking element for applying the cooking energy to said item;

a cooking control for controlling the application of said cooking energy to said item;

a lockout selectable for preventing application of said cooking energy to said cooking element, said lockout being non-selectable when said cooking control is activated; and

a user interface, said interface providing an indication of selection of said lockout in response to a user attempt to activate said cooking control when said lockout is selected.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein if the cooking control is selected while the lockout is activated, said lockout cannot be de-selected until said cooking control is de-selected.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said interface provides an indication of an attempt to de-select said lockout while said cooking control is activated.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein in the event of a failure of said lockout, said lockout will permit application of said cooking energy to said cooking element and said interface will provide an indication of said failure.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said indication is by an audio signal.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said indication is by a visible signal.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said energy source is electricity, said cooking control is an electric control and said lockout includes a switch to interrupt said electricity.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said energy source is a combustible gas, said cooking control includes a valve and said lockout includes a valve to interrupt said gas.

9. A device according to claim 8, further including a lockout valve position sensor, wherein upon a lockout selection or de-selection, a lockout selection position or a lockout de-selection position, respectively, must be sensed by said sensor within a desired time range.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said lockout is selectable by at least one of a user, a door sensor or a controller in the device.