Heat warning safety device using fiber optic cables

• US 7,087,865 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William S. Lerner
• Original Assignee: William S. Lerner
• Inventors: Lerner, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US11/042,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 219/443.1, 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/447.1, 219/448.11, 219/448.12, 219/448.19, 219/460.1, 219/461.1, 340/640, 340/641, 340/642, 385/100, 385/115, 385/116, 385/123
• US Class Current: 219/445.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2213/04 Heating plates with overheat protection means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/746 Protection, e.g. overheat cutoff, hot plate indicator

Abstract

Heat alert safety device for warning individuals that a surface is hot wherein a fiber optic cable runs from an electric light source to a heat warning symbol. The cable has a plurality of fibers connected at a first end thereof to the light source and transmits light from the light source beginning from the first end to the second end of the cable and shines light out of the second end of the cable to a predetermined symbol adjacent the second end of the cable. The symbol is readily visible when illuminated to an observer who can also readily see the surface and the symbol communicates that the surface of the stove, in particular, the heating element, is dangerously hot. A controller controls the light source Whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the symbol is lit and remains lit as long as said specified surface temperature is maintained.

Claims

1. A heat alert safety device for warning individuals that a surface of an object is temperature excessive, comprising

a light source that generates a light beam,

a light guide, said light guide connected at a first end of said light guide to the light source and oriented so that the light guide is directly in a path of the light beam, said light guide transmitting the light beam from the light source beginning from the first end to the second end of said light guide, the second end of said light guide shining the light beam out of the light guide,

a predetermined symbol adjacent the second end of the light guide, the symbol readily visible only when illuminated to an observer who can also readily see the surface, said symbol communicating that the surface is temperature excessive,

a controller controlling the light source so that whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the symbol is illuminated and remains illuminated as long as said specified surface temperature is maintained, and

heat sensor adjacent the surface and connected to the controller for ascertaining a surface temperature and communicating the surface temperature to the controller.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is located on the object.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the object is a stove and the light source is located immediately beneath a portion of a top surface of the stove and wherein said light source is at a maximum surface distance from the heating elements of the stove.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the object is a gas stove and the surface is a surface of a heating element on the gas stove, wherein the symbol is positioned in a center of the heating element and wherein the second end of the light guide is positioned beneath the heating element.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the heating element is fed by gas inlet lines and wherein the light guide runs through the gas inlet lines.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the heating element is fed by gas inlet lines and wherein the light guide runs alongside the gas inlet lines.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the heating element is a metal grate having an open area in the center of the metal grates.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the object is an electric stove and the surface is a surface of a heating element on an electric stove, wherein the symbol is positioned in a center of the heating element and wherein the second end of the light guide is positioned beneath an area of the heating element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the heating element is a serpentine electric coil having a disk in the center and wherein the symbol is positioned on the disk.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the object is a smooth cooktop stove and the surface is a surface is of a heating element of the smooth cooktop stove, wherein the symbol is positioned in a center of the heating element and wherein the second end of the light guide is positioned beneath an area of the hearing element.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the heating element is a smooth area of glass or metal on a top surface of the stove that absorbs heat from a heat source directly underneath said smooth area of glass or metal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the object is a smooth cooktop stove and the surface is a surface is of a heating element of the smooth cooktop stove, wherein the symbol is positioned surrounding the heating element and wherein the second end of the light guide is positioned beneath an area of the heating element.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the heating element is a smooth area of glass or metal on a top surface of the stove that absorbs heat from a heat source directly underneath said smooth area of glass or metal.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said device also includes a switch for turning the device on or off.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a device indicator notifies the user whether the device is functional.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein a degree of brightness of the light source is controlled by the controller based on a setting set by a user.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein a sound producing component controlled by the controller produces a sound alarm whenever the light source is turned on.