Methods and systems for alerting a user to clean appliance

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indicator on a household appliance to alert a user to clean the appliance. For example, the indicator alerts the user when to clean a crumb tray in a toaster.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toaster, comprising: 
 means for activating the toaster; and    a counter coupled to the activating means wherein the counter is incremented upon activation of the activating means.    
     
     
         2 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory to store a value of the counter.  
     
     
         3 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator coupled to the counter, wherein the indicator produces a signal when the counter reaches a set value.  
     
     
         4 . The toaster of  claim 3 , wherein the signal comprises an audible signal.  
     
     
         5 . The toaster of  claim 3 , wherein the signal comprises a visual signal.  
     
     
         6 . The toaster of  claim 3 , wherein the set value is adjustable.  
     
     
         7 . The toaster of  claim 3 , further comprising means for disabling the toaster when the counter reaches the set value.  
     
     
         8 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator coupled to the counter, wherein the indicator produces a signal when the counter is less than a set value.  
     
     
         9 . The toaster of  claim 8 , wherein the signal comprises an audible signal.  
     
     
         10 . The toaster of  claim 8 , wherein the signal comprises a visual signal.  
     
     
         11 . The toaster of  claim 8 , wherein the set value is adjustable.  
     
     
         12 . The toaster of  claim 1 , further comprising means for resetting the counter.  
     
     
         13 . The toaster of  claim 12 , wherein the resetting means comprises a push-button.  
     
     
         14 . The toaster of  claim 12  further comprising a crumb tray coupled to the resetting means.  
     
     
         15 . A toaster, comprising: 
 means for activating the toaster;    a counter coupled to the activating means wherein the counter is incremented upon activation of the activating means;    a memory to store a value of the counter; and    an indicator coupled to the counter, wherein the indicator produces a signal when the counter reaches a set value.    
     
     
         16 . The toaster of  claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises an audible signal.  
     
     
         17 . The toaster of  claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises a visual signal.  
     
     
         18 . The toaster of  claim 15 , further comprising a second indicator coupled to the counter, wherein the second indicator produces a second signal when the counter is less than the set value.  
     
     
         19 . The toaster of  claim 15 , wherein the set value is adjustable.  
     
     
         20 . The toaster of  claim 15 , further comprising means for disabling the toaster when the counter reaches the set value.  
     
     
         21 . The toaster of  claim 15 , further comprising means for resetting the counter.  
     
     
         22 . The toaster of  claim 21 , wherein the resetting means comprises a push-button.  
     
     
         23 . The toaster of  claim 21 , further comprising a crumb tray coupled to the resetting means.  
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 counting a number of times a household appliance is activated;    determining when the number reaches a set value; and    when it is determined that the number reaches the set value, providing an indication that the number reached the set value.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the indication is audible.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the indication is visual.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein when it is determined that the number reaches the set value, the method further comprises the step of disabling the household appliance.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the set value is adjustable.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an indication to set the counter equal to zero; and    setting the counter equal to zero.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of opening a crumb tray.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the household appliance comprises a toaster.