Safety device for regulating electrical power to a cooking appliance

Abstract

A safety device for regulating electrical power to a cooking appliance, comprising a control module having a power routing means, a power supply means, a load current sensing means for detecting a load current to the cooking appliance and a power relay means for controlling the electrical current to the cooking appliance, and a sensor module located adjacent to the cooking appliance for observation by an appliance operator and connected to the control module. The sensor module governs the production of the electrical current to the cooking appliance, and has a monitoring means, a distance sensing means, a timer means for showing elapsed cooking time, and a light emitting means. The monitoring means is responsive to outputs of the distance sensing means and includes a timer assembly programmed to a predetermined period of time for responding to the distance sensing means detecting the presence of the appliance operator.

1 . A safety device for regulating electrical power to a cooking appliance, said device comprising: 
 (a) an electrical power source providing an electrical current;    (b) a control module regulating the electrical current from said electrical power source to said cooking appliance;    (c) said control module connectedly interposed between said cooking appliance and said electrical power source, said control module integrally and connectedly comprising a power routing means, a power supply means, a power relay means, and a load current sensing means;    (d) said power routing means for routing the electrical current from the electrical power source to said power relay and to said power supply;    (e) said power supply means for supplying the electrical current to a sensor module;    (f) said power relay means for controlling the electrical current to the cooking appliance enabling said cooking appliance to operate by producing said electrical current and disabling said cooking appliance by preventing said electrical current;    (g) said load current means for detecting a load current to said cooking appliance;    (h) said sensor module located remotely from and connected to said control module, governing the production of the electrical current to the cooking appliance from the control module;    (i) said sensor module integrally and connectedly comprising a monitoring means, a distance sensing means, a timer means, and a light emitting means;    (j) said sensor module being positioned adjacent to said cooking appliance for observation by said appliance operator;    (k) said monitoring means for integrally controlling the distance sensing means, the timer means, and the light emitting means;    (l) said monitoring means being responsive to outputs of the distance sensing means for overriding the control module, the timer means, the light emitting means, and the load current means;    (m) said monitoring means being connected to the power relay means and including a means for activating said power relay means;    (n) said distance sensing means for detecting the presence of the appliance operator within a predetermined arc in front of said cooking appliance;    (o) said power relay means responding to the monitoring means;    (p) said monitoring means further including a timer assembly programmed for a predetermined period of time for responding to the distance sensing means detecting the presence of the appliance operator, on expiry of which the monitoring means activates the power relay means to automatically cut the electrical power to the cooking appliance;    (q) said timer means for displaying an elapsed cooking time;    (r) said light emitting means for indicating electrical power routing to the cooking appliance;    (s) said monitoring means having a means to re-initiate the sensor module when the cooking appliance is manually re-activated by the appliance operator; and    (t) whereby the safety device regulates the electrical power to said cooking appliance.    
   
   
       2 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein said timer means includes a liquid crystal digital display.  
   
   
       3 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein said light emitting means is a light emitting diode having a plurality of color indicators.  
   
   
       4 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein said distance sensing means is an infrared sensing means actively emitting and receiving infrared rays.  
   
   
       5 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein said monitoring means is a microcontroller.  
   
   
       6 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the load current sensing means is a load transformer rectified for converting alternating current to direct current.  
   
   
       7 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein said monitoring means further includes a timer assembly programmed for varying periods of times responding to the distance sensing means, integrally relating to varying output of the load current means.  
   
   
       8 . The safety device of  claim 1  further including a means for overriding said control module, disabling the sensor module until the cooking appliance is manually re-activated by the appliance operator;  
   
   
       9 . The safety device of  claim 8  wherein the means for overriding the control module is a single pole single throw momentary override switch.  
   
   
       10 . A method of regulating electrical power to a cooking appliance, said method comprising: 
 (a) using an electrical power source providing an electrical current;    (b) providing a control module which regulates the electrical current from said electrical power source to said cooking appliance;    (c) interposing said control module connectedly between said cooking appliance and said electrical power source, said control module integrally and connectedly comprising a power routing means, a power supply means, a power relay means, and a load current sensing means;    (d) using said power routing means for routing the electrical current from the electrical power source to said power relay and to said power supply;    (e) using said power supply means for supplying the electrical current to a sensing module;    (f) using said power relay means for controlling the electrical current to the cooking appliance enabling said cooking appliance to operate by producing said electrical current and disabling said cooking appliance by preventing said electrical current;    (g) using said load current means for detecting a load current to said cooking appliance;    (h) locating said sensor module remotely from and connected to said control module, to govern the production of the electrical current to the cooking appliance from the control module;    (i) having said sensor module integrally and connectedly comprising a monitoring means, a distance sensing means, a timer means, and a light emitting means;    (j) positioning said sensor module adjacent to said cooking appliance for observation by said appliance operator;    (k) using said monitoring means for integrally controlling the distance sensing means, the timer means, and the light emitting means;    (l) making said monitoring means said responsive to outputs of the distance sensing means for overriding the control module, the timer means, the light emitting means, and the load current means;    (m) connecting said monitoring means to the power relay means and including a means for activating said power relay means;    (n) using said distance sensing means for detecting the presence of the appliance operator within a predetermined arc in front of said cooking appliance;    (o) using said power relay means responding to the monitoring means;    (p) having said monitoring means further include a timer assembly programmed for a predetermined period of time for responding to the distance sensing means detecting the presence of the appliance operator, on expiry of which the monitoring means activates the power relay means to automatically cut the electrical power to the cooking appliance;    (q) using said timer means for displaying an elapsed cooking time;    (r) using said light emitting means for indicating electrical power routing to the cooking appliance;    (s) including said monitoring means having a means to re-initiate the sensor module when the cooking appliance is manually re-activated by the appliance operator; and    (t) whereby the safety device regulates the electrical power to said cooking appliance.    
   
   
       11 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein said timer means includes a liquid crystal digital display.  
   
   
       12 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein said light emitting means is a light emitting diode having a plurality of color indicators.  
   
   
       13 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein said distance sensing means is an infrared sensing means actively emitting and receiving infrared rays.  
   
   
       14 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein said monitoring means is a microcontroller.  
   
   
       15 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein the load current sensing means is a load transformer rectified for converting alternating current to direct current.  
   
   
       16 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein said monitoring means further includes a timer assembly programmed for varying periods of times responding to the distance sensing means, integrally relating to varying output of the load current means.  
   
   
       17 . The safety device of  claim 10  further including a means for overriding said control module, disabling the sensor module until the cooking appliance is manually re-activated by the appliance operator;  
   
   
       18 . The safety device of  claim 17  wherein the means for overriding the control module is a single pole single throw momentary override switch.