Cook top assembly with dual power source

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas cook top assembly that is capable of operating in off-grid applications where no electricity is available and that is also adaptable to operating in on-grid applications. The cook top is provided with a first control loop with a battery pack for powering the control valves for releasing gas to the gas burners and a spark ignition module for generating a spark to ignite the corresponding gas burner in an off-grid application. The cook top is also provided with second control loop for delivering power from an on-grid AC power source to the control valves and spark ignition module. The second control loop may operate independently of the first control loop or may be connected in parallel with the first control loop, the second control loop receiving AC power through an AC-to-DC converter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas cook top assembly comprising:
 a cooking surface having a plurality of gas burners for receiving a gas supply from a gas source;   a spark ignition module for igniting each of said gas burners;   individual control valves for selectively operating each of the plurality of gas burners;   a spark ignition control circuit for receiving electrical power from one of a first power source and a second power source and delivering the electrical power to said individual control valves and said spark ignition module;   a first control loop electrically connected to said spark ignition circuit for delivering electrical power from said first power source to said spark ignition circuit;   a second control loop electrically connected to said spark ignition circuit for delivering electrical power from said second power source;   wherein said first power source is a DC power source from a battery pack and said second power source is an AC-to-DC power source; and   wherein said first control loop is isolated from said second control loop.   
     
     
         2 . The gas cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said battery pack is arranged within said first control loop. 
     
     
         3 . The gas cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a diode arranged in series with said battery pack; and
 wherein said second control loop is arranged in parallel with said first control loop, said diode providing a break in said first control loop when said second control loop is operational.   
     
     
         4 . The gas cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first connector in connection with said second control loop; and   an AC-to-DC adapter plug having a second connector for coupling with said first connector.   
     
     
         5 . The gas cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said gas supply is one of the following alternatives: propane gas or natural gas. 
     
     
         6 . A gas cook top assembly, comprising:
 a base plate having bottom surface, a peripheral sidewall defining an open interior space and an open top providing access to said interior space;   a cover mounted on said base plate enclosing said interior space;   a plurality of burner mountings formed in said cover;   a plurality of gas burners arranged within said interior space of said base plate with one gas burner being associated with each of said burner openings;   individual control valves operably coupled to said gas burners for selectively operating each of said gas burners;   a spark ignition module for delivering an ignition spark to each of said gas burners;   a spark ignition circuit operably connecting said individual control valves, said spark ignition module and said gas burners to a power source;   a first control loop interconnecting said spark ignition circuit and said power source;   a second control loop arranged in parallel to said first control loop and interconnecting said spark ignition circuit and said power source, said second control loop having a free end in the form of a first connector;   wherein said first control loop is isolated from said second control loop and wherein said second control loop is operational when said first connector is operably coupled to said power source.   
     
     
         7 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said power source is a battery arranged within said first control loop. 
     
     
         8 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising an AC-to-DC adapter plug having a second connector for coupling with said first connector; and
 a diode arranged in series with said battery pack in said first control loop for preventing power from said second control loop from running through said battery pack.   
     
     
         9 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said cover is separate to and removably mounted to said base plate. 
     
     
         10 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said cover is separate to said base plate and movable between a closed position sealing and/or enclosing said open interior space and a raised position providing access to said open interior space. 
     
     
         11 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a battery-pack housing is fixed to said bottom surface of said base plate for receiving said battery pack, said battery pack housing extending into said open interior space. 
     
     
         12 . The cook top assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a gas manifold for delivering a gas supply to each of said gas burners when said gas burners are selectively operated, said gas supply being one of the following alternatives: propane gas or natural gas.