Timer device for stove

Abstract

A timer device for a stove includes a switch for turning on and off the stove and controlling of flames, a time setting dial for setting a cooking time, a controlling unit which has an electronic circuit to provide a timing function and storing a predetermined period as the cooking time preset, and a display for displaying an elapsing cooking time. The controlling unit is electrically connected to the time setting dial and configured to turn off the stove once a predetermined period has elapsed. In addition, the switch is rounded to form a circular shape and the time setting dial is configured to surround the switch. A user may rotate the time setting dial to increase or decrease the cooking time or press it to save a new predetermined period.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A timer device for a stove, comprising:
 a switch for turning on and off the stove and controlling of flames;   a time setting dial for setting a cooking time;   a controlling unit, having an electronic circuit to provide a timing function and storing a predetermined period as the cooking time preset; and   a display for displaying an elapsing cooking time, wherein the controlling unit is electrically connected to the time setting dial and configured to turn off the stove once a predetermined period has elapsed,   
       wherein the switch is rounded and the time setting dial is configured to surround the switch. 
     
     
         2 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein a user is able to rotate the time setting dial clockwise or counter-clockwise to increase or decrease the elapsing predetermined period before cooking or during cooking. 
     
     
         3 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein the time setting dial is configured to increase the predetermined period if rotated clockwise and decrease the predetermined period if rotated counter-clockwise and the modified predetermined period is saved in the controlling unit once the time setting dial is pressed. 
     
     
         4 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein the time setting dial is configured to increase the predetermined period if rotated counter-clockwise and decrease the predetermined period if rotated clockwise and the modified predetermined period is saved in the controlling unit once the time setting dial is pressed. 
     
     
         5 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein the time setting dial increases or decreases the predetermined period by an increment of one minute. 
     
     
         6 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a time display for digitally displaying the predetermined period and the elapsing predetermined period. 
     
     
         7 . The timer device of  claim 6 , wherein the display further comprises a progress bar which visualizes the elapsing predetermined period in a form of an incrementally changing color of the progress bar, 
       wherein the progress bar completes one cycle of changing color for one minute and repeats the cycle of changing color for the next minute until the predetermined period elapses. 
     
     
         8 . The timer device of  claim 7 , wherein the progress bar surrounds the time display. 
     
     
         9 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein once the predetermined period has elapsed, an alarm sound goes off. 
     
     
         10 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein once the predetermined period has elapsed, the controlling unit turns off the stove, however, the switch is not turned to an off position. 
     
     
         11 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein a controlling unit further comprises a wireless network communication unit so that the user can be notified when the predetermined period has elapsed, check the status of the stove and turn off the stove via the internet or a smartphone. 
     
     
         12 . The timer device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is installed on the stove right above the switch. 
     
     
         13 . A timer device for a stove, comprising:
 a switch, for turning on and off the stove and controlling of flames;   a time setting unit for setting a cooking time;   a controlling unit, having an electronic circuit to provide a timing function and storing a predetermined period as the cooking time preset; and   a display for digitally displaying an elapsing cooking time,   
       wherein the controlling unit is electrically connected to the time setting unit and configured to turn off the stove once a predetermined period has elapsed, 
       wherein the time setting unit comprises four buttons of an up button, a down button, a cursor button, and a save button. 
     
     
         14 . The timer device of  claim 13 , wherein the up and down buttons, if pressed, respectively increase and decrease a number on the display,
 wherein the cursor button, if pressed, moves a cursor to another number on the display, and   wherein the save button, if pressed, saves a time on the display as a predetermined period.   
     
     
         15 . The timer device of  claim 13 , wherein the display comprises a time display and a progress bar,
 wherein the time display digitally displays the predetermined period and the elapsing predetermined period,   wherein the progress bar visualizes the elapsing time in a form of a decrementing bar from a full bar.   
     
     
         16 . The time device of  claim 15 , wherein the display is installed on the stove right above the time setting unit. 
     
     
         19 . The time device of  claim 15 , wherein the four buttons of the time setting unit are installed on the stove right-above the switch. 
     
     
         18 . The time device of claim  17 , wherein the progress bar is installed between the time display and the four buttons of the time setting unit. 
     
     
         19 . The time device of  claim 13 , wherein the time setting unit comprises no other button, except the four buttons.