Safety apparatus including sensor and remote controlled stove knob

Abstract

An apparatus, a system and a kit having a knob and a control unit for improving the safety of stovetop are described. The knob includes a main body, a shaft connector extending from the inner surface of the main body to be mounted to an operational shaft of a stove, a plurality of teeth disposed on the inner surface and a position indicator located on the inner surface. The control unit is for engagement of the plurality of teeth and includes a gear for rotating the plurality of teeth, a motor for actuating the gear, a sensor configured to detect the position indicator and controller circuitry for operating the motor upon the fault condition. The knob and the control unit are used with a sensor and/or with an electronic device for controlling the heating power of burners, specifically when a dangerous condition occurs.

1 . An apparatus to rotate an operational shaft of a stove, comprising:
 a knob including:
 a main body having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a shaft connector extending from the inner surface of the main body, the shaft connector being mountable to an operational shaft of the stove; 
 a plurality of teeth disposed on the inner surface; and 
 a position indicator located on the inner surface; and 
   a control unit configured to engage the plurality of teeth in response to a fault condition, the control unit including:
 a gear for selective movement of the plurality of teeth; 
 a motor for actuating the gear; 
 a sensor configured to detect the position indicator; and 
 controller circuitry for operating the motor upon the fault condition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the knob further comprises:
 an extender including:
 a first end including a first socket for connecting with the shaft connector; and 
 a second end including a second socket mountable to the operational shaft of the stove. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first socket and the second socket are identical. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first socket and the second socket are different. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second socket has a shape corresponding to the operational shaft, and wherein the second socket is mountable to the operational shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position indicator is located on the inner surface at a first angular position indicative of a HOME position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of teeth comprises a recess at a second angular position indicative of the HOME position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit further includes a toggle switch, the toggle switch being configured to detect the recess. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein upon alignment of the position indicator and the sensor, indication of the HOME position is provided to the controller circuitry. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein upon engagement of the recess by the toggle switch, indication of the HOME position is provided to the controller circuitry. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the controller circuitry includes a wireless receiver for receiving indication of the fault condition from a safety sensor, thereby activating the motor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fault condition is derived from artificial intelligence in combination with thermal mapping. 
     
     
         13 . A system for controlling a stove shaft upon fault conditions, the system comprising:
 a safety sensor, the safety sensor configured to detect a fault condition of a stove shaft;   a knob comprising:
 a main body having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a shaft connector extending from the inner surface of the main body; 
 a plurality of teeth disposed on the inner surface; 
 a position indicator located on the inner surface; and 
 an extender including:
 a first end including a first socket for connecting with the shaft connector; and 
 a second end including a second socket mountable to the operational shaft of the stove; and 
 
   a controller unit including:
 a gear for selective movement of the plurality of teeth; 
 a motor for actuating the gear; 
 a sensor configured to detect the position indicator; and 
 controller circuitry, the controller circuitry being in communication with the safety sensor for operating the motor upon the fault condition. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the safety sensor, the knob and the controller unit are in wireless communication with an electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller circuitry receives indication of the fault condition wirelessly from the safety sensor for activating the motor, and the fault condition is derived from artificial intelligence in combination with thermal mapping using the safety sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for installation on a stove, the kit comprising:
 a knob for attachment to an operational shaft of the stove, the knob including:
 a main body having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a shaft connector extending away from the inner surface of the main body, the shaft connector capable mounting to an operational shaft of the stove; 
 a plurality of teeth disposed on the inner surface; and 
 a position indicator capable of being fixed on the inner surface; and 
   a control unit capable of engaging the plurality of teeth in response to a fault condition, the control unit including:
 a gear capable of selectively move the plurality of teeth; 
 a motor capable of actuating the gear; 
 a sensor capable of detecting the position indicator; and 
 controller circuitry capable of operating the motor upon the fault condition. 
   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of extenders, each extender including:
 a first end including a first socket capable of connecting with the shaft connector; and   a second end including a second socket mountable to the operational shaft of the stove.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the controller circuitry is connectable wirelessly to a safety sensor for operating the motor upon the fault condition. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the first socket and the second socket of at least one of the plurality of extenders are identical. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of extenders includes one or more extenders where the first socket and the second socket are different.