Patent Publication Number: US-6713730-B1

Title: Timing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to timing systems and more particularly pertains to a new timing system for allowing a user to prevent damage, injuries, and even deaths related to electric ranges. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of timing systems is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,565 describes a device/system for setting the time that an oven is to start and stop heating. Another type of timing systems is U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,420 having an automatic safety switch apparatus for interrupting power to an electrical appliance. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that is superior to the above mentioned and has certain improved features. A new invention is needed to fulfill the need of being able to control the level of heat provided as well as the duration of time needed to an appliance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by allowing a user to adjust the temperature and duration of time for both the oven and the heating elements located on the appliance top. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new timing system that would prevent waste of energy and food. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new timing system that would also prevent young, unattended children from being injured as a consequence of playing with the controls of the appliance, inadvertently turning it on, and being buried by contact with its heating elements or related surfaces. 
     To this, the present invention generally comprises a control means that is operationally coupled to a heat-emitting device of the oven and a heat-emitting device of each of the burners for turning the heat-emitting devices on or off. A temperature selection means is operationally coupled to the control. A plurality of heat level selection means is operationally coupled to the control means for selectively choosing a desired relative heat level for each of the burners. A plurality of timing means is operationally coupled to the control means for selectively turning the heat-emitting devices off after a pre-selected amount of elapsed time. Each of the timing means is associated with one of the heat-emitting devices. The selected heating emitting device may be turned on for a selected amount of time by the timing means and are turned off by the timing means when the selected amount of time is expired. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new timing system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is schematic view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new timing system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the timing system  10  generally includes a control means  12  that is operationally coupled to a heat-emitting device  14  of the oven and a heatemitting device  14  of each of the burners  16  for turning the heat-emitting devices  14  on or off, each of the heat-emitting devices  14  includes at least one heating element  18 . The control means could consist of either an electronic or electro mechanical control. 
     A temperature selection means  30  is operationally coupled to the control means  12  for selectively choosing a desired temperature of the oven. The temperature selection means  30  includes a dial  22  rotatably mounted on the stove and has temperature indicia  24  positioned thereon. The temperature selection means could consist of either an electronic or electro mechanical control. 
     A plurality of heat level selection means  26  is operationally coupled to the control means  12  for selectively choosing a desired relative heat level for each of the burners  16 . Each of the heat level selection means  26  includes a dial  22  rotatably mounted on the stove and has heat level indicia  28  thereon. 
     A plurality of timing means  30  is operationally coupled to the control means  12  for selectively turning the heat-emitting devices  14  off after a pre-selected amount of elapsed time. Each of the timing means  30  is associated with one of the heat-emitting devices  14 . Each of the timing means  30  includes a dial  22  that is rotatably coupled to the stove and has a plurality of time indicia  32  positioned thereon. A first of the timing means  30  is associated with the oven and includes a dial  22  rotatably couple to the stove. 
     The time indicia  32  on the first timing means  30  are selected from times that extend from zero minutes to  3  hours. Each of the timing means  30  associated with one of the burners  16  has timing indicia  32  thereon selected from times extending from zero minutes to 2 hours. The selected heating emitting device  14  may be turned on for a selected amount of time by the timing means  30  and are turned off by the timing means  30  when the selected amount of time is expired. 
     In use, the timer regulated controls of the present invention could prevent fires caused by and individual forgetting to shut this type of appliance off after use or as a result of becoming distracted during the course of preparing a meal. This feature could also help prevent the waste of energy, as well as food. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.