Patent Publication Number: US-2016223205-A1

Title: Timer device for stove

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a timer device for a stove such as a gas stove, gas ranges, electrical stove or the likes and, more particularly, to an easy-to-use timer device for a stove which can be automatically turned off after a predetermined period. The predetermined period can be modified. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A stove switch is usually designed to ignite and control the flames. However, certain kinds of cooking require long cooking times and a user may have to leave the stove and forget about the cooking. This may lead to failure of the cooking or in worse case, a serious accident. 
     Timers or automatic turn-off systems have been introduced for a stove. However, the usage of them is often complicated and a user has to make some effort to figure out how to use them. The usage is confusing especially when the stove has a plurality of burners. 
     Accordingly, to solve the above problems, a need for an easy-to-use timer device for a stove which can be automatically turned off after a predetermined period has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides an easy-to-use timer device for a stove which can be automatically turned off after a predetermined period. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a timer device for a stove which 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. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use timer device for a stove which can be automatically turned off after a predetermined period. Generally, a stove has a plurality of burners and a user is often confused among switches about which switch corresponds to which burner. In the present invention, however, such confusion is prevented because the switch, time setting dial and display are arranged together next to each other. It is easy for a user to figure out how to use the timer device of the present invention. 
     The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the present invention provides an easy-to-use timer device for a stove which can be automatically turned off after a predetermined, period; (2) the switch, time setting dial and display of the present invention are arranged together next to each other and thus, it is easy for a user to figure out how to use the timer device of the present invention; (3) the time setting dial surrounds the switch and a user can just rotate the time setting dial to change the predetermined period or press it to save a new predetermined period; (4) the stove is automatically turned off after a predetermined period and thus, the cooking is convenient and accidental fire can be prevented. 
     Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein; 
         FIG. 1  shows the timer device for a stove according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows the switch and the time setting dial according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows the switch and the time setting dial according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows the timer device for a stove according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows the display according to still another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows the display according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram showing the process of using the timer device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. 
     Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  shows the timer device  10  for a stove according to one embodiment of the present invention. The timer device  10  for a stove comprises: a switch  20  for turning on and off the stove and controlling of flames; a time setting dial  30  for setting a cooking time; a controlling unit (not shown), having an electronic circuit to provide a timing function and storing a predetermined period as the cooking time preset; and a display  40  for displaying an elapsing cooking time. The controlling unit is electrically connected to the time setting dial  30  and configured to turn off the stove once a predetermined period has elapsed. In addition, the switch  20  is rounded to form a circular shape and the time setting dial  30  is configured to surround the switch  20  as in  FIG. 1 . By this configuration, it is very easy for a user to use the time setting dial  30  because it is right next to the switch  20 . 
     A user is able to rotate the time setting dial  30  clockwise or counter-clockwise to increase or decrease the elapsing predetermined period during cooking. Before cooking, a user may rotate the time setting dial  30  to change the predetermined period of the cooking time. Preferably, the time setting dial  30  increases or decreases the cooking time by an increment of one minute. 
     The time setting dial  30  may be 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  30  is pressed to the arrow direction of  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the time setting dial  30  may be 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. This rotational and pressing control of the time setting dial  30  is very intuitive and thus, a user can easily find out how to use the time setting dial. Preferably, the time setting dial  30  increases or decreases the predetermined period by an increment of one minute. 
     The display  40  comprises a time display for digitally displaying the predetermined period and the elapsing predetermined period. The display  40  may further comprise a progress bar  41  which visualizes the elapsing predetermined period in a form of an incrementally changing color of the progress bar as in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, 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. In the alternative form, the progress bar  41  may surround the time display as in  FIG. 5 . 
     Once the predetermined period has elapsed, an alarm sound may go off in addition to automatically turning off the stove. 
     Once the predetermined period has elapsed, the controlling unit turns off the stove. However, the switch  20  is not turned to an off position so that a user notices automatic turning off of the stove. To turn on the stove, the user has to turn the switch  20  hack to the off position and turn the stove on. Once the switch is turned to the off position, the time on the display  40  changes back to the predetermined period. 
     The predetermined period can be from 1 minute to 9 hours 59 minutes. 
     The controlling unit may further comprise a wireless network communication unit so that the user can remotely monitor the stove via the Internet or a smart phone. When the predetermined period has elapsed, a notice may be sent to the user&#39;s smart phone. The user may further check the status of the stove or turn off the stove using his smart phone. 
     As in  FIG. 1 , the display  40  is installed on the stove right above the switch  20 . Generally, a stove has a plurality of burners and a user is often confused among switches about which switch corresponds to which burner. In the present invention, however, such confusion is prevented because the switch  20 , time setting dial  30  and display  40  are arranged together next to each other. 
       FIG. 4  shows the timer device  10  for a stove according to another embodiment of the present invention. The timer device  10  for a stove includes a switch  20  for turning on and off the stove and controlling of flames; a time setting unit  50  for setting a cooking time; a controlling unit (not shown), having an electronic circuit to provide a timing function and storing a predetermined period as the cooking time preset; and a display  40  for digitally displaying an elapsing cooking time. The controlling unit is electrically connected to the time setting unit  50  and configured to turn off the stove once a predetermined period has elapsed. The time setting unit  50  comprises four buttons of an up button  51 , a down button  52 , a cursor button  53 , and a save button  54 . The up and down buttons  51  and  52 , if pressed, respectively increase and decrease a number on the display  40 . The cursor button  53 , if pressed, moves a cursor to another number on the display, and the save button  54 , if pressed, saves a time on the display as a new predetermined period. 
     The display  40  may further comprise a time display and a progress bar  41 . The time display digitally displays the predetermined period and the elapsing predetermined period, and the progress bar  41  visualizes the elapsing time in a form of a decrementing bar from a full bar. The progress bar may change, every one second, five second, six second, ten second, etc. 
     Preferably, the display  40  is installed on the stove right above the time setting unit  50 . The four buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  of the time setting unit  50  are installed on the stove right above the switch  20 . The progress bar  41  may be installed between the time display and the four buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  of the time setting unit  50 . Preferably, the time setting unit  50  comprises no other button, except the four buttons  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 . 
       FIG. 6  shows alternative way of the time display showing hour, minute and second. 
       FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram showing the process of using the timer device of the present invention. Default time means the predetermined period. The predetermined period may be changed and saved even during cooking time if a user rotates and presses the time setting unit  30 . 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.