Patent Publication Number: US-2023151969-A1

Title: Hazard detecting stove

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of, and incorporates by reference, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/280,348, entitled “Hazard Detecting Stove,” which was filed on Nov. 17, 2021. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present general inventive concept relates generally to a stove, and particularly, to a hazard detecting stove. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cooking ranges that are left unattended account for the number one cause of home fires in the United States. Fires caused by unattended stoves not only pose a serious threat to personal safety, but also result in extreme property damage. Although unattended stoves are a common practice for many people, senior citizens and those with short term memory conditions are especially susceptible to the danger of leaving a stove with an open flame unsupervised. 
     Conventional stoves and/or ranges lack any notification systems to indicate to users that the stove is unattended. Also, the conventional stove and/or range lack any type of preventative measures that can escalate the fire. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a hazard detecting stove that alerts the user that the stove is unattended and/or a fire is likely to occur. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present general inventive concept provides a hazard detecting stove. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a hazard detecting stove, including a range assembly, including a range body, and a plurality of range sensors disposed on at least a portion of the range body to detect at least one of a weight, a temperature level, and a movement thereon while at least one of the plurality of range sensors is turned on during cooking, and an oven assembly, including an oven body disposed on at least a portion of the range body, and an oven sensor disposed within at least a portion of the oven body to detect at least one of a weight, a temperature level, and a movement thereon while the oven sensor is turned on during cooking. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors may send a range alert signal in response to detecting at least one of an absence of a pot thereon and after expiration of a predetermined period of time. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors may disable power received to shut off the plurality of range sensors after a predetermined danger time in response to detecting at least one of a lack of change to the pot and lack of movement to address the range alert signal. 
     The oven sensor may send an oven alert signal in response to detecting at least one of an absence of a pot thereon and after expiration of a predetermined period of time. 
     The oven sensor may disable power received within the oven body after a predetermined danger time in response to detecting at least one of a lack of change to the pot and lack of movement to address the oven alert signal. 
     The hazard detecting stove may further include a control assembly to indicate at least one of the plurality of range sensors and the oven sensor is unattended. 
     The control assembly may project a beam of light onto a surface opposite with respect to the control assembly to create a warning message. 
     The control assembly may emit at least one sound in response to at least one of the plurality of range sensors and the oven sensor being unattended. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of a hazard detecting stove, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein. 
     List of Components 
     Hazard Detecting Stove  100   
     Range Assembly  110   
     Range Body  111   
     Range Sensors  112   
     Oven Assembly  120   
     Oven Body  121   
     Oven Sensor  122   
     Oven Door  123   
     Tempered Window  124   
     Control Assembly  130   
     Control Body  131   
     Light Indicator  132   
     Speaker  133   
     Range Knobs  134   
     Oven Control Buttons  135   
     Bake Button  135   a    
     Broil Button  135   b    
     Cancel Button  135   c    
     Clean Button  135   d    
     Timer Button  135   e    
     Set Time Button  135   f    
     Set Temperature Button  135   g    
     Start Button  135   h    
     Oven Light Switch  136   
     Display Unit  137   
     Storage Compartment  140   
     Drawer  141   
     Power Source  150   
       FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of a hazard detecting stove  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     The hazard detecting stove  100  may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, glass, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto. 
     The hazard detecting stove  100  may include a range assembly  110 , an oven assembly  120 , a control assembly  130 , a storage compartment  140 , and a power source  150 , but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    the hazard detecting stove  100  is illustrated to be a range. However, each component of the hazard detecting stove  100  may be separated, such that the range assembly  110  may be a cooktop (i.e., disposed on a countertop) and the oven assembly  120  may be an independent appliance. 
     The range assembly  110  may include a range body  111  and a plurality of range sensors  112 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The range body  111  may have a predetermined size based on a preference of a user and/or a manufacturer. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may be a range, a grill, and a burner, but is not limited thereto. Moreover, each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may be gas and/or electric. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may include a weight sensor, a temperature sensor, and a movement sensor, but is not limited thereto. 
     The plurality of range sensors  112  may be disposed on at least a portion of the range body  111 . Each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may detect a weight, a temperature level, and/or a movement (e.g., movement by a user, utensil, pot, pan) thereon. For example, each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may determine whether a pot and/or a pan is disposed thereon for cooking, such that each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may send a range alert signal in response to detecting an absence of the pot and/or the pan thereon and after expiration of a predetermined period of time (e.g., one minute, two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes) that indicate a high probability of an unattended range. 
     Additionally, each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may send the range alert signal in response to detecting the presence of the pot and/or the pan thereon, expiration of the predetermined period of time, and lack of movement of the pot and/or the pan, which indicate a high probability of an unattended range. Other considerations by each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may be a temperature level of the pot and/or the pan exceeds a predetermined temperature level, which indicate the pot and/or the pan has been cooking too long, such that a fire is likely, unless the user applies a slow cook process. 
     Furthermore, each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may disable power received to shut off the plurality of range sensors  112  after a predetermined danger time (e.g., twenty minutes) in response to detecting a lack of change to the pot and/or the pan, and/or lack of movement by the user to address the range alert signal. As such, the plurality of range sensors  112  may prevent a fire. 
     The oven assembly  120  may include an oven body  121 , an oven sensor  122 , an oven door  123 , and a tempered window  124 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The oven body  121  may be disposed on at least a portion of the range body  111 . The oven body  121  may have a size greater than a size of the range body  111 . 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the oven sensor  122  is illustrated to be a single sensor. However, the oven sensor  122  may be a plurality of oven sensors  122 . 
     The oven sensor  122  may include a weight sensor, a temperature sensor, and a movement sensor, but is not limited thereto. 
     The oven sensor  122  may be disposed within at least a portion of the oven body  121 . The oven sensor  122  may detect a weight, a temperature level, and/or a movement thereon. For example, the oven sensor  122  may determine whether a pot, a pan, and/or a tray is disposed thereon for cooking, baking, and/or broiling, such that the oven sensor  122  may send an oven alert signal in response to detecting an absence of the pot, the pan, and/or the tray thereon, and after expiration of a predetermined period of time (e.g., one hour, two hours, three hours) that indicate a high probability of an unattended oven. 
     Additionally, the oven sensor  122  may send the oven alert signal in response to detecting the presence of the pot, the pan, and/or the tray thereon, expiration of the predetermined period of time, and lack of movement of the pot, the pan, and/or the tray, which indicate a high probability of an unattended oven. Other considerations by the oven sensor  122  may be a temperature level of the pot, the pan, and/or the tray exceeds a predetermined temperature level, which indicate the pot, the pan, and/or the tray have been cooking too long, such that a fire is likely, unless the user applies a slow bake and/or a slow broil process. 
     Furthermore, the oven sensor  122  may disable power received to shut off the oven sensor  122  after a predetermined danger time (e.g., three and a half hours) based on a bake and/or a broil time in response to detecting a lack of change to the pot, the pan, the tray, and/or lack of movement by the user to address the oven alert signal. As such, the oven sensor  122  may prevent a fire. 
     The oven door  123  may be movably (i.e., pivotally, hingedly) disposed on at least a portion of the oven body  121 . The oven door  123  may move from closed in a first position to at least partially opened in a second position. Conversely, the oven door  123  may move from opened in the second position to closed in the first position. As such, the oven door  123  may allow access in the opened position and prevent access in the closed position. 
     The tempered window  124  may be disposed on at least a portion of the oven door  123 . The tempered window  124  may facilitate viewing within the oven body  121  while the oven door  123  is closed. Moreover, the tempered window  124  may prevent a change in temperature level based on the temperature level within the oven body  121 , such that the tempered window  124  may not conduct heat to burn the user touching it. 
     The control assembly  130  may include a control body  131 , a light indicator  132 , a speaker  133 , a plurality of range knobs  134 , a plurality of oven control buttons  135 , an oven light switch  136 , and a display unit  137 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The control body  131  may be perpendicularly disposed away from the range body  111  with respect to a direction, and opposite from the oven body  121 . 
     The light indicator  132  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The light indicator  132  may illuminate in response to receiving the range alert signal and/or the oven alert signal from at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  122 , respectively. In other words, the light indicator  132  may visually indicate the plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  132  is unattended. Moreover, the light indicator  132  may blink, flash, and/or project a beam of light away from the light indicator  132 . Alternatively, the light indicator  132  may project the beam of light onto a surface opposite with respect to the light indicator  132  to create a warning message (e.g., DANGER). 
     The speaker  133  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The speaker  133  may emit at least one sound (e.g., letter, word, ring, beep) in response to receiving the range alert signal and/or the oven alert signal from at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  122 , respectively. In other words, the speaker  133  may acoustically indicate the plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  132  is unattended. 
     The plurality of range knobs  134  may be movably (i.e. rotatably) disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . Each of the plurality of range knobs  133  may correspond to at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112 . In other words, each of the plurality of range knobs  133  may adjust a temperature level of at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  corresponding to each of the plurality of range knobs  133 . It is important to note that the plurality of range knobs  112  may adjust the temperature level, but have no effect whatsoever on the sensor (i.e. plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  122 ) operation. 
     The plurality of oven control buttons  135  may include a bake button  135   a , a broil button  135   b , a cancel button  135   c , a clean button  135   d , a timer button  135   e , a set time button  135   f , a set temperature button  135   g , and a start button  135   h , but is not limited thereto. 
     The bake button  135   a  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The bake button  135   a  may turn on a bake operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the bake button  135   a.    
     The broil button  135   b  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The broil button  135   b  may turn on a broil operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the broil button  135   b.    
     The cancel button  135   c  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The cancel button  135   c  may turn off the bake operation and/or the broil operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the cancel button  135   c.    
     The clean button  135   d  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The clean button  135   d  may turn on a cleaning operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the clean button  135   d . Note that the cancel button  135   c  may also cancel the cleaning operation. 
     The timer button  135   e  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The timer button  135   e  may turn on a timer operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the timer button  135   e . Note that the cancel button  135   c  may also cancel the timer operation. 
     The set time button  135   f  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The set time button  135   f  may adjust a time of the timer operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the set time button  135   f.    
     The set temperature button  135   g  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The set temperature button  135   g  may adjust a temperature level of the bake operation and/or the broil operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the set temperature button  135   g.    
     The start button  135   h  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The start button  135   h  may start the bake operation, the broil operation, and/or the timer operation of the oven assembly  120  in response to depressing the start button  135   h . Note that the cancel button  135   c  may also cancel the start button  135   h . Also, the start button  135   h  may be depressed for a predetermined time (e.g., five seconds) to indicate a slow cook, a long bake, and/or a long broil process. 
     The oven light switch  136  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The oven light switch  136  may turn on a light within the oven body  121  in response to being depressed a first time. Subsequently, the oven light switch  136  may turn off the light within the oven body  121  in response to being depressed a second time. 
     The display unit  137  may include a plasma screen, an LCD screen, a light emitting diode (LED) screen, an organic LED (OLED) screen, a computer monitor, a hologram output unit, a sound outputting unit, or any other type of device that visually or aurally displays data. 
     The display unit  137  may be disposed on at least a portion of the control body  131 . The display unit  137  may display information related to operation of the plurality of range sensors  112  and/or the oven sensor  122 . For example, the display unit  137  may display a cook time (e.g., a time of cooking for the plurality of range sensors  112 , a bake/broil time for the oven sensor  122 ), a light activation for the oven body  121 , a timer from the timer button  135   e , and/or the temperature level set by the set temperature button  135   g.    
     The storage compartment  140  may include a drawer  141 , but is not limited thereto. 
     The storage compartment  140  may be disposed on at least a portion of the oven body  121 . The storage compartment  140  may store at least one item therein. 
     The drawer  141  may be movably (i.e., slidably) disposed on at least a portion of the storage compartment  140 . The drawer  141  may move from closed in a first position to at least partially opened in a second position. Conversely, the drawer  141  may move from opened in the second position to closed in the first position. As such, the drawer  141  may allow access in the opened position and prevent access in the closed position. 
     The power source  150  may include a battery, a power inlet, and a solar cell, but is not limited thereto. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  1   , the power source  150  is illustrated to be disposed on at least a portion of the oven body  121 . However, the power source  150  may be disposed on at least a portion of the range body  111  and/or the control body  131 . The power source  150  may provide power to the range assembly  110 , the oven assembly  120 , and/or the control assembly  130 . 
     Therefore, the hazard detecting stove  100  may alert the user in the event the range assembly  110  and/or the oven assembly  120  are unattended and/or likely to cause a fire. As a result, the hazard detecting stove  100  may save the life of the user and/or third parties. 
     The present general inventive concept may include a hazard detecting stove  100 , including a range assembly  110 , including a range body  111 , and a plurality of range sensors  112  disposed on at least a portion of the range body  111  to detect at least one of a weight, a temperature level, and a movement thereon while at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  is turned on during cooking, and an oven assembly  120 , including an oven body  121  disposed on at least a portion of the range body  111 , and an oven sensor  122  disposed within at least a portion of the oven body  121  to detect at least one of a weight, a temperature level, and a movement thereon while the oven sensor  122  is turned on during cooking. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may send a range alert signal in response to detecting at least one of an absence of a pot thereon and after expiration of a predetermined period of time. 
     Each of the plurality of range sensors  112  may disable power received to shut off the plurality of range sensors  112  after a predetermined danger time in response to detecting at least one of a lack of change to the pot and lack of movement to address the range alert signal. 
     The oven sensor  122  may send an oven alert signal in response to detecting at least one of an absence of a pot thereon and after expiration of a predetermined period of time. 
     The oven sensor  122  may disable power received within the oven body  121  after a predetermined danger time in response to detecting at least one of a lack of change to the pot and lack of movement to address the oven alert signal. 
     The hazard detecting stove  100  may further include a control assembly  130  to indicate at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  and the oven sensor  122  is unattended. 
     The control assembly  130  may project a beam of light onto a surface opposite with respect to the control assembly  130  to create a warning message. 
     The control assembly  130  may emit at least one sound in response to at least one of the plurality of range sensors  112  and the oven sensor  122  being unattended. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.