Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to electrical devices which include peripheral electronics such as a display unit for indicating one or more parameters of the electrical device.  
         BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of heating appliances has become widespread throughout the modernized world and it is usual to be able to determine one or more parameters of the electrical device, such as temperature. Traditionally, these heating devices, such as electric heaters for heating the environment and more particularly, electric frying pans for use in the kitchen, include one or more display elements disposed on the electrical device to display parameters such as temperature. Often provided with the display unit is a control unit to control the one or more parameters of the electrical device.  
           [0003]    While convenient, this arrangement suffers from a number of drawbacks including the fact that because the area immediately about the electrical appliance becomes heated, the display unit and associated electronics are exposed to this heat and can become damaged.  
           [0004]    Furthermore, in devices which cook food, it is common that there is splashing of fats and oils in the vicinity of the device which can both damage and soil the display unit.  
           [0005]    In most instances, these electrical devices derive their power from the mains power and are connected thereto via a cord and plug arrangement.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to reduce the risk of damage to peripheral electronics such as a display unit and/or a control unit for an electrical appliance such as a heater or frying pan.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power plug for connection to a power source and adapted to receive an electrical conductor to deliver power to an electrical device, wherein said power plug has disposed thereon, peripheral electronics for transmitting signals to or receiving signals from said electrical device.  
           [0008]    The peripheral electronics may include a display unit for receiving signals from said electrical device, said signals relating to one or more parameters of said electrical device, and for displaying one or more of those parameters.  
           [0009]    The peripheral electronics may also include a control for transmitting signals to said electrical device for controlling one or more parameters of the electrical device. Optionally, the peripheral electronics may include both a display unit and a control unit.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the electrical device is an electric frying pan.  
           [0011]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature probe for measuring the temperature of a heat source, the temperature probe being connected at one end of a power cord for receiving power therefrom, the power cord terminating in a plug for connection to a power source, wherein said plug includes peripheral electronics for transmitting to or receiving signals from said temperature probe.  
           [0012]    According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a power cord including a plug attached at one end of the power cord for connection to a power source and an electrical connector attached at another end of the power cord for connection to an electrical device, wherein peripheral electronics for transmitting signals to or receiving signals from said electrical device are disposed away from said electrical connector and supported either by said power cord or by said plug.  
           [0013]    Preferably, the peripheral electronics will be disposed on said plug.  
           [0014]    Preferably, said electrical device is an electric frying pan.  
           [0015]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing exposure of peripheral electronics for transmitting signals to or receiving signals from an electrical device, to potential damaging heat generated by said electrical device, the electrical device being connected to a power source via a power cord and plug, the method including disposing said peripheral electronics away from said electrical device either on said cord or on said plug.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the peripheral electronics will be disposed on said plug.  
           [0017]    Preferably, said electrical device is an electric frying pan. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 1 a  to  d  show a power plug according to a first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 shows a temperature probe according to a second aspect of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 shows a power cord according to the first aspect of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 shows the power cord of FIG. 3 in use; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 1 a  to  d  show a perspective view, rear view, side view and front view respectively of a plug  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Plug  10  includes pins  11 ,  12  and  13  for insertion into a power socket (not shown) as is standard in many countries including Australia. Of course, it will be understood that the configuration of pins may vary depending upon the configuration of the power sockets in a given country. Pins  11  to  13  are supported in pin support  14  connected to plug head  15 . Power cord connector  16  is disposed on plug head  15  to receive a power cord (not shown) to transfer electrical power from the power source to an electrical device connected to the other end of the power cord.  
         [0025]    As can be seen clearly in FIG. 1 d,  there is disposed on plug  10  peripheral electronics in the form of a display unit  17  and one or more control units  18 . Display unit  17  will display one or more parameters such as temperature relating to an electrical device connected at the other end of the power cord connected to power cord connector  16 . Similarly, control unit  18  can transmit signals to the electrical device connected at the other end of the power cord to control one or more parameters of the electrical device.  
         [0026]    Signals may be transmitted and received between the peripheral electronics on plug head  15  and the electrical device via one or more conductive paths which in a preferred embodiment, would be embedded within the electrical power cord, as would be understood by the person skilled in the art. However, the signals could conceivably be transmitted and received via radio frequency means or other wireless means as would be understood by the person skilled in the art.  
         [0027]    A preferred application of the plug of FIGS. 1 a  to  d  is shown in FIG. 2, where there is shown plug  10  connected to an electrical device  30  via power cord  20 . In this application, electrical device  30  is a temperature probe which is used to determine the temperature of an additional electrical device (not shown) such as a frying pan or other heat generating device. To sense a temperature, probe  30  must be brought within close proximity to the heat generating device and may be exposed to significant temperatures. Such exposure could damage any peripheral electronics located on the probe and thus according to the invention, peripheral electronics constituting a display unit and/or control units, are distanced from the probe and disposed on the plug.  
         [0028]    In FIG. 3, a different embodiment of the invention is shown where temperature probe  30  is replaced by an electrical connector  40  for connection to another electrical device such as a frying pan. Connector  40  is a standard electrical connector which plugs into electrical devices such as frying pans as is commonly done. However, connector  40  may be modified to allow the transfer of control and display signals between plug  10  and the electrical device.  
         [0029]    In FIG. 4, the application of the device of FIG. 3 is shown in relation to an electric frying pan  50 . In this case, as well as generating significant heat in the region about frying pan  50 , splashing of oil and other hot substances commonly occurs, which may also damage any peripheral electronics. With the peripheral electronics located on plug  10 , and away from pan  50 , the risk of damage of the peripheral electronics is greatly reduced.  
         [0030]    Of course it is within the scope of the present invention to have the peripheral electronics as a separate stand alone unit which is able to be kept remote from the electrical device and need not necessarily be disposed on the plug. The peripheral electronics could be disposed on a separate unit which may be separately connected to the electrical device via an additional cord or via wireless means and simply disposed and used away from the electrical device. However, it is preferred that the peripheral electronics are disposed on the plug as this provides a convenient means of supporting the peripheral electronics while at the same time minimising the number of components required. Furthermore, the power cord  20  which is traditionally used to connect plug  10  to the electrical device may be used as a convenient means of transmitting signals between the two elements.  
         [0031]    In FIG. 5, a further alternative embodiment is shown where the peripheral electronics  17 ,  18  are encased in a separate unit  19  which is disposed along the length of cord  20 . Cord  20  can be manufactured with unit  19  or unit  19  may be retrofitted to cord  20  by either inserting a signal path within cord  20  or providing a separate signal path outside or cord  20  or of course, simply relying on wireless technology.  
         [0032]    The above has been described in the context of a preferred embodiment and variations thereto, however it will be understood by the person skilled in the art that many other variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the peripheral electronics need not be limited to display or control elements, but could encompass any suitable electronics that is required to be protected from damage. For example, the peripheral electronics could include a scanner/barcode reader to allow recipes or programs to be scanned in. The program may contain time and temperature settings as well as feedback prompts. The programs could be obtained from a participating website or in recipes found in cook books having a barcode system similar to the G-code for programming video recorders.

Technology Category: 1