Patents by Inventor William MacDonald Ferguson

William MacDonald Ferguson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Controlling heat capability of appliance according to user proximity and notifying remote users via internet for increased safety
    Patent number: 10241530
    Abstract: A stove controller starts an unattended timer when a cooking process is started. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the unattended timer expiring and resets the unattended timer each time motion is detected. If the unattended timer expires without any motion being detected, the controller disables the heating elements of the stove and starts a return timer. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the return timer expiring. When motion is detected, the controller automatically re-enables the heating elements of the stove so that cooking can continue. If motion is not detected and the return timer expires, the controller locks the stove until a reset procedure is performed. Alerts of the stove activity are sent to external devices over the Internet, and the reset procedure may be performed on the controller or on one of the external devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: William MacDonald Ferguson
  • CONTROLLING HEAT CAPABILITY OF APPLIANCE ACCORDING TO USER PROXIMITY AND NOTIFYING REMOTE USERS VIA INTERNET FOR INCREASED SAFETY
    Publication number: 20170329358
    Abstract: A stove controller starts an unattended timer when a cooking process is started. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the unattended timer expiring and resets the unattended timer each time motion is detected. If the unattended timer expires without any motion being detected, the controller disables the heating elements of the stove and starts a return timer. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the return timer expiring. When motion is detected, the controller automatically re-enables the heating elements of the stove so that cooking can continue. If motion is not detected and the return timer expires, the controller locks the stove until a reset procedure is performed. Alerts of the stove activity are sent to external devices over the Internet, and the reset procedure may be performed on the controller or on one of the external devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: William MacDonald Ferguson
  • Controlling heat capability of appliance according to user proximity and notifying remote users via internet for increased safety
    Patent number: RE49618
    Abstract: A stove controller starts an unattended timer when a cooking process is started. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the unattended timer expiring and resets the unattended timer each time motion is detected. If the unattended timer expires without any motion being detected, the controller disables the heating elements of the stove and starts a return timer. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the return timer expiring. When motion is detected, the controller automatically re-enables the heating elements of the stove so that cooking can continue. If motion is not detected and the return timer expires, the controller locks the stove until a reset procedure is performed. Alerts of the stove activity are sent to external devices over the Internet, and the reset procedure may be performed on the controller or on one of the external devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: William MacDonald Ferguson