Abstract: One or more indicators provide an indication of the energy source of power for one or more vehicles. The indicators may be positioned on a vehicle and/or on other structures such as parking garages, tunnels, and entrance gates. The indicators may be visual and/or acoustic. On a vehicle the indicators are positioned to most likely be intact during and after an accident and provide a predetermined indication that identifies an energy source that provides power for the vehicle.

Abstract: One or more indicators provide an indication of the energy source of power for one or more vehicles. The indicators may be positioned on a vehicle and/or on other structures such as parking garages, tunnels, and entrance gates. The indicators may be visual and/or acoustic. On a vehicle the indicators are positioned to most likely be intact during and after an accident and provide a predetermined indication that identifies an energy source that provides power for the vehicle.

Abstract: Heating element accessories such as a drip pan bowl or a metal ring surround a heating element and contain a heat warning symbol from thermochromic ink or epoxy sprayed or otherwise applied directly to the hot surfaces thereof. For cooking appliances, such as electric and gas stoves, griddles, grills or their accessories. The heat warning symbol is distanced from the heating element or its hottest portions so that the composition can withstand the high temperature on the surface. In a preferred embodiment the device is invisible when below the triggering temperature and visible thereafter. Besides improved cooking appliances, persons can in certain embodiments update their existing appliances by installing accessories with the heat warning symbol and avoid replacing entire heating elements.

Abstract: A device warns that a surface is temperature excessive. A light guide receiving light from a light source sufficiently distant from the surface to avoid becoming dangerously hot or cold is oriented so that the light guide is in the path of the light beam and transmits the light beam through the light guide to a point outside the light guide. The light source is controlled by a controller. A predetermined warning symbol typically outside the light guide is illuminated when the surface is dangerously temperature excessive because a sensor connected to the controller ascertains and transmits the surface temperature to the controller controlling the light source and an observer sees that the surface is temperature excessive. In certain embodiments, the light guide is flexible and/or its second end movable. The symbol can illuminate a border to warn against entry into an area in which the surface is located.

Abstract: A hot-button type heat alert safety device attachable to a surface, such as metal or glass, for warning individuals that the surface is hot, comprising a thermochromic composition, a button-shaped container for housing the composition, having a convex face, the convex face overlying said composition and the container being transparent in at least a portion of the container overlying the thermochromic composition. The thermochromic composition is designed to undergo and maintain a readily perceptible color change whenever the temperature of the hot surface exceeds a predetermined temperature and reveal a heat warning symbol underneath the thermochromic composition which communicates that the surface is dangerously hot, the heat warning symbol being substantially visible through the convex face of the container.

Abstract: Heat alert safety device for warning individuals that a surface is hot wherein a fiber optic cable runs from an electric light source to a heat warning symbol. The cable has a plurality of fibers connected at a first end thereof to the light source and transmits light from the light source beginning from the first end to the second end of the cable and shines light out of the second end of the cable to a predetermined symbol adjacent the second end of the cable. The symbol is readily visible when illuminated to an observer who can also readily see the surface and the symbol communicates that the surface of the stove, in particular, the heating element, is dangerously hot. A controller controls the light source Whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the symbol is lit and remains lit as long as said specified surface temperature is maintained.

Abstract: A disposable grill cover for indoor counter top grills having two cooking plates such as the George Foreman® grills contains a first and second sheet or sheet portion of aluminum foil of a fixed shape designed to mate with the two contoured cooking surfaces of the grills. The sheets are positioned over the cooking surfaces of the grill using tabs on each side of the sheets extending the same layer of aluminum. The contoured surface including ribs/grooves and bumps of the two sheets correspond exactly to the contoured surface including ribs, bumps and a rim on the two cooking surfaces of the grill to minimize heat loss. Cleaning the grill from fat, grease and odor from food residue is avoided before each use. A front extension of the first sheet extends into and covers the interior surface of the drip tray of the George Foreman® grill.

Abstract: A freezer insert, a warmer insert or a freezer/warmer insert designed for use inside plastic food containers conforms to the bottom of the various sizes and shapes of the most popular plastic food containers sold under brand names such as Ziplock, Glad, Tupperware. The insert is a flat disk and contains known gels or thermal preservation fluids useful for portable cooling or warming. The insert also can rest on the walls of the container if those walls slope outward in the direction of the opening. The inserts divide the container vertically into cool, extra cool or hot compartments for different types of food. The disk can be round, square or of other shape. The inserts are stackable to allow efficient storage, for example in a freezer or kitchen cabinet.

Abstract: Method of warning individuals about hot surfaces on stoves and related appliances containing multiple heating elements by installing a configuration of light emitting diodes (or organic LEDs) that comprises a heat warning symbol specific to that one heating element, the LEDs receiving electric power whenever a specified temperature of that heating element is exceeded in accordance with a controller that receives information from the heat sensor adjacent the heating element. The symbols are positioned so that an observer approaching a heating element of stove from any direction when the heating element is dangerously hot can understand the symbol for that heating element. The arrangement of LED's may form a perimeter around the heating element interrupted by the letters “HOT” or partially encircle the heating element in different embodiments and is positioned between the heating element and an observer. The symbols are adjustable for brightness and can incorporate sound and blinking.

Abstract: Heat alert safety device for warning individuals that a surface is hot wherein a fiber optic cable runs from an electric light source to a heat warning symbol. The cable has a plurality of fibers connected at a first end thereof to the light source and transmits light from the light source beginning from the first end to the second end of the cable and shines light out of the second end of the cable to a predetermined symbol adjacent the second end of the cable. The symbol is readily visible when illuminated to an observer who can also readily see the surface and the symbol communicates that the surface of the stove, in particular, the heating element, is dangerously hot. A controller controls the light source. Whenever a specified surface temperature is reached, the symbol is lit and remains lit as long as said specified surface temperature is maintained.

Abstract: A versatile heat alert safety device is removably attachable to a hot surface. Liquid crystal or other thermochromic composition designed to undergo and maintain a readily perceptible color change at or above a specified temperature, such as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, is shaped in the outline of the word “HOT” or another heat warning symbol or is designed to change to a transparent color and thereby reveal underneath said composition a heat warning symbol shaped in such lettering or other warning symbol. The composition is embedded in a flat face of a container for housing the liquid crustal composition or on the top surface of the heating element of a gas or electric stove so that they instantly alert anyone that the heat element of the stove or the window is too hot to touch.

Abstract: A method of warning individuals about the top or side surface of an indoor counter top grill, panini maker or quesadilla maker involves applying to a portion a thermochromic composition that reveals a heat warning symbol to warn individuals that surface is too hot to touch. Liquid crystal or other thermochromic composition designed to undergo and maintain a readily perceptible color change at or above a specified temperature, the color change revealing a heat warning symbol. Thermochromic ink or epoxy is applied sprayed, stamped, stenciled, silk screened, embossed to the hot surfaces of appliances. The heat warning symbol is invisible when cold and is visible when a threshold temperature is reached. The method can also employ a plurality of heat warning symbols on multiple surfaces of the appliance to maximize the warning system's effectiveness and tailor it to children and adults.

Abstract: A method of warning individuals about the top surface of a stove being hot involves applying to a portion said top surface surrounding each heating element of the stove a ring element of thermochromic composition that reveals a heat warning symbol to warn individuals that the heating element or near by area is too hot to touch. Liquid crystal or other thermochromic composition designed to undergo and maintain a readily perceptible color change at or above a specified temperature, such as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, is shaped in the outline of the word “HOT” or another heat warning symbol or is designed to change to a transparent color and thereby reveal underneath said composition a heat warning symbol shaped in such lettering or other warning symbol. Ring element is defined to includes a ring, an arc or a line surrounding the heating element and an arrow pointing to the heating element.

Abstract: A hot-button type heat alert safety device attachable to a surface, such as metal or glass, for warning individuals that the surface is hot, comprising a thermochromic composition, a button-shaped container for housing the composition, having a convex face, the convex face overlying said composition and the container container being transparent in at least a portion of the container overlying the thermochromic composition. The thermochromic composition is shaped in a predetermined symbol which communicates that an underlying surface is dangerously hot, substantially visible through the convex face of the container, and designed to undergo and maintain a readily perceptible color change whenever the temperature of the hot surface exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Thermochromic compositions designed to turn red or orange and remain red or orange at or above a specified temperature, such as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, are shaped in the outline of the word “HOT” or in an outline of a ring interrupted by the word “HOT” and are embedded on the top surface of the heating element of smooth cooktop stoves or in certain embodiments on the window surface of wall ovens and toaster ovens so that they glow red or orange and instantly alert anyone that the heat element of the stove or the window is too hot to touch. For use on smooth cooktop stoves, including warming trays, the thermochromic display is embedded in a top surface of the smooth area of glass or metal that forms the heating element of the stove. For wall ovens and toaster ovens, the liquid crystals are embedded in the vertical window surface.

Abstract: Heat warning safety device comprising thermochromic ink or epoxy in the form of a heat warning symbol sprayed, stamped, stenciled, silk screened, embossed to the hot surfaces of appliances. The device is invisible when cold and is visible when a threshold temperature is reached. In a second version when cold the device shows only the outline of the warning symbol and when hot shows the full symbol. A plurality of these versions of the devices can be placed on various parts of appliances to maximize the effectiveness of the warning system and to tailor it both to children who need guidance as to where to look for said symbols and to adults as to whom the impact is greatest when the warning symbol appears from a point of invisibility. Alternatively, the warning symbol appears on the lip of a mug and advertises the staying power of the hot liquid therein.