STOVETOP HEAT ALERT DEVICE

Abstract

A heat alert device for alerting nearby individuals that a stovetop or other surface is hazardously hot includes a heat shield which comprises a thermally insulating member having a thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material is configured to be thermally stable and has a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter edge. A housing is coupled to the heat shield and is positioned atop the heat shield. A heat sensor is coupled to the heat shield and is oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield. An indicator is mounted to the housing and is configured to generate a heat indication. Circuitry operatively coupled to the heat sensor and the indicator is configured to cause the indicator to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to heat alert devices and more particularly pertains to a new heat alert device for alerting nearby individuals that a stovetop or other surface is hazardously hot.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art discloses various covers for protecting individuals from contacting a hot stovetop with their bodies or other items which may be damaged or cause further hazards. The prior art further discloses various heat sensing devices, including once which may be placed on a stove burner or glass stovetop to detect whether the burner or stovetop is dangerously hot. However, the prior art fails to describe such a device which uses a heat shield mounted below a housing to protect the housing and the housing's contents from dangerously high temperatures. The prior art further fails to describe such a device in which the housing extends upwardly from the heat shield to a handle which is kept cool enough for users to handle.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a heat shield which comprises a thermally insulating member having a thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material is configured to be thermally stable and has a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter edge. A housing is coupled to the heat shield and is positioned atop the heat shield. A heat sensor is coupled to the heat shield and is oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield. An indicator is mounted to the housing and is configured to generate a heat indication. Circuitry operatively coupled to the heat sensor and the indicator is configured to cause the indicator to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat alert device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure with a cross-section to show internal components and details.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new heat alert device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the heat alert device 10 generally comprises a heat shield 12 which includes a thermally insulating member 16 comprising a thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material is configured to be thermally stable when exposed to heat levels experienced when placed over a stovetop 72 when the stovetop 72 is activated. Thermal stability as used in this disclosure refers to a material's ability to resist physical and chemical changes when exposed to relatively high temperatures compared to a base temperature such as a typical room temperature. For example, the thermally insulating material may be a fiberglass-or carbon fiber-reinforced cement, a ceramic, or the like. The thermally insulating member 16 has a planar shape with a top side 18, a bottom side 20, and a perimeter edge 22.

The heat shield 12 further includes a bottom plate 24 mounted to the bottom side 20 of the thermally insulating member 16 and a top plate 26 mounted to the top side 18 of the thermally insulating member 16. The bottom plate 24 and the top plate 26 comprise a sheet metal material which may act to conduct heat across the top side 18 and the bottom side 20 of the thermally insulating member 16, thereby facilitating even heating that limits the likelihood of the thermally insulating member 16 degrading due to heating from the stovetop 72 or other heat source. The heat shield 12 also comprises a bumper 28 which is coupled to the thermally insulating member 16 and extends around the perimeter edge 22 of the thermally insulating material. The bumper 28 comprises a resiliently deformable material which is configured to be thermally stable near the stovetop 72 when activated. The bumper 28 absorbs impacts to limit fractures or other damage to the thermally insulating member 16.

A plurality of spacer assemblies 30 is coupled to the heat shield 12 to space objects away from the heat shield 12 and allow for air circulation in the spaces formed. The spacer assemblies 30 are radially arranged with respect to the heat shield 12, and each spacer assembly 30 extends through the heat shield 12. Each spacer assembly 30 comprises a bottom spacer 32, a top spacer 34, and a central spacer 36, wherein the central spacer 36 is coupled to and extends between the bottom spacer 32 and the top spacer 34. The bottom spacer 32 of each spacer assembly 30 is coupled to and protrudes away from a bottom surface 14 of the heat shield 12 in order to space the heat shield 12 away from the stovetop 72 when the heat shield 12 is positioned over the stovetop 72. The top spacer 34 of each spacer assembly 30 is mounted on the heat shield 12 opposite the bottom spacer 32 of the same spacer assembly 30. The central spacer 36 of each spacer assembly 30 is seated between the top plate 26 and the bottom plate 24 of the heat shield 12.

Each one of the top spacer 34, the central spacer 36, and the bottom spacer 32 of each spacer assembly 30 has a thermal stability which is equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the thermally insulating member 16 of the heat shield 12. For example, the top spacer 34, the central spacer 36, and the bottom spacer 32 of each spacer assembly 30 may comprise a ceramic and the thermally insulating member 16 of the heat shield 12 may comprise a fiberglass-reinforced cement. In some embodiments, the top spacer 34, the central spacer 36, and the bottom spacer 32 comprise the same material as the thermally insulating member 16 of the heat shield 12.

A housing 38 is coupled to the heat shield 12 via the top spacers 34 of the spacer assemblies 30. The housing 38 has a thermal stability that is less than a thermal stability of the thermally insulating member 16 of the heat shield 12. For example, the housing 38 may comprise a fiberglass-or carbon fiber-reinforced plastic or a plastic without thermal reinforcement. The housing 38 comprises a base 40 which is positioned atop the heat shield 12 via the top spacers 34, a pair of posts 56 which is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base 40, and a handle 58 which is mounted to the posts 56 opposite the base 40. The handle 58 of the housing 38 is elongated horizontally with respect to the heat shield 12, and the posts 56 are positioned opposite each other across the handle 58. A transparent window 60 is mounted in a top wall of the handle 58. The housing 38 also defines a plurality of vents 39 which extend into the housing 38 such that heated air may dissipate out of the housing 38 through the vents 39.

The base 40 has a main portion 42 and a peripheral portion 44 which surrounds the main portion 42. The main portion 42 has a planar shape. The peripheral portion 44 is coupled to the main portion 42 and extends downwardly with respect to the thermally insulating member 16 from the main portion 42. The peripheral portion 44 is curved and has a convex surface 46 which faces outwardly with respect to the main portion 42. The base 40 defines a plurality of peripheral apertures 48 which extends through the peripheral portion 44, and the peripheral apertures 48 are distributed radially around the peripheral portion 44 of the base 40. The base 40 also defines a through hole 50 which extends through the main portion 42 and includes a cover portion 52 which is coupled to the main portion 42 and extends over the through hole 50. The base 40 defines a plurality of cover apertures 54 which extends through the cover portion 52, and the cover apertures 54 are distributed radially around the cover portion 52.

A heat sensor 62 is coupled to the heat shield 12 within a central aperture 13 defined by the heat shield 12 and below the cover portion 52 of the housing 38. The heat sensor 62 is oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield 12. An indicator 64 is mounted to the housing 38 and is configured to generate a heat indication, which is used in this disclosure to refer to an observable indication of a heat level as measured by the heat sensor. Circuitry 66 is operatively coupled to the heat sensor 62 and the indicator 64 and is configured to cause the indicator 64 to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor 62.

The heat sensor 62 comprises a thermal switch, and the circuitry 66 causes the indicator 64 to generate the heat indication when a predetermined temperature is sensed by the thermal switch. Thus, in this embodiment, the heat indication only notifies an observer that the sensed temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature may be selected, for example, to be a temperature capable of damaging common household items that may be placed on the stovetop 72 such as plastic grocery bags or paper packaging. However, in other embodiments, the heat sensor 62 may detect a range of temperatures or heat rates which are displayed by the indicator 64. In such an embodiment, the heat indication includes a measured temperature or heat rate, and the indicator 64 comprises a display device.

With reference again to the embodiment shown in the Figures generally, the indicator 64 comprises a light emitter, and the heat indication includes the light emitter producing a red blinking light. In other embodiments, the heat indication may include the light emitter producing a constantly shining light or a light of a different color. In yet other embodiments, the indicator 64 may comprise, instead of or in addition to the light emitter, a speaker, and the heat indication may include an audible indication produced by the speaker.

A power supply 68 is housed in the handle 58 of the housing 38 and is electrically coupled to the circuitry 66. The power supply 68 comprises a pair of batteries 70 but may comprise a capacitor or other suitable power storage. In other embodiments, the power supply 68 may comprise a thermoelectric device which uses heat generated from the stovetop 72 to produce electrical power. An external power supply 68 may be used in other embodiments to power the circuitry 66, the indicator 64, and the heat sensor 62.

In some embodiments, a temperature sensor or additional heat sensor 62 may be housed in the handle 58 which may trigger an alarm generator to produce an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or the like when temperatures or heat rates measured near the batteries 70 reach levels which may be harmful to the batteries 70. Additionally, sensors to detect that the heat alert device 10 has moved or may be about to move from the stovetop 72 may be used to warn users against moving the heat alert device 10 from the stovetop 72 when the stovetop 72 is at a hazardous temperature. For example, motion sensors may trigger an alarm generator when the thermal switch senses a temperature above the predetermined temperature. In another example, proximity sensors may detect a proximity of objects near the handle 58 and trigger the alarm generator when the stovetop 72 is at a hazardous temperature.

In use, the heat alert device 10 is placed on the stovetop 72 to determine if the stovetop 72 is at a hazardous temperature and to cover the stovetop 72 to avoid burns to individuals or other objects which would otherwise touch the stovetop 72. The spacer assemblies 30 protect the thermally insulating member 16 of the heat shield 12 from degradation caused by the heat of the stovetop 72 by spacing the heat shield 12 away from the stovetop 72. This is because the thermally insulating member 16 may have a thermal stability which is less than that of the spacer assemblies 30 due to economic or other reasons. Additionally, spacing the heat shield 12 away from the stovetop 72 facilitates airflow below the heat shield 12 to regulate the temperature of the heat shield 12. The heat shield 12 and the spacer assemblies 30 protect the housing 38 from degradation from the heat of the stovetop 72.

The handle 58 of the housing 38 is spaced above the base 40 to space the batteries 70 away from the stovetop 72. The handle 58 may also be opaque such that the light emitter is only viewable through the transparent window 60 from above the heat alert device 10 during typical use, thereby lessening the likelihood of a child seeing the red blinking light produced and attempting to grasp the heat alert device 10 out of curiosity or the like.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A heat alert device for use with a stovetop, the heat alert device comprising:

a heat shield comprising a thermally insulating member comprising a thermally insulating material, the thermally insulating material being configured to be thermally stable, the thermally insulating member having a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter edge;

a housing coupled to the heat shield and being positioned atop the heat shield;

a heat sensor coupled to the heat shield, the heat sensor being oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield;

an indicator mounted to the housing, the indicator being configured to generate a heat indication; and

circuitry operatively coupled to the heat sensor and the indicator, the circuitry being configured to cause the indicator to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor.

2. The heat alert device of claim 1, wherein the thermally insulating member has a planar shape.

3. The heat alert device of claim 1, wherein the heat shield further comprises:

a bottom plate mounted to the bottom side of the thermally insulating member, the bottom plate comprising a sheet metal material; and

a top plate mounted to the top side of the thermally insulating member, the top plate comprising the sheet metal material.

4. The heat alert device of claim 3, wherein the heat shield further comprises a bumper coupled to the thermally insulating member, the bumper extending around the perimeter edge of the thermally insulating material, the bumper comprising a resiliently deformable material, the resiliently deformable material being configured to be thermally stable.

5. The heat alert device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of spacer assemblies coupled to the heat shield, the plurality of spacer assemblies being radially arranged with respect to the heat shield, each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies comprising:

a bottom spacer coupled to and protruding away from a bottom surface of the heat shield;

a top spacer mounted on the heat shield opposite the bottom spacer, the top spacer extending from a top surface of the heat shield to the housing, the housing being spaced away from the heat shield by the top spacer; and

a central spacer coupled to and extending between the bottom spacer and the top spacer, the central spacer extending through the heat shield, the central spacer being seated between the top plate and the bottom plate of the heat shield.

6. The heat alert device of claim 5, wherein each one of the bottom spacer, the top spacer, and the central spacer are configured to have a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield.

7. The heat alert device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to have a thermal stability that is less than a thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield.

8. The heat alert device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises:

a base positioned atop the heat shield;

a handle being coupled to and spaced above the base; and

a post being coupled to and extending between the base and the handle.

9. The heat alert device of claim 8, wherein:

the housing further comprises a transparent window mounted in a top wall of the handle; and

the indicator comprises a light emitter, the indicator being positioned in the handle of the housing and being viewable through the transparent window of the housing.

10. The heat alert device of claim 8, further comprising a power supply electrically coupled to the circuitry, the power supply being mounted in the housing, the power supply being positioned in the handle.

11. The heat alert device of claim 10, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

12. The heat alert device of claim 8, wherein:

the base of the housing has a main portion, the main portion having a planar shape, the base defining a through hole which extends through the main portion, the base further comprising a cover portion which is coupled to the main portion and extends over the through hole, the base defining a plurality of cover apertures which extends through the cover portion, the plurality of cover apertures being distributed radially around the cover portion; and

the heat sensor is positioned below the cover portion of the housing.

13. The heat alert device of claim 8, wherein the base has a main portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the main portion, the main portion having a planar shape, the peripheral portion being coupled to the main portion and extending downwardly with respect to the thermally insulating member, the peripheral portion being curved and having a convex surface which faces outwardly with respect to the main portion, the base defining a plurality of peripheral apertures which extends through the peripheral portion, the plurality of peripheral apertures being distributed radially around the peripheral portion.

14. The heat alert device of claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises a pair of posts coupling the handle to the base, the pair of posts being positioned opposite each other across the handle, the handle being elongated horizontally with respect to the heat shield.

15. The heat alert device of claim 1, wherein the heat sensor comprises a thermal switch.

16. The heat alert device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacer assemblies coupled to the heat shield, each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies comprising a bottom spacer coupled to and protruding away from a bottom surface of the heat shield, the bottom spacer being configured to have a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield.

17. The heat alert device of claim 16, wherein each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies further comprises a top spacer mounted on the heat shield opposite the bottom spacer, the top spacer extending from a top surface of the heat shield to the housing, the housing being spaced away from the heat shield by the top spacer, the top spacer being configured to have a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield.

18. The heat alert device of claim 17, wherein each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies further comprises a central spacer coupled to and extending between the bottom spacer and the top spacer, the central spacer extending through the heat shield, the central spacer being seated between the top plate and the bottom plate of the heat shield, the central spacer being configured to have a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield.

19. A heat alert device for use with a stovetop, the heat alert device comprising:

a heat shield comprising: a thermally insulating member comprising a thermally insulating material, the thermally insulating material being configured to be thermally stable, the thermally insulating member having a planar shape, the thermally insulating member having a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter edge; a bottom plate mounted to the bottom side of the thermally insulating member, the bottom plate comprising a sheet metal material; a top plate mounted to the top side of the thermally insulating member, the top plate comprising the sheet metal material; and a bumper coupled to the thermally insulating member, the bumper extending around the perimeter edge of the thermally insulating material, the bumper comprising a resiliently deformable material, the resiliently deformable material being configured to be thermally stable;

a housing coupled to the heat shield and being positioned atop the heat shield, the housing being configured to have a thermal stability that is less than a thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield, the housing comprising: a base positioned atop the heat shield, the base having a main portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the main portion, the main portion having a planar shape, the peripheral portion being coupled to the main portion and extending downwardly with respect to the thermally insulating member, the peripheral portion being curved and having a convex surface which faces outwardly with respect to the main portion, the base defining a through hole which extends through the main portion, the base further comprising a cover portion which is coupled to the main portion and extends over the through hole, the base defining a plurality of cover apertures which extends through the cover portion, the plurality of cover apertures being distributed radially around the cover portion, the base defining a plurality of peripheral apertures which extends through the peripheral portion, the plurality of peripheral apertures being distributed radially around the peripheral portion; a handle being coupled to and spaced above the base, the handle being elongated horizontally with respect to the heat shield; a pair of posts coupling the handle to the base, the pair of posts being positioned opposite each other across the handle; and a transparent window mounted in a top wall of the handle;

a heat sensor coupled to the heat shield, the heat sensor being oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield, the heat sensor being positioned below the cover portion of the housing, the heat sensor comprising a thermal switch;

an indicator mounted to the housing, the indicator being configured to generate a heat indication, the indicator comprising a light emitter, the indicator being positioned in the handle of the housing and being viewable through the transparent window of the housing;

circuitry operatively coupled to the heat sensor and the indicator, the circuitry being configured to cause the indicator to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor;

a plurality of spacer assemblies coupled to the heat shield, the plurality of spacer assemblies being radially arranged with respect to the heat shield, each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies comprising: a bottom spacer coupled to and protruding away from a bottom surface of the heat shield, the bottom spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield; a top spacer mounted on the heat shield opposite the bottom spacer, the top spacer extending from a top surface of the heat shield to the housing, the housing being spaced away from the heat shield by the top spacer, the top spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield; and a central spacer coupled to and extending between the bottom spacer and the top spacer, the central spacer extending through the heat shield, the central spacer being seated between the top plate and the bottom plate of the heat shield, the central spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield; and

a power supply electrically coupled to the circuitry, the power supply being mounted in the housing, the power supply being positioned in the handle, the power supply comprising a battery.