Signals and indicators – Alarms – Thermal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-06
2001-05-15
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Alarms
Thermal
C116S216000, C374S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230649
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to cooking thermometers.
2. Description of Prior Art
The invention relates more particularly to a cooking thermometer that monitors the temperature of roasting meat. Such a thermometer is described in U.K. Patent Application No. 2315126. The main disadvantage of that described thermometer is that the visual indication may be overlooked, especially if the roasting meat is behind an opaque closed oven door, and so the meat may easily be overcooked in practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least to reduce this problem.
According to the invention there is provided a monitoring cooking thermometer arranged to be heated with food that is to be monitored including an elongate probe that has first end and for entering into the food and second end to fit to a wind-up audible alarm mechanism, including an SMA actuator inside the first end of the probe and a latch mechanically coupled to the actuator to release the wind-up mechanism and causes the ball to ring when the end of the probe rises to a predetermined temperature.
The latch is preferably arranged to be moved away from the winding mechanism by the SMA actuator to release the mechanism.
The monitoring cooking thermometer may include a movable flag mounted to the mechanism that provides a visual indication that the alarm has been initiated.
The alarm mechanism may include a coilable spring that provides stored mechanical energy for operating the alarm, in which the flag is spring biased against an external coil of the spring so as to move towards and away from the spring when it is wound up and unwinds respectively.
Most of the components of the alarm mechanism are preferably made of stainless steel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3709141 (1973-01-01), Schwartzstein
patent: 4083250 (1978-04-01), Goff et al.
patent: 4089222 (1978-05-01), Perkins
patent: 5143453 (1992-09-01), Weynent Nee Girones
patent: 5263644 (1993-11-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6006939 (1999-12-01), Wai
patent: 217851 (1957-01-01), None
patent: 272541 (1951-03-01), None
patent: 2315126 (1998-01-01), None
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Smith R. A.
Sunderland Holdings Limited
Walker L.L.P. Jackson
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