Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-10
2001-11-27
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323777
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 from International Application Number PCT/AU98/00901, earliest priority date Nov. 10, 1997, which claims priority from Australian PP 0263, filed Nov. 10, 1997, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
(Not applicable)
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to appliance timers, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Duration timers are widely used to control all types of appliances and are commonly found in the home where they form an integral part of appliances such as microwave ovens, conventional ovens, and room heaters. These timers in the main are of two distinct types, namely “duration of use” timers and “alerting” timers.
(1) “Duration of use” timers are designed to turn off an appliance at the end of a set or selected period of time and are found in appliances such as domestic microwave ovens and room heaters.
The end of the timing period is sometimes signaled by an audible and/or visual device to alert the user of the completion of the timing sequence, the audible and/or visual signal being one of short duration.
The difficulty associated with “duration of use” timers is that it may be some time before the user realizes that the appliance has been turned off as would be the case if the user was distracted by a caller at the door, an incoming telephone call or by any other task at hand.
Therefore if the appliance is required to be used for a period of time longer than originally intended to achieve a desired result, the process interrupted for a considerable period of time before it is restarted. As in some processes, cooking included, sometimes cannot yield the desired outcome if interrupted for a long period of time, it is realized that “duration of use” timers can have considerable limitations in their applications.
It is to be noted that the audible and/or visual alert signal associated with “duration of use” timers is normally of short duration and therefore can very easily result in the signal being missed altogether if the user is not in the immediate vicinity of the appliance when the time times out when the short duration alert signal is produced.
(2) “Alerting” timers are designed to alert the user of an appliance at the end of a selected period of time and are normally found in appliances such as conventional ovens. The audible and/or visual signal is provided as an alert only and the appliance remains operational until manually turned off.
The disadvantage of “Alerting” timers is that they do not turn appliances off so that when appliances incorporating such timers are used or operated by an aged person or by a person who is forgetful by nature, potentially dangerous situations may arise. A typical example is a conventional oven which when left unattended for some time as would be the case if, for example, the operator is distracted by an incoming telephone call, can cause a house fire.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a timer which overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the previously mentioned “duration of use” and “alerting” timers. Such a timer incorporates means for automatically turning off the power to an electrical appliance after a set or selected period of time; alerting means to warn of an impending disconnection of power to the appliance; resetting means to re-start the timing and alerting sequence if the appliance is required to operate or remain in use for a period of time exceeding the timer time-out period; and silencing means to mute the emitted warning so that the appliance may continue to operate or be used until the timer times out without interference by the emitted warning. This facility is useful if the timer is to be allowed to time out without any extension of the time originally set or selected.
Further objects of the invention will become evident in the description below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an appliance time comprising:
(1) timing means for automatically turning off the power to an electrical appliance after a set or selected period of time;
(2) alerting means to warn of an impending disconnection of power to the appliance through the action of the first said timer as the set or selected period of time is approached and/or reached;
(3) resetting means to re-start the timing and alerting sequence if the appliance is required to operate or remain in use for a period of time exceeding the timer time-out period; and
(4) silencing means to mute the emitted warning so that the appliance may continue to operate or be used until the timer times out without interference by the emitted warning. This facility is useful if the timer is to be allowed to time out without any extension of time.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4500795 (1985-02-01), Hochstein et al.
patent: 4530607 (1985-07-01), Bungener
patent: 4860005 (1989-08-01), DeLuca et al.
patent: 5153580 (1992-10-01), Pollack
patent: 5642104 (1997-06-01), Erwin
patent: 5939992 (1999-08-01), Devries et al.
Durston Andrew Albert
Durston Richard Vereker
Hofsass Jeffery
Sonntag James L.
Tang Son
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