GB2389214A

GB2389214A - Heat generating electrical apparatus incorporating a timer

Info

Publication number: GB2389214A
Application number: GB0206494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Bass
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-19
Filing date: 2002-03-19
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Also published as: GB0206494D0

Abstract

A heat generating electrical apparatus, such as an electrical iron, hair tongs or a soldering iron, has a timer that is arranged to allow a supply of electricity upon demand for a first period of time set by the user. An alert, via a visual indicator 60, e.g. an LCD, and an audio indicator 70, indicates the existence of heat after the predetermined period has expired and electricity supply has ceased. The alert lasts for a second set period of time. Prior to the expiration of the first period of time, the user may reset the timer to prevent isolation of the electricity supply. The timer maybe a separate device (fig.1) that forms part of the plug for a heat generating apparatus.

Description

238921 4

l HEAT GENERATING ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

INCORPORATING A TIMER

The invention relates to a heat generating electrical apparatus incorporating a 5 timer. In particular, the present invention relates to electrical appliances that are turned on upon demand and may then be forgotten about. For example, the appliances may include electrical irons, hair tongs, hair stylers and soldering irons.

Duration timers are widely used to control all types of appliances. They are 10 commonly found in the home where they form a integral part of appliances such as microwave ovens, conventional ovens and room heaters. Such timers are normally designed to either turn appliances on and off at a set time, or after a set period of time has expired (such as in the case of a room heater or a microwave oven), or merely to alert the user of the appliance that a selected period of time has expired (such as in the 15 case of conventional ovens). Timers incorporated in electrical adaptors to fit between an electrical socket and a plug of art appliance are known. However, such timers are generally directed to switching electrical power on or off at programmed times.

In the case of portable electrical devices such as electrical irons, hair tongs, hair 20 stylers and soldering irons, such appliances are commonly left on, particularly if the user is forgetful or becomes distracted. However, such appliances can be extremely dangerous if left on when unattended and could cause damage to the surface they are left on, the surrounding furniture or even cause a fire. Even in the case where such appliances are left in a safe environment, electricity is wasted. Furthermore, such 25 appliances remain hot even when they have been isolated from the electrical supply.

Furthermore, it also could create damage or fire as discussed above.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat generating electrical apparatus comprising a timer, the timer being arranged to allow 30 supply of electricity to the apparatus upon demand for a predetermined period of time, the apparatus further comprising alerting means arranged to indicate the existence of heat after the predetermined period has expired and electricity supply has ceased, the alerting means operating for a second predetermined period of time.

( By incorporating the timer and alerting means into a heat generating apparatus, a predetermined operation period for the apparatus can be set and the user and persons in the immediate vicinity can be alerted to the existence of heat after the operation to avoid accidents and the like.

A mechanism in accordance with another aspect of the present invention may be provided for incorporation within an apparatus, within the electrical plug of the apparatus, as an adaptor to fit between an electrical socket and the plug or at a separate component to the fitted to any such appliance.

The predetermined time period of the timer may be changeable by the user. For example, it may be set in increments. Whilst power is supplied, a visual indicator connected to the timer may be illuminated and/or an audio indicator may be arranged to emit a sound to warn that the apparatus is on and may be hot.

The timer may be arranged to flash the visual indicator and/or beep the audio indicator at a predetermined point before the predetermined time expires, indicating that the electrical supply is about to be isolated. The timer may be arranged to allow the user to reset the timer to allow electricity supply to continue.

Preferably, the mechanism includes energy storage means to allow the visual and/or audio indicators to operate even if the electrical supply is disconnected. More preferably, the energy storage means is a capacitive storage device.

25Example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of a plug used with a heat producing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 30Figure 2 is a perspective view of an adaptor plug for use with a heat producing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a handle of a heat producing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; and,

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical plug for connection to a heat 5 producing apparatus. The plug 10 includes electrical connection terminals 20, a hole 30 and connections (not shown) to accept an electrical cable from the apparatus. The plug 10 also includes a start button 40, a stop button 50, a visual indicator in the form of an LCD time display 60 and a audio indicator 70.

10 An alternative embodiment is shown with reference to Figure 2. In this embodiment, the plug lO is in a form of an adaptor to be plugged into an electrical outlet and has an electrical socket 100 for accepting the electrical plug of the heat producing apparatus. In this particular embodiment, an analogue timer display/setting device I I O is shown. It will be apparent to the skilled person that venous 15 display/setting devices can be incorporated in any of the embodiments described with reference to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus incorporating an embodiment of 20 the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing component configurations of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A timer 200 is connected to an input device 210, a visual indicator 220, an audio indicator 230 and switching means 240.

25 The switching means is controllable by the timer 200 to connect or isolate a heat producing electrical apparatus 260 from an electrical energy source 250. Energy storage means 270 is connected to the timer 200.

A user wishing to operate the heat producing electrical apparatus 260 connects 30 the electrical energy source 250 to an energy supply outlet (not shown). The user sets a period within which the apparatus may operate via the input device 210. The timer 200 then controls the switching means 240 to allow supply of energy from the energy source 250 to the apparatus 260 until the set period expires. During this time, the

visual indicator 220 is controlled by the timer 200 to indicate that the appliance may be hot and the audio indicator 230 is also operated. When the timer 200 reaches ten seconds before the set period expires, it controls the visual indicator 220 to flash and the audio indicator 230 to beep rapidly to indicate that the device is about to isolate the 5 supply 250. The user can choose to reset the timer 200 via the input device 210 or allow the timer 200 to isolate the supply via switching means 240. The timer 200 continues to control the visual indicator 220 to flash and the audio indicator 230 to emit a repeated beep for a further preset period after expiry of the set time period to indicate that although there is no longer power being supplied to the apparatus, it may still be 10 hot. Energy storage means 270 allows the timer 200 and audio indicator 220 and visual indicator 230 to operate even if isolated from the electrical supply 250.

Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to a number of embodiments, it will be apparent to the skilled reader that it could in incorporated or 15 used with heat producing appliance in a number of different ways. For example, the relevant components could be packaged for retro-fitting within existing appliances or they could be incorporated within the appliance itself with the controls forming part of the controls for the appliance.

20 In the case of the adaptor of Figure 2, an optional lid is illustrated for use in locking the plug of the appliance in place to ensure the adaptor stays attached to the appliance even when removed from the electricity supply.

Preferably, the face of the timer and indicators is designed to give most 25 visibility to the visual indicator. For example, the face may be made of a transparent red plastic. Although illustrated embodiments in some cases include an "off'' button, this is merely intended to disable the appliance and the visual and/or audio indicators will still indicate the appliance is still hot. Preferably an "off' button has the effect of reducing the countdown of the first predetermined period to zero.

30 D In a preferred embodiment, an appliance may be pre-fitted with a heat sensor that is in communication with the timer to control the duration of operation the visual and audio indicators after power has been isolated.

Claims

as CLAIMS

1. A heat generating electrical apparatus comprising a timer, the timer being arranged to allow supply of electricity to the apparatus upon demand for a first predetermined period of time, the apparatus further comprising alerting means arranged to indicate the existence of heat after the first predetermined period has expired and electricity supply has ceased, the alerting means operating for a second predetermined period of time.

10

2. A timer apparatus for use with a heat generating electrical apparatus, the timer being communicable with an electricity supply to allow supply of electricity to the apparatus upon demand for a first predetermined period of time, the timer apparatus further comprising altering means arranged to indicate the existence of heat after the first predetermined period has expired and electricity supply has ceased, the alerting 15 means operating for a second predetermined period of time.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising input means, the first predetermined period being changeable using the input means.

20

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined period is restartable using the input means.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the alerting means is arranged to indicate the existence of heat during the first predetermined period.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the alerting means is arranged to operate for a third predetermined period immediately before the first predetermined period expires.

30

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the alerting means includes a visual indicator.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the alerting means includes an audio indicator.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising energy 5 storage means arranged to supply energy to the timer and alerting means even if the electrical supply is disconnected.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the energy storage means is a capacitive storage device.

11. An apparatus as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.