US20070204849A1

US20070204849A1 - Ring of fire

Info

Publication number: US20070204849A1
Application number: US11/351,169
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-09
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-09-06

Abstract

“Ring of Fire” is a simple device for insuring that electric stovetop burners are not left on inadvertently. It consists of a circular fluorescent light bulb that is either encased in Pyrex, or is itself constructed of Pyrex, and plugged, via a socket located underneath the stovetop, into a circuit that is completed whenever the corresponding burner is turned on. The bulb is recessed into a circular concavity in the stovetop, immediately surrounding the outer rim of the drip tray, and held in place by four metal clips. The bulb is covered by a flat circle of red, translucent Pyrex whose inner rim is attached to the outer rim of the drip tray by metal clips, and whose outer rim rests on a small “shelf” in the stovetop. Thus, whenever a burner is turned on, regardless of its setting, (e.g., high or low), it will be surrounded by a bright red, glowing, “Ring of Fire.” The Pyrex circle is easily removable to allow access for changing the bulb. Alternatively, the bulb itself could be colored red, and the Pyrex cover, clear and transparent. If desired, the bulb could operate in the fashion of existing electric fireplaces, giving the illusion of a burning flame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to indicating that an electric stovetop burner is turned on, and more particularly pertains to an improved indicator light system that shows which burner is on, regardless of heat setting, and is evident at the site of the individual burner.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Current conventional electric stoves with the burners located on the stovetop (as opposed to the more expensive glass-top models) utilize a single, small indicator light, located on the back part of the stove, to show that a burner is currently on. The light gives no indication which particular burner is on, and the burners themselves provide no visible evidence of being on except at relatively high settings. In addition, the small size of the light, as well as its location on the back part of the stovetop with no immediate relation to the operating burner, makes it extremely easy to forget that a burner is turned on. Leaving a burner turned on, especially when the burner itself does not glow red, presents a substantial risk of fire or injury. As such, it appears there is a continuing need for a safer, more effective system for indicating that an electric stovetop burner is turned on, and the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the forgoing disadvantages inherent in the electric stovetop burner indicator lights now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a much safer and more effective means of notifying the user of an electric stove that a burner is currently turned on. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light which has all the advantages of the prior art indicator lights and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially consists of a circular fluorescent light bulb (either encased in Pyrex or constructed of Pyrex) surrounding each burner, recessed into a concavity in the stovetop, covered by a flat, circular protecting cover of red, translucent Pyrex, and plugged into to the same electrical circuit as the control switch of the individual burner that it surrounds. The concavity in the stovetop surrounding the burner incorporates four metal retaining clips to hold the fluorescent bulb in place, a thin lip on its inner edge over which the outer rim of the drip tray fits, an opening through which the bulb is plugged into its corresponding electrical socket, and two small “shelves” upon which the Pyrex cover rests. The drip tray, whose outer rim fits over a thin lip in the stovetop, also incorporates four metal retaining clips to hold the circular Pyrex cover in place.
In an alternative environment, the fluorescent bulb itself may be colored red, and the Pyrex cover, clear. Thus, the user will be notified when any burner is turned on, regardless of its heat setting, and the user's attention will be easily drawn to the light due to its location immediately surrounding the burner being used.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that that the detailed description that flows may be more easily understood, and the present contribution to the art, better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before describing at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of its components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure 9is based, may readily be utilized as the basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions, insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the application of the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that has all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the prior art electric stovetop burner indicator light.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that may be easily and efficiently marketed and manufactured.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and accordingly which is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making stoves utilizing the present invention economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric stovetop burner indicator light that has an indicator light located in immediate proximity to each individual burner so as to substantially decrease the likelihood that a burner will be left on inadvertently.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention 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, FIGS. (1) through (4).
FIG. 1: “RING OF FIRE,”
This is a rough sketch depicting the essential features of the invention
FIG.2:
(A): The orange outer circle represents the outer edge of the stovetop concavity.
(B) The dotted red circle represents the fluorescent bulb. Said bulb is either encased in Pyrex, or is itself constructed of Pyrex. The glass of which it is constructed, or in which it is encased, may be either clear or translucently red.
(C) Rim of drip pan, to be modified by attaching metal clips as shown in FIG. 4
(D) Fluorescent bulb plug, to be plugged into socket located under central portion of stovetop (see FIG. 3)
(E) Opening in outer edge of stovetop concavity, granting access to electrical socket
(F) Approximate location of center of stovetop, under which is located the wiring and sockets by which the fluorescent bulb is connected to its corresponding burner's control switch
FIG. 3:
This drawing is meant to show that the openings (C) in all four stovetop concavities (A) face the central portion of the stovetop (B), to facilitate placement of wiring and sockets.
FIG. 4:
The flat Pyrex cover (J) is attached to the rim of the drip tray (K) by means of metal clips (L), so that the entire assembly can be easily removed either for cleaning, or to grant access to the fluorescent bulb should it wear out.
As shown in the cross-sectional view at the bottom of the page:
The stovetop (C) is designed with a concavity (B) surrounding each burner, in which sits the fluorescent bulb (G), which is held in place by metal retaining clips (H). The flat Pyrex cover (E) is attached to the outer rim of the drip tray (D), whose outer edge fits over a lip in the stovetop (F), by metal retaining clips (I), and rests as well on two small “shelves” (A) incorporated into the stovetop.
Thus, in the preferred environment, the present invention consists of a circular fluorescent light bulb (either encased in Pyrex or constructed of Pyrex) surrounding each burner, recessed into a concavity in the stovetop, covered by a flat, circular protecting cover of red, translucent Pyrex, and plugged into to the same electrical circuit as the control switch of the individual burner that it surrounds. The concavity in the stovetop surrounding the burner incorporates four metal retaining clips to hold the fluorescent bulb in place, a thin lip on its inner edge over which the outer rim of the drip tray fits, an opening through which the bulb is plugged into its corresponding electrical socket, and two small “shelves” upon which the Pyrex cover rests. The drip tray, whose outer rim fits over a thin lip in the stovetop, also incorporates four metal retaining clips to hold the circular Pyrex cover in place. Thus, whenever a burner is turned on, regardless of its setting, (e.g., high or low), it will be surrounded by a bright red, glowing, “Ring of Fire.” The Pyrex circle is easily removable to allow access for changing the bulb.
Alternatively, the bulb itself could be colored red, and the Pyrex cover, clear and transparent. If desired, the bulb could operate in the fashion of existing electric fireplaces, giving the illusion of a burning flame.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description, then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, 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 the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 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 invention.

Claims

1. A new and improved indicator light for electric stovetop burners, said indicator light comprising:

For Each Burner:

a thin, circular (donut-shaped) fluorescent bulb, either clear or colored red; either encased in Pyrex or constructed of Pyrex

a flat, circular cover piece of Pyrex, either red or clear (depending on the bulb—e.g., red bulb, clear Pyrex);

a drip tray whose outer rim fits over a thin lip in the stovetop, and which incorporates four metal retaining clips to hold the circular Pyrex cover

a concavity in the stovetop around the burner, incorporating four metal retaining clips to hold the fluorescent bulb in place, a thin lip on its inner edge over which the outer rim of the drip tray fits, an opening through which the bulb is plugged into its corresponding electrical socket, and two small “shelves” upon which the Pyrex cover rests.

a separate electrical socket, located under the center portion of the stovetop and accessible via an opening in the outer edge of the stovetop concavity, into which the fluorescent bulb is plugged and by which it is connected to the same electrical circuit as its corresponding burner's control switch.

2. A new and improved indicator light for electric stovetop burners as described in claim 1, wherein fluorescent bulb simulates a burning flame.