초록 ▼

A stove knob timer device for use with a stove prompts a user to monitor a cooking event through a series of increasingly aggressive audible prompts. The timer device includes a main housing for engaging a stove operational shaft and which, when rotated to activate a respective stove burner, actuate

A stove knob timer device for use with a stove prompts a user to monitor a cooking event through a series of increasingly aggressive audible prompts. The timer device includes a main housing for engaging a stove operational shaft and which, when rotated to activate a respective stove burner, actuates a timer. After a predetermined time, a speaker is activated to emit an audible alarm to prompt a user to monitor the stove and to require a reset button to be pressed. If the reset button is not pressed in a predetermined time, the speaker is actuated to emit a more aggressive alarm so as to more urgently or even awaken a user. If the timer is reset, the original predetermined time is restarted. The timer device may include programming to adjust between timer modes and have structures enabling universal fit on various stove configurations.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A stove knob timer device, comprising: a base member; a main housing rotatably coupled to said base member, said main housing being configured to receive a stove operational shaft; a speaker; a timer; a reset switch; a processor in said main housing, said processor bein

The invention claimed is: 1. A stove knob timer device, comprising: a base member; a main housing rotatably coupled to said base member, said main housing being configured to receive a stove operational shaft; a speaker; a timer; a reset switch; a processor in said main housing, said processor being in data communication with said speaker, said timer, and said reset switch; programming in said processor to actuate said speaker in a first manner upon said timer reaching a predetermined amount of time and to actuate said speaker in a second manner upon said speaker being actuated in said first manner for a predetermined period of time; and programming in said processor to deactivate said speaker upon actuation of said reset switch. 2. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein said second manner has at least one of: a louder volume, a different frequency, and a more urgent pattern, when compared to said first manner. 3. The stove knob timer device of claim 2, further comprising programming in said processor to actuate said speaker in a third manner upon said speaker being actuated in said second manner for a predetermined period of time, and wherein said third manner has at least one of: a louder volume, a different frequency, and a more urgent pattern, when compared to said second manner. 4. The stove knob timer device of claim 3, further comprising means for actuating said timer upon rotation of said main housing relative to said base member. 5. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein said reset switch is accessible through an opening in said main housing. 6. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein: said main housing defines an opening; said reset switch is attached to a circuit board spaced apart from said opening; a tactile button cover extends from adjacent said opening to said reset switch so that pressing said tactile button cover through said main housing opening actuates said reset switch. 7. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein: said main housing defines a channel; said main housing includes a set screw situated in said channel and adjustable such that said channel is selectively configured to receive more or less of said operational shaft therein. 8. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein said base member includes means for attachment to a stove surface, said base member defining a central opening through which said operational shaft is receivable. 9. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, wherein at least one vertical shaft is coupled to said base member and said main housing is configured to slide along said vertical shaft to move said main housing toward and away from said base member. 10. The stove knob timer device of claim 9, wherein: said main housing defines a channel; said main housing includes a set screw situated in said channel and adjustable such that said channel is selectively configured to receive more or less of said operational shaft therein; and compared to said first manner, said second manner has at least one of: a louder volume, a different frequency, and a more urgent pattern. 11. The stove knob timer device of claim 10, further comprising: a first contact coupled to said base member and a second contact coupled to said main housing, said first and second contacts being configured to interact with one another when said main housing is rotated relative to said base member; programming in said processor to actuate said timer upon interaction of said first and second contacts; and programming in said processor to adjust said predetermined amount of time reached by said timer. 12. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, further comprising: a first contact coupled to said base member and a second contact coupled to said main housing, said first and second contacts being configured to interact with one another when said main housing is rotated relative to said base member; and programming in said processor to actuate said timer upon interaction of said first and second contacts. 13. The stove knob timer device of claim 1, further comprising programming in said processor to adjust said predetermined amount of time reached by said timer. 14. A stove knob timer device for use with a stove having a stove operational shaft, said stove knob timer device comprising: a base member; a main housing rotatably coupled to said base member, said main housing defining a channel configured to receive said stove operational shaft; a set screw positioned in said channel for relative movement therein such that a desired extent of said operational shaft is received into said channel; at least one vertical shaft coupled to said base member, said main housing being configured to slide along said vertical shaft to move said main housing and said stove operational shaft toward and away from said base member; a speaker; a timer; a reset switch; a processor between said base member and said main housing, said processor being in data communication with said speaker, said timer, and said reset switch; programming in said processor to actuate said speaker upon said timer reaching a predetermined amount of time; and programming in said processor to deactivate said speaker upon actuation of said reset switch. 15. The stove knob timer device of claim 14, wherein said base member includes means for attachment to a stove surface, said base member defining a central opening through which said operational shaft is receivable. 16. The stove knob timer device of claim 14, further comprising: a first contact coupled to said base member and a second contact coupled to said main housing, said first and second contacts being configured to interact with one another when said main housing is rotated relative to said base member; and programming in said processor to actuate said timer upon interaction of said first and second contacts. 17. The stove knob timer device of claim 16, further comprising programming in said processor to adjust said predetermined amount of time reached by said timer. 18. A stove knob timer device for use with a stove having a stove operational shaft, comprising: a base member; a main housing rotatably coupled to said base member, said main housing being configured to receive said stove operational shaft; a speaker; a timer; a reset switch; a processor in said main housing, said processor being in data communication with said speaker, said timer, and said reset switch; programming in said processor to actuate said speaker in a first manner upon said timer reaching a first predetermined amount of time and to actuate said speaker in a second manner upon said speaker being actuated in said first manner for a second predetermined period of time; programming in said processor to deactivate said speaker upon actuation of said reset switch; and programming in said processor to adjust said first predetermined period of time upon receiving a user input. 19. The stove knob timer device of claim 18, further comprising: a set screw positioned in said main housing for adjusting an extent of said stove operational shaft receivable into said main housing; at least one vertical shaft coupled to said base member, said main housing being configured to slide along said vertical shaft to move said main housing and said stove operational shaft toward and away from said base member; a first contact coupled to said base member and a second contact coupled to said main housing, said first and second contacts being configured to interact with one another when said main housing is rotated relative to said base member; and programming in said processor to actuate said timer upon interaction of said first and second contacts. 20. The stove knob timer device of claim 19, further comprising programming in said processor to actuate said speaker in a third manner upon said speaker being actuated in said second manner for a predetermined period of time, and wherein: compared to said first manner, said second manner has at least one of: a louder volume, a different frequency, and a more urgent pattern; compared to said second manner, said third manner has at least one of: a louder volume, a different frequency, and a more urgent pattern; said main housing defines an opening; said reset switch is spaced apart from said opening; and a tactile button cover extends from adjacent said opening to said reset switch so that pressing said tactile button cover through said main housing opening actuates said reset switch.