Stovetop heat alert device

A heat alert device for use with a stovetop, the heat alert device comprising:

• a heat shield comprising:
• a thermally insulating member comprising a thermally insulating material, the thermally insulating material being configured to be thermally stable, the thermally insulating member having a planar shape, the thermally insulating member having a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter edge;
• a bottom plate mounted to the bottom side of the thermally insulating member, the bottom plate comprising a sheet metal material;
• a top plate mounted to the top side of the thermally insulating member, the top plate comprising the sheet metal material;
• and
• a bumper coupled to the thermally insulating member, the bumper extending around the perimeter edge of the thermally insulating material, the bumper comprising a resiliently deformable material, the resiliently deformable material being configured to be thermally stable;
• a housing coupled to the heat shield and being positioned atop the heat shield, the housing being configured to have a thermal stability that is less than a thermal stability of the thermally insulating member of the heat shield, the housing comprising:
• a base positioned atop the heat shield, the base having a main portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the main portion, the main portion having a planar shape, the peripheral portion being coupled to the main portion and extending downwardly with respect to the thermally insulating member, the peripheral portion being curved and having a convex surface which faces outwardly with respect to the main portion, the base defining a through hole which extends through the main portion, the base further comprising a cover portion which is coupled to the main portion and extends over the through hole, the base defining a plurality of cover apertures which extends through the cover portion, the plurality of cover apertures being distributed radially around the cover portion, the base defining a plurality of peripheral apertures which extends through the peripheral portion, the plurality of peripheral apertures being distributed radially around the peripheral portion;
• a handle being coupled to and spaced above the base, the handle being elongated horizontally with respect to the heat shield;
• a pair of posts coupling the handle to the base, the pair of posts being positioned opposite each other across the handle;
• and
• a transparent window mounted in a top wall of the handle;
• a heat sensor coupled to the heat shield, the heat sensor being oriented and configured to detect heat below the heat shield, the heat sensor being positioned below the cover portion of the housing, the heat sensor comprising a thermal switch;
• an indicator mounted to the housing, the indicator being configured to generate a heat indication, the indicator comprising a light emitter, the indicator being positioned in the handle of the housing and being viewable through the transparent window of the housing;
• circuitry operatively coupled to the heat sensor and the indicator, the circuitry being configured to cause the indicator to generate the heat indication based on the heat detected by the heat sensor;
• a plurality of spacer assemblies coupled to the heat shield, the plurality of spacer assemblies being radially arranged with respect to the heat shield, each spacer assembly of the plurality of spacer assemblies comprising:
• a bottom spacer coupled to and protruding away from a bottom surface of the heat shield, the bottom spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield;
• a top spacer mounted on the heat shield opposite the bottom spacer, the top spacer extending from a top surface of the heat shield to the housing, the housing being spaced away from the heat shield by the top spacer, the top spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield;
• and
• a central spacer coupled to and extending between the bottom spacer and the top spacer, the central spacer extending through the heat shield, the central spacer being seated between the top plate and the bottom plate of the heat shield, the central spacer comprising a material with a thermal stability equal to or greater than the thermal stability of the heat shield;
• and
• a power supply electrically coupled to the circuitry, the power supply being mounted in the housing, the power supply being positioned in the handle, the power supply comprising a battery.