US 4,083,250 A · Audible alarm food thermometer

Abstract

A portable food thermometer affording an audible alarm at a preset cooking completion temperature. A water reservoir defined within a two-part housing is fillable by the user in advance of use. An elongated sensing probe insertable in the food is secured extending through one of the housing parts inward of the reservoir and contains a slideable rod supported on a confined temperature sensing material. Expansion of the sensing material in response to increasing food temperature forces the rod outward of the probe. Opposite the free end of the rod is a spring loaded ball valve sealing the reservoir from a whistle outlet. Temperature graduations on the housing enable adjusting the spacing between the rod and valve at room temperature for presetting the operating temperature of the unit. On reaching set point cooking temperature, the outwardly forced position of the rod acts to open the valve enabling steam in the reservoir to activate the whistle alarm. When the alarm is activated, a plug positioned in the whistle outlet is displaced outwardly for affording a visual indication of thermometer operation.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An audible alarm food thermometer comprising in combination:

a. a two-part detachable housing internally defining a water reservoir;
b. a temperature sensitive probe secured to one of said housing parts, said probe being insertable into food for sensing internal food temperature while said housing remains outward of the food for exposure to elevated cooking temperatures at which the food is to be prepared;
c. presettable means associated with housing for adjustably varying the set point temperature at which food temperature sensed by said probe is to effect an audible alarm;
d. seal means operable when probe sensed temperature is below said set point temperature to seal said reservoir against escape of steam generated from water in the reservoir exposed to the cooking temperature;
e. release means operable in opposition to said seal means to force release of said seal mean when the probe sensed temperature is above said set point temperature;
and
f. whistle means supported in the steam escape path from said reservoir for producing an audible alarm.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Audible alarm food thermometer

Life of this patent

Audible alarm food thermometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10