US 5,628,242 AGranted

Gas grill with automatic shut off controlled by dynamic activity sensor

OwnerJohn E. Higleyinventor

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Abstract

An activity monitor for a gas cooker or grill which monitors activity with a motion detector. When the grill has not been used for a preselected time period, the gas supply is automatically shut off to avoid fire hazard and/or wasting of fuel. An adjustable timer is used to activate the automatic shut off of the gas supply only after no motion has been detected for a preselected time period. A default timer value can be used when the grill is initially activated. If motion is detected prior to gas supply shut off, then the timer is reset to zero. Motion detection is accomplished by one or more methods including a lid position sensor to detect when the grill lid is moved between the open and the closed position a motion detector which monitors switch usage to detect activity, and vibration or movement monitors.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A dynamic activity monitor and gas supply shut off for a gas grill, comprising:

timer means;
a gas supply shutoff valve, further comprising:
a gas input for inputting gas from a gas grill gas supply;
a gas output for outputting gas to a gas grill;
a gas shut off valve having an open position and a closed position and located between the gas input and gas output, the gas shut off valve controlled by the timer means such that the gas shut off valve is closed when the timer means times out;
an activity sensor having an output which indicates when cooking activity is detected, the output of the activity sensor is input to the timer means;
and
the timer means further having an input for inputting the output of the activity sensor, the timer means further having means to re-initialize when the output of the activity sensor indicates that activity is detected;
whereby the gas supply remains on for a predetermined period of time after activity is sensed and is automatically shut off when activity is not sensed for a predetermined period of time.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.