DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR PRESSSURE COOKING VESSEL AND MONITORING METHOD

I. Name: GANESH GORE
Nationality: Indian
Address: 11/2 Saraju Yadav Chawl, Pratap Nagar, Near Western Express Highway, Jogeshwari (East), Mumbai 400060

II. Name: JONATHAN JOSHI
Nationality: Indian
Address: 202 Mary Anne heights, 3rd Golibar Road, Santa Cruz East, Mumbai, 400055

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of kitchen appliances and more particularly, to the enabling the cooking process to be made easier for a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pressure cooking vessels form the fundamental bedrock of any household in India. More than 60% of households have such pressure vessels for the reason that the same save a lot of time as well as fuel in cooking. Pressure cooking vessels also enable cooks to reduce the efforts for cooking, thereby enabling them to run multiple tasks while cooking in the kitchen.
A pressure cooking vessel has a pressure control valve, which operates to release any excess pressure that is formed within the vessel. The trick to efficient cooking using the pressure cooking vessel is that different number of pressure release operations, also referred to as whistles in common cooking parlance, are required for cooking different types of food articles. One common problem in a typical pressure cooking vessel is that the cook needs to constantly monitor the number of whistles for a particular food item to cook properly. Typically, this is carried out manually such that the cook counts the number of whistles before switching off the heat supply to the pressure cooking vessel. The issue with such manual counting is that it is prone to error. For instance, sometimes the cook may count the number incorrectly as he may forget the numbers while counting. This could have the following repercussions:
1. If the cook counts less than the actual number of whistles, additional cooking gas is used and the food item may be over-cooked.
2. If the food is not cooked properly then the process needs to be repeated, which also results in usage of more gas and also wastage of time.
Hence, there exists a need for a solution that can help the cooks to count the number of whistles while cooking in a pressure cooking vessel.
There further exists a need for a solution that enables the cook to carry out multiple tasks while cooking, without requiring him/her to concentrate only on counting of the whistles of the pressure cooking vessel.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that can help the cook count the number of whistles.
Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system that is adapted to provide an indication to the user/cook about number of operations of pressure release valve of a pressure cooking vessel so as to enable the cook to save time and efforts in cooking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates a monitoring system for a pressure cooking vessel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a monitoring system for a pressure cooking vessel, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 illustrates a method embodied in the monitoring system of Figs 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The present invention envisages a monitoring system for pressure cooking vessel so as to enable the cook to save time in cooking, fuel as well as enhance cooking efficiency by enabling the cook to simultaneously concentrate on other chores. The monitoring system would be explained in conjunction with Fig. 1 that illustrates a monitoring system 100 for a pressure cooking vessel 105, and Fig. 3 that illustrates a method 300 implemented in the said monitoring system 100.
The pressure cooking vessel 105 includes has a pressure control valve adapted to release internal pressure of the vessel 105 during cooking operation. This release of pressure control valves is also referred to as “whistles” in cooking parlance. In the present invention, the term “whistles” would be used alternatively with the term “operation of the pressure control valve”.
The system 100 includes an input device 110 adapted to receive an input from a user or a cook regarding a first number of operations of the pressure control valve (or number of whistles). In particular, for cooking different types of food, the cook would have an idea regarding number of whistles required and thus he can feed in said number, referred to as first number, using the input device 110. For instance, for cooking soup, the cook may input the first number of operation as 5. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input device could be a key pad, a mobile phone, a tablet or any computing device. Thus, at step 305 of the method 300, the cook inputs a first number of operation, i.e. the desired number of whistles, which is received by the input device 110.
Further, the system 100 also includes an audio feedback device 115 disposed preferably in vicinity of the pressure cooking vessel 105. The audio feedback device 115 is adapted to keep track in real-time, the number of times the pressure release valve actually operates to release pressure inside the vessel. To elaborate further, each time the pressure cooking vessel 105 generates a whistle due to operation of the pressure release valve to release internal pressure of the pressure cooking vessel 105, the audio feedback device 115 detects, at step 310 of method 300, the sound of the whistle. Each operation of the pressure release valve is referred to as second number of operations in the description. Further, based on each detection, the audio feedback device 115 generates a first electrical signal, as per step 315 of method 300. Thus, the first electrical signal would be generated for each second number of operations of the release valve. In an embodiment of the present invention, the audio feedback device could be a microphone disposed in vicinity of the pressure cooking vessel 105 such that the microphone detects the sound of the whistle and generates a pertinent first electrical signal.
Each time a first electrical signal is generated, it is provided to a processor 120 coupled to the input device 110 and the audio feedback device 115. The processor 120 includes an operation counter 120a that receives the first electrical signal every time it is generated by the audio feedback device 115 and updates a count thereof, at step 320 of method 300. Thus, at step 320, the operation counter 120a tracks the second number of operations in real-time as the whistle is generated by sequentially updating the count thereof. The updated count of second number of operations is provided to a comparator 120b communicably coupled to the operation counter 120a. At step 325, the comparator 120b compares the updated count of second number of operations with the first number of operations. As shown in Fig. 3, the comparator 120b keeps on comparing the updated second number of operations with the first number of operations input by the cook/user until an equivalence is determined, at step 330 of Fig. 3. As soon as it is determined that the updated second number of operations has reached the first number of operations, which means that the pressure cooking vessel 105 has generated as many whistles as were desired by the cook, the processor 120 provides an indication to a communicator module 125 coupled thereto. In an embodiment of the present invention, this indication could be by way of a second electrical signal.
As soon as the communicator module 125 receives the second electrical signal, the communicator module 125, at step 335 of method 300, generates an alert for the user to be apprised that the desired number of whistles have been generated and thus the food has been cooked as desired. In an embodiment of the present invention, a display device, such as an LCD screen, may be coupled to the communicator module 125 and the processor 120 so as to receive the updated count of second number of operations. Thus, as soon as the desired number of whistles has happened, the communicator module 125 would generate the alert by way of displaying the updated count of second number of operations on the display device.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the communicator module 125 may generate an audible alert with the help of an alarm or buzzer circuit.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the communicator module 125 has a transceiver that is capable of communicating with a user’s device, such as a mobile phone, a notebook, a tablet, a desktop computer or any other communication module, using wireless signals to provide a visual alert.
Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein a controller unit 130 is communicably coupled to the communicator module 125. The controller unit 130 comprises a receiver 130a communicably coupled to a transceiver 125a of the communicator module 125 and a relay unit 130b having at least one relay to control the operation of a heat source 135 to the pressure cooking vessel 105. In use, when the communicator module 125 receives the second electrical signal, the transceiver 125a of the communicator module 125 communicates with the receiver 130a of the controller unit so as to operate the relay of the rely unit 130b to switch off the heat source 135. In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat source 135 may be a gas stove running on gas supply and the operation of relay activates an electrical valve in the gas supply to cut-off the supply to stove. Thus, as soon as the desired number of whistles have been generated, the heat source would be automatically removed, thereby preventing the cook or user to physically approach the heat source to switch off the supply. In this way, the entire cooking process could be automated.
The system envisaged by the present invention has many inherent benefits. In particular, it helps the cooks to
• Save cooking fuel
• Save cooking time
• Efficiently cook food without much human intervention
Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments are apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein described. As one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, the example system and method described herein can be modified. For example, certain steps can be omitted, certain steps can be carried out concurrently, and other steps can be added. Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes, modifications and equivalents coming within the spirit and terms of the invention as described herein. This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods.

,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A monitoring system for a pressure cooking vessel, the pressure cooking vessel having a pressure control valve operable to release internal pressure thereof during cooking process, the monitoring system comprising:

an input device to receive a user’s input regarding a first number of operation of the pressure control valve to release internal pressure of the pressure cooking vessel;
an audio feedback device to track a second number of operations of the pressure control valve to release internal pressure of pressure cooking vessel and generate an electrical signal pertaining to each second number of operations;
a processor coupled to the input device and the audio feedback device to receive the first number of operations and the electrical signal respectively therefrom, the processor comprising:
an operation counter adapted to receive the electrical signal and update a count of the second number of operations of the pressure control device, and
a comparator adapted to compare the updated count of second number of operations with the first number of operation of the pressure control valve; and
a communicator module coupled to the processor, the communicator module adapted to generate an alert when the first number of operation is equal to the updated count of second number of operation.

2. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a display device coupled to the communicator module and processor to display the updated count of second number of operation of the pressure control valve.

3. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communicator module generates an audible alert for the user when the first number of operation is equal to the updated count of second number of operation.

4. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communicator module transmits a visual alert to a communication device of the user when the first number of operation is equal to the updated count of second number of operation.

5. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the communication device is a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook computer and a desktop computer.

6. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alert generated by the communicator module is a visual indication or a digital message.

7. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 comprising a controller unit adapted to control heat to the pressure cooking vessel, the controller unit comprising a receiver communicably coupled to the communicator module and a relay unit adapted to control operation of heat source for the pressure cooking vessel.

8. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the communicator module communicates with the receiver unit when the first number of operation is equal to the second number of operation so as to operate the relay unit to switch off the heat source to the pressure cooking vessel.

9. A method of monitoring cooking using a pressure cooking vessel, the pressure cooking vessel having a pressure control valve operable to release internal pressure thereof during cooking, the method of monitoring comprising:

receiving a user’s input regarding a first number of operation of the pressure control valve to release internal pressure of the pressure cooking vessel;
tracking a second number of operations of the pressure control valve to release internal pressure of pressure cooking vessel;
generating a first electrical signal pertaining to each second number of operations;
updating a count of the second number of operations of the pressure control device based on each first electrical signal;
comparing the updated count of second number of operations with the first number of operation of the pressure control valve; and
generating an alert when the first number of operation is equal to the updated count of second number of operation.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the alert is an audible output or a visual indication for the user.
Dated this 27th day of February 2018

NITIN GUPTA
Agent registration no. IN/PA-2865
Agents for the Applicant