Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. An electric toaster (100) comprising:
an upper housing (104) to be pressed over a lower housing (102) to roast slices of bread, wherein the upper housing (104) comprises:
a countdown timer (120) to count to a pre-determined time duration; and
a power indicator (122) to generate a signal indicating a power supply status of the electric toaster (100);
a pair of cooking plates (106a-106b) having toasting surfaces such that the toasting surfaces are brought into contact with opposed surfaces of the slices of bread to be roasted;
a handle (108) attached to the upper housing (104) of the electric toaster (100), to be pressed by a user, wherein the handle (108) comprises a pressure sensor (126) to sense a pressure applied on the handle (108) while pressing the upper housing (104) over the lower housing (102); and
a control unit (110) connected to the power indicator (122) and the pressure sensor (126), wherein the control unit (110) is configured to:
receive the generated signal indicating the power supply status of the electric toaster (100) from the power indicator (122) and the sensed pressure from the pressure sensor (126);
compare the sensed pressure with a pre-defined pressure stored in a memory (112), when the power supply status of the electric toaster (100) is identified as an ON status;
activate the countdown timer (120) to count to the pre-determined time duration, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure; and
enable a sound unit (124) to generate an alert when the pre-determined time duration is elapsed.
2. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound unit (124) is inbuilt within the countdown timer (120), to generate the alert.
3. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sound unit (124) is an audible alarm having a buzzer sound.
4. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper housing (104) further comprises a thermistor (118) mounted on a back surface of one of, the pair of cooking plates (106a-106b), to sense a temperature of one of the toasting surfaces of the pair of cooking plates (106a-106b).
5. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to compare the sensed temperature with a preset temperature.
6. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit (110) is configured to control a flow of an electrical power to maintain the temperature between the pair of cooking plates (106a-106b) when the sensed temperature exceeds the preset temperature.
7. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of cooking plates (106a-106b) are mounted on the corresponding lower housing (102) and the upper housing (104), to provide a close fitting to a first heating element (114) and a second heating element (116).
8. The electric toaster (100) as claimed of claim 7, wherein the first heating element (114) and the second heating element (116) are mounted on back surfaces of the corresponding pair of cooking plates (106a-106b) to convert an electrical power received through an electrical cord to heat.
9. The electric toaster (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power indicator (122) generates a light of a pre-defined color to indicate the power supply status of the electric toaster (100).
10. A method of automatically generating an alert by an electric toaster (100) to switch off the electric toaster (100), wherein the method comprising steps of:
receiving a generated signal indicating a power supply status of the electric toaster (100) from a power indicator (122) and a sensed pressure from a pressure sensor (126);
comparing the sensed pressure with a pre-defined pressure stored in a memory (112), when the power supply status of the electric toaster (100) is identified as an ON status;
activating a countdown timer (120) to count to a pre-determined time duration, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure; and
enable a sound unit (124) to generate an alert when the pre-determined time duration is elapsed.
Date: 27 October 2021
Place: Noida

Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

ELECTRIC TOASTER

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: CHITKARA INNOVATION INCUBATOR FOUNDATION
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: SCO: 160-161, SECTOR - 9C, MADHYA MARG, CHANDIGARH – 160009, INDIA

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a household appliance and particularly to an electric toaster.
Description of Related Art
[002] An electric toaster is a small appliance that uses heat to brown and harden bread. Over a time, the electric toaster has gained popularity due to its ease of use, portability and convenience. It is extensively used in kitchens all across a world for baking the bread. In spite of user approvals and reviews, one question always comes to a mind that, “Are electric toasters safe?”. Although a number of safety tips are provided in an instruction manual of the electric toaster for preventing hazardous condition; however, management of household responsibilities is not an easy task, as an individual is so much occupied with a number of tasks that sometimes the individual needs to start a new household task without completion of a previous household task. As an example, the individual comes across a problem while roasting a bread piece in the electric toaster, where the individual forgets to switch off the electric toaster and becomes busy in doing some another task. This situation may lead to a wastage of electricity, in case the electric toaster remains switched on for a longer period of time. Moreover, any person in a house might accidently touch the electric toaster and burn themselves, in case the electric toaster is kept on for the longer period of time. Furthermore, such situation may burn the bread piece, in case the individual forgets to switch off the electric toaster. Various electric toasters have been disclosed to overcome the aforementioned issues.
[003] Conventionally, an electric toaster that is available for roasting the bread piece works on a principle of a temperature selection. Such electric toaster can make an appropriate selection of temperature based on a type of food. However, the electric toaster is unable to provide any precautionary measures in case the electric toaster remains switched on for the longer period of time. Further, to overcome the aforementioned issue, the electric toaster with an automatic shut-off system has been introduced that automatically turns off a power after a fixed temperature level. However, the toaster will again turn “ON” automatically after some time if it is continuously plugged in to a main supply which in turn results in the wastage of the electricity. Also, if it is left unattended over a long duration of time, then plates of the electric toaster can even burn and cause fire.
[004] There is thus a need for an advanced and more effective electric toaster that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional electric toaster.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide an electric toaster comprising: an upper housing to be pressed over a lower housing to roast slices of bread. The upper housing comprises: a countdown timer to count to a pre-determined time duration and a power indicator to generate a signal indicating a power supply status of the electric toaster. The electric toaster further comprising: a pair of cooking plates having toasting surfaces such that the toasting surfaces are brought into contact with opposed surfaces of the slices of bread to be roasted. The electric toaster further comprising: a handle attached to the upper housing of the electric toaster, to be pressed by a user, wherein the handle comprises a pressure sensor to sense a pressure applied on the handle while pressing the upper housing over the lower housing. The electric toaster further comprising a control unit connected to the power indicator and the pressure sensor. The control unit is configured to: receive the generated signal indicating the power supply status of the electric toaster from the power indicator and the sensed pressure from the pressure sensor; compare the sensed pressure with a pre-defined pressure stored in a memory, when the power supply status of the electric toaster is identified as an ON status; activate the countdown timer to count to the pre-determined time duration, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure; and enable a sound unit to generate an alert when the pre-determined time duration is elapsed.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method of automatically generating an alert by an electric toaster to switch off the electric toaster. The method comprising steps of: receiving a generated signal indicating a power supply status of the electric toaster from a power indicator and a sensed pressure from a pressure sensor; comparing the sensed pressure with a pre-defined pressure stored in a memory, when the power supply status of the electric toaster is identified as an ON status; activating a countdown timer to count to a pre-determined time duration, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure; and enable a sound unit to generate an alert when the pre-determined time duration is elapsed.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide an electric toaster that is provided with an audible alarm to alert an individual, when the electric toaster is kept powered on for a longer period of time.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide an electric toaster that may reduce a wastage of electricity by notifying an individual about an “ON” status of the electric toaster, when the electric toaster is not in use.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide an electric toaster that may reduce a risk of fire due to burning of plates.
[0010] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0011] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an electric toaster, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a control unit of the electric toaster, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for automatically generating an alert in the electric toaster, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0018] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having”, and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0019] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an electric toaster 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric toaster 100 may be an automatically alert generated toaster that may be designed to roast slices of bread, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the electric toaster 100 may comprise a lower housing 102, an upper housing 104, a pair of cooking plates 106a-106b (hereinafter referred to as the cooking plates 106), a handle 108, a control unit 110, and a memory 112.
[0021] The lower housing 102 may be defining as a base of the electric toaster 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The lower housing 102 may be designed to hold one of, the cooking plates 106, in an embodiment of the present invention. The lower housing 102 may be designed to house a first heating element 114, wires (not shown), and so forth, in an embodiment of the present invention. The lower housing 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a stainless steel, a ceramic, a plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the lower housing 102 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0022] The upper housing 104 may be defining as a top portion of the electric toaster 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The upper housing 104 may be designed to hold a corresponding cooking plate of the cooking plates 106, in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the upper housing 104 may be designed to house internal parts of the electric toaster 100 such as, but not limited to, a second heating element 116, the wires, a thermistor 118, a countdown timer 120, and a power indicator 122. The upper housing 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the stainless steel, the ceramic, the plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the upper housing 104 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing 104 of the electric toaster 100 may be pressed over the lower housing 102, to roast the slices of bread. In such embodiment of the present invention, the pressing of the upper housing 104 over the lower housing 102 may enable an electrical power of a pre-defined voltage to pass through the wires to generate heat for roasting the slices of bread. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined voltage may be 120 Volts (V).
[0023] Further, the cooking plates 106 may be connected to each other through hinges, in an embodiment of the present invention. The cooking plates 106 may be mounted on the corresponding lower housing 102 and the upper housing 104, to provide a close fitting to the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 respectively. The cooking plates 106 may be made up of a material, such as, but not limited to, aluminium, brass, copper, steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the cooking plates 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The cooking plates 106 may be having toasting surfaces that may be brought into contact with opposed surfaces of the slices of bread to be roasted, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the toasting surfaces may be brought into contact with the opposed surfaces of the slices of bread when the upper housing 104 is pressed over the lower housing 102.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 may be mounted on corresponding back surfaces of the cooking plates 106. The first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 may be capable of receiving the electrical power through an electrical cord (not shown) and may further converts the electrical power into the heat. The first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 may be coils that generates and transfers the heat to the corresponding cooking plates 106 through a conduction. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 may be resistor elements that may use the wires of a material such as, but not limited to, a nichrome material, a kanthal material, a cupronickel material, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the wires, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the thermistor 118 may be mounted on the back surface of one of, the cooking plates 106. The thermistor 118 may be provided to sense a temperature of one of the toasting surfaces of the cooking plates 106. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the thermistor 118 may be connected to the control unit 110, to transmit the sensed temperature to the control unit 110.
[0026] Further, the countdown timer 120 may be activated to count to a pre-determined time duration during an unused state of the electric toaster 100. According to embodiments of the present invention, the countdown timer 120 may be activated to count to the pre-determined time duration based on an output generated by the control unit 110. The countdown timer 120 may be having an inbuilt sound unit 124 that may be provided to generate the alert for a user based on the output generated by the control unit 110, in an embodiment of the present invention. The sound unit 124 may be an audible alarm that may produce a sound such as, but not limited to, a beeper sound, an alarm sound, and alike. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 124 may produce a buzzer sound. Further, the buzzer sound may be of any type such as, but not limited to, a piezoelectric buzzer, an electromechanical buzzer, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the buzzer sound including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the sound unit 124 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a first end of the power indicator 122 may be electrically connected to the electrical cord and a second end of the power indicator 122 may be connected to the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116. The power indicator 122 may be configured to generate a signal indicating a power supply status of the electric toaster 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The power indicator 122 may be having a Light Emitting Diode (LED) that generates a light of a pre-defined color to indicate the power supply status of the electric toaster 100. The pre-defined color may be one of, a red color, a green color, and so forth. The power indicator 122 may be electrically connected to the control unit 110, to transmit the signal indicating the power supply status of the electric toaster 100 to the control unit 110.
[0028] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 108 may be attached to the upper housing 104 of the electric toaster 100 by using fasteners. The fasteners may be, but not limited to, nuts, bolts, screws, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the fasteners, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 108 may be designed to be gripped by the user to press the upper housing 104 of the electric toaster 100 over the lower housing 102 of the electric toaster 100. The pressing of the upper housing 104 over the lower housing 102 may enable the toasting surfaces of the cooking plates 106 to make a proper contact with the opposed surfaces of the slices of bread. The handle 108 may be made up of an insulating material, such as, but not limited to, the plastic, wood, rubber, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the handle 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The handle 108 may be of any shape such as, but not limited to, a U-shaped handle, a square shaped handle, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of the handle 108 that may accommodate a hand of the user, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. According to embodiments of the present invention, the handle 108 may comprise a pressure sensor 126, to sense a pressure applied on the handle 108 by the user while pressing the upper housing 104 over the lower housing 102. The pressure sensor 126 may be installed within the handle 108, to detect a usage status of the electric toaster 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure sensor 126 may be connected to the control unit 110, to transmit the sensed pressure to the control unit 110.
[0029] According to embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 110 may be electrically connected to the power indicator 122 and the pressure sensor 126, to generate the output to control operations of the electric toaster 100. The control unit 110 may be configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in the memory 112 to generate the output. The control unit 110 may also be configured to regulate the temperature of the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 based on the received sensed temperature. The control unit 110 may be, but not limited to, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a development board, a digital signal processor, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Further, components of the control unit 110 will be explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0030] The memory 112 may be connected to the control unit 110 for storage and retrieval of data associated with the operations of the electric toaster 100, according to embodiments of the present invention. Further, the memory 112 may be used to store computer readable instructions executed by the control unit 110. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-limiting examples of the memory 112 may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random-Access Memory (RAM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a hard drive, a removable media drive for handling memory cards. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of components of the control unit 110 of the electric toaster 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 110 may comprise a data receiving module 200, a data processing module 202, a comparison module 204, a counter control module 206, a sound control module 208 and a temperature control module 210.
[0032] The data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the signal indicating the power supply status of the electric toaster 100 from the power indicator 122. The data receiving module 200 may also be configured to receive the sensed pressure from the pressure sensor 126, in an embodiment of the present invention. The data receiving module 200 may also be configured to receive the sensed temperature from the thermistor 118, in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the signal to the data processing module 202 and the received sensed pressure and the sensed temperature to the comparison module 204.
[0033] According to embodiments of the present invention, the data processing module 202 may be configured to determine the power supply status of the electric toaster 100 based on the received signal. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the data processing module 202 determines the power supply status as an “ON” status, then the data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a toaster operating signal. The data processing module 202 may be configured to transmit the generated toaster operating signal to the comparison module 204.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to compare the sensed pressure with a pre-defined pressure stored in the memory 112 based on the received toaster operating signal. In such embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to compare the sensed pressure with the pre-defined pressure to identify the usage status of the electric toaster 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to identify the usage status of the electric toaster 100 as “in-use”, when the sensed pressure is more than or equal to the pre-defined pressure. In such embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the sensed pressure from the pressure sensor 126.
[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to identify the usage status of the electric toaster 100 as “not-in use”, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure. In such embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to generate a counter activation signal. Further, the comparison module 204 may be configured to transmit the generated counter activation signal to the counter control module 206.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may also be configured to compare the sensed temperature with a preset temperature. In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to generate a temperature control signal, when the sensed temperature exceeds the preset temperature. The comparison module 204 may be configured to transmit the generated temperature control signal to the temperature control module 210. In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the sensed temperature from the thermistor 118, when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature.
[0037] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the counter control module 206 may be configured to activate the countdown timer 120 to count to the pre-determined time duration based on the received counter activation signal. Further, the counter control module 206 may be configured to generate a sound activation signal, when the pre-determined time duration is elapsed. The counter control module 206 may be configured to transmit the generated sound activation signal to the sound control module 208. In another embodiment of the present invention, the counter control module 206 may be configured to enable the countdown timer 120 to keep on counting to the predetermined time duration, when the predetermined time duration is not elapsed.
[0038] The sound control module 208 may be configured to enable the sound unit 124 to generate the alert based on the received sound activation signal. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound control module 208 may be configured to enable the sound unit 124 to generate the alert to notify the user to switch off the electric toaster 100 immediately.
[0039] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control module 210 may be configured to control a flow of the electrical power to the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 116 based on the received temperature control signal. The temperature control module 210 may be configured to control the flow of the electrical power to maintain the temperature between the cooking plates 106.
[0040] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for automatically generating the alert by the electric toaster 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] At step 302, the electric toaster 100 may receive the signal indicating the power supply status of the electric toaster 100 and the sensed pressure from the power indicator 122 and the pressure sensor 126 respectively.
[0042] At step 304, the electric toaster 100 may determine if the power supply status of the electric toaster 100 as the “ON” status.
[0043] At step 306, the electric toaster 100 may compare the sensed pressure with the pre-defined pressure to identify the usage status of the electric toaster 100. The method 300 may proceed to a step 308, when the sensed pressure is less than the pre-defined pressure. Otherwise, the method 300 may return to the step 302.
[0044] At the step 308, the electric toaster 100 may activate the countdown timer 120 to count to the pre-determined time duration.
[0045] At step 310, the electric toaster 100 may determine whether the pre-determined time duration is elapsed or not. In case, the electric toaster 100 determines that the pre-determined time duration is elapsed, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 312. Otherwise, the method 300 may return to the step 308.
[0046] At the step 312, the electric toaster 100 may enable the sound unit 124 to generate the alert to notify the user to switch off the electric toaster 100 immediately.
[0047] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0048] 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. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.