Time knob for gas and electric heater

Abstract

A timer knob arrangement for a heater includes an ignition button and a timer control. The ignition button is rotatably switched between a switched off position and an operation position with respect to an operation pin of the heater. The timer control includes a power unit, a runner wheel driven by the power unit and is rotatably supported by the ignition button at a position tangentially with respect to the operation pin, and a time control unit. When the time control unit is activated to actuate the power unit, the runner wheel is driven to rotate and to run on the operation surface, so as to drive the ignition button turning back to the switched off position for ensuring a flow of gas being shut off from the heater.

1 . A timer knob arrangement for a heater which comprises an operation pin rotatably extended from an operation surface, comprising: 
 an ignition button having an actuation side, an opposed engaging side defining a receiving cavity therebetween, and a pin holder provided at said engaging side for substantially engaging with said operation pin that said engaging side is facing towards said operation surface of said heater, wherein said ignition button is rotatably switched between a switched off position and an operation position with respect to said operation pin; and    a timer control, which comprises:    a power unit received in said receiving cavity of said ignition button;    a runner wheel which is driven by said power unit and is rotatably supported by said ignition button at a position tangentially with respect to said operation pin, wherein a portion of said runner wheel is protruded from said engaging side of said ignition button for substantially running with said operation surface of said heater; and    a time control unit which is received in said receiving cavity and is arranged to actuate said power unit in a timely manner such that when said time control unit is activated to actuate said power unit, said runner wheel is driven to rotate and to run on said operation surface, so as to drive said ignition button turning back to said switched off position for ensuring said heater being shut off from a power source.    
   
   
       2 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said runner wheel has an outer circumferential running surface which is made of rubber adapted for substantially running on said operation surface to drive said ignition button turning back to said switched off position.  
   
   
       3 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said timer control further comprises a runner panel, having a runner track, adapted for attaching on said operation surface of said heater to guide said runner wheel running on said operation surface, such that when said runner wheel is driven to rotate by said power unit, said runner wheel substantially runs on said runner track of said runner panel to drive said ignition button turning back to said switched off position.  
   
   
       4 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said timer control further comprises a runner panel, having a runner track, adapted for attaching on said operation surface of said heater to guide said runner wheel running on said operation surface, such that when said runner wheel is driven to rotate by said power unit, said runner wheel substantially runs on said runner track of said runner panel to drive said ignition button turning back to said switched off position.  
   
   
       5 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said runner track of said runner panel has a predetermined roughness to fictionally engage with said runner wheel and has a predetermined curvature with respect to a running path of said runner wheel to drive said ignition button traveling from said operation position to said switched off position.  
   
   
       6 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said runner track of said runner panel has a predetermined roughness to fictionally engage with said runner wheel and has a predetermined curvature with respect to a running path of said runner wheel to drive said ignition button traveling from said operation position to said switched off position.  
   
   
       7 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said timer control further comprises a gear unit operatively communicating said power unit with said runner wheel to regulate a rotational speed thereof, such that when said power unit generates a rotational power, said gear unit transfers said rotational power to said runner wheel in accordance with a gear ratio of said gear unit which enough to drive said ignition button traveling from said operation position to said switched off position.  
   
   
       8 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said timer control further comprises a gear unit operatively communicating said power unit with said runner wheel to regulate a rotational speed thereof, such that when said power unit generates a rotational power, said gear unit transfers said rotational power to said runner wheel in accordance with a gear ratio of said gear unit which enough to drive said ignition button traveling from said operation position to said switched off position.  
   
   
       9 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said timer control further comprises a gear unit operatively communicating said power unit with said runner wheel to regulate a rotational speed thereof, such that when said power unit generates a rotational power, said gear unit transfers said rotational power to said runner wheel in accordance with a gear ratio of said gear unit which enough to drive said ignition button traveling from said operation position to said switched off position.  
   
   
       10 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said time control unit comprises a timer circuitry electrically connected with said power unit and a time setting device provided on said actuation side of said ignition button to set a time interval for activating said timer circuitry in a timely manner so as to actuate said power unit to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       11 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said time control unit comprises a timer circuitry electrically connected with said power unit and a time setting device provided on said actuation side of said ignition button to set a time interval for activating said timer circuitry in a timely manner so as to actuate said power unit to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       12 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said time control unit comprises a timer circuitry electrically connected with said power unit and a time setting device provided on said actuation side of said ignition button to set a time interval for activating said timer circuitry in a timely manner so as to actuate said power unit to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       13 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said time control unit comprises a timer circuitry electrically connected with said power unit and a time setting device provided on said actuation side of said ignition button to set a time interval for activating said timer circuitry in a timely manner so as to actuate said power unit to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       14 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said time setting device comprises a timer indicator provided on said actuation side of said ignition button for indicating said time interval of said timer circuitry and a time alert device electrically connected to said timer circuitry for generating an alert signal when said timer circuitry is activated to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       15 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said time setting device comprises a timer indicator provided on said actuation side of said ignition button for indicating said time interval of said timer circuitry and a time alert device electrically connected to said timer circuitry for generating an alert signal when said timer circuitry is activated to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       16 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said time setting device comprises a timer indicator provided on said actuation side of said ignition button for indicating said time interval of said timer circuitry and a time alert device electrically connected to said timer circuitry for generating an alert signal when said timer circuitry is activated to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       17 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said time setting device comprises a timer indicator provided on said actuation side of said ignition button for indicating said time interval of said timer circuitry and a time alert device electrically connected to said timer circuitry for generating an alert signal when said timer circuitry is activated to drive said runner wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       18 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said power unit comprises a motor supported within said receiving cavity to drive said runner wheel to rotate and a power supply which is embodied as a replaceable battery electrically connected with said motor for providing electrical power thereto.  
   
   
       19 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said power unit comprises a motor supported within said receiving cavity to drive said runner wheel to rotate and a power supply which is embodied as a replaceable battery electrically connected with said motor for providing electrical power thereto.  
   
   
       20 . The timer knob arrangement, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said power unit comprises a motor supported within said receiving cavity to drive said runner wheel to rotate and a power supply which is embodied as a replaceable battery electrically connected with said motor for providing electrical power thereto.