Retrofit moisture and humidity sensor and automatic shutoff device for clothes dryers

Abstract

The present invention provides a retrofit device to automatically shut off a clothes dryer to prevent over drying. The device includes a humidity sensor apparatus for placement inside a clothes dryer. The Sensor communicates with a Receiver device connected to an electrical wall outlet and to the electrical plug of the clothes dryer. The Receiver turns off the power to the clothes dryer when the humidity level in the clothes dryer drops to a predetermined level, as detected by the Sensor.

Claims

1. An automatic shutoff device for a clothes dryer, the device consisting of: a reusable portable sensor device being removably placeable inside a drum of the clothes dryer by a user of the clothes dryer, wherein the sensor device is not secured to an interior surface of the drum or a door of the clothes dryer and as such moves freely within the drum during a drying cycle in the clothes dryer, the sensor device comprising: a sensor for detecting a humidity level in the clothes dryer, a communication device, and a power source in electrical contact with the communication device; and a receiver device operable to reversibly interrupt a flow of electrical power between the dryer and an external electrical power source when the receiver device is in electrical contact with a power cord of the dryer and with the external electrical power source, the receiver device being configured to receive a signal from the communication device of the sensor device; wherein when the clothes dryer is in use and the humidity level therein is reduced to a predetermined humidity level, the communication device sends the signal to the receiver to interrupt the flow of electrical power from the external electrical power source to the dryer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Sensor. The Sensor is made of five parts: (1.1) magnet, (1.2) level of dryness switch, (1.3) on/off switch, (1.4) LED light, and (1.5) moisture/humidity detector.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of where the Sensor is placed in the clothes dryer.

(3) FIG. 3. is a perspective view of the Receiver. In particular, a view of the Receiver being plugged into a 120V wall socket and the clothes dryer electric plug being plugged into the Receiver.

(4) FIG. 4. is a perspective view of the on/off switch for the Receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) This invention uses existing moisture sensing technology that is currently available in some newer clothes dryers that have a built-in Moisture Sensor.

(6) This invention has the added advantage by not only detecting the moisture but also the humidity. This a far more accurate means of determining when items are dry and thereby conserve more energy.

(7) The Moisture/Humidity Sensor is portable and thus allowing the Moisture/Humidity Sensor to be used in any clothes dryer.

(8) Like existing Moisture Sensors, the Moisture/Humidity Sensor for this invention will be able to detect and gage the level of moisture and humidity of particular items being dried in a clothes dryer.

(9) The Sensor is shown in FIG. 1. It is composed of five parts. (1.1) magnet, (1.2) level of dryness switch, (1.3) on/off switch, (1.4) LED light, and (1.5) moisture/humidity detector. The magnetic allows the Sensor to be attached anywhere in the clothes dryer (see FIG. 2). The level of dryness switch allows the user to choose the level of dryness.

(10) What makes the Moisture/Humidity Sensor unique is that it communicates wirelessly to a Receiver which in-turn can cuts the power to the clothes dryer once the items in the dryer are dry.

(11) Referring to FIG. 3, the clothes dryer electric code (3.3) is plugged into the Receiver (3.2) which is plugged into the 120V outlet (3.1). The Receiver serves the purpose of cutting the power to the clothes dryer once the Moisture/Humidity Sensor detects the items in the clothes dryer are dry.

(12) Moisture Sensors that are already built into clothes dryers normally have a rectangular shape, however, the Moisture/Humidity Sensor for this invention is not limited to being rectangular.

(13) There can be more than one Moisture/Humidity Sensor used during any given load of items being dried in the clothes dryer.

(14) Since the Receiver will be located wherever the 120V outlet is (which is normally behind the clothes dryer), the Receiver will be difficult to reach. In order to override the Receiver and to reinstate the power to the clothes dryer a convenient switch must be devised (see FIG. 4). Thus, a 6 ft wire will run from the Receiver to an on/off switch. The switch will have a small magnet attached to it so the user can place the switch on the clothes dryer wherever is convenient. Once the Receiver cuts the power to the clothes dryer, the on/off switch will be used to turn the power back on.

(15) While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations of the invention detailed in the text and drawings can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, references to materials of construction, methods of construction, specific dimensions, shapes, utilities or applications are also not intended to be limiting in any manner and other materials and dimensions could be substituted and remain within the spirit and scope of the invention.