1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric thermos technology, and more particularly, to an electric thermos having a manual timer switch operable to set the time to turn on/off the electric heating circuit and the duration of the heating time of the electric heating circuit, saving electric energy consumption.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional drinking fountains are commonly equipped with an automatic power switch that automatically switches off power supply when heating water reaches a predetermined temperature level. However, in order to automatically heat water and to keep water warm, conventional electric thermoses do not have a power switch, and therefore, the use of conventional electric thermoses consume much electric energy. Further, the warm-keeping functions of commercial electric thermos are still not perfect. During the warm-keeping mode, the electric thermos body is kept at a certain high temperature level, releasing heat to the indoor space by radiation. When an air conditioner is operating to lower the indoor temperature in the summer, the air conditioner shall have to consume extra electric energy to offset the hot temperature released by the electric thermos, and thus, must electric energy is wasted. Further, when wishing to stop an electric thermos from heating or running the warm-keeping function, the user has to disconnect the power plug from either the power outlet or the electric thermos. Frequently plugging and unplugging the power cable of an electric thermos can cause power plug damage, or accidental electrical shock.
Further, conventional electric thermoses commonly provide a LCD control panel for operation by a user to control the heating time. However, due to the problems of small font and low brightness of the LCD control panel, an aged person may be difficult to operate the LCD control panel. Further, it can be easy to forget how to control the LCD control panel. Thus, not every member of a family likes to use the LCD control panel of the electric thermos. Further, manual control mode for controlling the heating time is most intuitive and most easy to use. Each time using the manual control mode, the power supply can be turned off imperatively at the predetermined time point, saving electric energy consumption.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide an electric thermos, which allows manual operation to set the time to turn on/off the electric heating circuit and the duration of the heating time of the electric heating circuit, saving electric energy consumption.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric thermos, which provides a manual timer switch operable to set the time to turn on/off the electric heating circuit and the duration of the heating time of the electric heating circuit.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, an electric thermos of the present invention comprises a manual timer switch installed in the control panel at the top side of the electric thermos body thereof and electrically connected to the heating circuit and operable to set the time to turn on/off the electric heating circuit and the duration of the heating time of the electric heating circuit, saving electric energy consumption.
Further, the manual timer switch can be a manual 24-hour cycle multi-stage control timer switch.
Further, manual timer switch or manual 24-hour cycle multi-stage control timer switch can also be used in a drinking fountain to achieve the same effects.
Referring to
Further, the manual timer switch 2 can also be installed in the peripheral wall of then electric thermos body 11 of the electric thermos 1 (see
In an alternate form of the present invention, as shown in
In summary, the invention provides an electric thermos/hot and cold water fountain equipped with a manual timer switch or manual 24-hour cycle multi-stage control timer switch that is adapted for setting the time to turn on/off the electric heating circuit of the electric thermos or hot and cold water fountain and the duration of the heating time of the electric heating circuit of the electric thermos or hot and cold water fountain.
The functioning of the manual timer switch or manual 24-hour cycle multi-stage control timer switch in the electric thermos or hot and cold water fountain prevents the situation of constant operation of the heating or cooling circuit of the electric thermos or hot and cold water fountain, thereby saving electric energy consumption.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.