Visual and reading enhancement apparatus for thermostats and associated methods

• US 20030042320A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enhanced Visual Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enhanced Visual Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Decker, James
• Granted Patent: US 6,681,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/46R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A thermostat reading enhancer is provided which includes an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat. The enhancer body can have at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface or retained in a positioned adjacent the thermostat. The enhancer body also has substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof. The enhancer indicia align with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. Methods of retrofitting an existing thermostat, installing and using a thermostat with enhanced reading are also provided.

Claims

1. A combination of a thermostat and a thermostat reading enhancer, the combination comprising:

(a) a thermostat mounted to a mounting surface; and

(b) a thermostat reading enhancer having an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting the mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer body further has Brailled indicia positioned on a surface thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the Brailled indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer body has an outer circumferential shape substantially similar to the outer circumferential shape of the thermostat.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the thermostat has a substantially rectangular outer circumferential shape and has a plurality of sides thereof, and wherein the enhancer body further extends along the plurality of sides of the thermostat.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer body is substantially thinner than the thickness of the thermostat.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer body further includes an adhesive layer positioned thereon to contact the mounting surface to adhere the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the enhancer body further includes fastener openings positioned therein to fasten the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

10. A combination of a thermostat and a thermostat reading enhancer, the combination comprising:

(a) a thermostat mounted to a mounting surface; and

(b) a thermostat reading enhancer having an enhancer body positioned adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting the mounting surface and retained in a position adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer body further has Brailled indicia positioned on a surface thereof.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the Brailled indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

14. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer body has an outer circumferential shape substantially similar to the outer circumferential shape of the thermostat.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the thermostat has a substantially rectangular outer circumferential shape and has a plurality of sides thereof, and wherein the enhancer body further extends along the plurality of sides of the thermostat.

16. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer body is substantially thinner than the thickness of the thermostat.

17. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer body further includes an adhesive layer positioned thereon to contact the mounting surface to adhere the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

18. The combination of claim 10, wherein the enhancer body further includes fastener openings positioned therein to fasten the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

19. A thermostat reading enhancer, the enhancer comprising:

an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.

20. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

21. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer body further has Brailled indicia positioned on a surface thereof.

22. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 21, wherein the Brailled indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

23. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer body has an outer circumferential shape substantially similar to the outer circumferential shape of the thermostat.

24. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 23, wherein the thermostat has a substantially rectangular outer circumferential shape and has a plurality of sides thereof, and wherein the enhancer body further extends along the plurality of sides of the thermostat.

25. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer body is substantially thinner than the thickness of the thermostat.

26. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer body further includes an adhesive layer positioned thereon to contact the mounting surface to adhere the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

27. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 19, wherein the enhancer body further includes fastener openings positioned therein to fasten the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

28. A thermostat reading enhancer, the enhancer comprising:

an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.

29. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

30. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer body further has Brailled indicia positioned on a surface thereof.

31. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 30, wherein the Brailled indicia include at least one of the following:

control functions, temperature settings, patterns, texture, print, and style.

32. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer body has an outer circumferential shape substantially similar to the outer circumferential shape of the thermostat.

33. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 32, wherein the thermostat has a substantially rectangular outer circumferential shape and has a plurality of sides thereof, and wherein the enhancer body further extends along the plurality of sides of the thermostat.

34. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer body is substantially thinner than the thickness of the thermostat.

35. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer body further includes an adhesive layer positioned thereon to contact the mounting surface to adhere the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

36. The thermostat reading enhancer of claim 28, wherein the enhancer body further includes fastener openings positioned therein to fasten the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

37. A method of retrofitting an existing thermostat so that the thermostat has enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings, the method comprising:

positioning enhancer indicia on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia in a such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

securing the thermostat to the mounting surface, thereby obtaining a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings.

39. A method of installing a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings to a mounting surface, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning enhancer indicia on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia; and

(b) securing the thermostat to the mounting surface.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

positioning the enhancer indicia on an enhancer body abuttingly contacting the mounting surface.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

adhering the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

fastening the enhancer body to the mounting surface.

43. A method of using a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) approaching a thermostat;

(b) reading enlarged enhancer indicia positioned on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings; and

(c) altering position of thermostat controls to a desired setting responsive to the read enhancer indicia.