HVAC controller battery tray

• US 20050287424A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schwendinger, Paul G., Redmann, Tim M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/100
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An HVAC controller includes a controller housing having an aperture and a battery tray removably disposed within the aperture. The battery tray can include an outer wall and a beam element fixed relative to the outer wall and extending away from the outer wall. The beam element can have a free end and an end element disposed on or adjacent to the free end.

Claims

1. An HVAC controller comprising:

a controller housing having an aperture; and

a battery tray removably disposed within the aperture.

2. An HVAC controller according to claim 1 further comprising a coin cell battery disposed within the battery tray.

3. An HVAC controller according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the battery tray forms an integral surface with the controller housing.

4. An HVAC controller according to claim 1 wherein the battery tray comprises gripping means.

5. An HVAC controller according to claim 2 wherein the battery tray contacts two points on the coin cell battery.

6. An HVAC controller according to claim 2 wherein the battery tray contacts three points on the coin cell battery.

7. An HVAC controller according to claim 2 wherein the battery tray contacts four or more points on the coin cell battery.

8. An HVAC controller according to claim 2 wherein the battery tray contacts only three points on the coin cell battery.

9. An HVAC controller according to claim 2 wherein the battery is electrically coupled to a circuit board disposed in the controller housing.

10. An HVAC controller according to claim 1 wherein the HVAC controller is a thermostat.

11. A method of replacing a battery in an HVAC controller comprising steps of:

removing a battery tray disposed within an aperture in a controller housing;

removing a battery from the battery tray;

placing a second battery in the battery tray; and

placing the battery tray in the aperture.

12. A method of replacing a battery in an HVAC controller according to claim 11 wherein the step of removing a battery comprises removing a coin cell battery from the battery tray.

13. A method of replacing a battery in an HVAC controller according to claim 11 wherein the step of removing a battery tray comprises gripping a gripping element disposed on the battery tray prior to removing the battery tray from the controller housing.

14. A method of replacing a battery in an HVAC controller according to claim 11 further comprising moving an outer housing disposed over the battery tray prior to removing the battery tray within the aperture in the controller housing.

15. A method of replacing a battery in an HVAC controller according to claim 11 wherein the battery tray is accessible without moving at least a portion of the controller housing.

16. An HVAC controller comprising:

a controller housing having an aperture; and

a battery tray slideably disposed within the aperture, the battery tray comprises an outer wall and a beam element fixed relative to the outer wall and extending away from the outer wall, the beam element having a free end and an end element disposed on or adjacent to the free end.

17. An HVAC controller according to claim 16 further comprising a coin cell battery disposed within the battery tray, the coin cell battery having a outer circumference surface.

18. An HVAC controller according to claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the outer wall forms an integral surface with the controller housing.

19. An HVAC controller according to claim 17 wherein the beam element extends across the coin cell battery.

20. An HVAC controller according to claim 17 wherein the end element contacts the outer circumference surface.

21. An HVAC controller according to claim 17 wherein the end element contacts only the outer circumference surface.

22. An HVAC controller according to claim 16 wherein the battery tray further comprises a first and a second side arm fixed to the outer wall and extending away from the outer wall.

23. An HVAC controller according to claim 22 wherein the beam element is at least partially disposed between the first and second side arms.

24. An HVAC controller according to claim 16 wherein the controller housing further comprises a movable outer housing and the battery tray is covered by the movable outer housing.