Thermostatic controller with decorative faceplate

• US 20060086062A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Ashworth, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/397
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature

Abstract

A thermostatic controller apparatus includes a housing having a front face thereof defining a decorative surface of the housing and adapted for optional attachment of a decorative faceplate covering the decorative surface of the housing. A plurality of decorative faceplates are provided, each having a distinctive visual appearance and adapted for optional attachment to the housing in such a manner that at least one selected faceplate of the plurality of decorative faceplates substantially covers the decorative surface of the housing when the selected decorative faceplate is attached to the housing. The selected decorative faceplate may have a visual appearance that differs from the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing, and may also include an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in the housing when the selected decorative faceplate is attached to the housing.

Claims

1. A thermostatic controller apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front face thereof defining a decorative surface of the housing and adapted for optional attachment of a decorative faceplate covering the decorative surface of the housing.

2. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a decorative faceplate adapted for optional attachment to the housing in such a manner that the decorative faceplate substantially covers the decorative surface of the housing.

3. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative faceplate substantially obscures the decorative surface from view when attached to the housing.

4. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative surface of the housing is transparent.

5. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative faceplate is transparent, and has a rear surface thereof that can be decorated.

6. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative faceplate has an outer surface that can be decorated.

7. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative surface of the housing defines an aperture in the housing, and the decorative faceplate includes an aperture therein which aligns with the aperture in the housing when the decorative faceplate is attached to the housing.

8. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, wherein the decorative surface of the housing has a visual appearance and the decorative faceplate has an outer surface of a different visual appearance than the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing.

9. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 2, further comprising two or more decorative faceplates having outer surfaces of differing visual appearances from one another.

10. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 5, wherein the decorative surface of the housing has a visual appearance and the decorative faceplates each have outer surfaces of a different visual appearance than the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing.

11. A method for changing the appearance of a thermostatic controller apparatus having a housing defining a front face thereof, the method comprising, configuring the front face of the housing to form a decorative surface of the housing, and adapting the housing for optional attachment of a decorative faceplate covering the decorative surface of the housing.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, attaching a decorative faceplate to the housing in such a manner that the decorative faceplate substantially covers the decorative surface of the housing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, removing the decorator faceplate.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the decorative faceplate of claim 12 forms a first decorator faceplate having a first visual appearance, and the method further comprises:

removing the first decorator faceplate; and

attaching a second decorator faceplate having a visual appearance different from the first decorator faceplate.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, removing the second decorator faceplate.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the decorative faceplate is transparent, and has a rear surface thereof that can be decorated, and the method further comprises, decorating the rear surface of the decorative faceplate.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the decorative faceplate has a front surface thereof that can be decorated, and the method further comprises, decorating the front surface of the decorative faceplate.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the decorative surface of the housing defines an aperture in the housing, and the decorative faceplate includes an aperture therein, and the method further comprises aligning the aperture in the decorative faceplate with the aperture in the decorative faceplate while attaching the decorative faceplate to the housing.

19. A thermostatic controller apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front face thereof defining a decorative surface of the housing and adapted for optional attachment of a decorative faceplate covering the decorative surface of the housing; and

a plurality of decorative faceplates, each having a distinctive visual appearance and adapted for optional attachment to the housing in such a manner that at least one selected faceplate of the plurality of decorative faceplates substantially covers the decorative surface of the housing when the selected decorative faceplate is attached to the housing.

20. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 19, wherein the decorative surface of the housing has a visual appearance and the selected decorative faceplates has a visual appearance that differs from the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing.

21. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 19, wherein the decorative surface of the housing defines an aperture in the housing, and the selected decorative faceplate includes an aperture therein which aligns with the aperture in the housing when the decorative faceplate is attached to the housing.

22. A thermostatic controller apparatus comprising a decorative faceplate adapted for optional attachment to, but not including, a housing of a thermostatic controller having a front face thereof defining a decorative surface of the housing and adapted for optional attachment of a decorative faceplate covering the decorative surface of the housing, the decorative faceplate being configured for substantially covering the decorative surface of the housing when the decorative faceplate is optionally attached to the housing.

23. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, wherein the decorative faceplate substantially obscures the decorative surface from view when attached to the housing.

24. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, wherein the decorative faceplate is transparent, and has a rear surface thereof that can be decorated.

25. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, wherein the decorative faceplate has an outer surface that can be decorated.

26. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, wherein the decorative surface of the housing defines an aperture in the housing, and the decorative faceplate includes an aperture therein which aligns with the aperture in the housing when the decorative faceplate is attached to the housing.

27. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, wherein the decorative surface of the housing has a visual appearance and the decorative faceplate has an outer surface of a different visual appearance than the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing.

28. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 22, further comprising two or more decorative faceplates having outer surfaces of differing visual appearances from one another.

29. The thermostatic controller apparatus of claim 28, wherein the decorative surface of the housing has a visual appearance and the decorative faceplates each have outer surfaces of a different visual appearance than the visual appearance of the decorative surface of the housing.