Cover for wall mounted thermostat including illumination means and magnifying means

• US 4,895,455 A
• Filed: 03/06/1989
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Horning
• Original Assignee: David Horning
• Inventors: Horning, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worth, W. Morris
• Application Number:
  US07/319,091
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 374/191, 374/206, 374/208, 374/210, 116/304, 116/305, 116/310, 116/DIG. 39, 116/DIG. 36, 337/374, 350/110, 350/114, 362/23, 362/24, 362/29, 362/30, D10/50, D10/51, D10/60, D10/49, 40/553, 40/574, 74/553, 200/314, 200/317
• US Class Current: 374/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/06 Arrangements for facilitating reading, e.g. illumination, magnifying glass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/39 Dial magnifiers

Abstract

A replacement cover is provided for a wall mounted, circular thermostat. The replacement cover engages the rotatable sub-assembly of a wall mounted, circular thermostat and provides a transparent convex lens for enlarging the appearance of temperature indications. In a preferred embodiment a lamp is mounted in the replacement cover to illuminate the temperature indications for easier reading. The lighting circuit includes a battery, a lamp bulb and a normally open switch which can be closed by the operator/viewer of the thermostat.

Claims

1. A cover for use with a circular thermostat having a wall-mounted base and a rotatable sub-assembly, said rotatable sub-assembly having a central dial casing presenting temperature readings and/or settings;

said cover having a circular annular portion and a central transparent portion and having;

securing means for securing the cover to said rotatable sub-assembly of said thermostat;

illuminating means beneath said annular portion for illuminating the said central dial casing;

visual magnifying means comprising a transparent convex lens in said central transparent portion, said magnifying means being adapted to enlarge the view of said temperature readings and/or settings;

and means for activating said illuminating means.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein said securing means is a press-fit engagement of an inner surface of said cover with the rim of said central dial casing.

3. The cover of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means is an incandescent lamp bulb secured to said cover.

4. The cover of claim 3 including a battery means secured to said cover and having electrical conductors connected to said lamp bulb.

5. The cover of claim 3 wherein said means for activating said illuminating means is a normally open switch means having an operating button extending through an opening in the said cover;

said switch means being adapted to close when said button is depressed toward said cover.

6. The cover of claim 3 wherein said lamp bulb is mounted on an inner surface of said annular portion so as to illuminate the said central dial casing in all positions of said cover.

7. The cover of claim 5 when said lamp bulb has a central electrical contact and a metal cylindrical surface and metal threads as a second electrical contact, said switch means including an electrical cover contact secured to the inner surface of said cover and the central contact of said lamp bulb which are normally spread apart;

and said switch means further includes resilient means to maintain said central and cover contacts spaced apart.

8. The cover of claim 7 wherein said resilient means engages the metal cylindrical surface or threads of said lamp bulb.