Thermostat guard

• US 5,087,794 A
• Filed: 07/19/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Clifford L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US07/554,769
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 174/52.1, 174/50, 374/208, 374/209, 374/194, 220/210, 220/913, 361/380, 361/381, 361/383, 70/158, 70/163, 70/164, 70/165, 70/166, 70/167, 70/168, 70/169, 70/170, 70/171, 70/172, 70/173
• US Class Current: 174/561
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5597 Cover-carried lock

Abstract

A thermostat guard including a ventilation scheme that allows air flow to the thermostat, while preventing the insertion of tools through ventilation holes to adjust the thermostat. The thermostat guard provides a locked enclosure for a thermostat so as to prevent unauthorized adjustments.

Claims

1. A thermostat guard for protecting a thermostat from unauthorized adjustment, comprising:

a base member adapted to be mounted on a support surface, wherein the base member has an outer wall having ventilation holes therein, a solid inner wall, of which portions are positioned so as to block access to the thermostat, and a bottom wall which has an opening through which the thermostat will fit; and

a cover member with locking means, capable of being secured to a front side of base member.

2. The thermostat guard of claim 1 wherein said inner wall is a distance from the ventilation holes of said outer wall to allow air flow through said ventilation holes and around said inner wall.

3. The thermostat guard of claim 2 wherein said cover member attaches to the base member by means of complimentary slots and tabs on the cover and base member.

4. The thermostat guard of claim 1 further including a back plate on which the thermostat may be mounted, said back plate being sized and configured to close the opening in the bottom wall of said base member.

5. The thermostat guard of claim 4 wherein the opening in said base member is formed with a recessed perimeter so that said back plate is completely enclosed by said base member when said base member is mounted on the support surface.

6. A thermostat guard for protecting a thermostat from unauthorized adjustments comprising;

a base member adapted to be mounted on a support surface, the base member including a bottom wall and side walls around the perimeter of the bottom wall, the bottom wall having an opening therein through which a thermostat will pass, the side walls having ventilation holes formed therein, said base member further including an inner wall of which portions are adapted to block access to the thermostat through the ventilation holes in the side walls; and

a cover member with locking means sized and configured to attach to said base member and form a top wall, whereby said base member and said cover member cooperate to provide an enclosure.

7. The thermostat guard of claim 6 wherein the inner wall of said base member is spaced from the ventilation holes in said outer wall so as to allow air flow through the ventilation holes, around said inner wall and through the enclosure.

8. The thermostat guard of claim 7 wherein said cover member attaches to the base member by means of complimentary slots and tabs on said cover and said base member.

9. The thermostat guard of claim 6 further including

a back plate on which the thermostat may be mounted, said back plate being sized and configured to close the opening in the bottom wall of said base member.

10. The thermostat guard of claim 9 wherein the opening in the bottom wall of said base member is formed with a recessed perimeter so that the bottom wall of said base member and said back plate provide a flush exterior surface.