Audible thermostat

• US 5,690,277 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Action Target Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scott W. Flood
• Inventors: Flood, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/386,513
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 236/94, 165/11.1, 116/205
• US Class Current: 236/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/12 Audible indication of meter readings, e.g. for the blind
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

This invention is an audible thermostat designed for use by the visually impaired and totally blind. The thermostat has a speaker to indicate the setting of the thermostat or the ambient room temperature. It may also have a visual display working in conjunction with the audible output. The mechanisms to operate the thermostat are large and contain tactile surfaces so the blind may locate the correct mechanism.

Claims

1. An audible thermostat comprising an audible output in conjunction with said thermostat whereby said audible output is a synthesized human voice indicating the setting of the thermostat or the ambient temperature in the proximity of the audible thermostat and an adjustment mechanism which allows a user to adjust the thermostat setting and obtain an audible indication as to the setting as the thermostat setting is being adjusted.

2. An audible thermostat as recited in claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rocker switch situated such that depressing on one end of said rocker switch will increase the temperature setting and depressing on the other end of the rocker switch will decrease the temperature setting.

3. An audible thermostat comprising an audible output in conjunction with said thermostat whereby said audible output is a tone indicating the setting of the thermostat or the ambient temperature in the proximity of the audible thermostat and an adjustment mechanism which allows a user to adjust the thermostat setting and obtain a tone indication as to the setting as the thermostat setting is being adjusted, said tone being a higher frequency for higher temperature indications and a lower frequency for lower temperature indications.

4. An Audible thermostat as recited in claim 3 wherein the adjustment mechanism is a rocker switch situated such that depressing on one end of said rocker switch will increase the temperature setting and depressing on the other end of the rocker switch will decrease the temperature setting.