Visual and reading enhancement apparatus for thermostats and associated methods
First Claim
1. A combination of a thermostat and a thermostat reading enhancer, the combination comprising:
- (a) a thermostat mounted to a mounting surface; and
(b) a thermostat reading enhancer having an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting the mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermostat reading enhancer is provided which includes an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat. The enhancer body can have at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface or retained in a positioned adjacent the thermostat. The enhancer body also has substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof. The enhancer indicia align with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. Methods of retrofitting an existing thermostat, installing and using a thermostat with enhanced reading are also provided.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A combination of a thermostat and a thermostat reading enhancer, the combination comprising:
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(a) a thermostat mounted to a mounting surface; and
(b) a thermostat reading enhancer having an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting the mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A combination of a thermostat and a thermostat reading enhancer, the combination comprising:
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(a) a thermostat mounted to a mounting surface; and
(b) a thermostat reading enhancer having an enhancer body positioned adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting the mounting surface and retained in a position adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A thermostat reading enhancer, the enhancer comprising:
an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position between the thermostat and the mounting surface, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A thermostat reading enhancer, the enhancer comprising:
an enhancer body adapted to be positioned adjacent a thermostat, the enhancer body having at least portions thereof abuttingly contacting a mounting surface and retained in a position adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer body also having substantially larger enhancer indicia than indicia on the adjacent thermostat visibly displayed on a surface thereof, the enhancer indicia aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of retrofitting an existing thermostat so that the thermostat has enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings, the method comprising:
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positioning enhancer indicia on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia in a such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings. - View Dependent Claims (38)
securing the thermostat to the mounting surface, thereby obtaining a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings.
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39. A method of installing a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings to a mounting surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning enhancer indicia on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia; and
(b) securing the thermostat to the mounting surface. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
positioning the enhancer indicia on an enhancer body abuttingly contacting the mounting surface.
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41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
adhering the enhancer body to the mounting surface.
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42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:
fastening the enhancer body to the mounting surface.
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43. A method of using a thermostat with enhanced reading of thermostat controls and settings, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) approaching a thermostat;
(b) reading enlarged enhancer indicia positioned on a mounting surface adjacent the thermostat, the enhancer indicia being substantially larger than indicia on the thermostat and aligning with the thermostat indicia in such a way that the enhancer indicia correspond directly to thermostat controls and settings; and
(c) altering position of thermostat controls to a desired setting responsive to the read enhancer indicia.
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Specification