Remote thermostat for room air conditioner

• US 6,845,918 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Rotondo
• Original Assignee: John A. Rotondo
• Inventors: Rotondo, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US10/611,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 236/47, 236/51, 236/1.R, 236/46.R, 165/268, 622/31, 622/62, 621/57
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption

Abstract

An air conditioner control assembly for use with a room air conditioner having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical socket in order to supply electrical power to the air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner control assembly includes a control unit having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical power socket in a home, an electrical socket adapted to receive the electrical plug of the air conditioner, and a relay electrically connected between the two to selectively relay electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to the air conditioner in response to a control signal. A thermostat located remotely from the control unit and from the air conditioner is electrically connected to the control unit, the thermostat generating the control signals to which the relay is responsive as a function of temperature sensed by the thermostat and time of day.

Claims

1. An air conditioner control assembly for use with a room air conditioner having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical power socket in order to supply electrical power to the room air conditioner, said air conditioner control assembly comprising:

a control unit comprising;

an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into the electrical power socket in a home;

an electrical socket adapted to receive the electrical plug of the room air conditioner; and

a relay electrically connected between said electrical plug of said control unit and said electrical socket of said control unit to selectively relay electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to the room air conditioner in response to a control signal;

a circuit breaker for interrupting supply of electrical power from the electrical power socket to the room air conditioner when the power usage by the air conditioner exceeds a threshold thermal level;

a thermostat located remotely from said control unit and from the room air conditioner and electrically connected to said control unit, said thermostat generating the control signals to which said relay is responsive as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat and time of day.

2. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 1 wherein the control signals generated by said thermostat are generated as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat, time of day and day of the week.

3. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker is capable of being reset to again allow electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to be supplied to the room air conditioner until the threshold level is again reached.

4. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 1 wherein said control unit further comprises an indicator for indicating when said circuit breaker has been tripped.

5. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 4 wherein said indicator comprises an LED.

6. An air conditioner control assembly for use with a room air conditioner having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical socket in order to supply electrical power to the room air conditioner, said air conditioner control assembly comprising:

a control unit comprising;

an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical power socket in a home;

an electrical socket adapted to receive the electrical plug of the room air conditioner;

a relay electrically connected between said electrical plug of said control unit and said electrical socket of said control unit to selectively relay electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to the room air conditioner in response to a control signal; and

a circuit breaker for preventing electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to be supplied to the room air conditioner if the room air conditioner attempts to draw power above a threshold level; and

a thermostat located remotely from said control unit and from the room air conditioner and electrically connected to said control unit, said thermostat generating the control signals to which said relay is responsive as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat.

7. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 6 wherein said circuit breaker is capable of being reset to again allow electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to be supplied to the room air conditioner until the threshold level is again reached.

8. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 6 wherein said control unit further comprises an indicator for indicating when said circuit breaker has been tripped.

9. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 8 wherein said indicator comprises an LED.

10. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 6 wherein the control signals generated by said thermostat are generated as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat and time of day.

11. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 10 wherein the control signals generated by said thermostat are generated as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat, time of day and day of the week.

12. An air conditioner control assembly for use with a room air conditioner having an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical socket in order to supply electrical power to the room air conditioner, said air conditioner control assembly comprising:

a control unit comprising;

an electrical plug adapted to be plugged into an electrical power socket in a home;

an electrical socket adapted to receive the electrical plug of the room air conditioner;

a relay electrically connected between said electrical plug of said control unit and said electrical socket of said control unit to selectively relay electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to the room air conditioner in response to a control signal; and

a circuit breaker for preventing electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to be supplied to the room air conditioner if the room air conditioner attempts to draw power above a threshold level, wherein said circuit breaker is capable of being reset to again allow electrical power from the electrical power socket in a home to be supplied to the room air conditioner until the threshold level is again reached; and

a thermostat located remotely from said control unit and from the room air conditioner and electrically connected to said control unit, said thermostat generating the control signals to which said relay is responsive as a function of temperature sensed by said thermostat, time of day and day of the week.

13. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 12 wherein said control unit further comprises an indicator for indicating when said circuit breaker has been tripped.

14. The air conditioner control assembly of claim 13 wherein said indicator comprises an LED.