Reduced profile thermostat

• US 5,485,954 A
• Filed: 06/10/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: American Standard Companies Incorporated (Ideal Standard International Topco SCA)
• Inventors: Sulfstede, Louis E., Hillmer, Eric, Guy, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/258,000
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 236/46 R, 236/78 R, 236/68 D, 165/12
• US Class Current: 236/78.00R
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A thermostat that includes a subbase having a back surface designed to be mounted conformal with a surface and an inner surface that has a portion of selected electrical components mounted thereon, including a first electrical communication device. The subbase has first mechanical connectors formed integral therewith. A cover that has a front surface designed to carry selected components for communication with an operator and an inner surface that has a portion of selected electrical component supported thereby, including a second electrical communication device. The inner surface has second mechanical connectors formed integral therewith. During installation, the cover is brought into registry with the subbase to form a thermostat housing that has a reduced profile and that substantially encloses the electrical components of the thermostat. The first electrical communication device is mated with the second electrical communication device and the first mechanical connectors are mated to the second mechanical connectors by motion of the cover with respect to the subbase that is substantially conformal to the back surface of the subbase as the cover is brought into registry with the subbase.

Claims

1. A thermostat having a reduced profile designed to control the temperature in an area and having selected components for sensing the temperature and for communicating between an operator and a HVAC system, comprising:

a subbase having a back surface designed to be mounted conformally on a surface and an opposed inner surface having a portion of the selected components or effecting control mounted thereon, such components portion including a first electrical connection, and a first mechanical connection operably coupled thereto;

a cover having a front face designed to carry selected components for communication with the operator and an opposed inner surface having a portion of the selected components for effecting control supported thereby, said portion of the selected components for effecting control including a second electrical connection, and the inner surface having a second mechanical connection operably coupled thereto,

wherein the cover is brought into registry with the subbase to form a thermostat housing having a reduced profile that substantially encloses the sensing and communicating components of the thermostat, the first electrical connection being mated with the second electrical connection and the first mechanical connection being mated to the second mechanical connection by motion of the cover with respect to the subbase that is substantially conformal with the back surface of the subbase as the cover is brought into registry with the subbase;

wherein the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection comprise an oppositely directed receiver connector and a bayonet connector respectively, the receiver connector receiving the bayonet connector therein and making electrical connection therewith and the bayonet connector being received within the receiver connector means in compressive sliding engagement therewith;

wherein the receiver connector and the bayonet connector comprise a plurality of individual receiver connectors and a corresponding number of individual bayonet connectors; and

wherein the individual bayonet connectors taken together comprise a set of spaced apart engaging fingers, the fingers designed to electrically engage a corresponding receiver connector and being oriented in a parallel array that is substantially conformal with the back surface of the subbase.

2. A thermostat as claimed in claim 1 the thermostat being communicatively connected by a plurality of wires to the HVAC system, and further including a terminal block that is operably coupled to the subbase, the terminal block having terminals disposed thereon designed for connecting to the wires to, the HVAC system, the bayonet connectors being operably, supportively coupled to the terminal block and each such bayonet connector being selectively electrically coupled to at least one of such terminals.

3. A thermostat as claimed in claim 2 wherein the engaging fingers of the bayonet connectors comprise a first end of such bayonet connectors, the bayonet connectors having a second end being electrically coupled to at least one of such terminals, the bayonet connectors defining a bend therein such that the second end thereof is oriented at substantially a right angle with respect to the first end thereof.

4. A thermostat as claimed in claim 3 further including an electronics board being operably coupled to the inner surface of the cover and having a component bearing surface oriented to face the cover and including a connector port defined therein, the connector port being defined by a perimeter, the receiver connectors being operably coupled to the component bearing surface of the electronics board and disposed proximate the perimeter of the connector port.

5. A thermostat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bayonet connectors project through the connector port to engage the receiver connectors when the cover is brought into registry with the subbase.

6. A thermostat as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first and second mechanical connections comprise a plurality of hook and tab connector sets.

7. A thermostat designed to control the temperature in an area, comprising:

a subbase forming a first portion of a thermostat housing and defining a back surface designed to be conformally mounted on a surface and having a first electrical connection and a first mechanical connection operably coupled thereto; and

a cover forming a second portion of a thermostat housing and having a second electrical connection operably coupled thereto for mating with the first electrical connection and a second mechanical connection operably coupled thereto for mating with the first mechanical connection;

wherein the first and second electrical connections and the first and second mechanical connections are oriented such that motion of the cover substantially conformal to the back surface of the subbase brings the cover into registry with the subbase and effects the releasable engagement of the first and second electrical connections and effects the releasable engagement of the first and second mechanical connections;

wherein the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection comprise an oppositely directed receiver connector and an bayonet connector means respectively, the receiver connector receiving the bayonet connector therein and making electrical connection therewith and the bayonet connector being received within the receiver connector in compressive sliding engagement therewith;

wherein the receiver connector and bayonet connector comprise a plurality of individual receiver connectors and a corresponding number of individual bayonet connectors;

wherein the individual bayonet connectors taken together comprise a set of spaced apart engaging fingers, the fingers designed to electrically engage a corresponding receiver connector and being oriented in a parallel array being substantially conformal with the back surface of the subbase.

8. A thermostat as claimed in claim 7, being designed to control a HVAC system, the thermostat being communicatively connected by a plurality of wires to the HVAC system, and further including a terminal block that is operably coupled to the subbase, the terminal block projecting from the subbase in a direction generally perpendicular to the subbase, the terminal block having terminals disposed thereon designed for connecting to the wires to the HVAC system, the bayonet connectors being operably, supportively coupled to the terminal block and each such bayonet connector being selectively electrically coupled to at least one of such terminals.

9. A thermostat as claimed in claim 8 wherein the engaging fingers of the bayonet connectors comprise a first end of such bayonet connectors, the bayonet connectors having a second end being electrically coupled to at least one of such terminals, the bayonet connectors defining a bend therein such that the second end thereof is oriented at substantially a right angle with respect to the first end thereof.

10. A thermostat as claimed in claim 9 further including an electronics board being operably coupled to the cover and having a component bearing surface oriented to face the cover and including a connector port defined therein, the connector port being defined by a perimeter, the receiver connectors being operably coupled to the component bearing surface of the electronics board and disposed proximate the perimeter of the connector port.

11. A thermostat as claimed in claim 10 wherein the terminal block projects into the connector port when the cover is placed in an intermediate engagement position relative to the subbase, the bayonet connectors being aligned with but not in substantial engagement with the receiver connectors.

12. A thermostat as claimed in claim 11 wherein the bayonet connectors project through the connector port to engage the receiver connectors when the cover is brought into registry with the subbase.

13. A thermostat as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first and second mechanical connections comprises a plurality of hock and tab connector sets.

14. A thermostat as claimed in claim 12 wherein the subbase includes a peripheral lip having a gap and the cover includes a perimeter lip having an extension, wherein the registry of the cover with the subbase places the extension in sealing engagement with the gap.

15. A method of installing a reduced profile thermostat having a cover and a subbase where the cover and subbase each have electrical and mechanical connections oriented for connection in a direction parallel to a back surface of the subbase, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the cover spaced apart from and elevated slightly above the subbase;

moving the cover downwardly to align the mechanical and electrical connections on the cover with the mechanical and electrical connections on the subbase; and

moving the cover in a direction parallel to the plane of the back surface so as to engage the cover and subbase mechanical and electrical connections.