Humidity wall control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201935-A1
Application number	US-201514593883-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A humidity monitoring system mountable to a wall has a housing for receiving a humidity sensor. A face plate having an extended portion can be mounted over the housing such that the extend portion is positioned adjacent to the humidity sensor. The extended portion defining a secondary space within which humid air can be pass proximate to the humidity sensor to improve the monitoring of the ambient humid air.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A humidity monitoring system mountable to a wall, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing wall defining an internal space and a front opening; a face plate comprising an extended portion defining a secondary space, the face plate being mountable to the housing wall to obstruct at least a portion of the front opening; and a humidity sensor positioned within the internal space proximate the front opening; wherein the extended portion of the face plate is mounted to the housing wall such that the humidity sensor is adjacent the secondary space.

2 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising:
a plate portion extending from the housing wall radially outward from the front opening.

3 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the plate portion defines at least one fastener port for receiving at least one fastener for mounting the housing.

4 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the extended portion comprising:
a primary face defining at least one inlet opening for receiving an inlet humid airflow into the secondary space; and a secondary face defining at least one outlet opening for passing an outlet humid airflow from the secondary space.

5 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein the primary face is angled along a primary axis;
wherein the primary axis is transverse to a vertical axis when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the primary face is oriented downward such that rising humid air enters the at least one inlet opening to create a humid airflow along the airflow path in the secondary space.

6 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein the secondary face is angled along a secondary axis transverse to the primary axis;
wherein the secondary face is oriented along an axis transverse to the primary face when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the humid airflow exits the secondary space through the at least one outlet opening.

7 . The humidity monitory system of claim 1 , the extended portion comprising a secondary face defining at least one vent opening for receiving ambient humid air into the secondary space.

8 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the face plate comprising:
a mirror extended portion comprising:
a mirror primary face angled to mirror the primary face; and
a mirror secondary face angled to mirror the secondary face.

9 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising a mounting bracket defining a slot; and
wherein the face plate comprises a plate insertable into the slot to align the face plate with the front opening.

10 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising a lip portion adjacent the front opening; and
wherein the face plate comprising an edge engagable to the lip portion.

11 . The humidity monitoring system of claim 10 , the face plate comprising at least one latch positioned at the edge;
wherein the latch is engagable to the lip portion to secure the face plate to the housing.

12 . A light switch assembly mountable to a wall, comprising:
a switch plate defining at least two switch openings, the switch plate being mountable to the wall; at least one toggle switch positioned within one of the switch openings; a humidity sensor positionable within one of the switch openings, the humidity sensor comprising:
a housing comprising a housing wall defining an internal space and a front opening;
a face plate comprising an extended portion defining a secondary space, the face plate being mountable to the housing wall to obstruct at least a portion of the front opening; and
a humidity sensor positioned within the internal space proximate the front opening; wherein the extended portion of the face plate is mounted to the housing wall such that the humidity sensor is adjacent the secondary space.

13 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the housing comprising:
a plate portion extending from the housing wall radially outward from the front opening.

14 . The light switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plate portion defines at least one fastener port for receiving at least one fastener for mounting the housing to the switch plate.

15 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the extended portion comprising:
a primary face defining at least one inlet opening for receiving an inlet humid airflow into the secondary space; and a secondary face defining at least one outlet opening for passing an outlet humid airflow from the secondary space.

16 . The light switch assembly of claim 15 , wherein the primary face is angled along a primary axis;
wherein the primary axis is transverse to a vertical axis when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the primary face is oriented downward such that rising humid air enters the at least one inlet opening to create a humid airflow along the airflow path in the secondary space.

17 . The light switch assembly of claim 16 , wherein the secondary face is angled along a secondary axis transverse to the primary axis;
wherein the secondary face is oriented along an axis transverse to the primary face when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the humid airflow exits the secondary space through the at least one outlet opening.

18 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the extended portion comprising a secondary face defining at least one vent opening for receiving ambient humid air into the secondary space.

19 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the face plate comprising:
a mirror extended portion comprising:
a mirror primary face angled to mirror the primary face; and
a mirror secondary face angled to mirror the secondary face;
wherein the mirror extended portion and extended portion cooperate to visually resemble to the toggle switch.

20 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the housing comprising a mounting bracket defining a slot; and
wherein the face plate comprises a plate insertable into the slot to align the face plate with the front opening.

21 . The light switch assembly of claim 12 , the housing comprising a lip portion adjacent the front opening; and
wherein the face plate comprising an edge engagable to the lip portion.

22 . The light switch assembly of claim 21 , the face plate comprising at least one latch positioned at the edge;
wherein the latch is engagable to the lip portion to secure the face plate to the housing.

Assignees

• Broan Nu Tone Llc

Inventors

• Jonas Kenneth J
• Puffer Benjamin Thorpe

Classifications

• G05D22/02

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• H01H23/12

  Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• G01N19/10

  Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers · CPC title

• F24F11/0015 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic