Adjustable thermostat cover with detents and level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9106061-B1
Application number	US-201213347535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2012
Priority date	Mar 6, 2009
Publication date	Aug 11, 2015
Grant date	Aug 11, 2015

Abstract

A thermostat cover includes a base with four walls and an aperture sized such that at least a portion of a thermostat may be received. A lid is slidably mounted on the base at a front side of the base. The lid has a slide member that couples with a slide rail located on the base. In another embodiment, the lid has a slide member that extends from the lid and couples with an extension track located on the base. The extension track is configured in an L-shape such that the lid is collapsible with a first position and a second position. The extension track may have stops that hold the lid in the second position. In another embodiment, the lid is hingedly coupled to the base. A support rod is configured to hold the lid in a raised position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermostat cover assembly comprising:
a base comprising a first wall and a second wall substantially parallel to each other and a third wall and a fourth wall substantially parallel to each other, wherein the third wall and fourth wall are substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and second wall, the base further comprising an aperture in a back side large enough to receive at least a portion of a thermostat therethrough,
wherein each of the first wall and the second wall of the base further comprises a plurality of mounting locations and the fourth wall of the base further comprises a plurality of locking tab locations;
a locking tab selectively positionable in one of the plurality of locking tab locations; and
a lid adjustably mountable on the base at a front side of the base, wherein the lid comprises a first pivot point configured to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations on the first wall of the base, a second pivot point configured to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations on the second wall of the base, and a closing member configured to engage the locking tab on the fourth wall of the base.

2. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the plurality of mounting locations comprise holes.

3. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the first pivot point and second pivot point each comprise a raised bump constructed to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations.

4. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the first pivot point and second pivot point each comprise a peg constructed to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations.

5. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the closing member further comprises a lock located on the lid, wherein the lock interfaces with the locking tab to prevent movement of the lid when the lock is in a locked position.

6. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the locking tab further comprises releaseable clips, wherein the clips are removably insertable into the plurality of locking tab locations.

7. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the locking tab further comprises a protrusion with a slot, wherein the closing member engages the slot in the protrusion.

8. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising
a mounting plate constructed to secure the thermostat thereto.

9. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 8 wherein
the base further comprises holes arranged to align with holes in the mounting plate such that mounting screws may traverse both the base and the mounting plate to secure the thermostat cover assembly to a wall.

10. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising
a plurality of detents formed in the base.

11. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 further comprising
a level.

12. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 1 wherein
the base further comprises a level.

13. A thermostat cover assembly comprising:
a base comprising a first wall and a second wall substantially parallel to each other and a third wall and a fourth wall substantially parallel to each other, wherein the third wall and fourth wall are substantially perpendicular to each of the first and second wall, the base further comprising an aperture in a back side large enough to receive at least a portion of a thermostat therethrough; and
a lid comprising a first pivot point configured to engage one of a plurality of mounting locations on the first wall of the base and a second pivot point configured to engage one of a plurality of mounting locations on the second wall of the base, the plurality of mounting locations extending at least a portion of a distance between the back side of the base and a front side of the base,
the lid further comprising a closing member configured to engage a selectively positionable locking tab, and
wherein the lid is positionable at a first position wherein the assembly comprises a first depth, and a second position wherein the assembly comprises a second depth which is greater than the first depth.

14. The thermostat cover of claim 13 wherein
the lid is positionable at a third position wherein the assembly comprises a third depth which is greater than the second depth.

15. The thermostat cover assembly of claim 13 further comprising
a lock configured to prevent the movement of the lid when in a locked position.

16. A method of selectively enclosing a thermostat of a particular depth with a thermostat cover assembly to a corresponding depth, the assembly comprising a base, a locking tab, and a lid, wherein the base comprises a first wall and a second wall each having a plurality of connection points, a third wall, and a fourth wall having a plurality of locking tab positions, and the lid comprises a first pivot point configured to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations on the first wall of the base, a second pivot point configured to engage one of the plurality of mounting locations on the second wall of the base, and a closing member configured to engage the locking tab, the method comprising the steps of:
placing the base around the thermostat;
selecting one of the plurality of connection points based upon the corresponding depth of the thermostat;
coupling the hinge member of the lid to the selected one of the plurality of connection points on the base to selectively enclose the thermostat to a corresponding depth;
selecting one of the plurality of locking tab positions based upon the corresponding depth of the thermostat; and
inserting the locking tab into the selected one of the plurality of locking tab positions.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising
coupling the closing member to the locking tab to secure the lid in a closed position.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the base further comprises a plurality of detents, the method further comprising the steps of:
pressing the base against a wall at a desired mounting location for the thermostat; and
drilling mounting holes at the locations of the marks on the wall created by the detents.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the base further comprises a level, the method further comprising the steps of:
positioning the base against a wall at a desired mounting location for the thermostat; and
using the level to determine a level mounting position before mounting the assembly to a wall.

Assignees

• Shotey Marcus J
• Baldwin Jeffrey P
• Dumpe Samuel
• Cleghorn Richard L
• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Shotey Marcus J
• Baldwin Jeffrey P
• Dumpe Samuel
• Cleghorn Richard L

Classifications

• H02G3/081 Primary

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• B65D2251/1058

  Latching mechanisms · CPC title

• H02G3/14

  Fastening of cover or lid to box · CPC title

• B65D43/164

  and connected by interfitting hinge elements integrally with the container and the lid formed respectively · CPC title

• B65D43/22

  Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips · CPC title