Thermostat with limited adjustment restraining guard

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that includes a thermostat comprising a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, an adjustable thermostat device contained within the thermostat housing, user and secure adjustment controls, a cover member movably mounted with respect to thermostat housing, a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured to lock the cover member and prevent its movement from a locked position to an unlocked position, and a lock comprising a movable locking member.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A thermostat, comprising:
 (a) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface;   (b) an adjustable thermostat device contained within said thermostat housing;   (c) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device;   (d) a securable adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust second parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device;   (e) a cover member movably mounted with respect to said thermostat housing, said cover member moving between a first position where said securable adjustment control is covered by said cover member and a second position where said securable adjustment control is exposed to allow adjustment of the same by a person, said user adjustment control being exposed to allow adjustment in said first and second positions;   (f) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing and/or said cover member, when said cover member is in said first position;   (g) a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage said catch surface and overly at least a portion of said cover member when said cover member is in said first position, said movement restraining member being configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of said cover member from said first position to said second position when said movement restraining member is in said locking position overlying at least a portion of said cover member, said movement restraining member overlying said secure adjustment control when said movement restraining member is in said locking position;   (h) a first mating locking surface defined by said movement restraining member;   (i) a second mating locking surface defined by said thermostat housing, said second mating locking surface mating with said first mating locking surface; and   (j) a lock comprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movement restraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable locking member being rotatable to engage a surface on the other of said movement restraining member or thermostat housing.   
     
     
         2 . The thermostat as in  claim 1 , where user and securable adjustment controls associated with the thermostat housing are mechanical, said adjustment control comprises a display, programming controls, a push button, up and down arrows, said buttons and display being located on front face of the adjustment control. 
     
     
         3 . The thermostat as in  claim 1 , where the cover member is movably mounted on a hinge, said cover member having cutouts for the display, the up and down arrows, and the push button. 
     
     
         4 . The thermostat as in  claim 3 , where the cover member overlies securable adjustment control, but exposes user adjustment control. 
     
     
         5 . The thermostat as in  claim 1 , where the body of the thermostat housing further comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion, where the forward portion extends beyond the dimensions of the rearward portion, said extension of the forward portion creates the catch surface, where said catch surface is engaged by the movement restraining member. 
     
     
         6 . The thermostat as in  claim 1 , where the movement restraining member comprises a front portion and a back portion, said front portion comprises a cutout window that is configured and dimensioned to exhibit the display and the user adjustment control buttons, and a back portion comprising a first mating locking surface, said first mating locking surface mating with the second locking surface secured to the thermostat housing. 
     
     
         7 . The thermostat as in  claim 1 , where the lock comprises a lock housing, a lock key insert, and a movable locking member, said lock housing being mounted onto the front portion of the movement restraining member where said lock housing is adapted to accommodate the lock key insert, said lock key insert having a front portion and a back portion, where the front portion is adapted to accommodate a key and the back portion is adapted to accommodate the movable locking member. 
     
     
         8 . The thermostat as in  claim 7 , where the movable locking member has a length and a width, where one end of the movable locking member is secured to the back portion of the lock key insert and opposite end is unattached, where in response to a turn of the lock key insert from first position to second position said movable locking member moves from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The thermostat as in  claim 8 , where the unattached portion of the movable locking member, in response to a turn of the lock key insert from first position to second position, moves from said first position to said second position and engages the catch surface of the thermostat housing base, overlying at least a portion of said catch surface. 
     
     
         10 . A locking device for a thermostat of the type comprising (i) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface; (ii) an adjustable thermostat device contained within said housing; (iii) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device; (iv) a securable adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust second parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device; (v) a cover member movably mounted with respect to said thermostat housing, said cover member moving between a first position where said securable adjustment control is covered by said cover member and a second position where said securable adjustment control is exposed to allow adjustment of the same by a person, said user adjustment control being exposed to allow adjustment in said first and second positions; (vi) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing and/or said cover member, when said cover member is in said first position; and (vii) a second mating locking surface secured to said thermostat housing base, said second mating locking surface mating with said first mating locking surface, and said locking device comprising:
 (a) a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage said catch surface and overly at least a portion of said cover member when said cover member is in said first position, said movement restraining member being configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of said cover member from said first position to said second position when said movement restraining member is in said locking position overlying at least a portion of said cover member, said movement restraining member overlying said securable adjustment control when said movement restraining member is in said locking position;   (b) a first mating locking surface defined by said movement restraining member; and   (c) a lock comprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movement restraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable locking member being rotatable to engage a surface on the other of said movement restraining member or thermostat housing.   
     
     
         11 . A locking device for a thermostat of the type comprising (i) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface; (ii) an adjustable thermostat device contained within said housing; (iii) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device; (iv) a securable adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust second parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device; (v) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing; and (vi) a first mating locking surface defined by said thermostat housing, and said locking device comprising:
 (a) a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage said catch surface and overly at least a portion of said securable adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said movement restraining member being configured and dimensioned to prevent access to said securable adjustment control, said movement restraining member overlying said securable adjustment control when said movement restraining member is in said locking position;   (b) a mating locking surface defined by said movement restraining member; and   (c) a lock comprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movement restraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable locking member being rotatable to engage a surface on the other of said movement restraining member or thermostat housing.   
     
     
         12 . A thermostat, comprising:
 (a) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface;   (b) an adjustable thermostat device contained within said thermostat housing;   (c) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device;   (d) a securable adjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjust second parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostat device;   (e) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing;   (f) a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage said catch surface and overly at least a portion of securable adjustment controls, said movement restraining member being configured and dimensioned to prevent access to securable adjustment controls when said movement restraining member is in said locking position overlying at least a portion of said securable adjustment controls, said movement restraining member overlying said securable adjustment control when said movement restraining member is in said locking position;   (g) a first mating locking surface defined by said movement restraining member;   (h) a second mating locking surface defined by said thermostat housing, said second mating locking surface mating with said first mating locking surface; and   (i) a lock comprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movement restraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable locking member being moveable to engage a mating surface on the other of said movement restraining member or thermostat housing.