Magnetically mounted wall thermostat

Abstract

One aspect of this disclosure provides a thermostat that can be magnetically attached to the wall using one or more magnets that allow the thermostat to be rotated about the wall, once mounted, or easily removed from the wall altogether to operate as a remote unit. Other devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetically mounted wall thermostat for use as part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the magnetically mounted wall thermostat comprising:
 a thermostat housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the thermostat housing comprises a display on the first side of the thermostat housing to present visual indicia and to receive user inputs and a back plate on the second side of the thermostat housing, wherein the back plate is coupled to the display;   a wall mounting base having a first side and a second side, the first side of the wall mounting base disposed adjacent to the second side of the thermostat housing when the magnetically mounted wall thermostat is in a mounted position and the second side of the wall mounting base disposed adjacent to a wall in a volume in which conditioned air is desired; and   a releasable magnetic coupling associated with the thermostat housing and wall mounting base for releaseably and rotatably coupling the thermostat housing and wall mounting base, the releasable magnetic coupling having a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is coupled to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member is coupled to the first side of the wall mounting base, and wherein at least one of the first member and second member comprises a magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal coupling formed between the thermostat housing and the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal coupling formed between the thermostat and the wall mounting base, wherein the signal coupling comprises concentric circle contacts formed on a first side of the wall mounting base and conductive contact points on a second side of the thermostat housing. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal coupling formed between the thermostat and the wall mounting base, wherein the signal coupling comprises a first wireless transmitter and receiver coupled to the thermostat housing and a second wireless transmitter and receiver coupled to the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnets for coupling the back plate to the display. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , the first member of the releasable magnetic coupling comprises at least a first magnet attached to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member comprises at least a second magnet coupled to the first side of the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , the first member of the releasable magnetic coupling comprises a magnetically-attractive material attached to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member comprises a magnet coupled to the first side of the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , the first member of the releasable magnetic coupling comprises a magnet attached to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member comprises a magnetically-attractive material coupled to the first side of the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the first member of the releasable magnetic coupling comprises a magnetic holder coupled to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member comprises a magnetic ring coupled to the wall mounting base and sized and configured to cooperate with the magnetic holder to allow relative rotational movement. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic holder comprises a first coil, and the magnetic ring comprises a second coil, and wherein, when the magnetically mounted wall thermostat is in the mounted position, the first coil and second coil may be magnetically excited to provide electrical energy to the thermostat housing to charge an electrical storage device within the thermostat housing. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the first member of the releasable magnetic coupling comprises a recessed, circular magnetic holder coupled to the second side of the thermostat housing and the second member comprises a projecting magnetic ring coupled to the wall mounting base and sized and configured to mate with the recessed, circular magnetic holder. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , comprising a temperature sensor attached to the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , comprising a temperature sensor attached to the thermostat housing. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second side of the thermostat housing comprises a first mounting area and a portion of the first side of the wall mounting base comprises a second mounting area, and wherein two magnets are attached to the first mounting area with 90 degrees of separation relative to a center point and two magnets are attached to the second mounting area. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the thermostat housing is configured to move at least 90 degrees between a horizontal position and a vertical position. 
     
     
         16 . A magnetically mounted wall thermostat for use as part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the magnetically mounted wall thermostat comprising:
 a thermostat housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the thermostat housing comprises a display on the first side of the thermostat housing to present visual indicia and to receive user inputs and a back plate on the second side of the thermostat housing, wherein the back plate is coupled to the display;   a wall mounting base having a first side and a second side, the first side of the wall mounting base disposed adjacent to the second side of the thermostat housing when the magnetically mounted wall thermostat is in a mounted position and the second side of the wall mounting base disposed adjacent to a wall in a volume in which conditioned air is desired; and   a magnetic coupling means for coupling the thermostat housing and the wall mounting base to provide for rotational movement and release with a parting force greater than a threshold force.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 16 , further comprising a signal coupling means for providing signal communication between the thermostat housing and the wall mounting base. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetically mounted wall thermostat of  claim 16 , further comprising a quick connect electrically coupling the thermostat housing and wall mounting base. 
     
     
         19 . A thermostat for use as an aspect of a heating ventilation and air conditioning system, the thermostat comprising:
 a base unit that is coupled to a wall in a room of a building that is to receive conditioned air, the base unit has a first side that faces away from the wall and a second side that faces the wall;   a display unit that includes a display for presenting visual indicia to a user, the display unit has a first side and a second side, the display is on the first side of the display unit and the second side of the display unit is adjacent to the first side of the base unit when in a mounted position; and   a releasable and rotatable coupling formed between the base unit and the display unit that allows the display unit to rotate relative to the base unit and allows the display unit to be released from the base unit when a separation force is applied greater than a separation threshold, the releasable and rotatable coupling comprises at least a first magnet attached to first side of the base unit and at least a second magnet attached to the second side of the display unit whereby the first magnet and the second magnet develop a magnetic force holding the base unit and display unit proximate to one another when the base unit and display unit are in the mounted position.   
     
     
         20 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of concentric circle contacts and a plurality of contact members, wherein the plurality of contact members are spaced to coordinate with the concentric circle contacts when in the thermostat is in the mounted position.