Thermostat with interchangeable insert

A thermostat comprising:

• a display device;
• a housing in which the display device is disposed, the housing having top and bottom portions, the top portion having a generally rectangular frame-shaped surface that extends around the display device, and first and second side walls on opposing sides of the housing, wherein the first and second side walls include a curved portion that adjoins the generally rectangular frame-shaped surface such that the first and second side walls transition smoothly from the generally rectangular frame-shaped surface into juxtaposition with first and second edge portions of the bottom portion, where one of the first and second edge portions of the bottom portion exhibits a thin profile relative to the top portion side wall juxtaposed thereon, the housing further including at least one recessed notch in each of the first and second side walls;
• at least one insert having a generally rectangular frame that generally matches the generally rectangular frame-shaped surface of the housing, the insert being selectively disposable over the housing so as to substantially cover the top portion of the housing, the insert having a textured, colored, or patterned surface;
• and
• a single translucent faceplate having an aperture therein, a generally rectangular frame-shaped surface extending around the aperture, and first and second side walls on opposing sides of the single translucent faceplate, the single translucent faceplate including at least one engaging clip on each of the first and second side walls for engaging the recessed notches in the housing to secure the single translucent faceplate over the insert and to the housing such that the insert acquires a curvature matching the curved portion of the housing top portion first and second side walls, is visible through the single translucent faceplate and prevented, by engagement of the clips and notches, from separating from the thermostat.

A thermostat comprising:

• a housing in which a display device of the thermostat is disposed, the housing having a bottom portion and a top portion including a generally frame-shaped surface and a pair of opposed side walls each extending between the frame-shaped surface and a corresponding one of a pair of oppositely oriented edge portions of the housing bottom portion;
• an interchangeable insert selectively disposable over and conformable to the frame-shaped surface and housing side walls so as to assume curves and creases that match curves and creases of the housing frame-shaped surface and side walls and to provide an aperture that matches the aperture of the housing, the insert having a textured, colored, or patterned surface;
• and
• a translucent faceplate having an aperture generally matching the aperture of the housing frame-shaped surface, the faceplate including at least one engaging clip on each of two opposed side walls of the faceplate, for engaging recessed notches in the oppositely oriented edge portions of the housing bottom portion to secure the faceplate over the insert and to the housing such that the insert is visible through the faceplate and prevented from separating from the thermostat;
• opposed edges of the insert being coextensive with the opposed side walls of the housing and faceplate and generally flush with the opposed edge portions of the housing bottom portion.