In-line duct supplemental heating and cooling device and method

A heating and cooling device adapted to supplement a furnace or cooling unit having an air duct extending therefrom for transferring air from the furnace or cooling unit to a room, said heating and cooling device comprising:

• a housing defining a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the air duct so that substantially all air discharged from said housing originates from only the air duct;
• a heater positioned in said fluid passageway of said housing and configured to selectively heat air received from the air duct;
• a fan positioned in said fluid passageway of said housing and configured to selectively propel air through the air duct;
• a control in communication with said heater and said fan, and configured to communicate with a thermostat for detecting a temperature in the room to be heated or cooled and for selecting a desired temperature in the room, wherein said control is configured to activate and deactivate said heater and said fan based on input from the thermostat;
• wherein said control is operable to automatically activate said heater and said fan together when the temperature detected in the room is lower than the desired temperature;
• and
• wherein said control is operable to activate said fan in response to a fan-activation signal received by said control, whereby the device is operable to supplement an air conditioner connected to the air duct by activating said fan to draw air previously cooled by the air conditioner through the air duct without activating said heater.

An electric heating and cooling device adapted to supplement a furnace or cooling unit having an air duct extending therefrom for transferring air from the furnace or cooling unit to a room, said heating and cooling device comprising:

• a housing defining a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the air duct so that substantially all air discharged from said housing originates from only the air duct;
• a heater positioned in said fluid passageway of said housing and configured to selectively heat air received from the air duct;
• a fan positioned in said fluid passageway of said housing and configured to selectively propel air through the air duct;
• a control in communication with said heater and said fan, and configured to communicate with a thermostat for detecting a temperature in the room to be heated or cooled and for selecting at least a desired lower threshold temperature in the room, wherein said control is configured to activate and deactivate said heater and said fan based on input from the thermostat;
• wherein said control automatically activates said heater and said fan when the temperature detected in the room is lower than a desired lower threshold temperature;
• and
• wherein said control is configured to activate said fan, without activating said heater, in response to said control receiving a fan-activation signal from the thermostat, whereby the device is operable to supplement a cooling unit connected to the air duct by activating said fan to draw air previously cooled by the cooling unit through the air duct.