Patent ID: 7026898

Claim:
A control device comprising: a ferromagnetic armature configured to move between a first position and a second position, the ferromagnetic armature being biased in the first position; an energy-storing member positioned adjacent the ferromagnetic armature, the energy-storing member being configured to move between an attracting position and a non-attracting position based on a temperature of an environment surrounding the energy-storing member; a magnet coupled to the energy-storing member; and a ferromagnetic backstop; wherein, when the energy-storing member is in the non-attracting position, the magnet is positioned adjacent the ferromagnetic backstop and the ferromagnetic backstop holds the magnet and the energy-storing member in the non-attracting position; wherein, when the temperature of the environment changes by an actuating amount, the energy-storing member generates a force sufficient to snap from the non-attracting position to the attracting position; and wherein, when the energy-storing member snaps from the non-attracting to the attracting position, the armature is caused to snap from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the device to transition from a first operating state to a second operating state.