Patents Examined by Lisa Klaus
  • Patent number: 7928332
    Abstract: A brake pedal stop lamp switch assembly includes a pedal switch plate fixed to a car body, a switch-fixing bracket mounted to the pedal switch plate and having at least one or more fixing-protrusions, a switch assembly linearly moving in a pressing direction in the switch-fixing bracket, and a hall-effect sensor that generates a signal when a magnet attached to upper portion of pedal stopper plate approaches and an electronic circuit that receives signals of the hall-effect sensor, and a plurality of teeth formed at the switch assembly to fix the switch assembly that has linearly moved relative to the switch-fixing bracket, engaged with the fixing-protrusion of the switch-fixing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Eunsik Kim, Yangrae Cho
  • Patent number: 7915555
    Abstract: A rotary drive for a switch actuated by a toggle lever includes an operative connection which swivels, a first catch element on the operative connection, coupled to the toggle lever, and a second catch element on the operative connection. A mounting plate parallel to the switch base and a rotatable shaft are provided, the rotatable shaft disposed through the mounting plate. The rotary drive further includes a swivel arm on the shaft, a rotary knob coupled to the shaft configured to rotate the shaft. A mechanical connection couples the swivel arm to the second catch element, converting movement of the shaft into a movement of the operative connection. A swivel movement of the toggle lever is transferred to the second catch element, and the swivel arm enables the operative connection to swivel through a rotation of the shaft to move the toggle lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Industries GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schneider, Walter Gilgen, Klaus-Dieter Nuerenberg, Bernd Howald
  • Patent number: 7915549
    Abstract: In a multidirectional operation switch apparatus, a rotary switch is switched on by rotating a dial, and push switches are switched on by sliding the dial in multidirections by means of a sliding section. The sliding section is made of a single constituting member. The sliding section is provided on an upper surface thereof with an upper rail part which slides a pad in X direction (direction of arrow “c-d”; FIG. 3), and is provided on a lower surface thereof with a lower rail part which slides the pad supported by the sliding section in Y direction (direction of arrow “a-b”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Okidate
  • Patent number: 7915548
    Abstract: An arrangement for synchronizing and the actuation of a set of three interrupters, tow of which are disconnectors and one is a switch, in a combined circuit breaker and disconnector for an alternator is described. This allows for fitting of an accessory shaft for actuation purposes, which is specifically dedicated to the actuation of one of the two disconnection interrupters and to set it in rotation only after a final angle of rotation of a main shaft, which is itself dedicated to the actuation of the other disconnecting interrupter and actuation of the switching interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Xavier Allaire, Philippe Manin
  • Patent number: 7910849
    Abstract: A mounting system for a button includes first and second spring elements located adjacent opposite ends of the button. Each of the spring elements includes a serpentine portion capable of multiple degrees of freedom of movement providing varying actuating motions for the button. The spring elements may be defined by a plate also having a center portion secured to the button and opposite end portions secured to a base. According to one embodiment, the button is made from a thermoplastic material and the plate is metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Hibshman, Adam M. Mack
  • Patent number: 7910846
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a light switch and a wiper switch assembled to a column tube of a column shaft via an assembly bracket. The assembly bracket includes a body, to which the light switch and the wiper switch are coupled, and a coupling section, to which a top portion of the column tube is fixed. With the assembly, the light switch and the wiper switch can be easily and closely assembled to the column. Also, the assembly tolerance between the column and the assembly bracket can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Who Guen Son
  • Patent number: 7906740
    Abstract: Disclosed is a visual and electrical indication on the status of “Readiness to close” (RTC) for circuit breakers. Exemplary embodiments include a circuit breaker apparatus, including a lay shaft coupled to circuit breaker contacts, a lay shaft cam profile coupled to the lay shaft, a trip free plate coupled to the lay shaft cam profile, a trip paddle coupled to the trip free plate, wherein the trip paddle is coupled to a trip shaft and a ready to close indicator coupled to the trip free plate and charging cam assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Triplicane Gopikrishnan Babu, Janakiraman Narayanan, Mahesh Jaywant Rane, Simhadri Ramalingeswara Rao Gupta, Yatin Vilas Newase
  • Patent number: 7902468
    Abstract: A small click generating member is mounted on a yoke, and a large click generating member is rotatably mounted on an operating shaft. A plunger case is relatively rotatably mounted on the operating shaft, and large and small click pieces are mounted on the plunger case. An electromagnet is mounted on the yoke, and a plunger magnetic body attractable to the electromagnet is mounted on the plunger case. A magnet is mounted to cover the yoke. By changing over the supply of electricity to the electromagnet among a non-electricity-supply state, a backward connection electricity supply state and a forward connection electricity supply state, a generated coil magnetic field and a magnetic field of the magnet are applied in a cooperative manner, a magnetic circuit generated in the yoke can be changed over, and clicks are changed over among large click feeling, small click feeling and a fixed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyata, Seiji Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 7897889
    Abstract: A movable contact element including a lower sheet having a bottom surface, to which a substantially dome-shaped movable contact is bonded, is provided. The movable contact is made of a conductive thin metal plate, and an upper sheet with a light reflection property is disposed above the lower sheet. A space is formed between the lower sheet and the upper sheet, and a light transmitting portion is provided at the upper sheet. Light of a light emitting element from the side surface of the sheet propagates through the space between the upper sheet and the lower sheet with a light reflection property, while being reflected in a vertical direction, and lighting is performed through the light transmitting portions. Such a structure can perform lighting without unevenness by using one or two light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Chikahisa, Koji Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7897886
    Abstract: A manually operated transfer-type switch has an electrically interlocked isolating plug and plugboard arrangement to isolate two power supplies, e.g., utility and electric generator, from one another. The switch functions to connect electrical loads with either the utility or generator power supply without performing making and breaking of current. The plug is engaged with the plugboard in a first position for supplying utility power and in a second position for providing generator power. A locking arrangement prevents the disengagement of the plug from the plugboard when power is supplied from either the utility or from the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Neil A. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 7893374
    Abstract: A sheet switch module includes a circuit board (20) provided with a fixed contact (22) thereon, a light source (30), a movable contact (26) to face the fixed contact (22), a sheet (28) to hold the movable contact (26) on the circuit board, a key top (46) disposed to face the movable contact and a light guiding plate (32) to guide light emitted from the light source (30) to the key top. The light-guiding plate (32) includes a light-receiving part (34) projecting toward an upper surface of the circuit board (20) and a light-guiding part (39). The light-guiding plate (32) is positioned in a substantially horizontal state supported by the light-receiving part (34) on the upper surface of the circuit board (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenshi Aihara, Isao Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7884291
    Abstract: A pair of engaging projections is provided on a periphery of a knob mounting section projecting from an upper case 13. A substantially octagonal annular joint member is engaged with the engaging projections and has a pair of engaging projections provided in the direction of 90 degrees off the engaging projections so as to be relatively rockably engaged with the operation knob, whereby the operation knob is universally jointed through the joint member with the knob mounting section. The operation knob is capable of being rocked by pressing an optional position thereof in the circumferential direction, and by being pivoted on two axes meeting at right angles, properly controlled steady operation can be performed. A seal plate is placed on a concave portion of the upper case. Lift springs are projectingly formed on the seal plate at intervals of about 45 degrees in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Terao
  • Patent number: 7875819
    Abstract: A panel operator structure having operator units respectively disposed in position relative to operator unit insertion holes, thereby preventing key tops of the operator units from being in contact with the insertion holes. Switches are provided on an upper surface of a base plate and operation unit insertion holes are formed in an operation panel made of metal. Each operator unit includes a key top connected for vertical pivot motion to a casing via a hinge, and frame portions continuously formed together in an upper part of wall portions. The key top is disposed inside the frame portions with a gap therebetween. The frame portions fitted in the insertion hole restrict a horizontal positional motion of the operator unit relative to the operator insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7875817
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes plural operation buttons, through which each switch on a board can be compressed, and a connection part configured to connect two operation buttons out of the plural operation buttons with each other while maintaining the two operation buttons apart from each other, and to return a compressed operation button through an elastic force, wherein the connection part is arranged below an operation button that is located between the two operation buttons among the plural operation buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatake Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7872205
    Abstract: An electrical switch may include a housing having a hollow inner cavity. Both mechanical and electrical components may be contained within the inner cavity. The components within inner cavity may be protected from contaminants entering the inner cavity by a seal adjacent to an opening of the housing leading from the inner cavity. The seal may allow movement of an actuator mechanism between various configurations relative to the seal, while continuing to prevent contaminants from entering the inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Justin J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 7868263
    Abstract: An electrical hand-held power tool includes an assembly (2) vibrating along a vibration axis (A) during operation of the power tool, at least one, transversely projecting, vibration-decoupled pivotal side handle (3), a manual switch (4) having an actuation element (5) arranged in the side handle (3) and switchingly connectable with at least one sensor switch (8) which is located in the assembly (2) in vicinity of the handle pivot point (G), by a switching rod (7) having a switching element (6) and being pivotally supported on the side handle at a switching pivot point (S) spaced from the handle pivot point (G) and from the vibration axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Hammerstingl, Holger Cecchin, Dieter Kraus, Johann Augustin, Uto Plank
  • Patent number: 7863534
    Abstract: A spring discharge mechanism for a circuit breaker is provided. The mechanism includes two linkages for crashing or discharging the circuit breaker compression springs to allow the circuit breaker to be used in either fixed breaker installation or in an installation having a drawout mechanism. The secondary mechanism includes a manual activation linkage that couples with an interface plate. The interface plate is coupled to an opening latch shaft and a closing latch shaft that cooperates to discharge the circuit breaker compression springs. An interface lever is also coupled to the interface plate. The interface lever includes a roller that interacts with a pivoting cam lever coupled to a drawout mechanism. The cam lever interacts with the roller causing the interface lever to rotate the interface plate, the opening latch shaft and the closing latch shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Soundararajan Narayanasamy, Janakiraman Narayanan, Partha Sarathy Doddapadam Srinivasa Raghavachar, Triplicane Gopikrishnan Babu
  • Patent number: 7851718
    Abstract: Electronic equipment of the present invention includes a first housing 2 with an elastically deformable thin-wall portion 25 formed as a part of the front wall, an elastically deformable spacer member 4, and a sub board 5 on which switches 51 are mounted. The spacer member 4 includes a plurality of elastic members 41 and a second supporting member 46. Each of the elastic members 41 includes an operating strip 41a that is formed so that when the thin-wall portion 25 is deformed elastically, one surface of the operating strip 41a can be brought into contact with a back surface of the thin-wall portion 25 and the other surface can be pressed against the switch 51. The second supporting member 46 is formed so as to protrude between each of the elastic members 41, and can be brought into contact with the back surface of the thin-wall portion 25 at least when the thin-wall portion 25 is deformed elastically. The elastic members 41 and the second supporting member 46 are formed integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Shibuya, Takayoshi Yamasaki, Hiroichi Yoshida, Hiroya Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7847203
    Abstract: A system for indicating a position of an electrical distribution device configured to be racked into an electrically connected condition within an enclosure and racked out to an electrically disconnected condition via a racking mechanism is disclosed. The system includes a rotating indicator having at least a first position and a second position, the first position indicating the connected condition, and the second position indicating the disconnected condition, the indicator operably connected to the racking mechanism to rotate the indicator in response to movement of the racking mechanism between at least the connected condition and the disconnected condition. The system also includes a biasing device to bias rotation of the indicator toward the first position when the racking mechanism is in the connected condition and to bias rotation of the indicator toward the second position when the racking mechanism is in the disconnected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Janakiraman Narayanan, Soundararajan Narayanasamy, Partha Sarathy Doddapadam Srinivasa Raghavachar, Wolfgang Meyer-Haack
  • Patent number: 7842894
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle for seat belts has a housing, an opening for inserting a seat belt tongue, a locking device for locking the seat belt tongue, and a release device for releasing the seat belt tongue from the lock. A sensor device electrically senses whether the seat belt tongue is locked, wherein the sensor device has a switch arrangement which can be activated by the seat belt tongue. The switch arrangement has an electrically conductive snap-action plate that can be moved between a first switched position and a second switched position. A mechanical activation device transmits a force exerted on the seat belt tongue during the insertion of the seat belt tongue onto the snap-action plate in order to move the snap-action plate from the first switched position into the second switched position. As a result, an electrical contact element is closed or opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Borst