Patents by Inventor Donald G. Gibbons, Jr.

Donald G. Gibbons, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9423818
    Abstract: An over-center handle mechanism is provided to operate electrical equipment, such as a switch or breaker, housed in an electrical enclosure. The over-center handle mechanism includes an adaptor knob, a rotary actuator and a spring. The adaptor knob interfaces with the electrical equipment. The rotary actuator is connected to the adaptor knob, and includes a cam. A through-door handle is used to operate the rotary actuator, which in turn operates the electrical equipment via the adaptor knob. To optimize an angular torque feeling at the through-door handle, the over-center handle mechanism further includes the spring to provide an opposing force against movement of the cam of the rotary actuator, and thus, the through-door handle. A solid lubricant of PTFE may also be provided as an interface between the cam and the spring to reduce friction therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Donald G. Gibbons, Jr., Tony R. Robbins, Stanley H. Edwards, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150221463
    Abstract: An over-center handle mechanism is provided to operate electrical equipment, such as a switch or breaker, housed in an electrical enclosure. The over-center handle mechanism includes an adaptor knob, a rotary actuator and a spring. The adaptor knob interfaces with the electrical equipment. The rotary actuator is connected to the adaptor knob, and includes a cam. A through-door handle is used to operate the rotary actuator, which in turn operates the electrical equipment via the adaptor knob. To optimize an angular torque feeling at the through-door handle, the over-center handle mechanism further includes the spring to provide an opposing force against movement of the cam of the rotary actuator, and thus, the through-door handle. A solid lubricant of PTFE may also be provided as an interface between the cam and the spring to reduce friction therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Donald G. GIBBONS, JR., Tony R. ROBBINS, Stanley H. Edwards, JR.
  • Patent number: 6824470
    Abstract: A bi-directional torque-limiting interface for rotary operating devices is shown and described. The interface includes a first section receiving torque from a source, a second section delivering the received torque to a rotary operating device and a coupler operably connecting the first and second sections. The coupler is preloaded to a predetermined value and maintains a particular angular relationship between the first and second sections under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Donald G. Gibbons, Jr., Jackie C. Sullivan