Patents Examined by Iman Malakooti
  • Patent number: 11676776
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to finger-safe requirements for breaker modules from electrical panel boards and envisages a finger safe cover 100a for a terminal of an electrical switching device 50. The finger safe cover comprises a cover body 110a with an expandable aperture section 120a. The aperture section 120a has an annulus 122a having a primary aperture 124a and a coupling section 126a surrounding the annulus 122a. The primary aperture 124a allows a thinner conducting cable 52 to pass therethrough. The coupling section 126a couples the annulus 122a with the cover body 110a. The aperture section 120a defines a secondary aperture 128a when the annulus 122a is detached from the cover body 110a by breaking the coupling section 126a, to allow to pass therethrough a thicker conducting cable 54. The cover 100a passes the IPXXB test, eliminates the need of safety accessories and is easy to install.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Appleton Grp LLC
    Inventors: Swapnil S. Nalawade, Andrey Shashin
  • Patent number: 11670440
    Abstract: A novel heater is disclosed for a temperature sensitive actuator. The heater is a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device consisting of conductive filler and semi-crystalline polymer. The PPTC heater is strategically designed to have a predetermined self-regulation temperature suited to whatever application utilizes the heater. Physical characteristics of the PPTC heater, such as gap width and thickness, enable the current flow through the heater to be strategically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Chen, Rimantas Radzys
  • Patent number: 11664176
    Abstract: A peripheral device for a computing system comprises an electrical switch and a user depressible button. An electrostatic brake is attached to the user depressible button and controls a force profile of the keystroke of the user depressible button. The button is coupled to and is configured to actuate the electrical switch at the end of the keystroke. A movable electrode is coupled to the depressible button and a stationary electrode is positioned parallel to and proximate the movable electrode. A dielectric material is positioned between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode forming an electrostatic brake. An electrical circuit is coupled to the first and the second electrodes and is configured to apply a voltage potential between the first and the second electrodes to apply a resistive force to the depressible button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Victor Faraut, Jan Stoeckli
  • Patent number: 11664178
    Abstract: A gear structure and a dimmer and speed control switch, wherein the gear structure includes a plurality of positioning grooves and a gear switching component, and the plurality of positioning grooves are sequentially spaced apart on the housing; the gear switching component is movably Installed on the housing, it includes a positioning component and a biasing component connected with the positioning component. The positioning component has a first position that is positioned and matched with the positioning groove and a second position separated from the positioning groove. The biasing component applies a biasing force on position component that moves it toward the first position, the gear structure mentioned above can ensure accurate gear positioning during the operation of the dimmer and speed control switch, and is not prone to misoperate, which is convenient for users, and coordinated positioning grooves and positioning parts have the advantage of simplified structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ENERLITES INC.
    Inventor: Lidong Ni
  • Patent number: 11651909
    Abstract: Provided is a spring drive cam for a spring drive of a circuit breaker including a disc-like shape configured for rotating around a rotation axis in the spring drive, whereby the disc-like shape comprises a radius (R) that changes depending on an angle (?) of the radius (R) relative to a base angle (?0), and whereby a rate (dR/d?) defined by a change of the radius (R) per change of the angle (?) is ?0.3 mm/°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Jakub Korbel, Matt Cuppett, Brian Christopher, Richard Thomas, Sami Kotilainen, Staffan Jacobsson, Benny Wedin, Francesco Agostini
  • Patent number: 11651913
    Abstract: A locking device for a standard toggle light switch is disclosed. The locking device has a partial rectangular cuboid member, a planar torque arm member, a planar locking member, and a locking tab with a notch. The planar locking member inserts into an interstice at the base of the rotary hub of a standard toggle light switch. The locking tab fits into another interstice along the side of the rotary hub and engages with the toggle housing, locking itself in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Mindtrade LLC
    Inventor: Ataollah Shiravi
  • Patent number: 11651872
    Abstract: A plastic retaining pin for being inserted through a retaining hole in a high voltage insulating cover has a compressible nose, with the wide part of the nose being larger than the retaining hole. The pin may be on the order of 3-12 inches long. The other end of the pin has a grasping ring for receiving the hook of a hot stick. Along the length of the body of the pin is a plurality of radial portions (e.g., six or more) extending outward from a centerline of the body. These radial portions may be skirts or ribs having a diameter less than the retaining hole in the cover. The skirts or ribs greatly increase the surface leakage distance along the body of the pin and also prevent conductive liquids flowing along the body, which may lead to a flashover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Eco Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lynch
  • Patent number: 11646169
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a ball unit disposed in the roller cavity and moveable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define a first angle that ranges from 2 to 12 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 11636961
    Abstract: A variable resistor includes: a main body and a rotating part vertically separated away from each other, among which the main body includes: a substrate having a first main surface, a second main surface and a through hole vertically penetrating the first main surface and the second main surface; a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion provided on the first main surface; a resistor body connected thereto; an electrode positioned closer to the through hole than the resistor body; and a third conductive portion (i) provided on each of the second main surface and a partition wall surface for partitioning the through hole and (ii) connected to the electrode, and the rotating part includes: an opposing part rotatable in a circumferential direction; and a slider configured to conductively slide as the rotating part rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Yamauchi, Tatsuzou Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11631556
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a conductive rolling-ball disposed in the roller cavity and movable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define an angle ranging from 5 to 55 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 11621131
    Abstract: Electrical switching devices, such contactor and fuse devices, are disclosed that have improved reliability particularly through thermal cycling. One electrical switching device according to the present invention comprises an outer housing and internal operational components within the outer housing. An internal housing in included in that outer housing that surrounds at least some of the internal operational components. A sealing material is also included within the outer housing that is capable of forming a hermetic seal within the outer housing, wherein the sealing material contacts the internal housing. The internal housing has a CTE that substantially matches the CTE of the sealing material. Electrical system according to the present invention comprises an electrical circuit and an improved electrical switching device electrically connected to the electrical circuit to reliably open or close the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Gigavac, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Sullivan, Murray McTigue, David Hatch
  • Patent number: 11621108
    Abstract: A polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) tank heater features a first conductive region, a heater body, and a second conductive region, forming a sandwich. The first conductive region includes a first conductive surface connected to a first lead and a second conductive surface connected to a second lead. The heater body is a PPTC polymer matrix including a conductive filler and a semi-crystalline polymer. The sandwich includes multiple heating elements connected in series and each heating element supplies a different resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Chen, Davide Faganello
  • Patent number: 11615924
    Abstract: A MEMS switch includes: a housing, a switching assembly; a first actuation electrode, a first contact, a second contact, and a second actuation electrode. The switching device has a stress gradient along the thickness direction, such that in response to applying no voltage between the first actuation electrode and the second actuation electrode, the switching assembly contacts with the first contact. In response to applying a first voltage between the third actuation electrode and the fourth actuation electrode, the switching assembly is driven to deflect such that the switching assembly is spaced apart from both the first contact and the second contact. In response to applying a second voltage between the third actuation electrode and the fourth actuation electrode, the switching assembly is driven to deflect such that the switching assembly contacts with the second contact. The first voltage is smaller than the third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shawn Jay Cunningham, Dana Richard DeReus
  • Patent number: 11587742
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to ingress-tolerant input devices. Aspects of the disclosure relate to an ingress-tolerant switch assembly for operating an electronic device in an ingress-protected manner. The switch assembly includes a button configured to be coupled to an outer surface of an enclosure of the electronic device. The switch assembly also includes a spring operably coupled to the button and a magnet coupled to the spring. A pressing force applied by a user to the button overcomes a spring force of the spring to move the magnet into proximity of the magnetic sensor to cause the magnetic sensor to generate a sensor signal for performing a function of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Chase A. Thompson, Adam S. Trock
  • Patent number: 11587469
    Abstract: An indicator is provided that can couple, without a fastener, to a housing of an industrial device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Jaap, Andrew E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11587747
    Abstract: An operating device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The operating device basically includes a base, a first electric switch, a second electric switch, a first operating member and a second operating member. The first operating member is movable with respect to the base to activate the first electric switch as the first operating member moves from a non-operated position to an intermediate operating position, and then activate the second electric switch as the first operating member moves from the intermediate operating position to an additional operating position. The second operating member is movable with respect to the base to activate the second electric switch as the second operating member moves from a non-operated position to an intermediate operating position, and then activate the first electric switch as the second operating member moves from the intermediate operating position of the second operating member to an additional operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Patent number: 11581155
    Abstract: A rotary button is provided, including: a housing, a rotating member and an indicating mechanism. The housing includes at least one reference portion. The rotating member defines an axial direction and is non-rotatably disposed on the housing. The rotating member is movable relative to the housing in the axial direction and includes a threaded portion configured to be screwed with a threaded rod. The indicating mechanism is disposed on the housing and is axially interferable with the rotating member. The indicating mechanism includes at least one indicating portion. When the housing is rotated to drive the rotating member to move relative to the threaded rod and be abutted against an external object, the rotating member is axially interfered with the indicating mechanism and drives at least one said indicating portion to correspond to at least one said reference portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: YOTTA INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Stella Huang
  • Patent number: 11574782
    Abstract: A switching device includes a first knob to receive a pressing operation in a first direction; a pressing detection switch to be pressed upon transmission of an operating force of the pressing operation; a decorative member to decorate a periphery of the first knob, that includes an engaged portion; and a holder to engage and hold the decorative member, that includes an engaging portion to engage the engaged portion. In response to the pressing operation by a first stroke amount, by the operating force transmitted to the pressing detection switch without transmitted to the engaged portion, the pressing detection switch is pressed. In response to the pressing operation by a second stroke amount greater than the first stroke amount, by the operating force applied to the first knob being transmitted to the engaged portion, the engaged portion elastically deforms, and engagement of the engaging/engaged portions is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeonjo Choi, Inseob Kang
  • Patent number: 11569051
    Abstract: A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may include a control unit and a base that may be configured to be mounted over a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch. The base may include a frame, a biasing member, and/or a ribbon portion. The frame may be configured to secure the remote control device thereto. The frame may define a rear surface that is configured to abut a bezel of the mechanical switch. The biasing member may be configured to engage a rear surface of a faceplate of the mechanical switch. The ribbon portion may be configured to attach the biasing member to the frame. The ribbon portion may be configured to extend through a gap between the bezel and the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: 11557446
    Abstract: A keyboard stabilizer is adapted to reduce the clanking and rattling sounds that it makes during operation. The invention takes advantage of the surprising result that adhesive, in proper amounts, can act as a sound dampener. First, a circumferential score is cut near each tip of the wire. Second, adhesive is applied to several critical points on the housings, stems, and wire. Third, lubricant is applied to several critical points on the housings, stems, and wire. The stabilizer is then assembled from the prepared parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Jeremy Atienza