Patents Examined by J. R. Scott
  • Patent number: 6500014
    Abstract: A connector structure includes a connector shell, and incorporates a cable reel, an encoder, and a turn-indicator system and a lighting system. The connector shell has an axis, and is configured to be joined with a steering shaft having an axis. The connector shell includes a cylindrical section fitted around the steering shaft in a freely rotatable manner, and a receptacle section which includes a shoulder portion extending outwardly from one end of the cylindrical section, a peripheral sidewall portion, and first and second parting strip portions symmetrically provided with respect to the axis of the connector shell, thereby forming, inside the receptacle section, a central zone between the first and second parting strip portions, a first peripheral zone between the peripheral sidewall portion and the first parting strip portion, and a second peripheral zone between the peripheral sidewall portion and the second parting strip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoichi Sugata
  • Patent number: 6501034
    Abstract: An integrated connector device includes a cable reel, an encoder, and combined switch systems. It further includes a base shell including: a top wall portion with a central through-hole; an outer sidewall portion extending downwardly from the top wall portion and having first and second lever notches; and first and second partitions respectively provided at a predetermined distance from the outer sidewall portion. The cable reel includes a fixed body and a mobile body. The combined switch systems include a turn indicator-signal system and a lighting system respectively including turn indicator-signal and lighting levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoichi Sugata
  • Patent number: 6495782
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure with a keycap having a balance lever is disclosed. A balance lever is pivotally installed within a keycap of a key switch. The balance lever is formed with two hooks. The balance lever is slidably matched to slots in a key seat. At least one block element (having a shape like a rib) is installed within the keycap. As the balance lever is not installed in the slots, the block element will generate a force to support and stop the balance lever so that the keycap of the key seat can not be assembled in the key seat normally and thus, it is failed in testing. Therefore, bad products can be found in the testing process. In the present invention, since a dull-proof structure is added to the balance lever of a key switch, it will prevent from unbalance due to the ineffectiveness of the balance lever as that in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Silitek Corporation
    Inventor: Yao-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 6495777
    Abstract: A pressure switch. The switch includes a pressure sensor device adapted for receiving the input pressure and then moving the link rod due to the deformation caused by the input pressure. The switch includes a contact point fine-tuner having a first contact point controlled by the link rod, and is capable of separating or contacting a second contact point, and the contact point fine-tuner is mounted on a frame extended upwards from the pressure sensor device. The link rod of the pressure sensor device has a rotary plate, and the rotary plate includes a top leaning portion. By adjusting the position of the rotary plate on the link rod the controlling relationship between the first contact point of the contact point fine-tuner is attached to adjust different predetermined pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Chin Ray Industry Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiu-Sung Chou
  • Patent number: 6489580
    Abstract: A push-on switch includes an insulating resin case 21 which contains a main body 24, a central fixed contact point 22 and an outer fixed contact point 23 fixed on the back wall of a front-open recess 21A; a domed movable contact 27; and an operating body 29 supported by a cover 30. The case 21 has an overhang 25, which stretches horizontally from the case in the upper part to be of a size greater than the size of main body 24. The overhang 25 is provided with terminals 26 electrically coupled with the central fixed contact point 22 and the outer fixed contact point 23, respectively. In the above-configured switch, the constituent parts are simplyformed, and can be manufactured through easy mold machining or other processing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yanai, Hisashi Watanabe, Koji Sako
  • Patent number: 6486425
    Abstract: An electrostatic microrelay is disclosed. The electrostatic microrelay includes a fixed substrate having a fixed electrode and a fixed terminal on its upper surface and a moveable substrate having a moveable electrode and a moveable terminal on its lower surface. The moveable substrate is elastically supported by a support member that is disposed between the fixed substrate and the moveable substrate in a manner that the lower surface of the moveable substrate faces the upper surface of the fixed substrate at a certain distance. A protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the fixed substrate or the lower surface of the moveable substrate. The protrusion has a certain height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Seki
  • Patent number: 6486417
    Abstract: A circuit breaker mechanism includes an operating part and an on-off switch part. The operating part includes a handle, a shaft, and a mechanism member. The handle is engages the shaft for rotation. The mechanism member moves responsively to rotation of the handle. The on-off switch part includes a switch lever, a switch shaft, and a spring. The switch lever is supported for rotation by the switch shaft between on and off positions. The spring biases the switch lever to one of the positions. The mechanism member has a portion engagable with a portion of the switch lever to control movement of the switch lever. The portions of the mechanism member and the switch lever are configured to permit assembly of the on-off switch part separate from the assembly of the operating part and engagement of the portions of the mechanism member and the switch lever subsequent to assembly of the on-off switch part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, Naoshi Uchida, Tatsunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6486423
    Abstract: A sliding contact mechanism includes a sliding door contact, a spring having one end connected to the sliding door contact and another end connected to the sliding door of a mini-van, and a pillar contact attached to the stationary pillar of the mini-van. The pillar contact has a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding door contact. When the sliding door is in a closed position, the sliding door is adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact engages and is in a closed electrical connection with the pillar contact. When the sliding door is in an open position, the sliding door is not adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact is an open electrical connection with the sliding door contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Karasik, Sheldon J. Allen, Joseph Khoury
  • Patent number: 6486420
    Abstract: Disconnector contact drive devices for switchgear for power supply and distribution are described, in particular for air-insulated medium-voltage switchgear, having movable pole units. In where in a first movement sequence, the disconnector contacts are separated from fixed mating contacts of the switchgear. In a second movement sequence, the pole units are displaceable to achieve the isolating distance, and the disconnect contacts are moved to disconnect them by force components acting in the x/y directions. The disconnector contact drive devices are equipped with linear guide shafts. The pole units contain pole box frames which are linearly movable along the guide shafts from an ON position stop to an OFF position stop due to the forces acting on the toggles. The toggles each have four pivot bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Boettcher, Marcus Kampf
  • Patent number: 6483061
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to three pole plunger switch assembly. The assembly includes a three pole plunger switch and a mating connector. The plunger switch includes a switch housing for supporting components of the plunger switch and a plunger extending into an interior region of the switch housing and being actuatable from outside the switch housing wherein the plunger adapted to move between a normal position and an actuated position. The plunger switch further includes first, second and third electrically conductive wiper contacts mounted to the plunger for movement with the plunger and first, second and third sets of terminals extending into the switch housing interior region. Respective terminals of the first and second terminal sets are substantially aligned. The terminals of the third terminal set are perpendicular to the terminals of the first and second terminal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Michael Eric Liedtke, Jay Dean Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6483052
    Abstract: A programmer/timer having a cam disk that includes concentric cam tracks having multiple working heights formed on one face thereof. The programmer/timer further includes a plate assembly that includes multiple cam followers for engaging cam disk and a plurality of single pole double throw switches configured for multiple working heights disposed for actuation by cam followers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Ronald S. Joyce, Paul H. Tuma, James E. Pearson
  • Patent number: 6483050
    Abstract: A key switch includes an actuator for rotatably engaging the upper end of one of lever members, which constitute a cross-linked member, therewith and slidably engaging the upper end of the other lever member therewith. After the cross-linked member engaged with the actuator at its upper end is mounted on a membrane switch, the bottom of a key top is retained on the actuator by a simple means a as press fitting. This simplifies a molding die for the key top and facilitates an operation of attaching the key top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Masaaki Kageyama
  • Patent number: 6479772
    Abstract: A safety shut off mechanism for a sealing machine includes a housing having a front board, and a door panel rotatably secured to the front board and rotatable between an outward position, an inner position, and an intermediate position. A switch member may be attached to either the board or the door panel and may be actuated when the door panel is disengaged from the intermediate position or moved inward or outward toward the outward position or the inner position, so as to shut off the sealing machine when the door panel is not in the intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jui Chuan Fan
  • Patent number: 6479771
    Abstract: The lever switch has a shaft, an operating body turnable around the shaft, and a contact assembly. The contact assembly includes a movable contact piece turning in response to the turn of the operating body, a fixed contact piece secured to the shaft and slidingly contacting the movable contact piece, and a movable contact piece retainer disposed between the operating body and the fixed contact piece for retaining the movable contact piece. The movable contact piece retainer is opposed to the operating body and the fixed contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. A first clearance is provided between the movable contact piece retainer and the fixed contact piece in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, and a second clearance is provided between the movable contact piece retainer and the operating body in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kubota
  • Patent number: 6472624
    Abstract: A flow switch for a high pressure washing system or other flow-related system is disclosed. The flow switch switches from an open to a closed position in the presence of adequate flow in a water or other fluid-carrying pipe. The flow switch includes a cartridge body, a sensor, a plunger, a magnet, and a spring. The cartridge body has an inlet port and an outlet port which allows fluid to flow into the cartridge body, through a flow chamber, and out of the cartridge body. The cartridge body also has a sensor chamber for accommodating the sensor. The sensor is positioned within the sensor chamber and is used to determine whether fluid is flowing through the flow chamber. A plunger is positioned within the flow chamber, and is responsive to fluid flow. Between the plunger and the sensor is a spring. The spring prevents the plunger from coming in close proximity to the sensor absent fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: GP Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime Harris, Gary Brown, Joel Fisher
  • Patent number: 6472623
    Abstract: A canceling ratchet consists of ratchet body portion 31, ratchet movable portion 32 enabled to move in a forward and backward direction in ratchet body portion 31, and a movable portion pushing spring 40 provided between these portions. When a grabby brake phenomenon occurs in turn lever 24, ratchet movable portion 32 moves in direction of arrow G1 against a spring force of movable portion pushing spring 40. When a cancel operation is performed, the direction of vector F1 differs by nearly 90 degrees from the direction of movement of ratchet movable portion 32, and from the direction of expansion and contraction of movable portion pushing spring 40. Thus, the magnitude of a vector F4 representing a force acting on movable portion spring 40 is relatively small, exerting a small influence on the movable portion pushing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hirofumi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6469266
    Abstract: An improved vehicle road sensor is provided for signalling the passage of a vehicle over a predetermined location on a roadway. The vehicle road sensor includes a membrane switch which includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a non-conductive substrate, a pair of electrically-conductive stripes upon the non-conductive substrate, an electrically non-conductive gap separating the electrically-conductive stripes, and an electrically-conductive lead connected to each electrically-conductive stripe. The second member includes an electrically-conductive strip which is superposed upon the electrically-conductive stripes on the first member. The second member is normally out of electrical contact with the electrically-conductive stripes on the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: International Road Dynamics Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Taylor
  • Patent number: 6469610
    Abstract: A switch assembly comprises a switch knob, a contact control member, a resilient contact piece and a bimetal alloy leaf for automatically cutting off power supply when current overload occurs. The switch knob is depressed to drive a protuberance to directly press or release the contact control member and the resilient contact piece to connect or cut off the power supply in normal operation. When current overload occurs, the bimetal alloy leaf deformed to push a moveable rod of the contact control member to release the resilient contact piece for cutting off the power supply. The switch assembly also includes a resilient member for restoring the contact control member to a normal off state after cutting off the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Tsung-Mou Yu
    Inventor: Chun-Hsu Chen
  • Patent number: 6465753
    Abstract: A water-resistant switch includes a button support, and two buttons each depressably connected to one of two connecting parts formed on the upper side of the button support. The connecting parts each has several surrounding walls, which are formed one around another and in such a manner that an inner one thereof is higher than an outer one surrounding the inner one. The buttons each has two surrounding parts formed one around the other on the bottom, and are each connected to one of the connecting parts with the surrounding parts being mounted on a respective one of the surrounding walls of the connecting parts of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Shin Chin Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pai-Shan Wang
  • Patent number: 6462289
    Abstract: A steering assembly having a switch device attached to a steering column which rotatably supports a steering wheel. The steering wheel includes a steering wheel boss, a steering wheel ring and steering wheel spokes coupling the boss and the ring. The switch device is composed of an operating shaft and a first operating ring formed around it. The entire length of the operating shaft is set that its tip is located between an outer edge and an inner edge of the steering wheel ring in a radial direction of the steering wheel. The first operating ring provided around the operating shaft is rotatable in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kubota