Patents Examined by James R. Scott
  • Patent number: 4319100
    Abstract: A slide switch construction including two spaced-apart stationary contacts and a free-ended serpentine shaped leaf spring bridging contactor which undergoes both a rocking and sliding motion in making/breaking bridging contact across the stationary contacts. The slide actuator includes camming surfaces which in addition to urging the bridging contactor into the make/break position, coacts therewith to provide a detent holding of the switch in the "on" and "off" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander Tallody
  • Patent number: 4317011
    Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to a membrane switch having a base sheet with a plurality of conductors on one surface of the sheet. A spacer sheet is adhesively secured to the base sheet on the surface having the plurality of conductors. The spacer sheet has a plurality of apertures, which apertures are aligned with selected portions of the conductors. A flexible cover sheet is adhesively secured to the spacer sheet. The flexible cover sheet has a second plurality of flexible conductors on its surface adjacent to the spacer sheet. The flexible conductors have selected portions aligned with respective apertures. Each of the flexible conductors has a thickness no greater than 0.0025 mil. The flexible cover sheet is positionable through a selected aperture with a portion of the flexible conductor to contact electrically the respective conductor on the base sheet aligned with that aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: Chicago Decal Company
    Inventor: Louis R. Mazurk
  • Patent number: 4316064
    Abstract: A remote operation device for operating a plurality of remotely positioned electric parts simultaneously by an actuation of a single operation member. The device has the operation member, interconnection members each having a flexible sleeve and a metallic belt slidably received by the sleeve, and operated members connected to the operating portions of the electric parts. The metallic belts of the interconnection members are superposed at their one ends to one another and are secured commonly to a movable connection member slidably mounted in the operating member, while the other ends of the metallic belts are connected to movable connection members slidably received by respective operated members. As the signal movable connection member of the operation member is moved in one direction, the movement is transmitted through respective metallic belts to respective operated members, so that the electric parts are operated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 4315116
    Abstract: A movable-contact switch assembly wherein an electrically conductive leakage detecting element connected to an indicator lamp is located in the vicinity of the stationary contact elements of the switch assembly so as to detect the presence of a conductive path or paths formed between any two or more of the stationary contact elements by the deposits of carbon particles on and around the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Kanamaru, Misao Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4315115
    Abstract: A drawout circuit interrupter comprising a multipole circuit breaker movable between connected and disconnected positions of incoming and outgoing terminals with corresponding conductor terminals on spaced bus bars, at least one threaded bolt on the circuit breaker engageable with an aperture of a supporting frame, and the bolt having means for holding the bolt in alignment with the aperture as the circuit breaker moves into the connected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: James O. Rexroad
  • Patent number: 4314118
    Abstract: A spring loaded switch which includes a coil spring having hook portions provided at respective ends thereof is first fastened to respective catch portions provided inside the switch frame. Thereafter a slider member having a vertical projection is inserted in the frame so that the projection is opposed to one of the hook portions, whereupon the one hook portion can be removed from the catch portion with which it has been engaged, and onto the projection so that the coil spring now urges the slider member in one direction. Since a coil spring can be fastened to the switch frame first as mentioned above, the coil spring can be thereafter handled very easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ohkita, Hitoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 4314112
    Abstract: An array of curved metal strips is supported over an array of conductors, and a key is supported over each intersection of a metal strip and a conductor. When a user depresses a key, a metal strip is pressed against a conductor to make an electrical connection. As the metal strip is deflected by the key, it snaps or buckles, providing tactile feed back to the user. Each curved metal strip has a tine on one end for coupling the strip to a conductive member on a substrate that supports the strips and the array of condutors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: William W. Misson, Clarence K. Studley, Bernard M. Oliver, Edward T. Liljenwall
  • Patent number: 4314117
    Abstract: A contact switch assembly and method for its manufacture utilizing a resilient dome having electrically conductive surfaces which is positioned on a unitary sheet of plastic or membrane which has a circuit pattern deposited thereon, said circuit pattern forming the contact and contactor means of said switch. In assembly, said membrane is folded upon itself so that the contact and contactor means are positioned in a spaced-apart alignment, separated by said resilient dome, whereby upon depression of said dome, electrical contact is established between said contact and contactor means through the electrically conductive surfaces of said dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: RE-AL, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert F. Ditzig
  • Patent number: 4314116
    Abstract: A keyboard has first and second nested planar members with depressions formed thereon. The upper member is transparent. The lower member may be color coded and carry replaceable key indicia in the depressions.The laminated overlay nested planar members are disposed adjacent to a conventional elastomeric diaphragm switch assembly having an upper layer of shaped protrusions abutting the lower most inner surfaces of the second or lower member depressions. Frame structure of variable form assists in retaining the laminated overlay members in fixed relationship to the elastomeric diaphragm switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Rogers Corporation
    Inventor: Herman B. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4313041
    Abstract: A small switch comprising a plurality of switching elements with a hole which are oscillatably disposed one in each switch body and a single switching rod inserted through the holes of the switching elements whereby the contacts in a plurality of small switches can be made or broken simultaneously by operating the switching rod from the outside of the electronic device containing the switches. This small switch has projections and recesses on both sides of the switch body where the holes are formed so that a plurality of switches can be connected in series by fitting the projections of one switch into the recesses of other switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Inventor: Shigeo Ohashi
  • Patent number: 4313042
    Abstract: In fluid flow systems corrosion of the fluid flow passages occur as a result of the action of the fluid on the passage walls as it flows through the system. The present invention provides a corrosion indicator for use in such systems and which includes among other things a novel switch having a member which is responsive to a corrosive condition within the system to self-destruct thereby to cause actuation of a signal to indicate the condition at a time to alert the user that remedial attention to the system is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Inventor: Dale L. Ehrhart
  • Patent number: 4311889
    Abstract: An alarm device including an alarm switch mounted on the structure of a building that carries walking surfaces such as a floor joist. A switch is actuated upon structural deflection associated with imposition of predetermined amount of weight at the area of the switch as when a person is walking thereon. The deflection of the structure causes relative movement between an electrical contact and an electrically conductive taut wire to energize a circuit which can give an alarm or other indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Blanchard, Lawrence J. Themmes
  • Patent number: 4311885
    Abstract: A snap action slide switch concludes an improved spring detent means including resilient spring means on the contact carrier which stores energy and releases the energy at such position of the contact carrier to enhance rapid movement of the contact carrier to its different switching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald H. Arthur
  • Patent number: 4311884
    Abstract: A miniature switch assembly of dual-in-line configuration having a plurality of switching chambers, each of the switching chambers having at least a pair of terminal lands disposed therein. Each switching chamber is sealed by means of an electrically-insulative, elastic membrane and has an electrically-conductive contact within each chamber disposed closely adjacent the membrane. The contact is permitted to float within its respective chamber and is adapted to interconnect one of the pair of contact lands with the other of the pair of contact lands by means of an actuator which flexes the membrane from outside of the chamber without extending through the membrane. An actuator of a rocker-type is retained in either an OFF or an ON position by means of a bezel which engages a detent on the upper surface of the actuator. The membrane and contact together bias the actuator in a desired operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: C & K Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Henley, Blake W. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 4309579
    Abstract: In a ganged push-button switch in which a plurality of push-button switches are mounted on a frame, each of said push-button switches having an operation rod with a cam portion formed in one side surface thereof, and a first interlocking plate is urged onto each of the cam portions of said push-button switches mounted on said frame, the improvement wherein a second cam portion is formed in the upper surface of said operation rod of each of said push-button switches, said second cam portion being formed at right angles with said cam portions, and a second interlocking plate is urged onto said second cam portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Kondo, Yasuo Takii
  • Patent number: 4308436
    Abstract: A distributor for internal combustion engines is disclosed, in which at least the spark discharge portion of the rotor electrode and/or each of the fixed electrodes is made of an alloy containing silicon, thus suppressing the generation of radio noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masazumi Sone, Yukitsugu Hirota, Takao Miyashita, Hiromitsu Nagae, Takeo Tamamura
  • Patent number: 4308435
    Abstract: One or more switch apparatus for controlling a digital display of a changing function each include stationary and movable contacts and an actuator having a rest position and movable longitudinally in opposite directions to second and third positions. Cam structure is supported on each actuator to interact with a follower carried by each movable contact whereby different conditions of switch operation may be indicated by the position of the actuator relative to the movable contact. Biasing structure intercooperates between each actuator and a support for biasing the actuator toward the rest position from at least one of the second and third positions. A latch, also, intercooperates with each actuator to latch the actuator in one of the last-mentioned positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: General Time Corporation
    Inventors: David Morrison, Ralph C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4307270
    Abstract: A slider is actuated by an outer shaft of two cooperating inner and outer shafts to move the slider and close electrical contacts. The outer shaft is spring-biased with respect to the inner shaft such that after a momentary closing the outer shaft is returned to its original position to open the electrical contacts. A means is provided to impart a snap action of the outer shaft with respect to the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W. Smock
  • Patent number: 4307273
    Abstract: A gas blast circuit breaker comprises one breaking assembly having a supporter and two breaking units at least movable contacts of which are supported on opposite ends of the supporter, and the other breaking assembly having a supporter and a single breaking unit at least a movable contact of which is supported on one end of the supporter. The two breaking assemblies are so arranged as to have only one breaking unit between the two supporters, whereby flows of blasting gas in the three breaking units of the two breaking assemblies can be prevented from interferring with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sasaki, Tuneo Kishi
  • Patent number: 4306125
    Abstract: A rotor formed with an integral hold down spring for use in a high voltage distributor to maintain a predetermined height in the commutation cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David H. Fox, Charles C. Kostan