Patents Examined by K. Lee
  • Electrical kitchen appliance
    Patent number: 7193171
    Abstract: An outer wall is created for an electrical kitchen appliance and has a formation of recesses defining strips. A button is disposed on the strips. Regions embodied as film hinges are provided between the strips, enabling them, and thus the button disposed in-between the same, to pivot, in order to actuate an electrical button or a switch inside the housing of the kitchen appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Marko Areh, Henrik Pavlovic, Igor Zibret
  • Ergonomic footswitch
    Patent number: 7193169
    Abstract: An ergonomic footswitch having a substantially planar tiltable treadle positioned on a base enables up and down or pitch movement of the footswitch around an axis of rotation located on the horizontal rotational axis of an operator's ankle. This arrangement reduces fatigue in the operator's leg and ankle and also permits the operator to vary the speed of an instrument or vary an operational parameter of the instrument via both the up and down motion of the treadle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor B. Mezhinsky, Steven T. Charles
  • Pressure switch
    Patent number: 7186934
    Abstract: An indication displayed by a display unit included in a pressure switch is inverted and the respective setting functions of push-button switches are reversed when the operator is obliged to look at the display unit from a direction opposite a normal looking direction or when the pressure switch is installed in an inverted position. A mode setting push-button switch 113 is operated to turn the indication indicating a set pressure displayed by a display unit 116 through an angle of 180°, a function to increase the set pressure of a first push-button switch 111 is reversed and a function to decrease the set pressure of the second push-button switch 112 is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Kaoru Nakajima
  • Washing machine
    Patent number: 7180023
    Abstract: A washing machine for reducing the movement of a dial knob. The washing machine comprises a control panel disposed on one side of a housing forming the external appearance of the washing machine, and provided with a circuit board installed therein for controlling the operation of the washing machine; a rotary switch installed on the circuit board and rotated for allowing a user to select functions of the washing machine; a dial knob passing through the control panel for transmitting external force to the rotary switch; a rotary shaft for transmitting the force from the dial knob to the rotary switch; a shaft receiving hole, in which the rotary shaft is installed; and shaft support ribs interposed between the rotary shaft and the shaft receiving hole for reducing the movement of the dial knob in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Ki Seo
  • Integrated center stack switch bank for motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7180017
    Abstract: An interface is in the form of a switch bank for the center stack of a motor vehicle. The switch bank comprises a motor vehicle interior trim component and at least one non-movable switch located behind the interior trim component. The switch is operable to actuate and de-actuate an electrically operated device of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Hein
  • Push switch
    Patent number: 7180025
    Abstract: A push-button switch includes a fixed member having a first fixed contact strip disposed on the inner surface of the fixed member and a second fixed contact strip disposed on the inner surface of the fixed member and opposite the first fixed contact strip; a control member biased by a spring from the fixed member and locked in a desired position; and a movable contact strip configured, when attached to the control member locked in the desired position, to be in contact with and to short-circuit the first fixed contact strip and the second fixed contact strip. The movable contact strip is configured to be isolated from the first and second fixed contact strips at substantially the same time when the control member is controlled against a biasing force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha T an T
    Inventors: Isamu Kuwana, Kouichi Sinzawa
  • Jerking-initiated switch
    Patent number: 7176396
    Abstract: A jerking-initiated switch includes two first shank members and two second shank members secured to first and second lateral sides of an insulating frame by virtue of engagement between a hole formed in each shank member and a terminal end disposed on the lateral side of the frame. Two limb members are integrally formed with the second shank members and extend toward the second shank members to terminate at threshold regions such that an electrically conductive ball rollably contacts the limb members. Each limb member has an idle region such that once the ball is jerked to displace from one of the idle and threshold regions to the other of the idle and threshold regions, the switch is placed in one of first and second switching states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Safety switch device for electrically controlled machines
    Patent number: 7176399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety switch unit (1) for electrically controlled machines for use in combination with the actual control elements of the machine control system in a hand-held application or for manual control, with at least one operating element which is displaced relative to a mounting frame (8) in accordance with the switching function desired by a user, which is designed to change the switch status of at least one electric switch element, the safety switch unit (1) having at least one switch position which is maintained only as long as a sufficiently high operating force is applied to the displaceable operating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Keba AG
    Inventors: Dieter Graiger, Hans-Peter Wintersteiger, Martin Danner
  • Transient suppression device and method of packaging the same
    Patent number: 7176398
    Abstract: A transient suppression device for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a fuel tank of an aircraft over interface wiring that penetrates a wall of the fuel tank comprises: an elongated, hollow, conductive housing capped at one end and open at another end, the housing being disposed external and in proximity to the fuel tank, and supported physically from a structure of the aircraft; a transient suppression circuit disposed within the housing and connected in series with the interface wiring; and a shield braid of conductive material disposed over the open end of the housing and covering the interface wiring over the distance between the housing and tank wall, the shield braid electrically coupling the housing to the tank wall. A method of packaging the transient suppression device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Paul Buchwald, Mark Eastman, Ward J. Nial
  • Outdoor lamp with a hidden switch
    Patent number: 7176400
    Abstract: An outdoor lamp with a hidden switch has a housing, a lamp, a switch and a control lever. The housing has a circumferential wall having a lever slot and a lever bracket formed inside the housing. The lamp is mounted inside the housing. The switch is mounted inside the housing, is connected electrically to the lamp and has a control member. The control lever is mounted pivotally on the lever bracket and has a proximal end extending to and abutting the control member of the switch and a distal end extending out of the lever slot to be wiggled by a user to switch on/off the lamp. The switch is hidden inside the housing to be protected from being wetted by rainwater and to avoid rust or a short circuit problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Yeh
  • Water resistant switch mat having activation across its entire surface
    Patent number: 7176397
    Abstract: An electrical switch mat which generally includes a first layer of flexible matting material, a second layer of flexible matting material, and a perimeter ribbon switch disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The ribbon switch has a longitudinal edge and is operable under pressure between a closed condition and an open condition and maintained in one of the open and closed conditions in the absence of pressure. The first and second layers have a peripheral edge which is aligned with the longitudinal edge of the ribbon switch in a coplanar relationship to form a peripheral edge of the electrical switch mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tapeswitch Corporation
    Inventor: John Grzan
  • Remote controller
    Patent number: 7173201
    Abstract: A remote controller 1 is capable of achieving switching operation even when the user presses substantially any place of a switch. A toilet seat open/close switch 12 has a tiltable member 20 which is tiltably supported at its front lower portion to an upper portion of a main body 2, a switch body 30 which is pressed by the tiltable member 20 when the tiltable member 20 tilts, and a cap 40 which is mounted to the upper portion of the main body 2 such that the cap 40 can be freely displaced in the anteroposterior direction and the vertical direction. The tiltable member 20 is disposed in a cavity 41 formed inside the cap 40. As the cap 40 is pressed from front or from above, the tiltable member 20 is pressed by the cap 40 to tilt, whereby the switch body 30 conducts the switching action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignees: Inax Corporation, Sanwa Electronic Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Fukaya, Masayuki Nagata, Masato Wakabayashi, Sadaaki Shichino, Hiroshi Okazaki, Tomohiko Taki
  • Integrated microsprings for speed switches
    Patent number: 7173203
    Abstract: An integrated microspring switch may be provided for relatively high frequency switching applications. A spring arm may be formed over a microspring dimple, which may be hemispherical and hollow in one embodiment. When the spring arm contacts the dimple, the spring dimple may resiliently deflect away or collapse, increasing the contact area between the spring arm and the dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Qing Ma
  • Inertia switch and flashing light system
    Patent number: 7170019
    Abstract: Inertia switches in insulating housings are used to make or break electrical contact. The switches may be small in size, and may be used with flashing light systems in footwear or other articles. One embodiment is a directional switch sensitive to the orientation of the switch and the motion of the switch due to outside forces. Footwear with flashing light systems that use these inertia switches may make the wearer or user more visible at night, adding a measure of safety as well as fun. Flashing light systems using these inertia switches may also be used to illuminate personal accessories and articles of clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Cheerine Development (Hong Kong), Ltd.
    Inventors: Wai Kai Wong, Lai Cheong Mak
  • Switching device and remote control transmitter using the switching device
    Patent number: 7166810
    Abstract: A switching device and a remote control transmitter using the switching device are provided. In the switching device, a driving body rotating in conjunction with an operation body is provided. This rotation of the driving body provides an electrical contact or separation of a switch. A rotation of the operation body causes a great number of electrical contacts and separations of the switch. The operation as described above provides fine detection of an operation angle of the operation body to provide detection of the operation position with a high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Hanahara, Takaya Nakamura
  • Housing for a key fob
    Patent number: 7166812
    Abstract: A remote keyless entry device for use with a vehicle that includes a printed circuit board, at least one button configured to cooperate with the printed circuit board to selectively form an electrical circuit, a power source, and a housing. The printed circuit board and the power source are embedded within the housing. The housing at least partially covers the button and secures the button to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. White, John Burca, Robert Wegrzyn
  • Method and apparatus to improve tactile feel for keyboards and button assemblies
    Patent number: 7164088
    Abstract: A keyboard for an electronic device that incorporates a flexible carrier for the keys. The flexible carrier has cutouts or slots that aid in decoupling the actions of one from its neighbors. Moreover, in addition to or instead of cutouts or slots, the flexible carrier optionally has cutouts around its outer perimeter. In some embodiments, the keys are molded as part of the flexible carrier. In other embodiments, the keys are attached to or inserted in the flexible carrier during manufacture. Various embodiments of the invention employ various key shapes to aid the user's tactile experience while typing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Yurochko, Peter N. Skillman
  • Circuit board associated electrical switch
    Patent number: 7164091
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes an electrical switch having a dielectric housing mounting at least a pair of switch terminals having contact arms exposed at one side of the housing. A printed circuit board has a major flat surface and a side edge surface which faces the one side of the housing. At least a pair of L-shaped conductive contact pads are mounted on the printed circuit board. The L-shaped contact pads have terminating leg portions on the major flat surface of the circuit board for electrical connection to appropriate circuit traces on the board. The contact pads have contact leg portions at the side edge surface of the circuit board for engaging the contact arms of the switch terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Chiu Ming Lu
  • Liquid metal switch employing a single volume of liquid metal
    Patent number: 7164090
    Abstract: A switch comprises an input contact and at least one output contact, a single droplet of conductive liquid located in a channel, the droplet being in constant contact with the input contact, and a heater configured to heat a gas. The heated gas expands to cause the droplet to translate through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Beerling
  • Moveable contact assembly, method of manufacturing the same, and switch using the same
    Patent number: 7161103
    Abstract: A movable contact assembly includes a base sheet made of insulating film, a contact provided under a bottom surface of the base sheet, and a conductive layer comprising silver paste on the base sheet. The silver paste contains 12 wt % to 15 wt % of resin binder and 35 wt % to 88 wt % of silver particles. The resin binder includes polyester resin having a glass-transition point ranging from 30° C. to 40° C. and an average molecular weight ranging from 30000 to 35000. The silver particles contain 70 wt % to 80 wt % of flake-shaped silver particles and 20 wt % to 30 wt % of dendritic silver particles. This conductive layer of the movable contact assembly can be baked at a low temperature, and does not have cracks and is not peeled off even when being bent. In addition, this conductive layer can easily cope with static electricity and has high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Karaki, Makoto Sadakane