Patents Examined by Marina Fishman
  • Patent number: 8383968
    Abstract: A lever switch for safe breaking of a circuit of an exercise apparatus includes two conductive copper pieces spaced apart and stably received within a housing by means of elastic pieces. A rotatable cylinder with two journals is positioned in the area of the contact portions of the conductive copper pieces within the housing. Moreover, a rectangular piece is provided at one side of the rotatable cylinder such that the contact portions of the conductive copper pieces are just clampable to the top and bottom ends of the rectangular piece. In addition, the middle portion of the conductive copper pieces is inwardly bent to form corresponding conductive contact surfaces. As a result, an insertion lever may fit into the body of the rotatable cylinder for in-place-moving the rotatable cylinder such that the rectangular piece is turned to bring the conductive contact surfaces of the conductive copper pieces in an electric disconnection or connection state for safe breaking and making of a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Leao Wang
  • Patent number: 8383967
    Abstract: An input device that may work in combination with an electronic device is provided. The input device is configured to input one or more adjustable parameters to the electronic device. The input device uses a plurality of concentric rotary dials to input the one or more adjustable parameters. The concentric rotary dials are co-planar with one another, and share a common center, axis or origin with one inside the other. The concentric rotary dials may have different radii from one another. Further, the concentric rotary dials have a plurality of indicia on one surface of the concentric rotary dials (such as the upper surface). Or, the indicia may be on a surface adjacent to the concentric rotary dials (such as on a non-movable faceplate). A user may move the concentric rotary dials to one or more settings in order to select one of the plurality of indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventor: Janardhan Kindikeri
  • Patent number: 8378245
    Abstract: A push-to-trip mechanism is provided for a handle assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breaker. The handle assembly includes a casing coupled to the exterior of the circuit breaker housing over the push-to-trip button of the circuit breaker. The push-to-trip mechanism includes an actuating member at least partially disposed within an aperture of the casing. The actuating member is movable between an actuated position corresponding to the actuating member actuating the push-to-trip button, and an unactuated position corresponding to the actuating member not actuating the push-to-trip button. A resilient element biases the actuating member toward the unactuated position. The push-to-trip mechanism is operable from the exterior of the handle assembly casing, thereby enabling the push-to-trip button of the circuit breaker to be actuated, without removing the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Martin Fischer
  • Patent number: 8378244
    Abstract: An exemplary portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover detachably mounted on the housing, a circuit board mounted inside the housing, a switch assembly electrically connected with the circuit board, and a key assembly secured with the cover and aligned with the switch assembly. The key assembly can be pressed by an external force to operate the switch assembly, and rebounds when released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhi-Qiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 8373082
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a vacuum container accommodating at least a pair of movable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, wherein the movable contacts are capable of taking three positions, the switchgear being a double-break three-position type switch having breaking and disconnecting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuchiya, Masato Kobayashi, Ayumu Morita
  • Patent number: 8362379
    Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for actuating electrical switches remotely. The device is removably attached to the switch and is actuated through the transfer of a user's force. The user is able to remain physically removed from the switch site obviating need for protective equipment. The device and method allow rapid, safe actuation of high-voltage or high-current carrying electrical switches or circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Edwin Gerard Haas, Ronald Beauman, Maria Anna Palo
  • Patent number: 8354607
    Abstract: A multi circuit type vacuum switchgear with improved ground isolation reliability. The multi circuit type vacuum switchgear has plural main circuit switches in a chamber. The respective main circuit switches, each having a fixed electrode and a movable electrode open/close to the fixed electrode, are respectively accommodated in a non-earthed type vacuum chamber. The respective movable electrodes are connected with flexible conductors. Operating rods are introduced into the non-earthed type vacuum chamber and respectively connected to the respective movable electrodes via insulators. The vacuum switchgear has a molded part having a first insulating member to insulate the main circuit switches and a second insulating member, integrally formed with the first insulating member, to insulate the movable electrode side and the movable operating rod side. The molded part is provided on the periphery of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Kenji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8344274
    Abstract: A position locking device is disclosed for a draw-out circuit breaker. In at least one embodiment, the position locking device includes a screw rod, a catching plate, a positioning plate, a locking plate, and a push rod. The screw rod has key ways. The catching plate has a catching plate hole and a protrusion that can be inserted into the key ways. Positioning notches for limiting OFF, TEST, and ON positions of the circuit breaker are formed on the top surface of the positioning plate, and corresponding protruding platforms are disposed on the bottom surface. One end of the locking plate bears against the bottom surface of the positioning plate, and the other end is locked to or unlocked from an outward protruding platform of the catching plate. One end of the push rod passes through the catching plate hole, and has an inclined surface. When the push rod is pushed, the inclined surface makes the catching plate leave the key ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jian Sheng Bi, Yong Qing Ma
  • Patent number: 8344278
    Abstract: An exemplary control key assembly for an electronic device includes a housing and a control key. The housing forms a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes a resisting portion and a hole. The control key is positioned in the receiving portion. The control key includes an operating element and an elastic element. The operating element is received in the hole, and the elastic element includes a bent arm engaging with the resisting portion to limit the movement of the control key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhi-Qiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 8330066
    Abstract: A switch assembly provides a pressing plate on a pivot contact lever to minimize heat generation at the point between the pivot contact lever and the contact point by providing an additional parallel connection contact plate which is in parallel connection to the pivot contact lever. The switch assembly provides convex contact portions on the internal output ports of the forward/reverse switch mechanism. A supplementary elastic metal plate to the pivot contact lever is provided to solve the problem of loose contact at the pivot connection site where the pivot contact lever and the support unit meet, and provides a supplementary contact unit to the movable contact device at the forward/reverse switch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Shanghai Bai Cheng Electric Equipment
    Inventor: Xinsheng Xu
  • Patent number: 8330068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical switchgear unit designed to be fixed onto a fixing support and comprising at least one electrical switching module and at least one module housing a complementary electrical function, at least one of the complementary modules being situated next to at least one of the above-mentioned switching modules, the or each switching module comprising an arc extinguishing chamber. This unit is characterized in that the arc extinguishing chamber of the module situated facing the complementary module presents a cambered face towards the inside of said arc extinguishing chamber so as to create a space E,F inside said chamber enabling a part of the volume of the complementary module to be housed, and in that the ends of said arc extinguishing chamber encroach on the volume of the complementary module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Amblard, Noël Le-Corre, Luc Moreau
  • Patent number: 8330065
    Abstract: The time period is shortened till a cutoff spring force is released when a switchgear is cut off. This switchgear comprises: a closing shaft; a main lever fixed turnably on the closing shaft and associated with a movable contact; a closing spring; a sub shaft; a sub lever and a latch lever fixed on the sub shaft; a roller mounted on the leading end of the latch lever; a turnable latch and a kick lever; a lock lever made turnable with respect to the latch; a latch returning spring for biasing the latch; a lock returning spring for biasing the kick lever and the lock lever; and a stopper for restricting the turns of the lock lever and the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ohda, Masaharu Shimizu, Satoshi Marushima, Hirokazu Takagi, Yoshikata Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8319137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum switch tube, which includes a first contact and a second contact disposed on conductive rods respectively. The two contacts are disposed facing each other. The two contacts are cylinders and include conductive members and magnetic members to form contact bodies. The cross section shape of the magnetic members is divided by a neutrality line into two unequal regions. The magnetic member of the first contact and the conductive member of the second contact are disposed corresponding to each other. The conductive member of the first contact and the magnetic member of the second contact are disposed corresponding to each other. The two vacuum switch contacts are anti-symmetrically disposed, such that a rotating magnetic field having rotating lines of magnetic force is formed, so that re-ignition possibility during voltage breaking is effectively reduced, and an arc voltage is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Beijing Orient Vacuum Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianchang Ren
  • Patent number: 8314355
    Abstract: In a gas insulated breaking device which accommodates open/close elements including a puffer cylinder which compresses an insulation gas and extinguishes an arc and a contact finger which has a slide contact portion which is brought into slide contact with a slide contact portion of the puffer cylinder in the inside of a vessel in which the insulation gas is sealed, a relatively soft plating film is formed on the slide contact portion of the puffer cylinder, and a relatively hard plating film is formed on the slide contact portion of the contact finger, and the silver plating film of each slide contact portion has an inner layer thereof formed of a soft film and an outer layer thereof which constitutes a surface portion formed of a hard film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Nagao, Makiko Kawada, Tadao Minagawa, Ei Tsuchie, Kyoichi Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 8309873
    Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker that comprises: a containment structure; a control mechanism; a plurality of circuit breaking poles, each of which comprises a housing containing a scaled ampoule that in turn contains at least one fixed contact and at least one moving contact, which can be mutually coupled and uncoupled, said housing consisting of a first side and a second side that define an interior containing said ampoule, the outer side wall on said first side being complementary to and associable with the outer side wall of said second side, said poles being located side-by-side to form a set of poles complementary to at least a part of said containment structure; operative connection means between said control mechanism and said poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Curnis, Federico Gamba
  • Patent number: 8304677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-voltage gas circuit breaker, and there is provided a gas circuit breaker including a movable arc contact and a fixed arc contact engaged with the movable arc contact; a cylinder rod coupled with the movable arc contact; an insulating rod connected to the cylinder rod through a link mechanism in which an end thereof is connected to an operating mechanism; and an ejection nozzle for ejecting an arc-extinguishing gas between the movable arc contact and the fixed arc contact, wherein the link mechanism is reduced in a length direction of the insulating rod to pull the cylinder rod to a side of the insulating rod when the insulating rod is moved apart from the cylinder rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Hoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 8304678
    Abstract: The vacuum insulated switch-gear is configured to be capable of being lifted up with a jack-up bolt to adjust a seated height of the vacuum insulated switch-gear. The switch-gear comprises a nut fixed on a base plate forming a bottom of the vacuum insulated switch-gear. The nut is used as a mating component with the jack-up bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikukawa, Kenji Tsuchiya, Yuko Kajiyama, Daisuke Sugai
  • Patent number: 8304679
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a vacuum container accommodating at least a pair of movable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, wherein the movable contacts are capable of taking three positions, the switchgear being a double-break three-position type switch having breaking and disconnecting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuchiya, Masato Kobayashi, Ayumu Morita
  • Patent number: 8304675
    Abstract: A matrix touch panel has an upper panel, a separation layer, an insulation layer and a lower panel. The lower panel has a plurality of first transparent electrodes on a bottom intersected by a plurality of second transparent electrodes on the upper panel. A plurality of wires and leading lines are formed on a border of the upper and lower panels. One terminal of each wire is connected to one end of the corresponding first or second transparent electrode, and the other terminal is connected with a corresponding leading line. One end of the first and second transparent electrode corresponding to the wires has an inner lead and an outer lead. The outer lead is electrically connected with the wires. An area defined between the inner lead and the outer lead varies to generate different impedance to balance the impedance difference among the wires with different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Minlead Ltd.
    Inventor: Jane Hsu
  • Patent number: 8299382
    Abstract: A key switch including a base section, a key top, a pair of link members and a switching mechanism. Each link member is provided, at one end region thereof, with a toothed portion meshable with a toothed portion of another link member in a gearing manner and a pivot axle pivotably joined to the base section, and at another end region, with a slide portion slidably engaged with the key top. The base section includes a support plate and a frame member, the frame member being fixedly attached to the upper surface of the support plate. The frame member is provided with a bearing portion pivotably receiving and supporting the pivot axle of each link member. The first end region of each link member is disposed on a lateral side of the frame member and closely to the upper surface of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Akihiko Takemae, Shuji Nakamura, Tamotsu Koike, Takeshi Nishino