Patents Examined by Michael A. Friedhofer
  • Patent number: 8436264
    Abstract: Provided herein is a power transmission mechanism of a four poles circuit breaker in which the contact points of a neutral pole thereof are brought into contact earlier at the time of closing and separated later at the time of opening than those of the other poles thereof, and according to the present invention, there is disclosed a power transmission mechanism of a four poles circuit breaker comprising: a switching shaft configured to provide a driving force for switching to the movable contactors of the poles; an arm provided to correspond to the four poles to transfer the rotational torque of the switching shaft; and a link configured to transfer the rotational torque of the arm to the movable contactor as a switching force, and provided to correspond to the four poles, wherein the sum of the length of the arm and the link in a neutral pole is longer than the sum of the length of the arm and the link in the poles excluding the neutral pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 8431849
    Abstract: A keypad assembly including a dome configured to operatively engage a switch sensor; a dome overlay guide operatively coupled by to the dome; a key corresponding to the dome and configured to operatively engage the dome; and a light emitting source, configured to emit light. The dome overlay guide is configured to receive the light emitted by the light emitting source and direct the received light toward the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 8431847
    Abstract: A turning direction indicator device includes an actuator that rotates by an operation of an operating lever so as to be positioned at neutral and operational positions, a cover that has a lower surface having a guide groove therein extending in a rearward direction toward the cancel cam, a cam body that has an upper surface sliding with respect to the lower surface of the cover, an urging spring that urges the cam body in the rearward direction, a release element that rotates together with the actuator, and a grease provided between the upper surface of the cam body and the lower surface of the cover. The cam body includes ridges projecting from the upper surface of the cam body. The turning direction indicator device suppresses a hitting noise produced by the cam body and the release element with such a simple structure, and operates reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Daiki Kaburagi, Masahiko Fujita, Noriko Hasegawa, Takeo Nakamura, Manabu Shiroshita
  • Patent number: 8431852
    Abstract: A key switch device and a keyboard, capable of preventing key-entry noise from rebounding and having a drip-proof effect so as to avoid a contact fault and/or insulation failure. The key switch device includes a switch panel; a key top positioned above the switch panel; a pair of link members positioned between the key top and the switch panel and adapted to interlock with the key top so that the key top may be moved in a vertical direction while maintaining a horizontal posture; and an annular elastic wall member positioned between the switch panel and a membrane sheet and configured to contact opposing surfaces of the switch panel and the membrane sheet, wherein the elastic wall member is arranged along a contour of the key top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Maruyama, Hiromi Otsuka, Kazuya Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 8426756
    Abstract: A key assembly comprises a connecting element, a first key and a second key. The first key includes a first body member and a first elastic member protruding from one end of the first body member, another end of the first body member connects with the connecting element. The second key includes a second body member and a second elastic member protruding from one end of the second body member, and another end of the second body member connects with the connecting element. The first elastic member provides a returning force for the first body member, and the second elastic member provides a returning force for the second body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Mu-Wen Yang, Chih-Chiang Chang
  • Patent number: 8426757
    Abstract: A keypad assembly includes a support member, a key switch, a rotation member and a resilient member. The key switch is fixed on the support member, and includes a triggering portion. The keycap is located opposite to the triggering portion. The rotation member is rotatably connected to the keycap. The resilient member includes resilient latching portions latching with the rotation member. The resilient member fixedly interconnects the rotation member and the support member. The rotation member is rotated relative to the resilient member at an angle when the key switch is not triggered, such that the resilient member provides an elastic torque to the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 8426758
    Abstract: A medium voltage switch unit comprising an interruption unit and a disconnection unit, wherein the interruption unit comprises a first and a second interruption contact and a first drive unit which moves one of said interruption contacts between a first position in which they are in electrical connection and a second position in which they are spaced apart. The disconnection unit comprises a first and a second fixed disconnection contacts couplable and uncouplable with respective first and second movable disconnection contacts mounted on the interruption unit and electrically connected to the first interruption contact. The interruption unit is mechanically supported by a first fixed conductor and the second interruption contact is electrically connected to said first fixed conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Alessandro Bonfanti, Davide Corti
  • Patent number: 8420959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manual drive for step-by-step operation, without any power, of a tap changer (1) on a tap-changing transformer. The manual drive has a position indication wheel (4) which is used not only, in conjunction with a pointer (15), for actual position indication, but at the same time as a component of mechanical final-position limiting (10, 11, 12). It can also furthermore be used (18) in a particularly advantageous manner as a component of electrical switching monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Burghauser, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 8415577
    Abstract: A rotary control assembly (200) for a handheld two-way radio (100) provides improved tactile feedback in the form of clicks, even during gloved usage. Assembly (200) includes a housing having a large control knob (108), a rotary switch control (202) having a shaft (204), a shaft extender (206) having a toothed gear element (210), and a ball plunger (302). As the control knob (108) is rotated, the shaft extender (206), toothed gear element (210) and shaft (204), all turn in cooperation. The toothed gear element (210) is loaded by the ball plunger thereby generating a clicking tactile feedback in response to the control knob (108) being rotated. A large control knob (108), suitable for a ruggedized environment, can thus be used in conjunction with a small rotary switch control (202) for improved tactile feedback while maximizing internal space efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge L. Garcia, Anthony M. Kakiel, Adrian F. Rubio
  • Patent number: 8410382
    Abstract: In an operation panel device for an elevator, a switch provided with a switch main body and an operation portion is mounted onto the back surface of a faceplate. A retaining mechanism for retaining the switch main body in a predetermined mounting position is provided between a side surface of the switch main body and the back surface of the faceplate. The retaining mechanism includes an elastic member. The elastic member allows the switch main body to be moved to the mounting position by elastic deformation. Further, when the switch main body is moved to the mounting position, the elastic member is restored to an original state thereof to prevent the switch main body from moving from the mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8410386
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cam disc and to a spring deflection switch having a cam disc for a spring-loaded drive, wherein the cam disc includes a first, second and third circumferential region, each having at least one corresponding radial extension, for actuating a pushbutton including a switching hysteresis. The at least one second radial extension is larger than the at least one third radial extension, which in turn is larger than the at least one first radial extension. The pushbutton can interact with the cam disc in the spring deflection switch such that when the pushbutton is applied by the first circumferential region, the switching contact assumes a first switching position, and when the pushbutton is applied by the second circumferential region, the switching contact assumes a second switching position, and when the pushbutton is applied by the third circumferential region, the switching contact remains in the switching position assumed earlier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Joachim Bohländer
  • Patent number: 8410385
    Abstract: A keypad assembly includes a support member, a key switch, a keycap, and a resilient member. The key switch is fixed on the support member and includes a triggering portion. The keycap is located opposite to the triggering portion. The resilient member includes a rotation portion and a resilient support portion connected to the rotation portion. The rotation portion is rotatably connected to the keycap and the support member. The resilient support portion is elastically deformed via resisting the support member when the key switch is not triggered, and provides an elastic restoring force to the rotation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 8404988
    Abstract: A control assembly is assembled between a housing and a printed circuit board of an electronic device. The housing defines a mounting hole. The control assembly includes a force member assembled in the mounting hole, a switch electrically fixed on the printed circuit board under the force member, and a resilient member abutted between the force member and the printed circuit board. The resilient member is compressed to allow the force member to contact the switch when external force applied to the force member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Da-Qing Cheng
  • Patent number: 8404986
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manual drive for a tap changer for a tap-changing transformer having a locking unit. The locking unit has a catch which can pivot and has different locking means; the catch can be operated from the outside before an intended switching operation. The locking unit offers high a degree as possible of safety against inadvertent or else deliberate incorrect operations of the manual drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Burghauser, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 8404989
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a membrane switch sheet for a switch matrix-type key input apparatus. The membrane switch sheet is used in a switch matrix-type key input apparatus, including a plurality of switch contacts, so as to prevent the occurrence of a ghost key phenomenon. The membrane switch sheet includes at least one film wired through a single patterning process using only ink having low conductivity so as to have resistors having a same resistance value, with distances between start points of lines of a switch matrix in a column scan direction and the switch contacts being set to the same value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Pointchips Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 8404985
    Abstract: A button assembly for a refrigerator comprises: a case having a cooling chamber, and a door for opening or closing the cooling chamber; a cover mounted to one side of the case, and provided with a plurality of button insertion openings; a substrate fixed to an inner side of the cover, and provided with a plurality of switch buttons; elastic supporters inserted into the button insertion openings of the cover, and covering the switch buttons of the substrate; and button pads coupled to the elastic supporters, and elastically supported by an elastic force of the elastic supporters when pressed by a user, for switching on/off the switch buttons. The button assembly prevents humid air from being introduced thereinto, and simplifies the components to enhance the reliability and productivity. The button assembly enhances appearance around the buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Do-Hyung Kim, Chang-Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 8404987
    Abstract: A keypad assembly includes a support member, a key switch, a keycap and a resilient member. The key switch is located on the support member, and includes a triggering portion. The keycap is fixed opposite to the triggering portion. The resilient member is fixed to the keycap. The support member and the key switch are located between the keycap and the resilient member. The resilient member is elastically deformed by resisting the support member when the key switch is not triggered, such that the keycap tightly contacts the triggering portion of the key switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 8399785
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an apparatus body which can house a battery; a lid member which is coupled to the apparatus body; an operating portion which is moved between an ON position where a power source supplied from the battery is turned ON, and an OFF position where the power source is turned OFF; and a unit which, when the operating portion is not at a position which is one of the ON position and the OFF position, moves the operating portion to the position and holds the operating portion at the position in accordance with removal or coupling of the lid member from or to the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yahagi
  • Patent number: 8399784
    Abstract: An apparatus for key actuation of an electronic device comprising a linear bearing configured for transmitting user actuation, and a complementary guide portion, wherein the linear bearing and the guide portion are arranged to allow the linear bearing to move reciprocally relative to the guide portion for key activation, and wherein both the linear bearing and the guide portion comprise a material with a hardness substantially between 6 Mohrs and 10 Mohrs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Gareth Osborne
  • Patent number: 8395066
    Abstract: A flashlight is described comprising a flashlight body comprising a tube with a first end and a second end, the tube configured to hold at least one battery; a bulb holder for holding an illumination source at the first end of the tube; and a circuit interruption and completion device forming a complete circuit between the illumination source and the battery, when the device is in a closed mode, the device comprising a pushbutton switch which is manually actuated between at least a first closed mode and a second mode. The switch controls multiple functions of the flashlight. The switch requires at least one of a force of less than about 1000 gf and a stroke of less than 4 mm to be operably actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mag Instrument, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg W. Koch, Bruce K. Bangerter, Kevin E. Collier, Darrell B. Steinicke