Patents Examined by Michael Friedhofer
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Patent number: 7728242Abstract: A trigger switch includes a first locating element, an elastic second locating element, and a pressing element slidably attached to the bezel. The pressing element is restricted by the first locating element to a first position of the bezel to prevent the trigger portion from contacting the trigger element. The second locating element restricts the pressing element to a second position of the bezel to further prevent the trigger portion from contacting the trigger element. The trigger portion contacts and applies a force to the trigger element to trigger the trigger element when the pressing element overcomes elastic forces of the second locating element.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fa-Sheng Huang
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Patent number: 7723631Abstract: A switch useful for, inter alia, a touch type keyboard or keypad which may be used for a personal computer or the like in a substantially waterproof form while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventor: Dale McPhee Purcocks
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Patent number: 7723624Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided with a housing including a top wall and a side portion extending from an edge of the top wall, a keyboard, and a keyboard placing portion on which the keyboard is placed, the keyboard placing portion including a bottom surface provided in the top wall. At least part of the bottom surface extends to the side portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Yuji Nakajima
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Patent number: 7723627Abstract: An EL sheet and a member for lighting a push-button switch capable of emitting light stably and sufficiently for a long period of time without trouble such as non-light emission phenomena and generation of black dot, even if the EL element is subjected to, for example, a drawing process to form into a three dimensional shape, includes a counter electrode layer 15, dielectric layer 14, light-emitting layer 13, and transparent electrode layer 11. An adhesive layer 12 made of adhesive having excellent adhesiveness to the electroconductive polymer is disposed between the transparent electrode layer 11 made of an electroconductive polymer and the light-emitting layer 13. As for the adhesives having excellent adhesiveness, polyester, acrylic, cyanoacrylate, polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate or ethylene ethyl acrylate type adhesive is used. The dielectric layer is made of fluoro type, polyester type or acrylic type resin binder.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polmyer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Hotta, Shunichi Yamada
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Patent number: 7723630Abstract: A safety switch allows for greater safety and greater ease in operating a machine where multiple operators may be required. The safety switch allows multiple operators in different locations to exercise control over the machine, reducing the risk of accidents and improper operation of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Southwire CompanyInventors: Michael C. Jordan, David S. Jordan
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Patent number: 7723626Abstract: A push button assembly has a button retainer having drawer slide guides and a corresponding bezel structure. The button retainer also has a surface perpendicular to a principal translational axis, on which is one of a conical protrusion and a conical indentation is formed. The bezel structure has the other of the conical protrusion and conical indentation. The conical indentation mates with the conical protrusion such that the conical protrusion and the portions forming the conical indentation are in contact around their perimeters when the button retainer and bezel structure are in a pre-load position. A method of producing the button retainer and bezel structure is also disclosed, which includes attaching an attachment mold pin to the molds, which can be altered and reattached in the tuning process.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Daren L. Harris
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Patent number: 7723629Abstract: An actuator assembly and packaging feature for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a positionable member accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. The actuator assembly further includes a spring member retained within the interior of the toothbrush body which urges a cam member against the underside of the positionable member. The positionable member defines an aperture extending through its midsection within which is disposed a depressible member. The depressible member has an outer end which is also accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. Upon pressing the depressible member, the cam member and spring are urged against an electrical circuit provided within the body of the toothbrush which is used to selectively operate a motor and drive mechanism to move one or more sets of bristles.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.Inventor: John G. Chan
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Patent number: 7723628Abstract: A remotely configurable control lever is disclosed for operating an electrical switch on the control panel of an agricultural vehicle. A cam plate 22 rotatable with the control lever has a cam track 23 defining at least one notch, which is selectively engaged by a resiliently biased detent 24 to latch the control lever in a predetermined position. A solenoid 32 is provided for retracting the detent to allow the control lever 10 to return to a neutral position. A second cam track 123 is provided which is rotatable with the control lever 10 and defines at least one stop cooperating with a further retractable detent 124 to limit the range of angular displacement of the control lever 10.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: CNH America LLCInventor: Tim Jarrett
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Patent number: 7718913Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention includes a cylindrical cam (40) for optimizing the sequence for opening/closing the switch-over first switch (10), the circuit-breaker second switch (20), and the disconnector third switch (30). The cam (40) has a cylindrical wall in which three slots (42), and preferably three pairs of slots, of different shapes, are defined; an end element of an element driving a respective one of the switch contacts is mounted to slide in each slot.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Areva T&D SAInventors: Denis Frigiere, Xavier Allaire, Nicolas Chevillot, Jean-Marc Willieme
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Patent number: 7718910Abstract: A movable contact assembly includes a movable contact having a dome shape, a base sheet contacting an upper surface of the movable contact, a columnar portion provided on an upper surface of the base sheet, and a light guide sheet provided on an upper surface of the columnar portion. The light guide sheet has a light-receiving surface for introducing light into the light guide sheet, and allows the introduced light to be emitted from an upper surface of the light guide sheet. The base sheet includes a dome portion having a concave lower surface, and a flat portion connected with an outer edge of the dome portion. The columnar portion is positioned on the upper surface of the dome portion away from the outer edge of the dome portion of the base sheet. This movable contact assembly provides a switch illuminating its upper surface and being activated easily with a preferable feeling.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Naoki Tatehata, Takefumi Inoue
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Patent number: 7718909Abstract: A contact holding sheet with a light guide without using a holding sheet with protrusions made of resin is provided. The contact holding sheet does not require a protrusion fabrication process, thereby reducing costs, and making the contact holding sheet thin without forming the protrusions on the holding sheet. The contact holding sheet includes a holding sheet opposed to a substrate, fixed contacts provided on the substrate, and dome-shaped movable contacts attached to a pressure sensitive adhesive surface of the holding sheet. The dome-shaped movable contacts face the substrate, and the movable contacts are opposed to the fixed contacts of the substrate. The protrusions are formed at central positions of the movable contacts and positioned inside holes formed in the holding sheet. The holding sheet and a light guide film are integrated with adhesion in a state where the light guide film is laid on upper portions of the protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Fuji Electronic Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Masazi Masuda
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Patent number: 7718908Abstract: A contact arm assembly and a method for assembling the contact arm assembly are provided. The contact arm assembly includes a first contact arm having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a first contact disposed thereon and a first spring holder portion disposed thereon. The second end portion has a first tab member for coupling a first braided strap thereto. The first contact arm has a first pivot aperture extending therethrough. The contact arm assembly further includes first and second side plates. The first side plate is disposed proximate to a first side of the first contact arm and the second side plate is disposed proximate to a second side of the first contact arm.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Girish Hassan Mruthunjaya, Jayesh Mavji Maru
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Patent number: 7714242Abstract: A switch device including a switch operation shaft movable between a plurality of operation positions for setting a control amount for an apparatus. A follower is driven to follow the movement of the switch operation shaft. An attraction member generates magnetic force to attract the follower so that the follower becomes immovable and to hold the switch operation shaft at a single operation position.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki SeisakushoInventors: Seiji Ishigaki, Masahiko Miyata, Tomio Yamada, Terukazu Hiroe
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Patent number: 7714241Abstract: A switch assembly may include a housing having a body and an over-molded feature. The over-molded feature may include a flexible membrane sealingly engaged with the body and defining an actuation portion. The housing may be configured to sealingly engage a finish panel. A back cover may sealingly engage the housing, and a rocker may be included between the actuation portion and the back cover to transmit a force applied to the actuation portion to actuate a switch.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.Inventors: Gary M. Searle, Art Stephen, William Harrop
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Patent number: 7714240Abstract: A microfabricated vacuum switch is disclosed which includes a substrate upon which an anode, cathode and trigger electrode are located. A cover is sealed over the substrate under vacuum to complete the vacuum switch. In some embodiments of the present invention, a metal cover can be used in place of the trigger electrode on the substrate. Materials used for the vacuum switch are compatible with high vacuum, relatively high temperature processing. These materials include molybdenum, niobium, copper, tungsten, aluminum and alloys thereof for the anode and cathode. Carbon in the form of graphitic carbon, a diamond-like material, or carbon nanotubes can be used in the trigger electrode. Channels can be optionally formed in the substrate to mitigate against surface breakdown.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Alexander W. Roesler, Joshua M. Schare, Kyle Bunch
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Patent number: 7709756Abstract: A safety switch assembly includes a body constructed to be mounted in a support structure and generally enclose the operative structure of the safety switch. The safety switch assembly includes an actuator constructed to pass through one of the support structure or the base to operatively engage the operative structure of the safety switch to control the safety switches electrical orientation to communicate or terminate communication of electrical power to a device equipped with the safety switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventors: Julian Poyner, Burt Sacherski
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Patent number: 7709760Abstract: The present invention is related to a light-emitting keyboard, comprising: a light guide having a light entrance surface, a bottom surface and a light exit surface; a light source provided adjacent to the light entrance surface of the light guide; a first reflector disposed underneath the bottom surface of the light guide to reflect the light originated from the light source to enter into said light guide; a second reflector disposed on top of said light exit surface of the light guide; a membrane circuit board disposed on top of said second reflector, said membrane circuit board being provided with an elastic member; a supporting plate disposed on top of the membrane circuit board; a scissor assembly engaged with said supporting plate and provided thereon; and a keycap supported by said scissor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Min Chen, Chun-Lin Chen, Cheng-Hsiung Huang, Chien-Shuo Chen
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Patent number: 7709762Abstract: A keyboard includes a keycap, a pivot structure, a base and an X-structure. The keycap includes a bottom surface, a first edge and a second edge. The pivot structure includes two first engaging portions and two second engaging portions. The first engaging portions are disposed on the bottom surface and have a first distance away from the first edge. The second engaging portions are respectively disposed corresponding to the first engaging portions and have a second distance away from the second edge. The base is disposed under the keycap. One end of the X-structure is connected to the pivot structure of the keycap and the other end of the X-structure is movably connected to the base, thus, the keycap moves upward and downward corresponding to the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.Inventors: Shin-Chan Lin, Chih-Chung Yen, Yi-Chen Wang, Ling-Hsi Chao
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Patent number: 7705254Abstract: A micro switch device includes a switch substrate, an electrostatic cover which is separated from the switch substrate, and a bezel which limits a movable area of the electrostatic cover. An input terminal, an output terminal, a first driving electrode, and a second driving electrode are formed on the switch substrate, and the electrostatic cover is physically separated from the switch substrate. In this instance, since the electrostatic cover is physically separated from the switch substrate, the electrostatic cover is not supported by the switch substrate and is able to move within a range, predetermined by the bezel. The electrostatic cover is electrically connected to the second driving electrode, and is able to easily operate with an electrostatic force at a lower power.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Che Heung Kim, In Sang Song, Sang Wook Kwon
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Patent number: 7705257Abstract: A touch switch for an electrical appliance having a capacitive flat electrode, a light source, a transparent cover and a printed circuit board connected to the electrode is disclosed. The light source is mounted on a face of the printed circuit board opposite the transparent cover and the printed circuit board presents a cut-out for allowing light transmission from the light source towards the transparent cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ettore Arione, Giuseppe Arena, Roberto Lazzarotto, Giorgio Braghini