Patents Examined by Renee S. Luebke
  • Patent number: 9466446
    Abstract: A rotary knob operator control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance has a mounting board on a side of an operator control panel facing away from a user, a first electrode configuration on the mounting board and a substantially annular operator control element on a side of the operator control panel facing toward the user. The operator control element has a second electrode configuration and a holding device for the operator control element on the operator control panel. The operator control element rotates about an axis perpendicular to the operator control panel. The operator control element is latched relative to the operator control panel in predefined rotary positions by a latching device, so the second electrode configuration on the operator control element is oriented in a predefined manner relative to the first electrode configuration. An electrical domestic appliance having at least one rotary knob operator control apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Heimann, Michael Prinz
  • Patent number: 9455102
    Abstract: A key structure in an electronic apparatus case includes a top portion that is exposed through a surface of the case, a shaft portion that extends from the top portion and includes a elastomer at a tip of the shaft portion, and a stopper portion that projects from a periphery of the top portion to engage and that is engaged so as to be in contact with the switch in the state where the elastomer is contracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Jiro Takahashi, Tomonori Sakurai, Yosui Tokuyama, Kazunobu Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 9449768
    Abstract: Key stabilization techniques for a key assembly or keyboard are provided. In one embodiment, a key assembly includes a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position. The key assembly also includes a base having a planar-translation effecting mechanism supporting the keycap to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position. A key stabilization mechanism positioned in the keycap, the base or both the keycap and the base configured to the stabilize the keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the press position to resist tilt of the keycap and rotation of the keycap about an axis in the press direction as keycap moves toward the pressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Doug Krumpelman, Peter Bokma
  • Patent number: 9449773
    Abstract: An actuator that includes a shelf having a pivot cone, a first member, a second member, a trigger pin and a trigger lever latch. The first member includes a weight, a first shaft extending upwardly from the weight and through an opening in the pivot cone, and a first plate affixed to the first shaft. The first plate is supported by the pivot cone. The second member includes a second plate resting on the first plate and a second shaft extending upwardly from the second plate. The trigger lever latch includes a first portion connected to the second shaft and a second portion extending upwardly at an angle away from the first portion. The trigger pin has an engagement surface. The trigger pin is movable between an operational state and a tripped state. The second end of the trigger lever latch is engaged with the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventor: Colin Johnstone
  • Patent number: 9443680
    Abstract: Input device includes a printed circuit board, a first switch, a button and at least one second switch. The first switch is arranged at the printed circuit board, and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board. The at least one second switches are arranged at the printed circuit board surrounding the first switch. The guide body is arranged on the printed circuit board. The button is arranged on the guide body. The button is configured to move towards the circuit board to trigger the first switch. The button is also configured to rotate with respect to the circuit board to trigger the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: AMBIT MICROSYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wang-An Hu
  • Patent number: 9443678
    Abstract: A foot-pedal switch for electrically connecting two conductors includes a conductive base plate connected to one of the two conductors and having a bottom surface for resting on a horizontal surface, a rear end having a first portion of a hinge assembly, at least one non-conductive spring, and a first conductive contact point at a front end thereof. A conductive top plate is connected to the other conductor, a rear end having a second portion of the hinge assembly, and a second conductive contact point at a front end thereof. A non-conductive hinge pin assembly pivotally connects the first and second portions of the hinge assembly mutually and non-conductively together. The top plate rests on the springs such that the first and second contact points are electrically and mechanically separated until pressure is applied to the top plate to deform the springs until the contact points electrically connect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Ian Chambers
  • Patent number: 9443669
    Abstract: A multi-purpose mounting assembly is provided. The multi-purpose mounting assembly is structured to be disposed in an electrical switching apparatus housing assembly. The multi-purpose mounting assembly includes a body defining a first mounting assembly and a second mounting assembly. The first mounting assembly includes a first mounting construct. The second mounting assembly includes a second mounting construct. The first mounting construct is structured to support a first electrical component. The second mounting construct is structured to support a second electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Paul Malingowski, James Patrick Sisley, Mark Anthony Janusek
  • Patent number: 9437377
    Abstract: There is provided a frameless display device in which a frame on the periphery of a display portion is made invisible. The frameless display device makes the frame on the top surface of a button 8 invisible to display an image on the entire surface of the button 8, wherein the button 8 has a lens 9 and a button cover 8A, wherein a display device 6 is provided below the lens 9, and wherein the lens 9 disposed on top of the button 8 includes a curved surface 9A formed on the periphery of the top surface of the lens 9, a depression formed on the bottom surface of the lens, a step formed at the periphery of the lens, and an inclined surface formed at the step and inclined towards the center of the lens 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NKK SWITCHES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Ura
  • Patent number: 9431187
    Abstract: A switch actuation device for use in connection with electrical switch mechanism having an actuatable structure. The device includes an actuation mechanism in operable communication with the actuatable structure for use in urging the actuatable structure of the electrical switch mechanism from a first position to a second position. An actuatable electrical switch arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Ian Blakeman
  • Patent number: 9425003
    Abstract: An arc quenching plate for an electric switch includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion for mounting the quenching plate to respective recesses of the switch. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion have a different form when compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ABB OY
    Inventors: Harri Mattlar, Mikko Välivainio
  • Patent number: 9418804
    Abstract: A switching device having at least one contact pair includes a first contact and a second contact, where at least the second contact is movable relative to the first contact. There is an extinguishing device with at least one extinguishing chamber for extinguishing an arc produced between the contacts, a first guide rail arrangement for guiding the arc with one direction of current and a second guide rail arrangement for guiding the arc with the second direction of current in said extinguishing chamber. Both guide rail arrangements have a first guide rail and a second guide rail, where both first guide rails starting from the first contact run in the opposite direction, and both second guide rails starting from the second contact run in the opposite direction. The first guide rails are connected with each other in an electrically conductive arrangement in the form of a closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: EATON ELECTRICAL IP GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Karsten Gerving, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Ralf Thar
  • Patent number: 9418799
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate having a key sensor region and a touch sensor regions, a dome key unit, a key button, and a touch sensor. The dome key unit is arranged on the key sensor region of the substrate. The key button is arranged above the dome key unit in alignment with the dome key unit. The touch sensor is arranged on the touch sensor region of the substrate. The touch sensor is arranged such that it includes a region overlapping with a part of the key button. The key button can perform at least two functions associated with different input schemes at the same input point of the key button by means of the dome key unit and the touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Jun Kim, Jung-Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 9412543
    Abstract: A device for cooling exhaust gases caused by an electrical arc in high or medium voltage switch gear, which device comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet for passage of the gases, wherein a hydrous mineral is arranged in the housing for cooling the gases with the water contained in the hydrous mineral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: EATON INDUSTRIES (NETHERLANDS) B.V.
    Inventor: Arend Lammers
  • Patent number: 9406454
    Abstract: Arrangement of vacuum switching tubes (3, 3a, 3b) in a load transfer switch (1), wherein in each case one cam controller (5) comprising a control cam (7) and a lever bearing (10) for operating a moving contact (13) is associated with in each case one of the vacuum switching tubes (3, 3a, 3b), wherein at least one camshaft (15a, 15b) is arranged axially parallel to a drive shaft (11) and can be driven by means of said drive shaft, and wherein each axis (A) of the moving contact (13) of each vacuum switching tube (3, 3a, 3b) is arranged perpendicular to an axis (E) of the respective camshaft (15a, 15b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Silke Wrede, Christian Kotz
  • Patent number: 9396886
    Abstract: An actuating device is proposed for an electric/electronic device within an in particular flame-proof housing. The electrical/electronic device includes an essentially linearly movable on/off lever. In order to provide such an actuating device being accessible on the exterior of the respective flameproof housing and allowing mechanical actuation of the respective on/off lever without adversely affecting the flameproof housing, the actuating device includes at least a rotatably mounted handle disposed on the outside of the housing and a shaft connected with it in a rotatably fixed manner, the shaft being guided into the housing interior and there being connected movably to the on/off lever by a transformation gear for transforming rotational motion into linear motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: COOPER CROUSE-HINDS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Reinhart, Gerd Hofmann
  • Patent number: 9390868
    Abstract: A sealed switch assembly for use with a disconnect operator movable between an on state, a tripped state, and an off state. The disconnect operator housed within a sealed enclosure. The switch assembly includes a housing sealed to the enclosure to inhibit ingress of solids and liquids therebetween. A handle is coupled to the disconnect operator and is disposed at least partially within the housing. The handle is sealed to the housing to inhibit ingress of solids and liquids therebetween, and is moveable between an on position and an off position. A low-friction trip indicator mechanism operates independent of the handle to indicate when the disconnect operator is in the tripped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Clark
  • Patent number: 9390873
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to switchgear equipment for electrical power systems. A switchgear comprises a switchgear body housing, having an upper boot and a lower boot, the upper boot having an insulating material and the lower boot having an insulating material, a vacuum interrupter having at least one stationary electrical contact, a moveable contactor coupled to a moveable electrical contact, and at least two bushings having conductor material passing therethrough, the switchgear further comprising at least one of a bushing boot having at least one of a helical groove and an array of heat-removal fins, a flexible, insulating cover enclosing at least a portion of the vacuum interrupter and an adjacent bushing, a helical groove in the upper boot, and a finned connector constrained within a channel in the moveable contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventor: Rajesh Thomas
  • Patent number: 9381706
    Abstract: A button matrix is disclosed. The button matrix includes a base portion. A button body extends from the base and is formed from a translucent material. A button top formed from an opaque material is connected to the button body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: InMusic Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Williamson, Jonathan Hayes
  • Patent number: 9379703
    Abstract: A flexible touch panel comprises a base material sheet; a first axis detection electrode, which is provided on the base material sheet and is patterned concerning a first axis; an insulative layer, which is provided on the first axis detection electrode; a second axis detection electrode, which is provided on the insulative layer and is patterned concerning a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; a first routing circuit, which electrically connects the first axis detection electrode to an external part; and a second routing circuit, which electrically connects the second axis detection electrode to an external part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: NISSHA PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Tokuno, Shuzo Okumura, Ryomei Omote
  • Patent number: 9376068
    Abstract: A paddle switch system comprises a housing, a paddle having a pivot member pivotally disposed in the housing for operating an electrical switch within the housing in response to a force on the paddle, a cover coupled to the housing wherein the housing and the cover partially enclose the paddle, and a vibration reduction mechanism disposed in the housing proximate the pivot member of the paddle. The electrical switch comprises a dome switch and the paddle is disposed in the housing to partially preload the dome switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: JUDCO PARTNERSHIP, LLC
    Inventors: Igorce Srbinovski, Thomas E. Buttner, Stephen C. James