Abstract: A multi-layer touchscreen assembly for an appliance includes a panel including an outer touchscreen surface, an opaque layer positioned below the touchscreen surface and having at least one transparent area therein defining lighting of at least one visual touch control region, a printed circuit board positioned below the opaque layer, the printed circuit board including a plurality of light-emitting diodes proximate one or more corresponding capacitive touch sensors of a first visual touch control region of the one or more visual touch control regions, and the one or more capacitive touch sensors configured to provide a visual indication of a control aspect of the appliance according to a user's touch input. The assembly also includes at least one diffusion portion operatively positioned between the opaque layer at a transparent area thereof and the printed circuit board at the first visual touch control region.

Abstract: A control device, switch unit therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the electrical switch unit comprising a switch having a movable actuator, a lever pivotally carried by the switch unit and having one end adapted to be operatively interconnected to a movable part of a control device so as to be pivoted by the movement thereof, the lever being operatively interconnected to the actuator to operate the switch between the different conditions thereof in relation to the pivoted position of the lever, and a pair of mounting plates respectively having holding structure that hold the switch between the plates and respectively having pivot structure that pivotally mount the lever between the plates whereby the plates, the switch and the lever form a self-supporting switch unit.

Abstract: A control device, switch unit therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the electrical switch unit comprising a switch having a movable actuator, a lever pivotally carried by the switch unit and having one end adapted to be operatively interconnected to a movable part of a control device so as to be pivoted by the movement thereof, the lever being operatively interconnected to the actuator to operate the switch between the different conditions thereof in relation to the pivoted position of the lever, and a pair of mounting plates respectively having holding structure that hold the switch between the plates and respectively having pivot structure that pivotally mount the lever between the plates whereby the plates, the switch and the lever form a self-supporting switch unit.

Abstract: A hollow illuminated fishing bobber of generally spherical shape, comprising two substantially hollow hemispherical shell members with cooperating joining means on each of the shell members for joining the shell members together to form the generally spherical shape and with an annular sealing member interposed between the shell members, a lamp member having elongated electrical leads, one of the shell members is adapted to be the upper member and has apertures therethrough for receiving the lamp leads. An elastic pocket member is disposed within the hollow bobber receiving a disc type battery therein having terminals on either side thereof where the lamp leads extend into the pocket member on either side of the battery and are frictionally held in contact with the battery by the pocket member. The two shell members are identical and each defines an inner annular shoulder adjacent the open ends thereof.

Abstract: A control device, switch unit therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the electrical switch unit comprising a switch having a movable actuator, a lever pivotally carried by the switch unit and having one end adapted to be operatively interconnected to a movable part of a control device so as to be pivoted by the movement thereof, the lever being operatively interconnected to the actuator to operate the switch between the different conditions thereof in relation to the pivoted position of the lever, and a pair of mounting plates respectively having holding structure that hold the switch between the plates and respectively having pivot structure that pivotally mount the lever between the plates whereby the plates, the switch and the lever form a self-supporting switch unit.

Abstract: A refrigerator system, a control device therefor and methods of making and operating the same are provided, the system having a frozen food compartment and a non-frozen food compartment interconnected together by an air circulating unit that has a control valve unit therein for controlling the amount of opening of the air circulating unit between the compartments, the control valve unit comprising a housing having a movable valve member and a temperature sensing unit operatively interconnected to the valve member to control the position of the valve member in relation to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit, the system having a fan for forcing an air flow through the air circulating unit from the frozen food compartment to the non-frozen food compartment when the fan is operating and the valve member is in an open condition thereof, the system having structure for causing the fan to be operating only when the valve member is in a certain open condition thereof.

Abstract: A control device, a slide member therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the slide member being movable in a linear direction and having a cam for acting on a range spring of the control device, the frame of the control device having a substantially flat section provided with opposed sides and with a slot passing through the sides thereof, the slide member having a first part thereof acting against one of the sides of the section and a second part thereof acting against the other of the sides of the section, the slide member having a third part thereof disposed in the slot of the section and interconnecting the first part and the second part together, the first part of the slide member comprising roller bearings disposed in rolling contact with the one side of the section of the frame.

Abstract: A temperature sensor construction and method of making the same are provided, the temperature sensor construction comprising a thermistor having opposed sides, a pair of conductors respectively secured to the opposed sides of the thermistor and having portions thereof extending away from the thermistor, an electrically insulating member having an opening therethrough and telescopically receiving the thermistor in the opening thereof, the insulating member having an outer peripheral edge, a pair of metallic foil members disposed on the opposed sides of the thermistor and being insulated from each other by the insulating member, and two outer layers of electrically insulating material secured to each other and encapsulating the foil members and the conductors and the insulating member and the thermistor therebetween, the opening in the insulating member having a portion thereof that extends to and interrupts the peripheral edge thereof, one of the conductors having a portion thereof disposed within the portion

Abstract: A differential pressure operated electrical switch construction is provided and has a housing carrying a pair of rigid terminals and an electrical switch for electrically interconnecting the terminals together under the control of an actuator that is responsive to differential pressure acting across the same. The terminals have free ends angled toward each other and the switch comprises a movable contact member and a spring operatively associated therewith for urging the contact member into bridging contact with the free ends of the terminals to thereby place the terminals in electrical contact with each other.

Abstract: A device for indicating that a sensed temperature has reached a certain selected level and method of making the same are provided, the device comprising a housing carrying an electrical switch unit for operating an indicator to one condition thereof when the switch unit is closed and to another condition thereof when the switch unit is open. The switch unit comprises a first movable contact unit and a second movable contact unit which when in contact with each other close the switch unit and when out of contact with each other open the switch unit. The first contact unit is moved relative to the second contact unit in relation to the sensed temperature. A selector unit is rotatably carried by the housing for selecting the certain level and has a setting portion operatively interconnected to the second contact unit to position the same relative to the first contact unit in relation to the selected level.

Abstract: A differential pressure operated electrical switch construction is provided and has a housing carrying a pair of rigid terminals and an electrical switch for electrically interconnecting the terminals together under the control of an actuator that is responsive to differential pressure acting across the same. The terminals have free ends angled toward each other and the switch comprises a movable contact member and a spring operatively associated therewith for urging the contact member into bridging contact with the free ends of the terminals to thereby place the terminals in electrical contact with each other.

Abstract: A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device having a housing provided with an actuator chamber separated from a pressure differential chamber by a wall having an opening therethrough receiving an axially movable actuator pin that transmits axial movement of a movable part in the pressure differential chamber to the actuator chamber. A Hall effect transducer is disposed in the actuator chamber and the actuator pin has a magnet unit for operating the transducer as the movable part axially moves the actuator pin relative to the housing, the magnet unit being disposed in offset relation to the axis of the actuator pin and moving in unison therewith relative to the transducer.

Abstract: A control device and method of making the same are provided, the control device having a housing provided with an actuator chamber separated from a pressure differential chamber by a wall having an opening therethrough receiving an axially movable actuator pin that transmits axial movement of a movable part in the pressure differential chamber to the actuator chamber. A Hall effect transducer is disposed in the actuator chamber and the actuator pin has a magnet unit for operating the transducer as the movable part axially moves the actuator pin relative to the housing, the magnet unit being disposed in offset relation to the axis of the actuator pin and moving in unison therewith relative to the transducer.

Abstract: A control device having a housing provided with an actuator chamber separated from a pressure differential chamber by a wall having an opening therethrough receiving an axially movable actuator pin that transmits axial movement of a movable part in the pressure differential chamber to the actuator chamber, the actuator pin being separate from and engageable with the movable part. An optical switch unit is disposed in the actuator chamber and the actuator pin has an interrupter vane for actuating the optical switch unit when the movable part axially moves the actuator pin to a certain axial position relative to the housing. The actuator pin has an orientation arrangement that cooperates with an orientation arrangement of the wall opening to maintain the interrupter vane of the actuator pin in proper rotational alignment with the optical switch unit.

Abstract: A control device having a housing provided with an actuator chamber separated from a pressure differential chamber by a wall having an opening therethrough receiving an axially movable actuator pin that transmits axial movement of a movable part in the pressure differential chamber to the actuator chamber, the actuator pin being separate from and engageable with the movable part. An optical switch unit is disposed in the actuator chamber and the actuator pin has an interrupter vane for actuating the optical switch unit when the movable part axially moves the actuator pin to a certain axial position relative to the housing. The actuator pin has an orientation arrangement that cooperates with an orientation arrangement of the wall opening to maintain the interrupter vane of the actuator pin in proper rotational alignment with the optical switch unit.

Abstract: A system for sensing the open or closed position of a closure member such as a window or door includes a first winding having a magnetic core and an audio frequency electromechanical first transducer and electrically interconnected and mounted on the closure member. A second winding having a magnetic core and an audio frequency mechanical electrical second transducer are mounted on a stationary base and the cores are closely coupled as are the transducers when the closure member is in closed position. The second winding is connected to a pulsed ultrasonic alternating current, and the second transducer is connected by way of amplifiers to a multiplex signal transmitting network. The opening of the closure member uncouples the cores and the transducers to produce a signal change at the transmitting network output.