Patents by Inventor Howard R. Shaffer

Howard R. Shaffer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4144513
    Abstract: A multipole circuit breaker is constructed with a single rod pivotally mounting all of the movable contact arms to a common one piece molded insulating carrier. Individual torsion springs engage each of the contact arms to provide contact pressure when the circuit breaker is closed. The construction of the contact arms and carrier are such that under severe overcurrent conditions electrodynamic blowoff forces acting on the contact arms may bring about contact separation that is substantially as great as the contact separation that takes place when the circuit breaker is opened normally by its contact operating mechanism. An individual anti-rebound pin for each pole engages the contact arm of the associated pole to prevent rebound reclosing after electrodynamic opening. A camming means on the carrier releases the anti-rebound latches to permit manual closing of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventors: Howard R. Shaffer, G. Erich Heberlein, Jr., Norman P. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4118607
    Abstract: An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the U-shaped operating handle of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. The mechanism also includes a defeatable cover interlock to prevent opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock to prevent closing of the switch when the cover is open. Each interlock comprises a flat member biased to an active position by a U-shaped wire spring, positioned for cooperation with different arms of the operating handle, and mounted for movement in planes perpendicular to the cover when the latter is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: I-T-E Imperial Corporation
    Inventor: Howard R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4118608
    Abstract: An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the operating handle and housing of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. A defeatable cover interlock prevents opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock prevents closing of the switch when the cover is open. The handle mechanism housing is provided with a front recess having a pivoted indicator member therein which is connected by a wire link to the cradle of the trip free contact operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: I-T-E Imperial Corporation
    Inventors: Frank W. Kussy, Howard R. Shaffer