Patents by Inventor John J. Astley

John J. Astley 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: 5148344
    Abstract: An appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) comprising a ground fault detecting circuit and a trip mechanism that is automatically actuated in response to the presence of a ground fault. Actuation of the trip mechanism automatically interrupts the flow of current to the appliance and permits movement of a reset button to take place to visually signal that current to the appliance has been interrupted, although interruption of current flow is not in any way dependent on movement of the reset button, whereupon if movement of the reset button is prevented for any reason, flow of current to the appliance is still automatically and instantaneously interrupted in response to the presence of a ground fault. A test button is provided, actuation of which simulates a ground fault to enable a user at any time to determine whether the ALCI is working properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Juan J. Barrena, Victor V. Aromin, John J. Astley
  • Patent number: 5072078
    Abstract: A rotary switch for small appliances such as electric fans comprising base and cover assemblies, the former having low, medium and high output terminals and a splice terminal in side-by-side relation along one edge thereof for wedgingly receiving the bared ends of a ribbon cable, or alternatively receiving the bared ends of separate leads, and with the input terminal and the opposite end of the splice terminal being located at the opposite edge of the base. The cover assembly carries a rotor having contacts connected thereto whereby the rotor may be rotated so as to effect an electrical connection between either the low, medium or high output terminal and the input terminal. The cover further has a plurality of partitions which serve to isolate from each other the bared ends of the leads that engage the output terminals, when the cover and base are assembled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Juan J. Barrena, John J. Astley
  • Patent number: D325380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Tower Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Chepur P. Rao, Juan J. Barrena, Victor V. Aromin, John J. Astley