Patents by Inventor Melvin S. Nation

Melvin S. Nation 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: 5049709
    Abstract: An index rotary switch includes a housing, stationary contact members, a rotor contact member, and a pushbutton-operated actuator device. The stationary contact members are disposed within the housing for defining an infinite number of alternately achieved on-and-off positions. The rotor contact member is disposed for rotation within the housing for wipingly engaging the stationary contact members. The rotor contact member is formed with a rectangularly-shaped flat portion and a plurality of resilient L-shaped arms extending downwardly from respective edges thereof. The L-shaped arms have arcuate-shaped contacts formed upon their free ends so as to wipingly engage the stationary contacts. The actuator device is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the rotor contact member for sequentially rotating the rotor contact member so that the arcuate-shaped contacts alternately index with respect to the on-and-off positions upon successive actuations of the actuator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomm Prickett, Melvin S. Nation
  • Patent number: 4891476
    Abstract: An index rotary switch including a rotary contact carrier journaled between a pair of thrust bearings solely for rotary motion. A rotary electrical contact including four contacts indexes with a stationary contact array forming an infinite number of ON-OFF positions and forms a redundant constant pressure electrical contact in each ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin S. Nation, Robert W. Krawczyk
  • Patent number: 4739133
    Abstract: An electrical switching device for door actuated operation especially configured for conversion between grounded and non-grounded operation is disclosed. The device includes a housing including a stationary contact and a moveable contact. The moveable contact is actuated by a door operated actuator which moveable contact makes and breaks contact with the fixed contact and completes a circuit to ground through the housing. The moveable contact and fixed contact are configured to receive and cooperate with an insulation member insertable between the two contacts and an additional contact member insertable between the insulation member and the moveable contact to convert the switch to non-grounded operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin S. Nation, Edward W. Wanatowicz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4672675
    Abstract: A multiple speaker loudspeaker of the type comprising a larger speaker including a larger frame and at least one smaller speaker including a smaller speaker support structure is provided with first and second rigid power conductors which are rigidly mounted both to the larger frame and to the smaller speaker support structure such that the power conductors support the smaller speaker permanently in place in front of the larger speaker. These power conductors are electrically interconnected both to the smaller speaker and to power input terminals of the loudspeaker such that the first and second power conductors conduct electrical audio signals from the input terminals to the smaller speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: International Jensen Incorporated
    Inventors: Jack R. Powell, Melvin S. Nation
  • Patent number: 4565905
    Abstract: A loudspeaker allowing snap-together assembly and extensive use of plastic is provided. The magnet is substantially enclosed between a molded plastic basket and a threaded cap, and the magnet clamps the spider which centers the voice coil in place. The base of the cone of the loudspeaker is frictionally held between the basket and a clamping ring. The electrical connection between the voice coil and the input terminals includes conductive strips formed of conductive ink upon the spider. The conductive strips are soldered to the leads of the voice coil and are joined to the input terminals by pressure contacts of a terminal strap which is snapped in place in the plastic basket. A grille subassembly for mounting within the basket of the loudspeaker is provided to permit snap-together assembly of multiple loudspeaker systems. The electrical connections between the loudspeakers of the multiple loudspeaker system are made at final assembly by the terminal strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: International Jensen Incoporated
    Inventor: Melvin S. Nation
  • Patent number: 4465905
    Abstract: A loudspeaker allowing snap-together assembly and extensive use of plastic is provided. The magnet is substantially enclosed between a molded plastic basket and a first lock member. Deformable fins aid in centering the magnet and in maintaining an annular gap between elements of the magnet. The base of the cone of the loudspeaker is frictionally held between the basket and a second lock member. The electrical connection between the voice coil and the input terminals includes conductive strips formed of conductive ink upon a centering disc. The conductive strips are soldered to the leads of the voice coil and are joined to the input terminals by pressure contacts of a terminal module added at final assembly. A bridge subassembly for mounting within the basket of the loudspeaker is provided to permit snap-together assembly of multiple loadspeaker systems. The electrical connections between the loudspeakers of the multiple loudspeaker system are made at final assembly by the terminal module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: International Jensen Incorporated
    Inventor: Melvin S. Nation