Patents by Inventor Robert J. Brilon

Robert J. Brilon 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: 6982617
    Abstract: A magnetically coupled pushbutton switch may be improved by adding protuberances to the top of an armature to create a weak heel on the armature. The protuberances impose a physical barrier which prevents the weak heel from becoming fully magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupler layer, so the initial tactile feedback is lost. Eliminating the double tactile feedback of a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch has some significant advantages over the prior art. Now, a very light actuation force will move an armature with a weak heel from the rest position to a partially actuated position, but without sacrificing any of the final tactile feedback. The improved armature design also makes it possible to use a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch to produce a dual output. The initial travel of a dual output switch does not create any feedback to the user, so there is no longer a need to stabilize the bottom of the heel end of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Duraswitch Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Brilon, Anthony J. Van Zeeland