Patents by Inventor Ronald W. Brand

Ronald W. Brand 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: 9254403
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rehabilitation strap including a pair of handles and a strap of adjustable length and a method of using the same. The method includes rehabilitation exercises that an individual may practice after a joint replacement procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Peathry, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Wertz, Ronald W. Brand, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140274615
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rehabilitation strap including a pair of handles and a strap of adjustable length and a method of using the same. The method includes rehabilitation exercises that an individual may practice after a joint replacement procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Peathry, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Wertz, Ronald W. Brand, JR.
  • Patent number: 7910850
    Abstract: A push-to-trip assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The push-to-trip assembly includes a push-to-trip actuator having first and second ends and being movable among a first position corresponding to the circuit breaker separable contacts being closeable, and a second position corresponding to the second end cooperating with a trip bar to cause the circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The first end is accessible from the exterior of the housing to actuate the push-to-trip actuator from the first position to the second position. A biasing element biases the push-to-trip actuator away from the base toward the first position. At least one cover stop of the push-to-trip actuator engages a corresponding portion of the housing cover to stop movement of the push-to-trip actuator. An overtravel restraint proximate the second end of the push-to-trip actuator restrains movement of the trip bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Puhalla, Kelly J. McCarthy, Mark A. Janusek, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7868262
    Abstract: An auxiliary switch tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of auxiliary switches. The housing has a mounting mechanism. The auxiliary switch tray includes a module having first and second sides, and a plurality of mounts disposed on the first side. At least a plurality of the mounts is structured to receive a corresponding one of the auxiliary switches. A base is disposed on the second side of the module and is coupled to the mounting mechanism in order to install the auxiliary switches in a predetermined position with respect to the actuating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The module, the mounts, and the base comprise one single-piece molded member. At least a plurality of the mounts are molded compartments of the single-piece molded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon, Glen C. Sisson, Ronald W. Brand, James M. Smeltzer, Robert S. Estok, Craig A. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7863537
    Abstract: A gassing insulator assembly for a line conductor assembly of an electrical switching apparatus is provided having a line conductor and first and second gassing insulator members. The insulator members are constructed from a gassing material. The first gassing insulator member is disposed near a first end of the line conductor and the second gassing insulator member is generally disposed between the line conductor and a cantilevered arc runner near a second end of the line conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, David M. Olszewski, James R. Schachner, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7683276
    Abstract: A pole shaft assembly for a circuit breaker includes a receiving portion disposed on the exterior side of the housing, a pole shaft pivotably disposed within the receiving portion and including at least one protrusion, a number of cover members overlaying the pole shaft and the receiving portion, at least one first seal disposed between the receiving portion and a corresponding protrusion, and at least one second seal disposed between such protrusion and a corresponding one of the cover members. The seals resist undesired entry of debris between the receiving portion and the pole shaft, and control the discharge of arc gases from the circuit breaker. The first seal is formed by the interaction between the receiving portion and the corresponding protrusion. The second seal is formed by the interaction between the protrusion and the corresponding one of the cover members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, Paul R. Rakus, Ronald W. Brand
  • Publication number: 20090301850
    Abstract: A push-to-trip assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The push-to-trip assembly includes a push-to-trip actuator having first and second ends and being movable among a first position corresponding to the circuit breaker separable contacts being closeable, and a second position corresponding to the second end cooperating with a trip bar to cause the circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The first end is accessible from the exterior of the housing to actuate the push-to-trip actuator from the first position to the second position. A biasing element biases the push-to-trip actuator away from the base toward the first position. At least one cover stop of the push-to-trip actuator engages a corresponding portion of the housing cover to stop movement of the push-to-trip actuator. An overtravel restraint proximate the second end of the push-to-trip actuator restrains movement of the trip bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Craig J. Puhalla, Kelly J. McCarthy, Mark A. Janusek, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7598834
    Abstract: An accessory tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories. The housing has a cavity with a first end and the second end, and is disposed beneath the operating mechanism. The accessory tray includes an elongated member including first and second ends and is structured to receive the circuit breaker accessories. A guide mechanism guides the elongated member into and out of the cavity, in order to install the circuit breaker accessories beneath the operating mechanism. When the elongated member is disposed within the cavity, the first end is disposed at or about the cavity first end and the second end is disposed at or about the cavity second end. The accessory tray may be a single-piece molded member having a plurality of mounting portions for removably securing a plurality of circuit breaker accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon, Ronald W. Brand, Robert S. Estok, James M. Smeltzer
  • Patent number: 7586058
    Abstract: A chimney is provided for a circuit breaker arc hood assembly. The circuit breaker housing includes a number of arc chute vents structured to exhaust arc gases. The arc hood assembly includes a body having a first side facing the housing, and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes a number of apertures. The chimney includes a base disposed at or about a corresponding one of the arc chute vents, a duct extending outwardly from the base and through a corresponding one of the apertures, and a plurality of resilient protrusions movably coupling the chimney to the first side of the body at or about the corresponding one of the apertures. The resilient protrusions bias the base toward engagement with the housing to resist the arc gases being undesirably discharged between the base and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron T. Kozar, Frank K. Ostrowski, Ronald W. Brand
  • Publication number: 20090090698
    Abstract: A gassing insulator assembly for a line conductor assembly of an electrical switching apparatus is provided having a line conductor and first and second gassing insulator members. The insulator members are constructed from a gassing material. The first gassing insulator member is disposed near a first end of the line conductor and the second gassing insulator member is generally disposed between the line conductor and a cantilevered arc runner near a second end of the line conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, David M. Olszewski, James R. Schachner, Ronald W. Brand
  • Publication number: 20080264906
    Abstract: A chimney is provided for a circuit breaker arc hood assembly. The circuit breaker housing includes a number of arc chute vents structured to exhaust arc gases. The arc hood assembly includes a body having a first side facing the housing, and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes a number of apertures. The chimney includes a base disposed at or about a corresponding one of the arc chute vents, a duct extending outwardly from the base and through a corresponding one of the apertures, and a plurality of resilient protrusions movably coupling the chimney to the first side of the body at or about the corresponding one of the apertures. The resilient protrusions bias the base toward engagement with the housing to resist the arc gases being undesirably discharged between the base and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Aaron T. Kozar, Frank K. Ostrowski, Ronald W. Brand
  • Publication number: 20080237007
    Abstract: An auxiliary switch tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of auxiliary switches. The housing has a mounting mechanism. The auxiliary switch tray includes a module having first and second sides, and a plurality of mounts disposed on the first side. At least a plurality of the mounts is structured to receive a corresponding one of the auxiliary switches. A base is disposed on the second side of the module and is coupled to the mounting mechanism in order to install the auxiliary switches in a predetermined position with respect to the actuating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The module, the mounts, and the base comprise one single-piece molded member. At least a plurality of the mounts are molded compartments of the single-piece molded member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon, Glen C. Sisson, Ronald W. Brand, James M. Smeltzer, Robert S. Estok, Craig A. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20080237192
    Abstract: An accessory tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories. The housing has a cavity with a first end and the second end, and is disposed beneath the operating mechanism. The accessory tray includes an elongated member including first and second ends and is structured to receive the circuit breaker accessories. A guide mechanism guides the elongated member into and out of the cavity, in order to install the circuit breaker accessories beneath the operating mechanism. When the elongated member is disposed within the cavity, the first end is disposed at or about the cavity first end and the second end is disposed at or about the cavity second end. The accessory tray may be a single-piece molded member having a plurality of mounting portions for removably securing a plurality of circuit breaker accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon, Ronald W. Brand, Robert S. Estok, James M. Smeltzer
  • Patent number: 7385153
    Abstract: A trip bar is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories installable within the housing. At least one of the accessories has an actuator, such as a stem. The trip bar includes an elongated pivot member having a first end pivotably coupled to the operating mechanism, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the elongated pivot member between the first and second ends. Such protrusion is actuatable by the stem to pivot the elongated pivot member. A deflecting mechanism, such as a cam surface, is disposed at or about the second end of the elongated pivot member. When such one of the accessories is being installed within the housing, the stem deflects the cam surface to facilitate insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Thomas A. Whitaker, Joseph B. Humbert, Ronald W. Brand
  • Publication number: 20080088093
    Abstract: A pole shaft assembly for a circuit breaker includes a receiving portion disposed on the exterior side of the housing, a pole shaft pivotably disposed within the receiving portion and including at least one protrusion, a number of cover members overlaying the pole shaft and the receiving portion, at least one first seal disposed between the receiving portion and a corresponding protrusion, and at least one second seal disposed between such protrusion and a corresponding one of the cover members. The seals resist undesired entry of debris between the receiving portion and the pole shaft, and control the discharge of arc gases from the circuit breaker. The first seal is formed by the interaction between the receiving portion and the corresponding protrusion. The second seal is formed by the interaction between the protrusion and the corresponding one of the cover members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, Paul R. Rakus, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7199319
    Abstract: A handle assembly is provided for a circuit breaker which includes a housing assembly that defines a substantially enclosed space housing an operating mechanism. The handle assembly is preferably a single-piece and includes a base member which is coupled to the operating mechanism, and a handle member having a first end which protrudes from an opening of the housing assembly, and a second end coupled to the base member. The base member includes first and second integral resilient legs which are disposed within the opening and are supported by posts protruding from the housing assembly, in order to resist undesired access into the substantially enclosed space therein. The first and second integral resilient legs each include a groove which increases the resiliency of the leg. The handle assembly is preferably symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the handle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Rodgers, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 3930774
    Abstract: Thickness of a sheet being produced by an extruder is controlled in response to measurements of: sheet thickness, the speed at which material is fed through a screw of the extruder, as determined by screw speed, and the speed with which material is taken away from the extruder, as determined by sheet speed. Measured thickness is compared with a setpoint for sheet thickness and a determination is made as to whether the thickness is in a predetermined, deadband region relative to the setpoint, or if the sheet is out of the deadband because it is excessively thin or excessively thick. In response to the sheet thickness being in the deadband region, the screw speed is changed in response to a signal indicative of the product of sheet speed error and rate of change of screw speed with respect to sheet speed. Sheet speed is controlled by multiplying sheet speed error by a predetermined constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Industrial Nucleonics Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Brand, Richard A. Forbes, Robert L. Heiks, Bruce A. Huber