Patents by Inventor William J. Lichtenberger

William J. Lichtenberger 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: 5017745
    Abstract: A combination of a burner control device and electrical switch unit, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the combination comprising a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and an electrical switch unit carried by the device and being operated by the selector shaft, the device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, the switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receiving the heads of the screws therein, at least one of the cavities having a snap-fit structure therein that is snap-fitted to its respective head to hold the switch unit to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4993144
    Abstract: A cyclable electrical switch construction, a system utilizing the switch construction and methods of making the same are provided, the cyclable electrical switch construction comprising a housing having a cyclable electrical switch therein and a rotatable actuator shaft that extends from the housing for setting the duty cycle of the switch in relation to the rotational position of the shaft in either rotational direction thereof from an "off" position thereof, and an electrical switch unit being carried on the housing and having structure operatively interconnected with the shaft so that the switch unit is actuated from one condition thereof to another condition thereof only when the shaft is rotated from the "off" position thereof in one rotational direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: David T. Llewellyn, William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4883983
    Abstract: A cyclable electrical switch construction, a system utilizing the switch construction and methods of making the same are provided, the cyclable electrical switch construction comprising a housing having a cyclable electrical switch therein and a rotatable actuator shaft that extends from the housing for setting the duty cycle of the switch in relation to the rotational position of the shaft in either rotational direction thereof from an "off" position thereof, and an electrical switch unit being carried on the housing and having structure operatively interconnected with the shaft so that the switch unit is actuated from one condition thereof to another condition thereof only when the shaft is rotated from the "off" position thereof in one rotational direction thereof. The cyclable electrical switch is used in a plural load circuit, preferably, as a control of a dual wattage heating element of a cooking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: David T. Llewellyn, William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4843198
    Abstract: A combination of a burner control device and electrical switch unit, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the combination comprising a burner control device having a rotatable selector shaft and an electrical switch unit carried by the burner control device and being operated by the selector shaft, the burner control device having a cover secured thereto by a plurality of screws each having a head, the switch unit having a plurality of cavities therein respectively receiving the heads of the screws therein, at least one of the cavities having a snap-fit structure therein that is snap-fitted to its respective head to hold the switch unit to the burner control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4180715
    Abstract: A fail-safe multiple transfer contact assembly including a plurality of front, back and heel contact elements. The contact elements include elongated leaf spring members which are fixed to a molded insulative contact block. A silver contact button is rivoted to the free ends of the front and back leaf spring members while a silver impregnated carbon contact block is soldered to the free end of the heel leaf spring member so that neither the front and back contacts cannot become welded to the heel contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4177441
    Abstract: An improved electromagnetic relay structure employing a multiple coil U-shaped electromagnet, a flat spring biased armature and a single piece U-shaped metallic frame for providing a floating hinge joint and a teeter point for the armature whereby the magnetic attractive pull on the armature is enhanced without diminishing the amount of armature movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: William J. Lichtenberger
  • Patent number: 4174508
    Abstract: A latching arrangement for a plug-in type of electromagnetic relay employing an insulative mounting sub-base for receiving an insulative relay base. An elongated leaf spring carried by the insulative mounting sub-base and having its ends protruding beyond the top and bottom of the insulative mounting sub-base. A pair of inclined ears formed on the insulative relay base for engaging the ends of the elongated leaf spring and locking the plug-in relay to the insulative mounting sub-base. A spring biased push rod for deflecting the elongated leaf spring for causing its ends to retract and disengage the inclined ears to permit the relay to be unplugged from the insulative mounting sub-base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: William J. Lichtenberger